The Herb King

162 Papa

Olivia rubbed her aching cheeks while glaring at the evil guy in front of her. “I’ll bite you to death!” She shouted and lunged at him as she opened her mouth. Although she had become a little girl, Olivia still possesses the power of a Level 3 magical beast.

Aethelwolf gently pushed her forehead, preventing her from moving closer to him. “It looks like I need to add a Language Translation Rune to your necklace. Everyone would be confused if they hear how you speak since none of them understands the Beast Language.” He muttered. He then patted her small head and said to her while chuckling. “You should practice how to walk. You might stumble since you now have shorter legs.”

For some strange reason, Olivia liked the feeling when he touched her head. She felt warm and secure as if nothing would go wrong as long as he was there.

Olivia reluctantly pushed his hand away while grumbling. “Do you think that these short legs would hinder me? You underestimate me too much! Just watch me closely!”

Aethelwolf stared at the little girl with interest.

Olivia carefully lifted her short legs and slowly moved forward. She then realized that it was indeed difficult to walk like a human since she was used to her huge bird legs while she was still a Fire Eagle.

After reaching five steps with great effort, she suddenly tripped and was about to fall.

Aethelwolf immediately grabbed her small body and lifted her off the ground before she fell face-first to the ground.

Olivia didn’t dare look at him in shame, afraid that he would mock her, but suddenly, she felt his warm hands gently caressing the back of her head. His gentle voice echoed to her ears as he draped over a piece of cloth to cover her body. She was naked after the transformation and Aethelwolf didn’t have any clothes for small girls. “Just sit obediently for now. Wait for me while I make your Language Translation Rune. I’ll teach you how to walk tomorrow.”

.....

Aethelwolf made her sit on the bench. He then proceeded to make the inscriptions for the Language Translation Rune. He was the only one who can make this since no one else understands the Beast Language. Other Engravers could also make Language Translation Runes, but they could only make those runes with the Elven Language, Dwarven Language, and a few others. No one knew how to translate the Language of Beasts so no one was able to make one specifically for that language.

Olivia lifted her small head to look at Aethelwolf who was inscribing the Language Translation Rune into her necklace. His hands moved like a mirage as he inputted complex symbols in midair. The complicated symbols were then slowly absorbed by her necklace.

Aethelwolf’s concentrating face made her smile unknowingly. He really did as he promised and it made her over the moon. Now that she had gained a human body, she could now freely roam all over the world and no one would stop her. Tears slid down the corner of her eyes as she recalled her life as a magical beast. She would always have to fight humans and other magical beasts every time she moved around. She was even caught some time ago after being discovered by the hunting group of the Linaza Household.

Aethelwolf’s hand paused briefly when he noticed her crying in silence. He then acted as if he didn’t notice it and continued inscribing the rune. What kind of experience did she have for her to cry like this?

It only took him less than ten minutes to complete the Language Translation Rune and when he stared at Olivia’s face, he noticed that she was still crying.

Aethelwolf wiped off the tears on her cheeks as he gently smiled at her. “Let’s go inside the mansion. From now on, you will be living with us.”

Olivia rubbed her eyes with her hands before she gazed at him. “Really? I can sleep in a warm bed like you humans do and I can also cover myself with thick blankets?” She asked eagerly.

Hearing this, Aethelwolf nodded his head and replied. “Of course. You can choose any room that you want. You can also sleep in a large bed and you can even choose which blanket you want to use.”

“Alright. Then I will sleep beside you. Hehe.” She said as her pair of big adorable eyes stared at him with a gaze filled with hope.

Aethelwolf’s eyes widened as he looked at her. “Stop speaking nonsense. There are a lot of empty rooms inside. You can choose one from them.” He said as he carried her small body in his arms.

Olivia pouted in disappointment when she heard his words.

On their way inside the mansion, they run into Rendell who was dozing off at the main door. He looked tired and sleepy, but his eyes suddenly sprang open when he saw Aethelwolf. “Sir Aethelwolf!”

“You guys are already back?” Aethelwolf asked.

Rendell nodded his head. “Yes, Sir Aethelwolf. Madam Melissa and the other ladies are already inside the mansion.” He then noticed a small head sneakily looking at him. “Eh? Who is she?” He asked while curiously looking at the little girl in Aethelwolf’s arms.

Olivia’s eyes narrowed and a mischievous plan was formed in her head.

“She is my little sis-”

“Papa.” A small voice suddenly made Aethelwolf shut his mouth.

Rendell’s eyes widened and his gaze alternated between Aethelwolf and the little girl. ‘Oh? Is this Sir Aethelwolf’s secret child? I wonder who her mother is...”

“Papa...”

Aethelwolf’s eyes twitched and he immediately covered Olivia’s mouth to prevent her from speaking. He then ignored Rendell who was giving him a strange smile and entered the mansion.

When they entered the mansion, Aethelwolf saw Olivia looking at him mischievously. “Didn’t you promise to be my little sister?” He muttered exasperatedly.

Olivia put on a dumb look as if she was confused. “Eh? I thought you said to act like your daughter. I must have remembered wrongly. Tee-hee!” She giggled.

Aethelwolf had the urge to pinch her cheeks, but he sighed with a defeated look. “Just don’t make the same mistake. Everyone might misunderstand if they hear you calling me like that.”

“Okay.” Olivia replied while nodding her head.

He then brought her upstairs, but one of the rooms was suddenly opened. Janrose and Janeth walked out and stared at Aethelwolf in surprise. “Sir Aethelwolf!” They greeted him.

Aethelwolf nodded his head. “Tell the maids to prepare a small feast. Let them cook food that is enough for, uhm,” he looked at Olivia’s smiling face and continued. “Tell them to cook food that is enough for ten people.”

Olivia is a magical beast so her food intake was more than that of the normal humans who have the same level as her.

Janrose and Janeth finally noticed the little girl in his arms.

“Sir Aethelwolf, who is that cute little girl?” Janrose could not help but ask.

“Ah her? She is my-”

“Papa...”

The eyes of Janrose and Janeth widened when they heard the little girl’s words.

“Eh? She is your daughter? I didn’t know that Sir Aethelwolf actually has a daughter.” Janrose looked at him in shock.

Suddenly, the other doors in the corridor were opened. The people came out of their rooms, staring at Aethelwolf and the little girl with curious gazes.

‘Crap.’ Aethelwolf muttered in his heart. He was done for. Now, no one would believe him even if he explained that Olivia was her little sister. He could already imagine what would happen if everyone in Lion City hears about this. The gossipy people would certainly speculate who Olivia’s mother was.

Aethelwolf sighed and decided to just let it be. Since everyone already thinks that she is his daughter, he decided to just go with the flow. It wouldn’t hinder his plans anyway and he didn’t mind what the others would say behind his back. “By the way, does anyone of you have some clothes for a little girl?” He asked them.

“I have them, Sir Aethelwolf. How many do you need?” A young mother who was holding a four-year-old little girl answered with a smile.

“Just give me two sets of clothes. I will buy her new clothes tomorrow so two sets should be enough.” Aethelwolf replied.

“Alright. You can follow us inside, Sir Aethelwolf. You can let your daughter choose which clothes she likes.” The young mother invited him to their room.

Aethelwolf nodded his head. “Alright.” He followed the young mother inside.

When they entered the room, everyone in the corridor suddenly entered into gossipy mode.

“I didn’t know that Sir Aethelwolf actually has a daughter. I wonder who her mother is.”

“She looks very cute and beautiful. Her mother must be a beauty!”

“You guys stop talking or I’ll tell Sir Aethelwolf that you are talking about him.” Janeth warned them and they immediately entered their rooms.