Shiranui’s Youth Division: “Cocoon”
Shiranui, said to be the world’s strongest adventurer clan.
It had started with Julius and Yukimi, a wolf Beastkin and former slave.
And as that adventurer party grew larger, the organization had been born.
Most of the veteran members had complicated pasts… people saved by Julius and Yukimi, or former orphans and the like.
While working as adventurers, Julius and Yukimi would gather orphaned children and slave children from various places, take them into the South Territory, and teach them both everyday education and combat techniques.
Eventually, those children came to be known as Shiranui’s youth division (ages twelve and under), the “Cocoon,” waiting for the day they would spread their wings into the world.
Within the Cocoon were a boy and girl who had effectively become its leaders.
Daniel (twelve), with short red hair and a fiery personality, and Judia (eleven), who had shoulder-length brown hair and seemed reliable.
Both had originally been leaders among orphans, and even after coming to the South Territory, they’d continued acting as caretakers for the other children.
And among them, the members of the Hero Party were practicing Magic Combat Arts…
“So you guys are the Heroes, huh? Big Brother Julius told us we’re supposed to train with you for a while, so nice to meet ya. But honestly, you guys don’t look all that strong. If you can’t keep up, we’re leaving you behind, got it? So do your best.”
“Grrr…! Your way of speaking toward me, the Crown Prince, is terrible. When children grow up without parents, they become no better than monke…”
Baaam~!!!!
Daniel hurled a stone toward Crown Prince Erason.
It missed, passing right beside the Crown Prince’s face before smashing into a nearby tree and blowing it apart.
The thrown stone had that mist-like haze Julius used, and carried unbelievable speed and force.
The Crown Prince looked more interrupted mid-conversation than angry… but surprise won out over irritation.
No one in the Hero Party had imagined that a child, young enough to still be called a boy, not even an adult yet, could casually use Magic Combat Arts, which every member of the Hero Party struggled with and could only maintain briefly, while accurately throwing stones with it.
And the moment Daniel took a fighting stance, the surrounding children all began covering themselves in mist-like haze at once.
“Sorry for startling you. We’re not trying to make fun of you.”
Gentle-looking Almeria crouched down to match the children’s eye level and spoke to them.
Then, one by one… the haze vanished. Finally, even Daniel and Judia let their haze disappear.
“Got it. Everyone here’s an orphan, so talking about parents pisses us off more than anything. Still, sis, you kinda look like Lady Nemesia.”
Daniel grinned at Almeria as he said it.
“... Yeah, I guess I do. Nemesia is my little sister. I’m Nemesia’s big sister.”
“Ahh, I knew it. I thought you and Lady Nemesia looked alike too.”
Judia circled around Almeria while studying her.
“Are all of you close with Nemesia?”
“Yeah! Lady Nemesia teaches us magic all the time, and she’s really nice.”
“That’s right. Plus, she’s not even much older than us, but she’s the captain of the Seventh Magic Unit. That’s amazing.”
I felt proud that Nemesia was adored even by little children, but at the same time, frustrated.
Which was exactly why I’d work hard and catch up to her.
“Yeah. I’m still not as strong as Nemesia, so I’d like everyone to teach me too. That’s alright, isn’t it, Your Highness? If you keep badmouthing children, people are going to say the Crown Prince of the kingdom has a tiny heart.”
“Guh… fine. I shall endure it. Rejoice! I, in all my greatness, shall listen to what you brats say!”
Crown Prince Erason crossed his arms, tilted his head upward, and burst into loud laughter.
At that moment, Karin (four years old), the youngest child there, grabbed hold of the Crown Prince’s pants and tugged on them.
“Big Bro… gotta peeee…” she mumbled shyly while fidgeting.
“What? Wait just a moment…”
The instant he picked her up, disaster struck.
As naturally as breathing, for some reason the lifted-up Karin… aimed toward the Crown Prince’s face, and like the royal honey harvested from the finest Forest Bees, a golden nectar said to be worth one gold coin per drop…
A liquid resembling it… perfectly struck the wide-open mouth of the loudly shouting Crown Prince without missing by even an inch.
“ABABABABA–!”
As the Crown Prince choked, unable to breathe…
“... Lame.”
Milian muttered under her breath, while the surrounding children and the rest of the Hero Party burst into laughter.
And Karin, looking completely satisfied with herself, gave the Crown Prince a cheerful smile before toddling away.
The Crown Prince stood there motionless, but his shoulders trembled slightly.
Then the trembling gradually grew more intense…
“Y-you little brat! To splash such a thing upon me, the Crown Prince of the kingdom! This offense deserves ten thousand deaths!”
Karin burst into tears at the sudden rage.
Seeing that, Almeria hugged Karin tightly.
“Your Highness. I don’t think there’s any point getting angry at a child. That’s exactly why people say your heart is too small.”
Unable to say anything back to Almeria’s forcefulness, Crown Prince Erason lowered his head and clenched his fists.
“Big Sis… you smell nice. Just like a mommy.”
Karin, who’d been crying just moments earlier, saw the image of the mother she’d never met in Almeria…
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