Baby Pharmacist Princess

The next part was a tear-jerking episode of “Big Family Love, Show Show Show!” that no one could watch without shedding a tear.

I quickly grabbed onto Dad as he was about to head out for another hunting trip.

I clung onto his heavy coat, made from thick fabric, grunting as I held on tightly.

“Dad, I don’t want you to go…”

“Oh dear.”

“Cherry doesn’t have enough love from Dad.”

Despite the sudden change in attitude from the child, who had been smiling just moments ago, Dad seemed to find it endearing. His face lit up, though he tried to hide the fondness in his expression.

“Looks like my Cherry missed her Dad.”

“Mhm.”

“Then I’ll leave Myul here. It’ll feel like I’m still with you.”

“Myul is nice, but… Cherry still needs her Dad.”

I lowered my head, drooping my shoulders dramatically. Dad inhaled sharply and then held his breath.

I was so focused on Dad’s presence that his sudden change startled me. Could it be… Was my Dad having trouble breathing?

“Phew, that was close.”

Dad finally exhaled, a bit unsteady on his feet, and I gulped as I glanced at the status screen that appeared above his head.

[Current Status: Dizziness (100%)]

I was starting to get really worried now.

Can Dad really go hunting in this condition?

“Dad loves you very much.”

At that moment, Dad gently lifted me into his arms and gave me a reassuring pat on the back.

“Always and forever, I love you, my daughter. Now, go rest on the airship, and I’ll be back as soon as I finish hunting.”

“Really…?”

“Yes, really. Tonight, I’ll even read you a story.”

There was something determined in Dad’s voice.

Fighting monsters gives knights the opportunity to hone their skills. Otherwise, why bother bringing knights along? The royal family could handle it alone.

Still, Dad’s eyes were different today. It was like he was desperate to come back early.

“Then, I won’t sleep until you return, Dad. Please come back quickly.”

“I will.”

Boop!

[♡Mini-game Progress (1/6)♡]

Dad left the tent with his shoulders squared, and a new achievement screen popped up right after.

‘Aha, so that’s how it’s done. Got it.’

Now, it’s time to work on Gergys.

I moved closer to Gergys, who was scraping the bottom of the pot for food.

“Big Brother, do you love me?”

“What, did you choke on your food? You don’t have a fever, though…”

“Ugh, I’m asking if you love me!”

“What kind of creepy question is that?”

Gergys shivered and rubbed his arms.

There’s no way he’d say it.

‘I mean, it is weird for actual siblings to say things like that.’

I glanced at the ‘Secret’ label on the quest screen, which didn’t reveal what would happen if I failed. The fact that it’s a secret makes it scarier.

So I shut my eyes tight and tried to look pitiful.

“I really like Big Brother…”

“…”

“Is it just me?”

I pouted my lips and curled up like a pill bug, and I felt Gergys flinch.

I started a silent protest, not making eye contact with him. If I kept this up, I wouldn’t say a word until morning.

“Ugh…”

Gergys kept groaning, caught between saying ‘I love you’ and cringing at the thought.

I understand. It’s tough, right?

Even if it were me, if I had to tell my little brother ‘I love you,’ my tongue would feel like stone, unable to move.

‘But I really don’t want to face the penalty!’

I slowly got down from my chair, whispering in a tiny, sad voice that Gergys couldn’t possibly ignore.

“It’s okay. I’m not even your real sister… I’m sorry.”

“…!”

“If I were your real sister, you’d say you loved me, right? But since I’m adopted… it makes sense that you wouldn’t want to say it.”

“Hey, hey.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll just be alone…”

“Fine! I’ll say it! Ugh!”

Hehe.

I knew he’d cave eventually.

I erased my sorrowful expression and beamed at him.

“Really?”

“…You’re acting strange. Why is your face different from a second ago?”

“Mmm?”

“Sigh. I said I’d say it, so I guess I have to… But you go first.”

“If I say it first, will you say it too?”

“Yeah.”

“On your honor as a knight?”

