Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: How the Prince Makes Friends
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Nihil found himself deep in thought. At some point, he'd noticed the similar-looking areas connecting endlessly, but since it was his first time here, he'd chalked it up to the place being so vast and disorienting. He never dreamed he'd actually lose his way.
"Somsom, why didn't you tell me the mansion was laced with magic?"
"Ku-ya?"
"You can't just assume I'd know. I'm not fused with Rian right now."
"Kui...!"
Somnus's eyes went wide, as if he'd completely forgotten. It really did seem like the little one's anima, properly perceiving itself as "me" even when fused with something else.
"What to do."
He wasn't worried. As long as Somnus was with him, the kid could track him down from anywhere.
"Somsom, is Dia working right now?"
At the question, Somnus froze like a machine out of fuel, then spat out a single "Ku." after a moment.
"Hm... yeah. Can't interrupt the kid while he's working. He'll come get us when he's done, so let's explore on our own."
"Ku-ya!"
If it got urgent, they could just hop straight to Dios via Somnus. But dropping in front of the kid mid-work would startle him, so best to hold off.
"Then, shall we check out the mi—"
"Finally found you."
"...?"
A man's voice echoed from the end of the corridor. No sign of him yet—he had to be outside the maze.
Soon, a lycanthrope stepped into view. No hesitation entering the maze; he must be skilled enough to navigate it freely.
"...Stay put, kid."
Something about the man's expression felt off, so Nihil instinctively hugged Somnus close, forgetting he was the one who needed protecting.
"...Holy power?"
The man approached and scanned Nihil up and down, his face twisting in disgust. Nihil had hoped he might be a guide sent by the kid, but no such luck.
Nihil quickly pulled holy water from his pocket to show him before any misunderstandings escalated.
"Why the hell are you carrying that around? Not that it matters. I will never accept the likes of you!"
"...?"
Nihil tilted his head, not grasping the meaning. Did he mean he couldn't accept the bond between him and the kid?
Sure, Nihil looked a bit shabby right now, but did their father-son relationship really need anyone's approval...?
"Scrawny weakling like you couldn't even serve as a servant, let alone heir."
"Wait, I think there's a misunderstandi—"
Before he could clarify, Nihil was suddenly hoisted up and dragged off somewhere.
"..."
"Your Grace, this one's the one who harassed me."
Nihil pointed accusingly at the guy who'd tossed him into the beast pen without warning, claiming he'd toughen him up to heir standards. The accused flinched and bowed his head low.
"If it weren't for my Somsom, I really would've been hurt bad."
"Kui!"
Even at Nihil's praise, Somnus whipped his head away. Still sulking over his reckless actions, apparently.
Nihil whispered an apology to Somnus, then declared boldly to Dios.
"So, he interrupted your work, but you can't punish him."
"Haa..."
Dios pinched the bridge of his nose. How startled he'd been when a passage suddenly opened and his father burst through—clothes shredded like they'd been clawed by beast talons, no less.
"...Any injuries...?"
"None to worry about. Just my clothes."
Nihil hastily pulled his cloak closed. Truth was, when he'd been dumped alone in the beast pen, Somnus had tried to swallow the beast instead of him via a passage.
It was inefficient and taxing for the little one, but he hadn't considered applying something like "devouring" to himself.
Still, teleporting a massive beast into the office would've been chaos, so Nihil had leaped through the passage—straight into Somnus's mouth—to escape.
That had startled Somnus into a pout...
"...If it happens again, just send the beast away."
"Kui-ku."
"...But that'd pile on more work."
"No backtalk. Do it."
"Kui!"
"...Yes, sir."
Caught in the crossfire of nagging from both sides, Nihil had no choice but to nod.
"What about him?"
The guy flinched again. All the aides' eyes turned his way.
Dios clicked his tongue at the legion commander.
"Any punishment in mind?"
"Hm..."
Nihil pondered. What penalty would hit home? Looking at those drooping ears, he couldn't help thinking of his house dog...
"How about shouting 'I'm a meow!' while lapping the mansion three times?"
"..."
"..."
The office fell silent. Nihil tilted his head.
'Too much?'
Three laps might be grueling. The "mansion" was bigger than Lianus's palace, after all.
"Make it two."
"Really... can't tell if you're cruel or merciful."
"Ah, tell him he can walk if it's too tough."
"..."
Everyone pitied the legion commander, figuring it'd be better to sprint full-tilt and get it over with.
"I... submit."
Kan trembled with humiliated rage before finally speaking.
"Hm?"
But Nihil had no intention of letting this fun slide.
"Your Grace, sounds like the doggy's saying something, but I can't hear. Could you relay?"
As Nihil grinned slyly, a grinding of teeth echoed, followed by a gritted snarl.
"I... sur...render."
"Your Grace, sounds like five laps now..."
"I'M SORRY!!"
Thud! The lycanthrope dropped to his knees in desperation. Apparently, he drew the line at meowing his way around the Grand Duke's mansion.
"Commendable reflection. Your Grace, one lap should do."
"...You really helping?"
Kan gazed pleadingly at Dios. But Dios ignored him.
"Why look at me."
"Your Grace... I truly messed up. Any other punishment, I'll take gladly..."
"You dare pick your penalty?"
"S-sorry..."
"Beg the boy yourself."
"..."
At Dios's firm command, Kan looked up at the white-haired child. That smug grin grated on him.
