“Didn’t I tell you that you needed to look after mummy, you smelly girl?” Adam asked, ruffling Jirot’s hair, before cleaning her face, doing the same for little Jarot, who shook as he sobbed. “What’s wrong?”

“Huuu! Huuu!” Jirot sniffled. “Eated the baby!”

“What?”

“Eated the baby,” the girl said, pointing at Pam.

“You smelly girl, kako didn’t eat a baby, she’s pregnant too.” Adam blew into the girl’s neck. “Uncle Jurot and aunt Pam wanted to have a baby too. Soon, you’ll have a sibling and a cousin.”

“Did not eated baby?”

“No, she didn’t eat the baby.”

The girl sniffled, her father wiping her face once more. She looked towards her aunt, furrowing her brows, full of confusion.

“You have to be nice to kako, and make sure she eats a lot. You need to talk to your cousin too while they’re growing in kako’s belly, but only when she lets you, okay?”

“Okay…”

“Did you tell her you ate the baby?” Adam asked, noting how red Pam had become, and the awkward frown on her lips.

“I was just teasing her.”

“How can you bully me daughter like this?”

“I’m sorry.” Pam turned a deeper red.

“Even if she deserves to be bullied because she always bullies everyone else, she’s too cute to bully, isn’t she?” Adam planted a firm kiss on his daughter’s cheek, before nuzzling into his son’s cheek, letting them both slip out of his arms. “You should take it easy too, Pam. You’re giving your father a grandchild, his first, so he should be happy to help out instead.”

“I came here to make sure he wouldn’t work.”

“After how much gold my brother handed over, neither of you should ever need to work again.”

“It’s boring not to work.”

“Do what you like, but please, don’t force yourself to do too much. It’s a husband’s romance to work hard so that his wife doesn’t have to. Of course, considering this economy, it is quite difficult, especially when one has to raise a child. If only there was a communist death cult that would…” Adam glanced around, noting the queer looks he was receiving.

“We are not a cult,” Jurot said.

“It was a joke, but I realised none of you would get it,” Adam said, rubbing the side of his neck.

“We’re a little bit of a cult,” Jaygak said.

“We are not,” Jurot stated.

“Just a little.” Jaygak reached down to pick up the twins, pulling them to her chest. “Are you done causing trouble here? Should we cause a mess in the village?”

“No,” Jirot replied, smiling playfully.

“Okay, let’s cause more trouble here!”

“Yay!” Jirot threw up her hands, and Jarot smiled wide, holding onto his aunt’s collar as she whisked them away.

Adam’s eyes followed the twins as they babbled at their aunt, their eyes darting all around the area, before they finally disappeared, heading towards the village. “Pam…”

“Yes?”

“…” Adam wasn’t sure what he wanted to ask her exactly. They hadn’t had a discussion about his children, and he was feeling a little awkward calling her their aunt when she had signed up for the Iyr, and not for his children. “Don’t my kids cry the cutest?”

“…”

Adam smiled, reaching out to brush his triplets’ hair. “Come on, let’s find something mister Gimon can do without your father feeling guilty.”

“Okay!”

“You don’t have ta think of anything like that, Executive,” the old orphan replied, smiling nervously.

“It’ll make me feel better knowing we have someone that…” Adam glanced about the area. “You know, now that I think about it, we really do need someone to take care of the greenery around the fort. I’d like some more about the place, and I’d like for you to water the plants.”

“I can do that, sir.”

“Mister, or Executive, don’t call me sir.” Adam shuddered slightly. “I’m not a noble.” ‘Any more.’ “Though, perhaps I should aim to be a noble. If I’m royalty, doesn’t that mean my children would be called Princesses and Princes?”

“I suppose they would,” Gimon replied, chuckling lightly.

‘Should I should carve out my own kingdom around this area? I probably can’t right now, not when I’m the Iyr’s dog, and while I’m so weak. It’s not like I can take out an army by myself.’ Adam had conveniently forgotten the mess he had caused last year with the Marquess.

