Stray

posture.

“I don’t think anything can scare me to tears right now.” Oliver surveyed the thick, one-person tall shrub and rubbed his hands together.

Nemo smiled and shook his head, put his thumb and index finger into his mouth, and whistled.

Round and sturdy creatures emerged from the bushes one by one.

Most of them were one or two feet taller than an adult male, and they look like standing seals.
Charcoal-gray fleece covered their skin, their eyes were round and black, and their long soft nose hung in front of sharp canine teeth, which made this creature a bit more funny than terrifying.
Their lower limbs were short, but their upper limbs were long and powerful, and their fingers seem to have great grip.

Not a very beautiful creature, but Oliver was very familiar with it.

He had described this “terrifying” creature to “Mr.
White” on the tree countless times.

Having talked to Godwin a few times about the past of the caramel apple tart, Godwin had asked specifically about it— and now he knew it well.
To prevent his young self from running into the Border Forest, his father, Flint Lopez, made up a horrific monster out of thin air to add to his fears.
Before his first encounter with Nemo, the demon “palulu weevil” was the biggest shadow of his childhood.

It was also the precious story his father created for him, which belonged only to him.

“I created them according to your description, but some places may not be very accurate.”

Nemo stretched out his hand to touch the monster’s head, and the monster lowered its head obediently, squinting his eyes comfortably.

“They do live deep in the Border Forest, but they don’t attack children.
Instead, they will lift them up and throw them to the nearest human village.”

His Demon King turned his face, his silver eyes gleaming in the sun.
“I also forged the research report of the scholar ‘Piper*’ and placed it near their activity area.
Ollie, they were finally successfully discovered yesterday.”

*Referring to Oliver’s dad who came with this demon.
It also could be a loose reference to the Pied Piper of Hamelin who’s closely associated with kids as he kidnaps them by hypnotizing them with his magic instrument.

“They’re really true to their name.
This is what I wanted to show you— A real intermediate demon, the palulu weevil.”

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Oliver trembled and took a deep breath as he sniffled.

“Actually, the name is pretty stupid.” Eventually his eyes reddened.
“Seriously, Nemo.
I didn’t have time to prepare an equivalent gift for you.
It’s too… I…”

“Hey, this is compensation.” Nemo leaned over and dropped a warm kiss on his eyes.
“I didn’t mean to scare you back then.”

The gray parrot let out a loud retching on the nearest branch.

Then it tilted its head and stared at Oliver who grabbed a palulu weevil with Nemo and took out the photo crystal.
In the end it still decided to pat its wings and squeeze itself into the magic photo.

At the other end of the Border Forest, the Ramon Inn.

“Praise Zenni.
You… You are…”

“I just came to look.”  Godwin Lopez nodded politely to the innkeeper.

“Please make yourself at home—” The middle-aged innkeeper spoke loudly.
“Oh my god, Jennifer, come out and have a look! It’s the leader of Horizon, Mr.
Lopez!”

There was a scream of surprise belonging to a woman at the end of the corridor.

However, Godwin didn’t pay attention to the reaction of the owner and his wife at the moment.
He looked at the corners of the tavern and had an inexplicable expression.

It was here that Flint Lopez raised Oliver Ramon.

Godwin took a few steps forward and stared at the weird nicks on the door panel that recorded the height of a child.
The handwriting on it was very familiar.

Flint Lopez’s writing.

“Are you here to stay for one night, or…?” Following Godwin’s gaze, the innkeeper’s wife obviously misunderstood Godwin’s meaning.
“Oh, you know, when Little Ramon was convicted of being a fugitive, this place was immediately confiscated so my husband and I bought it.
Some of these corners weren’t cleaned up very carefully.”

“I don’t mind.” Godwin shook his head soothingly.
“I just came and have a look.”

“You…”

“…I’m a distant relative of Piper Ramon.
I was just passing by when I heard he had done business here, so I came to take a look,” Godwin replied after hesitating for a moment.

“Oh, you came at just the right time.” The innkeeper’s wife wiped her stout fingers on her apron.
“That kid Oliver, ahem, there’s no news from Little Ramon after he escaped.
I happened to tidy up the basement a few days ago, and I found some of Ramon’s old things.
I was thinking whether to throw it away.
Would you like to take a look? I mean, if it’s a relative, there might be some value—”

“I’m sorry to trouble you.” Godwin nodded.

The innkeeper’s wife picked up her apron and led him all the way to the dark basement.

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Although the basement of the Ramon Inn was dark, it wasn’t very damp, which was very suitable for storing items.
There was still the smell of dust and soapy water in the air, and no cobwebs could be seen, so it did look like it had been recently tidied up.

There weren’t many things belonging to “Old Ramon”; just enough to fill a small wooden box.

It was stuffed with books and sundries and from a glance there didn’t seem to be anything of real value.
There were also many letters, but they were all ordinary order forms and greeting letters.
Godwin half knelt down and brushed away the dust inside.

With his movements, a few glass beads from the bottom of the box bones rolled over.
The things here were full of life, and there was no shadow of the former commander of the Tin Army.

Godwin pursed his lips.

‘Not surprising,’ he thought.
Flint Lopez did completely abandon the past; he shouldn’t have anything anymore…

An old ukulele popped up among the debris.

It was small and rough, and it didn’t look like it was for adults, but Godwin was pretty sure that Oliver hadn’t spent his childhood learning how to play it.

He pulled it out curiously and turned it over in his hand.
There was a yellow envelope attached to the back of the ukulele, and the contents of it made his heart stop.

[For my brother, Iman.]

Godwin’s hand trembled a little, and he tried several times before opening the envelope under the curious eyes of the innkeeper’s wife.

[My dear brother, I heard that my sister-in-law is pregnant.
This means I’ll be an uncle before you, right?]

[But you are too tense and don’t know how to relax at all.
This isn’t good.
You see, I made a great ukulele for my future nephew— or niece.
I think the little one will like it.
Promise me, don’t throw it away! You can’t let my dear younger generation be as restless as you.]

[It’s true that I’ve been in very bad shape lately, but don’t worry.
Expeditions make people sad, but with Sonia by my side, everything will pass…… When your child is born, you absolutely must buy me a drink.]

[Your indefatigable brother, Flint]

“Uh, Mr.
Lopez, you… if you want it, you can take these whatever you want—”

“Nn.”

Godwin heard himself reply like this, and he held the little ukulele in his hand.

“…I like this ukulele very much.”

“As well I want to ask… How much are you willing to sell this inn for?”

The author has something to say:

The first extra XDDD