Although Bert said there was no rush, the various legions quickly got ready and were waiting only on the Grantz’s orders.
There wasn’t much to do these days after divvying up the more pressing paperwork.
Bert leisurely opened the only remaining folder in front of him. A long list automatically popped up and kept scrolling.
He straightened in his seat and closed the folder. After checking the title, he opened it again to that same scrolling list. It just kept going.
Bert closed the folder once more. He was beginning to doubt himself as he turned to Flynn.
“I probably should’ve mentioned this was more a drill or tour, that each legion is only allowed to send out one fleet, right?”
Although it was a legion-wide operation, there was no need to mobilize the entire military. Even a single legion was massive. Aside from large-scale campaigns like the insect tide, there was no need to mobilize everyone. Dispatching more than half a legion of troops was already enough to invite discussion on the galactic network.
Bert only decided on all this on a whim anyway. He just wanted to take the little guy out to play, to gain some worldly experience and get a feel for how the Grantz operated. He wasn’t actually expecting the shorty to work with the commander of his first legion.
Of course, slaughtering some insects to replenish their coffers was also ideal. He was under a great deal of pressure right now.
Flynn coughed from where he stood on the side. “Legion Commander Saude has already streamlined the list several times.”
Bert firmly shut the folder and sent a simple message using psychic power: too many people involved, cut personnel in half.
He stood and stretched before cheerfully concluding, “Alright, that’s all for work today. Time for some fun. Let’s go play with Ye Muo.”
Flynn fell silent for a beat. Although he would really like to pretend he didn’t hear a thing, and it wasn’t like he wanted to disrespect His Majesty, but sometimes, His Majesty really was too lax.
Bert glanced at the time. “It’s time for his cartoons already. What’s keeping him? It must be Norton not letting him come over.”
Actually, it was the play room that recently finished renovations. His Little Highness was so obsessed with it that he even reduced his visits to his plant to once every two days. Even so, he always came to Bert’s study at the same time every night to watch cartoons.
So thought Flynn, who was very familiar with Ye Muo’s routine at this point, as he accompanied Bert to the play room.
The room was around the same size as Bert’s study, you wouldn’t be wrong calling it a small hall. Now, the space had been transformed into a tiny wonderland. Even the ceiling had been used to hang a small house with a set of stairs in the air. His Little Highness hadn’t been allowed to go up there yet, but His Highness Jacob was very pleased with this new foothold.
They saw as soon as they pushed open the door Ye Muo crouched over a long table whose legs had been shortened according to his height. There was a toy house on the table that was a miniature replica of the room they were in. Ye Muo was currently trying his best to stuff his little head into one of the doors.
He pulled his head back out and turned to the nearby Aria. “Muomuo wants to take a picture of this.”
Ye Muo had learned what the strange thing Aria always pointed at him did and wanted to learn how to use it himself.
Aria handed him the old-fashioned camera and shifted him halfway into her lap. “Just press here.”
Ye Muo became a bit worked up as he struggled to hold the camera with both hands. “Muomuo’s hands…Muomuo doesn’t have hands…”
Aria gasped and immediately started snapping away.
Bert reached over from behind and helped Ye Muo press the shutter. The flash went off. Ye Muo gasped and exclaimed, “Bert’s so awesome.”
“Right? I’m also a first-rate photographer. Ask Dylan or Helene if you don’t believe me.”
He bent down to dodge Helene’s strike before blocking Dylan’s leg sweep and gracefully pulling away. “See? That’s how you know my skills are the real thing. You’re welcome, twins.”
Jacob hopped down after nearly getting dragged into the conflict. He looked a bit helpless. “Is it because of the pictures in the group chat? Didn’t they already fight over that…”
Aria fished out another camera and took a few pictures of them. “Ye Muo’s not in the chat. Let’s shut it down soon.”
Jacob thought about it before agreeing. If it was him, he wouldn’t want Ye Muo to see his embarrassing moments either.”
Ye Muo was already used to them occasionally fighting like this. At first, he would treat it like a big deal, staring at them with wide eyes before trotting over to hug one of the combatant’s legs and try to break them up. Now, he understood it was more a form of exercise for them.
Ye Muo gleefully went over to Norton while holding the camera. “Muomuo can take pictures.”
“Well done.”
Ye Muo puffed up with pride. Then he carefully set Aria’s camera down beside Norton instead of continuing to mess with it. “Aria said she’ll help Muomuo take pictures of Pangpang.”
Pangpang was the name of Ye Muo’s lion plush, inspired by his meeting with Pangzhua.
Ye Muo set it in the apple tree-shaped treehouse on the other side o the room with a couple of apples. He went over to retrieve it.
When he didn’t come back a few minutes later. Norton stood up and walked over to the tree house. When he crouched down, he found Ye Muo fast asleep on a soft cushion inside the treehouse with the plush in his arms, surrounded by apples.
Aria also leaned over. “He’s asleep again, huh.”
She peered through the window on the other side of the treehouse for a while before raising her camera. She had an entire album dedicated to Muomuo ‘running out of battery’. Toddlers slept a lot. Even with an afternoon nap, they could quickly fall asleep in the darnest places.
