Rivalry (1)
The negotiations had concluded dramatically. Now, on the slow descent from the mountains back to Handel, I remarked,
"So that tiger can shrink down too, huh."
"Hm?"
I directed the words at the white-haired girl walking obediently by my side. Just an hour ago, under the pretext of a test, she'd unleashed wave after wave of killing intent and charged at me. But now, she was my second daughter—the Monstrous Strength Chaos God, or rather, Sina.
What I was pointing out with a glance was the snow-white furred beast cradled in her arms. The mountain-like size I'd last seen had vanished entirely. It was one of the Four Divine Beasts.
"Ah, you mean the White Tiger."
Sina confirmed where my gaze fell and gently stroked it with her fingertips. In response, the White Tiger—now adorably diminutive—nuzzled its forehead against her with playful affection, as if begging for more pets. I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of bewilderment at the sight.
Is that really the apocalypse-grade monster? The one rated as an 8th Hierarchy threat?}
Of course, no matter how I stared at it, the White Tiger paid me no mind.
[Grrr.]
It simply yielded to its master's touch, burrowing deeper into her embrace and curling into a ball. I let out an incredulous chuckle, and by then, Sina had scooped it up with both hands in a firm grip.
[?]
"?"
The White Tiger and I both floated question marks, but she ignored us, tucking it under her arm and thrusting it toward me.
"Would you like to hold it too? You'll be spending at least the next five years together, after all."
"What."
"It's a good child, despite appearances. A thousand years ago, it committed atrocities as a vassal of the previous generation... but it simply lacks the capacity to distinguish right from wrong. Poor beast."
"......Hm......"
I reluctantly eyed the White Tiger as she spoke wistfully. It seemed to understand her words, looking up at me.
[......Grr.]
But the gentle demeanor it showed Sina clearly didn't extend to me. After fixing me with its gaze for a second, it bared its teeth and growled.
I raised one eyebrow and said,
"Doesn't seem to like me much."
"Yeah? Well......"
Sina replied nonchalantly.
"You did swat it away with your sword, after all. It's only natural it'd hold a grudge."
"......So you knew that and still told me to hold the beast?"
"Eh, if you don't want to, forget it. This lady has no intention of forcing you. You can get friendly slowly enough."
[Grrrr.]
"......"
The beast in question didn't seem interested in getting friendly at all, but did Sina not notice? Or was she pretending not to? In any case, she'd insisted on bringing the White Tiger along while leaving the other monsters atop the snowy peaks, so I'd have to compromise to some degree.
Picture a picture-perfect, harmonious family. If they had a big yard, keeping a dog wouldn't be out of the question, right? I had no strong aversion to animals anyway, so it shouldn't be an issue.
As long as Beatrice doesn't get scared, anyway.
......It looks like a perfectly normal cute cat on the outside, so she should be fine.
Beatrice didn't strike me as the type to fear a little creature like that. She had her childish moments, but her heart was remarkably resilient.
"Oh, right—come to think of it."
"Hm?"
I was lost in thought about how Beatrice and the White Tiger might get along when Sina, hugging it once more, shot me a sidelong glance and brought up something else.
"The first time we met, you asked this lady if she'd become your 'second daughter,' didn't you?"
"......Yeah."
"So that means you already have a first daughter, right?"
Come to think of it, I hadn't mentioned my eldest yet. Under her curious gaze, I realized I'd skimped on the preliminaries. I should have told her early about the rest of the family, since she was to be my second.
......But did I tell Reeche about getting a second daughter before I left?}
A faint premonition flickered through my mind, but I brushed it off carelessly and focused on Sina for now. Explaining Beatrice—who she'd meet soon at home—took priority.
"That's right. I already have one adopted daughter ahead of you. Unlike you, she's still a 'real' child—just turned fifteen."
"Oho."
"Her name's Beatrice. She's older than you in years, technically, but nominally, she'll be the eldest. No need to treat her like a big sister, though—relax."
Drawing lines based on age and establishing hierarchies would only complicate things. There were administrative hurdles too...... and considering the 'third disaster' I'd bring in last, it'd just tangle the family tree unnecessarily.
