I Was Kidnapped By The Strongest Guild
Chapter 326: Santa Claus

Levinas went on to challenge the second villain.

She used her button-mashing technique again, and somehow managed to win by the skin of her teeth.

"Ugh! You're strong...!"

Hearing the costumed villain's cry of defeat, Levinas clenched her fist tightly.

When I perked up my ears, I could hear Levinas's heart pounding.

It was no wonder she was nervous. If she won just one more time, she'd get the staff she'd been longing for as a prize.

"Levinas, only one more to go."

"Yeah! Everyone, just believe in Levinas!"

Levinas approached the third villain with a tense look on her face.

Just then, I heard a man grumbling nearby.

"Come on, cut me some slack. I'll just take the level 1 prize."

"No."

"You're really making this tough, aren't you?"

The first villain, who had let Levinas win, was mercilessly crushing other challengers.

Even those who seemed quite skilled couldn't get past the first stage.

Fortunately, Levinas was so focused on the third villain that she didn't notice this.

I was grateful to those who were putting in effort for the children's sake.

"Villain! Come at me!"

"Hehehe... I'm the strongest of us three brothers...!"

The villains were really into their roles.

The result was Levinas's victory, with just a sliver of health left. It was so close that I thought she might lose, even though I knew they were going easy on her.

It was truly an epic match.

"Argh...! How frustrating...!"

Thud-!

The costumed villain sitting at the game console collapsed to the side.

Levinas stood there with her mouth agape, as if she couldn't believe she had won.

"W-wow, King, did Levinas really win...?"

"Yeah. Levinas won."

"Wow...!"

Levinas's eyes sparkled brightly.

Then, without a word, she raised both hands high in the air.

"Wow, to think she defeated all three brothers."

"That's amazing."

Clap clap clap-

The people around us applauded Levinas.

Levinas's shoulders rose with pride.

I was so grateful to the adults for boosting the child's self-esteem.

"Levinas won! We won!"

As Levinas was basking in her joy, someone who looked like an event staff member appeared with the prize.

It was the staff we had seen earlier.

"Congratulations. Here's your prize, the staff."

"Wow! Thank you so much!"

After thanking them, Levinas took the staff and came over to us.

She swung it around a few times, playing with it, then handed it to Gaeul.

"Levinas is done playing with it, so Gaeul puppy can have it!"

"Gaeul?"

Gaeul's eyes widened in surprise.

Though surprised, she hugged the staff preciously to her chest.

"Wow, Gaeul, your staff is really pretty."

"Heh...!"

Gaeul's tail wagged gently.

My tail started wagging along with hers.

It was nice to see the children getting along so well.

I was glad we had participated in the event.

Gaeul didn't let go of the staff she received from Levinas for even a moment.

She kept it with her while eating and playing.

Lick lick-

Gaeul was licking the gem on the staff while watching TV.

She probably shouldn't lick it like that.

Maybe it's okay since she's a beast-kin?

As I was watching the gem sparkle even more from Gaeul's grooming, Sophia slowly entered the living room.

"Gyeoul, I can't seem to find my cane anywhere."

"Oh, that..."

Gaeul and Levinas had borrowed it earlier to play magical girls.

Didn't they put it back in its place after playing?

Just as I was about to go to Sophia's room to check, Gaeul tugged on her toy staff.

Stretch-

Gaeul's staff extended to become as long as Sophia's.

I had wondered why the toy was so expensive, but it seemed to have various functions.

"Here!"

Gaeul held out the extended staff to Sophia.

To think she'd let go of the staff after hours, just for Sophia's sake.

It was nice to see her thoughtfulness towards others.

"This is... a bit too flashy for me to use."

"Huh...?"

"...But I suppose it'll do around the house."

Sophia took Gaeul's magic staff.

Tap tap, she used it to support herself on the floor, replacing her missing cane.

"Heh!"

Gaeul smiled brightly and turned her attention back to the TV.

A children's program was playing.

It was the same show Gaeul had been watching in the morning, but this was an older episode, not the latest one.

"Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!"

The theme of this episode was Christmas.

Santa Claus was shown carrying a sack and entering the roof of the main character's house.

Seeing this, Gaeul jumped in surprise and pointed accusingly.

"Thief! Thief!"

Grr.

Gaeul bared her teeth at Santa Claus.

It seemed to be the instinct of a guard dog protecting its home.

"Gaeul, that's not a thief, it's Santa Claus."

"Santa?"