Adam made his way to the village, greeting the Chief, before going to greet Nobby, who was chopping down trees in the nearby forest. Adam walked with Konarot, Karot, and Kirot, while Jurot, Kitool, and another Iyrman followed after them.

“Nobby, looking good,” Adam called out, causing the large fellow to stop and face him.

“Mister boss.”

“How are you doing?”

“Good.”

“Working hard, I see.”

“Yes.”

“How’s the missus?”

“Missus?”

“The wife.”

“She is good.”

“Good stuff,” Adam said, eyeing up the forest, noting how many trees had been felled that day. “Preparing for winter?”

“Winter?”

“Sorry, nightval.”

“Yes.”

“The village is preparing for nightval during noonval?”

“It is best to prepare sooner,” Jurot said, eyeing up the trees.

“Should we chop down a few trees while we’re here?” Adam asked.

“We should leave it to the villagers.”

“Why don’t we leave it to my children?” Adam asked.

Jurot remained silent, the confusion set within his eyes. He watched as Adam chipped into the tree in the side, cutting out a wedge, while he held the tree to make sure it didn’t fall onto the children. Adam held the axe, allowing Konarot to hold it from between his own hands, and allowed her to press the axe into the tree, before he nodded to the Iyrman. Jurot flexed, pushing the tree with some effort, allowing it to drop in front of them.

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“Wow! Look at you! So strong!” Adam lifted up Konarot and peppered her with kisses.

Konarot smiled sheepishly towards her father, who continued to smother her with his affection.

Jurot watched their interaction carefully, feeling his heart beat quicken, before he flexed his muscles and calmed himself.

“Now it’s Kirot’s turn,” Adam said, going to chop the next tree.

“Adam, we should teach them to properly fell a tree,” Jurot said.

“You’ll be better at that sort of thing,” Adam said, motioning with a hand.

“Before we chop the tree, we must check to see if the land is safe,” Jurot said, motioning to the earth. “The path must be clear, so we can run unimpeded.”

The children blinked at their papo.

Jurot kicked out some debris nearby, motioning to the earth. “It is clear now, do you see?”

“Yes,” the triplets replied.

“Come, I will show you how to chop the tree,” Jurot said, beckoning the children closer.

Adam watched as Jurot explained wood things to his children, while Kitool and the other Iyrman, a distant relative of the Rot family Adam vaguely recognised, escorted the triplets. ‘Isn’t my brother also really cute? I really am so fortunate to have such a great brother…’ A momentary flash of emotion filled him like a tsunami, and the half elf reached up to rub the wetness away from his eyes.

As the tree fell, Jurot hoisted Konarot up, while Kitool grabbed Kirot, and the other Iyrman grabbed Karot, and each darted away from the falling tree. The children heard the crash of the tree and jerked to look back at the mess Kirot had managed to cause.

“Wow, good job, Kirot, you felled that tree so well!” Adam stole her from Kitool and showered her with kisses. “Karot, it’s your turn.”

The boy shook his head, pouting.

“You don’t want to?”

“No daddy.”

“Okay, sure, if you don’t want to, that’s okay.” Adam lifted his son up to plant a kiss on his forehead. “What a good boy, he wants to leave Nobby to his work.” Adam pinned his son to his side. “Say goodbye, mister Nobby.”

“Goodbye, mister Nobby,” the triplets said, waving their hands.

“Goodbye, Little Bosses,” Nobby replied, gently waving his hand back as the adults carried the children away, while the remaining Iyrman kept an eye out to the forest.

“Kekekeke,” Jirot cackled towards Jaygak, before squealing with joy. “No, kako! No!”

“Why not?”

“No, you cannot.”

“Since you say I cannot, I cannot.”

Jirot squealed with joy, clapping her hands together, before she embraced her aunt. Jarot giggled beside her too, the young Iyrman hoisting them up, kissing their foreheads.

“Since I cannot play with the ball, you must stay with me.”

“No!” Jirot cackled and Jarot cackled quietly with his sister.