Better to set the nominal eldest and second from the start. Anyway, Sina's eyes sparkled with interest at the mention of Beatrice, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"For the man who came all the way into these deep mountains to propose adoption to this lady to take as his first daughter... she must be no ordinary girl."
"......Hm."
I didn't reply, but in moments like this, silence meant affirmation. Sina nodded to herself in satisfaction, murmuring softly,
"I'm curious. What secrets does she hold? At the very least, with you around, the next five years until I destroy the world won't be boring."
I whipped around, aghast. She didn't even blink, just wore a chilling smile.
I worked my lips a few times, exhaled a sigh born of inexpressible frustration, and countered,
"Destroying the world—is that still set in stone? Room for reconsideration?"
"You did pique this lady's curiosity, that's true."
Regardless, she schooled her features into cold indifference, glaring icily.
"But if you thought that shallow interest could suppress the madness I've built over a millennium, you're arrogant. Know your place."
"......Sigh."
I couldn't hold back an audible groan. It seemed bonding truly with my second daughter would take even longer than with the first.
By the time we trudged down the mountain and reached Handel, dawn was breaking. We crossed the city, treading paths lightly dusted with snow from the range's influence.
"Here—we'll all be living together from now on, you, me, and my eldest."
"Hmm......"
As the city's residents began stirring, we arrived at the mansion. Sina, with the White Tiger perched on her shoulder, crossed her arms and looked up at it appraisingly.
I approached the iron gate meantime, resting a hand on the bars to check the barrier's status.
No issues, good.
The durability held firm, no signs of intruders. It'd been less than two days since I'd left after clashing with Sina—not enough time for trouble anyway.
Relieved, I pushed open the gate.
Screeech—
"Come on in. As I said on the way, your room's the third door from the end on the second floor."
"Tiger, play in the yard."
No sooner had I spoken than Sina strode past the gate and casually tossed the White Tiger into the yard. It landed gracefully on the grass with a rustle and scampered off—chasing butterflies fluttering about, from the looks of it.
I turned from the beast to Sina. Her expression was unreadable, but she didn't seem displeased with the situation, flashing a relaxed smile.
"May this lady enter? Or should I wait for the master of the house to open the door himself?"
I chuckled wryly at her cheeky demeanor.
"It's your home from now on too. Do as you like. If you want, explore the house, then check out the city."
Unlike Beatrice, whom I'd had to shield from the Black Lotus Society and couldn't let wander alone... Sina was already a full-fledged disaster, the Monstrous Strength Chaos God. Nothing in this city—or likely the entire empire—could threaten her. Not even the other Seven Strongest, save me.
So naturally, I had no intention of restricting her. I nodded toward the entrance, and she got it, grinning.
"You said it yourself. This lady won't hold back—thanks for the consideration."
"Of course......"
I nodded again to affirm, and that very instant—
Bang!
Crash!
Thud!
"......?"
"Eh?"
A sudden clamor like something massive colliding echoed from within. Sina and I froze, then turned as one toward the mansion door.
Boom—!
"Daddy......! Why'd you take so lo......!"
The door flew open with hinge-shattering force, revealing a girl before us. Beatrice, her face brimming with joy that startled even me as she took me in—
"......Huh?"
—spotted Sina standing beside me a beat later. She froze, head snapping toward her. Her blood-red eyes, somehow deeper than before, fixed intently on Sina.
And silence fell. Or stillness. Dead quiet. A heavy, wordless tension settled over the three of us.
Then, with a ominous creak, Beatrice tilted her head at a dangerous angle and turned back to me, eyes lifeless.
"Daddy."
"......"
"Who's the girl next to you?"
Pop!
Before I could react, the girl beside me moved first. The moment Beatrice finished speaking, Sina leaped into the air like a cat spotting a cucumber.
"......H-Huh?"
She landed nearly three meters back, blinking in confusion at her own reaction.
One visible fact: from the instant she saw Beatrice, Sina's snow leopard tail had puffed up enormously.
"......Kek......"
As if wary of a hostile creature.
Sina's complexion turned an oddly pallid shade.