âCome to think of it, this is the flower garden Speranza created, isnât it?â
I had completely forgotten about it.
Time had passed, and my memory of this flower garden was faint due to the shock of Speranza collapsing.
Since that incident, I hadnât paid much attention to the garden, but the flowers Speranza made were still fragrant and boasted a bright atmosphere.
âCould that be the reason?â
It felt a bit more fascinating that the fairies were obsessed with this flower garden.
But my leisurely thoughts were short-lived.
I quickly put on a serious expression and pulled myself together. I didnât want to relive the shock of that time.
âSperanza, what did you just say?â
Speranza quickly noticed my change and carefully continued her words while checking my reaction.
âSo⊠Can I make more flower gardens? Then the fairies wonât fight and can get along well.â
âSo you want to make more flower gardens, Speranza?â
âUn⊠Can I?â
Speranza swayed her fox tail and shot me a look that said, âPlease allow it!â with her eyes full of pleading.
Normally, I would have melted at my cute daughterâs charm, but this time was different. As Speranzaâs guardian, I couldnât stand idly by and let a dangerous situation occur.
âNo, Speranza.â
âWhy Papa?â
âYou collapsed while making the flower garden last time. Thatâs why Boss had to hurriedly take you back. He even brought a doctor from far away, and everyone on the farm was worried all day.â
âUghâŠâ
Disappointed by my firm stance, Speranza drooped her swaying tail and fox ears.
But she hadnât given up on making the flower garden yet, so she asked me again with a strained voice.
âI, I think I wonât collapse this time, Papa. So, canât I try just a little bit?â
âUmmâŠ?â
âPapaaaa~â
The fox girl rhythmically shook my leg back and forth, making a pleading sound.
Oh, this is reallyâŠ
I made a troubled expression at her surprisingly persistent attitude.
I didnât want to scold her outright because I understood her pure desire to help the fairies.
While I was pondering how to deal with Speranza, Cheese, who had been watching the situation from behind, interjected.
âWhy not let Speranza do as she pleases, nyaa?â
âWhat?â
âSperanza needs to learn to control her power, nyaa. You shouldnât prevent her from having that opportunity, nyaa.â
âCheese, are you saying that Speranza making a flower garden will help her?â
âDidnât I say it earlier, nyaa? That incident happened because she was inexperienced. Now that sheâs grown a bit, there will definitely be a different outcome, nyaa.â
Cheese explained with a serious expression that it was necessary for Speranza. Following him, Ashmir added her thoughts as well.
âI also agree with Cheese.â
âAshmirâŠâ
âAlthough itâs hard to guess where her power comes from, thereâs no doubt that Speranza has a special influence on this world.â
ââŠâŠâ
âI understand your concern for your daughter, but the actions Speranza wants to take now will certainly hold great meaning and value.â
Ashmir also actively voiced her opinion.
âIf youâre hesitating because Speranza might collapse again, you donât need to worry, nyaa. Iâll keep an eye on her, nyaa.â
âPlease trust us, Sihyeon.â
âDadâŠâ
Cheese, Ashmir, and Speranza all looked at me with eyes full of expectation.
âUghâŠâ
Feeling my heart waver, I slightly furrowed my brow. I looked away from their gazes and towards the still bustling flower garden.
After a moment of silence, I opened my mouth with a determined expression.
âFine. Iâll allow it.â
âYay!â
âNyaa!â
Speranza happily hugged Cheese tightly. Ashmir looked at me and smiled faintly.
âSperanza, just donât overdo it. If you feel tired or uncomfortable, let me know right away. Promise me, okay?â
âYup! Got it.â
Contrasting my worried expression, Speranza nodded with a beaming smile. It felt a bit bitter that she didnât seem to understand my concerns.
Speranza headed towards the vacant lot next to the bustling flower garden with light steps. She closed her eyes and slowly stretched her arms forward.
Soon after, a rainbow-colored radiance burst from Speranzaâs body.
-WooshâŠ
âWh-what, Pipo?!â
âThis energy isâŠKapiâ
All the noisy fairies stopped fighting and looked toward Speranza. As the rainbow-colored radiance grew bigger, surprise spread across the fairiesâ faces.
-Wahhh!
An even greater amount of rainbow-colored energy spread out compared to last time. The energy that spread out in all directions quickly seeped into the vacant lot.
Around the time the energy from Speranzaâs body subsidedâŠ
Changes began to occur in the previously empty lot.
Small sprouts grew from the ground, quickly forming flower buds and blooming beautiful flowers.
âI knew it would be like this, nyaa.â
âTruly amazing.â
Cheese and Ashmir briefly expressed their admiration. Even I, watching for the second time, couldnât close my mouth at the sight of this mysterious atmosphere and the overwhelming scene.
In just a few minutesâŠ
A new flower garden appeared before our eyes. As soon as the mysterious energy subsided, I quickly rushed to Speranza to check on her condition.