“Kako, we cannot stay,” Jarot said.

“Why not?”

Jarot’s smile dropped, the boy falling into thought for a long moment, before he cackled again. “No, cannot.”

“Since you say you cannot, you cannot,” Jaygak said.

“Daddy!” Jirot called, pointing towards her approaching father, with a smile only a child could show. Her double canines poked from either side of her mouth, the girl holding out her hand to reach for her father.

“You want to come to daddy?” Adam asked, slowly placing down Karot, but as he reached for his daughter, she pulled her hand away, the girl withdrawing to Jaygak.

“No!” Jirot cackled wildly.

“Daddy,” Jarot called, blinking as his father winced, the half elf twitching slightly.

“Jirot! How can you do this to your daddy?” Adam asked, reaching up to his heart.

The villagers kept a keen eye on the loud group enjoying themselves within their village. Most kept their distance, unsure of how the relationship between them worked, from Adam’s relationship to the Iyr, as well as the relationship of his children, who were so special.

Jaygak carried the twins back to the fort, while the others escorted the triplets. Adam spotted another Iyrman who had stalked Jaygak the entire time.

The children of the business had finished up their education for he day, and sat opposite the Golden Savages, who spoke of their tales. Vasera showed off her sword, which seemed to be made of a liquid brass, which melted at her will to form the blade from her armour.

‘Right, they’re going to stay with us until the end of the month.’

Jimmy kept chatting away to Rook, who listened to the boy swarm him with a mountain of words, almost drowning under them.

Jaygak noted the glare she was receiving, and decided to place down the twins, who rushed up to the side. She flashed an innocent smile.

“Jirot, Jarot,” Lucy called, inhaling deeply. “Let’s play!”

“Okay!” Jirot said, rushing up to the woman, half bouncing with each step.

“Daddy,” Konarot called, pointing towards the board Dunes was setting up. “We can play?”

“You want to play some dragon chess?”

Konarot’s hair wiggled as she bobbed her head.

“Alright, let’s play then.” Adam led his children to the board. “When did we get such a board?”

“Red Oak had a merchant who sold a few,” Dunes explained, setting up the board. “Do you wish for a game?”

“Konarot wants to play.”

“Would you like to play against me?” Dunes asked.

“Daddy…” The girl stared up expectantly at her father.

“Dunes, once you have a daughter, you’ll understand what it means to never win again.”

Dunes chuckled, allowing them to take their places on either end, while the children all gathered around to watch the game.

“I wonder how long you’ll last against the silver genius of dragon chess,” Vasera joked, watching as fiddled with a few pieces.

“What do you think, dear? Can you beat daddy?” Adam asked, smiling towards his daughter.

“I cannot,” Konarot replied.

“Why not?”

“Daddy is so strong.”

Adam chuckled, smirking slightly. “I think you’re stronger than me in dragon chess.”

“I can win?”

“I’m sure you can! Try your best, okay?”

“Okay.”

Dragon Chess (Intelligence)

D20 + 3 = 14 (11)

The pair began to play, and while Konarot set up the Sleeping Claw, Adam had only pushed up three pieces of his own development, before completely pushing forward with his pawns and knights. Konarot blinked, unsure if he should be moving that way, but as she continued to set up the opening, her father continued to press forward, taking a handful of pieces. Konarot switched to the Waking Claw, but it was already too late, and though she managed to begin taking her father’s pieces, Adam was a piece or two ahead the entire game, before they finally ended, with Adam’s victory.

“Wow! Konarot, that was so hard,” Adam said, reaching up to wipe his brow of the invisible, and intangible, sweat. “Oh dear, oh dear, your father is so tired now.”

“One more?” Konarot pouted.

Adam pulled back slightly, feeling the burn of his daughter’s expectant gaze. “Fine, fine!”

Dragon Chess (Intelligence)

D20 + 3 = 19 (16)

The pair set up the pieces once more, and though Konarot was more prepared for her father’s style, Adam this time played a more typical game. He beat her more swiftly, though quickly scooped the girl within his strong arms, and planted kisses all over her face.

