Chương 1781: [1678] – Y07.178 – A Man of Family VIII

The children were, as usual, excited to see the return of their father, and though the half elf gave them all his attention, he could see all the others around them, and the dourness which took them. Adam lifted each of his children up one by one, and as always, made one of the few jokes he always made.

"Oof! You are too big now, too big. I thought you said you weren't going to eat any more desserts?"

"I have no recollection of your accusation."

"You think because you're acting all cute I'll forgive you?"

"Yes."

"When you're right, you're right." Adam planted a firm kiss on his daughter's cheeks, placing her down, and he rolled up his sleeves, picking up his son, who was lightest of all the children, letting out a grunt.

"Oof! Have you been sneaking snacks while I haven't been looking?"

"No…" The boy flushed, leaning in to allow his father to kiss his forehead.

"Seriously, you are so much like your greatfather!" Adam placed the boy down, and picked up his triplets one by one, pretending as though they, too, were heavy. Then came time for his sister, who was pretending as though she didn't want to be picked up, but then mercifully allowed Adam to do the same.

"Oof! You have become so big, Lanarot!"

"I must be this big for my shoulders are burdened by your foolishness."

"I now know who Jirot gets it from…" Lanarot smirked, and once she was down, she clasped her hands behind her back, sauntering back to her other eldest brother, who ruffled her hair. Then, finally, the children awaited, for it was finally time to pick her up.

"As always…" Adam lifted Amalrot, and was glad he was wearing a shirt, as he pulled the girl in for a kiss.

"My Amal, who is always so lightly."

"Papa!" Amalrot squealed, clasping her fingers against his cheeks, until he brought her in for another kiss all over her face, and the girl continued to squeal with such delight.

"…"

"…"

"Daddy, Amalrot is heavier than I."

"Oh? She is?" Adam lifted the girl up and down with ease, once more glad he was wearing a shalwar which covered his straining arms.

"I don't know…" Jirot held her father's gaze for a long moment, until she tore away towards her mother, clasping the woman's leg, letting out a huff.

"Mummy. Ill news."

"What is wrong?" Jirot inhaled deeply, and annoyance took the girl's face.

"Daddy is so funny." Vonda closed her eyes, not wanting to break.

"Ah. Of course."

"Of-," Jirot began, only to hold up a finger.

"No! Mummy! That is the problem! It is not of course! It should not be the case! When did daddy become so funny?"

"Your father has always been a little funny."

"Always a little, but now…" Jirot narrowed her eyes gravely.

"He is too funny!"

"It is because in order to defeat you, he must be this funny."

"Daddy is still coveting this position at the Peak?" Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. It was Jurot who looked away, flushing red hot with rage in order to stop himself from breaking into laughter, while Lanarot howled with laughter, and the rest of the small children also laughed, for as much as her father had suddenly managed to gain such humour, it was his daughter, Jirot, who was the funniest of all.

"It seems even my daughter has forgotten, for I am my daughter's father, after all," Adam said, and with that, he reached into his pocket, and flipped the silver coin to Korin.

"I made a bet that Jirot would forget that her father was funny, and it seems I won?"

"I did not! I always know, daddy, I always know!" Jirot huffed, pointing towards her ahm, who accepted the silver coin. Though she made to complain, she peeked up towards her ahm.

"Since ahm is my favourite ahm, he is allowed to keep the silver, even though I did not forget."

"Oh? If you did not forget, I will take the coin back?" Adam held out his hand.

"I will consider this a gift from my niece, who is so cute, and so funny, the funniest of them all," Korin said, slipping the silver, which he certainly hadn't bet, into his inner pocket, and the half elf smiled, though there was a darkness to it, and as they all gathered to eat, Adam took Korin to one side for a moment.

"Do you wish to take back your silver?"

"I didn't make the bet with you, but I did make the bet with my heart," Adam joked, reaching up to scratch the tip of his nose.

"What happened?"

"They did not wish to leave the estate, and only when Ray Vonda wished to accompany us, did they relent," Korin whispered. Adam half twisted his neck, which tensed, and he slowly nodded his head, his eyes holding Korin's for a moment, and he, too, saw it in the moment, that he, too, was a member of the Rot family. Thankfully, however, he had also married a Ray, and his eyes calmed, and the half elf swallowed.

He glanced down a moment, closing is eyes, letting the emotions leave through him, before he pat his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Korin. I should have let you spoil them before all of this. That's my bad."

"I should have spent some time with them before," Korin replied, his tone full of regret, but he had been so worried about meeting with Sara's family, he hadn't taken the time to spend the time with his nieces and nephews. There was only some light spoiling he had managed, but within the capital, he should have done so. As the half elf returned, he considered what he should do.

It was then he was taken away to beat up some more Aswadians, and though his mind was distracted, he beat the Aswadians well, and upon his return, in which the children had found their father, once more, had fought without his armour, his shield, his axe, and yet had still claimed victory, and their hearts eased once more.

As the days passed, with the children remaining with the estate, the Amira visited them, this time glad their father was not about, though she had not brought the Radiant Blade, and instead had brought along Kal Zahid, who excitedly spoiled them all, while Kal Kachya watched, remaining a respectable distance away, not sure how she should accept them, but did not show any overt hostility or disdain for the children.

"It is a shame I am unable to spend more time spoiling you all, for I am so busy," Zahid said, without his blade, which the children's favoured kako was currently practising her swordplay with, for though Zahid was a fool to tease the royal family the way he did, he was a genius among geniuses when it came to not getting killed by Iyrmen and a particular Crazy Father.

"It is because you are a Paragon now, so you are busy," Jirot replied, as though it were that simple.

"Ah? Yet, your-," Zahid began, but he was a genius among geniuses, "uncle, Jurot, is also so busy, but he is not a Paragon?"

"Yes, but papo Jurot is so strong, he can also defeat Paragons if they are typical Fighters, and maybe even Oathsworn, but that is very difficult, but with his special axe and special axe, I think he can do it, sometimes."

"You are truly a genius among geniuses," Zahid said, causing the girl to smirk, for she knew he was speaking such words to try and gain her favour, and yet she allowed it, for he would not go too far, for though perhaps her papo could not defeat Paragons, her babo could. Miriam remained nearby, speaking with Vonda, about this and that, and also speaking with Pam, and it was Pam's awkwardness she hoped would lead to…

"Are you bullying my kako?" The girl held the Amira's gaze for a long moment, sipping her fruit juice, yet never breaking eye contact.

"I hope not," Miriam replied, smiling politely to the little girl, and it was then she would be able to speak to the girl and her siblings with such ease.

"If you wish, you may sit with your kako, and you can stop me from bullying her accidentally."

"You dare to bully my kako even accidentally?" Jirot threatened, and she paused a moment, as though waiting for someone to tell her off.

"I hope not, but if I do so accidentally, I hope you will show me mercy." Yet, before the girl could continued, her mother's fingers upon her chin caused the girl to flush, and she offered her fruit juice to her mother, and suddenly the darkness which emanated from the girl disappeared, and no longer did she check the hierarchy between her and the Amira.

Adam returned later that afternoon to find the Amira's carriage making her way down, and for a moment his thoughts fell to the worst that could occur, but then, as his eyes fell to his grandmother, the half elf smiled, and she reached over to pinch his nose too, for daring to think the Amira could have the courage to dare face against them.