"...I could never do something like that. Surely the children would prefer someone younger than an old woman like me..."

"It is precisely because you are such a loving person that I want to ask this of you."

"..."

Though each child had different circumstances, they had all lost their parents at a young age and were starving for affection.

Some of them had likely lost the ability to trust adults altogether.

That was exactly why Qiong Xing could not entrust them to just anyone.

It had to be someone with enough kindness to embrace them with love.

"As for your age... well, I understand it may concern you, but I would actually like you to rely on the children because of it."

"Rely on them?"

"By being needed, the children themselves will grow and learn how to support one another. Their bodies are still small now, but they will grow quickly. I believe there will be times when having boys around to help will be reassuring."

Because she was elderly, he wanted her to let the children become the hands that supported her.

Not as servants.

Qiong Xing did not believe for a second that someone as gentle and loving as her would ever treat them that way.

He wanted her to teach the children how to live as people, and in return, he wanted the children to lend her their strength and support her as well.

It was not simply about giving, nor only about receiving. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

They would take each other’s hands, support one another, and fill in what the other lacked.

As Qiong Xing earnestly asked if she could somehow accept, he placed something before the woman, who still seemed uncertain.

"The children you raise will carry on your feelings. They will pass along the love they received from you to others. I am sure they will never forget that someone like you existed. And... they will never forget the husband you loved either."

"....That is unfair."

She accepted it, her expression somewhere between tears and a smile, and Qiong Xing apologized softly.

It was the flower crown he had brought every time he visited.

The one he had made for her husband’s grave.

He knew the way he was speaking was unfair.

But aside from wanting to help the children, it also hurt him to watch the woman who had always been kind to them remain alone forever, and he wanted to support her somehow.

A human woman who, like Qiong Xing, had loved a beastkin.

He wanted someone else to know about that as well.

"...Could you please do this?"

"...Alright. If someone like me is enough."

After receiving her agreement, he promised to bring the children a few days later.

"Then what should we do about a place to live?"

"I feel bad asking this right after you agreed, but would it be alright if we built it beside your house?"

Other than the field in front of the house, there was nothing around, so there should be no problem building there.

"But even then, it would take time, would it not? Until then, where would they..."

"There is no problem. It will be finished today."

"Huh?"

"Qiong Xing! I brought it!"

At the cheerful sound of Iseul’s voice, Qiong Xing took her hand and led her outside.

There, Iseul had arrived in his dragon form, carrying all the necessary materials, and Qiong Xing waved to him with a smile.

"Qiong Xing, are you acquainted with dragons too?"

"He is my precious family. Right?"

"I looove Qiong Xing too!"

After returning to human form, Iseul rushed over and hugged him tightly, and Qiong Xing hugged him back.

It had been a huge amount, yet Iseul had carried it all over such a long distance with his massive body.

Now that everything they needed was gathered, the rest was Qiong Xing’s job.

Using magic, he constructed the house in the blink of an eye, then took the stunned woman by the hand and guided her inside.

"I made sure there were plenty of rooms. There is also a bath and toilet here, so please teach the children how to use them."

To Qiong Xing, it was something completely ordinary, but it was difficult to imagine that children who stole just to find food for the day had ever regularly bathed.

"This is amazing. To build such a wonderful house in an instant."

"Thank you very much. If there is anything you need, please let me know and I will prepare it. It may take some time for the children to adjust as well, but please take care of them."

From what he had heard, aside from being overly thin, none of the children seemed to have any physical health problems, but mental wounds were something that could only be understood after living together.

"To think I would have children at this age. But I am happy. It is going to become very lively."

Seeing her smile so happily made Qiong Xing truly feel glad that he had asked her.

...

"Did you dislike it?"

"...I do not hate it... but I do."

Which one was it supposed to be in the end?

Qiong Xing was drying the boy’s hair while the child sat on his lap, but perhaps because he could not settle down, he kept squirming restlessly.

The children had all been taken in successfully, and Qiong Xing had been visiting often to check on them.

During one of those visits, the boy had gotten soaked in an accident while watering the fields, and Qiong Xing was now drying his hair for him.

Not expecting much, Qiong Xing had patted his lap while holding a towel and invited him over, but surprisingly, the boy had obediently climbed onto his lap.

However, the boy who had once spoken with such hostility was now strangely quiet, leaving Qiong Xing unsure how to react.

For a moment, he wondered if the child was lowering his guard just to steal his bag again, but since Albe was holding onto it, there should not be a problem.