CHAPTER 209: PAPAGO: BE STRONGER!

Nathan jolted.

"Wha—"

But before he could finish, the little girl in his arms echoed—

"Wha? Me Whawha?"

Her head tilted up at him, bunny ears twitching.

Wide eyes stared with pure confusion.

Nathan fumbled.

"N-No, no, I didn’t mean—"

"So me... Nono?"

She squinted seriously, like she was engraving her name into the holy registry of an ancient bunny tribe.

Nathan started sweating. "What... no, that’s not your name either!"

She pouted and glared at him from within his arms.

Her tiny hands planted on her hips—a ridiculous pose given she was still being held.

Nathan’s back stiffened.

Cute. But dangerous if he got this wrong.

Messy hair. Twitchy ears. Eager eyes. Chubby cheeks.

"Uh... R-Rabb..." he blurted without thinking.

Ahem.

A loud, deliberate cough from behind.

Nathan glanced.

Livia stood there, arms crossed, expression sharp enough to cut steel. That look said: Name her something dumb, and I’ll drown you in the Spinal-Crusher Falls.

He gulped. Looked back at the girl.

Their eyes met.

Brief silence.

"...Ru," he said quietly. "R-Ruby."

The girl’s eyes sparkled.

"Me Ruby?"

Nathan nodded.

She let out a tiny squeal and bounced in his arms—

well, as much as someone can bounce while being carried.

"YEAAAH!! RUBYY!!"

Her arms flailed with joy, then she giggled and smacked her tiny hand against his chest.

"Papa!" she tapped her own chest, "Me is Rubby!"

Then poked him square in the chin.

"Papa is... euhmm..." she tapped her chin like she was thinking real hard. "Papa AHAHAHA!!" she burst into laughter.

Nathan chuckled—awkward, stiff, but real.

He leaned his head down and gently touched his forehead to hers.

"...Yeah. Papa’s here, Ruby."

Ruby was still hugging Nathan, clinging to his chest like a happy little koala.

But suddenly, her eyes shifted—glancing behind him.

One tiny finger lifted and pointed.

"Papa..." she whispered.

Then, with a beaming smile—

"...Mama!"

Nathan followed her gaze.

Domina.

She stood not far away, her long, glossy purple hair catching the light.

Her expression at first? Relaxed. Even proud.

And when Ruby called her mama, Domina smiled gently.

She gave the tiniest nod. Her eyes were warm.

But the moment she noticed Nathan staring—

Click. Her smile vanished.

"Tch."

She turned away in a flash.

Her cheeks flushed red.

Her ears twitched, visibly rattled.

Her lips curled—but it wasn’t a smile. More like... holding back something.

"Don’t get cocky, human."

"I was smiling at Ruby. Not you."

She hissed the thought silently, fully aware Nathan had definitely misunderstood.

And weirdly?

She didn’t mind.

Why... does this actually feel... nice?

I was already prepared to be Ruby’s mother.

But to be... his wife...

Domina mentally slapped herself.

She strode forward quickly, her steps a bit too fast to be casual.

"Ruby, come here," she said.

Ruby squealed and launched into her arms like a rocket.

"Mamaaa!!"

She wrapped Domina in a tight hug, nuzzling her face against Domina’s chest like it was the fluffiest pillow in existence.

Domina’s lips trembled for a second— then she gently hugged back.

Domina’s arms wrapped around Ruby—gently, almost instinctively.

Her fingers brushed through the little girl’s wild hair.

And for a moment, her entire aura shifted.

She wasn’t the sharp-tongued warlord.

Wasn’t the sadistic strategist.

She was... warm.

A real mother.

"Stop it," she whispered— barely audible.

"You’re gonna make me soft, you little—"

Ruby giggled. "Mama chest fluffy!"

Domina flinched.

Her eyes shot toward Nathan.

Nathan, of course, was watching like an idiot— smiling.

She clicked her tongue and looked away.

"Idiot."

"Why are you smiling like that..."

A few inch away, Livia squinted.

Her ears twitched like radio antennas catching suspicious frequencies.

"Gross..." she muttered.

Nathan glanced at her. "You okay?"

Livia didn’t answer right away.

She stared at Domina and Ruby.

Then at Nathan.

Then at Ruby again.

"...She called you Papa," Livia said flatly. "And Domina Mama."

Nathan nodded.

"...So what does that make me?" she asked, eyes narrow.

Nathan froze.

Ruby peeked over Domina’s shoulder.

Pointed at Livia with one hand.

Her mouth opened.

"Auntyyy Lili!!"

Nathan couldn’t stop the grin.

Domina burst into a small laugh she instantly regretted.

Livia?

She stood there. Holding back a smile.

"...I will destroy this child," she whispered and blushed.

Nathan laughed.

But then—

He felt it.

A slow rise.

A pulsing shift.

Down there.

His smile froze.

NO! Don’t you fucking dare.

He looked down—just slightly.

Private Blade was standing at attention.

With zero shame.

