"Make sure to always eat on time, okay?" Iris said as she held the Baby Slime in her arms.
"Ma!" Eiko replied.
"If you meet a very strong monster, just run away, okay?"
"Ma!"
"Get plenty of rest."
"Ma!"
"Don't randomly throw bombs at people, okay?"
"Ma!"
Iris said a few more things, which only made Lux shake his head helplessly. This was the first time that Eiko would be traveling separately from him, and it made Iris quite worried.
"Wei~" Fei Fei said as Cai patted her head.
"Okay. Make sure to always stick with Eiko, okay?" Cai stated. "No matter what happens, don't leave her side."
"Wei~"
"Share the treasures that you find with her."
"Wei~"
"Don't steal things from good people. But if they are bad people, don't hold back and take everything."
"Wei~"
Aurora, who was listening on the side, couldn't help but giggle after hearing Cai's words.
It was a last minute decision, but Fei Fei decided to accompany Eiko on her journey, which surprised Cai.
Although she was surprised by Fei Fei's request, Cai decided to agree to her request. As a member of the Rowan Tribe, who usually migrated from place to place, she believed that Fei Fei also needed to leave the nest for a short while.
That way, she would be able to see a bigger world, and adapt to certain situations without Cai's protection.
"The kids sure grow up fast." Lux sighed as he looked at the two Baby Slimes that were jumping on the ground in excitement.
"Indeed." Iris smiled. "I just hope that when I give birth to your baby, they will not be as hyper as Eiko."
"Do you want to give birth to my baby?"
"Of course. But, let's get officially married first, okay?"
"Okay."
Cai smiled after seeing Lux warm up to the idea of marriage.
When they were still back in the Abyss, she asked Lux to make her pregnant. However, the Half-Elf said that they should wait for a few years before they took that step.
Marriage was an important thing in their world, and wasn't considered a normal ceremony. Although they didn't know that the Gods had already abandoned them, everyone took this act seriously, since it would bind them to their partner for life.
Also, she was looking forward to officially being a part of the Kaizer Family, taking Lux's surname as her own.
Aurora just listened with a smile on her face. She would glance at Lux from time to time, which didn't escape the attention of the two ladies who had become his fiances.
Iris and Cai shared knowing smiles with each other, but they didn't say anything. Fortunately, Lux didn't see this exchange because he was busy giving Eiko and Fei Fei a few resources to take on their journey.
"Are you both ready to go?" Lux asked the two Baby Slimes that were looking up at him with anticipation.
"Pa!"
"Wei~"
Lux chuckled before picking up the two Baby Slimes. He then walked towards the teleportation gate that Vera had built in a secluded part of the academy, which was connected to Leaf Town and Lux's Guild Headquarters.
Iris wasn't part of Lux's guild, so she couldn't teleport to his Guild Headquarters. Because of this, Vera took it upon herself to build a teleportation gate that could only be used by their family and Cai.
A few minutes later, Iris found herself in a bustling town. Everywhere she looked, she could see Dwarves everywhere.
Truth be told, this was the first time that Iris was seeing Dwarves. She had seen Elves, Beastkins, and even Gnomes, but she had never met a Dwarf during her travels.
As Humans, they stood out like a sore thumb and immediately became the center of attention.
The Dwarves that had just arrived in Leaf Town were quite surprised, but when their gaze landed on the Half-Elf, as well as the baby slime that was perched on top of his head, they felt as if they had seen them before.
Lux ignored them and walked towards the statue in the plaza.
This had become one of the main attractions of Leaf Village before it had been renamed to Leaf Town.
When Iris saw Lux's statue, her eyes lit up in surprise.
"The Guardian Statue." Iris read the description of the statue. "Eternal Guardians of Leaf Village. Eiko, you're amazing."
"Ma!" Eiko replied happily after she was praised by her Mama.
Lux looked at his fiance with anticipation because he wanted to be praised as well.
However, Iris only smiled mischievously, not giving him the satisfaction he was looking for. Seeing her expression, the Half-Elf decided to punish her tonight, and make her understand who her daddy was.
"I'll introduce both of you to everyone first," Lux said to Iris and Aurora. "Eiko, make sure to properly say goodbye to them as well."
Eiko nodded. "Pa!"
She had many friends in Leaf Village, including Bedivere's daughter, Heidi, and Sid's younger twin sisters, Laura and Livia.
Naturally, she was also friends with their baby slimes, whom they had named Cedie, Cora, and Nora.
The first person they visited was Grandma Annie, who happily gave Eiko and Fei Fei several bags of candies that they could take on their journey.
Laura and Livia were also quite happy because it had been a while since Lux and Eiko had visited them.
Bedivere, who had sensed his Master's presence, arrived at the scene with his wife, Lilia, and his daughter, Heidi.
(A/N: Bedivere is Lux's Dragon Knight just in case you guys forgot.)
After introducing Iris and Aurora to them, Lux went to visit his Master, but Randolph was currently not in Leaf Town. According to Grandma Annie, he went to the capital city of the Dwarven Kingdom, Aeronwen, in order to join the auction to buy precious ores and metals.
Since his Master was not around, Lux took everyone to visit the former Village Head, Cedwyn, who was now the Mayor of Leaf Town.
"Damn you, brat, you don't deserve these two beauties as your wives," Cedwyn shook his head after seeing Iris and Cai. "Aurora, right? It will be best if you stay away from this troublemaker. If you're not careful, you might find yourself becoming his fiance in the future."
Aurora blushed, but she didn't say anything. Deep inside, she hoped that what Cedwyn had said would become a reality. But, for that to happen, she first needed to form closer ties with his official fiances.
A few minutes later, they used the Teleportation Gate to go to the Stronghold of Norria.
Lux wanted to introduce Iris and Aurora to everyone, so whenever they visited the Dwarven Kingdom, Commander Thoram and his men would be able to help them just in case something happened while he was away.
After their short meeting, it was truly time to say goodbye.
The two Baby Slimes became teary eyed as they looked up at Iris and Cai. The two ladies did their best to hold back their tears as well because it might make their hearts waver.
"Eiko, Fei Fei, enjoy your adventures," Lux said as he patted Eiko's and Fei Fei's heads. "If anyone bullies the two of you, remember their names and faces. We will bully them back for you."
"Pa!"
"Wei~"
The two baby slimes slowly crawled away, but they couldn't help but look back every few meters.
Only after they disappeared from their sight did Iris and Cai bury their heads on Lux's chest, their bodies trembling as the tears they held back earlier finally fell like rain.
"… King Leoric," Lux said softly.
"You're too overprotective." King Leoric sighed. "Even Lilian didn't accompany Eiko on this journey, and you want me to follow her?"
Lux nodded.
"Are you sure about this?" King Leoric asked. He already knew the answer to this question, but he asked just to be sure.
"Yes," Lux replied. "Do not interfere unless her life is truly in danger. She's already died once. I don't want her dying again."
King Leoric eyed Lux for a few seconds before nodding his head.
"Understood."
The Wraith King vanished completely.
Among Lux's subordinates, only the Wraith King could turn completely invisible. Because of this, he was the perfect bodyguard for Eiko.
The Half-Elf didn't know what dangers the two Baby Slimes would face, but he hoped beyond hope that both of them would be able to return to them safe and sound, and a lot stronger by the time their journey came to an end.
