Jobless Transmigration: I'm the only one who loves monsters.-Chapter 99: An issue arises.
Chapter 99: An issue arises.
" No, they’re far more prettier things from them, for one."
" You." He ruffled her hair with a smile.
" And?"
’ And what?’ Lucuis was confused again. From her reaction, he realised that he’d answered wrongly.
’ Wait a minute. Is she...’ an idea suddenly came to his mind that astounded even him.
" And of course you’re mother. To me, you’re both the prettiest there are."
Emily didn’t say anything but a content smile emerged on her cute little face, seeing this, Lucuis realised he was right, the little angel had suddenly grown horns for a moment.
"Do they get sick?" she asked with a slightly worried look.
"In a way." His thumb traced the margin of the page as he read on. "They weaken when their home weakens. Blight, fire, corruption, these things hurt them deeply. Some wither away. Others grow angry."
Her ears flattened slightly. "Angry how?"
The man’s voice lowered, becoming more serious. "Dryads do not think like people. They care for balance, not kindness. A traveler who respects the forest may be guided or protected. One who harms it may never leave. For their roots may bind him and the trees themselves may turn against him."
She looked up at him, eyes wide. "Even if he’s sorry?"
"Sometimes," he said honestly. "Nature remembers wounds. Dryads judge by action, not words. So perhaps he might be forgiven if he proves himself enough."
She was quiet for a moment, then asked another question, "You said they were sometimes trees but since it’s sometimes, Do they ever leave their forests?"
"I’m afraid that only happens rarely my dear." He turned another page. "Most cannot stray far from the trees they’re bound to. When they do, they grow weak, like a branch cut from its trunk. Cities and barren lands drain them. They can only thrive where life grows."
Her tail tightened around his wrist again. "I wouldn’t like that. Being far from home."
He smiled, bending slightly, so his forehead touched her hair. "Neither would I." be said before turning a page that depicted an image of one.
She peeked back at the book. "Are they all girls?"
"Well I haven’t heard tales of a male one so perhaps they all are."
’ Trees don’t really have genders though, right?’ he wondered but shook his head hurriedly at the thought of some weird treeman frolicing around.
She nodded slowly, absorbing that, then yawned. "Papa... if someone hurts the forest... will the dryads come for them?"
" As the protectors, yes, but their actions are limited if the ones who did it leave the forest.
" I still think they’re quite pitiful. Don’t you."
She nestled closer against him, her ears relaxing, the weight of all he’d said settling into something warm rather than frightening.
" That I do my dear... that i do." Lucuis said before the library returned to silence, the shelves standing like patient trees around them, as though listening too.
*****
Shortly after the library doors were pushed open and someone stepped in.
" Oh your here, Su." Lucuis identified the person on sight.
" I hope we didn’t make you worry? Emily wanted to read so much so I decided to bring her here before telling you."
" I see." Su said but inwardly she was wondering why he even bothered to explain it to her since from her point of view it wasn’t her business to know.
But on second thought, recalling how he’d treated her so far, she realised the young master valued her more than she expected, at least enough to treat her as a friend or trusted companion.
" Young master, are you planning on practicing swordsmanship today or would you like to return to your chambers for some rest."
" Oh, that’s right." Lucuis’s said to himself.
’ I haven’t really practiced swordsmanship since then.’ he recalled the last time he practiced, which wasn’t that long ago.
" I suppose I should practice today."
" Practice? Can I come too?" Emily who’d been silent all this while suddenly spoke up.
" What? Why." He questioned with uncertainty.
" Because you’re going." Emily replied. " I want to spend more time with Papa."
’ P-Papa?’ Su was caught of guard by the remark, her eyes widened a bit. She already knew her young master had already taken in the little one as his own but hearing her address him as such really had experiencing a shock she never thought she did, and judging by her way of words.
’ She actually doesn’t dislike it.’ Even if he had told her to say such, she thought, it looked more like Emily was comfortable with it to be honest.
" Alright, I don’t see why not." Lucuis next words snapped her out of her daze.
" The three of us will head to the guards training grounds then." Lucuis said with a smile, he got up from his seat hands lifting Emily up into the air from below her arms, the little one giggled happily before he set her down.
" Yes, let’s go!" Emily took the initiative to hold his hands this time around, her tail swinging behind her. Her excitement to witness something new once more came pouring out rather than being concealed.
Su who saw the wholesome moment, had a subtle smile emerging on her pretty face, her cat ears twitching ever so slightly while her tail curled behind her back.
*****
Upon arriving at the training grounds, Lucuis received the same greeting as always, the guards all created a wide breadth from him. Although they were curious as to why he brought such a little child with him this time around, they only watched from a distance, hoping it wasn’t as they thought it would be, if so, they might have to get in trouble to stok the deadly young master.
" Papa, They all keep on staring..." Emily said, she was old enough to understand why but having so many people constantly stealing glances their way felt rather odd.
" It seems my reputations starting to become a bother."
’ I can’t just practice by myself again, I’ve been doing that for who knows how long...’ Lucuis thought, feeling gloomy. ’ If I’m to survive at the academy, I need real combat experience.’
