Malice was the first thing Raon learned about humans.
Evil was a natural existence in humans as Raon noticed for a few years after that.
However, the reason Raon was able to get out of that small and dark cave was because of a human's goodwill or perhaps goodness.
That was the moment when Raon slowly started to realize that humans couldn't be so easily defined.
Raon had seen the following information while reading a fairy tale called The First Snow is Soft! as the kind Rosalyn taught him how to read.
The little bear looked happy while rolling down the hill which was covered in very soft snow.
The little bear's friend, Tiggy, had told him that the large snowflakes that fall from the sky are cold when they touch your skin but that looking at them makes you feel soft and fluffy.
The world that Raon saw until he was four years old was completely dark. Of course there was food and people who were covered in numerous colors, but the world that Raon saw when he was left alone was dark and black.
The little bear's eyes opened wide after seeing the completely white world!
A completely white world…
The little bear in the fairy tale had a big smile on his face while looking at the world covered in white snow.
'Rosalyn! Can I have this?'
'Of course, Raon-nim. You can have it.'
Raon really liked this book for some reason.
Of course, books like 'The Great History of Dragons,' 'The Hero and his Dragon Friend,' 'The History of War,' 'War and Peace,' ''Skills for Fighting,' 'Warrior, His Great Name' were fun and interesting as well, but Raon was oddly drawn to this white picture.
Some time had passed since then and it was now early December.
Raon, who was staying at the residence in one corner of Harris Village, slammed on the table with both front paws.
Bang! Bang!
"That's what the little bear said! To be more specific, the author of this fairy tale said that about snow!"
Hong looked at the white picture in the open The First Snow is Soft! and slowly lowered his tail.
"Mm."
Hong peeked at Raon, whose eyes were sparkling from excitement, and mumbled with an expression that seemed to be saying that he could not understand why Raon was like this.
"…I don't like snow because it is cold."
He then peeked at his sister On.
On must not have heard him because he mumbled extremely quietly as she was still focused on the white picture in the fairy tale.
Hong looked at the focused On and pouted.
'The sky is cloudy.'
The snow that he had seen a few times while staying in the Cat Tribe village had been similar to rain that came down from the ash-colored sky.
The snow did not pile up like this picture here. In fact, the ground was stickier than when it rained and the snow quickly became dirty and black.
'…But I did see something similar to this picture before.'
The winter he experienced after running away from the village with his sister but before they arrived at the Henituse territory… That was the one time Hong had seen a completely white world similar to what was drawn in this fairy tale.
The snow he saw at that time was different from rain as it came down in large and formed snowflakes.
'But the sky was still just as cloudy.'
However, Hong could not keep his eyes open to look at the view because of the cold gusts of wind blowing with the snow.
It was too cold.
He might have frozen to death if his sister had not been there.
Hong subconsciously mumbled.
"Winter is cold… and it is hard to find food… so I don't really like it."
It was at that moment.
Tang-!
Hong heard something fall down.
The black Dragon and two kittens quickly moved to where they heard the noise.
"Beacrox, are you okay?"
"You need to be careful with knives, nya!"
Tap.
The kitten-form On gently jumped down from the table and walked over to Beacrox.
"Are you okay?"
"…."
Beacrox was frowning.
He looked at his palm in disbelief before looking at On for a moment after hearing her question and stoically responding.
"…Pay no attention."
Hong then shouted with a bright expression on his face.
"He seems to be fine, nya!"
"That's a relief, Beacrox! Make sure to get some rest if you are tired!"
On nodded her head as well and returned to the top of the table where Hong and Raon made their comments. She then spoke to Raon and Hong.
"I don't think we should keep talking here, nya. Let's go up."
"Sounds great!"
"Okay!"
Raon tightly clenched the fairy tale with both front paws and flew up while Hong's tail was wagging side to side as he followed behind On.
"Let's go to our room!"
Beacrox knew that the 'our room' Raon was shouting was not their respective rooms but Cale's room, but he did not correct them.
"…Ha!"
He simply let out a sigh-like scoff before bending over to pick up the fallen kitchen knife.
He could see his face reflected on the sleek and sparkling cold blade.
He had a terrible scowl on his face.
The extremely weak and grumbling yet oddly sad voice echoed in his ears.
'Winter is cold… and it is hard to find food… so I don't really like it.'
Beacrox just placed the kitchen knife on top of the chopping board and took off his glove.
"Fuck."
He touched his ear.
He heard a nonchalant voice at that moment.
"Are you okay?"
In this villa kitchen, aside from On, Hong and Raon… There were two more people in addition to Beacrox.
"…Yes sir. I am fine."
Beacrox casually responded.
"…Well, then that's good."
Cale nodded his head with an extremely stoic face.
Cale had been sitting on the chair right in front of the table On, Hong, and Raon had been at until just a moment ago.
"Should I get you some more honey lemon tea, young master-nim?"
Behind Cale was Ron, who was looking at him with an extremely gentle smile.
"…Not r-"
"Please drink more."
"…Okay."
Cale received a teacup from Ron.
