Henry, the young wizard, shouted loudly at Meldenik who was walking away.
"Hello!"
Meldenik's eyes widened as she hummed and walked happily, lost in thought. "Hey, no."
Henry put his hand on his stomach and bowed. "Cute ears."
Meldenik slumped to her knees as she saw the little boy rushing toward her. 'You ended up giving it to me. It's that easy!'
Henry, laughing mischievously, chuckled and poked Meldenik by the shoulder. "Mister, let's play."
If it had been the old Meldenik, she should have been suspicious. Because she was suspicious. However, her iron wall of caution was melting in front of a small child. Up until then, Henry thought that Meldenik had fallen for his cuteness. So he believed that he could objectively figure out what kind of person she was. Of course, it was the same for Isak. He thought she was just adoring the child.
"Baby, where are your parents?"
"Yes! I'll come back a little far, Hae-se."
Meldenik craned her neck and looked around. Unfortunately, her gaze did not reach the corner of the alley where Isak was standing.
"No one has abandoned him, right...?"
"It's Annie! Nora Jude!" The clever little Henry squeezed Meldenik's arm. It was a dark ploy to measure Meldenik's mana.
"Yes, I'll play with you! What's your name?"
"Henry!"
Meldenik naturally grabbed Henry's hand. She seemed to be very skilled at handling children. Henry grabbed Meldenik by the arm and tried to concentrate to measure her mana. But just then, Meldenik asked Henry in a sinister voice.
"Cute Henry with glasses, don't you like studying?"
At that moment, Henry's hand snapped back. "...Oh, I know!" Henry's eyes were clear with caution.
Meldenik squeezed Henry's middle finger. "You have calluses on your little hands, so why don't you play with Henry... Let's see."
Henry tilted his head. Meldenik took out the pouch she always carried with her. "What's in this?" She was thorough. Whenever and wherever she met children, she carried things with her to promote them. And her readiness was now shining in front of Henry.
"Huh, huh. Is Moga Ichi?" Henry began to get caught up in Meldenik's pace.
Isak, who was watching the situation, tried to hold back his laughter. 'Cute, both.'
Henry, who had forgotten that Isak was behind him for now, slipped into the pouch and poked his face into it.
"Blood, blood!" Henry's voice trembled.
"That's right! It's a pencil case!" Meldenik pulled out a pencil case from the pouch and shook it. "How about a pencil case with ancient words written on it?"
Henry's eyes widened as he stammered out the sentence on the pencil case. "Jingli will set you free!"
"The truth will set you free."
It was the favorite phrase of the wizards of the Tower who searched for the truth, including Henry. Today's children who have become accustomed to instant culture don't know it, but Henry knew it very well. Henry, a little wizard and scholar who loves learning, had his heart swell.
'Joe, is he a good person?' Henry looked behind him cautiously. The Lord of the Tower must be observing this situation. But the absence of any touch means that this woman is not in danger yet. 'Oh, yes.' Henry's eyes sparkled in excitement. Beads of sweat fell on the back of his nose.
In the midst of all this, Meldenik grabbed Henry's sweaty glasses and lifted them up. "Can I give you a pencil case and a pencil?"
"Hey... pencil?" Henry knew very well what a pencil was. It was quite an old thing. He said that his core was dripping and broken, so he didn't use it well. Henry was a snappy child, so he tried to shake his head violently to refuse the gift of a pencil.
"It's an old item, but I bought it at the antique street. Some of the ancient saints used pencils instead of quills, I suppose?" But Meldenik knew everything about Henry. Henry's studious heart dropped open. Henry had now completely lost the will to investigate Meldenik.
"It's all for me..." The little boy covered his mouth with both hands and opened his eyes in surprise.
"Stand, no way. Did you know about me?"
"Huh? No?"
"Gurum, how about Gurum, do you know everything I'm talking about?" After saying that, Henry put his hands on each cheek with his plump hands. When he came to his senses, he was completely surprised by Meldenik's resourcefulness!
Meldenik, crouching in the center, whispered in a low voice to Henry. "It's a secret, but I'm naturally capable."
Now I'm revealing! Henry stared at Meldenik with excitement. What kind of ability is it? As Rasmus said, was he really a thief hiding in the tower?
Meldenik spoke to Henry in a serious voice. "That's the ability to know what every child wants."
Meldenik's words made Henry's eyes widen. It was different from what Rasmus said. But if that were true, all children were in danger.
'Isaac!' It was when Henry called out to the lord of the tower.
In the distance, a half-husky bass voice called out. "Henry."
"Dyan!"
Meldenik jumped to her feet and looked around. Isak slowly walked out of the wall. Their eyes met. There was no regret in his bright green eyes.
Meldenik squatted to her feet. Then she straightened her knee and tapped it. She could see dirt on the end of her dress. But she didn't care and waved her hand coolly. "Hello."
"Yes."
Meldenik tilted her head at him and looked at them alternately. Then she clapped her hands. "Henry, is this your father?"
This time, it was Isak who stopped. He expected the development of her doubting him when he approached suddenly... He didn't expect her to make such a connection. He had black hair and a humped nose, and Henry had brown hair and a flat nose. Isn't there a bit of prejudice?
There was another person who was confused by Meldenik's words. "...Appa?" Henry rolled his eyes in confusion. Henry was an orphan who was abandoned in an almshouse when he was young, so he didn't really know what his parents were. However, when he was very young, he used to call the Lord of the Tower "Dad."
Isak, who looked at Henry's confused face, said in a low voice. "...I'm his protector."
"Ah, I see." Meldenik nodded without any doubt and handed the pencil to Isak. "Take this. I was going to give it to Henry."
"Thank you."
"Oh, this is also our new beer candy, so please try it." She held out her hand plainly, her eyes downcast.
At that moment, Isak and Meldenik's fingertips briefly brushed against each other.
"Oh..." Meldenik paused. It was a strange feeling. It felt like static electricity had strangely risen. It was as if a pure white light had flashed through him for a moment.