Dane (3): Trials of an Assassin's Parenthood
After taking in the kids, I spent a good while pondering what to do next. Yustina was older than me, so that was one thing, but Elfin and Liwin were undeniably children of their age, no matter what anyone said. I'd cut down countless monsters and humans, but I had zero experience raising kids, so I was inevitably at a loss.
How do you even raise children? Just feed them and make sure they sleep well, and won't they grow up big and strong on their own?
Of course, it wasn't that simple. Treating childcare for three kids like watering houseplants came back to bite me hard.
"Where'd Elfin go this time?!"
"She said she likes the forest. Probably because she's an elf."
"But she doesn't even know the way...?"
"Hmph, leave it to me. This Yustina shall fetch her forthwith."
"Thanks... Wait, doesn't Yustina not know the paths around here either?"
"Dr-dragons can handle something like th-this... More importantly, human! Did I not tell thee I am far thy senior? 'Tis most rude not to show respect!"
Elfin, who darted off the moment I looked away; Yustina, with her sky-high pride but zero knowledge of the human world. Liwin was the most docile of the bunch, always playing quietly by herself, so those two were my biggest headaches. And if I had to pick number one, it was Elfin, roaming these rugged mountains in her tiny body.
If I wear her out completely, she won't have the energy to wander off.
Elfin had more energy than you could believe for a little girl. She reminded me of my younger self. Drawing from that experience, I recalled how Uncle Philbert had drained me back in the day.
"Elfin, wanna play a little game with Uncle?"
"Huh? What is it? Yeah, I wanna!"
Though I'd long surpassed him, my assassin skills had started under Uncle Philbert's tutelage. He'd justified the training as a way to tire out my endless wandering—and it produced the continent's top assassin. I applied that same proven method to Elfin.
"Elfin, ever heard of assassins?"
"Assassins? Kinda know what they are, but..."
I gave her a brief rundown of the profession from my own experiences. With each tale I spun, her eyes sparkled brighter. Was I some hidden storyteller, or was she just hooked on the idea of being an assassin? I couldn't tell.
Probably the latter.
Elfin was early teens—right at that age where kids think they're super special. It wasn't weird for her. Everyone's like that at that stage. Sure, she was a rare elf, cursed and exiled, so she was pretty special, but anyway...
"I wanna do it! I wanna be an assassin!"
"Want me to teach you?"
"Yes! Teach me!!"
Get the mood right, and they'd fall for it hook, line, and sinker. It didn't have to be assassins specifically, but I had high hopes for Elfin anyway.
I've always wanted to take on a disciple at some point.
Win or lose, the resistance would keep fighting for a while. But I wouldn't be around by then. So why not raise a disciple to fill my shoes? No guarantee she'd help the resistance even if she learned from me, but it was worth a shot.
"Let's start with footwork, then."
"Aw, no sword?"
"That's later. Basics are footwork first."
Once decided, I taught her diligently every day. Luckily, she took to it with real passion, throwing herself into the assassin arts. We progressed steadily from basics to advanced, and her reckless wandering dropped off sharply.
"Lemme try too!"
"Guh—how does she move so lightly?! Is Elfin secretly a cat beastkin or something?!"
Liwin and Yustina occasionally joined in, intrigued by Elfin's practice, but Elfin stood out head and shoulders.
Her growth is insanely fast.
They say geniuses recognize geniuses. Much later, I heard Uncle Philbert had been shocked shortly after starting to teach me. Teach one thing, she grasps ten; in the time for ten, she intuits a hundred. He was a talented assassin himself, so he knew I was beyond prodigy—pure genius.
"How was that? Felt pretty good, right?!"
"...Yeah."
"Huh? What's with the sudden vibe?"
"Nothing. It was good. Too good."
Watching Elfin brought back Uncle Philbert's shock crystal clear. Just days in, I realized her combat sense matched or exceeded mine. But no jealousy or rivalry stirred in me—just awe at her radiant talent.
Part of it might be knowing I'll die soon anyway.
But it wasn't just that. Elfin's growth potential outstripped mine and any human in this world. I'd hit continent-top assassin by mid-twenties; with her similar talent, plus elves' long life and minimal physical decline...
If she keeps growing steadily, what will Elfin be like in 100, 200 years...?
The thought of a monster who'd rewrite history from scratch sent shivers down my spine.
Too grand a vessel to waste as a mere assassin.
Yet I felt doubt. Having spent over a decade as one, I knew assassins got no respect. Elfin wasn't just assassin-talented; her stats crushed everything in general combat. Born in chaos, she'd be a hero; if that old Demon King revived, a saint slayer—no doubt.
"But Master, is this how assassins fight?"
"Of course."
"Just slashing everything in sight? We're not even practicing hiding footsteps or tracks."
"As long as no witnesses survive, it's an assassination. If enemies surround you, just kill 'em all and walk out."
"...Really?"
"Yup."
I brushed off her skeptical glare, urged more practice, and pondered her future.
She'll become an incredible warrior, no doubt.
The only regret? I wouldn't live to see it with my own eyes.
Training focused on Elfin, but I didn't neglect the others.
