It's Probably Not a Good Thing

Mafia boss Jadiel was back on the couch.

"Where were you?" Jadiel's fingers were spinning his gun in irritation. His gangster-like aura was also back, Ciel noted.

"Do you not sleep at night?" Ciel asked curiously, looking at the clock on the wall. It was past midnight. He wasn't afraid at all of Jadiel's current mean look. Over the past month, he had observed both Jadiel and Lilian.

Jadiel acted grumpy all the time, but he wouldn't actually punish Ciel, especially after Ciel had gained his trust. The most he would get was more work and a scolding.

Lilian was mostly a researcher, but his role was mostly healing. Most of the time, he would be easy-going, well, that was unless the other person was his patient. Ciel had personally experienced his stubbornness during his first week of meeting Lilian.

But overall, he would be fine, Ciel thought as he smiled.

Jadiel rubbed his forehead. He had gotten a shock when he hadn't found Ciel sleeping in his room. He already had a hunch on where Ciel had been.

"Were you at the black market?"

Ciel nodded. "You came to my room in the middle of the night, what happened?"

"Erin and the others came back."

Ciel tilted his head to one side, "So you went to my room? For what?"

"We didn't really mean to go to your room. But when Erin was returning to his room, he smelled a heavy scent of blood from it and barged in."

Ciel nodded, he knew the reason.

'That must be from training.'

Jadiel sighed, feeling that he was doing this a lot lately. "Didn't Lilian tell you not to use blood magic that often?"

"Then how am I supposed to get more proficient at it?"

"You can do that when you're more mature." Jadiel seemed to realize what he was saying before adding, "and healthier."

This time, Ciel also sighed. He didn't understand why Jadiel was trying to restrict him.

"I don't understand. The reason why you're trying to raise me is because you see potential in me, correct? Potential to become a good mage that will assist this organization. Other than that, you have no motivation to take me in. You don't owe me anything and we have no blood ties. We're not even the same race. Even more, I am a suspicious child who came out of nowhere. Seeing me work hard to improve my mage rank, shouldn't you support me?" He spread his hands out helplessly.

"..." Jadiel couldn't find a comeback. What Ciel said was indeed correct. But..

"Then why would I take Erin in?"

"Because you see yourself in him. A homeless eve who has no tribe to go to. Also, a winged snake eve, when grown up, will definitely be a force to be reckoned with." Ciel was extremely blunt.

"So what happened after Erin barged into my room?"

Jadiel allowed Ciel to change the topic.

"We noticed you were missing. The ones who just came back are out in the capital looking for you."

"Ah, oops." Ciel scratched his head embarrassedly. They must've thought that he really was a spy.

"At times like this, you should say sorry and that you won't do it again."

"Sorry, I won't do it again." Ciel gave the most harmless smile he could muster.

Next time, he'll go to the black market after leaving a note.

At this time, the door behind Ciel opened. He turned around. Oh, Erin and the others were back.

"Brotheeer!" Erin cannonballed into Ciel.

"Kek!"

Ciel toppled over onto the ground as he hugged Erin.

'Why is he so uselessly big!'

"Where were you?" Lanae came up from behind and pulled Erin off.

"He was at the black market." A voice came from the back of the room. Lilian came out from the shadows, his wool-like hair ruffled from sleep.

"Older brother? Since when were you here?" Lanae hurriedly clapped her hands over Erin's ears. He curiously looked up at her, but didn't resist. She glared at Jadiel, as if berating him for not doing the same thing to Ciel. Jadiel snorted in response.

"Isn't he nine years old? Do you even know what a black market is?" Lanae clearly didn't believe Lilian's words.

"I do know. It's an illegal place where almost everything is sold." Ciel piped up. Annoyed, Jadiel pressed his head down, educating him in the process.

"At times like this, you stay silent."

Ciel stuck his tongue out.

"Where did you learn something like that?" Lanae looked worriedly at Ciel.

"Picked it up while living." Ciel smiled lightly. In his past life, his sister loved dragging him to the black market to find new toys for her to tinker around with. Once she was interested in something, not even their older brother could stop her.

Their conversation ended abruptly when Erin yawned widely. He was then directly picked up by Lanae. Unlike Jadiel's method of picking up Ciel like a chick, Lanae carried Erin in the way children should be carried.

Ciel looked pointedly at Jadiel. He should learn from Lanae.

Jadiel ignored him.

Not noticing the two's exchange in front of her, Lanae continued talking.

"Erin's been traveling nonstop for a week straight. He needs sleep, especially since he directly turned into a nine year old upon humanizing. New eves are normally guided to become human babies then grow slowly into their final human form. Erin took too much mental power with his first time. We'll continue this tomorrow."

With that, she turned around to face Mason and Ivan, who were behind her.

"...Why do you two look more exhausted than the child?"

"We can't help it. Weren't we the ones who took all the night duties? I haven't slept in five days." Mason leaned against the doorway. Ivan looked like he fell asleep standing.

"Tch. I'll take Erin to his room then." With the words 'weaklings' blatantly written in her eyes, Lanae headed upstairs.

***

The next morning, it was surprisingly peaceful considering the ruckus Ciel had caused with his disappearance.

After breakfast, the adults went to discuss what to do next. Ciel opted out of the meeting to spend time with a certain stone faced boy with large wings clinging to him.

Ciel held a book open, patiently teaching Erin words. It was easy since the language was the same as his previous world.

'So what was the Arch language for?' A thought popped up in Ciel's head, but he shook it away. He already learned it, it might come useful later.

With a blank face, Erin tugged his clothes. Ciel almost laughed aloud as he continued to read the words aloud. Other than his appearance, Erin acted nothing like an older brother. Rather, he was more suitable to be the sheltered younger one.

Having an obedient sibling like this might not be so bad.

Together, they made a gentle picture. A delicate and pale boy, although blindfolded, was gently teaching another boy how to read. As for the other boy, even with a blank face, he radiated an aura of innocence and any onlooker could easily tell how serious he was in learning. Their matching hair color made them seem more like brothers.

This was the scene Lanae saw when she went up to the balcony with Jadiel.

Her eyes shined, "Don't they look like biological brothers?"

"Only their hair is similar, and Ciel's hair is dyed." Jadiel evenly replied.

"Captain, please don't ruin my fantasies." Lanae pouted.

Even from far away, they could hear Ciel's voice.

"...Any problem that can be solved with violence, can't be called a problem. If you use violence and the problem still isn't solved, then you simply aren't using enough violence."

Erin was mildly confused.

"What about talking it out?"

"Ah, I guess that's the way too. But just remember, that's usually an option for the strong and privileged. But personally, I'm a pacifist, you know?"

Ciel shrugged, ignoring Erin's dubious eyes.

Lanae looked questioning at Jadiel. He shrugged as he looked away.

"This is what I told you about before. I don't have much experience with children, which is why I asked you. Is this a good development for nine year olds?"

"Well, many children develop precociously. He's probably just smarter than those his age. It's a good…"

She paused halfway, remembering Ciel's late night trip to the black market.

"..You know, maybe it's safer if he's more childlike."