The Baby Isn’t Yours

“Yes?”

“…It’s called an affection doll that dances, and temperature-regulating bandages on the arms and legs. But take a look at this. If you press in this way, you can seat the child. This is where the picnic bags fit in. And if you close it like this, you can open and close the canopy,” explaining how to use the baby carriage, he asked with a twinkle in his eyes: “What do you think?”

‘Oh, just like that time again.’

It was very similar to when Simon recently made the mobile.

“Thanks. What a wonderful gift, uncle,” Kalia smiled softly, hugging Ganini.

At that one word, a wonderful smile broke out on the face of the fairy.

* * *

‘Why is he here?’

Derek went to his room and thought, staring at the back of Simon’s head, staring out the window.

Derek was obviously avoiding the two of them, too worried about yesterday’s incident on the hill. It would be more accurate to say that he remained in his room and complained next to the dragon’s egg as his friend.

However, Simon came to him, who was hiding in the room, noting his lack of interest.

He was very surprised to see Simon as he opened the door and went inside.

His pounding heart seemed to hit the floor.

‘Y-You finally came to kill me? Ugh, my will, which I wrote then, must be delivered!’

As for Kalia, he showed a fearless obsession towards her, so he thought that she would soon take cruel methods against him. As soon as Derek returned from the hill, he wrote a suicide note with trembling hands.

He was shaking like a prisoner waiting for execution for several days.

Derek, exhausted day after day, was about to let go of his fears today when he suddenly opened the door to his room and stumbled upon Simon.

“What’s with the egg?”

“It g-grows well. It was close to perfect, and it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he hatches. Um, I-I think it’s best to go to the tower for the last magical ritual.”

“…I see.”

That’s all.

Simon, who had glanced at the dragon’s egg and walked over to the window, was still deep in thought.

‘Do you think how to punish me?’

Derek’s thoughts drifted to the figure of himself, horribly decapitated.

Derek talked about the call from the tower some time ago to live one more minute.

“I just received a call from the tower. In several areas were invasions of monsters. Among these dead monsters there are those that tear their chests open. They said they couldn’t contact you…”

Simon, who was staring out the window, turned his gaze to Derek.

“Tell me more.”

“This is… Since the amount of work is small, a detailed report hasn’t been published, but such reports are now coming from every magic branch.”

“Is this happening now?”

“The first report about a monster that tore its own chest was also published 9 months ago. However, the monster’s body disappeared the next day, and it is said that the branch didn’t pay much attention to it because it was discovered during the monster’s subjugation.”

It was a monster with a torn out heart. Simon’s expression hardened.

“Are you saying that you now have the body of this mysterious monster?”

“Well, I barely managed to get it. Some people say that the Master’s opinion is necessary because I think this monster is one of ‘them’ too.”

“If so… a chimera?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Simon’s eyes narrowed at Derek’s response.

Louismond came to mind with a bad expression on his face.

The prince who said he needed the two of them. And the bodies of chimeras that were found everywhere.

Is something bad happening?

‘…Come to think of it, I heard that about 30 years ago, one of the Imperial doctors who conducted the chimera experiment was expelled from the Empire.’

Where did the exiled doctor go?

Is he dead or alive?

According to the records of that time, the imperial physician was insane. He butchered the demons and collected them like a set of dolls, and even brought their corpses and tried to combine them with the demons. He said that he boldly carried out crazy experiments without permission in the imperial underground laboratory.

It was written in the records that the imperial family discovered this too late, cut off the doctor’s limbs and expelled him from the Empire. It is said that the exile was also carried out by the previous Emperor because many people were spared while serving in the imperial court.

It was the Empire’s last record of chimeras.

Derek’s trembling voice called out to Simon, who was busy looking for information on him.

“Well… Actually, that day, m-my vision wasn’t quite right… Knowing the truth, I didn’t have any ulterior motives!!”

“What are you talking about?”

Simon lifted his head and looked at Derek, who made excuses with his eyes closed.

“If I had known it was Miss Ka-Kalia, this would never have happened!”

“Oh, you mean that day,” Simon chuckled and glanced at Derek, then looked up the hill through the window. “It’s all right, Derek. Like you said, you didn’t know it was Kalia.”