"I've told thee dozens of times! This Yustina is manifold thy senior—worry not for me!"
"Just come here already. Gotta tie those dress laces, right?"
"Ugh, I can do it myself...!"
"...For real?"
Yustina bit her lip, stretching awkwardly to tie her dress back. Her face flushed beet red from the effort, like it was some epic ordeal. I could barely hold back laughter.
This is a dragon? A grand mage?
Living with one this long was a first—every day brought fresh wonder. A pint-sized dragon who couldn't tie her own laces. And despite her adorable clumsiness, her draconic pride was sky-high. Peak comedy.
"Sure you don't want help?"
"...Urk."
"If you're embarrassed, I won't say a word—just turn around."
"Grrgh... Human... To shame Yustina Nortru on Dragius II thus... My kin shall ne'er forget...!"
"There, good job. Now hold still?"
Just tying a few laces, and she was sniffling like I'd humiliated her. Holding back laughs was torture.
"Heh, you sure you're a dragon?"
"Have I not shown thee magic aplenty?! Why dost thou doubt?!"
"Then why do you know nothing? Dragons live forever—shouldn't you be all-wise?"
Yustina ducked her head, fidgeting with her dress front, kneading then releasing the fabric. Finally, she mumbled like she'd steeled herself.
"Unlike kin or siblings, this is my first outing to the human world... So I may lack some knowledge."
"Dragons don't wear dresses back home?"
"Naturally! I take human form now, but there we are true to our nature... Urgh..."
She trailed off, realizing she'd basically admitted to going naked at home. Her pale face went crimson.
"A-anyway! 'Tis so! I venture forth to see the world, learn its ways, find my dream—so chide not this Yustina o'ermuch, human!"
"Find your dream?"
"...Aye."
That piqued my interest. I crossed my arms, staring imperiously. She squirmed, sweating bullets.
"D-don't stare so intently with those curious eyes!"
"Can't help it."
"'Tis no grand secret, so I shall tell... Old dragons lose their dreams, knowest thou?"
"What?"
"They had dreams once, perchance. But after endless ages, they forget even what they were."
"..."
It was hard to grasp. Dragons' world was worlds apart from humans'. But I cared about her story—this first outing, her youthful vibe despite the age.
"And this Yustina is young among dragons. A-ah, still far thy senior, human—so banmal remains forbidden henceforth, aye?"
"Got it. So, what's your dream?"
"Eek! Thou heedest not my words!"
She stomped her tiny shod foot, huffed to cool off.
"...That be the issue."
"Huh?"
"Ages bring faded dreams, yet youth demands one. But this Yustina hath none."
"Ah, so that's why..."
"Wandering human realms might spark a desire, a dream... Thus I hope."
I eyed her solemn pose, eyes closed for effect. She seemed earnest now—not the goofy kid from before. More childlike than ever. Adults wander without direction, then age erases even those dreams, leaving bare reality.
Dragons or humans, same boat.
A bitter taste lingered.
"Hmph, then tell thou."
"Huh?"
"Thou asked this Yustina's dream! Fair turnabout demands thine own!"
"...What? You didn't even tell me. Said you dunno."
"'I know not' is an answer, no?"
She giggled, smug at her "win." I itched to flick her forehead but paused to think.
My dream?
Nothing came to mind. Goals, sure: lop off the king's head and all the elites', overthrow the nation. But that's no "dream" to share, and not what she meant.
"You just said it—adults lose dreams with age. Kids' stuff only. Guess I'm too grown-up now."
"Pah, absurd! Far my junior, yet prattling of adulthood."
"That's why you look like a kid to me."
"Grrrh! Truly no dream at all? Dull, pitiable man! This Yustina is disappointed! Hmph!"
I shelved thoughts on the pouty dragon and mulled her dream-chasing. I'd had one back when I was younger.
"Fine, fine. Dream? Uh... raising disciples?"
"Oh? Disciples?"
Her ears perked, hooked at last.
But "raising disciples" felt small-scale—I was already doing it with Elfin. So I scaled up.
"Found a school."
"School? Where children learn sundry knowledge?"
"Yeah. Dunno what exactly—not just book smarts, but the world. Anyway, build one in some village, teach kids."
"Hoo... School... aye, school..."
I grinned. "Satisfying enough?"
"Well, somewhat..."
She nodded, then eyes widened, snorting derisively.
"Hmph! A school? Human dreams are so banal! Scarce worthy of this Yustina's dream list!"
"Sure, sure. Gonna go find Liwin now."
"Heh heh heh, at last thou usest honorifics!"
I left the smug, hand-on-hip dragon and headed for Liwin, probably tucked in a corner.
Hope she's still home.
Youngest of the three, Liwin was a gentle lamb compared to Elfin and Yustina—easiest to handle. Seemed talented in combat and magic, but too young for serious training.
Most normal of the bunch, at least.
Cursed elf exile: Elfin. Dream-seeking dragon wanderer: Yustina. Half-demon Liwin seemed downright ordinary by contrast.
But months after taking her in, I realized Liwin was anything but ordinary.