“WAAAH~~~ WOPPA, THIS PLACE IS SWO BIG!!”

We had just arrived back in Moon City. Jian, who had never been to a city before, eye’s were wide and sparkling at the new sight. Right now to make sure she wouldn’t get loss in the crowd I was holding her small hands in my right arm. She was so excited that was she was trying to pull me.

“Hahaha, Jian ah, don’t rush, we’ll take you around?”

“Rweally?! WAAAAH!!”

So excited, she jumps up and down and hugs my leg. Gaaaahh I can’t handle the cuteness! Everyone else in the group is also looking very warmly at Jian too. It had taken us three days to arrive back here due to the slower pace with Jian. We had taken turns with watching over Jian but by the second, she had attached herself to me. Smiling wryly, I had put up the V sign to my friends and they just shook their heads.

*Sigh… Ji Hyun shi, do you think he’ll really be able to let her go?”

“Haa…..Dal Rin unni, oppa has always had a soft spot for little children…”

“Tsk tsk, Lee Hyun is doomed…”

“…Somehow it is hard to imagine that presence of a demon lord right now….”

OI!! I heard that Dal RIn!! …Anyways we had now finally returned to Moon City. Currently we were looking around the market area. Jian was pulling me to each shop with her eyes sparkling. Everyone sighing at her cuteness, we followed her.

At first all the elves were surprised to see the little rabbit eared girl with us, but when they watched her for a little bit everyone without fail started to smile at her, showing her friendly smiles and waving at her. As we were walking through the area, I was currently brooding over what I could do for her before we parted. Even though it would be very hard to do so, unfortunately we couldn’t take her along with us so I planned on getting her a gift.

“Hey guys, why don’t we separate for a little and buy her a gift?”

“Sounds great to me oppa! Do you mind if I take her along with me? I want to buy her a cute dress! Dal Rin shi, would you like to come with me?”

“Sounds good, Ji Hyun shi”

“Alright Jian ah, why don’t you go with Ji Hyun unni for a little bit? She wants to buy you a present”

“A pwesent?”

“Eung, she wants to buy you something”

“Okay~~ unni! Let’s go!!”

Excited that she was going to get a present, she rushed over to Ji Hyun and grabbed her hand. Ji Hyun looked at her with a very warm gaze. Letting Jian pull her, the girls went toward the tailor shops. Hyun Jin and I watched them for a little bit before heading the other way.

“Yo Hyun Jin, what you going to get Jian?”

“I was thinking of getting her a hat, it could cover her and protect her body from the UV rays. What about you man?”

“I’m thinking about getting her an accessory. Should we start heading to the stalls?”

While saying so, we headed to the merchants. After a couple minutes Hyun Jin found a small straw haw that had would shade her body. At the base, there was a cute sky blue ribbon that tied around that gave it a cute feeling, matching Jian perfectly! After he bought it he cut small holes in the top for Jian’s ears. We then looked around for my gift.

We went around for quite a while for mine. There were many stalls that sold accessories but I just couldn’t find one that matched her perfectly. After about a 20 minute search when we were starting to lose hope, I finally found one.

At a shop that was very high end, I found a necklace with a very beautiful blue diamond in the middle. The way it shined and sparkled reminded me exactly of Jian’s eyes. Also beside it was a azure hair clip that had a butterfly design on it.

“Yo Hyun Jin, don’t you think these two would fit on Jian perfectly?”

“They would compliment her very nicely”

“Alright. Store owner! Can I get these two please? Also please get a chain to fit a small child for the necklace please!”

After receiving the accessories, we both head to where we originally were and waited for the girls. About 20 minutes later, while Hyun Jin and I were talking, we suddenly hear a very cute voice.

“Woppa!!”

Smiling, we turn around and see Jian running toward us. Every time she took a step you could hear a small tap. That along with the way her short leg was trying to run quickly was a very adorable site. When Jian reached us, she jumped up and I caught her. She then began to brag about her presents.

“Woppa!! Don’t ywou think the prwesents that the unni bwought me are prwetty?”

