Idle Chat

What would happen if more than a dozen children, at their age, left their parents?

Serea didn’t know, and although these thirty children called Leklis “Daddy,”

Serea knew well that Leklis could not possibly be their biological father. So these children could only be…

“Are these children you’ve adopted?”

Celia was the first to ask. Upon hearing this, leklis dotingly pinched one little boy’s cheek.

“Yes. Their parents died under the iron hoof of the Ailera Empire and necromancy. At that time, plague was rampant, so Julie and I could only take them in.”

As Leklis spoke, the blood slaves Serea brought all lowered their heads, because they had once been soldiers of the Ailera Empire, and many of them had participated in the invasion of the Otto Kingdom.

The children, meanwhile, continued to smile innocently, as if they didn’t quite understand what “adoption” meant.

“To think there’s someone like you even in the Church of Death.”

Celia commented, which was really a disguised compliment to Leklis.

“It’s foolish, isn’t it? But no matter what you say, I’ll dedicate my life to necromancy. At the same time, I’m just a perfectly normal human.”

Leklis said this, but Serea did not believe that any “normal” human would adopt more than a dozen children under such circumstances.

“Black Knight, I want to ride the big horse!”

“And Talius too!”

Leklis was soon surrounded. The children who couldn’t squeeze in with him went to find the Black Knight and Talius. As underworld Undead trained by Leklis, these children nonetheless treated them as playmates.

The Black Knight and Talius also seemed used to this, allowing the children to play rough with them without any displeasure.

“All right, all right, that’s enough. Everyone, go back and sit nicely; it’s almost time for the meal.”

Worried that the children might upset Serea, julie clapped her hands and said. At this, all the children calmed down and ran back inside the house.

They were so obedient, obedient enough to break your heart.

Because this was the Corrupted Jungle, it was hard to imagine how Leklis had managed to raise these children…

“The children were a bit rowdy—sorry for making you all laugh.”

“It’s fine. They’re all very cute.”

Serea replied with a smile.

“Honored guests, let’s talk inside. If you don’t mind, I’ve made lunch.”

“Thank you for your trouble.”

They were invited in by Julie, and the so-called lunch was just a bowl of porridge, a steamed bun, and some fruit.

As for hunting for meat…

If you hunted privately in another tribe’s territory, you’d be driven out. Leklis couldn’t possibly have his own lands; choosing an empty spot to poach a bit was one thing, but overtly hunting wasn’t an option. Hunting couldn’t solve all their problems.

After lunch, the children ran back to their own rooms. In the living room, julie and Park tidied up the dishes.

“Isn’t it hard to provide for so many children?”

“It’s hard, but there’s nothing else to be done.”

Leklis replied matter-of-factly.

“You could send them to an orphanage.”

Serea was unconcerned, thinking that the children would live better, and Leklis wouldn’t need to run around to procure their food.

But upon hearing this, julie and Leklis stiffened.

Seeing the atmosphere had grown tense, Serea asked again.

“Isn’t that the right thing to do?”

Leklis replied, “Usually, it would be a good choice, but these children—especially—cannot.”

Leklis wore a look of sadness as he spoke, and Serea understood that things weren’t that simple.

“Ma’am, as you’ve seen, if you want to hire us, Park and I can serve you, but as for the children…”

“I understand. With just you two, you might have to work a bit harder.”

“That’s all right.”

“But all we can offer is some grain.”

“Grain is enough.”

Leklis said, and then added, “I thought meeting you was a stroke of bad luck, but now… I really don’t know how to thank you.”

Leklis spoke from the heart; after all, to secure food for the children, he’d secretly taken on certain “jobs” without Julie’s knowledge.

Serea felt it was worth it. After all, with just a bit of grain, she’d hired a powerful undead mage and a novice undead mage.

Then Serea suggested, “Since you’ve accepted my employment, I suggest you move the chapel a bit closer to my territory. After all, this is the Corrupted Jungle—if anything happens, you could get back quickly.”

Leklis shook his head. “I appreciate your kindness, but I can’t do that, and… I can’t tell you the reason.”

From this, Serea concluded that there must be some secret behind these children and Leklis, but since he was unwilling to say more, she did not pry further.

“All right. If you’re unwilling to talk, so be it.”

Now that she’d confirmed the Church of Death posed no threat, she didn’t need to worry anymore.

“If I can’t hire the undead mage I wanted, we should head back.”

Serea said, preparing to leave.

Seeing this, leklis opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately said nothing. However, Serea noticed his hesitation.

“You don’t need to return today. I give you permission to rest for a day, and you can keep the direwolf.”

Upon hearing this, leklis looked at Serea with excitement.

“Ma… Ma’am, you—”

“What? You want to go back to work now?”

“No, no, no, I’ll go back tomorrow. But take this kid with you for now.”

With that, leklis pulled Park over—so decisive in selling off his apprentice, truly typical of Leklis…

“All right, we’re leaving then.”

Serea took her leave, but didn’t return directly to her camp. Instead, she went off in another direction.

Since she was already out, Serea, still a little uneasy, decided to take a look…

Leklis waved as he watched Serea leave.

“Ma’am, take care! I’ll return tomorrow!”

He called out. Since he’d already been made a blood slave, Serea wasn’t worried about him going back on his word.

After everyone had left, julie suddenly hugged Leklis from behind.

“That lady is a rare and wonderful lord.”

“Yes. Although she’s been strict with us, meeting Lady Serea has truly been our good fortune. At least now we can gather enough grain to last the winter.”

Saying this, leklis’s eyes even turned slightly red.

He had once considered running away at the first chance, escaping Serea’s control, but who would have expected that the person who ended up helping him was the very one he’d always wanted to flee from.

“But is it really okay to work for her? What if those people come looking for us…?”

Julie asked worriedly. Sensing her concern, leklis took her hand.

“Don’t worry. Everything has been my doing—I’ll bear it alone. If they come, I’ll handle it. I won’t drag Lady Serea or any of you down.”

Upon hearing this, julie felt a bitterness in her heart, but she put those worries aside for now.

Held in Julie’s embrace, leklis felt his own worries melt away, replaced by the warmth of “home”—even if it was just a small, shabby wooden house in the woods.

He turned to embrace Julie, the two shared a look, and then, with tacit understanding, kissed. After their lips parted, leklis smiled and said,

“So many people call me ‘Daddy, daddy,’ yet I don’t have a real son. How about we…”

He hugged Julie tighter, but she smiled, slipped out of his arms, and her smile turned into a mocking grin.

“Hehe, dream on! Wash the children’s dishes first. You’ve been out wandering for days and only now thought to come home? You must be getting cocky!”

“No, no, I wouldn’t dare! I’ll go wash up right away!”

Leklis hurriedly waved his hands and rushed to the kitchen. Halfway there, julie suddenly called out to him.

“Wait a moment.”

“Huh?”

“T-tonight… I’m still not very familiar with the skeletal control method you taught me, so… so after the children are asleep, please teach me again.”

Julie said shyly. After a moment’s delay, leklis understood and smiled meaningfully.

“As you wish!”

After saying that, julie’s cheeks reddened again. To hide her embarrassment, she scolded loudly,

“What are you standing around for? Go wash the dishes!”

“Yes, yes!”

(To be continued…)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep