READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 102.1
Adults, Children, And What’s Needed Now
“Yuuri-kun, you’re a bit soft on Magg, aren’t you?”
“…Am I?”
Jake, leisurely enjoying tea time with Yuuri, brought it up like it had just crossed his mind. Yuuri tilted his head slightly, pondering the comment. He had some awareness of it, hence the pause before responding.
Jake, munching away on two kinds of warabi-mochi—one made extra sweet with lots of sugar, the other tinted green with matcha powder—kept his eyes on Yuuri. Usually treated like a good-for-nothing role model for what not to do, there were moments when Jake’s demeanor revealed the adult in him. As a scholar, he was undoubtedly smart—though his reputation often leaned toward “a bit too eccentric.”
“I thought you treated everyone fairly, but could I ask your reason?”
“…Reason, you mean?”
“Yes, why you’re soft on Magg.”
Jake smiled cheerfully. Yuuri returned a wry smile, then, after some hesitation, opened his mouth to speak. His gaze remained fixed on the teacup in his hands. His voice was soft, tinged with unease, yet there wasn’t even a hint of compromise in his conviction.
“I just think Magg might need that right now.”
“…That?”
“Yes. Someone who’ll always be on his side. Someone who’ll indulge him no matter what. Someone he can go to for comfort, knowing they’ll accept him without question—that’s what I think Magg needs right now.”
“…You think like an adult sometimes, don’t you?”
Jake’s gentle smile softened even more at Yuuri’s response. It was the same warm expression as always—a scholar’s smile, full of wisdom. But today, his eyes gleamed with a light unlike the usual, radiating intellect and compassion. It was the kind of look that reminded you: Oh, he really is a distinguished scholar.
“Could I ask why you think that?”
“Just a hunch, really.”
“That’s exactly what I’d like to hear about.”
Jake, back to his usual grin, answered while savoring another bite of warabi-mochi. Yuuri tilted his head slightly but soon relaxed into his usual demeanor, opening his mouth to speak. He wasn’t one for overly sentimental moments, after all.
“Magg is selective about people, isn’t he?”
Jake said nothing to this observation, merely encouraging Yuuri to continue with his gaze. It was a silent agreement—they both shared the same understanding.
Yes, Magg was selective. Perhaps due to growing up as an orphan in the slums, the small-statured boy was the epitome of guardedness. While he’d accepted the people in this hideout as clanmates, he wasn’t entirely devoid of social skills. He got along fine with them in daily life.
But Magg never allowed anyone to cross the final line.
“Even with his mentors, he keeps some distance, doesn’t he? I think the only ones Magg lets in, or actively approaches, are Urgus and me.”
“Spot on. …And Yuuri-kun, for someone so laid-back, you’re surprisingly observant, aren’t you?”
“Huh? You’re the last person I want to hear that from.”
“…And as usual, you casually strike a nerve…”
What was supposed to be a serious conversation took a turn when Jake muttered his candid thoughts, only for them to boomerang right back at him. But this was Jake—what else could you expect? As the scholar who was usually seen collapsed around the hideout, Yuuri’s retort wasn’t unwarranted.
Serious topics that never felt serious—that’s just how these two were. A laid-back natural and a laid-back mess of an adult.
“Well, fine. So, Yuuri-kun, you’re saying that since you’re the one Magg relies on, you feel the need to indulge him?”
“Something like that.”
Smiling, Yuuri popped another piece of warabi-mochi into his mouth. The chewy, chilled treat was as delightful as ever. Easy to make and delicious—truly perfect. Today’s batch, made with extra sugar, was sweet enough to enjoy as is. As it melted softly in his mouth, Yuuri and Jake both smiled in contentment.
Yuuri had decided to indulge Magg because he believed the boy’s actions stemmed from a place of seeking affection he hadn’t been given before. This wasn’t some expert psychological analysis—just knowledge picked up from TV and books. But Yuuri understood enough to think, It was because Magg finally found someone he trusted to give him what he craved.
In other words, Magg instinctively sensed that Yuuri would indulge him, which led to his occasional bouts of selfishness. The same likely explained why Magg could be dismissive with Urgus.
“Magg’s wariness is on par with a monster’s.”
“Oh, Aroru, when did you get here?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Want some warabi-mochi?”
“Yeah.”
The grumbly voice belonged to Aroru, the 10-year-old beast tamer. As usual, she was draped with her companion, the white snake Nadja, around her neck. At the sight of this senior familiar, Rooks, who had been quietly lounging at Yuuri’s feet, gave a little hop. Nadja responded with a sharp hiss but otherwise remained coiled lazily around Aroru’s neck, unmoving. A familiar scene.
Sitting next to Yuuri, Aroru reached for some warabi-mochi. Jake and Yuuri just smiled, unfazed by the addition to their company. These two were always so relaxed that no matter who joined, they remained cheerful. …Though Jake, an adventurer, seemed to lack almost any sense of caution—truly the emblem of a hopeless adult.
“So, what do you mean by ‘monster-level wariness’?”
“I mean Magg tolerates about as little from others as wild monsters do.”
“Oh, Aroru noticed too?”
“I’ve been watching him from the start. …Honestly, when he first came here, I thought he wasn’t human.”
“Oh my.”
Jake chuckled, clearly amused, while Aroru mumbled, “Well, yeah,” under her breath. Back then, Magg had been so doll-like that even a young child like her thought as much. Yuuri recalled what Urgus had once told him: “At first, he was like a puppet.”
The current Magg, while a little eccentric in expressing emotions, was a relatively normal—well, maybe a bit unusual—15-year-old boy. But when he’d first arrived at the hideout, he was far from it.
Magg’s distrust of others had been so profound that he behaved like a puppet. He never defied stronger adults, obediently following orders without rebellion. Yet he made no effort to connect with anyone.
“Urgus is just that kind of guy… Even when Magg rejects him repeatedly, he keeps pushing forward.”
“He’s harsh with his words, but Urgus is very caring.”
“Urgus—he gets misunderstood because of his appearance and language, but deep down, he’s a total big brother type, isn’t he?”