Chapter 236: A Day of Laughter and Little Wonders
The ingredients weren’t anything special, so anyone could probably make them if they wanted to.
"It feels like a waste to give it to him—"
"That’s why I said no. It’s a thank-you for all the help I’ve received. If you want, I can make some for you. But all the recovery potions I received have already been used, so only if I can get more."
"I’ll give you as many as you need! Just wait."
With that, Mr. Paulo handed over not only multiple recovery potions from his bag, but also antidotes and magic-restoring potions.
"I’m counting on you!"
"What a shameless old man."
"It’s embarrassing that he’s my friend."
Katarina and Sarin could only stare in exasperation.
"Understood. But make sure you actually give it to him, okay?"
"Alright, alright."
"...I really don’t know who’s the adult here."
Exactly.
They promised to ensure it would be delivered and, in exchange, Qiong Xing would make some candy for Mr. Paulo.
"You don’t have to overdo it. Once things settle down and these kids are calm, then you can take your time. First of all, think about your own health."
"That’s right. About that old man—don’t worry about him for now. Qiong Xing, prioritize yourself and these kids first."
Listening to Katarina’s words, Naz and Albe nodded in agreement.
Mr. Paulo grumbled something, but he had no allies.
"Thank you. We’ll come visit again."
As they prepared to leave, Iseul took care of the twins and Albe tried to pick up Lian from Naz, but she fussed, clearly refusing.
"Lian? Um... Your Mama’s waiting, you know?"
"Nooo!"
She was extremely attached.
Qiong Xing shook his head, unwilling to be separated from Naz and Albe hesitated to forcibly pull her away.
"Then it’s time to say goodbye to Lian here."
"Nooo—"
When they waved goodbye, Lian seemed to realize she was about to be left behind.
In her panic, she tried to climb down from Naz’s lap and run toward them, but then she tripped.
The room fell silent for a moment, then her loud cries immediately echoed through it.
"My child is really amazing," Qiong Xing said as he gently restraining the flustered people around him and th nscooping up Qiong Xing who had collapsed on the floor while crying.
"Shall Lian go home together with Mama?"
"M-mma... uh... ah—"
Her words were incomprehensible, but the small hands clinging tightly to him were utterly endearing.
"Thank you. I love you too, Lian," he said.
It had been a joke at first, but seeing her reach out for him anyway, clearly wanting her mama, brought him genuine joy.
"Let’s play with Naz again next time. But for today, it’s time to say goodbye, okay?"
Hearing that they would meet again, Lian still looked sad, but she still waved her goodbye properly.
"Um... let’s play again sometime," she mumbled.
Naz smiled while patting her head and after she calmed down, they left the guild with her in Qiong Xing’s arms.
Still, why she had become so attached to Naz remained a mystery.
...
"Alright, here we go. Up, up—high!"
"What are you doing!?"
Lian was tossed into the air—not in a fully dramatic swing, but with enough momentum to send hrr flying high.
She laughed joyfully as she came back down.
It was a fun moment of parent-child bonding, but it was abruptly interrupted when Albe hurried over in a panic.
"You’ve never seen this before? Up, up high!"
Qiong Xing had assumed most children had experienced this at least once, but perhaps not in this world.
"Not like that! Height! Consider the height!"
Ah, that’s what he meant.
"It’s fine. I’m using magic properly and Lian seems to enjoy this more," Qiong Xing said.
Catching Lian as he fell, he tossed him up into the air again.
Albe watched nervously from the side and his anxiety mixed with amusement.
He wanted to stop it, but seeing how much fun Lian was having made it hard.
Still, it looked dangerous and his body moved instinctively with her as she soared up and fell back down.
"I think it’s unconscious, but Lian seems to be making herself float as well."
Because of that, she was going even higher than the height Qiong Xing had intended.
Qiong Xing adjusted carefully, knowing it was dangerous.
But since Lian was also using magic unconsciously, the height kept increasing.
"What kind of baby is this!? Scary, it’s scary to watch!"
Seeing Albe shiver and plead for it to end, Qiong Xing decided it would be cruel to continue, so today’s "up, up high" session was over.
Lian seemed slightly dissatisfied, though.
"So, what were you like as a child, Albe?"
"Me? Eh—well, I was a good kid, stayed in my room, read books, followed instructions," he said as he smiling broadly, but the smile somehow seemed suspicious.
"Of course, that’s not all. I also learned about things like human dissection and torture methods... I thought knowledge was important," he added.
"..."
Knowledge, indeed...
"That didn’t last very long, though. Just reading books all the time is boring, isn’t it?"
It was a relief he got bored quickly.
If he had taken an interest and tried practicing, Qiong Xing would have been worried for his future.
"And what about you, Qiong Xing?"
"Me? I... was a mischievous child who tried climbing trees, slipped, and broke bones," he replied.
"...Huh?"
Albe looked at him in disbelief and Qiong Xing laughed.
"My mother was very skilled at it. I tried to imitate her and climb, but every time I got close, I’d slip... I wonder if I could do it now?"
"...Why not give up after falling once?"
"My mother made it look so easy that I thought it would be ridiculous for a boy like me not to manage it, so I kept trying. Well, that effort didn’t really pay off," he said, reminiscing.
A nostalgic memory.
In the end, his worried father had made him stop with tears, so he gave up.