Innocent family moment? Check.

Heartwarming child calling him Papa? Double check.

Domina and Livia in wholesome mode? Triple check.

And yet—

NOW you decide to wake up, you horny bastard?!

Nathan subtly adjusted his stance, trying to hide the betrayal brewing in his pants.

Domina noticed something.

"...You’re fidgeting."

Nathan panicked. "Ah—just... leg cramp."

Ruby blinked, confused. "Papa? Is leg sleepy?"

Nathan forced a smile. "Y-Yeah. Sleepy leg. Totally not a problem."

Livia narrowed her eyes.

Suspicion. Intuition. Judgment.

"...You’re disgusting," she muttered.

Nathan sighed internally.

He was about to sit down and discreetly force Private Blade to stand down when—

"Your... uh, uniform," a calm voice said from the side.

Validia.

She stood there like a statue—expression unreadable, arms holding Nathan’s full Hunter Gear set...

Complete with size-adjusting underwear made of anti-fungal leaf material.

Her amber eyes dropped down—just slightly.

Then back up to meet his gaze.

Her face didn’t move.

Her ears didn’t twitch.

But

She saw.

She definitely saw.

Nathan stood frozen, posture awkward.

"...Thanks," he said, trying to sound casual.

Validia stepped closer and extended the gear without blinking.

"Your blade is... unnecessarily enthusiastic," she said flatly.

Nathan almost choked.

Domina let out a snort.

Livia covered her mouth—her shoulders shaking.

"W-Why would you say that out loud!?" Nathan snapped.

Validia tilted her head. "I’m simply stating a tactical observation."

Then—without breaking eye contact—

"Should I adjust the front pouch?"

"NO!!"

Everyone flinched.

Even Ruby blinked in confusion.

Domina turned around, shoulders trembling.

Livia leaned against a tree and wheezed.

Validia?

Still blank-faced. Still deadly serious.

"...Acknowledged," she said calmly. "But the risk of frostbite remains. You’ll need insulation."

Nathan let out the longest sigh of his life.

"This mission hasn’t even started and I’m already dying.... Inside."

Nathan let out the longest sigh of his life.

"This mission hasn’t even started and I’m already dying... inside."

No one replied.

Even Livia was still wiping her eyes from laughter.

The air stayed quiet as the group stepped into the small, newly-built cabin.

It still smelled like fresh wood and hastily dried paint.

No furniture. No decorations. Just a few crates and folded cloth.

Domina sat on a wooden crate, casually patting Ruby’s head.

Validia returned to organizing supplies on a makeshift table made from stacked boards.

Nathan leaned against a beam near the door, arms folded, breathing out long and slow.

Then—

"Papa..."

A tiny voice.

He looked down.

Ruby had wandered over and was now gently tugging on his sleeve.

Her eyes blinked up at him—wide, soft, searching.

"...Papa go where?"

Nathan paused.

The quiet in the room turned heavier, deeper.

He knelt slowly.

"Just somewhere cold," he said. "Somewhere dangerous."

Ruby tilted her head.

"...Fight?"

"Maybe."

"Come back?"

Nathan smiled.

"Yeah. I’ll come back."

She stared for a few seconds.

Then reached into her messy little pocket—

Pulled out the same crushed flower she’d been carrying all day.

"Then..." she whispered, placing it in his hand again,

"...be strong."

Nathan looked down at the squished petals.

Then at her tiny hands.

Then at her eyes.

He took it with both hands this time. Gently. Like a promise.

"...I will."

The time had come.

The wind across the upper floor was colder now— sharper.

The path ahead led to the northern gate. Snowy Area. Just two days, they said.

Nathan stood at the edge of the trail.

His gear was on—freshly reinforced by Validia.

Jacket sealed tight.

Nothing extra. Nothing bulky. Just what he needed to survive.

Livia tugged on her gloves beside him. "Don’t fall behind. I’m not babysitting."

Nathan exhaled. "Fine. No babysitting. Just constant verbal abuse."

Behind them, Ruby was still in his arms.

She pressed her cheek into his chest. Quiet.

Nathan whispered, "Time to go."

Ruby looked up. "Hug... with Mama."

Domina, standing nearby, didn’t speak.

She just walked forward.

Wrapped her arms around both of them— tight.

Nathan froze.

Her warmth. Her scent.

His eyes darted to Domina’s chest—pressed softly against Ruby as she hugged them both. The warmth of her body seeped through his jacket. That familiar scent— clean sweat, faint perfume, and something primal—snapped at the back of his mind. Images returned. Skin against skin. Her breath in his ear. Her voice, broken in half-moans. Nathan swallowed hard. This wasn’t the time. But his body didn’t care. It remembered everything. Too well.

Remind him the dirty little moment in the past.

He almost short-circuited.

He gently pulled back before his thoughts got worse.

"...Okay," he muttered. "We’re going."

Ruby looked at him, eyes wide.

"Bye... Bye....."

Nathan smiled.

"Bye...."