Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Rainy Night Lullabies
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The wriggling puppy had fallen asleep in Sir Evan's arms, but the children kept chattering away for quite some time after that. Their eyes sparkled just as brightly as the mushroom lights.
Lianus watched their conversation, then suddenly seemed to remember something. He scooted right up next to Nihil and whispered.
"But Nil, are you... still close with Anne, Matthew, and Laura?"
"Who are they?"
"...Huh?"
"......Oh."
Nihil finally recalled the names he'd blurted out at the Rabbit Arms Inn and slyly lifted the corner of his mouth. This pure little kid was probably asking if he was closer to them than to Lianus.
Dia had been the same way. She'd try anything to get his attention whenever he showed interest in something else. Things had changed a bit after her head got bigger...
'Father, Requies, stop picking them up and raising them. It's not like you're raising squirrels or rocks.'
"...Uh, um."
"What's wrong?"
When Lianus asked, Nihil shook his head gently, saying it was nothing, and stroked his hair.
"Those names? I just made them up on the spot."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. You're the only one."
Lianus beamed without realizing it at the words that Nihil had no other friends besides him. Then he felt like a bad kid for being happy about it and quickly shut his mouth.
'How can I be glad he has no friends...? I'm such a selfish kid......'
As Lianus berated himself and glanced at Nihil, one of the twins grinned mischievously and spoke up.
"Dan said she's gonna marry Nil."
"...What?"
Lianus froze at the unexpected words. Marriage? He'd never heard of that before.
Ella giggled at Lianus's flustered expression.
In truth, Dan had declared to her big sister Marie, to Lily, and even to big brother Ivan that she was going to marry them, so this was already her fourth proposal. But the twins pretended not to know and started teasing Lianus on purpose.
"Yeah. Dan said she's marrying Nil. She said since she put spit on him, he's hers."
"Wh-What?"
"If Dan marries your brother, you'll be family with Dan too!"
"No, that's not it!"
Lianus frantically shook his head.
There was no way he'd become family just because his best friend married Dan. They didn't share a drop of blood—they were total strangers! And besides, he was still so young and small—what was this talk of marriage!
"Poor Dan. What'll she do? Her future in-laws are against it."
"No way. When I grow up, I'm marrying the fairy big brother."
Lianus desperately shouted his opposition at Dan's bold declaration. Ivan finally couldn't hold back his laughter at the kids' battle over Nil.
"Haha, Ner, don't worry too much. This is Dan's fourth proposal already. I've gotten one too. She probably doesn't even know what marriage is. She'll propose to the next nice person who comes along."
"...Is that how it works?"
"Yeah. Anyway, Nil must be really pretty. You wanna see too, Jane?"
"N-Not looking is b-better."
"Huh? You've seen him?"
"Uh, y-yeah."
Jane couldn't forget that brief, intense moment at the Rabbit Arms Inn. White eyelashes and eyes like the night sky. If bad grown-ups had seen Nil, they definitely would've kidnapped him.
Big brother must think the same, because he blocked the fearless twins—who were sneaking toward Nihil—with his pot-lid-sized hands and growled lowly.
"Don't even think about pulling off his hood."
"No fair! Why make us curious and then stop us?"
"Yeah! Big brother Jane saw him too!"
The twins fearlessly charged at Sir Evan, but he flicked their foreheads and shooed them away.
"Ow!"
"That really hurts!"
The twins made a huge fuss, clutching their foreheads and rolling on the floor. Red marks quickly bloomed right in the centers.
Nihil clicked his tongue lightly at the sight and scolded Sir Evan.
"No need to drill holes in kids' heads."
"I went easy. You need to stay on guard properly."
"I'm plenty guarded."
"You're especially soft on kids."
"...They're still young."
"Who's calling who young...? Sigh, fine. I shouldn't even bother."
Sir Evan shut his mouth, figuring it was a losing battle. He knew the twins had dumped the herbal tea, yet Nihil's kindness continued.
Was he being too sensitive, or was that wildcat kid too generous? Either way, Sir Evan didn't like the twins.
On the other hand, the kids stared curiously at Nihil, whose speech suddenly turned stiff when talking to Sir Evan. A child using such formal language might've seemed funny, but Nihil was so mature it didn't feel awkward at all.
The kids even started whispering among themselves, reasonably suspecting that Nil might actually be around big brother's age.
"How old is he anyway, calling us young?"
"Maybe he's an adult? Cursed to stay a kid or something..."
"Where'd you get that fairy tale idea?"
"Maybe he has a disease that stops him from growing."
"The fairy big brother might be a real fairy, so he's super old. Like a hundred? But what's a hundred?"
"Dan, still on about fairies?"
Lianus giggled as he overheard their whispers. Then came a thud, thud, and the sound of something hitting grew steadily louder.
"It's really starting to rain."
As Nihil said, the rain began to fall, and Lianus murmured in wonder. Moments later, the shed door burst open as if it might shatter.
"Whew~ If I'd been even a little later, I'd look like a drowned rat!"