He then looked at the empty table once again with an extremely iffy look on his face.
He then turned his head.
Cale could see the extremely clear and blue sky that did not seem proper for early winter past the kitchen window.
"Mm."
Similar to crown prince Alberu's face when Cale was smiling extremely brightly… The look on Cale's face was just about as stoic and iffy.
"Mm."
Cale groaned and Ron watched him with a benign smile on his face. He slightly turned his gaze. His son Beacrox had stopped what he was doing and was now making some dough with flour. He seemed to be thinking about making some cookies.
'Snow.'
Ron's eyes that had been looking at Cale and Beacrox sunk low.
He could see the blue sky as well.
"Oh."
Cale gasped at that moment.
A few of Mary's skeleton monsters were showing off their white bones as they flew around.
Crunch crunch.
Cale ate some cookies that were baked yesterday while blankly looking at the blue sky and the skeleton monsters.
Cale, who had been lying back on the chair as if it was a bed, opened his mouth.
"Ron."
"Yes, young master-nim."
"Does the Lord's Castle have an annual record of the weather?"
"It does."
"Tell Hans to get the weather information for the past ten years-"
Cale looked toward Ron for a moment while giving that order.
'Mm!'
He then flinched. An extremely benign smile was on Ron's face. Cale looked away after feeling as if he saw something he should not see and frowned even more.
"Young master-nim!"
He heard a loud shout from behind the window.
The Wolf children and Lock had their arms high in the air to greet Cale.
Cale, who was frowning while looking at the Wolf children, who were wearing short sleeves despite it being early winter, and gasped.
"Ah."
Choi Han, who did not have the slightest amount of dust on him, was walking toward him from beyond where the Wolf children were standing.
"The statistic is right there."
Harris Village. The person who knew the most about the weather around the Forest of Darkness was walking right in front of him.
"Haaaa. So annoying."
Cale slowly got up and headed toward the door.
This was the first time he was heading out in five days.
Ron silently came over and put a blanket over him.
'…Scary old man.'
Cale got chills at his stealthiness but chose not to look at Ron before heading toward the door.
"My goodness! The young master-nim is finally outside…!"
Cale completely ignored Deputy Butler Hans' comment and walked toward Choi Han, whose eyes were wide open.
"Cale-nim."
Choi Han soon greeted Cale with a solemn look on his face.
"Did something happen?"
"…Ha."
Cale let out a deep sigh. Choi Han had not seen Cale sighing like this with a serious look on his face for a while.
The deep wrinkles on Cale's face from frowning reminded Choi Han of that time.
When Ron had lost his arm because of Arm and was poisoned with mermaid poison…
It was just like that time.
'Mm.'
Choi Han's gaze sank some more.
Choi Han saw Beacrox peeking his head out of the door past Cale's shoulder.
He had also never seen that guy acting like this.
'…Something's odd.'
Choi Han quickly checked Ron and Cale's conditions. Both were fine.
'So why is that bastard Beacrox acting like this?'
"Choi Han."
"…Yes, Cale-nim."
Choi Han's mouth was going dry. Lock and the Wolf children were anxiously looking at Cale as well.
Cale didn't care and looked at Mary, who was headed his way with her Flying Skeleton Brigade and nonchalantly asked.
"When does it usually snow for the first time in the Forest of Darkness?"
"…Excuse me?"
"…Ha."
Cale brushed his face with both hands as Choi Han blankly asked back.
"…My goodness."
'I have to do all sorts of things as I live-.'
Cale could not say anything and just turned stoic. Choi Han blinked a few times before seeing the fishy smile on Ron's face and realized that it must be something good.
That was why he responded.
"Mm. It is early December right now. Based on what I experienced…."
The Forest of Darkness. No human had lived in this area longer than Choi Han.
"It wouldn't be weird if it snowed at any moment."
"Hmm?"
"It could snow right now. It might not snow until a month later. It might even snow overnight while we are sleeping."
"…Really?"
"Yes, Cale-nim."
It was at that moment.
Plop.
Choi Han heard something fall.
He turned his head to see that Raon had dropped a small book from his paws. On quickly picked it up but Raon spoke to Choi Han with an extremely urgent look on his face.
"…Smart Choi Han, it can snow while we are sleeping?"
"Yes? Mm, I think that the first snow for the past few years always came during night time. Or at least after the sunset."
"…That's right! Of course it could do that!"
Raon flew back into the building with an extremely serious look on his face.
"Ah, my head."
Cale shook his head as if this was giving him a headache.
"Cale-nim?"
Choi Han looked at Cale with confusion as he didn't know why Cale was acting like this, but Cale walked extremely slowly to the kitchen instead of responding.
Choi Han looked at him for a bit before receiving a cold glare from Beacrox.
"…What's up with him?"
"Who knows?"
Ron smiled gently and walked past Choi Han to keep up with Cale.
Choi Han still did not know what was going on after seeing Ron's mood turn sour so quickly.
Everybody had just considered this to be a small issue until this moment.
Nobody seemed to have noticed Raon's intense desire.
"…Mm."
