Chapter 104 - Treat Them Right
"Favoritism is part of human nature. Love, despite idealism, can never be perfectly equal. People have preferences, whether they realize it or not. However, favoring one person or thing does not mean you cannot treat or love another as they deserve." — Number 1 Bullshitter
—
Peck! Peck! Peck-Peck-Peck-Peck!
"Ugh..." Sebastian groaned in pain, groggily opening his eyes. His blurry vision cleared, revealing a small bird perched on his nose, staring down at him with spiteful, narrow eyes and a bored expression.
Peck!
Secre jabbed him between the eyes with her beak again.
Sebastian blinked, blanking for a moment before sighing in annoyance. "Would you knock that off?"
Secre tilted her head before fluttering off his face, landing on a tree branch that jutted through an empty eye socket in the colossal demon skull.
"So, you're finally awake... or back, for that matter," she squeaked.
His body ached, bones creaking in protest as he slowly pushed himself upright, scanning his surroundings. He was back at the center of the ancient demon's skull. Again.
Dusting dirt and grass off his clothes, he stretched lightly, replying absentmindedly, "Don't say it like that. I was gone for an hour... or two, tops."
The sun, still hanging bright in the sky, cast long orange rays through the skull's hollowed eyes and fractured frame, signaling the approach of evening. He arrived in Hage in the afternoon so that meant he hadn't been gone long.
Or so he thought.
Secre blinked once. Then again.
"It's Friday," she squeaked.
"Huh?"
Sebastian froze mid-stretch, digging a finger into his ear. He must've misheard.
"W-what did you just say?"
Secre's tone remained as flat as ever. "It's Friday evening. You've been gone for two days."
His mouth parted slightly, but no words came out. Two days?
Sebastian's thoughts scrambled, his mind racing. Was there some kind of one-hour-to-one-day time dilation between that place and here? The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he got.
Dammit, Sawyer. Couldn't you have told me that? Acier's definitely going to kill me...
If he had stayed in that space even an hour longer, he might have missed his kid's engagement ceremony entirely. Maybe—just maybe—that mysterious intervention, that giant hand, had been a blessing in disguise.
With a long sigh, Sebastian wordlessly turned and walked out of the skull's archway, exiting through the remains of its shattered jaw.
Secre blinked, then swooped down to perch on his shoulder.
"You're leaving just like that?"
"Yeah," Sebastian muttered, weaving through the forest. "I need to get home."
Secre studied him for a moment before letting out a low, curious chirp.
"What happened to your cheek? And what even happened to you, for that matter? Where'd you go?"
Mid-step, Sebastian abruptly froze. His hand instinctively rose to his right cheek, fingers grazing the fresh scar.
Damn. I can't go home like this...
As worry settled in, an idea sparked in his mind.
Ever since the whole Secret Order and Blue Eagle extravaganza or ordeal, he'd been practicing something—studying, refining, testing. He wasn't anywhere near mastery, but covering up a scar like this? That was definitely within his reach.
Secre watched as a poof of smoke bloomed over Sebastian's cheek before quickly dispersing.
The scar was gone.
"Transformation magic..." she muttered.
Sebastian nodded, checking his reflection in a conjured bubble of water. "Is it good, or do I need to put more effort into it?"
"It's fine," Secre responded flatly.
Sebastian sighed in relief and kept walking. As he marched through the forest, he considered how to answer Secre's questions—without violating Sawyer's warning.
NEVER MENTION ME TO ANYONE.
The finality in Sawyer's voice still echoed in his mind, a grim and cautious reminder. So, Sebastian settled on a half-truth.
"That array was a summoning circle. It transported me to an ancient dungeon... one where time seems to have flown slower than in our world."
Secre perked up as he continued, weaving through trees, bushes, and thick undergrowth.
"I don't think it reacted to you because of your low mana and distance from it, but anyway, I got this scar clearing that dungeon. Or... I guess I cleared it, since I got transported back here after all."
Secre ruffled her feathers before chirping out another question. "Did you gain anything? Any relics, treasures, or artifacts—"
She fell silent as Sebastian held something up in front of her, a slight smirk on his face.
Her avian eyes blinked at the magic stone before she let out a chirp, almost mocking.
"You have really good luck."
Sebastian's smile grew strained. "I'd rather not have this luck at all..."
He wanted no part in whatever grand game, plot, or contest was unfolding in the shadows. It wasn't luck. It was just the consequence of fate and destiny being shoved onto someone who would much rather live a mediocre life.
Secre didn't press further, though confusion lingered in her gaze. She merely nodded. "According to you, that should make six magic stones accounted for... I'll begin searching for the other five."
Sebastian nodded, making no move to stop her.
According to Sawyer, a corresponding stone would be summoned to its respective dungeon when it appeared. That meant the other five still existed in this world.
