"Pfffttt," Tael let out a tiny laugh when he saw Iris place two small cotton sticks in her nose and wiggle them around.

"Aha, you finally laughed," Iris said triumphantly, pointing at Tael.

"Okay, now stop what you're doing and just enjoy the bath," Tael muttered, trying to regain his composure as he sat back down calmly in the water.

"Wait, we're bathing? But where's the soap?" Iris asked, looking confused.

"The water waves help wash the body, and I think this water contains some kind of body-cleaning potion," Tael explained. "The sponge is there if you want one."

"Oh, that's so cool!" Iris exclaimed, jumping in awe. But in her excitement, her towel suddenly slipped off.

Iris froze as she realized what had happened.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Tael yelled, his face turning bright red like a tomato.

Iris blinked. "Oops, my towel fell."

"Well, put it back on!" Tael instructed, his embarrassment evident.

"Why should I? I do this all the time when I bathe with Mom. And you're as young as me, so what's the problem?" Iris argued, unconcerned.

"As a girl, you should prioritize your body and not show it to other people," Tael replied in a low voice, still blushing furiously.

"Even with the towel on?" Iris teased.

"Yes, even then," Tael insisted.

"And what if I don't?" Iris challenged, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Then I'll go bathe somewhere else," Tael replied calmly.

"And I'll just follow you," Iris shot back, cheekily.

"Then I won't bathe at all," Tael said, crossing his arms.

"Fine, I'll wear it," Iris mumbled, finally giving in.

She picked up her towel, wrapped it around herself again, and dipped back into the sauna.

'Tch, why do I have to watch over this troublesome child? I know I'm also a child, but at least I act mature,' Tael thought to himself, scrolling through the screen in front of him with a sigh.

After their bath, Iris and Tael stepped out of their room only to be greeted by four maids standing nervously at the door. Their anxious expressions softened slightly when they saw Iris.

"Mistress, we are the ones who will be taking care of you," the maids said in unison, bowing respectfully as they observed the cute girl and the grumpy boy by her side.

"Rather, I'm the one who'll be taking care of Iris," a lady interjected, adjusting her glasses with a stern expression.

"Aunt Sally!" Iris cried out excitedly, running to embrace her.

"The rest of you should attend to the madam," Sally instructed. The maids bowed once more and quietly left the room.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Iris and Tael, we need to get you both ready for tonight," Sally said, her voice softening as she began selecting clothes for Iris.

When Iris and Tael emerged from their room, they looked stylish in their own ways. Iris wore an ocean-blue dress adorned with delicate flowers along the sides, while Tael, preferring simplicity, donned brown trousers with a chain on the side and a plain grey shirt.

As soon as Jennifer and Isakawa stepped out of their room, Iris rushed over to hug them both, her eyes shining as she took in their attire. Jennifer wore a light orange dress with a belt cinching her waist, and her skirt flared out gracefully from her hips. Isakawa opted for a blue suit, with a Gemaris crystal tucked neatly into his pocket.

"So now we're ready to go!" Iris exclaimed enthusiastically, her excitement bubbling over.

"Sorry, Iris, the family dinner is different, so we won't be dining with you," Isakawa said, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"Why, Daddy?" Iris asked, her blue eyes welling up with tears as she looked up at her father.

"Don't worry! You just need to act tough, and they won't fool around. Also, both of you, be aware—everyone here is an enemy," Isakawa warned, his face darkening slightly.

Iris and Tael nodded fervently, their expressions serious, just as Kena entered the room. "Is the master ready to go?" she asked, her bright yellow eyes gleaming with admiration as she looked at them.

"Yes!" they both replied in unison.

Kena nodded and waved her hands, causing a bright light to appear beneath their feet. In an instant, they vanished.

When Iris and Tael reappeared at their destination, they were met with a confusing sight. The room they were in was grand, filled with expensive antique furniture, but there was something odd—the room was filled with children.

'Why are there only children here?' they both thought, recalling Isakawa's warning.

The huge dining room was occupied by about 30 children and 40 servants. As Iris and Tael entered, the room fell silent. Some of the children eyed them with a glint of malice, while others stared in shock.

To the other children, Iris appeared as an incredibly cute brown skin girl girl with straight black hair cascading down her back. Her lovely blue eyes almost looked like glowing jewels. Some of the children recognized Iris, and the boy beside her, whose deadly aura was noticable since he entered the room, only added to the tension.

"Who the hell are they?" The boy with spiky red hair growled under his breath.

"I presume she's Isakawa Subaru's daughter," replied another boy, this one with sleek grey hair and blue eyes. He adjusted his expensive, stylish glasses, his tone calm but commanding. Those near him shivered in fear at his words.

"Is she truly Isakawa's daughter?" the red-haired boy asked again, needing confirmation.

‘It seems the Subaru family has a unique way of dining,’ Iris thought to herself as she took in the scene—an entire table filled with children of the Subaru family, with no adults in sight.

Krumi waved at Iris and Tael, gesturing for them to sit beside Sheila. Ignoring the curious and wary stares of the other children, Iris took her seat next to Sheila, with Tael following closely behind.

Iris and Sheila quickly fell into conversation, laughing together as they chatted. Their bright, joyful presence seemed to lighten the mood in the room, making them appear like two angels amidst the tension.

But beneath the surface, every child had a purpose—to form teams for the upcoming Family Games. It had been announced that this year, the Family Games would be different. Instead of hunting alone, each child would need to be part of a team of five. Over the next three days, they would be sent into the Rift to hunt monsters and survive.

The team that killed and brought back the most monsters would win, while the last group would face punishment. The room was filled with whispered conversations, as the children tried to be friends with each other up, considering potential teamates.

As dinner began, the table was filled with an array of delicious dishes, and the children eagerly dug in. Iris, too, found the food to be amazing, savoring each bite—until suddenly, a cold, robotic voice interrupted her thoughts.

[Poison detected. Poison Neutralized.]

[Poison resistance increased by 0.2%.]

Iris froze, her face going stiff. The system had just warned her that her food was poisoned—and that her body had managed to neutralize it, even increasing her resistance slightly. Her heart raced as she glanced over at Tael, who was about to take a sip of his tea.

"Tael, don't drink the tea," Iris whispered urgently, her voice laced with worry. "There's poison in it."

Tael’s hand paused mid-air, a smirk slowly spreading across his face as he placed the tea back down. His sharp eyes scanned the table, taking in the food and the other children. "Don’t worry about me, I can handle it," he replied quietly, his tone calm despite the situation. "But what about you?"

"The poison doesn’t seem to affect me either," Iris assured him, her voice steadying as she spoke. Tael’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He hadn’t expected Iris to be immune to poison. Was this something Isakawa had trained her in?