"Yeah. He's the grandfather who gives presents to good children."

"...!"

Gaeul stared intently at Santa Claus on the TV.

She clenched her fist tightly, as if making some kind of resolution.

Was she trying to be a good child?

Gaeul was already a good child just by being herself.

I was about to pat Gaeul's head with a chuckle when Levinas and Saebyeok came running out of the bedroom.

"King!"

Levinas was holding Sophia's cane in her hand.

I had wondered where they'd put it, but it seemed they were still playing with it.

"King! Where did Gaeul puppy go?!"

"Gaeul is..."

Huh?

She was right next to me just a moment ago.

She must have slipped away while I wasn't looking.

I perked up my ears to sense Gaeul's presence.

I heard the sound of a shower running from the bathroom.

"Looks like Gaeul went to the bathroom for a bit."

"Oh, really?!"

Levinas nodded and sat down next to me.

Saebyeok lay down on the sofa and started to doze off.

"Levinas, earlier I..."

I spent some time chatting with Levinas about various things.

A little while later, the bathroom door opened and Gaeul appeared.

"Ho ho ho."

Gaeul looked quite different coming out of the bathroom.

Her head and chin were covered in white soap bubbles.

"Gaeul?"

"Merry Chris... Ho ho ho."

Gaeul spoke like the Santa Claus from the animation she had just watched.

I was wondering what was going on, but it seemed she was dressed up as Santa Claus.

"Gaeul, are you going to be Santa Claus?"

"Yeah."

Her eyes, barely visible through the foam, were smiling brightly.

The foam-covered Gaeul approached me and pulled out some crumpled colored paper from her pocket.

She placed the crumpled paper in my hand.

I thought there might be something inside, so I opened it, but there was nothing.

The crumpled paper itself seemed to be the gift.

"Thank you, is this for me?"

"Yeah. Master good."

"Thank you."

Gaeul started giving presents to everyone in the living room.

She gave Levinas a used battery, placed a straw on the sleeping Saebyeok's back, and gave Sophia a pen.

"Thank you."

"Heh!"

Was she happy to give gifts and receive thanks?

Gaeul's tail wagged rapidly.

Gaeul must have wanted to give out more presents, because she grabbed her bag and ran out of the house.

"W-wait, Gaeul...!"

It wouldn't be good to leave soap bubbles on for too long.

I hurriedly chased after Gaeul.

Levinas and the now-awake Saebyeok followed behind me.

"Oh no."

In that short time, Gaeul had already taken the elevator down.

I stood there, anxiously waiting for the elevator.

Fortunately, the guild's elevator usually arrived quickly.

'First floor... no, the park?'

We took the elevator down to the park.

There, we found Gaeul handing out presents to people around her.

The foam that had been firmly in place was starting to drip down.

"Ho ho."

Gaeul, oblivious to this, was laughing like Santa Claus and giving out presents to people nearby.

She gave out torn toilet paper rolls and black plastic bags.

Most of the gifts were given to children.

"Gaeul."

"Master!"

Just as I was approaching Gaeul, Kwon Arin waved at us from a distance and came over.

"Why are you covered in soap bubbles?"

"Well, she's playing Santa," I explained.

"Oh, really? Is the foam okay?"

"Um... I'm not sure?"

This is a world with mana.

Maybe her skin is tougher?

I scratched my cheek and glanced at Gaeul.

"Hmm... I wonder if it's fine? Since you're Santa, can I have a present too?"

Kwon Arin held out her hand to Gaeul.

Seeing the open palm, Gaeul shook her head.

"No."

"Why not? I'm a very good person."

"Not baby."

"Ah... you're only giving to little kids? Well, can't be helped then."

Tsk, Kwon Arin clicked her tongue and withdrew her hand.

Gaeul seemed to feel bad about not giving her a present. She looked at Kwon Arin nervously, then pulled a pebble out of her bag.

"Here."

"Huh? You're giving this to me?"

"Yeah."

Gaeul nodded quickly.

The sudden movement was too much for the soap bubbles, which finally collapsed and covered Gaeul's face.

"...!"

Gaeul's tail stood straight up in surprise.

I could see the soap bubbles getting into Gaeul's wide-open eyes.

"Master! Masteeer!"

Ack ack.

Gaeul let out a small scream and jumped up from where she was standing.

She even slapped her own eyes.

"G-Gaeul!"

Before I could reach out to Gaeul, Kwon Arin picked her up and ran towards the pond.

I chased after Kwon Arin with the children.

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