Maybe he could collect them without dealing with whatever games Sawyer's fellow clones had in mind.
But at the same time, Sebastian had a feeling he'd have to visit those places eventually—if only to get more answers or some useful rewards.
So, he nodded but left Secre with a word of advice.
"Don't be disheartened if you can't find them. The others might be in similar dungeons. They won't appear until it's time."
Secre chirped mockingly. "Dungeons aren't that common..." Still, she heeded his words. "Even if that's the case, I'm not so sensitive that a failed search will get to me... I have nothing but time."
Sebastian's eyes flickered with a complex emotion as Secre flapped her wings, taking off from his shoulder and soaring back toward the demon skull.
"Maybe you do," he mumbled, watching her disappear into the distance. "But the world doesn't seem to have much..."
With that, he veered out of the forest and arrived at his destination.
As he walked to the church, the broad man sitting on the bench outside, overlooking the horizon with two baby boys snuggled in his arms, snapped his head in Sebastian's direction at the sound of approaching footsteps.
Loyce's eyebrows shot up in surprise before he whispered softly, curiosity laced in his tone.
"Sebastian? What are you doing here?"
Sebastian walked closer, his heart warming at the sight of Asta and Yuno. A soft, fond smile worked its way onto his face as he whispered a response, careful not to wake them.
"I had some business in Hage. I decided to pay you a visit before leaving. Is everything fine with you and the church?"
Loyce didn't pry into what that business was. Instead, he smiled brightly. "Yes."
His whisper grew louder—almost a shout—causing the babies to stir in discomfort, their tiny faces scrunching up. Loyce winced and quickly rubbed their backs, lulling them back to sleep before whispering sheepishly,
"Yes. Everything's going just swell here, and look at what I got."
Hmm? Sebastian perked up, only to stiffen as something flew out from the church's open windows and landed at Loyce's side.
His pupils dilated as he took in the sight of the red-and-white grimoire, its solar-themed cover unmistakable. The exact one from his memories of Loyce.
But instead of a Spade on the center-front, it bore a clover, a four-leaf clover.
Any other time, a four-leaf would be a sign of good fortune and auspicious near-zealous piety. But right now, Sebastian felt like he was looking at the most revolting thing in the world.
Sawyer's warning from before made his instincts scream at him to run over, grab the grimoire, and chuck it far away—preferably into a volcano. Not just Loyce's but his own too.
But he didn't. Not because he didn't fully trust Sawyer—that was another issue entirely—but because if possessing a grimoire was truly that dangerous, Sawyer would have outright told him to get rid of it.
So Sebastian simply stared at the floating tome, gaze unreadable and heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Loyce's expression brightened. "It's just as you said. That voice really didn't let me down. I feel like with this, if I train as hard as possible, I can defeat Dante and take back my kingdom."
Sebastian forced a smile, one that Loyce didn't seem to notice. "That's wonderful. Congratulations."
Loyce mirrored it with a genuine smile of his own before his brows furrowed in concern. "About those ancient demons... what is Clover going to do?"
"We're making preparations. Not just for Spade, but for Diamond too... Whether those are to respond to a potential threat or prevent it by dealing with the likely source remains to be seen... That's all I can tell you."
Loyce nodded, not offended in the least. He was an outsider, after all, and this involved a kingdom's secrets, plans, and intelligence.
Sebastian had already told him more than he could ask for.
Moving on, Loyce whispered another question, one far more pressing. "Has there been any news on my wife?"
Sebastian paused, his expression softening. He could hear the anxiety in Loyce's voice, feel the fear and concern behind his words.
Perhaps another time, Sebastian would have been annoyed by the question. After all, the search for Ciel had only just begun.
A Ciel who, according to canon, should be completely safe.
But this world—this different world—where Samyaza and other entities were walking around, plotting who knows what?
Sebastian couldn't be sure.
He shook his head apologetically. "No. Last time I checked with my scouts, they hadn't received even the slightest news... but we'll keep searching and widen the range."
Although he knew these words could come back to bite him, and that he probably shouldn't voice them, he could empathize with Loyce's feelings in some way.
"Don't worry. We'll find her."
Loyce gave a weak, thankful nod before silence settled between them.
Sebastian sighed and offered a small farewell as he stepped past Loyce.
"Well, I need to get home. If you need anything, you can always contact me."
Loyce didn't get up from the bench. Instead, his smile brightened as he dipped his head.
"Thank you, Sebastian. Oh, and congratulations—word's arrived here about your son's engagement, so best wishes on his union and the addition to your family."
Sebastian paused. Then realization dawned.
Right...
In canon, despite being part of the same kingdom, the Forsaken Realm was so far removed—even from the Common Realm, let alone the Noble Realm—that most peasants in Hage and other villages didn't even know what Augustus or Julius looked like. Some didn't even know their names.
