Chapter 200: New Family
If anything, he pressed closer to Qiong Xing as if refusing to be separated.
"Come on, apologize to everyone properly. Otherwise, they won’t recognize you as my mate. Say goodbye here if you don’t."
"No! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again, I’m sorry!"
Crying and apologizing like that made Elias and Leander feel a little guilty as if they were bullying someone weaker.
Even Joa who saw Iseul apologize so desperately like that finally gave up and patted his head gently.
"Alright, alright. But don’t cry so easily, man. And promise me this, don’t put Qiong Xing in danger. That’s the only thing you must keep."
"...Sniff... yes."
At that moment, they looked no different than a parent and child.
"Also, you need to apologize to Cari. Being Qiong Xing’s mate means you’re going to be like a father to him too. Though... judging by that look, I’m not sure you really seem like a father."
The sight of Iseul’s red and swollen eyes from crying was clearly that of a child.
If anything, Cari who rarely cried might be the more mature one.
"Alright. I’m sorry."
Seeing his honesty, Elias and Leqndrr seemed disarmed.
They let out a sigh and patted Iseul’s head.
In truth, even though he had been kidnapped, neither Qiong Xing nor anyone else had been harmed and no one was injured.
Cari and Albe had been left in the hideout for safety.
Since Al e had previously been given a magical tool to communicate, they were able to confirm he was safe and that they would return soon.
Cari had apparently been worried and crying as well, so with Iseul clinging and crying and Cari’s cries in the background, it was hard to hear much else.
"Still... how did you manage to find this place? I thought it was quite far from here."
"Ah, that’s why I used this to carry him."
With a thud, Leander presented what was in front of him...
"It’s big brother. Why is he sleeping?"
Sleeping... or... was he?
He didn’t look conscious at all, his hands and feet were tied and a cloth covered his mouth.
"You managed to get him to cooperate in this state?"
Seeing Qiong Xing say that, Albe would probably have muttered, "Wait, that’s what you’re focused on?"
"This happened after we arrived. I had this guy show up at just the right time, told him ’handle big brother,’ and sent him. Since defending the idiot little brother would have been troublesome, once he returned to human form, the three of us beat him... and tied him up."
Perhaps they were trying to be considerate of Iseul, but it was hard to hide.
Leaving him tied like that kind of defeated the purpose.
"Come on, let him go. Poor thing. And Iseul, you need to apologize to your big brother too."
"Huh? Isn’t it fine?"
Despite the elder brother’s concern for his sibling, the younger one was remarkably free-spirited.
"After all he did for you, that’s your response? Just because you’re the younger ones doesn’t mean you automatically get treated kindly."
In the world, even blood-related siblings could end up in deadly conflicts.
"Some brothers wouldn’t accept constant selfishness, like yours. Some might even find it easier if the other weren’t there. Yet your kind big brother has cared for you and stayed by your side all this time. Is that okay with you?"
Ironically, the ones who had beaten that kind big brother were none other than Qiong Xing’s mates, Elias and Leander.
"...No, it’s not."
Still, it seemed that Qiong Xing’s point had gotten through.
He slowly stepped back, untied Raon and laid him on the bed.
"When he wakes up, make sure you properly apologize. We’re heading home now, but—"
"Eh... you’re leaving?"
"Cari and the others are worried. We’ll come back tomorrow, but you haven’t cried enough yet, have you?"
Seeing Iseul’s eyes well up again, Qiong Xing smiled wryly and had him accompany them to the hideout.
"Listen carefully. Apologize properly, thank him for worrying, and acknowledge that you’ve become my mate. From now on, he’s part of our family. Don’t stop anywhere on the way back, and don’t get hurt—"
Qiong Xing lectured him like a long-winded and overly concerned mother.
Joa who was exasperated stepped in to put an end to it.
...
"Do dragons eat food?"
"Huh?"
"...Hm?"
They had come back to the river so Cari could practice swimming.
Iseul was lying with his head on Qiong Xing’s lap, while Raon was napping beside them.
Cari kept glancing over at them restlessly while trying to follow Albe’s instructions and practice.
But in truth, he probably just wanted to pull those two away from Qiong Xing.
Iseul and Raon had met him again recently, but Cari still clearly remembered what had happened before.
He was so scared that he refused to leave Qiong Xing’s side.
"Cari, it’s okay. These two won’t hurt you."
"No! Go away!"
It seemed he had truly come to hate them.
Cari buried his face in Qiong Xing’s chest and shouted at them to leave.
Raon apologized with a troubled look, while Iseul looked deeply hurt by being rejected.
"It’s alright, really. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Nura and you... can I call you Raon? Anyway, Nura and Raon... Starting today, they’re part of our family too."
"Eh...?"
Ah... I guess he hadn’t told Albe yet either.
The two of them who are stood there with their mouths open in shock looking very much alike, like true brothers.
"I haven’t told you either, Albe. A lot happened, but he has become one of my mate. I know you may have your own thoughts about this, but I would be happy if you could get along with him."
"..."
Even if Qiong Xing said it, this wasn’t something they could accept so easily.
Unlike Elias and Joa who had already grown close to him, Cari still saw Iseul and Raon completely as enemies.