Unlike other times, today Leciel didn’t return alone. Behind her, there were more than five monsters accompanying her.

They were carrying a pile of luggage in their hands.

Leciel gave familiar instructions to the monsters, and they began to organize the luggage they had brought.

Leciel, who finally noticed Kael’s presence, smiled brightly.

“I’m back!”

Having someone else in the space where she was always alone, and being welcomed upon returning like this, brought great joy to Leciel.

Thanks to this, she could also greet Kael upon returning, something she had never done in the two years.

“I feel like my common sense is being destroyed by staying here.”

Kael muttered with a slightly astonished expression, amazed by the sight unseen anywhere else.

“Well, it’s the monster forest?”

So, naturally, things would flow a bit differently from external common sense, right?

“Rather than that, you are special, little one.”

“Originally, everyone is special. Each person is a unique existence in the world.”

“Well, even if that’s true, not everyone’s uniqueness is the same.”

While Kael’s positive interest and curiosity was brought out by Leciel, most of the people he met outside had a special kind of foolishness, and he often wondered how they could be so foolish.

“Oh, and this, it’s a present.”

“A present?”

Kael looked at what Leciel handed to him with a surprised expression.

It was the sword he lost in the monster forest.

“I picked it up on the way.”

Leciel said with a nonchalant face, much like the textbook definition of tsundere.

But contrary to her words, the sword handed to Kael was not picked up on the way; it was deliberately sought out.

Although she had promised to help him, she felt he might need a weapon, considering the unpredictability of the situation.

However, with no suitable weapon at hand in this situation, Kael happened to mention losing his sword in the forest. Hearing that, she thought she could search for it while gathering firewood.

“It wouldn’t have been in a position where you could easily pick it up, though.”

“Isn’t it? No matter how I see it, it looked like it should be picked up as it was lying on the road.”

“Fine, let’s put it that way. But why do you have so much firewood and luggage?”

“They helped me.”

“They did?”

“When they saw me working hard to gather firewood, they followed suit. Then, they started picking up various other things, and there were more useful things than I expected, so I just brought everything.”

There was too much to carry alone, so she ordered them as delivery.

“They were quite useful.”

While she had acknowledged the monsters’ help in surviving here, Kael hadn’t expected this kind of assistance, leaving him somewhat bewildered.

Well, for a child who used a monster as bed, there was nothing surprising about it.

“More importantly, weren’t you bored without me?”

After bidding farewell to the monsters who had finished organizing and told them to exit carefully, Leciel looked at Kael and asked.

“Not at all.”

Even being alone for a few hours, Kael wasn’t the type to get bored and he also disliked interacting with people. He rather enjoyed his own leisure and time alone.

“In times like these, can’t you just respond with an empty word to make it seem like that?”

“I’m not the type to say empty words.”

“Why are you following me?”

“What?”

Kael suddenly frowned, puzzled by what was being said.

“I couldn’t say empty words, and you also said that after me. Then you followed me into the monster forest too. You’re copying me.”

“…How on earth can it be interpreted like that?”

“Do you like me that much?”

Kael’s protest was met with a teasing expression from Leciel, as if deliberately making fun of him.

“Yeah.”

“Huh? Really?”

What did she just hear?

Leciel was the one taken aback, confused by the affirmative response to the joke she made.

Given Kael’s personality, she had expected him to dismiss such nonsensical talk.

“You have a stupid face.”

“No way! I’m the smartest one in this forest.”

She was obviously smart, so how could he say that she had a stupid face?

Leciel looked aggrieved.

“That may be true. Because you can’t be a human if you’re dumber than monsters.”

Initially, Kael was going to say that it was natural since she was the only human in this forest, but he changed his words.

He didn’t want to touch upon Leciel’s sore spot.

But even if he expressed it in a different way, the underlying meaning remained the same.

“Ugh, I’m upset, but I admit it!”

Kael chuckled at the sight of Leciel grumbling.

Truly, at times like this, she looked like a child, displaying her distinctive energy and cheerfulness.

Such a child, one who liked people so much, had spent two years alone here.

Thinking about that fact again made him uncomfortable.

“Well, that’s that. But do you genuinely like me?”

“If we really need to define it, it’s probably like.”

“Hmm…”

Leciel crossed his arms and looked at Kael, looking suspicious of his intentions.

“What’s with that ugly brat-like expression?”

“You called it a stupid face earlier, and now it’s an ugly expression? You’re being too harsh on a cute kid.”

