Chapter 30

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Super Strong Kid Searches for Dad 127

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Tiye shyly glanced at Alexander, who had opened both arms to her.

"Tiye can walk too..."

But Alexander let out a low chuckle and scooped her up, perching her on one shoulder.

"Wheee!"

Her view suddenly elevated, and peals of laughter bubbled from Tiye's lips.

Seeing the child stretch her arms toward the ceiling, Alexander teased.

"You didn't even cry when you fell the other time. Lady Tiye is awfully brave. Heights don't scare you?"

Tiye ducked her head to let Alexander pass into the corridor, shaking her head.

"Not at all! When Uncle Basto gives me a piggyback ride, it's high enough to touch the trees, and Tiye thinks it's super fun!"

Alexander let out an "Ah."

"You mean that wild bear of a squad member?"

"Wild bear? Ehehehe!"

Tiye burst into giggles again.

In her mind, fluffy images bloomed of Basto wearing a bear mask and growling "Grrr!"

At that moment, Alexander spoke in a listless tone.

"That squad member's pretty tall. Compared to him, my piggyback must be pathetic. Way too low."

Tiye startled and ducked her head.

"Nooo... Whoa!"

But her shift in weight threw off the balance, her upper body pitching forward.

Even so, Alexander calmly flipped her around and cradled her properly in front.

"No?"

Tiye, who had unconsciously clung tight to his shoulder, shook her head vigorously.

"Yes! That's not it at all! Tiye thinks carriage uncle's piggyback is way, way more fun! More fun than Uncle Basto's!"

At that instant, a "Pfft!" sounded from behind.

Turning around, she saw Basto approaching with the squad members, his face ashen as the grim reaper.

"Basto, what're you gonna do now? Got totally ditched by a kid you met just yesterday."

Basto shot back coldly at Veil's jab.

"What're you on about? You're abandoned too."

"What, abandoned?!"

At their bickering, Tiye slyly checked Alexander's expression.

But Alexander merely smiled warmly at her.

"Then that's a relief. If Lady Tiye wants, I could give you a piggyback to the dining hall every morning."

"Really...?"

"Of course. Looks like it'll take a few more days to check the documents anyway. How about it—shall I escort you there every morning from now on?"

Tiye's face flushed pink as she pressed her lips together.

"Then..."

It was then that the hesitating child finally nodded shyly.

"Well, if it isn't the little Commander King."

In front of the dining hall.

Someone who had been about to step inside halted at the door.

It was Edmund, his head wrapped in bandages and dressed in pajamas, waving brightly.

Tiye, still in Alexander's arms, bowed deeply from the waist in a navel greeting.

"Rich Lantern Uncle, did you sleep well?"

But Edmund playfully shook his head.

"Sadly, no. There were skeletons in my dream."

Tiye's eyes went wide.

"Skeletons? Bone friends showed up in your dream?"

Edmund sighed dramatically.

"Yeah. Guess I'm not as brave as the Commander King? Seeing those bone friends made my whole body shake. Scary stuff."

As Edmund rubbed his arms, a goofy grin spread across Tiye's face.

The child puffed up proudly and replied.

"...Ahem. Tiye's only four, but bone friends don't scare her one bit."

"Really? Wow, how are you so brave? I'm twenty-eight, and bone friends terrify me. No wonder the world calls the Commander King a legend these days."

"Legend...?"

"Yeah. I'm a high-ranking Holy Knight in the Central Division, but I never get called a legend. Kinda jealous."

The child's lips quivered happily.

Legend meant total legend-tier.

"Tiye's already a legend-tier Tannypang..."

Tiye chuckled like a true powerhouse and tapped Alexander's shoulder.

"Put Tiye down!"

Alexander set her down, and Tiye scampered over to Edmund.

Overexcited, she grabbed his hand tight.

"Lantern Uncle, wanna sit next to Tiye for breakfast?"

Edmund exchanged a slightly surprised glance with Alexander.

But he soon smiled warmly.

"It'd be my honor. When else would I get to sit next to the Commander King? Right, Alex?"

Alexander played along as if he'd been waiting.

"Jealous, bro."

Tiye's lips quivered again.

Unthinkingly, she straightened her shoulders and turned.

She announced to the squad members standing off at a distance.

"Hey, today Tiye's eating breakfast with carriage uncle and rich lantern uncle!"

Veil looked dumbfounded.

"What?! Kid, aren't you going overboard since yesterday? How can you just ditch us like this?"

Tiye let out a sigh and wagged her head.

"Veil bro, this isn't ditching. It's business."

"...What?"

"Didn't you hear yesterday? Grand Commander said we're all bear hats now."

Edmund pressed his lips together.

He was using every ounce of strength to hold back his laughter.

"Bear hats means we all wear bear hats and become friends."

"Who said?"

"Tiye thought of it in her head."

"No, what..."

"Look, Tiye's the boss leading Agaveert Mercenary Corps. Bosses do business and eat with new friends. To build bonds!"

"Bonds, not business."

"...Same difference!"

Like he couldn't deal with it anymore, Veil finally sighed.

He chuckled and replied.

"Fine, do whatever. You're the captain, so captain's call."

Tiye put on a mature expression.

"Yeah! Kindergarten taught that friends aren't meant to be hogged alone. You gotta share and play with other friends too."

After that, the child giggled and turned around.

Edmund opened the door, revealing the dining hall set for breakfast.

Valentis Lumen sat in the head seat as always, with Leonardo eating beside him.

Tiye held Edmund's hand and trotted over to stand before Valentis.

"Grand Commander, did you sleep well?"

Valentis looked surprised at Tiye, accompanied by Edmund and Alexander.

But he soon smiled and replied.

"Yes. I hope your bed was comfortable."

"Tiye slept great! Even dreamed of going back to kindergarten."

"Kindergarten? You mean the tutoring hall?"

Tiye, now up on her chair, nodded.

"Yeah. Kindergarten's fun 'cause of the friends, but Tiye can't go anymore."

Valentis set down his utensils.

After a moment's thought, he asked.

"Because of your status?"

The Commander King was known to merely look like a child—her true nature was something else.

With rumors like that rampant, it was practically impossible for her to attend a tutoring hall freely.

"Yeah... Mercenaries said so, can't help it."

As Tiye sulked, a small piece of bread slathered with strawberry jam appeared before her.

Edmund had spread and cut it himself for easy eating.

Tiye popped it in her mouth and chewed.

"But when grown up, Agaveert Mercenary Corps gets super duper big."

She swallowed, took a sip of milk, and continued.

"Then maybe Tiye can go to kindergarten again—Nordics grandpa said so!"

Valentis eyed the Agaveert members.

He wiped the milk stain from Tiye's mouth with a napkin and said.

"That's one way. But I think there's a faster method."

Everyone's gazes converged on Valentis.

Tiye paused mid-reach for her second piece of bread, eyes going round.

"Really?"

Valentis nodded.

"There's a place called Flint Cove, deep in the eastern border of the Old Gods' territory. A rundown area where commoners working in the capital gather."

"Rundown area...?"

"From what I've learned, the region itself is quite insular. Most residents are clueless about outside news, and info on mercenaries is practically nonexistent."

As Tiye tilted her head, Alexander let out an "Ah."

"Come to think of it, I remember. Every time we went for medical support, I saw some decent childcare facilities there."