"Do you think the Escar Mountains are like someone's front yard!?"

The nagging of the infirmary's supervising professor, who had completely healed Nella's leg with healing magic, seemed endless.

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry..."

The children apologized repeatedly, but the infirmary's supervising professor, who was not satisfied with that, decided to take special measures.

"You're all banned from going out for a week! All four of you!"

"Lucas didn't go with us..."

"A friend's fault is to be shared! Know that and go!"

The children, who had come out of the infirmary, began to glance at Lucas.

"I'm fine. But the infirmary professor is right. The Escar Mountains are a dangerous place."

"But..."

"No, there are no buts."

"B-but!"

"Stop."

Lucas didn't seem to want to hear the children's words. The children's shoulders began to droop as they looked at Lucas.

"Oppa..."

Lucas turned his head at Nella's low call.

"We met a goblin."

"...What?"

Lucas's eyes widened in surprise at Nella's words.

"A group of goblins appeared."

"That's right! But... we defeated them by joining forces!"

Pola and Skir, who had gained courage from Nella's words, also began to add a word each.

"...How?"

He might have been able to handle one or two goblins with the children's strength if he was lucky.

But a 'group' of goblins?

"The Naiads helped."

"Huh? There wasn't just one?"

Pola asked back at the word 'they'.

"Yes. There were many. Only one was visible. Ah, and... sister Pola used electric magic."

Pola shrugged her shoulders at Nella's words.

"Well, I practiced a little!"

"Ah, and we were about to be defeated, but suddenly I felt a surge of power."

"Ah, that's right. That was really strange."

Pola nodded her head, looking at Nella.

"A sudden surge of power...?"

"Yes!"

Lucas looked at the children with a puzzled expression for a moment.

'...A pixie?'

Lucas, who was concentrating on each of the children, could feel the faint presence of a pixie emanating from Skir.

'Ha, was this the favor that little thing bestowed?'

Lucas, who was looking at Skir carefully, opened his mouth.

"Congratulations. It seems you've become a buffer."

"...A buffer?"

"Yes, a buffer."

A buffer. A person who gives buffs. It refers to a person who mainly uses magic that enhances defense and the opponent's abilities rather than attack magic.

Although any mage could cast various magic, each had a specialized ability.

Some were strong in fire magic, some in electricity, some in moving the earth, and some were good at handling water or ice magic.

The same went for buffs. Mages who specialized in buffs were extremely rare, and all the guilds and the magic association were desperate to receive the buffs they cast.

"Skir. Where's the magic stone you received at the camp?"

"...Why all of a sudden?"

"Just. Where is it?"

"Here..."

At Lucas's sudden question, Skir took out a necklace from his pocket.

The Duke had personally ordered it to be made into a necklace for Skir's first small achievement.

That's why Skir always wore that necklace around his neck.

'As expected...'

Lucas, who had touched the necklace once, nodded his head slightly.

Perhaps because he had been wearing it for a long time, the pixie's spell, which was just a small spell, seemed to have been completely absorbed into Skir's body.

"Why all of a sudden?"

"Just. It just came to mind."

Although it was now just a low-grade mana stone with no effect, it was the best thing that could have happened, as Skir had grown into a buffer thanks to it.

"That's great. Skir."

"That's great!"

The children were overjoyed that Skir had specialized in buff abilities.

Although Skir himself was not.

'A buffer...'

Skir had always dreamed of summoning flames from his hands and annihilating his enemies.

He wanted to become a mage who could pour out amazing attacks, even if he was not as good as his older brother. But a buffer...!

"Yes... thank you..."

Skir, with a reluctant expression, receiving their congratulations.

Nella and Pola, who didn't know his feelings, continued to congratulate him, clapping their hands.

'A buffer... I'm a buffer!!!'

***

Lucas, who had returned to his room, was finally able to relax.

He had nothing to worry about with Nella. If she didn't have a talent for magic, she would become a great spirit master based on her high natural affinity.

The same went for Pola. Although her growth was slow, her potential was outstanding, and with her efforts, Pola's skills were improving by leaps and bounds.

But Skir was not. He had barely managed to get out of the beginner class by forcibly pulling up his tiny bit of talent, but he had shown no signs of growth.

But thanks to the strange favor of a pixie he had accidentally received, he had become a buffer.

Lucas lay in his room and began to draw the future in front of him.

Skir, who was firmly supporting the children from behind,

Pola, who was casting electric magic while receiving his buffs, and Nella, who was freely summoning spirits.

'That's a relief.'

A smile hung on Lucas's lips, as if he were happy just imagining it.

***

The children, who had gathered in the cafeteria, were each holding a drink and enjoying the sunlight.

"Ah, by the way, should we go out and play this weekend?"

Pola's tone was somehow awkward.

"...Uh-huh. Okay."

"Right. T-that would be good."

Everyone was extremely awkward. Lucas's brow furrowed and then relaxed as he looked at the children.

'They seem to be planning something. Well... it should be okay.'

They were just children, after all. Even if they were planning something, it would be just that much.

***

Before he knew it, the weekend had arrived. As soon as Saturday came, the children excitedly headed to the square.

"Sister! Look at this!"

Nella's eyes, who was standing in front of the magic tool shop, were moving busily.

"Wow, this is really amazing. Mister, what is this?"

"Now, this is..."

The man, who was holding a slingshot-like magic tool in his hand, flicked the empty rubber band into the sky.

-Pew!

As the rubber band, which had been shot out with a loud noise, decorated the sky with a small flame, the children cheered.

"Woooow!"

Lucas stroked Nella's head, who had her eyes wide open, as if she were cute.

"I'll buy it for you."

"N-no!"

Nella seemed to be quite okay with walking around the square now. She would flinch slightly when she passed a certain spot, but she would soon be fine.