I extend my arms so that I could get a better look at her new clothes. Jian had on now a sleeveless sky blue dress. The length was to hear her knees and it had a pure look to it, complimenting Jian perfectly. She also was wearing white sandals that had pearls on the tongues too. Putting her on the ground, I stand up and praise her.

“Waaaah, Jian you look like a princess don’t you?”

“Eung!! Ji Hyun unni and Dal Rin unni are the bwest!!”

“Hahaha well then, Hyun Jin why don’t you give her your present?”

“Might as well huh? Hey Jian ah, Hyun Jin oppa has gotten you this, wear it a lot ok?”

While saying that Hyun Jin brought forward the straw hat. Making sure the ears went through the holes, he put it on her head. Seeing her appearance brought an image of how actresses would dress when they were at the beach. While inwardly smiling at that thought, Jian excitedly thanked Hyun Jin for the present.

“Waaaah, Its so cool now! Thank ywou Hyun Jin woppa!”

While saying that, she ran up to him and gave him a hug. While showing a helpless smile as if saying what am I going to do with you? he picked up Jian and gave her a hug too.

“You’re welcome, little one”

Finally my turn, I pull out the accessories.

“Jian ah~ come over here~”

“Woppa!! Okay~”

Hobbling/running over, she stood in front of me with her big eyes looking at me expectedly. Chuckling, I first put the blue diamond necklace around her neck. After that, I put the butterfly hair clip on right above her left ear. Both pieces matched her blue eyes perfectly.

“Wahhh, its swo prwetty!! Thank you woppa!!”

While squeeling with excitement, she puts her arms around my neck and thank me. Chuckling, I just pat her on her head. Even though the time here was very nice, it was now time to head toward the palace. We had already informed the King and Queen through a guard we met at the outer portion of the city that we would like to have an audience this afternoon. Even though it pained me, I slowly stood up and said to everyone.

“Alright guys, it’s time we go to the palace”

At the mention of the palace, everyone had a difficult expression on their face. Even though everyone knew it was necessary, none of us wanted to part with Jian at all. Jian, noticing the different atmosphere but not understanding what happened, tilted her head in confusion and just looked at us. Thinking this may be the last time, I pick Jian up and put her in her favorite location: on my shoulders.

“Waaaah~~”

“Jian ah, do you like it up there that much?”

“Eung! won twop of Woppa’s shwoulders is best!”

“Hahaha I see, well let’s go to the palace!”

Saying that, I take heavy steps forward. Even though everyone had difficult emotions toward the upcoming parting, they all put on smiles and doted on Jian as they didn’t want to worry her. While we were walking, I calmly answered every question the ever curious Jian had about the things we went past.

“Woppa, whats that?”

“That’s where the elves live Jian ah”

“Waaah elves lwive in trees?!”

“Haha yup”

“What about that, woppa?”

“Those are the guards to the palace Jian ah”

“Waah, they’re so shiny!”

“Woppa! what are those!!”

“Those are painting of old kings and queens Jian ah”

“They’re so prwetty!!”

“Waaah, woppa! those dwoors are swo bwig!!”

“Ya… Those doors are to the entrance of the Royal Throne Room…”

While answering her question, Dal Rin nods toward the two guards on either side of the door and they open it for us. On the other side of the door, the King and Queen were currently seated in their thrones and patiently awaiting us. At the sight of Jian on my shoulder at first their eyes opened in surprised but them turned warm as they saw how cute she was.

“Your majesty, it has been a while, I hope you are well”

“Hero nim, I have been well. I heard you all found some trouble during your training. Is everyone okay?”

“Yes, your majesty, none of us received any injuries. We did, however, come to a site where Orcs were slaying some of the rabbit eared people and found this little girl on Lee Hyun’s shoulder there”

“Ho…. That is most unfortunate. I will send some troops over to that area and provide support to any people there while clearing the area of Orcs”

“Thank you, your majesty. Also….. we have one request….”