But now?
With Conrad's development plan well underway, merchant caravans, Magic Knights, government offices, stores, and other services had started setting up shop in this realm. And with them came connections.
And, of course, rumors.
The houses that had supported Conrad's bill—along with Conrad himself and even Augustus—had risen in popularity among commoners and lowborn folk across the Common and Forsaken Realms.
Naturally, gossip about the nobility spread into these circles, and House Silva was no exception.
Nozel's engagement was a major event for the aristocracy, shaking up power in the upper circles. While it was overshadowed by the Ancient Demons' attacks and Conrad's heroics, it still made the rounds—especially among those with a vested interest in House Silva.
Loyce, naturally, was one of them.
Sebastian smiled as a water eagle formed beneath his feet, lifting him into the sky.
"Thank you. If you ever feel like attending, House Silva's doors will always be open."
Loyce chuckled. "That's probably not a good idea. I'm trying to keep a low profile. After all, I'm supposed to be dead. But once again—congratulations."
Sebastian inclined his head in gratitude before soaring toward the capital.
As he flew higher and farther, the evening skyline stretched before him—painted in hues of orange, yellow, and red, the sun casting a warm glow over the horizon.
Sebastian reached into his satchel, pulling out two items with a fond smile.
A pink magic stone.
And an inactive, pocket-sized puppet.
"Nozel has one, so it's only right I give the other to Dorothy... and Noelle can have the puppet..."
He remembered the way Noelle would squeal with joy whenever she played with the teddy bears and living creatures in Glamour World.
Only to be disappointed when she couldn't take them outside. Dorothy's dream constructs couldn't exist in reality for long—the magic drained her too quickly.
But now...
She'd have a real toy. A buddy that wouldn't just vanish into swirls of pink and purple motes of light.
Sebastian couldn't wait to see the pure joy on her face.
Then he hesitated.
Sawyer's words thundered through his mind.
Do you love Nozel the most of all your children?
"...What am I doing?" he mumbled.
He didn't have just two children. He had five.
And what the hell was with playing favorites?
Are Nebra and Solid not your children too?!
You never held Solid and Nebra even once in your life, you asshole!
Acier's voice—furious, frustrated—echoed in his memory, tearing into him back at the beach.
Sebastian's chest twisted uncomfortably.
Have I ever done anything for them? Given them anything?
Brushing Nebra's hair. Introducing Solid to the wonder of trap magic.
Those had been nice moments. But that was bare minimum.
Especially for a father who had neglected them for most of their lives. A father who claimed he was trying to make things right.
The capital came into view, but Sebastian bit his lip and veered west—toward the edge of the Noble Realm.
Toward House Faust.
Unless it was a special day for a specific child, a parent bringing home a gift should either have something for all their kids...
Or nothing at all.
So he went where he knew he could find something for each of them.
—
Castle Silva
By the time Sebastian returned home, the sun had set on the horizon, and the sky had darkened into a mix of purple and blue.
Stars began to shine, and the moon crept up behind the cloudy fog.
As Sebastian stepped into the living room, everyone jerked their heads in his direction.
Noelle, sitting in Acier's lap, pointed at him with a pudgy finger. "Baboo."
Just as Sebastian was about to smile, he stiffened as he noticed Acier shoot him a smile that wasn't a smile.
"Honey, it's been two days, and you haven't even sent a word of where you've been..." Acier ground her teeth. "I also lost connection with you for a very long time. You better have a good excuse."
Sebastian rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, wincing further as he noticed Nozel and Dorothy's unamused expressions, Nebra's judging glare, and Vanessa's and Solid's curiosity.
"Things happened, and I kind of got trapped in a dungeon... Perhaps the chaotic mana in them cut off our connection."
The kids abruptly took on an understanding and softened look.
Though Acier's expression darkened. "Then why didn't you contact me as soon as the connection was restored? You know how much I had to fight the urge to do so myself and tear into you?"
Sebastian bobbed his head slightly. "Sorry about that. It's just that... things came up."
"What kind of things?" Acier demanded.
Sebastian paused before shaking his head. "Nothing that concerns you."
Acier groaned, threw her head back in frustration, then sighed and nodded. "Fine... but what are you supposed to do when you come home?"
Sebastian paused while Acier tapped her lips, and with a slight chuckle, he walked over and planted a slight peck on her mouth.
"I'm home."
Acier smiled. "Welcome back."
Sebastian blushed slightly, turning back to see his kids looking at him with disgusted expressions—well, most of them. Vanessa blushed, while Solid's eyes widened in curiosity as he pointed to something in Sebastian's hands.
A small leather sack.
"Dad, what's that?"