Bella made a dramatic entrance, quickly slamming the door shut and shaking water from her hair. Sir Evan glared as droplets splashed his face, but Bella just laughed it off and plopped down.
"Little misses and young masters~ Time for bed now~ Stay up too late, and you won't grow tall~"
Bella clapped her hands as she said it.
The kids exchanged glances, then Ivan and Jane stood first to prepare the children's beds. Normally, rain would've crammed them into the shed's corner, but with the collapsed wall covered by a tent, there was plenty of space.
Ivan briefly wondered where to put Sir Evan, who looked twice the size of a normal adult, but Sir Evan said not to worry about him, popped a recovery potion in his mouth, and settled next to Lianus's leaf bed.
The children lay down in a row in the shed. The girls and Dan took the center, while older Ivan and Jane took the ends.
Nihil pulled out two waterskins, filled them with water, dropped a heated stone in each, and handed them to Dan and Lianus.
"Hold these while you sleep."
"Whoa! They're all warm! Thanks, fairy big brother!"
"Ah, those stones... You put them in the fire..."
Ivan finally remembered the stones in the campfire. They must be soaked and cold by now in the rain.
"Give us some too!"
"Why only Dan?"
The twins bolted upright from their spots. Unlike the others, they were shivering. Nihil knew the tea was gone but pretended otherwise.
"Drink the tea you left earlier."
"That's gross!"
"Yeah, super gross!"
"Then shiver in the cold."
The twins huffed that they absolutely wouldn't and flopped back down.
Whiiiiiish—
As night deepened, the wind and rain grew fiercer. Even the cozy tent shook noisily, creating a bleak atmosphere.
The softly glowing mushroom lights finally died out, plunging the shed into complete darkness.
"The wind's picking up."
Sir Evan murmured quietly. He half-worried the whole shed might blow away. They'd patched the big holes, but blocking all the wind was impossible—a chill swirled through.
The kids tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The tea-less twins huddled tight under their blankets, shivering. Sir Evan felt a petty satisfaction but couldn't ignore it and finally draped his cloak over them.
Meanwhile, Bella—in cat form—sneaked toward the leaf bed but got grabbed by the scruff by Sir Evan and yanked down. He handed her the puppy instead, as if to say hold the mutt pup, not the cute kitten.
Bella, now with the puppy, puffed up proudly as if saying 'It's just a puppy, but I'll help out special', curled up, and tucked it into her arms.
How many more minutes passed? The wind calmed a bit, and the kids drifted off one by one, but Nihil had no choice but to watch Lianus, who still had his eyes wide open.
Nihil whispered softly.
"Ner, can't sleep?"
"Yeah......"
"You must be tired."
"True. But sleep won't come."
Lianus was tired but not sleepy. If anything, he felt more alert than usual. Maybe it was the change in bed.
Lianus spoke to his best friend, who sat by his head, gently patting him.
"Aren't you lying down, Nil?"
"I will."
"Come up here and sleep with me."
"It's cramped."
"We can lie sideways, super close. It's 'cause you're not here that I can't sleep."
"It'll be uncomfortable."
"Pleeease~"
Nihil finally chuckled lowly at Lianus's adorable whining, climbed onto the leaf bed, gave him an arm pillow, and tucked the blanket snugly around him.
"Now sleep."
"Okay."
Satisfied, Lianus grinned ear to ear. He was so grateful his friend indulged his fussing.
I wish Nil were my brother. I'd give up all my power and push him to be crown prince.
Nil could rule a kingdom well. Or maybe he'd run off, hating the work. He's capable but has no greed for power or fame.
What if we were born brothers in an ordinary commoner family? Nil's smart and mature—he'd be an awesome big brother. He'd look after his little brother instead of busy Dad earning money. Nag a bit about not being picky with food, make sure meals happen, read fairy tales or sing lullabies for bedtime whines. Care for him lovingly when sick, play when bored, even teach letters himself. They'd bicker and play pranks, then get scolded by Dad...
...Huh? Sounds a lot like now.
"Ner, stop thinking and sleep."
Nihil chuckled lowly at Lianus blinking in his arms and tilting his head.
"Brother, sing me a lullaby."
"A lullaby?"
It was a totally impulsive request. Partly hoping Nihil would act like the brother in his imagination, partly remembering how his friend had said he'd sing one if he reunited with the kid he raised.
Would Nil sing it? Or laugh that he's not a baby anymore and soothe him to sleep?
Deep down, Lianus was already sure. Nil would sing the lullaby.
"Mm, it might be a little weird, okay?"
"Yeah."
Lianus giggled happily that he'd accepted so readily—anything was fine.
"Sing it quick."
"You'll sleep if I do?"
"Yeah."
Soon, Nihil's calm, clear voice quietly filled the air.
"Sleep well, little one. My precious baby. Don't fear the darkness beneath your eyelids. When you open your eyes, I'll always be right there before you, so fear not the fleeting moment..." "Don't cry, little one. My darling baby. It's nothing but illusion. I'll be by your side even in dreams, so fear not the nightmares. They're nothing but, nothing but dreams..."
⟨ Lullaby ⟩