This wasn’t as obvious when Ye Muo first came due to him being in an unfamiliar place. No matter how tired he was, he would force himself to stay awake until he could retire to Norton’s arms. Eventually, he could curl up in the lounge and then even in Bert’s study. By now, Ye Muo could fall asleep anywhere.
He seemed to be moving more thanks to the new play room and more tired as a result.
Norton was already reaching in to scoop Ye Muo up. He made sure to fetch the plush too. If he forgot, the sentimental child would tearfully apologize to Pangpang tomorrow.
Ye Muo wasn’t deeply asleep. His eyes were already cracking open. “Muomuo, Muomuo’s Pangpang…”
“It’s here.”
He rubbed at his eyes in an attempt to stay awake. “What about Muomuo’s cartoons today? Want to watch them…”
“En.”
Norton glanced at the time. It was almost time.
He carried Ye Muo towards Bert’s study. Flynn fell in line behind him.
……
Norton set Ye Muo down. By the time he returned with the child’s pillow, Ye Muo was fast asleep in his chair again.
Ano tickled his feet and was pleased when Ye Muo curled up into a ball.
He quietly said, “Forget about the cartoons. Let’s just let him sleep today.”
Adrian frowned. “But I promised Muomuo earlier that I would wake him up for cartoons.”
After sleeping past cartoon time yesterday, Muomuo made sure to make everyone promise to wake him up if it ever happened again.
Bert whacked the back of his head. “We’re not watching cartoons right now, are we?”
The conversation grew loud enough for Ye Muo to catch the keyword. He struggled to raise his head, his eyes still closed. “C-cartoons…”
He insisted on sitting up and rubbing his eyes until he was fully awake. “Cartoons. Muomuo wants to watch too. No leaving Muomuo out.”
Bert naturally changed his tune, “Of course we wouldn’t leave Muomuo out. We’re just about to put them on. I was just about to wake you.”
Ye Muo’s cheeks were still ruddy with sleep. His batteries were only half-charged. “Thanks, Bert.”
Bert coughed, “No problem.”
Adlet had yet to arrive. Jacob turned off the lights and pulled up the series Ye Muo was watching without blinking an eye.
Adlet slipped soundlessly into the room halfway through the opening theme with tray in hand. He first set a bottle down beside Ye Muo.
Ye Muo’s head kept drooping as he grabbed it, but he still suckled for a bit. Moments later, he got up and shoved himself into Norton’s lap.
Adlet glanced over. Ye Muo never missed the opening or ending theme. Even when he had a bottle with him, he would take a few quick sips before breaking into song again.
Ye Muo hugged Norton’s waist. His voice was muffled, “Muomuo’s bottle’s broken.”
The lights were turned on as the Grantz crowded around. Ano picked up Ye Muo’s bottle and inspected it. There was nothing wrong with it and it was the perfect temperature. Adlet never made mistakes.
Adlet frowned, “Is it the taste? It’s the same formula as always, though.”
Ano poured out a little onto his hand to sample. “It’s the usual taste.”
Norton scooped Ye Muo up and checked him over with a frown. “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
Ye Muo immediately curled up again, burying his face in Norton’s shoulder.
Ye Muo continued to try and describe how he was feeling, “Muomuo doesn’t hurt, but Muomuo doesn’t feel good.”
He heard Ye Muo sadly conclude, “Muomuo’s broken.”
Norton felt warm liquid trickle into his collar and down his skin.
He rose. “Inform the medical center we’ll be heading over right away.”
……
The doctor held a thick pile of reports and adjusted his glasses, succinctly concluding, “He’s running a low fever.”
The Grantz all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Ano pressed the matter, “But he seems really uncomfortable and keeps crying. And why does he have a fever all of a sudden? Can Grantz even get fevers? Is that normal?”
The doctor patiently explained, “It’s actually a good thing. His Little Highness is very special after all. His psychic power is stable and has little impact on his body, which means the expected rise in physical attributes to an equal level won’t happen until he’s older and his body can tolerate it.”
“Cough. Which means his body will be a bit weaker than the average little Grantz for now. Please make sure he isn’t running too hot or too cold and limit physical activity to a suitable degree.”
Norton breathed a long sigh of relief. He gently patted Ye Muo on the back as he whispered, “Muomuo isn’t broken. Muomuo won’t break. You’ll be all better in no time.”
Ye Muo was lethargically resting against his shoulder. The only thing he understood from the doctor’s explanation was his own name and that he was going to be alright. He perked up a bit and tried articulating his request, “Even if Muomuo breaks, you can’t throw Muomuo away.”
Norton made a sound of acknowledgement. “I won’t. Muomuo will stay here forever.”
He added after a beat, “You did well, Muomuo. You can always say what’s on your mind.”
Author’s Corner
Thus, Muomuo scared himself to the point of tears
He scared the rest of the Grantz as well along the way
The main story feels quite interesting too. Carefully thinking it over and looking back, it doesn’t seem as bad as I made it out to be. I have 1/3 of a main story chapter done already. By the time I upload again, will I of all people have a buffer?
Uh oh, I’m going to jump straight from no self-confidence to extremely confident.