Sebastian blinked before smiling. "Well, with my adventures in the dungeon along with my trip back, I collected and brought some things... and got you all some presents."
Nozel, Dorothy, Nebra, and Vanessa seemed surprised, while Solid's eyes lit up further in excitement, and he ran to Sebastian's side. "Really?"
Sebastian chuckled. "Yes."
"Oh! Oh! What did you get me?" Solid was practically jumping as Sebastian opened the bag and reached in to pull out his gift.
Though mid-movement, he froze as Acier spoke up.
"Sebby, do you know anything that is taken out of a dungeon belongs to the Kingdom...? And should at least be reported to Conrad first, right?"
Sebastian turned to her and blinked. "Such a rule doesn't apply to me. And no one outside of this room knows anything of that trip of mine. I have not gone to any such place. No dungeon was ever discovered. Understand?"
Acier blinked before smiling and giggling as she nodded. "Yes, I get it."
Solid nodded as well, causing Acier's laughter to increase, while Sebastian finally handed him his gift.
Solid's eyes sparkled as he took the golden-trimmed, fine-tip pen. "I-is this...?"
Sebastian smiled and nodded softly. "Yes, it's a magic pen."
When it comes to trap, barrier, or sealing magic, and mana method, yes, one can draw or form the sigils and arrays by hand.
But more precise and advanced creations require magical tools like wands or pens.
Especially for trap magic, where you can construct very advanced multi-layered arrays.
Doing so is difficult with your fingers. Although Solid had been allowed to borrow Zara's pen during his lessons, he didn't own one of his own.
Not just that—although he was typically allowed to have anything he desired should he request it, Sebastian hadn't given him permission to purchase a magic pen. Not only were they newbies in trap magic, so having a pen was a bit pointless right now...
But because of Solid's great (almost concerningly so) interest in trap magic, he kept experimenting on his own time. If he had a pen, he might even make something more reckless.
However, upon reflection, Sebastian thought, Knowing Solid, he might do so anyway, with his fingers which is dangerous, and turning him down would just make him do it in secret.
So he may as well give him the benefit of the doubt and trust him—so he at least creates such things under Sebastian's or Zara's supervision, without feeling the need to hide it, and ends up hurting himself.
Safe to say, the way Solid lunged at Sebastian and wrapped his arms around his waist—leaving Sebastian momentarily stiff—was an indication he loved the present.
"Thanks, Dad!"
Sebastian paused before smiling fondly and gently patting his head. "You're welcome."
Acier watched this scene from behind Sebastian with a smile, while Solid, with a small blush on his cheeks, pulled away.
Sebastian then reached into the sack and pulled out something else.
The pen Sebastian gave Solid was amongst the finest in the kingdom, one of very few belonging to House Faust—who, through their devil studies, invested a long amount of time in magical runes and arrays.
The next two gifts that Sebastian retrieved were the first of two fully completed models that House Faust had developed for their upcoming magical tool workshop.
"Nebra, this is for you..."
Sebastian handed his eldest biological daughter a round and ovular magic pad, with a glass-like gem screen on top, possessing three buttons and one switch, an eyeball-like lens, and trimmed with beautiful embroidery.
Nebra took it with interest while Sebastian handed a sleek, elongated gun-like object that tapered toward the nozzle. It consisted of a fenced-like metal screen on the barrel and possessed a soft, curved trigger.
"This is for you, Vanessa."
Vanessa took the object with a flustered expression. "F-for me?" she asked in shock.
Sebastian blinked before smiling softly. "Of course. After all, you're part of this family too. If you think of my children as your siblings, doesn't that make me your father?"
Nozel, Dorothy, Nebra, Solid, and even Noelle smiled at Vanessa.
Vanessa, frozen, looked past Sebastian toward Acier, who shot her a sweet and beautiful beaming grin.
"Like we've said before, Vanessa. You're not a stranger here. This is your family."
Vanessa blanked before blushing profusely and ducking her head. "I-I s-suppose... W-what is this thing anyway, Mister—I-I mean... Father."
Sebastian chuckled. "It's a hair dryer."
Vanessa, along with everyone else—though Nozel, Dorothy, and Acier to a much lesser extent—blinked in confusion.
"A hair dryer?" they repeated in unison.
Sebastian nodded, taking the device from Vanessa and pressing the trigger.
The magic gem embedded in the rounded end lit up, sending a pulse through the circuit-like lines along the barrel. And then—
Vrrrmmm!!!
A strong gust of wind shot out, ruffling hair and clothes.
Sebastian smiled, raising his voice slightly over the hum of the fan. "Drying long hair with just a towel takes forever, and unless you're a wind, air, or even water mage with really precise control, there aren't many other options. This, however, makes it easy."
He adjusted his grip, demonstrating. "The trigger controls the intensity. The more you pull, the stronger the wind."
