Reunion in the Frozen Peaks
The dazzling snowfield stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
Beyond it stood a lone, majestic white snow mountain, rising proudly in solitude.
The scenery of the Snow Mountain Zone, reunited after so long, was as beautiful and welcoming as ever.
Even the bone-chilling gale that felt like it would slice through my scales was somehow endearing.
The reason, of course, was those waiting for me here.
“Zzu— Zuaa—.”
Seeing Wise Scale shivering uncontrollably, I finally snapped out of it with an 'ah.'
I hurriedly built a fire.
No, I didn't forget about you all...
I just got a little lost in the moment...
Sorry...
The Lizardmen, nearly frozen solid, barely came back to life.
As expected, this harsh frozen land was too much for cold-blooded reptiles.
But what could be done now?
This was their new home from here on out.
Let's work hard to adapt.
The Lizardmen burst into collective sobs.
I thought it was from overwhelming gratitude, but their story said otherwise.
We trusted and followed you, but paradise turned out to be hell.
I'm sorry...
Still, I brought you this far, so I'll take responsibility and make sure you thrive.
Don't worry.
My Command skill had leveled up considerably on the journey here. I was confident.
Tripling the usual dose, and they'd adapt in no time.
The Lizardmen clutched each other, wailing mournfully.
With the Surprise Birds huddled in one corner joining in, they looked utterly pitiful.
Hey, come on.
Can't back out now.
Too late for that.
“Kyung—! Kyaang──!!!”
While I desperately provided mental care to the despairing Lizardmen, a familiar cry suddenly echoed from afar.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
All three heads whipped around in unison.
On the nearby white snowfield, a tiny furball charged fiercely toward me.
My precious daughter, Suli, so cute I could gouge out my eyes for her.
Shii───
The instant I spotted Suli—no, the moment her cry reached me—my body moved.
She slammed straight into me as I closed the distance in a single bound.
Her body attack had improved remarkably in our time apart.
She must have trained hard with Snow.
“Kyung kyung—! Kyung—!! Kyaang──!!”
Suli rubbed furiously against my body.
I understood her cries without needing translation.
[Yeah, yeah. Sorry I was late.]
“Kyung—! Kyaang—!!!”
Thump-thump—
'Bad dad!' Suli pounded my scales repeatedly with her front paws.
The plump paw attacks after so long soothed my weary heart effortlessly.
Stroke-stroke—
I naturally stroked her with my tail tip, inspecting her closely.
Any injuries?
Had she thinned from lack of food?
Was she healthy?
Fortunately, Suli looked perfectly fine after my check.
Snow must have taken excellent care of her.
The adorable fox ears perked cutely atop her head.
The fluffy white fur begging to be buried in.
The chubby paws I itched to fiddle with.
And the swishing tail...
Huh? The number of tails...?
Increased...?
My eyes widened as I scrutinized Suli wriggling in my embrace.
Upon closer look, she was the same as when we'd parted, yet one thing was mysteriously different.
Three swishing tails.
In the time apart, not one but two more had grown.
...Kids really do grow fast, huh?
[You're back.]
Flustered by Suli's unexpected change, a voice suddenly sounded.
Glancing over, a beautiful fox alighted gracefully before me.
[Ahh. Just got back, Snow.]
[Welcome home, Nix.]
Snow's pleasant voice gently rippled through my mind.
Only then did home truly feel like home.
[But weren't you quite late? You said 'soon,' yet I nearly went to fetch you myself.]
[...Sorry. Things dragged on longer than expected.]
Snow let out a light laugh at my guilty averted gaze.
[No need for apologies. Just teasing. You weren't that late.]
[...Really? Anything happen in the meantime?]
[What would? Same peaceful days as always.]
[Good. Relieved.]
I nodded steadily, stealing glances at Suli, until Snow noticed and spoke with an 'ah.'
[I see. Suli grew while you were away.]
[...Yeah. Tails shot straight to three.]
[Even I'm a bit surprised. Normally it'd be two...]
Anxiety bubbled up at Snow's quiet gaze trailing off toward Suli.
[...Problem?]
[No, nothing like that. Quite the opposite—good news. Her talent must be exceptional to jump to three tails at once.]
[Ah, then definitely good.]
Relief washed over me; I stroked Suli's head again.
'Kyung kyung—!' She cried happily.
[Now my turn to ask... What's with those behind you?]
—Her stare's been prickling since earlier.
Snow glanced behind me.
Only then did I 'ah' and recall the utterly forgotten group.
[Let me introduce. Friends I owed a debt to in the past.]
[Oh?]
Snow eyed the Lizardmen with interest.
They shuddered under her casually passing clear blue gaze.
[From your hometown?]