Raon's chubby cheeks were puffed up as he thought about the contents of the fairy tale.
The little bear walked up to his mommy and daddy. "Mommy, daddy! The first snow is here! Let's go make some snowmen of our family!" "Sure, let's do that." "Sounds good! Should we make a snowman looking like our little bear first?" The bear family made three snowmen and the happy snow bear family standing on top of the white world maintained their form without melting away all winter long.
Raon was in his room that Cale had given him but he had never used and turned on the video communication device.
– Raon-nim?
"Nice to see you, little Rosalyn."
He was talking to the good and smart Rosalyn.
"Good and smart Rosalyn, there is something I am curious about."
Rosalyn, who was currently in the Breck Kingdom negotiating an alliance between the Roan Kingdom and Breck Kingdom right now, was a bit tired but smiled brightly.
She had never received a call like this from Raon.
Rosalyn couldn't help but smile as the round dark blue eyes looked at her.
– Yes, Raon-nim. What are you curious about?
"…I only know how to destroy things. I know how to do things that can cause a lot of damage, but soft things are hard."
– Excuse me?
"How do you make soft snow?"
-…Excuse me?
Rosalyn, who was tired from her official duties, subconsciously got chills on her back while looking at the young Dragon's gaze that was burning hot with passion.
It was at that time that Cale realized that he did not see Raon and sighed.
"…He seems to be more serious about this than I thought."
Cale looked at the The First Snow is Soft! he had finished and looked forward. On, who had brought the fairy tale to him, was looking up at him.
On avoided Cale's gaze and slowly mumbled.
Well, she mumbled loud enough so that he could hear everything she said.
"I wish Hong would like snow, nya."
"Pffft."
Cale chuckled. On, in her kitten form, gently hit Cale's calf a few times.
"Noona!"
They heard Hong's voice outside the room at that moment.
On looked at Cale's face once and started heading toward the door with elegance, as if she was relieved.
"I think it would be fun, nya."
She walked out after leaving that comment.
"…What is fun about it?"
Cale looked at the spot On had left with a baffled and irritated expression on his face but there was nobody to respond to him.
Cale leaned into the soft couch back and leisurely mumbled.
"Well, I will just think about it when it snows."
Honestly speaking, On was having a similar thought as well.
That was why she couldn't help but flinch after following Hong to find their youngest, Raon.
"Mary, I'm sorry."
Raon was apologizing to Mary.
"It's okay, Raon-nim. I can go alone."
"I promised to go tour the forest with you today but there is something I have to do."
"I understand, Raon-nim. But may I ask what it is you have to do?"
Mary, as well as On and Hong who were coming toward Raon, looked at him with confusion. Wasn't it Raon's hobby to roam through the Forest of Darkness with Mary and pick up interesting things?
It was the first time he declined his favorite past-time.
"Heh."
Raon let out a short laugh.
"I am great and mighty!
Raon added one more comment.
"You can look forward to it."
He then headed toward the basement of the building alone without saying anything else to Mary, On, or Hong.
"I'm curious, nya!"
"I am curious as well."
Hong and Mary looked at Raon's back with curiosity but could not follow him. It seemed as if Raon didn't want to tell them about it.
"…That's the laboratory…"
Only On watched Raon's fluttering wings with a mysterious gaze as Raon headed toward Rosalyn's laboratory in the basement.
Hong, now in his human form, walked up to Mary and pulled at her sleeve.
"You can go with me, nya-"
"That sounds great."
Mary responded without hesitation and looked at On. On shook her head to decline.
"Noona, then the two of us are going to go!"
Hong headed toward the Forest of Darkness with Mary.
On, who was left alone, debated for a moment before moving toward where she expected Ron to be.
Raon knew that he was very smart and crafty.
There was no way he wouldn't know that.
He had almost instantly learned reading and writing when Rosalyn taught it to him and information about what magic was and what he could do came naturally to him once the mana restricting chains disappeared.
'The snow that Raon-nim is talking about, mm, that's a bit difficult.'
Rosalyn had smiled awkwardly when Raon explained the first snow he wanted.
"It needs to be cold but warm… It needs to disappear instantly but be soft… But it also needs to be firm."
Raon mumbled to himself as he moved the mana around him.
'Rosalyn, tell me even if it is difficult! I am a great and mighty Dragon! I will learn everything well and know how to do it!'
'Mm.'
Raon then saw Rosalyn smiling the same way Choi Han and Ron sometimes smiled at him. On had smiled in a similar fashion while rubbing Raon's smooth head.
Of course, Cale did something else instead of smiling like that.
'You truly are a great and mighty four year old Dragon.'
Cale would comment like that with a stoic look on his face.
Raon couldn't help but open up his shoulders proudly each time Cale did that.
"That's right. I am a great and mighty four year old!"
Raon snickered and recalled what Rosalyn told him after contemplating for a long time.
'Raon-nim, I think that no matter what you make, it will end up the first snow that you want.'
She then smiled brightly at him.
"As expected, the smart Rosalyn knows something.