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The airflow strengthened as he pulled down further, then softened as he eased up. Satisfied, he handed the dryer back to Vanessa.
She took it with a small, flustered smile. "T-thank you."
Sebastian mirrored her smile, about to respond—
"Dad, what about mine?" Nebra interrupted, holding up the device he'd given her. She turned it over in her hands, puzzled. "It doesn't seem like a transponder?"
Sebastian chuckled, shaking his head. "That's because it's not. It's a camera."
"Kamerah?" Nebra repeated the unfamiliar word, tilting her head.
"Camera," Sebastian corrected, taking it from her. "Or, more formally, a magical recording device. House Francois developed it through their memory magic, and up until now, only a select few have owned something like this."
With a flick of a switch, the device whirred to life. A holographic screen appeared, displaying a real-time image of the room. As Sebastian moved the camera, the projection shifted, showing different angles and perspectives.
He pointed to the three buttons—each a different color.
"The green button captures a still image—like freezing a moment in time."
He pressed it, snapping a picture of the room.
"The red button records memories, letting you capture moving images."
He gestured to the projection as if framing an invisible moment.
"And the blue button lets you browse past images and recordings stored in the gem, so you can relive them anytime."
Nebra's eyes sparkled. Without hesitation, she pointed the lens at Noelle and pressed the green button. A soft chime rang out. Seconds later, she flipped to the 'magical gallery'—and there it was. The exact moment, frozen in time.
"So cool..." she breathed, eyes gleaming.
Solid, just as mesmerized, leaned in closer to get a better look.
Neither of them remembered to say thank you—not that Sebastian cared. He simply smiled, deeper this time, because he could feel their joy.
Sebastian turned to Dorothy, who stood with her hands on her waist, waiting expectantly. He shook his head with a laugh.
"This is for you, Dorothy."
He dropped a pink magic gem into her hands. It was adorned with a crescent moon and stars, now fitted with an expensive string so it could be worn as a necklace.
Dorothy's eyes widened.
Sebastian grinned. "Nozel has one, so it's only right that you have one too. You're welcome."
Dorothy instantly recalled the memory she had seen—the one of Fuegoleon losing his arm and nearly dying, all because he had been hunted for possessing a magic stone.
She blinked incredulously. You're welcome? Why would I be thankful?
Biting her lip, she hesitated before cautiously asking, "Dad, have I done something to upset you recently?"
Sebastian blinked, caught off guard. "H-huh? Why would you say that?"
Looking up at her father's genuinely confused expression, Dorothy sighed. She forced a strained smile as she fastened the necklace around her neck.
"Nothing. Thank you, Dad. I love it."
Sebastian scratched his head. Your mouth says one thing, but your face says another...
He was about to question her when his gaze drifted to Nozel standing beside her. His son's face remained indifferent, but Sebastian felt the expectation in his eyes.
His expression darkened. "We may be broke because of you. Why would I get you anything?"
Nozel stiffened. "F-Father, surely this grudge has gone on long enough—"
"I'm kidding. I'm kidding." Sebastian snorted, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small object, and Nozel's eyes widened in absolute bewilderment.
"A-a hair tie?"
Cautiously, Nozel reached for the elastic—only for Sebastian to snap his hand away.
"Don't look so disappointed."
Before Nozel could react, Sebastian suddenly stepped forward and grabbed his rattail.
Nozel wasn't the only one startled. His siblings watched in silent concern. Acier, however, simply smiled, looking so, so relieved.
"F-Father, w-what are you doing?!" Nozel demanded, but he couldn't move under Sebastian's grip.
Sebastian ignored him, untying the tight braid before pulling Nozel's long hair back and securing it into a neat man-bun.
With a final pat on his shoulders, Sebastian took a step back, satisfied. For the first time in a very long time, he could see his son's face clearly.
"Done."
Now free, Nozel took a step back in annoyance. "Father, what is the meaning of this?! The rattail is a sign of noble elegance, passed down for centuries in our household! The epitome of aristocratic dignity—"
"I made that up," Sebastian cut him off.
Nozel stiffened. Then blinked. "Huh?"
Sebastian rubbed his temple in frustration. Nozel saw my memories in the dream... so shouldn't he already know why I had him style his hair like that for so long?
Then again, Dorothy's and Nozel's understanding of the dream's contents didn't seem nearly as sharp as his and Acier's. Maybe with everything going on, he just glossed over that minor detail.
Before Sebastian could explain or calm him down, Dorothy suddenly stepped forward.
Then placed her hands on Nozel's cheeks.
Nozel froze, his entire face heating up. "D-Dorothy, w-what are you doing—"
Dorothy leaned in, examining him closely. "So this is how you really look?" she mumbled aloud before breaking into a bright smile.
