[< "I'm just a normal human. Not some divine beast." >]

I chuckled at the way the mother golden furball talked. She was definitely cute~.

[< No! How can that be!? A great being like that majestic butterfly could only serve a noble being of nature!

You also have the legendary blessing from all six elements!

That natural aura is not something a 'normal' human could possess at the very least! >]

She was shouting with great confidence in her voice as if she had great knowledge about beings with all six elemental affinities.

She was firm with her words.

I can also understand that from her point of view… I could only be a great presence like divine beasts to hold this much affinity with nature.

Well, I couldn't do anything about this one aside from doing my best to convince her. But before that...

[< "Can I have your name?" >]

[< Ohhh! I apologize once again! My mother graced me with the name Mave, but I would be honored to be called anything by you! >]

[< "Hmm. Mave... it's actually a beautiful name. Your mom must love you to give you such a beautiful name." >]

She blinked with her big blue eyes, which were genuinely surprised by this sudden admiration of her mother.

Her eyes were almost teary as they unknowingly started living some past memories once again.

Even some children had sad looks in their eyes, but they didn't dare go against the order of their mother and kept silent.

[< "Why are you all here? Your kind shouldn't be in a small place like this. You are creatures of nature, blessed with the power to use magic and learn new things. But this... even I can't bear to look at you all play in this small place." >]

And on this question, pure loathing, fear, and hope flashed in her eyes.

The children had genuinely confused expressions at this question. But their eyes definitely contained fear from something... or actually someone.

[< Oh great being- >]

[< "Please call me Axion or Eon or something like that. That is the name my great-parents bestowed on me. And this little one here is Celestine. She also says all of you are cute~." >]

The sudden stern voice startled her, but the cheerful tone at the end reassured her that I wasn't actually angry.

[< "O-ok. Master Eon...

From the way you asked that question, it is clear that you have great knowledge about our lowly kind.

It is as you say... we are creatures of vast nature and this isn't some place we all should be.

The children do not even know what the outside world actually is, so they will definitely not understand what we mean.

They are children born here and my only remaining family after that incident.

It is a painful memory... and before I tell you that...

I beg of you. Please... kill the owner of this tomb and avenge the people of my family and my mother who gave her life just to protect these young ones. >]

'The flames of revenge...'

I was very familiar with these flames. I used to have fiercer and deadlier than hers.

She purely loathed the owner of this tomb. Of course, it meant she loathed the evil spirit residing in the center of this place.

She knew she wasn't strong enough to defeat that being, and these fluffy furballs were good 'emergency food' or 'cute test subjects' or something like that.

I will know when I hear her story, but I know one thing for sure...

[< "You do not have to worry about that.

I came here with my special someone and she is currently slaughtering some brainless weak skeletons.

The master of this place, that bastard evil spirit, dared to hurt her grandmother so she will make sure that creature dies as painfully as possible.

Its death was decided from the moment it used that curse on her grandma, or maybe when we met... anyway, I will make sure she is fine and the creature is dead.

So... don't worry and rest assured." >]

I smiled warmly and petted the fluffy furball and yes... she actually was soft and fluffy.

The golden furball blushed at this sudden, warm, and gentle touch.

It definitely was a cute thing, seeing this cute sight. For me and Celes, as well as all the children who hadn't taken away their gazes from me even once in this whole time.

[< A-ahem! T-thank you for your generous grace! I will be forever indebted to you!! >]

Resting my head on my hand, I looked at her with a smile, as well as the children who were seeing this kind of behavior from their mama for the first time.

But... as creatures with intelligence, they had the basic instinctive knowledge about emotions and general things.

They were definitely young in their age, so I knew just what kind of innocent thoughts would be popping up in their minds.

But this big golden furball, Mave, was an adult and knew how to handle sudden emotions, unlike my dear friend.

[< "I'm really a human at the very least, ok? Maybe a special human, but I'm a human. My master was a special being, though. You will understand when you meet her daughter and my darling little sister~." >]

I knew she was hearing me quite well and as I knew... as soon as she heard my unexpected words, her cute big eyes widened and she looked at me with a surprised expression.

[< W-what do you mean... when we meet her?! >]

[< "You surely want to go out of this place after that evil creature is gone, right?

You see... this island would be dangerous and there isn't much to see here.

I know you all live around flowers and good places with the presence of nature.

So... why don't you all come with me to my house?

We have a big place and my sisters and family would be very pleased to have great new friends like you all~.

I assure you, that place is far better than this dark, desolate, empty place.

Though there won't be many big rocks and natural minerals for you immediately, I know mom will willingly arrange it.

She would be pleased to have such marvelous creatures as new members of our family~." >]

They all heard my words, and though Mave was shocked, the children suddenly had a festive atmosphere among them.

They even ignored Mave's warning and started their chirping once again. And this time, with even more cheerful voices.

