Chapter 133: We Can’t Have Everything! But… (3)

Chapter 133: We Can’t Have Everything! But... (3)

Long story short, the sisters Naru, Hina, and Cecily had found the Snake Dragon’s Gem.They had ventured through the deep cave using each other’s items and found the treasure.

“Awesome! Let’s make rings out of this!”

Holding the gem that sparkled brilliantly in 4-colors, Naru giggled.Watching her, Brigitte spoke.

“So it wouldn’t have been found if the kids didn’t cooperate with each other. Judas, did you want to teach them that they need to help each other?”

“Well, something like that.”

I nodded in response but honestly, that wasn’t the intention.I only wanted to see them get along and have fun with each other.Just that.

“The cave had a room in it! The room had a princess and she was very beautiful! I, Cecily, want to meet the princess again...!”

However.Cecily was saying something strange.

That the underground cave beneath this mansion contained some kind of room and a princess was living inside.I was the one who used the shadow to hide the item but I’ve never heard of such a thing.Cariote offered an explanation.

“There’s a general lack of oxygen inside the cave. And there are hallucinogenic fungi growing in it. She may have been seeing things. To be honest, it isn’t a safe place for the children.”

I see.She seemed dissatisfied with where the treasure was hidden.As Cariote rebuked me, Naru giggled.

“It was so much fun! Naru has a pickaxe now! I want to do another treasure hunt! Today was lots of fun...! Thank you, Dad...!”

Squeeze—Naru hugged my leg.And Hina, who had been watching, frowned a bit then hugged my other leg saying, “Hina had fun, too...!” like she was competing against Naru.Cecily was left but I only had two legs so she had nowhere to hold onto.

“Alright, then.”

I picked up Cecily and sat her on my shoulders.It was a shoulder ride.

“How dare you pick up I, Cecily, without permission...!”

Cecily hissed but she didn’t exactly ask to be put down. Was she liking the view from up here?Soon, Naru spoke.

“Ah, Naru wants a ride, too!”“Hina, too....”

The kids started making a fuss so I put them all on my shoulders. It did hurt a bit when they pulled my hair as if trying not to fall off, though.

It made me think of my childhood.Did I ever ride on my mom or dad’s shoulders...?

“.......”

I couldn’t remember.I might have.

My memories were probably fading.

Will Naru, Hina, and Cecily, as well?Will they forget about today’s events, eventually?

Who knows.I’ll ask them one day.‘Hey guys, do you remember when I used to give you rides on my shoulders?’

* * *

Snooze— Snooze—After enjoying dinner, all the kids fell asleep on the same bed.It was a large bed so even with all of them on it, there was still space.

“They’re finally asleep after all that running around.”

Brigitte let out a sigh.She had seemed to be struggling earlier because Naru was saying, “Naru doesn’t want to sleep today...!”But once they were all on the bed, they were fast asleep.Their batteries were all depleted because they had been very active today.

“Naru, won’t sleep....”

Naru mumbled to herself.Was she sleep-talking?

Seeing this, Brigitte spoke.

Kids are sensitive. Especially these guys. They likely sensed that if they fall asleep, there won’t be another day like today.”

“Is that it?”

“And we aren’t stupid, either. Judas, you gave away your things. Honestly, that isn’t like you. There’s something going on, right?”

It was a perceptive question.I’m not the type to share my own things.Even to my daughters.

But today, I gave away a treasure each to Naru, Cecily, and Hina.And Brigitte must have realized something when I did that.

“Shh. They might wake up.”

I left the room in which the children were sleeping.When I did, Cariote and Salome were already waiting in the hallway with their arms crossed.Their expressions demanded an explanation.

But when I flipped back the covers, there was only a banana peel.Flutter— Flutter—And there was a butterfly that was flying away which disappeared when I tried to catch it. It didn’t seem real, more like an illusion.

“What’s this? Where did my banana go?”

Who ate it?Naru? Hina? Cecily?Did they eat it during the treasure hunt?No, my room had been firmly locked so no one should’ve been able to enter except me.

Knock— Knock—Just then, someone knocked on my door.

“The culprit always returns to the scene of the crime.”

Creeeak—When I opened the door, Brigitte was gazing at me.She held out some kind of bottle and asked.

“Judas, did you drink all the mana potion? Why did you drink it all when it doesn’t do anything? A bottle of this takes a month to drink.”

“I didn’t drink it. Was it you who ate my banana?”

“What banana?”

Brigitte tilted her head like she couldn’t understand.Swing—Just then, a door opened in the hallway and Salome stepped out.She held out her lipstick and went after Brigitte.

“Brigitte, did you use my makeup?”

“No, why would I use your makeup?”

“Don’t lie. This is revenge for not answering yesterday when you asked where I got this, right? Even so, how could you ruin the lipstick that I had just bought yesterday? This is too much!”

“Hold up... I really don’t know anything about this.”

The lipstick that Salome claimed to have bought yesterday was stumpy like it had been used for a long time.What was going on?

An eaten banana.An empty mana potion.A used lipstick.

Was it the kids?Or Sifnoi?

“Everyone should see this...!”

Dadadadada—As I was wondering, Sifnoi came out to the 1st-floor reception room, appearing quite angry. She opened a book and there were a bunch of circles drawn over a strange picture.

“This Sifnoi.... just bought today.... a spot-the-difference-book...! But I turned away for a moment and in that time, someone spotted all the differences...! Hiiiik...!

What was this situation?Even Sifnoi was a victim?

“... Did a thief enter the house?”

Brigitte muttered quietly.A thief entering a place like this 「Junk Mansion」.That was absurd.

Swoosh—Just then, Cariote stepped out.She was muttering, “How noisy. What is happening?” as she went to the kitchen and opened the fridge to drink water, which everyone could only watch without a word.

“What is it?”

Cariote looked back with a confused expression.How should I explain it?

“Well, um, your hair is....”

“My hair?”

Cariote felt her hair.Her hair which was always cut short was now at shoulder length, making quite an odd picture. Cariote also didn’t seem to understand why, saying, “What is this?” with a frown.

Flutter— Flutter—Something flew up from behind Cariote’s neck.It was a butterfly.

Flutter— Flutter—The butterfly flew and landed on the water bottle that Cariote was drinking. Then, the water that had been full inside the bottle immediately started decreasing and soon it was completely drained.At that, I was shocked.

“A butterfly just stole all the water!”

Perhaps the banana, lipstick, mana potion, and spot-the-difference were all the butterflies’ doing, I thought, when Brigitte moved her hand.

“Come to think of it, a butterfly was also on my potion bottle....”

Chrrrr—Brigitte pulled back the window’s curtains while mumbling something.Soon, her eyes widened.

“What is this...!”

A countless number of glowing butterflies.They were outside the mansion, all flapping their wings.It was truly a strange phenomenon!

“For now, avoid touching the butterfly and hide in the /genesisforsaken