"Hey, Nozel, you're actually really handsome. You should show your face more often."
Nozel blinked.
Then, ever so subtly, he turned back to Sebastian, shooting him a seemingly indifferent nod—one that radiated pleasure and smugness.
Nozel quite liked his present.
Watching the teen romance unfold in front of him—well, not really teens, since they were adults in this world—Sebastian clicked his tongue in derision and turned away.
Crouching down in front of Acier's sofa chair so he was eye level with Noelle, he sported a soft smile—a complete 180 from a moment ago.
"Hey, baby, do you want to see what Daddy got you?"
"Aga!" Noelle squealed excitedly, stretching out her little pudgy fingers. She squirmed in her mother's lap, looking ready to launch herself forward at any moment.
Sebastian's smile stretched wider as he presented a pocket-sized puppet to his youngest.
Noelle snatched it immediately and brought it to her mouth.
Before she could stuff it inside, Sebastian hurriedly stopped her. "N-no, Noelle, it's not food."
Noelle frowned. "Aga!" And promptly tried to swallow it whole.
Once again, Sebastian's hand was left slobbered on as he struggled to stop her. He sighed inwardly.
Why does she suddenly want to stuff everything into her mouth? She never used to do that before.
But he didn't dwell on it for long. Gently prying the puppet from Noelle's fingers, he watched as her face scrunched up.
"Baboo..." Noelle whimpered, on the verge of bawling her eyes out.
Sebastian leaned in and pressed a warm kiss to her forehead. "It's not food, sweetheart—it's a toy. Come on, Noelle, let Daddy show you."
Noelle paused, still looking disappointed, but she calmed as Acier gently patted her head. She sniffled, then watched curiously.
Sebastian placed the small puppet on the carpet beneath her, drawing everyone's attention. Then, going by Sawyer's instructions, he patted the puppet's small, round head and channeled some mana into it.
The puppet began to glow. Sebastian took a step back.
The light grew brighter, and Sebastian smirked, looking forward to everyone gawking at the large squishy friend about to make an appearance.
They did gawk.
But what appeared was not what Sebastian expected.
Expecting to look up, his gaze remained downward. Because instead of a 7-foot Baymax-like puppet...
It was barely 2 feet tall.
And much rounder. Pudgier. Squishier.
It was very, very cute.
The puppet's glowing blue eyes flickered. It blinked, then started turning around, spinning and moving as if assessing everyone in the room.
The room erupted into mayhem.
Solid's eyes sparkled. "W-what's that?"
Dorothy and Vanessa stiffened, a shudder running down their spines.
"I-is that a golem...?" Dorothy muttered.
Vanessa swallowed hard. Not again...
Memories of their time in the Witch Forest flared up like battle trauma. But this... this didn't look like any golem they had encountered before. It was adorable.
Nebra fought the overwhelming urge to drop to her knees and hug what appeared to be a very chubby, autonomous doll.
Nozel, like the rest of the room, turned to Sebastian in question.
Sebastian shrugged. "It's a relic. I retrieved it from the dungeon. Don't ask me too many questions—I really don't know how capable it is."
Acier blinked, her expression darkening.
And you were going to give something possibly dangerous to our daughter...?
She didn't tear into Sebastian. Not yet, anyway. She knew he wasn't reckless enough to put Noelle in danger without reason. So, for now, she watched.
Noelle, who had initially frozen in her mother's arms, suddenly lit up.
"Aga! Aga! Aga!" She repeated over and over, flailing as if trying to launch herself toward the puppet.
Acier, though still cautious, stood up and gently set Noelle down in front of the strange little creature. Then she sat protectively behind her, watching closely.
Sebastian, along with everyone else, formed a loose circle around them.
Noelle wasted no time, crawling eagerly toward the puppet, her giggles bright and unrestrained.
As she reached it, she stopped. Her tiny index finger stretched forward... and she poked the puppet's cheek.
Boing.
Her finger sank into its squishy surface before bouncing back.
Noelle's eyes widened.
The puppet—whatever it was made of—was the softest, squishiest thing she had ever touched.
Noelle really liked that.
"Aga! Aga! Aga!"
Poke! Poke! Poke!
She poked again. And again. And again.
Her laughter bubbled up, bright and delighted, as she grabbed its cheeks, squeezed its marshmallow-like belly, and tugged on its pudgy limbs.
And then... the puppet moved.
Acier and Nozel tensed immediately.
Slowly, the puppet raised one of its impish, bulbous arms.
Its stubby fingers reached out—thumb and index coming together—and, just like Noelle had done...
It pinched her cheek.
Gently. Carefully.
Its glowing blue eyes curved into soft U-shapes, as if it were smiling.
Noelle gasped.
Then squealed.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
"Aga! Aga! Aga!"