Hehe." Raon laughed before writing something in large letters on a parchment, sticking it in front of the laboratory door, and tightly locking it.
The great and mighty Raon Miru is currently using the lab!
Don't come in!
He then started experimenting.
Swoooooooosh-
An extremely gentle breeze filled with mana started to roam around Raon because he knew he shouldn't destroy Rosalyn's study location.
Raon closed his eyes.
It was dark but not dark at all.
It was like the stars he saw once he came out of the cave.
Snow sparkling like the stars was coming down in the darkness Raon was imagining.
Shaaaaaaaaaaaa-
Small white pebbles slowly started appearing from within the mana breeze and swirled.
Raon opened his eyes. His dark blue eyes were sparkling with anticipation.
"Heh!"
Raon had an identical smile to Cale's as he delicately and elaborately controlled his mana.
Drops of sweat started to fill Raon's forehead.
"…Soft things are harder!"
Unlike large hail, swirling snow storms or whirlwinds… These extremely small pebbles, the gently falling snow, and the wind that isn't cold… It was harder to make things weak.
"But it is easy!"
It was a lot of work but not enough to call it difficult.
Raon thought about the size of the first snow that he wanted. Snow that falls over the Forest of Darkness, Harris Village, and the Henituse territory.
Gently controlling mana in such a vast range was an issue that, even as a Dragon, the four year old Raon had to consider a lot of things.
It was even more complicated because he was not trying to destroy his enemies or an island.
He also wanted to do it perfectly.
He wanted it exactly as he had seen in the fairy tale. He wanted to perfectly recreate it.
"Heh."
Raon continued to chuckle but he did not realize it.
The black Dragon was enjoying this moment.
'This is nothing!'
The time he spent imprisoned in the cave… He had been unable to do anything himself during that terrible time that he didn't even want to remember.
There were barely any chances to learn, feel, or even think.
He had many opportunities to think about how to escape from these people who imprisoned him or how to defeat these terrible bastards, but… He didn't know what joy or happiness was to think about that.
However, the problem now was that there were too many things for him to think about and look forward to doing.
Growl.
"…!"
Raon, who had been practicing his delicate control of mana in a large area, opened his eyes wide. Raon pulled back his mana and placed both of his front paws on his chubby belly.
"Even my tummy is great and mighty! It is extremely accurate!"
Raon looked at the clock.
It was snack time.
"The human said that you must always remember to eat!"
Raon checked to make sure nothing in Rosalyn's lab was scattered or messy and quickly headed toward the kitchen.
He then tilted his head in confusion.
"Delicious food making Beacrox, where is everybody?"
Tap.
Beacrox didn't say anything and simply placed a basket full of cookies on the table in front of Raon.
Beacrox did give them desserts during snack time despite talking about maintaining a healthy diet, but he had never given so many to Raon at once.
Raon found this to be odd but quickly hugged the basket with his two short front paws and tilted his head in confusion.
"This is weird!"
On and Hong were not here.
A large basket of cookies for On and Hong was placed on the table.
"Huuuuuu."
Beacrox sighed and gave a short response as if he was talking to himself.
"Hong with Mary. On with my father."
"Oh, thanks!"
Growl.
A thunder-like noise flowed out of Raon's stomach again and Beacrox placed a cup of warm sweet honey tea next to Raon's basket with a cold look on his face.
"Do you know what the human is doing right now?"
"I don't know."
"Alright! I'll stop making you talk! Go cook!"
"…Huuuuuu."
Raon debated whether to go eat with Cale since On and Hong were with Ron and Mary, but shook his head and started to eat the cookies and drink the tea alone.
'I'll eat quickly and go to the basement!'
Raon's wings subconsciously fluttered.
Beacrox was staring at him but Raon did not notice.
While that was going on, Hong was looking at the sky that was slowly getting cloudier and opened his mouth.
"I want to know if Mary noona has ever seen snow, nya!"
The tone of his voice was high but the kitten-form Hong's ears were slouching down. His eyes were doing the same.
Mary looked at Hong and calmly responded.
"I have never seen snow."
"…I see."
Mary did not have the memories of her childhood and the Underground City beneath the desert where she lived had rain caused by Elementals but not snow. It was because there was a lot of farming down there.
"However, I have seen it in books."
She had read many books about the outside world in addition to necromancer-related texts after becoming a necromancer.
Of course, she had read the fairy tale, The First Snow is Soft! that Raon showed her as well.
"Huuuuuu."
Hong let out a deep sigh.
Something seemed to be frustrating him as he pushed down on the ground with his small paws. Mary stopped walking and crouched down next to Hong.
Hong peeked at Mary. Hong saw Mary as someone who was easier to be around than the other adults. She was definitely older than him but there were times when she oddly felt like a friend.
She was the friend who didn't speak much but carefully listened to what he had to say.
Hong mumbled in a quiet voice that was hard to understand.
"…I don't really like snow, nya."
"Why do you feel that way?"
"…I just do."
"Could you tell me more?"
Hong moved over to Mary and leaned his body against the crouched Mary.