“Gosh! Look at you, my little chess genius. Daddy had to work so hard to beat you, but now let’s let the other children play, okay?”

“Okay,” Konarot replied, still pouting, but she nestled her head against her father’s neck.

“I thought you would let her win,” Vasera said.

“I might be no good at being a father, but I can’t let her win. She should grow up learning the game properly.” Adam brushed along her hair, pinning the girl to her.

“No!” Jirot declared, pointing her finger at Lucy. “You cannot!”

“I can’t?” Lucy asked, frowning.

Jirot smirked. “No.”

“…” Lucy fell to the earth, groaning. “Fine! I’m… I’m down now, you smelly Demon Lord!”

“I not smelly!” Jirot held out her hands towards her. “Fyah! Ball!”

“Fire doesn’t hurt me that much!”

“It is Demon Lord fire!”

“Then it hurts too much, stop it!”

“Kekeke!”

Vasera sipped her milk, before standing up to stretch out her back and legs, about to go for a walk around the fort. “I didn’t expect your children to be so special.”

“Are you jealous that my children are so cute?”

“Your triplets have such beautiful scales and horns, but your twins…”

“What about my twins?” Adam asked, narrowing his eyes, his smile widening on his face, though a shadow formed under his lips.

“Their eyes are beautiful ambers, and the girl’s mind moves as swift as her lips,” Vasera said. “I didn’t realise you were underestating her troublesomeness.”

“She’s more cute than she is troublesome.”

“And she certainly is so troublesome.”

Adam smiled, unable to contain his pride. “Of course she is, since she’s my daughter.”

“They must take after their mother since you are so ug-,”

“Vasera,” Rook warned.

“Ah, we’re still working,” Vasera replied, clenching her jaw, cracking her neck from side to side. “Adam… would you mind walking with me?”

“No, not at all.”

“Let’s take a walk outside, alone.”

“Sorry, but I’m already married.”

“You’re not my type,” Vasera growled. “At least Jaygak has such lovely horns.”

Adam chuckled and followed Vasera out, who trekked along the outskirts of the farms, noting the farmers glancing their way, partly because their Executive was out, and partly because Vasera, the Golden Savage, was around.

Eventually, Vasera stopped, once they were well out of ear shot of the people around, though she was certain the Iyrmen would still be able to hear her, since it felt like even the grass could hear her. “Why did you allow me to come to your business at this time?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you acting a fool, Adam?”

“You were meant to escort us back, that’s what we paid you for?”

“The Iyrmen asked Karza to remain, but why didn’t you ask me?”

“Why would I ask you?”

Vasera’s eyes fixated upon Adam’s, realising he had no idea what she was talking about. “I am a half dragon.”

“Yeah?”

“I can smell their scent too.”

“I bathe a lot so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Are you still…” Vasera narrowed her eyes, noting the confusion on Adam’s face. “Hand over a gold coin.”

“What?”

“Hand over a gold coin.” Vasera held out her hand.

Adam reached into his pouch and shuffled through to find the gold coin, feeling the soft metal within his hand, before he tossed it to Vasera.

“Now that you’ve paid up, I promise I won’t tell anyone about your children.”

“What a terrible deal. You should be talking about how adorable my children are.”

“I won’t tell anyone that your triplets are related to the Talia family,” Vasera stated.

“…” Adam frowned slightly, feeling his heart quicken. “I don’t think you’re stupid enough to tell anyone about that.”

“Stupid or not, my oath is to gold. You’ve paid up, so you don’t have to worry about it at all.”

“Just a gold?”

“Just a gold.”

Adam slowly bowed his head. At first, the annoyance rushed through him, but he calmed, understanding the meaning behind her action. “Appreciate that.”

‘The Iyrmen should stop threatening me now, shouldn’t they?’ Vasera thought, recalling the previous night. She reached up to rub her collar bone, understanding the pain Morkarai had felt when he fought against Bilal.