[Name: Imperia]
[Race: Mother of All Ants]
[Rank: Eternal]
[Age: 0 Days]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 18]
[Agility: 9]
[Speed: 10]
[Stamina: 13]
[Defense: 12]
[Mana: 22]
[Intelligence: 40]
[Charisma: 50]
[Strengths: Intelligent, Charismatic.]
[Weaknesses: Inexperience, slow.]
…
‘Hmm…’
Kael calmly observed Ria’s stats.
Yes, long gone were the days when he would be surprised by his children’s absurd stats. He had grown now. Nothing in this world could surprise him anymore.
Thinking about it, Kael nodded to himself, satisfied.
He then turned towards his children and,
“It is time to sleep.”
He spoke as he pointed at the bed. However, just as he—with Cirri and Vita on his shoulders and Ria on his palm—was about to climb onto the bed, he realized that Igni hadn’t moved.
And very quickly, he realized why.
Igni was no longer small enough to sleep on the bed next to him. He was almost as big as the bed itself. Even if he could fit in, Kael highly doubted the bed would be able to withstand his weight.
“…It is alright, Father.”
Igni called out, his voice lower than usual.
“I will go sleep in the Sanctuary.”
The Dragon smiled lightly. He was sad; however, as an older brother, it was time he became responsible and left his father’s side.
And it was just a night anyway. Igni had always stayed next to Kael all this while. It was now time for his siblings to have Father all to themselves.
The not-so-little Dragon nodded his head continuously, forcing himself to agree with his own thoughts.
And Kael, who saw his first child acting like that, felt his mouth twitching with annoyance.
“You little…”
He called out, almost wanting to scold him, but he soon controlled himself and opened the Portal to the Sanctuary of the Ancients.
“Come in.”
He ordered as he stepped in.
“Father…?”
Igni tilted his head in confusion.
“You are either sleeping with me, or none of us are sleeping.”
Kael spoke.
“And stop trying to act like some independent old man. You are barely three weeks old.
You are a child.
You act like this again, and I will make you brush your teeth three times a day instead of two.”
“….”
Igni turned silent at those words. The threat had worked.
The Dragon hated brushing.
However, just as Kael was about to walk into the Portal,
“Father, what if other humans notice?”
The fact that Kael could enter his own Sanctuary was a secret, and Kael wanted it to stay that way.
“Leave it.”
Kael waved his hand nonchalantly.
“It is alright if I have to reveal a few of my secrets.
Spending time with you is more important to me than anything else.”
“Father…”
Igni called out, smiling at those words.
“What are you waiting fo—”
Kael wanted to call Igni in, but then the giant dragon licked his entire face with his big tongue, and in a gleeful tone, he called out,
“Thank you, Father.”
Kael, with his now wet face, smiled.
He then gently kissed Igni’s snout and,
“Let’s go.”
He smiled. Igni nodded with a big smile and walked in together with Kael.
Now that Kael had formed a bond with Imperia, the last bit of white space inside the Sanctuary had transformed into an ideal space for little Ria.
It was nothing fancy, just a simple ground with much softer mud than usual.
For now, however, Kael and the others settled in Cirri’s space. The green garden, light breeze, and fresh air—it was indeed the middle ground every one of them could enjoy.
Igni quickly lay down on the ground and stared at Kael.
“Father.”
He called out, excitedly patting his giant, round belly, and Kael made himself comfortable on it. Cirri and Vita settled themselves at his two sides, while Ria, who was sleeping on his palm before, was now sleeping on his stomach.
Kael closed his eyes as well. Being surrounded by his children indeed made him the most comfortable. It was better than any sleeping pill that he used to take before he came to this world.
“…Wake me up in five hours.”
He called weakly.
“Yes, Father.”
The always responsible Igni nodded as he closed his eyes as well.
…
Five hours later, just as Kael wanted, Igni woke him up. Together with him, Cirri had woken up as well.
The little girl was the most excited today. After all, after waiting all this while, she could finally go into that separate dimension together with her father and brother.
Hehe~
She was all grown up now.
Little Cirri smiled at that idea.
Sensing her excitement, both Vita and Ria woke up as well.
“Where is Father going…?”
Ria questioned in her adorable yet oddly mature voice.
“I need to go train. You two should sleep more.”
Kael spoke gently as he patted Vita’s head while he gently rubbed Ria’s head with his finger.
Cirri grinned at those words. She even stared at Vita and,
“Heh.”
She snorted triumphantly, making the Fox narrow her eyes.
“Father, is she coming with you?”
The Fox questioned.
“Yes.”
Kael nodded.
“I will come too.”
“You will not.”
Kael answered strictly.
“But I—”
“You will not.”
“….”
Vita turned silent. She stared at Cirri, who was still grinning without stop, but then suddenly, Igni nudged Cirri with his claw,
“Do you wish to remain here as well?”
The Primordial Fire Dragon threatened, and very quickly, little Cirri flew on top of Kael’s head and turned silent.
“You two will stay here, is that clear?”
Kael questioned as he glanced at his two daughters.
“As you say, Father. I will wait for your return.”
Ria nodded calmly, and seeing that even her little sister had agreed, Vita realized she couldn’t be stubborn either and nodded, not looking at Cirri.
Kael nodded, satisfied. Then he turned towards Igni, and the two nodded at each other. The three walked out of the Sanctuary.
Then, once the cooldown of <Ancient’s Call> was over, Kael reactivated the ability, and a familiar portal formed in front of the three of them.
Kael stepped in together with Cirri on his shoulder. He looked around the area, somewhat surprised, but before he could even understand where he was,
‘Father, I am unable to enter.’
Kael heard Igni’s voice in his head.