Bang!

With a loud sound, the roof of the Miraiya mansion was blown off.

"Rose!"

Miraiya screamed and tried to touch Rose. However, something hit her.

"Miraiya! What happened?!"

Rinka rushed over. However, there was no time to answer Rinka's questions.

"Rose! Rose!"

Miraiya desperately called out to her. With her magic, she managed to touch her. But Rose didn't wake up.

"It’s going to collapse!"

Rinka saw that the pillar that was about to fall broke and she ran as fast as she could.

"Barrier!"

Rinka went to Miraiya's side while desperately applying barrier magic.

"Rose! Rose! Stay strong!"

Even though Miraiya screamed, Rose didn't move at all.

Crack! Bang!

They heard the sound of the roof and walls collapsing. Dust and debris flew up, and various things fell above their heads.

Darga, who had just returned from the village, noticed the commotion and rushed over. However, Darga is startled by the explosion and rushes to Miraiya's mansion. There, thanks to Rinka's barrier, everyone was safe.

However, Rose is unconscious. Even though Miraiya was desperately calling for Rose and using her medical magic, she didn't move at all. It turned out that she was breathing, had no injuries, and had no internal damage from the magic. But with her eyes closed, she felt like she was falling asleep.

Darga decided to take Rose to a separate mansion for now. Here, it's only a matter of time before the remaining walls and roof collapse.

Moi's screams and confused appearance were unbelievable. Darga hurriedly put Rose on the bed and cast medical magic on her again. Darga could do a little bit of medical magic. However, it did not affect Rose.

Miraiya and Rinka rushed over. And then she worked her magic again. However, Rose didn't budge.

Moi started crying. Looking at Moi like that, Darga thought he understood how she felt. Even Darga feels like crying.

Rose had studied her first magic since that morning. She goes into meditation and by communicating with herself, she connects with nature. Through dialogue, she will learn everything about what kind of magic she can use and how much magic she can use. This is her first awakening. Then she makes a deal to become part of that nature. Most people can do magic after passing this process. For first-timers, it's a long process that can take anywhere from a week to several months. Meditation itself can be completed in 2-3 hours.

But this time it was different. Miraiya said she had been in a meditative state ever since that morning and then exploded.

Rose didn't respond to Miraiya's call at all. But suddenly Rose spoke the words of her contract.

"...My name is Rose!"

Darga had just gotten out of the stable and was returning to the outhouse with his belongings. He had just gone to help Moi when suddenly Miraiya's mansion exploded. He quickly lowered himself to the ground to ensure his safety. But then, remembering Rose, he hurried inside and saw what happened.

Somehow, they were able to move Rose to a safe location. Shortly after that, the mansion collapsed. By the way, Miraiya and Rinka were safe.

"If nothing is wrong with her, why isn't she wake up?"

Darga and the others were unable to answer Moi's tearful questions. Honestly, they don't know how to respond. There were no injuries, no internal damage, and no psychological damage. Everything was normal.

"It's important to watch over her for a while and let her sleep."

Miraiya's suggestion has a point. Rinka agreed, so Darga and the others decided to watch over her.

Darga decided to keep her warm and let her sleep quietly. Sometimes he would check on her, and when her body temperature dropped, he would inject her medical magic and fire-attribute energy into her body. Darga can only do that now. Frustrated, he thought as he stared at Rose.

Every day, Moi carefully wipes Rose's body with warm water and changes her into a comfortable nightgown. Miraiya returns to the half-destroyed mansion and looks up information about Rose in her books.

The villagers rushed in and, as if they were used to it, began to repair the broken walls and roof of the mansion. From what Darga heard, it seems like she made such a contract. Miraiya is an inventor and a researcher, so when her experiments fail, she often destroys the mansion.

Rinka is sitting outside, keeping an eye on her surroundings. She is, of course, in cat form.

Moi is sitting next to Rose the whole time, watching over her. She doesn't eat or drink well, and her face shows tiredness. Darga worries that if she continues like this, she will collapse. Darga asked the villagers to bring him food every day for a while. If they don't eat, they won't be able to deal with anything that may come.

Nearly two months have passed since Rose's outburst.

Since Darga has been in this situation for so long, he is not sure whether to report it to Dalgodas or not. However, Rinka said that she would be the one to report it. So Darga followed suit. This is because their leader of them is this black cat, Rinka. She is way above Darga, and a level S warrior.

Darga has forgotten how much time has passed since then. To be honest, Darga thought it was very painful to see Moi's sad face every day. She didn't say much and became very haggard. Even though Darga was used to working as a guardian or a mercenary, seeing Moi in this condition was painful.

Even though Rose doesn't eat anything, nothing has changed at all. She's not even thin, which is strange. Darga wondered who this child was. This little girl has a pink rose blooming beautifully on her head. Since that explosion, even now, it has not withered and is still blooming beautifully. Darga is staring at Rose, wondering if she is the child of a flower spirit. Dalgodas didn't tell him much, and Darga himself didn't ask Dalgodas further. Besides, Dalgodas's order was to guard Rose at Miraiya's mansion, spend about a year with her, and enjoy the training with her...That's all.