"We struggled so much during winter when I was on the run with my noona, nya. It was much harder whenever it snowed. It was hard to find food and it was so cold when we would go to bed, nya."
The thing that was the most difficult…
Hong closed his eyes.
He recalled how they could not stay in any spot for a long time and had to keep moving while hiding away to not get caught even during raging snowstorms.
At that time…
At that moment…
In that world…
"…It was just noona and me."
On and Hong. Only the two of them existed.
Of course, there were a lot of people and animals.
However, it was hard to see anything through the snow storm and his sister On was the only one by Hong's side.
"I don't like snow, nya."
Hong finally shared his honest feelings.
Hong did not like snow very much. If asked whether he liked or hated it, he hated it.
However, he found it hard to say that to other people, especially Raon and his sister On.
"It's fine to hate it."
Hong raised his head.
He could see a face with black lines all around it underneath the low hide smiling at him.
"There are many things I hate as well. To be honest with you, I don't like the night. Actually, I used to hate the night."
Hong's eyes opened wide.
"T, that's not true, nya! Something is weird, nya!"
Mary went to enjoy the night time view of the Forest of Darkness with On, Hong, and Raon whenever she had time. Beacrox even stared at them some nights because the four of them spent so much time outside looking up at the night sky on nights where the stars shone so brightly that it felt as if they would fall down.
Mary reached her hand out and petted Hong's head.
"I used to hate night time in the past."
Mary did not know that she hated night time at the time. In fact, she only learned that she had hated something once she started to like the night.
"However, I like it quite a lot now."
Mary petted the soft red fur as she continued speaking.
"That was why I thought long and hard about why that was the case."
"And, nya?"
Hong urged Mary to continue as if he was curious. Mary quietly chuckled before speaking in a stiff but warm voice.
"Then I learned that the problem was not the night itself."
Hong tilted his head from side to side as if that was hard to understand.
"The snow might not be the issue for you either, Hong."
'The snow might not be the issue?'
Hong rubbed against Mary as if he found it even more difficult to understand.
"And you may continue to hate snow."
However, he stopped rubbing against Mary after hearing her voice again and looked up at her.
"And that is okay."
"…Is it really?"
"What do you think that the young master-nim would say if you said that you don't like snow, Hong?"
Hong blinked a few times as he thought about it.
It was obvious what Cale would say so Hong knew what to say.
"Really? Okay then."
Hong felt some strength in his shoulders after saying what he thought Cale would say.
Mary stopped petting Hong and responded.
She shared her thoughts to Hong, who was like a younger brother or a nephew to her.
"However, if there is one thing I personally slightly wish for from you would be for you to keep your head awake and keep an open mind even if you like or hate something."
"Keep my head awake and keep an open mind?"
Hong looked up at Mary with teary eyes as if those words were difficult to understand before nodding his head after seeing Mary's warm smile. He then shouted energetically.
"I don't know what that means but I will at least remember it, nya!"
"That is enough. There is no need to feel tied down by my words."
"Mm, but I want to remember it, nya!"
Hong responded energetically and raised both paws while looking at Mary. Mary opened up her arms and picked Hong up. She then stood up.
Hong looked up at the sky. The sky was slowly turning into ash-like color starting from the north. He slightly frowned while looking at the sky but his heart was not anxious.
Instead, he wondered what his sister and Raon were doing right now.
In another part of the area, Ron was wiping the blade of a dagger the length of his finger as he opened his mouth to speak.
"It looks like you have something to say. Are you just going to keep drinking your tea?"
On the other side of the table at the seat facing Ron… On, who was seated on the couch was blowing at her tea to cool it as she drank it.
It was honey lemon tea that Ron had boiled for her. On had been asking for lemonade and honey lemon tea since some point in the past. Of course, Ron had a pretty good idea as to why she started doing that.
"I came to see you because I just wanted some tea."
On calmly responded and blew at her tea again before taking another sip.
She seemed so focused that drinking tea seemed to be the most important thing right now, but…
"Tsk."
Ron quietly clicked his tongue and reached toward the small table next to his chair.
Clunk. A drawer opened and Ron pulled a small box out of there. He then placed it on top of the table.
Click.
On opened the box without saying anything.
There were some dry fruits in there. The small red fruit had a nice shine to it despite being dried.
It was On's favorite fruit.
This fruit was everywhere in this house, fresh when it was in season and either dried, jammed, or pressed as a drink during other times.
On ate the fruit while nonchalantly saying something.
"Getting hopes up too much is concerning and hating something too much is also concerning, nya."
"A little kid like you worrying too much is also not good."
On heard Ron respond immediately without any hesitation.
On flinched and looked at Ron. Ron didn't even look at On as he wiped a fifth dagger so much that it glowed.
On looked at him and opened and closed her mouth without saying anything. She did that for a while before finally ending her hesitation to ask a question.
"…Do I seem not childish enough?"
Ron finally looked away from the dagger and looked at On.
On was similar to the childhood of someone else Ron knew.
Cale Henituse.
Cale was like this after his mother passed away, before he became trash. Of course, this grey Cat punk in front of him was more mature and knew more about the ways of the world.