[< Outside...! The big world with a beautiful sky! The place from mama's stories! >]

[< The intruder- no, brother Axion will take us all outside~! >]

[< We will go to a new place~! Yei~~! >]

[< W-wait... does that mean we will go away from h-home? >]

[< Didn't master Axion say he will take us to his house, which is under the beautiful, ever-changing sky? We will go to his house~! >]

[< Yes! His house! And flowers~! We will see many new fresh flowers~! >]

[< Hehehe. And we will see new people~! Master Axion's family~. Will they have the same special scent as him~? >]

[< Yei~!!! >]

[< W-we won't have to feel that scary thing again, right? I will be very happy if we don't have to suffer from that dangerous thing... >]

[< Don't worry~! Don't you see brother Axion~? He is definitely strong~. >]

[< Yei~! He will defeat that bad thing~! >]

[< He also said his special someone is here and fighting those scarrrrrrry looking skulls! She must be veeeerrrryyy strong too~! >]

[< Yeah! His special someone! Does that mean mama can't have him? >]

[< Awwww... I wanted master Axion to be papa~! >]

[< Me too! Papa Axion~! >]

[< Shut up. If I hear a single more word from you all... >]

[< Yes~. Master Axion can have two special people, right- >]

[< Oyyyy! Shhhh! >]

She was angry at them once again. And this time, even her eyes were red from the stuff that these children unknowingly spoke.

It meant too much when thinking about it, and she understood it.

She thought I can't tolerate such insolent things and would be angry and punish them for their grave sins.

She spoke up before their words got out of hand and while watching all this, instead of anger, there was a bright smile on my face.

They were cute creatures, and they were children, so their words didn't mean anything to me.

And even if they knew what they were talking about, these cute fluffy furballs were just small beasts at the end of the day.

But Mave was now serious.

I can feel the great sense of danger in her eyes and she was still considering me as some kind of great being that can crush them any time I wanted.

Well, it wasn't false... but I would rather take them home and give them to Anna.

She will be happy to have cute little friends like them.

[< You... will take us to your home? >]

[< "Yes~. But I'm definitely not forcing you all. There are many dangerous creatures in this forest and outside the world, just like this tomb.

Instead of being under the threat of such disgusting creatures, come with me~.

You won't regret this decision~." >]

[< How can we?!! How can we dare regret such grand generosity?! It will be the greatest honor of our entire family to serve a great being like you! >]

I shook my head at her continuous, respectful words.

Well, she will understand with time, so there's nothing to worry about for now.

But she agreed. And that was a good thing.

She definitely is special...

[< "Then it's settled~. You all will come with me~. But before that... please tell me what happened to you and the rest of the family.

What happened to their parents and how did you end up being their sole mother?

And what type of person was this grandma they talked about to have a similar scent to me?" >]

It was a genuine question. And she knew she will have to now tell the story she had buried deep in her heart.

She turned around and looked at her children who were once again confused by what I just asked... for them, Mave was the one and only mom they all ever had.

Even these children didn't know what had actually happened to their former home and family.

These children were smart, so they at least understood they will now know what they hadn't. And the look in her eyes confirmed their thoughts.

[< Children... I may not have given birth to you all, but I have been the one to hatch you all in this once totally dark, desolate place.

I love you all and I have always loved you like my own children.

I am responsible for everything you do and maybe, after hearing this, if you want to think I'm not your mama... it can't be helped- >]

[< Nooooo! Mama is a mama! >]

[< Don't say that! >]

[< Mamaaaaaa! >]

[< "Yeah, Mave. Don't say that. A mother is someone that takes care of their children. One that takes care of their children with all her heart and does everything required for the safety of their children.

A mother is someone that loves, adores, and protects, and maybe someone who restricts her children from doing dangerous things.

That is a mother...

Giving birth to a new life is a special event, but a mother only becomes a mom in true meaning when she devotes her life to the well-being of her child.

I also have a mom, and I know she is best in this whole wide nature, at least for me...

And these smart children know just how much you have done for them, so don't be discouraged.

You are their mama. And always be... even if they don't want to." >]

[< Yes! Brother Axion is right!! >]

[< Mama is the best for us as well! >]

[< Mamaaaaaa! Mamaaaaaa! >]

Her eyes became teary once again, and the children embraced her. Some even started crying.

She watched all this and embraced them with her bigger body, remembering the fact that she was their mother. She was... and nothing could deny it.

She calmed down, took her time to finish her small conversation with her children, and then looked at me...

[< Thanks... for everything. >]

[< "No... don't say that. I did nothing with pure intentions. Every word I said might be true, but the reason I want you all is my pure greed. So don't thank me." >]

[< You say that but your eyes say something else... well, alright. As long as my family is safe, I don't need anything more. >]

I gave her a warm smile, and she nodded with her own similar smile...

Well, the sight of her sharp raw teeth seemed more like a warning than anything, but I understood her emotions.

She was an actual adult. Maybe mom and the gang will like her at their party.

Anyway... she started her story. And as I heard these things, I could think of some things that might have led to these things. And Mave's mother and their grandma... it would have been great if she were alive.

She wasn't just some special creature. She was definitely special but it was more than that and... more than anything...

Adding a wise one to our family would have been... nice, right?