‘To think Noah took the only zero-point note!’

When I glared at Lynen, his eyes wavered too.

“…Don’t tell me that was the one I removed.”

“What did you say?”

Grrrr.

“……”

Lynen avoided my gaze.

Because of the 0-point note, Noah’s score was… 36 points.

Beside us, Allen smiled innocently, unaware of the situation.

“Then Imelen is first place, right?”

“……No.”

I’m sorry, but I can’t miss this rare filial piety quest.

Swoosh.

I slowly raised my hand to add a vertical stroke next to the 0.

Lynen and Allen’s eyes widened as they anticipated my action.

‘Try being in my position.’

Do you know my situation where my life hangs by a thread for 1 point of filial piety?

But just as I was about to draw the stroke.

“Lady Calliphe.”

Noah suddenly appeared, making the three adults, including me, jump like caught criminals.

“Huh? W-what is it?”

“This.”

Noah held out a grimy note.

The 10-point note.

“Mihail, the saint, and I got this together. Pepper Head tried to steal it.”

“Ah……”

“So we should split the points between the three of us.”

After earnestly requesting this, Noah went back.

But then Mihail and Imelen came over too.

“Lady Calliphe, about the note Noah just gave you……”

“Yes, he asked me to split the points equally between the three of you.”

“Ah, as expected.”

Mihail and Imelen exchanged knowing looks.

“Just give it all to Noah.”

“We can’t do that. Noah wanted to share it.”

“But we can’t split 10 points equally between three people. If we each get 3 points, there’s 1 point left over.”

Mihail, who had taught me arithmetic, fell into thought for a moment. Then he suddenly had an idea.

“Then the saint and I will each give up 1 point.”

“Give up?”

“Yes. We’ll each take 2 points, and Noah can have 6 points. That way we’re sharing it, right?”

“Grrrr.”

Imelen nodded.

The two children returned to where Noah was after conveying their intention.

The rest of us adults were silent for a moment.

“……These cheeky kids. How cool.”

Surprisingly, thanks to the three children looking out for each other, their scores ended up tied.

“The children have taught us something.”

I and Lynen quietly agreed with Allen’s words.

Shortly after, I announced everyone’s scores.

I also spontaneously announced that Dietrich was last place in this game.

‘Well, there needs to be a last place for the winner to feel joy.’

Dietrich glared at me with a look of betrayal, but that wasn’t my concern.

“We won!”

Thanks to that, the three children got to share the joy of being joint first place.

“Now then, first place winners, tell me your wishes.”

At that moment, Noah’s green eyes glinted sharply, like a young predator spotting its chance.

Mihail was the first to state his wish.

“I want the saint to take over my grandfather’s work!”

“……!”

“For one day… no, three days!”

Allen’s surprised expression finally softened.

“You want to give the High Cardinal a vacation for three days. Right?”

“Ah, yes! That’s right, saint.”

Mihail nodded, half-doubting whether the saint would grant his wish.

Of course, Allen wasn’t troubled by this much. He patted Mihail’s head.

“Will three days be enough? I’ll give the High Cardinal a mandatory week-long vacation. As an apology to you and the High Cardinal for all the trouble I caused.”

“Really!?”

“Of course. Have a good time with your grandfather.”

“Thank you, saint!”

Mihail was overjoyed.

He seemed already excited about finally being able to spend leisurely time with his grandfather, his only family.

The next wish was Imelen’s.

“Grrrr.”

Imelen dipped her finger in ink and wrote her intention directly on paper.

―Can I call you Big sister?

“Big sister? …Who, me?”

When I asked uncertainly, Imelen nodded shyly.

‘This is crazy.’

Too cute!

“Ahem. W-well, of course. So what’s your wish? Want some pocket money? Or do you want a vacation like Mihail?”

Imelen shook her head. Her round head made her rabbit ears dangle with each movement.

―This is my wish. I’ve wanted to have a big sister for a long time.

‘This is really crazy?’

I pressed between my eyes, trying to steady my breathing that was disturbed by excessive cuteness.

My hand automatically reached out to pat Imelen’s back gently.

[Sanity+1]

[Sanity+1]

“Actually, I’ve wanted a little sister too, so this works out well. From now on, you’re my step-sister.”

“Grrrr… yes.”

That’s when it happened.

Perhaps because I had been continuously raising her sanity with my ability, Imelen’s vocalization changed slightly.

“B… ig……sis.”

“……!”

“……?!”

Everyone’s eyes there grew wide enough to pop out.

Allen’s reaction was especially intense.

“I-I-I-Imelen?!”

He slid down to kneel before Imelen and urged her.

“Say it again. What did you say?”

“Ung, uung……”

In that tense moment, I swallowed hard and quickly patted Imelen’s back more. Even though it drained my energy significantly, I didn’t care right now.

[Sanity+1]

[Sanity+1]

“Ung……”

For several seconds, Imelen struggled to make proper pronunciation.

Finally, a clear ‘word’ emerged.

“Big…sister.”

“Oh my.”

In surprise and emotion that left my mouth agape, I covered it with both hands.

Allen choked up.

“Imelen. C-can you say it again?”

“Big sister. Big sister.”

With each repetition, the word seemed to flow more naturally from Imelen’s mouth.

Allen’s eyes welled up with tears in emotion.

He didn’t mind at all that her first word wasn’t big brother but big sister.

Rather, he expressed gratitude to me.

“Thank you, Lady Calliphe. It seems Imelen has improved this much thanks to you.”

I had never revealed my ability to him.

Nevertheless, he seemed to sense that I was having a positive influence on Imelen.

‘But since I don’t want to reveal it, he’s not asking.’

They were really admirable siblings.

Everyone gathered here were close confidants trusted by me and Lynen, so they all knew this capybara’s true identity.

While she was known to the general public as ‘the incarnation of the light spirit,’ they knew she was actually Saint Imelen.

‘Ah, except Dietrich.’

We hadn’t told Dietrich separately.

So he alone looked confused, but well, he’d probably figure it out himself.

‘Anyway, that guy will keep the secret too.’

Both because of his contract with me and for his own ambitions.

“Well then.”

Now only the last little one remained.

“Noah. What’s your wish?”

Finally, when it was his turn, Noah swallowed hard. Then, with a slight blush, he said.

“L-Lady Calliphe and……”

“And me?”

“……want to.”

“What?”

Noah blushed even deeper, then spoke a bit louder.

“I want to sleep together with Lady Calliphe today.”

At this, Mihail and Imelen’s gazes became strange.

“Are you scared to sleep alone?”

“Scared?”

“……No.”

Noah’s face grew redder.

He remained steadfast despite his friends’ sympathetic teasing looks.

‘Noah’s crazy too.’

Why are these kids being so adorable?

Come to think of it, although I had become Noah’s patron, I had never watched over him until he fell asleep.

‘I was careful because I worried he might be afraid of me.’

That had become a habit that continued until now.

Then perhaps this opportunity could help me become closer to Noah.

“Alright. Let’s sleep together.”

“Yes…!”

Noah was delighted.

For a moment, I thought I caught a glimpse of craftiness in his expression, but was that my imagination?

Lynen was looking at Noah with somewhat disappointed eyes.

I didn’t miss the chance and brought my lips close to Lynen’s ear.

“……!”

Lynen’s shoulders twitched.

“Noah likes me more than you.”

“…How childish.”

Lynen’s earlobes were slightly red as he glanced at me.