Ron looked back at his dagger.
On picked up another fruit after seeing his reaction.
She then heard Ron's nonchalant voice.
"You're better than the trash."
Trash.
On knew the person Ron was calling trash.
She was certain that he was talking about Cale.
Cale was someone Ron cherished as much as Beacrox. Ron saw Cale as his own child. Of course, Ron would never admit to that, but On was sharp enough to know that. How could she not know?
And Ron was saying that On was better than Cale.
"But I didn't think the trash was bad either."
Ron then quickly added that he didn't think that the trash was bad either.
"Pfft-!"
On quickly closed her mouth to stop her subconscious laughter. Ron's hand stopped wiping the dagger for a moment before it resumed.
Ron did not look at On at all. However, On knew that Ron was like this because he was embarrassed.
The grandpa in front of her always got so shy whenever he told the truth. Of course, he was never like this in front of Cale.
Ron looked up at On.
'Not like a child?'
On was drinking her honey tea and eating dry fruits again. She probably doesn't notice it, but her legs were moving front and back unlike when she was sitting there earlier.
'Anybody would think she's a child so to say that she is not…'
"Pffft." Ron laughed extremely quietly so that On would not hear and focused on his dagger.
The people at this house knew.
They knew that On was a child as well.
They knew that she came to look for them whenever she had a concern, felt lonely, or needed someone to lean on.
That was the reason that everybody in this house had one or two of the food On liked in their rooms at all times.
'May I take this too? I don't have anything to give On if she comes.'
Even Lock, who was now a teenager, had a box of these dried fruits in his room. Lock had come a few days ago and hesitantly asked Ron for a box of this dried fruit.
That timid kid seemed to find Ron difficult to talk to but came to look for Ron because it was related to On. Lock became quite brave when it was something related to the Wolf children, On, Hong, or Raon. Of course, Lock himself did not seem to recognize that.
"What is it?"
Ron bluntly commented to On, who was staring at him.
"The tea and the fruit are delicious."
He slowly looked away after hearing that.
'Looks like I need to get some more.'
Ron looked inside the now half empty box and added dried fruit to the list of things he was going to request Deputy Butler Hans to procure.
He watched On looking relaxed as she was humming while eating fruit and looked back at his dagger.
He did not notice.
He did not notice that his movements seemed quite cheerful as he wiped the dagger.
Raon rubbed his eyes with his paws.
He then scrunched his eyes. However, his eyes kept closing.
"Mm."
Raon raised his head. The single magic light seemed like it had turned into two.
"…Eek!"
Raon became shocked and rubbed his mouth.
He was drooling.
Swish, swish!
Raon looked around in shock. He knew that nobody else was in this basement laboratory, but it would have been embarrassing if someone had seen him drooling and dozing off.
"Ahem. Hem!"
Raon let out some fake coughs and slightly shook his head.
'I just need to do a little more!'
Raon recalled how Cale had told him he needed to eat and sleep well in a rare serious tone, but he chose to push that thought aside for now.
Swoooooooosh-
Raon caused a small breeze with his mana. White snowflakes started appearing inside the breeze one after another. A smile appeared on Raon's face.
"…Pretty…"
This snowy breeze felt much softer and fluffier than earlier. Raon subconsciously gasped in awe.
Blink blink.
However, his eyelids were not listening to him.
Raon had gone to sleep at his bedtime pretty much every night since Cale started his slacker life vacation at this residence other than when he was out looking at the stars.
Maybe that was the reason, but even this great and mighty Dragon could not keep his eyelids from closing down.
"N, no…"
Raon shouted, 'No,' but his round head kept nodding off and lowering.
Swoooooooosh-
The snow breeze slowly disappeared as well.
Raon, who was seated on Rosalyn's chair, scrunched his eyes.
Flash flash.
The magic light was oddly flashing.
Was it about to turn off? That blinking light felt oddly distant to Raon.
"I…need to, do it-"
Raon closed his eyes as he mumbled.
'Only for a little bit. I'm only going to close my eyes for a little bit!'
He then sunk into the cozy darkness.
It was only for an instant.
Raon was certain that it had not been long since he closed his eyes.
"Eek!"
However, he couldn't help but open his eyes in shock.
Honestly speaking, his eyes didn't open very easily. His eyelids didn't move very well and felt as if they were swollen. His vision was blurry.
"Eek!"
However, Raon realized that something was weird.
He felt his body slightly shaking as it swayed gently as if he was on a ship. No, it felt like he was being held-
'Held?'
Raon's eyes finally opened and he raised his head.
"Eek!"
He was shocked once again.
"H, human!"
"…Don't make me talk."
Raon realized that the shaking was from Cale's arms shaking while the swaying was from Cale climbing the stairs.
Raon couldn't hide his shock after waking up not in the laboratory but on the stairs.
This was the staircase heading from the basement to above ground.
"Human! I said not to b, bother me!"
"…."
"Human, I was not sleeping! I was only closing my eyes for a moment, but you lifted me up and started moving me!"
"…."