Darga thought this was parental love. He heard that a mere play with magic caused the explosion that happened in Dalgodas's mansion. However, Darga suspected the cause was the same as this explosion.

However, it is unusual for this cute little girl to have such powerful skills. He considered this an abnormal situation. Even he wants to know what's going on inside this tiny body.

Darga couldn't figure it out even after thinking about it, so he went outside. He decided to chop some firewood and calm down. However, he senses something.

"Who are you?!"

He felt someone's presence. He heard footsteps. In this twitchy mode, anyone who walks without making footprints is considered dangerous.

"Hello, Mr. Darga. I'm Rocco from the village."

A young man appeared from the garden of the mansion. He has blue scales. Snake people, he thought.

"Stop right there. Why did you come here?"

The person who called himself Rocco stopped. He sensed Darga's murderous intent and became wary.

"Um, I came to deliver a gift from Mr. Yanagi to Miss Rose. Is it bad now, Mr. Darga?"

"No, I'm just trying to figure it out right now."

Rocco doesn't move and looks around.

"I'll take care of that gift."

Darga heard a woman's voice from behind him. She is Rinka in human form. She is beautiful with long hair, white skin, and blue eyes. Her clothing is a black dress from her neck to her feet, jet black. Her voice is deadly cold, and there are no warriors in the village who don't know her.

Rinka the black cat, with the other name known as 'Beautiful Death-Goddess'.

"Here you are."

Rocco handed the package to Rinka.

"Thank you. Take care and go home."

Rinka coldly ordered Rocco to go home.

"Umm, isn't she here? I'd like to say hello to her."

"There's no need for that. She's still training."

"Does that training have anything to do with the state of this mansion?"

"That's just because Miss Miraya's experiment failed, and caused the roof to blow off."

"Then there's no problem with reporting it to the village."

"I'll be the one to report. The mansion was destroyed due to a failed experiment. That's all."

Rinka interrupted Rocco's words and answered immediately.

"Good work, be careful on your way home."

Darga sent Rocco home. He knows that if Rocco displeases Rinka any further, he will be killed. This is because her murderous intent is gradually increasing.

"Okay. Well, please tell her a hello from me. Now, please excuse me."

He started walking, taking a step backward without showing his back. Once he was away, he turned quickly and ran swiftly towards the village quay. Rinka walked towards Darga and handed him Rose's package to Darga.

"Just in case, can I open it?"

"There's no need for it. It was a gift that Yanagi gave with all his heart to that child. However, the letter was probably read by Black Ops, but there is nothing dangerous about it."

As Rinka says this, she confirms that Rocco is not in the garden.

"Was that man a Black Ops?”

"Yes, he's a Black Ops that monitors Yanagi. Even his relationships with people are being watched."

"I understand that Mr. Yanagi cares about Miss Rose, but I don't think it is a relationship between a man and a woman."

"I don't know. But power is called power, and they are attracted to each other. Yanagi is strong, and so is that girl. I guess it's natural for them to be attracted to each other."

Rinka shook her head and turned around.

"Who is she then?"

Darga couldn't help but ask the question.

"She is someone God asked us to take care of. That's all for now."

Miraiya answered while emerging from a building that was being repaired.

"Please put that gift near Rose's head."

"Yes, Miss."

Darga nodded followed her orders and entered the mansion. He handed the baggage to Moi and left the room again.

At dinner time, Darga ate some tasteless bread. He thought that he missed the delicious bread that Moi used to make. However, Moi is very weak now. Darga is at a loss as to what he should do if both collapse.

After a quick bath, he thought to make some tea to warm up. But when he entered the kitchen, the tea leaves that Moi always brewed were missing. All that was left was the tea leaves brought by the villagers. It doesn't taste good, Darga thought. He misses Moi's tea. He thought to ask her where she bought it while locking off the door and windows.

Darga locked the door, put out the fire in the kitchen, and went into Rose's room. Moi looks at Darga silently.

"Is she still sleeping?"

"Yes, she is."

That's a lackluster answer. Darga placed the sword next to the bed and sat on it.

"Ah, Miss Moi, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Where did you buy that flower tea?"

"I didn't buy it. I gave it to you."

Darga tilted his head at Moi's answer.

"I don't get it. What do you mean?"

"As I said, I just gave it to you."

"How?"

"From the palm of my hand. Like this..."

When Moi concentrated a little, a flower appeared from her hand.

"That's amazing."

"I brew this to make flower tea every day."

"I see. Are you a flower spirit?"

"No, I am a grass spirit. It's the lowest of the plant spirits."

Moi said shyly, and Darga smiled.

"I don't understand the difference."

