After Oscar left without saying much, Uncle came straight away.
Lellia sat side by side with her uncle on the reception room sofa, holding both his hands.
They had been talking for a while about how her uncle had been during that time.
"But what is this, Uncle?"
Lellia asked, gesturing with her chin toward the bundle on the table that kept catching her eye.
"Of course it's your gift."
"A gift?"
Carius nodded proudly.
"Go ahead and open it."
"...."
Lellia smiled and unwrapped the gift.
What on earth could it be to be this big?
Lellia untied the ribbon and opened the box lid, then blinked.
'What is this?'
The box was densely packed with small stones like pebbles. They were pink, transparent stones that were truly beautiful.
Lellia picked up one stone and was surprised. It weighed far less than she had expected.
'Still... what is this?'
When Lellia looked at her uncle with questioning eyes, Carius asked with a smile.
"Do you know what this is, Lellia?"
"Not at all. I have no idea."
That's when it happened.
The game window, which had been quiet all along, suddenly appeared before her eyes.
[Rare item 'Stone Containing Dragon's Thoughts' acquired!(*☌ᴗ☌)و*ﾟ Store in item window?]
Wait, just wait a moment!
Dragon?
Carius kindly explained to the confused Lellia.
"After the Mad Dragon died, I dug these up from its nest and smuggled them out."
"I-is that okay?"
"No one knows, so don't worry. It's a magic stone."
"...."
Carius picked up one of the pink stones and said.
"In this state, no magic power can be detected, but if you break it, liquid containing highly pure magic power flows out."
When he shook the stone, something pink could be seen sloshing inside.
"Is it really okay to give this to me?"
"Of course. You might need it for alchemy, mightn't you?"
After saying that, Carius stood up, saying it was just as well.
Then he gave various instructions to the servants waiting outside.
After that, the servants started bringing various things into Lellia's room.
Lellia's jaw dropped.
Gift boxes with fancy packaging lined up one after another. They even brought in clothing display racks, as if they'd brought an entire boutique's worth of clothes.
"I bought all of them from the capital."
"All of this?"
Lellia smiled brightly like a young child receiving birthday gifts.
While opening the boxes one by one with her uncle and looking at the gifts, Lellia suddenly burst into laughter.
The boxes contained toys that only young children would play with.
"...It's a bit strange to play with these now, isn't it?"
"...Yes. Unfortunately."
Carius clicked his tongue softly.
He had still thought she was little, so he had bought toys for young children to play with, and even childish dresses embroidered with large stars that little girls would like.
"When did you grow up so much... I'm sorry I couldn't be by your side."
"Please don't say that. Just having you return safely is more than enough joy for me."
"Right. But Lellia..."
Carius hesitated as if about to ask a question he had been holding back.
Lellia immediately caught on to his intention.
'He wants to ask in detail about how I lived in the capital.'
She wondered whether to hide or reveal the fact that she had stayed at the Imperial Palace.
However, the question that came from her uncle's mouth was different.
"Are you really friends with Oscar, that guy?"
"...Yes, Uncle."
Lellia, who had been tense, answered with relief at the question being different from what she had expected.
By the way, what on earth did Oscar do on the battlefield?
"That guy is a wicked one. He's cruel."
"...."
Seeing Lellia's uncomfortable expression, Carius added.
"Even in war against monsters... there are some among them that have no intention of attacking humans. Mostly monsters with children or young monsters."
"...Yes."
"We didn't attack such monsters as much as possible. They avoided us on their own. But that guy chased down fleeing monsters to the end and slaughtered them. And very cruelly at that."
At those words, Lellia's expression grew heavy.
"I didn't want to tell you such cruel stories... Of course, after the Mad Dragon died, all the monsters lost their lives anyway... but this is still different from mere slaughter."
In short, this meant that Oscar had massacred all monsters that had no intention of attacking or were fleeing, including young monsters.
"Moreover, that guy... his own father..."
"...."
"No, never mind. Anyway, why on earth did you become friends with someone like him? The way he looks at you is positively lecherous!"
"...."
"Instead of that... I met a guy on the battlefield. Let me introduce you to him! He's a really good guy. He'll suit you well!"
Carius explained about him enthusiastically, like someone arranging a matchmaking setup.
He listed every possible compliment—tall, handsome, kind, and good-natured.
Lellia listened to everything her uncle said, though she smiled awkwardly.
Perhaps because she met her uncle, the fact that she had returned to the territory felt real.
Within a few days, she would be able to meet her grandmother, aunt, and great-uncle. Lellia vowed inwardly that she would definitely protect this happiness.