"Human, I know that you can't talk because this is difficult for you, so let me down!"
"Haaaaa."
Cale let out a deep sigh.
"…I told you not to make me talk…"
He mumbled with a stoic gaze before looking down at Raon.
Raon's round eyes were focused on him.
"Human! I'm going back to the laboratory!"
"Pffft."
Cale chuckled and stepped off the last step. He then turned his body.
"Look outside."
"Hmm?"
Raon turned his head from Cale and toward where Cale was pointing.
He heard voices from the second floor at that moment.
"I need to sleep, nya, huh?"
"Oh."
Hong was grumbling before gasping in shock while On let out a low gasp.
Once Raon saw where Cale was pointing toward…
"Go outside."
He heard Cale's nonchalant voice and Raon subconsciously left Cale's arms.
"…Snow-"
In the dark night….
Something white was falling from the sky.
The door was wide open.
Raon subconsciously headed out the door while watching the view outside.
"Snow-"
Hong saw the snow as well. Hong subconsciously dug into Ron's arms.
He saw Mary at that moment.
Mary was standing outside the door in her black robe while waving at him.
Hong also saw Raon looking at him.
Raon was a Dragon but was younger than him. Raon's eyes were sparkling so brightly. His round face was full of joy.
Raon had a bright smile on his face as he spoke to Hong.
"It's snowing! It's the first snow!"
Raon then stopped right before the door, turned around, and flew over to Hong and On. Hong lowered his head. On was in her human form looking at Hong.
Hong looked at his sister's gaze, then at the approaching Raon, then at the waving Mary, and then…
Jump.
Hong jumped out of Ron's arms. He then headed toward the door step by step.
Raon flew out the door only after seeing Hong move.
"It's snowing! It's the first snow!"
"Snow!"
Extremely large clear white snowflakes were falling from the sky.
Stars were not visible in the sky, making Raon feel as if these snowflakes were stars.
They were not sparkling like stars, and they disappeared quickly once they melted in his paws, but…
"…So pretty."
They were still pretty.
Raon turned his head and looked around. The lights were on in the building and Choi Han, the Deputy Butler, the Wolf children, and even the Vice Captain were out near the door smiling at Raon.
"Raon."
Cale was standing near the door as he spoke to Raon.
"Cast some light around. Then everybody will be able to see it better."
"Ah!"
Raon created some orbs of light instead of the spell he had been practicing all day. He then spread them out throughout the darkness.
"Wooooooooooow—"
It was beautiful.
The large snowflakes falling through the silent night were cold but oddly felt warm.
"Ah, that's right!"
Raon quickly used another spell.
"Hmm?"
Cale looked at Raon after feeling warmth surrounding him. It was the same for the others.
Raon chuckled and shouted brightly.
"You cannot catch a cold! Everybody has to be warm!"
Cale laughed and commented back.
"I'll get to be warm while experiencing the first snow thanks to you."
Raon's smile became even bigger.
Mary was looking at Hong with an awkward expression at that moment.
"Mm, I prepared this because I thought you might get cold, but I think that it will be okay."
Mary had a small cape in her hands. The red cape was obviously Hong's size.
Hong silently looked up at Mary, who turned away to look at the now visible snow coming down as she spoke.
"Snow is something like this as well."
"Ah."
Hong quietly gasped.
He then nodded his head.
"That's right, nya! Snow is something like this as well, nya!"
Today, Hong saw snow different from the snow he had seen until now. The red kitten looked around. Mary, who prepared a cape for him, Ron, who had carried him despite his grumbling, Beacrox, who was busy inside preparing some cookies and warm tea… All of his family members who were now awake and standing outside their home…
"Should we go?"
On looked at Hong and Raon and asked.
"Sounds great!"
Raon quickly flew down and stood next to On.
Hong slowly moved next to On as well.
The snow had piled a bit.
However, there were no footsteps outside the house.
Everybody was just standing by the door.
The children knew why they were doing this.
The three moved in unison as they stepped onto the yard.
Squish.
The three of their footsteps appeared on the snow for the first time.
Raon subconsciously shouted with excitement.
"It's soft!"
The snow was soft.
'It was really soft!'
The snow was cold, but he was not cold at all because of the temperature management spell.
"Human!"
Raon moved over to Cale and asked.
"Human, did you not sleep because you were waiting for the first snow?"
He had peeked at the clock to see that it was 11 pm.
It was amazing that the human, who lately started nodding off as soon as the sun went down, was still awake.
Cale brusquely responded.
"Was I the only one who didn't sleep?"
Raon, On, and Hong looked around.
Everybody was awake.
They had been waiting for the first snow. The Wolf children looked as if they had been sleeping, but they mischievously smiled at Raon, On, and Hong as well.
The three children could feel in their hearts as to why everybody had not been sleeping. Hong and Raon still didn't know how to properly explain that feeling, but they knew everything they needed to know.
Hong raised his head.
A snowflake fell on his face.
'The snow might not be the issue for you either, Hong.'
He recalled what Mary had told him. Hong walked over to Mary.