[Yeah. Repaying the favor, and they'd make good friends for Suli too.]
Glancing at clingy Suli, Snow eyed her as well.
[Friends for Suli?]
[Yes... Overstepping?]
Snow shook her head lightly at my cautious probe.
[No. I trust you as much as myself—no issue. You're her father, after all. But merely...]
She trailed off quietly.
[Whether they can survive here...]
Her pitying glance at the Lizardmen tugged at me.
I turned too, seeing them huddled by my fire, clutching each other, shivering.
I got it.
[Don't worry. I'll make them adapt perfectly.]
[...I'll help too. Better with two.]
We nodded together, glancing at them.
They shuddered—not from cold this time.
Don't worry.
Snow's mastery of healing magic surpasses mine; no deaths on my watch.
The Lizardmen wailed in unison.
Thus, I reunited with my family.
“Pii—! Piit──!!!”
...I know.
Didn't forget.
So stop crying like that.
I'm sorry, okay.
Not just Suli had grown in my absence.
To Soon-i, peeking slyly from behind Snow, had evolved similarly.
Unlike Suli's subtle shift, To Soon-i's growth was shockingly drastic.
To Soon-i had originally matched Suli's size.
Side by side, two fluffy white furballs.
But now? Vastly different.
[...Packed on weight?]
At least three—no, generously five times bigger. I fell silent.
To Soon-i protested vehemently, but it barely registered.
Her evolution stunned me speechless.
Overall growth? Maybe. But this was excessive.
Especially sideways, not upward.
I glanced at Snow.
She shook her head lightly.
[Regrettably, it's evolution. To Soon-i advanced her species.]
[...Incredible. Was sure she'd fattened up from overeating.]
[Think I can't handle diet management?]
I apologized at once to her subtle glare.
[...No, sorry. Just shocked.]
[I get it... I was stunned at first too. Wondered if she'd snuck snacks behind my back.]
Nodding at Snow's tale, I glanced aside.
A plump pig... er, rabbit.
[Pork today...?]
Couldn't even counter the right head's quiet murmur.
To Soon-i, whose cuteness was her only asset...
Yeah... She'd lost it all while I was gone.
“Kyung kyung—!!!”
I glanced at To Soon-i.
She averted her eyes silently.
Perfect.
Today, to celebrate reunion—pork... no, rabbit meat?
I chuckled lightly at her clinging sobs.
Always the same joke—don't cry.
Yeah, yeah. Good girl.
You're family too, To Soon-i.
I'd never eat or discard family.
[Tch...]
Ignored the rare tongue-click from the right head.
Minding it might make To Soon-i wail for real.
[Hm? Didn't catch my talk with Snow?]
[Yeah, partly that intent too...]
Main goal was repaying favors, but I nodded affirmatively since it was true.
To Soon-i, however, had sunk into her own world.
Muttering to herself, she whirled toward the still-shivering Lizardmen.
Squeal— She bounded forward.
Well, 'bounded' was generous; her plumpness made it more of a roll.
Could she even flee a predator now...?
After arduously rolling to the Lizardmen, To Soon-i stood proudly.
Her side flab was especially eye-catching.
Stop smacking your lips, right head.
Pii— Piit—!!
Rarely, she raised her voice.
Her proud declaration carried solemn weight, plumpness notwithstanding.
She was taking this seriously.
Though the Lizardmen, chilled to the bone, ignored her entirely.
—Duel!
To Soon-i confidently extended a front paw.
Beckoning challengingly.
I sighed wordlessly.
To Soon-i was D-rank via evolution.
Lizardmen averaged E. Her confidence made sense.
D-rank monster—grounds for bravado.
Her pity?...
“Zzu— Zuaa—?”
Wise Scale, too cold-focused to notice surroundings, finally spotted the plump pig... er, To Soon-i.
She tilted her head.
(For reference: Wise Scale was B-rank. A superior Dragnuyt monster.)
“Zuaa—?”
“Zzu— Zuaa.”
“Zuaa— Zzu—.”
The triplets sidled up too.
C-rank each.
The four D-rank Lizardmen trailed them, stepping forward.
Warmed by the fire, they seemed better.
To Soon-i's reaction?...
She rolled frantically back to my side.
I properly introduced her to the now-salivating Lizardmen.
To Soon-i's family—hands off.
Not emergency rations.
No matter how delicious she looks.
The Lizardmen smacked their lips regretfully.
The right head joined in.
Really, not rations.
Suli diligently comforted the cowed To Soon-i.
Suli's such a good girl.
And like that, I reunited with family.
Other families' reactions weren't bad, so Lizardmen should adapt fine.
Looking forward to daily life ahead.
Ah, Surprise Birds. Didn't forget you either.
I'll take good care of you all.
No need to worry so much.