But he'd sooner lose his tongue than meow around the Grand Duke's halls, so he bowed his head.
"...I was out of line. Please forgive me."
"If you hate cats, we can make it doggy instead."
"..."
"What. Isn't that what shook your identity?"
Nihil hopped off the sofa and petted the real doggy—1.5 times Sir Evan's size. It bared its teeth subtly, which was downright pathetic.
"Di... Your Grace, what's this mutt?"
"Need a muzzle? And just call me casually."
Dios gestured in the air, conjuring a real muzzle and handing it over. Nihil snatched it and approached the lycanthrope.
Shhh— Good boy? Nihil fitted the muzzle to the nearly 3-meter lycanthrope as he continued.
"Worried calling you casually might tarnish your dignity."
But the feral mutt resisted subtly. Didn't want a tool meant for beasts shoved in his mouth, it seemed.
"If you're worried about my dignity—"
Dios released demonic energy to pin him down. The legion commander thrashed—"How could you do this to me!"—but mercy was nowhere.
"Shouldn't have sent the pacifier, Father."
Everything froze.
...Who'd he call...?
Nihil seized the moment to muzzle the commander.
"There. Now meow, mutt."
"..."
Kan stared at Nihil with trembling eyes, unresponsive. Nihil patted his head, then turned to Dios.
"Dia, the kid seems a bit dim."
"No wonder he dragged you off and chucked you in the pen out of nowhere."
"Can I keep him for two days?"
"What use for a dimwit?"
"Gonna ride him."
"That's not..."
"Ku-yaaa!"
Before Kan could protest riding duty, Somnus shrieked in objection.
Seeming to insist on himself instead, he puffed up as big as possible—but fist-sized, nowhere near rideable.
"Ku-yaaa! Ku-yaaaa!"
Somnus threw a tantrum, rolling on the floor in frustration. Then, realizing something, he bounced to Dios, demanding more mana. Planning to bulk up with it, no doubt.
Nihil found the sight utterly adorable, but Dios's gaze grew icy watching it, so he reached for Somnus quick.
"Somsom, don't wanna stay in my arms?"
"Ku-uu...?"
"Kinda hurts my feelings."
"Ku, kuii..."
Somnus fidgeted at "hurt feelings." Nihil smirked inwardly and landed the finisher softly.
"Gotta be small to fit in my arms..."
"Ku-ya!"
At the murmur, Somnus dove into his pocket like he was proving his smallness.
"...What am I even watching."
Someone muttered, but Nihil was thoroughly satisfied.
Clang— At last, the aura barrier shattered. Three grueling hours of swinging the sword had yielded this.
"Whew... tougher than I thought..."
Nihil sighed deeply.
Even with the unstable aura layer, pinpointing the resonance point from faint heat haze alone wasn't easy.
As he swept back his hair, Dios stepped behind to re-tie it and spoke.
"Rest up, eat, then one more tonight."
"Sounds good."
Nihil flopped onto the floor. Moments later, he floated gently onto a plush mat.
He gazed at the sun dipping low for a bit, then spoke quietly.
"Dia."
"Yes."
"Is it okay introducing me to your men like that?"
Nihil recalled how the kid had casually called him "Father" in front of his subordinates.
"...Don't like it?"
"As if."
He'd been shocked at how brazenly the kid said it. Thrilled, of course, but...
"A father you'd be ashamed to show off anywhere... Worried I'll be a burden."
Adults seek parents less as they grow. Unrequited parental love, but children's fades.
Nihil fretted that a father resurfacing after 500 years might burden Dios. Especially shrunken, powerless, and with a kid in tow, no less.
Suddenly, he worried about the one left behind. Knowing you'd abandoned him to danger—what face would you make?
"Worried about little Rex?"
"I'd be lying if I said no."
"It'll go as you prepared."
"..."
The confident reassurance left Nihil with a wry smile. It going as he planned wasn't entirely good.
"He'll be fine."
"...Yes."
Blink, blink.
Lianus stared endlessly at the canopy-draped ceiling, then turned his head slightly aside.
No friend to meet his gaze.
'Was the bed always this big?'
Sleep wouldn't come. He'd bragged he slept fine alone, but now he doubted it.
Just the first night, yet he missed that warm arm pillow.
Not the clock's ticking seconds, but that slow, steady heartbeat.
Lianus spaced out, then glanced at the nightstand. The silver bracelet from Nihil sat there untouched.
He'd never taken it off, but fiddling with it all day in his friend's absence had undone it.
'Gotta ask Nil to clasp it back when he returns.'
With that thought, Lianus hugged Poofu tight in his friend's stead. Wait—on second thought, this was Poofu's spot originally.
Had he outgrown it, or had Poofu shrunk? His arms still felt empty. So he hugged Popo too.
But the emptiness lingered.
"Your Highness, can't sleep?"
"...Sir Evan..."
His sole guard approached cautiously. The coolest, sturdiest man in the world—his man.
Lianus reached out to him without thinking.
Large hands enveloped him. Leaning in, heart sounds eased his mood a bit.
"He'll be back in two days. Even if something comes up, he'll stop by, so don't worry."
"Yeah... but I wish he'd hurry back."
"Me... too."
Me too. I think so.
Sir Evan gazed endlessly at the little one asleep in his arms.
"Forgive me, Your Highness."
Please don't forgive me.