I looked around the tent at the knights, who were biting their lips to stifle their laughter. The guards outside were doubled over, shaking with laughter too.

They must find our conversation cute and funny.

“…Yes, on my honor as a knight.”

“Yay!”

Gergys looked like he wanted to jump off a cliff. Honestly, that might’ve been easier for him.

‘But it’s not that hard for me.’

I didn’t really understand why it was so difficult for family members to say ‘I love you.’ Maybe it’s because I grew up without siblings?

I tilted my head, cleared my throat, and stared right at Gergys, grinning brightly.

“Cherry loves Big Brother Gergys!”

“…Ugh.”

Gergys covered his mouth with his arm and took a step back.

He couldn’t meet my eyes, so he turned away, defeated.

“…Say it.”

“What? I can’t hear you!”

“…Love you.”

“I can’t hear you!”

“I LOVE YOU!!!”

Boop boop boop!

[♡Mini-game Progress (2/6)♡]

With Gergys’ booming shout, the second mini-game was completed.

“Wow, I can’t believe he actually said that!”

“He’s completely at Princess Cherishe’s mercy!”

“Ha-ha-ha-ha! He’s totally whipped!”

The knights laughed, some even rolling on the ground, clutching their sides.

Gergys turned beet red, his face and neck flushing.

“Alright, night shift, let’s blow off some steam, shall we?”

As Gergys ground his teeth, the tent flap opened, and Idsys, who had swapped places with Dad, entered.

“What’s all this ruckus?”

“Nothing.”

“Looks like our little sister’s up to something again. You fell for it, didn’t you? Hehe.”

“Wh-what? I didn’t fall for anything!”

“We could hear you shouting ‘I love you’ from way over there.”

The knights, who had been holding back their laughter at Gergys’ earlier threat, snickered again.

Seeing Idsys about to join in on teasing Gergys, I quickly raised my voice.

“Brother Id, Brother Id loves me too, right? You even say I’m pretty! Right?”

“Of course, I love my little sister a lot.”

[♡Mini-game Progress (3/6)♡]

I knew he’d be easy!

Now, only three more to go.

Sihat, Pabel, and… the grand finale: Alexandra.

‘These bastards…’

Sihat looked down at the drunken crowd with contempt.

It made sense why Cherishe hadn’t seen Sihat since the Amon hunt began.

He wasn’t even at the hunting grounds.

The high-ranking priests, known for their divine powers, were in the village, drinking.

“Bring more wine!”

“Haha, the village must be grateful that we protect them every year.”

“Another year in this filthy, worthless village. Tsk.”

Seeing the villagers servilely tending to the priests made it clear this wasn’t the first time this had happened.

Sihat knew these high-ranking priests would disappear as soon as they arrived, only to reappear at the end of the hunt, their faces greasy from indulgence. But this was worse than he had imagined.

It was unbearable to watch them strut around without lifting a finger in battle.

‘I can’t stand being here any longer. It’s sickening.’

He had only stayed this long to observe the situation.

He needed to finalize his list of those who should be purged and those who could be used.

Though his body was young, Sihat’s divine power was already fully matured.

His mastery of divine power was far beyond what his age suggested, so concealing his presence from these fools was a simple task.

“Haha, Your Holiness. How are you enjoying the feast?”

“It’s fine.”

“I hope you’re enjoying yourself. And don’t forget to let me know first if you learn anything new, alright?”

Ten priests had whispered similar things to him, each eager to take down a rival and claim a higher rank.

It was only a matter of who secured the most damning information first.

Sihat gave a slight nod.

One of the priests gripped his shoulder and whispered slyly.

“Normally, you’d be up there rolling in the snow with the mercenaries. But I’ve saved you the trouble, so don’t forget my favor.”

“So, if you don’t get what you want, you’ll make things difficult for me?”

“How could I threaten Your Holiness? I’m simply suggesting you consider what benefits you.”

“That’s what we call a threat.”

Sihat tilted his head with a smirk, and the older man’s face twisted in irritation.