"I want to see it together, nya."
He still didn't have the confidence to jump around the snow with joy.
However, he wanted to walk on the snow with Mary.
"Of course."
Mary walked over to the children.
Raon shouted at that moment.
"Let's all make some snowmen together!"
He had a look of urgency on his face that looked as if it would overflow with excitement and anticipation.
"We need to make a snowman family!"
"…Haaaa."
Cale sighed and grumbled as he walked over to Raon. The Wolf children jumped into the snow with excitement.
Lock and the Vice Captain seemed stiff for a bit before they seemed to also get excited and joined in.
Choi Han and the Deputy Butler were smiling brightly as they joined the group.
On smiled while watching all of them.
She observed the adults nearby.
Choi Han was a strong and sometimes cold-hearted swordsman.
Ron was an assassin and a scary person.
She didn't know too much about Beacrox, but he was a scary and cold person.
Cale was a stoic person.
However, they were all extremely warm people to On.
And to her younger siblings.
On looked at the excited Raon and her brother Hong, who slowly walked over to him and started to smile, and started to walk over to them as well.
On was smiling, and it didn't look as if the corners of her lips would ever come down.
"Make sure to put some gloves on first."
On's smile became even bigger after seeing the three pairs of gloves Ron nonchalantly handed her.
The next day.
"I'm not this small! I'm bigger than this! The human's arms shake when he carries me! That means I am big!"
"…I don't think that's the reason, nya…"
Raon strongly objected while looking at the snow Dragon that resembled him while Hong looked at Raon, then at Cale's arms and shook his head with an iffy look on his face.
"What's up with him?"
Cale seemed baffled at Hong who was sighing while looking at him, but he was too far to know what Hong and Raon were talking about.
"It's nothing much, nya."
On had a pretty good idea what Hong and Raon were talking about, but she feigned ignorance. Instead, she placed a dry fruit Ron handed her into her mouth.
The windows of the terrace next to the door that had been closed because it was winter were half open today.
"They were made so well, weren't they, young master-nim?"
Cale flinched after hearing a voice right next to him. He turned his head to see Ron looking at him with his fake benign smile.
Cale subconsciously responded out of reflex after seeing Ron's gaze.
"Well, sort of, I guess."
Cale then turned toward what Ron was talking about.
There were as many snowmen as there were people living in this house in the villa's yard.
Cale looked at the snow people standing around snow Cale at the center for a while before turning his head away with a stoic gaze. However, On was certain she saw the corners of Cale's lips curl slightly up.
"Human!"
Raon waved his front paw toward Cale and called out to him.
"What is it?"
"Will all of this snow melt when it gets warmer?"
"Yeah."
Raon's fluttering wings drooped low after Cale responded without any hesitation.
'Should I put a preservation spell on it?'
The snowmen they made last night seemed even whiter and brighter than Harris Village, which was completely covered in snow. Thinking about them melting made him feel some discomfort. No, it made him disappointed.
At that moment… Hong and Raon made eye contact. Raon realized that Hong had the same thought as him and slightly motioned with his eyes. Hong slightly nodded his head in response.
Raon nodded his head as well and mana slowly started gathering around Raon.
It was at that moment. They heard a stiff and nonchalant voice.
"But spring will come once it gets warm."
Raon and Hong turned their heads.
Cale had a teacup in his hand while looking at some cookies.
Raon asked Cale a question.
"Human, will the flowers bloom in spring?"
Cale reached his hand out and grabbed a cookie as he mumbled.
Although different flowers bloomed at different times…
"I'm sure they'll bloom in spring."
There were bound to be flowers that bloomed in spring.
"Mm."
Raon and Hong looked at each other. The two of them exchanged glances for a while before deciding not to do the preservation spell and headed toward the terrace.
"I'm going to eat this too!"
Raon's chubby front paw moved efficiently toward the cookie basket in front of Cale as if it was a hawk's talon while Hong slowly reached his hand toward his sister On's tin of dried fruit.
Cale and On pushed their respective basket and tin toward Raon and Hong while Ron filled two cups with drinks for them.
"Wow! It's raining again, nya!"
Raon turned his gaze after Hong shouted.
Crunch crunch.
Raon watched the snow fall as he ate some cookies.
The little bear's friend, Tiggy, had told him that the large snowflakes that fall from the sky are cold when they touch your skin but that looking at them makes you feel soft and fluffy.
Raon thought about it.
The snow was cold when it touched his skin as the book mentioned, however… Looking at it like this really made him feel soft and fluffy.
"Human! I'm fluffy now!"
"Sure, whatever."
Raon ate a cookie Cale handed him and held back a laugh.
For some odd reason, he couldn't help but laugh.
Once some time passed since then…
"Wow."
Raon gasped in admiration.
"Flowers are growing where the snowmen melted!"
The snow had melted, but simple yet pretty wildflowers filled their spots to announce the arrival of spring.
"They're pretty, nya!"
"You're right. They are pretty, nya."
Hong and On watched the flowers by Raon's side.
The tiny wildflowers shook and danced with the warm spring breeze.