Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Evil Dragon's Gift
Loren set down her water cup and spoke in an exaggerated tone more animated than usual.
"Well, well. Who wants to go first with their gifts?"
"Heh, let's see."
"How about we go by age? Starting with the Bookstore Elder and going down the line!"
Loren pointed at everyone with her index finger as she continued.
"First up, the Bookstore Elder, then me, next is Mr. Row, and last but not least, our little one! Sound good?"
"Sure. Doesn't matter to me."
"That's fine by me."
I've gotten used to hanging out with them.
The way humans judge me as young based on my appearance alone.
He's not an old friend of mine, apparently.
But I could see a familiar mischief glinting in the sidelong glance he shot my way.
The slight upward curl of his lips suggested he was enjoying this quite a bit.
Probably found it hilarious that I, born before him, had been bumped to a later spot.
"Great! Then Elder, you're up first!"
"Heh, this is more nerve-wracking than I expected."
Hubert stood up and pulled several boxes from a drawer.
The first one he handed over was a large, thick box in a pale purple hue.
It rattled with every movement of the box.
"Here you go, Loren."
"Oh my, the wrapping is so pretty."
"Don't you put a lot of stock in things like that?"
"Ahaha."
Loren laughed bashfully as she unwrapped her gift.
Inside was a teapot and teacups adorned with pale purple flowers.
"Wow... they're so beautiful..."
"You enjoy tea at your place, don't you? Thought an extra set wouldn't hurt."
"Thank you so much, Elder! Mom's going to love these too!"
"Glad to hear it."
Hubert nodded with a pleased expression.
Then he pulled out a smaller yellow box.
"Here you go."
"Okay."
The next box was mine.
Much smaller than the one Loren had received.
The wrapping was neat and tidy, almost too pristine to tear open.
And this wrapping style...
"You wrapped this yourself, didn't you?"
"Heh, spot on."
The clean, no-frills packaging felt familiar.
I chuckled softly and opened the box.
Inside was a luxurious leather notebook and fountain pen.
Small enough to fit in a pocket.
Soft leather cover, with my initials embossed at the bottom.
"This is..."
"You like keeping records, don't you? Made sure to order something sturdy since you'll be using it often."
"...Thanks. I'll put it to good use."
It fit perfectly in my hand.
Not something just anyone could have picked out without observing me closely.
That's why I carefully ran my fingers over the cover.
"Heh, looks like you really like it. Good."
"Yeah. Thanks, Mr. Hubert."
"No need for thanks. Now, you've waited long enough? Little miss."
"...!"
The last one was for the girl.
Even combining mine and Loren's boxes, it wouldn't match the size of hers.
Hers was big enough to hug with both arms.
The girl's eyes sparkled at the sight of the box.
Layer upon layer of anticipation and excitement left her at a loss for what to do.
"Go on, open it."
"...!"
"Here, I'll help."
I helped the girl open the box.
Inside was a house far more ornate than our cabin.
A palm-sized doll came as a bonus.
"!!!"
"They say this is the most popular toy for girls these days. What do you think? Like it?"
"!"
"Looks like she does. Heh."
The girl stared silently at the toy before hugging the house tightly.
Her arms trembled,
her eyes grew misty,
her lips curved up high.
She gently stroked the doll's head,
and carefully pulled out the tiny furniture, examining each piece.
Every little gesture brimmed with emotion.
Everyone watched her with warm smiles.
"Heh, she looks so happy."
"Worth giving it, then."
"Yeah. Hope my gift doesn't get overshadowed now that she's this thrilled."
Loren shrugged playfully and began pulling out her gifts one by one.
Wrapping paper that perfectly matched Loren's taste—cute and whimsical.
A handmade-looking ribbon adorned the center of each box.
Loren handed them out one by one, scratching her cheek sheepishly.
"I didn't prepare different ones like you, Elder. Went with the same gift for everyone."
"Heh, that's fine."
"But I put tons of heart into them!"
I helped open the girl's first.
Inside was a small scarf made of pink fabric.
Pink just like the girl's hair,
with a cute rabbit decoration at the end.
Every detail screamed that Loren had made it with the girl in mind.
Hubert's was brown plaid,
and mine, surprisingly, a cozy beige knit in warm tones.
Loren pointed at the scarves and began introducing them enthusiastically.
"First, for our little one—super cute and adorable! Added a rabbit charm since she loves them! What do you think? Like it?"
"!"
"Heh, glad you do. Thanks."
Loren pinched the girl's cheek lightly and continued.
"Elder, you always wear your beret and coat, so I went for a mature color that'd match. Happy with it?"
"Heh, thank you. I love it."
"And for Mr. Row, you always wear dark colors, so I tried something brighter for the scarf."
Unlike with the others, her voice trailed off.
Probably because it didn't match my taste.
She looked worried I might not like it.
I gazed down at the scarf and smiled leisurely.
"It's fine. I like it."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Looks cozy and warm. Thanks. I'll wear it every day."
Only then did Loren exhale in relief and smile.
She flashed her usual cheerful grin and pulled something from her basket.
Homemade potpourri.
For Hubert, me, the girl.
And even Rakiss.
"Here, for you too, Priest."
"...You're giving me some as well?"
"Of course! Good thing I brought extra."
Rakiss blinked in brief surprise before smiling kindly.
"Thank you. First time receiving something like this."
