Chapter 544.1

The Spirit King and Cicerius (1)

“Kuh, kuh!” (Setsu)

“Alright, alright, here we go!” (Yuki)

I was playing with Setsu, tossing a ball for her to chase. Rir brought her along with him when he came over to visit.

She chased the ball with her short limbs full of energy, and when she got the ball in her mouth, she came back to me.

Her tail wagging in the air was adorable.

“Kuh!” (Setsu)

“Okay, okay, one more time.” (Yuki)

“Kuu~...Kuu!” (Setsu)

Setsu rushed at once again to the ball I tossed for her.

And while playing with Setsu, Rir cried out in a slightly apologetic manner.

“Kuu.” (Rir)

“Haha, I’m glad to hear that she’s doing well. This girl will be a tomboy in the future. I can just picture you being pushed around by your daughter.” (Yuki)

“...Kuu.” (Rir)

“Kuh, kuh.” (Rir)

“Hahaha, It’s our duty to make them worry occasionally.” (Yuki)

“Kuuh?” (Setsu)

“Oh, Setsu, well, it’s simply some adult things, you know.” (Yuki)

I patted her head as she looked up at me, and that’s when it happened.

I felt the presence of an overpowered, not-so-hidden entity.

At the same time, the dungeon map opened on its own.

For a moment, both Rir and I were prepared to assume that it was an enemy... However, this presence seemed to be of someone I was familiar with.

“Kuu!?” (Rir)

“No, wait, this...” (Yuki)

Rir almost instantly switched into combat mode, but I stopped him, checked the details on the map, and–.

“–As I expected. The Spirit King... and Old Lady Cicerius.” (Yuki)

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