The Dutiful Kid Who Saved the Villainous Family - Chapter 222

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Side Story Chapter 22

Side Story 5. The Perfect Epilogue

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Airi was thinking to herself.
‘I thought I’d become a perfect adult, but it seems I haven’t quite managed it yet.’
It appeared she still had some growing to do.
Airi was walking down a small street near the Southern Villa with Berry.
As they browsed through the gift shops, Berry, holding Airi’s hand firmly, asked, “What kind of gift should we get?”
Airi’s eyes sparkled and she raised her hand with a flourish.
“This! How about we buy this?”
She picked up a cute mascot headband for Cookie and bath products for the grandmothers.
“Let’s buy lots of things for our friends too!”
“…If you mean friends, then…”
“Dinan, Belize, Saal, and Lireed!”
Belize wielded a spear, Dinan handled a sword, Saal could see spirits, and Lireed commanded nature.
Airi recalled events from long ago.

A rough-spoken child who would become the “warmest Spirit Mage” in the future—Saal.
“Wow, you can eat this with your hands, right?”
A child who ate everything by hand, who would become the “greatest spear knight in the world”—Dinan.
“That’s right! We’re trash anyway. Ha ha ha!”
A child whose self-deprecation was severe, the “Empire’s greatest Nature Mage”—Lireed.
“I just want to lie down and do nothing.”
A child who did nothing but lie on the sofa, the future Sword Expert Dinan.

“I want to give my friends something a little different. What do you think?”
“Something different? What kind of thing?”
Airi whispered softly in Berry’s ear, and her eyes immediately sparkled. Berry, being a yes-man exclusively for Airi, nodded as if it were obvious.
“…My heart’s racing! I hope they all like it, don’t you?”
They loaded the luggage carriage full and headed home.
But then again….

After arriving at Ortejo Castle and stepping down from the carriage, Airi’s eyes went wide.
To her surprise, her friends were gathered close together in front of the castle gate.
“Belize, Saal, Lireed, Dinan!”
“Airi?”
“Berry’s here too, hey!”
“Back from your honeymoon! Your skin looks a bit tanned from the Southern Region.”
Belize, Saal, Lireed, and Dinan. The four Hybrid Monsters who had been boys were now grown young men.
Airi greeted them warmly and laughed.
“Yeah, I got pretty dark. We sunbathed!”
While Airi was trying to make small talk, Berry simply tilted his head and moved straight to the point.
“Why did you come to this castle? Everyone’s been in the Capital City lately.”
“Oh, we have some collaborative work with Lord Ortejo. As you know, that person still has some remnants hanging around.”
That person surely meant the Pope.
The stragglers weren’t really worth calling remnants, but they were still persistently tracking him down.
“Ah, I see. Work hard.”
Berry’s expression turned oddly distant, and he gave a rough nod. They all turned toward somewhere else.
“By the way, was the honeymoon nice?”
Curiosity flickered in Dinan’s eyes. The other three young men felt the same.
And Airi didn’t ignore their curiosity.
“It was incredibly fun.”
“What made it so fun?”
“Hmm….”
…If she said what she was thinking right now, she’d definitely be seen as a strange person.
Airi wisely changed the subject.
“Actually, why don’t we go inside and talk about it there? I have something to give you!”
“Something to give?”
At Belize’s puzzled question, Airi smiled brightly and pointed behind her.
A small luggage carriage was slowly approaching from some distance away.
The four Hybrid Monsters couldn’t quite grasp what was happening until the driver got down and opened the carriage door, at which point they finally froze.
“Could it be… a gift…?”
“You’re quick-witted, Belize!”
At the exchange between Belize and Airi, the other three also widened their eyes.
“Do we get gifts too?”
“Of course. I picked them out really carefully! You have to like them. Really.”
“Really, really gifts for us too….”
Saal gazed at Airi with a moved expression.
Airi grinned and pulled out four gift boxes from the luggage carriage.
Truth be told, she’d wanted to bring gifts first to Cookie, her mother and father, Serafin, the grandmothers and grandfather, and the Grandmother Meeting that Loves Airi…!
‘But it’s proper manners to give to the people you meet first!’
Besides, these four friends’ gifts were something rather special.
Like a well-mannered adult, Airi extended her hand toward her friends and smiled.
“Come on, I bought something suited to each of you. Let’s head inside!”
It was then that Belize murmured.
“…Actually, I brought gifts too. So, shall we do a gift exchange now?”

Like when they were young, unwrapping gifts as a group of six friends always excited the heart.
Even more so when those gifts came from beloved friends returning from their honeymoon.
So it made sense that Belize, Lireed, Dinan, and Saal’s hands trembled slightly.
Airi, watching the four young men unwrap the gifts politely, clasped her hands together and spoke.
“How is it? Curious what the gifts are? Excited?”
“…Excited? We’re not children.”
Despite Saal’s sarcasm, Airi continued undeterred.
“But receiving gifts is thrilling for anyone.”
“That’s…”
“Saal, Airi’s right. Come on, unwrap the ribbon. All four at once.”
“I can’t wait any longer. Let’s open them…!”
At those words, Lireed made a small sound effect with his mouth and unwound the ribbon.
The other three Hybrid Monsters unwrapped the ribbons from their gift boxes as well.
And what appeared before their eyes was….
The Divine Spear that was Belize the spear knight’s.
The Former Emperor’s Dagger was Dinan the Sword Expert’s.
The Spirit-infused Statue was genius Spirit Mage Lireed’s.
And….
The Ocean Music Box Infused with Nature’s Power was Nature Mage Saal’s.
“I’ve never received a gift like this before. Well, actually, this is the second time I’ve received one from Airi.”
Lireed’s trembling voice echoed through the reception room.
All four of them shuddered simultaneously.
And at the same moment, they wore puzzled expressions.
“…These were in a gift shop near the Southern Villa?”
Airi burst into bright laughter.
“No, I bought them separately!”
In that instant, Saal closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again.
“I’m so moved I can’t hold it back.”
“…What?”
The Nature Mage, Saal, raised his hand.
Soon stars twinkled before their eyes, and an Aurora danced and sparkled above the six of them on the ceiling.
“Wh-what is this?”
“Aurora! I just made it for you.”
Airi recalled when she’d first met Lireed long ago.
Lireed’s self-deprecation had been quite severe back then.
But now it was different. With the future changed, Lireed had become the Empire’s greatest Nature Mage and was even creating a shimmering Aurora for Airi.
And it was right then.
“…Hold on, hold on. I have no intention of letting Saal be the only one showing off.”
Suddenly, all three of their eyes glinted at once.
Airi and Berry found themselves meeting each other’s gaze. Airi raised her trembling hand.
“Wait, wait a moment!”
As for Lireed….
Belize and Dinan, you two wield a spear and sword.
What on earth are you planning to show in return for the gifts?!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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