“Well, let’s go with ugly but cute.”

“Could you use both expressions at the same time?”

Leciel looked puzzled.

“There’s no reason you can’t.”

“Huh, maybe it’s because you’re old enough to be called ‘uncle’, but your way with words is truly something.”

Usually, Kael was so blunt that he wouldn’t speak unless spoken to first, but when it came to verbal sparring, he didn’t budge an inch.

“If at this age you can’t handle one little brat, then you’re not worth your age.”

“Tch.”

How did he always manage to say the right thing?

He was saying all the right things to the point where I wanted to punch him.

“So, what’s the reason for that ugly brat-like expression?”

“I’m not sure whether to be happy or bitter about those words.”

“Is there really a need to make it so complicated?”

He simply said what pleased him.

There was no ulterior motive.

If she was other people who knew his true identity, she would have been delighted and moved by his words.

Given Kael’s indifferent nature, it was extremely rare for him to show interest or appreciation towards someone.

Moreover, his status was such that even the emperor needed to act carefully around him.

Of course, since she was a child who didn’t know his true identity, it was natural for her to react differently from them.

But still, to look at him with such suspicion.

“The people you like aren’t likely to be ordinary.”

“I hope you don’t consider yourself ordinary either?”

As she said, Kael’s tastes were peculiar, and he didn’t pay attention to ordinary people.

The first time he showed interest in her was because of her atmosphere, which wasn’t typical for her age, her unconventional appearance, and the situation.

“… That’s a different story.”

If I, as a possessor, was ordinary, then there would be no ordinary person in this world.

At Leciel’s candid admission, Kael smirked as if finding it amusing.

Certainly, this aspect, too, appealed to him.

The fact that she didn’t like losing, yet acknowledged what was worthy of acknowledgment and accepted it honestly.

“Are we done with today’s work?”

Kael asked, looking at Leciel who was cutely fidgeting with an affectionate gaze he didn’t even realize he had.

“No, it’s not over yet.”

“I’ll help.”

“A patient helps by resting quietly.”

Why was the patient so restless?

“It’s not good for me to move too much either. I’ll just help within reasonable limits.”

“The way you can help me is by standing at the side and watch.”

“Just stand by and chat, then?”

“Yes. Working is more enjoyable and efficient when you have someone next to you.”

“Then starting tomorrow, I’ll go with you into the forest.”

“Why?”

“Just in case, it’s good to know the rough geography and situation of the forest.”

“Well, if that’s the case. But you shouldn’t do anything.”

What if his body got worse again after barely moving forward?

Kael nonchalantly nodded at Leciel’s concerned admonition.

After a while, Leciel soaked the clothes and blanket in a basin full of water.

There was a kind of grass that could be used as a substitute for soap, so the water was full of bubbles.

“Did you make that basin yourself?”

“Of course not. I picked it up in the forest.”

“There’s something like that in the forest?”

Kael gave a surprised look.

“This place is actually a treasure trove. These clothes and fabric were also picked up in the forest.”

“I see.”

He had been curious about that from before.

Leciel seemed to have quite a few clothes and she also changed about once every two or three days, but she wouldn’t have been able to go out and buy them.

Of course, her answer raised another question; Why would there be such things in the forest?

It was obvious that Leciel wouldn’t know the answer, so he didn’t bother to ask.

“Ah, now that I think about it, don’t you need to wash your clothes too?”

“I do feel uncomfortable after wearing it for a long time, but if I wash it, I won’t have anything to wear, right?”

“I have something like a cape to wear. Would that be a good idea?”

“Let’s just wash the top.”

“Okay.”

Leciel nodded and scurried into the house like a squirrel, taking out something that looked like a cloak for Kael to wear.

After accepting it, Kael put the cape on his body first, then took off his shirt and put it in the laundry bin.

Soon, Leciel, went back and continue washing.

Since there was a lot to wash, it was difficult to do it by hand, so they decided to stomp on them instead.

Leciel moved her feet skillfully in a familiar manner as if it wasn’t something that she had done once or twice.

However, from Kael’s perspective watching, it seemed somewhat dangerous.

He was worried that Leciel might fall because every time she moved her feet, her body swayed.

Kael approached Leciel.

“No, you can’t. It’s off-limits. If you come closer, water will splash.”

“A little splashing is nothing.”

He was more concerned about Leciel.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hand.”

Instead of answering Leciel’s question, Kael extended his hand.

Leciel looked at him with a puzzled expression.