Ch#52
* * *
Bam!
I kicked open Uncle’s office door.
Uncle, who had been discussing something with Butler Adolph, looked up with slightly surprised eyes.
“Un……cle-Dad!”
I grinned widely.
It’s coming out! The words are coming out!
“Uncle-Dad sounds fresh.”
Leviathan Uncle strode over and stretched out his arms to pick me up.
“Hold on.”
I lightly raised both hands to stop him.
“I just grew about an inch. So no more treating me like a kid……”
“What’re you saying?”
I was casually brushed off.
Damn, frustrating. Mental growth and physical growth are different things.
He scooped me up into his big embrace and crossed the office. With a light glance, Butler Adolph roughly sorted the papers and stepped away.
“You smell like grass.”
“Yeah! I went to the…… no, the herb hill.”
I quickly changed my words. I didn’t want to bring up the baby graveyard and dampen Uncle’s mood.
“So? Did rolling around in the grass fix you?”
“Yes. Fa……ther.”
I bowed my head maturely.
“I’ll be filial.”
“Looks like the core’s been swapped out.”
It got worse. Uncle let out a deep sigh.
He roughly gathered the papers with one hand and left the office. Judging by the direction, it was toward the dining hall.
“But I don’t need the bell anymore.”
I grumbled lightly.
“Fine, call me Uncle-Dad, Father, bell, whatever you want.”
A chuckle escaped from Uncle. Even as he said that, his face looked more satisfied than before.
I tightly hugged his thick, sturdy neck.
“It’s still awkward and doesn’t come out right. But I think it’ll be okay soon.”
“It’s fine.”
“Aren’t you frustrated? Sorry……”
“Rubian.”
“Yeah?”
Uncle pulled me away and met my eyes.
“You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“…….”
“So don’t apologize.”
I blinked slowly.
‘I hope you say this to me later too……’
After stopping this crazy ending and taking down the Magic King…… when I confess everything.
“And those who bear the Jebeurt name don’t apologize carelessly.”
“That’s not true. You should apologize right away if you’re wrong.”
“……Really?”
“Yeah.”
That’s what I learned today. Life’s cheat code!
“I see.”
Uncle nodded briefly. Then suddenly, he ruffled the back of my head.
“You’ve got a leaf stuck on you. Where the hell have you been?”
Huh? I stared blankly at the small leaf clinging to Uncle’s hand. Somehow, looking at it made me burst out laughing.
“……Is this permission?”
“For what?”
“There’s something. Ah! Right! Me, me! Put me down! Quick!”
“What now?”
“I’ve got something I wanna do!”
The thing I wanted to do once I could call for Uncle!
As his strong arms loosened a bit, I hopped down nimbly. Then I dashed to the end of the corridor.
“What’re you doing?”
“Stay right there!”
The duke stood there, hands on his waist, with a puzzled expression but obediently waiting.
Seeing him like that, I fixed my shoes properly. Time to show off all the sprinting skills I’ve built up!
Ready, go!
I sprinted down the short corridor at full speed.
My hair whipped around, and Leviathan Uncle’s handsome face rapidly drew closer.
“…….”
Uncle reflexively bent down, not even knowing what was coming.
I flashed a big smile and leaped straight into his arms without hesitation.
“Daad!”
His large body stiffened in surprise for a moment but soon enveloped me perfectly.
“Good grief.”
A short breath burst above my head. A gentle, low voice settled in my ear.
“You ran right to me. Calling ‘Daddy.’”
“Yeah!”
Even if there’s still a 3-second gap between ‘Da’ and ‘d’ because it’s awkward.
I’ll do better from now on!
“Where’d such a jewel roll in from?”
“Early bird!”
I pointed to the end of the corridor, and Uncle chuckled, lightly pinching and releasing the tip of my nose.
Isn’t family just like a jewel?
Maybe from the moment we first met in those ruins.
We were destined to be the most precious jewels to each other.
Whatever, I love it!