It would have been impossible without the children who had taken care of Nella so carefully.

"Why, I want to buy it for you."

"No! I'll... I'll buy it next time!"

Nella, who had stubbornly refused, took Pola's hand and quickly left the place.

"The one from a little while ago, and ah, that one over there, please."

It was the lamp that Pola had coveted at one time.

Pola, who had a strong sense of pride, had not even shown any sign of wanting anything since Skir had said he would buy her that lantern.

But Lucas knew. That Pola had been glancing at the lantern every time she passed by this place.

'She must have wanted it.'

A gentle smile appeared on Lucas's lips as he paid and turned away.

He felt good. He even felt his heart pound at the thought of the children being happy when they received this.

"What's that?"

Skir, who had been somewhere else for a while, asked, pointing at the two small boxes in Lucas's hand.

"Just, for the kids."

"...Mine?"

"...Huh?"

Lucas's conscience was pricked at the sight of Skir, who was visibly disappointed.

He was older than him, but Pola was also two years older than him.

"T-that's..."

He was so flustered that sweat was trickling down his forehead.

"It's fine. I'm... okay..."

'...You don't look okay at all.'

***

The children, who had entered the cafe after lunch, were talking about this and that and drinking their drinks.

"...What?"

But suddenly, the waiters surrounded the table, and Lucas's expression hardened in surprise.

"Ta-da! Surprised!"

As a waiter appeared with a cake in his hand, Pola smiled brightly and shouted.

"Happy birthday! Rookie!"

"Happy birthday. Lucas."

"Oppa, happy birthday!"

The children each took out a small bundle from their pockets and placed it in front of Lucas, and the waiters began to sing a congratulatory song, holding small instruments in their hands.

"Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~"

Lucas was dumbfounded until the song was almost over.

'What's this situation?'

He had always celebrated his birthday when he was at the county estate.

But a surprise birthday party prepared by the children...

Something touching welled up in his chest.

He had never felt this way in the long time he had lived as a dragon.

Because birthdays were not meaningful to dragons who lived for thousands of years.

Of course, when he had been on an excursion for a long time, the people around him would sometimes celebrate his birthday, but it was not a real birthday, and it was no different from a birthday given to the role he was playing.

But something was different now.

"Thank you."

Lucas finally began to feel it a little after he had blown out the candles on the cake.

"Now, make a wish quickly!"

Lucas, who smiled faintly at Pola's words, closed his eyes.

'Please let me finish this life well.'

Lucas, who had clasped his hands tightly, prayed sincerely for the first time.

'Please...'

***

[3 years later]

It was a series of peaceful days.

Aman had become the new head of the school after receiving approval before the emperor, Grad, had come to his senses.

It was a troublesome task, but it was a good position to monitor the emperor from the closest distance, and he planned to intervene intensively as all the problems were related to magic.

The emperor had regained some of his senses after a year, and in the meantime, the O'Neil Duchy and other central nobles had taken over the affairs of the state and had done well.

Lucas's home, Citata, had become a hub of trade and had become a small and medium-sized city, and the wealth of the county was accumulating so quickly that it was said that no one in the empire could follow.

Accordingly, the Gold Nine Trading Company had also grown into a leading large-scale enterprise.

The county had officially become Pola's guardian.

Pola, as if to meet their expectations, had grown quickly and had achieved the 3rd circle, and Nella had also achieved the 2nd circle and had been able to summon an intermediate spirit at the same time.

Skir, as if he had accepted his fate, had further awakened his buff ability and had become a buffer close to the intermediate level, and was almost approaching the 3rd circle.

The one who had shown almost no development among them was Lucas.

Although he had barely achieved the 6th circle, it was an absurd figure for a body that was almost fully grown.

'I'll just use Aman's.'

Although there was no big problem due to the contract with Aman, it was still annoying.

The children had all advanced to the advanced class together, and it was a given that they would go to the highest class next semester.

The Three Musketeers of Hollow Shells was no longer the Hollow Shells, but were young people who were attracting the attention of the continent.

"Hey! Rookie!"

Lucas, who was turning at Pola's call.

"Let's go eat!"

"Okay."

Pola, who was smiling brightly, and Skir and Nella, who were standing by her side.

Skir was now twenty, and Pola was also eighteen.

They, who had become full-fledged adults, had literally grown up well.

Skir had shed his small and thin body and had become a young man with a tall stature and handsome platinum blond hair, and Pola had also become a fine young lady with long brown hair.

The best among them was definitely Lucas.

Lucas, who resembled the Count's tall stature and his wife's beautiful appearance, was called a handsome man wherever he went.

Jet-black hair and black eyes.

And as the son of a rich family, the interest of the noble young ladies was hot.

"Oppa, what about the book?"

Nella, who was asking about the book to take to the next class, had also become fifteen, an age that could be called a teenager.

"Here."

Lucas, who was gently stroking Nella's head.

The peaceful days that had continued for 3 years were truly like a dream.

'Please... let me live like this forever.'

Lucas's earnest wish was continuing every day.

***

-Grrr... grrr...

A strange cry echoing in a large cave with no end in sight.

The creature writhing on the large magic circle that filled the floor was grotesque in its appearance.

-Grrr...

Although it had arms and legs, it was difficult to see it as a person, and although it had a head on what seemed to be a neck, its face was all crushed and had no form.

The part that seemed to be a nostril was flaring, but it was hard to tell whether it was a nostril or a mouth, and what could not be called skin was in the shape of it flowing down.

-Grrr... grrr...

Every time the creature groaned, the magic circle emitted a faint light.

-Gaaah!!!

A strange sound that echoed through the cave.

The red light in the eyes of the creature that was letting out a strange cry flashed.

(End of Chapter)