"Heh, hope you like it!"
"Oh dear. Then I should give you something too. Excuse me for a moment..."
"No, no. This is more than enough."
Rakiss waved off Hubert and sniffed the potpourri.
A smile played on his lips as he nodded slowly.
"Nice scent. Calms the mind."
"Really? Great! I used my favorite fragrance!"
Rakiss carefully tucked the potpourri into his robes.
Loren watched him with a smile before turning to me.
"Now then, Mr. Row's turn?"
"Yeah."
I nodded slowly.
Suddenly, Hubert's words from earlier made sense.
Just handing out what I'd prepared, yet I felt strangely tense.
I pulled a small box from my basket.
A wooden box I'd carved myself, palm-sized.
The girl's drawing was affixed to the lid.
I handed the boxes to Hubert and Loren.
"I went the same route as Loren—identical gifts."
"Ho ho, nice."
"A gift from Mr. Row. Honestly, no clue what it'd be."
Rakiss let out a small chuckle at Loren's words.
I could guess the meaning behind that laugh without asking.
Click—
The wooden box opened, revealing the wooden dolls I'd made.
"Oh, what's this? You made them yourself?"
"Yeah."
"And this drawing... the little miss did it, huh."
"...!"
"Right. Nothing fancy. It's winter, so... a kind of heating magic tool."
Loren nodded and caressed the wooden doll.
It seemed she could feel the warmth.
Her eyes widened at the gentle heat in her hand as she looked at me.
"Whoa, it's wood, but it's warm?"
"Yeah. Infused it with magic."
"Huh? ...Mr. Row, you're a mage?"
"Nah."
I answered briefly with a smile.
No need for long explanations.
Talking about myself would never end.
And this wasn't the moment for it.
"Heh, amazing."
"Yeah?"
"It was cold wood earlier, but now it's perfectly warm."
Hubert kept exclaiming in wonder as he fiddled with the doll, muttering.
"Needs mana stones to recharge, right?"
"...Yeah?"
I glanced at Rakiss.
He gave a subtle nod, grasping my intent.
In truth, since it held power from Rakiss and me, no recharging was needed...
"Right. But it doesn't consume much mana, so recharging once a winter should do."
"Makes sense."
"Wow, impressive. Making something like this yourself."
Loren said in admiration.
Hubert inspected his doll and nodded slowly.
"The drawing's pretty too. Our little one did it?"
"!"
The girl nodded carefully.
A quiet pride shone in that small nod.
But—
She seemed restless somehow.
Specifically, she kept glancing between the doll and me.
Probably wondering when she'd get to give hers.
Bowing her head then lifting it repeatedly, fidgeting with her hem.
Her eyes darted my way.
As if worried I'd forgotten about her.
Her expression was so cute I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sorry. Don't have your gift with me."
"?!"
"Ta-da~! Mr. Row's gift for our little one is with big sis—!"
Loren held out the gift with an excited voice.
A box as big as the girl's torso.
Wrapped in rabbit-pattern paper she loved.
The girl's eyes rounded as my prepared gift emerged from Loren.
"...?"
"It's yours."
"Yeah. Mr. Row asked big sis to make it super cute."
"???"
Still puzzled, the girl took the gift.
Carefully, carefully.
Yet her movements brimmed with more excitement than ever as she unwrapped it.
Handling it like something incredibly precious,
even her breathing cautious and deliberate.
"...!"
Click—
The box opened, and the girl's eyes sparkled brightly.
Inside was a black hair tie and a snow-white rabbit doll.
That hair tie—
was made from the robe I'd nearly discarded.
Remembering the cabin almost collapsing, I couldn't bring myself to throw it away.
Without the detection magic on the robe,
I would've realized the roof caved in too late.
So I left the enchantment intact, cut up the robe, and entrusted it to Loren.
For the girl to carry it always.
To sense even the slightest danger reaching her, anytime, anywhere.
The girl carefully picked up the hair tie.
"Like it?"
"!"
"Hmm, I made it as requested, but her hair's too short to tie right now."
"...?!"
"Here, let me."
I tied the hair tie around the girl's wrist.
Only then did a smile soften her glum expression.
"Suits you."
"......"
"Pull out the doll too."
The girl nodded and lifted the rabbit doll.
A rabbit doll as big as her torso.
The clothes on the doll were also made from my cut-up robe.
And—
Loren had tailored the doll's outfit to mimic my robe.
The girl's eyes widened round.
"...!"
"Yeah. It's my robe."
A small black robe like mine.
The girl fiddled with the hood, then hugged the doll tight.
"...!"
"Like the doll too?"
"!"
"Good."
The girl beamed and buried her face in the doll.
Success so far.
But for some reason, tension flooded me more intensely than before.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Hey."
"...?"
"One more gift."
The girl tilted her head.
Meeting her eyes, I slowly spoke.
"Mertecia."
"...?"
"In our language, it means 'change'."
I smiled softly at her.
"Your name. Like it?"
"......"
The girl's eyes widened.
Her eyes, her lips trembled nonstop.
Soon, her eyes reddened.
Drip, drip.
Tears began to fall.
I hurriedly wiped her eyes.
"Why cry? ...Don't like it?"
"...!"
"You do?"
"!"
The girl nodded with a radiant smile.
Tears kept flowing,
but it was clearly the happiest smile she'd ever shown.