Children Reward the Showers of Love Chapter 2

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Chapter 2

Mithra: Siofra…I think I’ve read about them in a book I randomly flipped through once.

Did they look like humans though? 

Bradley: Pretty sure they start out lookin’ like a fluffball. They just sleep ‘til they find someone to be their parent. 

Akira: Parent?

Oz: Siofras recognize the first living being they see as their parent. 

They then imitate their appearance. 

Mitile: So they’re mimicking us…?

Shylock: Yes. Did you hear a laugh when we first looked in the hollow?

It is said that siofra laugh in the voice of the species it recognizes its parent as. 

And then, between the several days from its birth to adulthood, it grants a wish of the one who gave it love…

A devoted little fairy they are. 

Arthur: …Now that you mention it, I think I’ve heard of them before. A fairy that repays the love and kindness it was given. 

Akira: Repays…what an upstanding fairy. 

Murr: Siofras love humans and animals. They want to mix in with us. 

As thanks for keeping them at our side and raising them, they give back a small happiness.

Akira: But surely it can’t grant everything. What about…giving you a yummy meal?

Murr: I think it can do that at least?

Bradley: Like a year’s worth of meat.

Owen: Or a year’s worth of candy.

Murr: Like that! Of course, it can’t do anything big like change the laws of the world.

Akira: I get it now. Ah…but it was the four of you at once who looked inside the tree hollow, right? 

If that happens, who ends up being the parent?

Arthur, Shylock, Oz, and Mithra. The four wizards made eye contact.

Mithra: Isn’t it me? I’m going to be the strongest man one day. 

Arthur: If it’s the first person they see that becomes their parent, then perhaps it is the one who made eye contact first? 

Oz: Did you make eye contact?

Arthur: No…I was the one who carried them out of the hollow, but I don’t remember if I made eye contact with them…

Shylock: The inside of the hollow was dark, so it’s hard to tell.

It could be the same for this child. Though they have taken the appearance of a person, they could still be undecided on who their parent is. 

Mitile: So you four are now candidates to be their parent?

We all looked at the fairy, and the siofra squeezed Arthur’s index finger with their tiny hand. 

A cherubic face quietly stared at Arthur.

Murr: So far it’s Arthur they’re attached to! 

Arthur: …

Returning the stare, Arthur looked at the adorable fairy child with love, but there seemed to be something else in his gaze. 

I wondered if there was something else on his mind. His gaze was that of one reflecting himself. 

He gently patted the tiny fingers with the hand that wasn’t being held, and then he looked at me. 

Arthur: Master Sage. If it’s alright, I would like it if you could leave care of this child to me. 

Akira: You?

Arthur: Yes. Shylock mentioned that it takes only several days for a siofra to become an adult. 

I know I have my duties as a prince and as your wizard, but luckily I have nothing big scheduled for the next few days. 

Shylock: Yes, but, this fairy…

Oz: With or without you here to raise them, this fairy will grow up the same. 

And if there is something that you wish for, I shall grant it.

Arthur: Thank you, Lord Oz. However, that is not what I meant.

We met each other, and they held my hand. 

A tiny body such as theirs surely holds many worries. If they will depend on me, then I want to be there for them. 

Oz: …

…Is that so.

Arthur: And if I may indulge, Lord Oz. May I ask you to teach me the basics of child rearing? 

Oz: Me…?

Arthur: Yes. Just like the days I spent with you in the North…

I want you to be here to help me take care of this child. 

Oz: …

Just listening got me curious.

What was their past like? I’ve heard stories, but that’s different than seeing it with my own eyes.

Akira: (Oz said he raised Arthur with the intention of turning him to stone and eating him, but Arthur is perfectly alive right now.)

(It’s definitely Oz who picked up a baby Arthur and raised him until he had to return to Central Country.)

(I wonder if I’ll get to know how Oz was like with Arthur by seeing how he takes care of the siofra.)

Owen: Oz and parenting? What a joke.

Akira: Owen.

Arthur: It is no joke. He is the one who did his best to raise me.

Owen: And I’m saying that’s unbelievable. Did Oz cast a hypnosis spell on you?

Owen crouched down by the siofra. Then, he starts poking their soft cheek with his finger.

Owen: He’s a short-tempered, merciless, cold-blooded Demon Lord. He might kill this feeble little fairy quicker than you think.

We wouldn’t want that to happen, so how about you let me raise them instead?

Mithra: Why you? I’m the parent candidate. I have the right to let my wish be granted. 

Owen: Ooh. You’re gonna have your wish granted by a weakling such as this?

Mithra: You too. I just don’t like the idea of having what’s mine taken from me. 

Bradley: When ya say that it makes this bandit want to take it even more.

I know you two won’t take this wish business seriously. Just watch and see how I put it to more use than you chumps.

Owen: Can the one year’s worth of meat guy not speak?

Bradley: Your wish ain’t any different from mine.

Owen: Huuuh?

Akira: Hey, hey…!

Shylock: Oz. Isn’t there something else you should tell Arthur? 

Oz: …

Shylock: Oz.

Oz: Do not interfere.

Arthur. 

Arthur: Yes.

Oz: …Though you will be looking after them, it is not plausible for you to be together all the time.

You will have to raise them in a way that will not interrupt your life at the palace or manor. 

Arthur: ! Yes! I’ll make sure to not trouble everyone else. 

Shylock: What a troublesome man…

I understand. Then I shall participate too.

Akira: You too?

Shylock: Yes, I’m a parent candidate too after all.

If that’s alright with you, Oz.

Oz: Do as you like.

Murr: Okay, then I’m gonna volunteer myself as a parental candidate for siofra too! 

It’s not everyday you get to watch Shylock stand up to Oz or a siofra growing up after all! 

Shylock: Goodness. This isn’t a show, you know? 

Akira: (This is kinda surprising. When it comes to stuff like this Shylock usually lets the younger wizards have a go at it…)

(Maybe he has a wish he wants granted?)

Mitile: Then let me help out! 

I might know a few things from taking care of the younger grade schoolers back in South. 

Arthur: That’s reassuring. I’ll be glad to have you, Mitile.

Lord Oz, will you be raising this child with us too?

Oz: …

If that is your wish.

Arthur: Thank you!

Did you hear that, Siofra? There is no man more reliable than Lord Oz. You can rest assured around him.

Akira: Uhm, so “Siofra” is the name of the species, right? Like “Cat” or “Dog”.

Since we’ll be looking after them now, maybe we should give them a nickname.

Like, since it’s siofra…Sif!

Arthur: Sif! That’s nice.

Sif. We’ll be calling you Sif from now on.

Arthur smiled and looked truly overjoyed as he patted the siofra Sif’s head.

I thought that maybe Oz would have a similar expression watching that, but…

Oz: …

For some reason, he was averting his gaze.

As if he just ate something bitter. 

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