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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Mountain climbing.
An activity where you strengthen your body and mind by ascending a mountain.
Due to a lack of options, the picnic location ended up being the not-so-fun “Mountain of Repentance.”
But some of the children seemed to enjoy it.
“Oh, I love climbing mountains, Mister! It feels… like training!”
“I-I love anything as long as I’m with you, Mister…!”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
Heave-ho, heave-ho-
Luna and Hare, their faces filled with satisfaction, climbed towards the depths of the mountain.
They were physically stronger than the other children…
So it was expected that they would enjoy this picnic.
Luna hummed cheerfully as she walked ahead.
“Let’s go! Let’s go! To the mountain~! Saten! Sing along! We’re going to the mountain!”
“What’s so fun about it? Mountain climbing is just tiring.”
“No, it’s good to be tired! It means you’re getting stronger!”
“Hmm, I don’t understand.”
Unlike Luna and Hare, Saten and Estia didn’t seem to be enjoying themselves.
One was a drug-addicted Saintess, and the other was a shut-in mage.
This outcome was probably inevitable the moment I decided on a picnic.
I spoke to Estia, who was lagging behind.
“Estia, how are you feeling?”
“Ugh… Ugh… I’m dying…”
Estia dragged her feet, walking like a zombie.
We still had a long way to go until we reached the summit…
The drug-addicted Saintess, with her lack of stamina, couldn’t keep up.
I picked up Estia, who looked like an exhausted dog, with her tongue sticking out.
“The kidnapper is carrying me!! He’s going to abandon me on the mountain!!”
“Be quiet before I throw you, Estia.”
You’re so noisy.
I shifted Estia, who was being loud, onto my back.
It seemed like the weak Estia needed a break.
“Rest for a bit. We still have a long way to go, so you can’t be exhausted already.”
“Wow! Brother, you’re sweeter than I thought!”
Estia shouted as she settled on my back.
Her mouth was right next to my ear, making it even more painful.
‘…Should I put her down?’
A bad thought crossed my mind, but I decided against it.
Just as I was about to continue climbing with Estia on my back…
Luna, who had stopped ahead, was staring at me.
Her blue eyes were filled with displeasure.
“What’s wrong, Luna?”
“U-Um…”
Luna stared at me silently.
She furrowed her brows, her gaze shifting between me and Estia.
Then, suddenly…
“I-I don’t know! Just hurry up and catch up! You bad kidnapper!”
She shouted those words and turned around, continuing to climb the mountain.
Luna’s actions left me speechless.
“…What was that about?”
Why was she acting like that?
Was it puberty?
Her mood changed so quickly.
I couldn’t understand Luna’s sudden shift in emotions.
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A picnic.
A happy time spent with Mister, enjoying new sights and scenery.
Currently…
Hare was in a very good mood.
“I-I’m glad we came on this picnic…!”
The place she used to live was filled with a stench and a damp, suffocating atmosphere.
But now…
As she hiked through the mountain…
It was completely different.
The lush forest and the open mountain trails…
The fresh air from the trees was cleansing her soul, which had been tainted by her dark past.
‘It’s a shame it’s not the sea that Luna mentioned… but I’m still happy…! I don’t care where we go…!’
As long as I’m with Mister…
I can be happy anywhere…!
Hare thought as she diligently climbed the mountain path someone had carved out.
Estia, who was being carried by Mister, was an eyesore…
But she decided to ignore it, enjoying this moment of being on a picnic with him.
And Luna, who was walking beside her…
“Mister is such an old man! I hate him! I hate mountains!”
Was grumbling with a sullen expression.
The excitement she had shown earlier had vanished.
Hare, confused, asked Luna,
“B-But you were happy just now…! And you called Mister an old man…! You shouldn’t say things like that…!”
“I’m not wrong! Who else would choose a mountain for a picnic but an old man! Look, Hare! Look at how Mister is ignoring us!”
“Wh-What are you talking about…! Mister isn’t ignoring us…!”
“Then look for yourself!”
Look?
Hare turned around at Luna’s words.
Mister was walking with Saten and Estia.
Estia was on his back, and Saten was holding his hand tightly.
They both looked tired, but Hare didn’t notice.
Her eyes were only focused on…
The atmosphere between the three of them.
“…He doesn’t even care about us.”
“That’s right! He abandoned us! We were betrayed!”
Growl- Grrrr-
Luna glared at the three of them like an angry dog.
That’s why she confided in Hare, who seemed to understand her feelings.
“We need to get rid of those two and turn this place into a training ground! So Mister can run around freely! What do you think, Hare! Isn’t it a good idea?!”