âSperanza, are you okay?â
âUn, Iâm fine.â
Speranza reassured me with a smile, though she looked a little tired. She didnât seem as exhausted as the last time she had collapsed.
The lingering anxiety in my heart slowly dissipated, and I unconsciously smiled with relief.
âDid I do well, Papa?â
âYes, you did great, sweetheart. Youâre the best.â
âHehe!â
I hugged the proud, smiling fox girl tightly in my arms. It seemed like she had grown much more than I had thought, which made my heart ache a little.
-Pyoro-rong!
-Pyoro-rong!
âWho are you, Pipo?â
âDid you really create that flower garden, Tapi?â
âI told you, Pyopi! That mysterious energy just burst out of her earlier, Pyopi!â
In an instant, fairies gathered around Speranza and me. They all showed interest in Speranza and asked her questions.
âSihyeon, who is she, Pyopi?â
âSheâs my daughter. Speranzaâ
The fairiesâ eyes widened at the mention of her being my daughter.
âWow! Sihyeonâs daughter, Pyopi?â
âShe doesnât look like you, Kapi.â
âNo, Tupi! Their eyes are a bit similar, Tupi!â
The excited fairies began to chatter away. Their never-ending chatter was starting to make my ears hurt.
Speranza, wrapped in my arms, seemed to enjoy the noisy fairies as her eyes sparkled.
The fairies never stopped talking.
In the midst of them, one fairy cautiously approached Speranza.
âSperanza, can you do me a favor, Fupi?â
âA favor?â
âCan I make my home in that flower garden, Fupi?â
âSure, thatâs fine. But you have to get along with the others and not fight.â
âKyaa! Thank you, Fupi!â
The fairy, unable to contain her joy, clung tightly to Speranza. She expressed her gratitude by planting a series of kisses on Speranzaâs cheek.
âKyaha! Stop it, it tickles.â
âHehe! Come visit anytime, Fupi! I can play with you all day, Fupi!â
âUn.â
Seeing one fairy get permission from Speranza, the other fairies swarmed around her.
âI want to make my home in that flower garden too, Pyopi!â
âSperanza, please allow me, Kapi!â
âI came first, Pipi! You should allow me first, Pipi!â
Speranza nodded her head nonstop, granting permission to the flood of fairies. Many of them expressed their gratitude with happy expressions.
But perhaps due to the sheer number of fairies that gathered, the second flower garden wasnât enough for all of them to make their homes.
âAw, Iâm too late, Tapi.â
âI wanted to make a home in the flower garden Speranza created too, LipiâŠâ
The remaining fairies looked disappointed. Speranza looked at the saddened fairies with sympathy.
âPapa.â
ââŠâŠ.â
Speranza called out to me again.
She hadnât said what she wanted yet, but I could quickly guess what she was going to ask.
âPapa. There are still many fairies who havenât made their homes yet. Can I make one more flower garden for them?â
Speranza asked with a concerned expression, wanting to create another flower garden.
âHmm⊠are you sure itâs okay?â
âIâm fine. Iâm totally fine!â
Speranza energetically waved her arms, showing that she had plenty of energy. It was hard not to be touched by her determination to help the sad fairies.
âAlright. Just donât push yourself too hard.â
âOkay!â
With my permission, Speranza left my arms and headed towards another empty lot. Cheese, Ashmir, and the other fairies followed her.
Speranza found a suitable empty lot and stretched her arms out once more. Perhaps she had gotten used to it, and the colorful energy quickly burst from her again.
âStay strong, Tapi!â
The fairies who wanted a flower garden encouraged Speranza with hopeful expressions.
Woooooong.
However, the colorful energy emitted seemed much weaker than before. Speranza tried to muster up her strength, but the colorful energy barely increased.
âIt seems like her energy has drained a lot.â
âCreating two flower gardens at once must have been too much for her, nyaa!â
Ashmir and Cheese also realized it wasnât easy and expressed their concern. I looked at Speranzaâs struggling figure with sympathy.
Deciding that it seemed too difficult for her,
I was about to step in and stop Speranza when suddenly,
-BRRR!
-Biip! Biip!
-Pow woo wooo!
âWeâll help you, Popi!â
Captain Beetle, baby griffins, Akum, and Gyuri appeared.
âWha⊠What?!â
Without giving me a chance to stop them, they quickly gathered around Speranza and clung to her as if to protect her.
The children banded together tightly in an instant.
Thanks to them, a sense of comfort settled on Speranzaâs face, who had been struggling.
And then, an amazing thing happened before our eyes.
Woong!
Just a moment ago, it seemed like the weak energy would cut off at any moment, but after the children gathered, the colorful energy burst out more intensely and powerfully than before.
The energy emitted from the children spread beyond the small empty lot and began to cover the entire surrounding area.