She giggled, clapping over and over, as the puppet playfully poked her in return—its little fingers expertly targeting her ticklish spots, making her laughter multiply tenfold.
Neither Nebra, Dorothy, Vanessa, nor Solid could restrain themselves any longer.
With a shared burst of excitement, they launched forward into the circle.
"So soft!" Nebra squealed, yanking on the puppet's cheek like it was the most satisfying thing in the world.
"So cute!" Dorothy cooed, cradling Noelle while watching the puppet continue its ticklish assault.
"C-chubby..." Vanessa mumbled, her cheeks dusted pink as she repeatedly patted its squishy belly.
"Coooolllll!!!" Solid's eyes sparkled as he traced his fingers along the puppet's glowing blue veins, before sticking his hands directly into its holographic eyes.
Nozel coughed awkwardly—then, without a word, reached out and ran his fingers along the puppet's smooth back. Huh. That is oddly satisfying...
Sebastian blinked, watching them fawn over it like it was some divine relic.
If they found out it's a half-murder robot that could probably kill all of us—save for their mother—in an instant, I wonder if they'd still find it cute...
That mental image was too amusing.
Now that he thought about it, the idea of this tiny, round, flabby little puppet fighting was... oddly compelling.
Sebastian could just see it now—everyone standing there, gawking, as this pudgy ball of fluff casually obliterated an entire mountain range.
It'd be so glorious.
Still snickering to himself, Sebastian scooted forward and snapped his fingers in front of the robot, grabbing its attention.
"Do you have a name?" He tilted his head. "It'd be annoying to keep calling you puppet."
The puppet froze.
Everyone watched as it raised a stubby hand, scratching its round head like an airhead.
Then—its glowing eyes morphed into a \ / shape, as if it suddenly understood.
Without warning, its eyelids flickered, behaving like a projector, and a screen appeared in front of them.
A UI name field.
Waiting to be filled.
The room fell into silence.
"...Huh?" Dorothy blinked.
"What... is this?" Vanessa muttered, tilting her head.
Sebastian chuckled, effortlessly piecing it together. "It's asking us to assign it a name." He smirked. "Any ideas?"
Everyone exchanged looks.
Just as Solid opened his mouth to speak—
Noelle suddenly pointed.
"Aga!"
Sebastian barely had time to process before—
Click.
The letters A, G, and A filled the name field, one after the other.
A green checkmark appeared beside them.
Sebastian's eyes widened. Wait—
A warning message popped up:
Name confirmed! Locking 'Aga' as a permanent identity. Interact with Bot Aga by its name to elicit best responses and performances.
Sebastian stared blankly as the message faded.
Then sighed.
"All right... Aga, what can you do?"
Aga scratched his head dumbly, then patted his chest with a thud, standing tall like he was the most indomitable being in existence.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "You can do anything...?"
Aga—if a robot could have emotions—crossed his chubby arms and nodded smugly.
Sebastian smirked. "Can you pee? Can you eat? Can you take a..." He barely stopped himself from saying shit. "...Can you poop?"
Nozel groaned and slapped a hand over his face. Dorothy and Nebra stuck their tongues out in disgust.
As for Aga?
He froze.
Then, like a man who'd just lost his job, house, and entire family, he collapsed to his flabby knees.
Sebastian suddenly felt bad.
Acier must have too, because she gave him a light slap to the back of the head.
Noelle, meanwhile, pointed at him with a heavy frown.
"Bwad Baboo!"
Sebastian felt himself shatter like a crumbling stone statue.
Solid patted Aga's back consolingly. "It's fine, Aga. You're really cool."
Aga's glowing eye sockets filled with digital tears.
He stood up again, and Sebastian swore if he had a voice box, he would've sniffled.
But then—Aga straightened, regaining his pride.
Indomitable. Invincible. Resolute.
If he were taller and thinner, he might've seemed heroic.
But with his round, flabby, pudgy frame...
Cute was the only word that came to mind.
Sebastian patted Aga's belly. "Cool guys don't have pot bellies, Aga."
Aga froze.
Then, looking down at himself, he scooped up his hanging belly with his stubby fingers, squishing it inward like a ball of dough.
And then—
Boing!
It popped back out.
Aga tried again. Push.
Boing!
And again. Push. Push.
Boing! Boing!
Every. Single. Time.
Nebra, Dorothy, and Vanessa cooed in unison.
"So cute!!!"
Aga, however, collapsed to his knees in pure despair.
Acier shot Sebastian an unimpressed look. "Are you done bullying him?"
Sebastian wasn't.
He hadn't felt this much joy in ages.
Even if Aga had zero offensive abilities, just its cute, dumb, innocent presence was reward enough.
He was just about to tease it further when—
Twat!