Let’s push them aside…
And take their place.
But Hare wasn’t interested in Luna’s plan.
“…No, Luna. This is an opportunity.”
“Huh? What kind of opportunity?”
“An opportunity to impress Mister.”
“Huh…?”
Whoosh-
Hare left Luna, who was standing there dumbfounded, and ran towards Mister.
And to help Mister, who was struggling to handle two children alone…
She took Saten’s hand.
“Hare, what are you doing? Let go.”
“Mister…! I-I’ll help you…! It must be hard by yourself…!? Hehe…!”
I’m jealous…
But I can turn this crisis into an opportunity.
Hare, who had grown from a series of incidents…
Was helping the struggling Saten to gain favor with Mister.
Her actions resembled…
“A-A snake! She’s a snake…!!”
Luna was shocked by Hare’s cunningness.
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Time passed…
A sign appeared, indicating that they were halfway to the summit.
“I wonder if we can reach the summit before sunset…”
I wasn’t planning on going back down today.
If we couldn’t reach the summit, we would have to find a place to camp.
I checked on the children, who had reached the halfway point.
‘Luna is sulking for some reason. And Hare is as energetic as a fish in water.’
As expected, the Hero and the Rogue had exceptional physical abilities.
It was the difference in their innate talents.
I shifted my gaze to the two who were resting on a bench.
‘Saten is doing alright. But she doesn’t express her emotions much, so I’m not sure when she’ll tell me if she’s tired… I’ll have to carry Estia.’
This drug-addicted Saintess was way too frail.
Her stamina and strength were both at their lowest.
She would probably die of natural causes within 10 minutes if she was stranded on a deserted island.
As I was checking on the children…
Hare tugged at my sleeve and asked,
“Mister…”
“What is it, Hare?”
“Wh-When are we going to eat…?”
Hare asked about mealtime, glancing back subtly.
Luna was pouting, her face full of displeasure.
‘So she’s been grumpy because she’s hungry.’
But it wasn’t time to be hungry yet, was it?
Maybe she was hungrier because we were moving more today?
Well, regardless, if she was hungry, I had to feed her.
I retrieved the food I had prepared from my subspace.
“Let’s set up the picnic blanket… over there. Hare, can you help me?”
“Y-Yes! I’ll set up the blanket!”
Scamper-
Hare ran towards the grassy area with the picnic blanket in her arms.
It was a spot shaded by trees, a cool breeze blowing through the leaves.
“Alright, you can follow Hare.”
“Yes, Mister.”
“Okay~”
Saten and Estia slowly followed Hare.
But for some reason, Luna didn’t budge, even though I had offered food.
She just sat there, pouting.
“Are you still sulking, Luna?”
“…I’m not sulking, I’m angry.”
“Then can I ask why you’re angry?”
“…”
Luna remained silent.
She was usually so talkative…
Why was she acting like this on a nice day like today?
Could it be…
“Are you grumpy because you haven’t eaten?”
“…!!”
Luna shouted at my words,
“Do you think I’m a pig?! I’m not grumpy because I haven’t eaten!! I’m not a pig!!”
“…So that wasn’t it. Then why are you angry, Luna?”
“Th-That…”
Luna mumbled, her voice barely audible.
“I don’t know… I was excited…! But I feel dissatisfied…! Like something is missing…”
Anyway!
“It’s all your fault, Mister! Bad Mister! Child kidnapper! Criminal! Make me stronger already!”
“I also want to make you stronger as soon as possible.”
But for that…
“Eat your food. You’re still growing. Growing up is your priority.”
“U-Ugh…!! You’re always telling me to eat! You’re trying to make me fat?!”
“Your actions are quite honest for someone who’s refusing with their words.”
Her mouth might have been refusing…
But Luna’s body was honest.
She was heading towards Hare, who was preparing the food.
It seemed like she had calmed down a bit.
‘Her mood changes quickly, perhaps because she’s going through puberty.’
Or maybe it was just Luna…
Anyway, I should prepare lunch.
I turned around, intending to walk towards the children.
But at that moment…
I heard screams coming from their direction.
“Aaaah-!! Wh-Who is that-!! That person-!!”
“W-Who are you…! Th-This is our spot…!”
The children were screaming and a mysterious figure was standing before them.
I couldn’t see who it was, but…
One thing was clear from the gaze directed at me.
“…They’re hostile towards me.”
So the person from my past…
Was an “enemy,” huh.
I placed my hand on my waist, ready for battle.
My priority was to ensure the children’s safety.
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