“A request from the hero? Ho…how rare… If it is within my powers, I will grant it”

“Your majesty, as you know our party will be traveling to dangerous locations. Unfortunately, it will become too dangerous to take this little girl with us…. We would like to ask you to find the best family you can to put her into and help her live a happy life”

“Papa… please look after her well…”

“The hero and even my daughter asks me for this, huh? Well of course there would be no way we could refuse. We will look over this girl until we find her the best of places to grow up in”

Due to hearing her name but not understanding the situation, Jian on top of me tilted her head and then shook my head.

“Woppa, what is happening?”

Hearing her question, I take her to where everyone is and gently put her on the ground.

“Jian ah…. You see… the unnis, oppa, and I are going to dangerous places, with many bad things like the Orcs…. Since we have to go to those places…unfortunately we can’t take you there… it is too dangerous.. so we are going to leave you with this kind king and queen and they will raise you happily..okay?”

“Oi…your majesty….”

Shivering at my sudden words, the king looks at me with a cramped smile..

“Yes, Lee Hyun nim..?”

“You know, I really care about this girl…. And I will come back often to see if she is well… If anything goes wrong or she is unhappy…. You do know the consequences right?”

While saying that with a smile, the King’s face pales and he hurriedly nods his head in acknowledgement. Being satisfied, I turn back to Jian and smile at her..

“Jian ah, even though oppa isn’t here, you have to eat a lot and be happy okay? Make sure to eat your vegetables and grow to be a big girl okay?”

“EH?!?! Woppa, you leaving? NO!!! TAKE JIAN WITH YWOU!!!”

“Sorry Jian ah…. It’s too dangerous….”

“NWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

While Jian was panicking at the thought that we were departing, I slightly pat her in the head one last time.

“Be happy okay? Oppa will try to come back often to visit okay?”

Saying that and not being able to bear seeing Jian crying, I swiftly turn away and head toward the doors to leave the audience room.

“NWOOOOO!!! WOPPA!! DON’T LEAVE JIAN!! WOPPA!!”

Hearing Jian scream and her wobbling after me, I slightly quicken my pace and almost reach the doors when I am forced to stop.

“NWWOOO!! DON’T LWEAVE JIAN, PAPA!!”

…… Papa? Eh?

“DWOES PAPA HATE JIAN?? JIAN PRWOMISES TWO BE A GWOOD GIRL SWO DWON’T LEAVE ME PAPA!!”

…Ahhh… I made Jian feel sad… I promised her that she wouldn’t be alone… Just what kind of person am I to just leave such a cute girl sad… Sighing deeply I turn around. Right behind me less than 3 ft behind me is short little Jian with tears streaming down her face… What kind of bastard am I to make such a cute little girl cry, eh? Thinking so, I go up to her and pick up her.

“Sorry about that Jian, I don’t hate you… I was just worried that something might happen to you if you came with us… But eh, do you really want to come with us that badly?”

“..Eu*hic*..eung!!”

“Alright, okay. If you want to, you can then… Oppa will protect you…

“*hic* Jian won’t be lweft alwone?”

“Eung, I won’t let you be alone Jian ah”

After that, Jian puts her arms around me and cries in my shoulder. Ji Hyun and Dal Rin are looking us two while crying and Hyun Jin just has an expression as if he knew this would happen.

I then turn to the King and Queen who had watched us with great interest. While scratching my head and feeling embarrassed, I speak up.

“Well…you guys saw what just happened. Sorry to ask for a meeting for no reason Your majesty and highness”

“It’s fine. We were able to see such a cute girl, we are happy also. Is it alright if we see her sometimes too? No no!! we just want to play with her as she’s so cute too we won’t do anything!”

When I suddenly let out some dark pressure at his first, the King panicked and reworded it so I understood better. Satisfied, I release the pressure and turn away with Jian and head toward the group.

“Well it looks like we’re going to be extra careful with Jian around…wait…whats with those expressions?!?!”

“I knew it…Oppa was also weak to cute children…”

“Haa….Why’d you even try to fight against it when you knew this would happen Lee Hyun ah….”

“Omo…. So the Demon Lord does have a weakness~~”

While having such a light conversation, with Jian back on my shoulders, we head out of the audience hall and back to my room.