Ch#181
"Astie."
At the sound of the tent flap rustling, Tie, who had been staring at the tent ceiling, turned her head.
Nordics stood at the tent entrance.
"Grandpa!"
As Tie sat up in bed, Nordics approached with a kind smile and sat down.
"Still not asleep?"
Tie's expression turned sullen somewhere.
The child fiddled with the blanket, cheeks puffed, and stuck out her lips.
"......Everyone's suddenly not taking Tie along. Tie's gonna sulk."
Nordics gently brushed Tie's hair.
"It's just a few days. Sudden sieges are dangerous. They'll let you join once they've secured some safety without you first. You know that, yet you're upset."
"But......!"
Originally, Dad was supposed to carry Tie tomorrow.
Tie swallowed the rest and sighed.
Then, furrowing her brow vertically, she huffed.
"Bad ivy vines!"
In truth, it was all because of the mana stone.
Contrary to expectations that it was confined to the Clock Tower, the vine mana stone was spreading rapidly around.
Because of that, preliminary investigations were halted, and the siege, planned to start slowly, was now set for tomorrow.
'The ivy's making Dad break his promise!'
Dad, whom she'd finally met after months.
The 'piggyback' she'd barely gotten him to agree to.
Nordics patted the sulky child's head.
"It'll be fine. Everything will work out."
Tie glanced at Nordics, then widened her eyes round.
'Huh?'
Was it because of the darkness?
For some reason, Nordics's face looked sadder than usual today.
"Grandpa. You okay?"
Nordics, who had been stroking Tie's head, froze stiff.
He gazed down at her for a few seconds before quickly smiling.
"I'm fine. I haven't done anything particularly tiring."
"You treated the injured mercenaries. That's the coolest and most wonderful thing!"
"Haha, it's 'excellent' then."
"Wung-rat!"
"Ex, cel-lent."
"Wung...... rat!"
After several tries, the pronunciation wouldn't come out right, and Tie's eyes shook fiercely.
Nordics laughed and patted the child's shoulder.
"Time to sleep now. Basto will be back soon."
Tie obediently slipped under the blanket.
Then, as Nordics rose, she asked slyly.
"But Grandpa, can you sleep next to Tie today?"
Nordics, turning to leave, froze in place.
"Tie's bed is big! Uncle Basto gave the biggest one. So Tie can roll around freely."
Nordics's eyes darkened, and soon a small mutter came.
"......Then, just for today."
Nordics sat back down where Tie patted eagerly.
And after hesitating, lay down beside her.
"Grandpa smells like really nice wood!"
Tie immediately burrowed into Nordics's side.
Nordics stayed silent for a while.
And around when Tie's even breathing started.
"......Poor thing."
He murmured quietly, left the bed, and exited the tent.
* * *
Time flew by.
For the first few days, Tie spent time sitting on the large stump in the center of base.
Taking long naps when bored.
Playing with members not joining sieges when restless.
"Kiddo! Ha, thought I was gonna die missing you!"
"Tie, eaten? With old man Nordics?"
The sieging members returned every other day.
"Can't take Tie next time too......? Please! Just once, okay?"
Tie couldn't hold back tears every time members left again.
But Basto was firm.
"Sorry, but it's not safe yet. Have to wait until all derived mana stones around the Clock Tower are cleared."
"But!"
Honestly, Tie could have wheedled Basto.
From experience, Basto would pretend to give in after persistent begging.
But the problem was Dad.
"No."
"Vice Leader! Tie has freedom too!"
"Funny. Get freedom when your head grows more?"
"Tie's head is big now too!"
"It ain't. Wanna keep pushing? No means no. Dangerous."
"But nooo......!"
Tie could win over other members, but for some reason, not Dad.
Returning to the tent alone, Tie huffed and buried her face in the pillow.
'Dad's stubborn as ever, past and present!'
Thinking back, Dad had been like that in South Korea too.
Usually letting Tie do whatever, but stricter than Grandma 107 on safety matters.
'Astie. Dad said not to stay at the playground alone. What did he say if friends all leave?'
'......Go back to kindergarten and stay with teacher.'
'But why were you alone. Even snuck out of kindergarten without teacher knowing.'
'To see the claw machine, look around.'
'Dad said not to many times, why? We promised.'
'Sniff, Tie wanted a bear doll too......'
'......'
'All friends have one, Tie doesn't. Said I'd pick up if someone lost theirs, hic...... waaah!'
But reason or not, no meant no from Dad.
Tie remembered the face Dad made every time she broke a promise.
Tie wished Dad would just get mad.
But instead of anger, Dad looked hurt.
With very sad eyes at Tie, ending with a deflated word.
'......Dad's fault.'
'......'
'Shouldn't do this to you. All my fault......'
'Don't like Dad sad.'
Upset, Tie gazed sullenly at the ceiling.
Wanted to go to the siege site, but Dad said no, so couldn't beg more.
Tie had no choice but to spend a few more days feeling glum.
As time passed quickly, sieges proceeded smoothly.
Mana stone vines spread to the outskirts were mostly cleared, and beast cores piled up in base storage.
And Tie noticed something changing at the siege site.
At some point, Dad started returning side-by-side with Ardiana after sieges.
The two ate together, and evenings, disappeared behind tents before reappearing.
Then one day, Tie's long wait bore fruit.
"Tomorrow, come along."
"Gasp, really?!"
At dinner.
As calm-faced Dad said to come together, Tie jumped up from her seat.
Then hopped down and ran laps around the table.
"Waaah! So exciting!"
As members watched fondly,
Tese tan said.
"But finish this all. No eating, no going."
Tie hurried back to her seat.
And cleared the roasted carrots given to her.
After dinner, Tie went to bed early to join tomorrow's siege.
But there was another issue.
"Uung, bathroom......"
Midnight, suddenly needed the bathroom.
Tie, deeply asleep from exhaustion, left without waking Basto.
Heading back after, froze at the tent entrance.
"Eh?"
Before the princess's solo tent.
Ardiana and another stood.
But,
"Not Aunt Libia......?"
Aunt Libia had switched tents with Ardiana from yesterday due to severe teeth-grinding.
Then who was that?
Tilting her head, Tie's lips gaped open.
Looking closely, entering Ardiana's tent with her was Dad!
"......Gasp! No way!"
Tie's face turned stern.
Soon seeing the tent light go out, Tie hesitated then quickly approached.
And flung open the flap without warning.
"Vice Leader! Association President!"
Immediately, bustling sounds came from the darkness.
Soon, the lantern lit.
"......Necromancer King?"
Hot inside? Dad approached shirtless.
Meanwhile, Ardiana stared at Tie in shock from the bed.
Tie sighed 'Ehwoo!' and looked at Ardiana.
Then said very sternly.
"Vice Leader. Association President. Tie is four, but sleeps alone."
"......"
"Kinda scary, but big kid, so bravely sleeps alone. But what's this?"
Shaking her head, Tie climbed onto Ardiana's bed as if no choice.
Lay naturally beside Ardiana and said.
"Just tonight? Tie sleeping together. Better than two, three less scary, right?"
The two's faces went blank.
