Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Esira's Birthday Dilemma
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"Good heavens, Esira's birthday?"
If it's a birthday, then naturally, you have to give the kid a gift.
Among all the challenges I've faced since dropping into this world, this has to be the highest difficulty by far.
'What on earth could I give her to make Esira happy?'
I'd tried sounding her out, just in case.
"I just need Mommy."
It was an adorable answer, but I couldn't exactly give her myself.
Like tying a ribbon around my neck and climbing into a gift box.
'Ta-da, Esira. Your gift is me.'
I couldn't pull off something like that.
It wouldn't be great for a child's emotional development, either.
In the end, I needed something.
This being our first birthday together, I had no clue how to handle it.
The first person who came to mind was Dancing Butterfly.
She seemed like she'd have a clear-cut answer for something like this.
"Good heavens, Esira's birthday?"
Dancing Butterfly clasped her hands together.
Her eyes sparkled with overwhelming excitement.
"That's so cool, Lady Asrania! Worrying about throwing a birthday party for a kid who's not even related by blood. As expected, you might look cold on the outside, but your heart's as warm as they come!"
"......Lower your voice. My eardrums are ringing."
"Oh, sorry! I got too carried away—it's just so exciting!"
Dancing Butterfly didn't hum a tune, but her whole body radiated joy.
"For a birthday, nothing beats a grand feast! Nothing brings happiness like delicious food."
"Food, huh."
"Yes! Cake, meat dishes, sweet desserts—the works! Don't worry, I'll handle it all. You know my cooking skills. I can whip up something so tasty it'll knock Esira out!"
Dancing Butterfly's culinary talents were indeed well-known.
Handing it off to her would be easy.
I still remembered how good her cooking was last time.
But at least one thing, I wanted to do myself.
Yeah, the cake at least.
"Mind if I try making the cake myself?"
Dancing Butterfly froze mid-menu recitation.
"......What did you just say?"
"I'll make the cake myself. Of course, I'd need your technical support—I couldn't do it alone."
Dancing Butterfly blinked a few times, then slowly opened her mouth. Her pupils dilated dramatically.
"Lady Asrania is going to tie on an apron and bake a cake herself?"
"Yeah. I can handle cooking to some extent."
"Good heavens!"
She grabbed both my hands.
"This isn't cooking—it's fantasy magic! Epic!"
"......I'll take that as a compliment."
"Of course! I'm dying of curiosity now. The flavor born from your hands—what'll it be like?!"
Dancing Butterfly's eyes burned with curiosity and anticipation.
I had no idea why she was getting so hyped over me baking one cake.
"You have to let me taste-test the first cake. Or even just the crumbs. Okay?"
"......Sure, why not."
The second person I consulted was none other than Marigold.
She looked like a little kid on the outside, but her mind was full of worldly wisdom.
A child's innocence combined with an adult's insight.
Surely someone with both would have a solid suggestion.
The moment she heard my dilemma, Marigold's eyes sparkled like they were shooting off star dust.
"A doll! That's the best!"
"......A doll?"
"Yup. Guaranteed. The absolute best gift for a kid is a doll!"
I raised one eyebrow.
"Not just because you like dolls?"
"Whaaat?!"
Marigold's eyes went wide, and she jumped up, shaking her head furiously.
She was so vehemently denying it that it threw me off.
"Listen up. I'll explain why dolls are perfect! Take notes!"
Marigold clasped her hands in front of her chest.
"Dolls last forever. Holding one makes you feel safe. Even on scary nights when you're crying, hugging it gets you through."
"Esira doesn't cry."
"Life happens—you never know. Puberty hits, she might lock the door and bawl."
"If it's puberty, she'd get mad, not cry."
"Argh, seriously! Sis talks too much! I know a girl's heart best!"
God, I wish she'd drop that lispy voice. Gives me chills.
"Cakes disappear when you eat them, but dolls stick around. They hold memories. For life."
She had a point.
Esira loved hugging things—rubbing her cheek against my arm, clinging to my hand and refusing to let go.
"Guess I should check out a doll shop."
"No need for a shop."
"Huh?"
"Make it!"
"......Who? You?"
"No. Number Four Sis."
"How am I supposed to do that?"
Did I have any crafting skills like that?
Marigold shook her head in exasperation.
"Not like that."
She wiggled her fingers.
Mimicking pulling and weaving thread.
"Knitting. Handmade."
"......Knitting?"
"Yup. Made by hand. Shows the love."
A disbelieving laugh escaped me.
"I'm more used to gripping a knife than a needle. Never tried it."
Marigold stared up at me intently.
"You'd pick it up fast. You've got great dexterity."
She snatched my wrist. No time to refuse—she yanked me forward.
"Come on, let's pick out some yarn first!"
"Hey, wait—"
"The coolest gift in the world for Esira! A doll made by her mommy—how touching is that?"
The ultimate gift.
My resistance crumbled instantly. I let Marigold drag me along.
I pictured Esira hugging the doll, smiling.
'......Fine.'
If I could see that smile, who cared about threading a needle.
"......Alright. Lead the way."
I'd planned to go to the Commander—Esira's father figure in the original story—but his place had tight security, so I couldn't just waltz in.
So I summoned him.
Summoned is putting it nicely; it was more like a threat.
"Come out alone right now, or I'll force my way in."
Less than five minutes later, the Commander came sprinting up, panting. Sweat beaded on his forehead from the rush.
He hadn't even had time to fix his clothes, his face tense.
I waited for him to catch his breath, then got to the point.
The moment he heard my dilemma, the Commander's expression turned deadly serious.
"What's the core of a birthday party? Gifts? Food? No."
"Then what?"
"The atmosphere."
He held up one finger sharply.
"You have to make it visually special—different from every other day. Balloons, party hats, candles: essentials."
"......Think that'll work?"
"Absolutely! Fill the space with bright colors, show it's not just any day. Kids go nuts for visual changes like that."
Sound advice.
Even on the battlefield, how you decorated and camouflaged terrain affected ally morale and intimidated enemies.
Psychological warfare, basically.
"Picture it: soft lighting with flickering candles, loved ones celebrating you. It'll be a lifelong memory for the kid."
"I see."
A lifelong memory.
Seizing my moment of serious thought, the Commander slipped in with a sly tone.
"Or actually, there's an even more perfect gift."
"What?"
"Make her a sibling."
I glared at the man.
"......You mean adopt?"
"No, a blood sibling."
My sword half-unsheathed with a sharp ring.
"Looks like you're not scared of me anymore."
Daring to joke like that in front of me. The Commander threw up both hands and backed away.
"If you were really mad, my head would've rolled before I even drew! With your skills, you could pull it off easy."
For someone so confident, his voice trembled noticeably.
I could see the cold sweat trickling down his back.
If he's scared, why say it?
Did he have extra lives, or was it player instinct?
Obviously picked the option screaming, "Can't resist this one."
Otherwise, why always choose the riskiest, most thrilling path?
"It was a joke. But honestly, it just hit me again how great a person you are."
"Why's that?"
"Cooking for Esira, knitting a doll, planning this party."
"Just being a mom."
"Duty alone wouldn't cut it."
He shook his head.
"Takes real love. You might see yourself as a cold, ruthless monster, but to me, you've got the warmest heart around."
"......Not thrilled to hear that from you."
"It's true. Honestly, I'd love to have you on my real side."
"Join the side of justice?"
"Nah, meaningless. Just my personal fondness."
Sigh.
Probably more drivel about my legs being a work of art or wanting to be stepped on.
The Commander fixed me with an intense, sincere gaze.
"Don't worry. I'll support this birthday party perfectly. So your feelings reach her fully."
"......Talk is cheap."
To him, it probably felt like a sub-quest from me.
Not main story material, but a lingering side event.
I sheathed my sword.
"One thing I'm curious about."
"Shoot."
"Last time we met, you were casual. Why the polite speech now?"
"I separate official from personal. This is a consultation."
Not a bad answer. Almost professional.
"Commander."
"Yes?"
"Thanks."
Perverted as he was, he had a good heart at his core. My thanks came from a pure place.
But this guy rode the mood way too hard.
"Then, as thanks, how about a lap pillow?"
"I'll punch a hole in your heart and give your corpse a lap pillow."
"Urk, pure love that defies even death......!"
"Just die already."