If he knew it was Kalia, it would be a completely different story… Well, he didn’t want to say anything about what he did just out of ignorance.

Hadn’t the owner of the scroll acted as a springboard for the two of them?

After meeting Kalia again, Simon will be able to be a little more tolerant of Derek.

‘The scroll… That big scroll. Ha!’

“The scroll you made then,” Simon asked Derek, rubbing his chin lightly.

“Yes?”

“It’s… I mean, it’s a conversion masterpiece. Made a year ago.”

“Oh yes. This, this! That’s why…”

“Is it still in the capital?”

Derek, who shook his head like he didn’t understand, nodded coldly under Simon’s gaze to quickly answer him.

“Right.”

The corners of Simon’s lips turned up slightly, muttering.

‘What, was it a failure?’

Derek, who didn’t even look at him after that, just scratched his cheek, not knowing what to say.

“Isn’t the condition for its launch ‘there must be at least small feelings for each other’?”

“Oh yes. Correctly. It’s not like a spark could be ignited by a feeling that doesn’t exist.”

“Hmm.”

Simon’s straight eyebrows rose. He stood for a moment, lost in his own thoughts.

‘In this case.’

‘Ha… Then too.’

‘But some time ago…’

While mumbling something similar, he ran his hands over his face impatiently several times.

He smiled slightly, tilted his head, and then sighed as if something was bothering him.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

‘And why did you come into my room and do this? Could you leave now?’

Was he reading Derek’s mind when he thought that?

Simon, who had suddenly raised his head, turned around and headed for the door.

“I cant. I have to check it myself.”

“Yes, what?”

“Keep an eye on the egg.”

“Huh? Yes I understand…”

Bam.

Before he could hear Derek’s reply, Simon hastily closed the door and left.

Derek, who was suddenly alone, muttered.

“What’s wrong with you?”

* * *

“Sorry, I don’t have much time, so it’s time for me to leave.”

Ganini immediately returned to the forest, before even having a cup of tea with Kalia.

Going through the gifts he had left behind, Kalia remembered a story that Ganini had briefly told recently.

“You won’t be able to see my father for a while. But don’t worry. We will take turns walking towards you. All the other brothers want to come too. You can even see the wanderer Tokan and Nua, the Elder of the Fifth Forest.”

“Yeah, but…”

“What?”

“Has Grandpa gone far?”

Every time Kalia said the word ‘grandfather’, she became embarrassed.

Ganini smiled at Kalia and stroked her shoulder with his big hand.

“Looks like he’s got things to do. Neither my siblings nor I dare to read his mind, so there is no need to try to guess. So just wait and he will come back with a relaxed smile as usual.”

He spoke directly, but Kalia noticed a slight ripple in Ganini’s eyes.

“I heard that Nua moved out right after he heard about you. It will take some time as he is the furthest away, but he will come with many precious gifts. He lives in winter country.”

Kalia, who received so many gifts from them, was stunned at the thought that she could still receive some more.

And he hastily added before leaving.

“I will return to the capital in a month.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I think I should help my friend. And also… I made a promise.”

“Right.”

“…Well, it doesn’t matter. Because fairy forests are everywhere. If there is a forest, then we have the same distance everywhere.”

Telling a strange story, he suddenly turned to Kalia and asked.

“Even the 12 elders and the forest don’t even know about your existence. But sooner or later, when my father returns, we will officially declare you a member of the forest.”

“But… I shouldn’t live in the forest, should I?”

“Wherever you live, it’s your choice. Now I’m not going to deprive you of your freedom, because it’s your blood, not mine, not father’s, not our brothers.”

“…”

“But I still hope that the forest can become another refuge for you.”

Hearing Ganini’s words, Kalia smiled sincerely.

“Then… I always wanted to go to the forest.”

“Then let’s build a good foundation so that we can welcome you and Sasha at any time.”

Ganini patted Kalia on the shoulder and turned regretfully.

He seemed extremely straightforward, but if you get to know him, he was the sweetest person.

“By the way… the atmosphere seems unusual.”

At the same time, monsters from the fairy forest appear, and even Louismond’s displeased expression and grandfather’s suspicious actions.

‘And the monster I met in the fairy forest was… I think it was a chimera.’

.