"Your mama has important work and won't be home for several days, so she asked me to keep you company."
Lucian placed his palm gently on Tribios's head, softly rubbing her hair.
"Ohh... So, Lord Divine Envoy, what are we going to play?"
Tribios let Lucian's large hand ruffle her hair without resistance and asked curiously.
"Don't call me Lord Divine Envoy. Just call me big brother, okay?" Lucian smiled as he picked the little girl up and held her in his arms. "Let's go for a walk in the city, how about that?"
"But Mama said I can't go outside." Tribios softly shook her head. "Mama said outside is dangerous."
"Well, that's not the case anymore." Lucian replied with a smile. "All those bad people who made things dangerous have already been chased away. Besides, as long as you're with me, no one can hurt you."
"Really? Then I want to see what the outside world is like!"
"Alright, let's go."
===
Even though the Temple of the Three Fates was under strict guard, Lucian found it effortless to come and go as he pleased.
At this moment, the generous afternoon sun shone down on the market of Janusopolis, warming the stone-paved streets.
Lucian's tall figure moved silently through the noisy crowd, his broad right hand carefully holding a much smaller one.
Tribios, at eight years old, was like a canary set free for the first time, her gem-like eyes brimming with curiosity about the world as she eagerly looked left and right, tightly holding Lucian's long, fair fingers.
"Big Brother, look!"
Tribios suddenly tugged Lucian to a stop, excitedly pointing at a honey stand.
On a large stone slab, sticky golden honey with plump dried fruit was spread out, giving off a sweet fragrance like sunshine.
She lifted her small face, her desire nearly overflowing from her eyes, but she pressed her lips together and only dared to stare longingly at the biggest piece of candy.
Lucian lowered his gaze, taking in her silent plea.
He said nothing and walked straight to the stand before a silver coin landed with a clink in the old lady's clay bowl.
"I want this one."
Lucian looked at the candy he wanted.
When the honey amber candy, wrapped in reed leaves and nearly half the size of a small palm, was handed over, Lucian turned slightly and indicated it was for Tribios.
Tribios's eyes instantly sparkled even brighter than the Aegean Sea under the sun in his original world.
"For me...?"
Tribios asked hesitantly, her voice trembling a little.
After seeing Lucian give her a gentle nod, she joyfully took the treat and hugged it tightly in her arms.
"Thank you, Big Brother! You're the best!"
Tribios's face blossomed into a sunflower-like smile before she affectionately rubbed against his leg.
In that instant, however, Lucian's body stiffened slightly.
'Is this the destructive power of a loli?'
Tribios was then lifted by Lucian's strong arm, and her view suddenly widened.
Sitting securely in Lucian's sturdy embrace, Tribios happily nibbled on her honey candy, the crispy crunches mixing with her contented little hums.
In no time, her nose and lips sparkled with golden sugar crystals.
Just after finishing more than half of the candy, Tribios suddenly remembered something.
She struggled to hold up the small piece that was left, stretching it toward Lucian's mouth—her little face shining with the joy of sharing.
"Big Brother, let's eat together!"
Lucian stopped in his tracks, eyeing the candy treat pressed to his lips, sticky with sugar and tiny fingerprints.
"Alright, let me have a taste."
He quickly lowered his head, taking a bite.
In the next second, the overwhelming sweetness instantly filled his mouth as he chewed and swallowed the piece of candy with a bright smile.
Seeing Lucian accept it, Tribios was even more pleased, giggling as she licked her fingers and leaned against his shoulder.
Leaving the busy main street, they turned onto a quiet stone path leading toward the Temple of the Three Fates.
Tribios swung her little feet, pointing at the ground with a giggle.
"Let's step on our shadows!"
At this moment, their shadows stretched long on the ground, thanks to the shining Dawn Device that was far from Janusopolis.
"I'm an adult, so I don't step on shadows."
Lucian smiled wryly and gave an excuse.
'No way I'd let myself do something like that out in public...'
Thinking this, Lucian kept walking when Tribios suddenly leaned forward to count the passing gray doves on the roadside wall, which made his arm instantly tighten as he held her small body steady.
Once the doves vanished, Lucian, still holding Tribios in his arms, continued walking, and soon, as they reached the steps to the temple, they saw a thin boy standing there, selling a handful of wildflowers in a bucket.
In that instant, Tribios's eyes were drawn to the pink flowers among them.
Soon, Tribios climbed down from Lucian's arms and moved close to the flower basket to admire them.
Lucian handed over a copper coin to the boy, and the boy immediately offered the fullest pink flower.
Tribios happily smelled the fragrance, then glanced at the silent Lucian beside her before she suddenly stood on tiptoe and carefully tucked the pink flower into his belt.
"Big Brother, you look even better now!"
Tribios looked up, her eyes pure and smiling.
Sunlight passed through the stone pillars, softly wrapping the pair together, making those who saw their interaction unable to help but smile warmly.
Lucian looked down at the flower on his belt, so out of place yet so delicate, then at the girl's beaming smile.
He truly could not bring himself to disappoint her.
"Thank you for the flower. I really like it."
Right after saying this, Lucian bought another flower and tucked it into Tribios's hair, making her laugh even more joyfully than before.
Tribios's little hand then slipped into Lucian's broad palm, feeling its warmth.
"Big Brother, you smell like stones warmed by the sun."
As she spoke, Tribios's voice was soft and sweet as honey.
"Oh, really?" Lucian cracked a smile. "Do you like it?"
"I do!"
Hearing Tribios's energetic answer, Lucian smiled and said nothing more.
He held her small hand even tighter, leading her up the sun-drenched stone steps one step at a time.
===
For the next five days, Lucian always stayed with Tribios.
He taught her various things, took her out, told her bedtime stories, and more.
Maybe because she had so little contact with others, Tribios's affection for Lucian grew quickly, and soon she became clingy—wherever he went, she would stick to him.
Unfortunately, the script made no real progress, which left Lucian feeling a little lost.
'Even after staying with the script's protagonist, no missions or anything like that have triggered... Could the real protagonist be the grown-up Tribios?'
Lucian couldn't help but wonder.
'If that's the case, doesn't that mean I'd have to live here for ten years and watch her grow up...?'
'Seriously... is this script actually a grooming simulator?'