Noelle smacked his knee with her tiny palm.
It didn't hurt. At all.
But her deep frown, followed by a firm, "Bwad Bwad Baboo," felt like an arrow to the heart.
Sebastian sighed and stood up, watching the kids cheer Noelle on as she played with Aga, experimenting with its little features.
Their surprise grew by the second as Aga nimbly ran around, moving in a posture eerily similar to Ted.
(Thank God it didn't talk, Sebastian thought. Or it might have a potty mouth too.)
Then came the real spectacle.
Their eyes shone as Aga took flight, soaring around the room like Superman.
Gasps filled the air as it transformed into a ball and darted across the floor like Sonic—zipping between furniture, never once crashing or knocking anything over.
And then—
Sebastian's breath hitched.
They discovered the games.
Holographic screens flickered to life as Aga projected digital tic-tac-toe, interactive puzzles, and other simple games Sebastian recognized from its interface.
For a moment, his trauma almost acted up.
But as laughter rang through the room, he let himself relax.
Acier leaned against his shoulder, her warmth seeping into him.
"You seem to have brought something very incredible..."
Sebastian chuckled. "Yeah. I have."
Acier turned to him, stepping right into his space, demanding his full attention. Her lavender eyes glittered.
"You can't tell me how you got Aga here?"
Sebastian hesitated, then shook his head. "No. I can't. Sorry."
Acier hummed. "I see..."
She reached out, slowly, and traced her fingers along his right cheek—right over his scar.
Sebastian stiffened.
His transformation magic could mask his appearance, but he hadn't mastered physical alteration yet. His skin looked clean, but the scar was still there.
Acier felt it.
She'd known from the moment he entered the room. Her mana sense picked up the illusion immediately.
That was why she'd been upset.
Not surprised. But still—
Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.
"You can't tell me how you got this either?" Her voice dropped. "Or who did this to you?"
Sebastian hurriedly placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to calm her down. "Acier. Trust me, it's nothing."
"Nothing?" she echoed, her smile dark.
"I've seen you rejuvenate in seconds from nearly being turned to ash... so tell me, what exactly can leave a permanent mark on you?
Who hurt my Sebby?"
She continued to run her fingers over the scar—slow, deliberate. A warm gesture.
But Sebastian felt cold.
Acier wasn't as... possessive as she used to be.
But this conversation was heading somewhere dangerous.
So, he acted fast.
His voice dropped, low and pleading.
"Honey. I'm sorry. I would tell you if I could. But I can't.
All you need to know is... it was worth it. Very worth it.
So please. Let's drop this."
Acier paused.
Then, she tilted her head, thoughtful. "Well... that depends."
Sebastian exhaled, already sensing trouble. "...Depends on what?"
Her lips curled.
"Where's my present?"
Sebastian froze.
Then sighed, already resigned to sacrificing his dignity.
He leaned in—hot breath grazing her ear.
"You'll get it tonight."
Acier stiffened.
Then—
Her face went crimson.
"S-Sebby! You're so bad—n-not in front of the kids!"
She fidgeted, squirming like a schoolgirl as Sebastian pulled her into a hug.
She nuzzled into his chest, warmth radiating between them.
For a moment, Sebastian paused.
The kids were distracted.
All except one.
Nozel stood a few feet away.
Watching.
His expression?
Dark.
Disgusted.
Sebastian snorted.
Of all people to judge him—
His simp of a son wasn't one of them.
—
Noelle's Nursery
Sebastian and Acier gazed down with warmth in their eyes.
Noelle lay curled up in her crib, hugging Aga tightly as she snored. The bot, somehow, seemed to be in a snooze mode of its own.
Sebastian was glad he never asked Aga if it could sleep. He had a feeling the bot would be mocking him right now if he had.
The couple bid Hilda goodnight—she would stay by Noelle's side, as she did on any night their daughter didn't sleep with them or her siblings.
Then, hand in hand, they left for their room.
As they walked down the dimly lit hall, Acier smiled, turning to Sebastian. "Can you believe it, Sebby? Our baby boy is getting engaged tomorrow."
Sebastian chuckled, nodding. "With our genes, that shouldn't be surprising."
Acier stuck out her tongue. "You're terrible."
"And you still love me anyway."
She sighed, but her eyes gleamed. "That I do. That I do."
They disappeared into their bedroom, anticipation thrumming in their chests.
Not to set off any flags, but they hoped tomorrow would pass relatively peacefully.
And if fate had other plans?
They'd forcefully change them.
No one was ruining Nozel's and Dorothy's big day.
Not under their watch.
—
Author's Notes:
[1] Finally we have arrived at the day foretold in legend. Let us look forward to Nozel becoming a man, a real man.
[2] As always, feel free to join the Discord: https://discord.gg/s3MME8X8ar