Tie looked shyly at Alexander, who opened his arms toward her.

“Tie can walk toooo....”

But Alexander laughed softly and, without listening, easily lifted her and settled her on his shoulder.

“Waa—!”

At the suddenly elevated view, a bright laugh burst from Tie.

Watching the child stretch her hands toward the ceiling, Alexander remarked playfully:

“Last time you fell and didn’t even cry. Tie is really very brave. Aren’t you afraid of heights?”

Tie tilted her head so he could step into the corridor, then shook it.

“Not at all! When Uncle Basto gives me shoulder rides, I can even reach the tree, and Tie has veery-veery much fun!”

“Ahh.”

“You mean that fighter «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» who looked like a wild bear?”

“Wild bear? Ehehehe!”

Tie burst into ringing laughter again.

In her head already swirled the image of Basto wearing a bear mask, growling “Uuorr!”

Suddenly Alexander spoke in a slightly tired voice.

“That fighter is very tall. Compared to him, my shoulders must be nothing special. Too low.”

Tie abruptly leaned her head forward.

“Nooo... waa!”

Because of that, her center of gravity shifted and her body dangerously tipped forward.

Nevertheless, Alexander calmly caught her, turning her around and holding her securely against him in front.

“Like this?”

He asked.

Without realizing it herself, Tie clutched tightly at his shoulders and shook her head vigorously.

“Yes! That’s not it! Tie has even-more-more fun on Uncle Karet’s shoulders! More fun than on Uncle Basto’s!”

At that very moment, a “pff!” sounded from behind.

Turning around, they saw Basto walking with the fighters, his face completely darkened.

“So what are you going to do now, Basto? The little one has known you for only a day and she’s already completely switched sides.”

Bale drawled mockingly.

Basto answered coldly:

“What are you talking about. You got dumped too.”

“Dumped?!”

While the two bickered, Tie cautiously glanced at Alexander.

But he only smiled at her gently.

“Then that’s good. If Tie wants, I can carry you to the banquet hall every morning.”

“Really...?”

“Of course. The document inspection will take at least several more days. How about I escort you to the hall every morning?”

Tie, who had been pressing her lips tightly together, flushed red.

“Thennn....”

After hesitating a little, the child finally nodded shyly.

“Well now. Who do we have here? The little King of the Dead?”

Someone stopped at the entrance to the banquet hall.

Edmund waved cheerfully — hair tousled, dressed in pajamas.

Still in Alexander’s arms, Tie bowed low, almost to her belly.

“Uncle Rich Lantern, did you sleep well?”

But Edmund playfully shook his head.

“Unfortunately, not very. I dreamed about skeletons.”

Tie’s eyes widened.

“Skeletons? Were there bony friends in the dream?”

Edmund let out an exaggerated heavy sigh.

“Mm. I suppose I’m not as brave as the King of the Dead. When I saw the bony friends, my whole body trembled. From fear.”

He rubbed his shoulders as if shivering.

A satisfied smile spread across Tie’s lips.

The child answered proudly:

“Ahem... Tie is already four years old, and bony friends aren’t scary at all.”

“Really? Wow, how can someone be that brave? I’m twenty-eight, and bony friends are terribly frightening. That must be why people are calling the King of the Dead a legend these days.”

“Legend...?”

“Mm. I’m a high-ranking Holy Knight of the Central Battalion, yet no one calls me a legend. That’s probably why I’m a little jealous.”

The corners of Tie’s lips curved upward.

Legend — that meant legendary rank.

“Tie has already become legendary Tanifang....”

Like the strongest should, Tie giggled and tapped Alexander on the shoulder. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“Tie get dowwwn!”

He set her down, and the girl skipped toward Edmund.

In her excitement, she grabbed his hand tightly.

“Uncle Lantern, will you sit next to Tie at the table?”

Edmund exchanged a slightly surprised look with Alexander.

Then he smiled warmly.

“It would be my honor. When else will I get to sit beside the King of the Dead. Right, Alex?”

Alexander immediately played along jokingly.

“I’m jealous, brother.”

The corners of Tie’s lips lifted again.

Unconsciously straightening her shoulders, she turned toward the fighters standing a little distance away.

“Listen, today Tie will eat breakfast with Uncle Karet and Uncle Rich Lantern!”

Bale stared wide-eyed.

“What?! Little one. Aren’t you going too far? Since yesterday you’ve already been overdoing it. How can you ignore us like that?”

Tie sighed and shook her head.

“Bale oppa. That’s not ignoring, it’s bizness.”

“...What?”

“Didn’t you hear yesterday? The Commander said we are now all one bear hat.”

Edmund pressed his lips together, barely holding back laughter.

“Bear hat means we wear the same bear hats and become friends.”

“Who said that?”

“Thoughts inside Tie’s head.”

“What are you even....”

“Look. Tie is the boss who leads Agavert. The boss does bizness meals with new friends. To confirm the uels!”

“Not uels. Bonds.”

“...Same thing!”

In the end, Bale sighed.

Snorting, he replied:

“Fine, do whatever you want. You’re the squad leader, so it’s your decision.”

Tie adopted a dignified expression.

“Yes! At kindergarten they taught that you can’t keep friends only to yourself. You have to share and play with others.”

After that, she giggled and turned around.

Edmund opened the door, revealing the banquet hall with breakfast already laid out.

In the seat of honor, as always, sat Valentis, and beside him Leonardo was eating.

Holding Edmund’s hand, Tie ran up to Valentis.

“Commander, did you sleep well!”

Valentis looked at Tie in surprise, then at Edmund and Alexander.

Soon he smiled.

“Yes. I hope your sleep was peaceful as well.”

“Tie slept well! And had a dream about kindergarten!”

“Kindergarten? You mean an educational institution?”

Climbing onto a chair, Tie nodded.

“Yes. At kindergarten there are friends, it’s fun, but Tie can’t go anymore.”

Valentis set down his utensils.

After thinking for a moment, he asked:

“Because of your status?”

Now the King of the Dead is regarded outwardly as a child, but not in essence.

With such rumors, it would be practically impossible for a child to attend an institution peacefully.

“Yesss... because Tie became a mercenary, nothing to do about it.”

While Tie looked dejected, a small piece of bread with strawberry jam was placed before her.

Edmund personally spread the jam and cut the bread to make it easy to eat.

Tie stuffed the piece into her mouth and spoke with puffed cheeks:

“But later, when Agavert becomes veery-veery big.”

After swallowing and washing it down with milk, she continued:

“Then maybe Tie can go to kindergarten again, Grandpa Nordix said so!”

Valentis looked toward the Agavert fighters.

Then he wiped a small spot of milk from Tie’s mouth with a napkin and said:

“That is possible. But I believe there is a faster way.”

All eyes turned to him.

Tie, who had already reached for a second piece of bread, opened her eyes wide.

“Really?”

Valentis nodded.

“In the inner eastern part of the Nine Borders, there is a place called Flint Cove. It is a backward district inhabited by commoners who work across the archipelago.”

“Backward distriiict...?”

“As far as I know, the region itself is quite closed. Most residents are scarcely aware of the outside world, and information about mercenaries there is almost nonexistent.”

Tie tilted her head to the side, and Alexander spoke.

“Now that you mention it, when we went there for medical aid, I did see fairly decent childcare facilities.”