"Those with high magical power can live a normal life as a humanoid. However, grass spirits cannot use techniques or magic like flower spirits or tree spirits."

"I see. As you can see, I'm a wildcat race. It's a race that didn't originally exist in this world. To be honest, I don't understand the difference between spirits. I'm sorry if I offended you."

"No, no problem."

Darga couldn't help but notice that the faintly smiling Moi was beautiful after all. He wants to see more of that smile.

"Uuu··"

Rose spoke up. Is she talking in her sleep? Darga approached.

"Miss Rose?"

Darga called out to Rose.

"Mother, Father··."

He could hear the words coming from her little mouth calling for her parents.

"Is she talking in her sleep?”

"Perhaps."

Moi looks worried. Rose burst into tears, crying in her sleep like a little child.

"Is she alright?"

"I don't know."

Darga tilted his head to Moi's question.

"Mother, Father··."

Is she dreaming? Moi touches Rose's hand, strokes it gently, and comforts her. She's like a mother.., Darga thought. However, Darga is feeling something he has never experienced. What is this feeling?

"Excuse me··."

Moi is looking at Darga.

"Yes?"

"I know it's rude, but..."

"Huh?"

"Um, for Miss Rose’s sake, would you please hold her hand gently?"

"Miss Rose's hand?"

"Yes. It seems like she misses her parents in her dreams. Please do, even just for a short time."

"Like this?"

Darga is holding Rose's hand.

"Yes, please."

Moi lowers her body and lays down, gently stroking the loin. Rose stopped crying and she went back to sleep. Darga saw this and he became speechless. Rose's hands were so small. It is a normal small child's hand, Darga thought.

Although she is small, she carries such great power. And Yanagi is attracted to something about this little girl.

But no matter how he looks at her, she's still a small child. She's cute though, Darga thought again.

Time passed and Moi fell asleep next to Rose. Darga looks at Moi, thinking her fatigue has probably reached its peak. Darga thought he would like to take a nap, too, while holding Rose's hand...

After a while, he felt a presence. He quickly grabbed the sword next to him with one hand and readied it. But it was Rinka who showed up in cat form.

"You all look like a family."

"Don't be kidding..."

Darga denied it.

"You look like you'd be a good father."

"It's irrelevant to me."

"Why do you think that? I saw you guys looking happy in that port town."

Rinka said as she climbed onto the bed and checked on Rose.

"Oh, it just happened… Wait, did you see the whole thing?!"

"Of course."

"I didn’t notice it at all."

Darga said with a wry smile. Everything was revealed to Rinka. As expected, this cat is the best in the world at erasing signs.

"Give Rose some medical magic. Do it from your hand who holds her hand. She's weak."

"Alright."

Darga followed her instructions, grasped her hand again, and cast recovery magic on her.

"Looking at you like this, you look like a parent and child."

"I don't know what it feels like to be a parent and child."

"I don't know either."

Rinka is sitting like a cat on the bed.

"That maid is also very weak. If she stays like this, she will disappear."

"Isn’t that bad?"

"You've been around here all day, but you don't notice?"

"I'm sorry."

"I'll give her some energy. You focus on Rose."

"Yes, Miss."

Rinka stood up and placed her paws on Moi's body. Little by little, the fullness returned to her thin face. Darga looked at her and thought she was amazing.

"This is fine."

"Thank you, Miss Rinka."

"No problem."

Rinka turned to Rose and kissed her face with her nose. Darga wonders if is Rinka a cat after all.

"Darga, you are strong, but..."

"Huh?"

"One thing is missing."

"Power?"

"No."

Rinka is looking at Darga again.

"If you have someone to protect other than your client, you will become stronger. You won't think to die so easily."

"Do you have anyone like that, Miss Rinka?"

"That's a secret."

There was something sneaky about it, he felt. By the way, Darga completely forgot to mention the magic paper he picked up earlier, Darga remembered. He took it out of his pocket and showed it to Rinka.

"By the way, I found something like this."

"Where?"

"At the port of Escodria"

"Why now?"

"I forgot. Sorry."

"Hmm, I don't want to carry things like that with my mouth, so I can't help it..."

Rinka got off her bed and she changed from her cat form to her human form. She picked up the paper and turned around again to leave the room.

"Get some rest tonight. I'll take care of the patrol. Good night."

She walked out without making a sound. Then he heard the door close.

Darga put Rose's hand on the blanket. He also covered Moi's body with a blanket. Darga touched Moi's hair and saw Moi's face, sound asleep. She is really beautiful, Darga thought.

He could hear the heartbeat and realized it was the sound of his own heart.

"I'm feeling out of sorts..."

Darga goes out of the room and falls on the carpet in the living room.

Darga doesn't know anything about his family. However, life as it is now is not bad. He thought that his life here had just begun and they should start playing family. He closed his eyes trying to sleep while hoping when Rose woke up, they would have lots of memories and fun together.