Driving the borrowed carriage from the Tavern, Caius arrived at the Orphanage entrance, with Belle carrying large bundles as she got onto the carriage.


    A group of little girls, who had just stopped crying, immediately burst into tears again upon seeing Belle board the carriage and prepare to leave.


    Seeing this, Caius simply spread his arms wide and scooped up the group of girls, all under the age of ten.


    "Sit tight!" Caius placed them on his shoulders, and the little girls quickly held hands and sat properly.


    Tina was still hugging Caius'' neck, but she had stopped crying.


    "I''ll take you for a ride, and once we reach the city gates, I''ll send you back. So no more crying, alright?" Caius said.


    "Mhm!" The little girls nodded, then excitedly looked around and said, "It''s so high up! Big guy, aren’t you scared of heights?"


    Caius chuckled.


    From just a little over two meters high, how could he possibly be scared?


    "Of course not! I''m a brave mercenary!" Caius hummed proudly.


    Tina looked at him with her big sparkling eyes. "Then can I be a mercenary too?"


    "Of course you can, but being a mage is even better." Caius smiled, then jumped onto the carriage with the little girls.


    His movements were large but steady. The little girls shrieked in surprise but then burst into laughter.


    Inside the carriage, Belle reached out her small hands nervously, as if afraid the girls might fall off.


    But Caius was completely at ease, driving the carriage with one hand while boasting to the little girls perched on his shoulders.


    "Big guy, can you fly?"


    "No, but I can knock flying things out of the sky—with just a stone I pick up!"


    "Wow~" The little girls gasped in admiration.


    Holan watched this scene unfold, a faint smile appearing on his face.


    A man who could play so naturally with children couldn''t be a bad person.


    The ride from the Orphanage to the city gates was usually ten minutes, but Caius deliberately slowed the carriage, taking twenty minutes instead.


    "We made a deal, no crying," Caius reminded them.


    "Mhm, no crying!" Tina and the little girls'' eyes were red, but they still responded stubbornly.


    "Good." Caius nodded and then, with a shrug of his shoulders, sent the four little girls into the air, catching them securely in his arms.


    "Don’t close your eyes! Let’s have some fun!" Caius grinned mischievously before leaping off the carriage and sprinting forward at an astonishing speed.


    "Waaaaa~~~" The little girls screamed, Tina the loudest of them all.


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    But excitement far outweighed fear.


    The twenty-minute journey back to the Orphanage took less than a minute.


    When he set them down, their hair had turned into a wild mess, like broomsticks.


    "I want to go again!" Tina raised her little hands excitedly.


    Caius laughed and ruffled her hair. "Next time! I still have to take your sister to the Academy."


    "Promise! You have to take us next time!" Tina insisted.


    "Definitely!" Caius nodded, handing the children over to Granny Lunla before dashing back to the city gates.


    "You really don’t find this troublesome, do you?" Holan chuckled.


    "What’s there to be troubled about?" Caius laughed heartily and flicked the reins. "Let’s go!"


    Inside the carriage, Belle watched Caius'' smiling face, her eyes shining softly beneath her bangs.


    The carriage left the city and entered the wilderness.


    It was evident that Belle had never traveled this far beyond the city before. She clutched her bundle tightly, looking slightly tense.


    "Relax, silly mushroom," Caius said with a smile.


    Belle muttered softly, "I''m not silly."


    "Then I’ll just call you little mushroom." Caius chuckled, as if teasing her brought him endless joy.


    Belle hesitated for a moment before extending a single finger from her sleeve, saying nothing.


    Caius raised an eyebrow. "So what if you''re older by a year? You''re still my little mushroom."


    Belle immediately retracted her finger, lowering her head, looking a little aggrieved.


    Holan watched their interaction, both amused and exasperated. He reached out and lightly smacked Caius. "You even dare to bully her when I’m here?"


    "I didn’t!" Caius grinned.


    "I saw it with my own eyes!"


    "Seeing isn''t always believing. Ask her yourself—did I bully her?" Caius laughed.


    Holan turned to Belle, gently holding her arm. "If he bullies you, tell your Instructor. I''ll teach him a lesson!"


    Belle quickly shook her head. "No, he didn’t bully me..."


    Caius: "Heh heh heh~"


    Holan: "..."


    "Still laughing?" Holan smacked him again. "Belle is just soft-tempered. Anyone else wouldn’t let you tease them like this."


    Caius smiled, then slowly said, "Instructor Holan, can you guarantee that in Hydis, no one will bully Belle?"


    "Of course!" Holan declared. "As long as I’m there, no student will dare bully Belle."


    But Caius shook his head. "It seems you don’t really understand Belle."


    "What do you mean?" Holan frowned.


    Caius didn’t turn around, but his voice was calm. "Have you ever truly seen Belle’s real face?"


    "Uh..." Holan was momentarily stunned and turned to look at Belle.


    That was when he realized—he had never actually seen this girl’s true appearance.


    "Lift her bangs and take a look. Then, I’ll ask you again," Caius said.


    Holan hesitated, then gently asked Belle, "May I?"


    Belle sat in a daze for a moment before nodding.


    Holan carefully lifted her bangs.


    Then he froze.


    And then, he fell silent.


    Caius’ voice followed.


    "Instructor Holan, now, can you guarantee that no one in Hydis will bully Belle?"


    "I..." This time, Holan’s response lacked the certainty of before.


    Because the moment he saw Belle’s face, he understood.


    If Belle showed her true appearance, the stir she would cause would be unimaginable.


    The ones who would take notice of her wouldn’t just be Hydis’ students.


    This world is cruel.


    To possess breathtaking beauty without the strength or background to match is sometimes more of a curse than a blessing.


    Think of Hilda.


    Her beauty captivated not just Hydis, but all of Grilla City. Among Hydis’ three thousand students, at least half were her devoted admirers. And it wasn’t just students—even Instructors and high-ranking nobles in Grilla City were enamored with her.


    That might sound impressive.


    But if Hilda lacked the strength or background to match, would being the center of so much attention still be a good thing?


    Not all nobles uphold noble conduct.


    Not all powerful people exercise self-restraint.


    When a girl as stunning as an Angel appears, powerless to resist, how many people would be able to suppress their desires?


    Protecting Belle… Holan’s status might be high, and his strength formidable, but if those eyeing Belle were even stronger, if their backgrounds were more influential, what could he do?


    That was why Caius asked what he did.


    "Can you?" Caius asked again.


    "I..." Holan bit his lip. "I will do my utmost to protect her!"


    "Great answer." Caius nodded with a smile.


    "But I’m different."


    "How so?" Holan asked indignantly.


    "I’m a mercenary. I have no constraints. I can do whatever I want!"


    "If someone bullies her, you’ll try your best to protect her."


    "But I—"


    "Will wipe out anyone who tries!"


    "Annihilation is protection."


    "Do you understand, Instructor Holan?"


    Caius turned back, grinning, his white teeth gleaming.


    "I can guarantee—besides me, no one will dare to bully her!"