Of course, Onyx was not to be outdone. He also adopted a posture similar to Killian’s and spoke to the host couple in a weighty and dignified voice.

“I agree with setting up multiple targets. But that alone is not enough.”

“…”

“It would be better to set up obstacles in between, so that instead of just walking and throwing darts, we compete by jumping over obstacles while throwing darts.”

“Oh! This is also an excellent idea!”

The host couple nodded with broad grins. And they immediately began preparing the competition stage.

Veronia’s heart chilled as she watched Killian and Onyx warming up on one side. Goosebumps rose all over her body.

‘Come to think of it, the competition between those two… it’s a showdown between the protagonist and the villain.’

Surely the dart game wouldn’t turn from a betting game into a real fight? They wouldn’t throw the darts at places other than the targets, would they? A tower of worry built up in Veronia’s mind.

As Killian had suggested, they hung 5 targets spaced out in a row on a wide wooden wall. And as Onyx had said, they placed chairs, tables, and buckets on the floor.

“Well then, now we’ve finished the preparations…”

“Wait a moment!”

It was when the host was about to announce the start of the game. Suddenly Jediel stood up and hurriedly approached them. And what he said was quite a sight.

“I think it would be good to set a time limit too!”

Jediel was not alone. Espin, who had somehow approached the child’s side, chimed in.

“That’s right. Since both of you are so skilled, the winner might not be determined by high scores alone.”

“That’s a very reasonable point.”

The host nodded, and so did Killian and Onyx. For that reason, the host had to prepare an hourglass as well.

Onyx stepped up as the first player. Veronia turned her head to glance at Jediel, and the child was watching Onyx with sparkling eyes, his hands clasped together.

‘Is he that happy!’

Veronia couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Jediel, who seemed even more nervous than Onyx.

Hup, hoo! Hup, hoo! After taking several deep breaths to prepare, Onyx flipped the hourglass and immediately started running.

“Wow!”

“Ooh!”

Exclamations burst out here and there. And for good reason, as Onyx’s movements were so nimble. In fact, Veronia was also surprised.

‘I didn’t know Onyx was this good with his body!’

As a member of the information guild, one never knew when they might encounter dangerous situations during various missions.

So he must have been steadily training his physical strength. But since it wasn’t a job that primarily used the body, she hadn’t expected him to be this agile.

He stepped on a chair and leapt over it for one throw, then rolled across a table for another, and finally jumped nimbly over a bucket for the last. The darts he threw hit the bullseye of the targets without fail.

“Wow! All 10 points! That guy is amazing!”

“He’s so fast too! Like some kind of flying squirrel!”

Surprised by Onyx’s quick movements and accurate dart skills, the spectators focused on his every motion with their mouths agape. Jediel and Espin were watching intently while munching on popcorn they had bought from somewhere.

That’s when it happened.

“Ugh!”

As he was trying to leap over a wide table with one hand, Onyx let out a rather dull groan, as if he had slipped for a moment.

“Looks like he stumbled?”

“Oh dear, is he hurt?”

Worried voices could be heard here and there. Veronia was concerned as well. After all, there’s nothing more foolish than getting injured while playing a silly game.

‘I hope he’s not badly hurt.’

The stumble was only momentary, and Onyx got up again, running, rolling, and leaping about to finish the game.

“Out of 10 darts, one 8 points, one 9 points, and eight 10 points for a total of 97 points. The time is 3 minutes and 53 seconds!”

The hostess’s voice announcing Onyx’s game score rang out loudly.

“Wow! Amazing!”

“That guy’s going to win!”

“It’s still too early to tell! The noble-looking guy is quite good too! You should have seen him earlier! Whew! They’re both neck and neck.”

Amidst various impressions and expectations, Onyx came and sat down next to Veronia.

“Is your wrist okay? It looked like you stumbled earlier.”

“This much is nothing, I’m fine.”

“Let me see.”

Veronia looked closely at Onyx’s wrist. Contrary to his words, the wrist didn’t look very fine at all. Looking at the reddened and swollen wrist, Veronia glared at him.

“You call this fine? It must hurt. We should put some ice on it quickly. Really, why did you…”

She wanted to say “Why did you get involved in such a childish betting game!” but held back. It was because Jediel was looking over with worried eyes.

Onyx smiled at Jediel.

“Don’t worry, Jediel. It doesn’t hurt much. More importantly, shouldn’t we watch Killian’s game?”

“…Yes.”

Though he answered “Yes,” Jediel didn’t turn his head away immediately. He still looked worried. Onyx playfully ruffled the child’s hair as he spoke.

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you call me Uncle Onyx instead of Mr. Onyx? I think that might give me some strength.”

“Oh…”

Jediel, who had been opening and closing his mouth, glanced at Veronia. It was an expression seeking permission. Naturally, he seemed to think that calling someone “Uncle” meant becoming “family,” so he needed his mother’s permission.

Veronia smiled gently and nodded, finding the child’s transparent thoughts adorable.

“Uncle Onyx! Uncle! Uncle Onyx! Now, do you feel better? Does it not hurt?”

“Yes, it feels a bit better now. Thank you, Jediel.”

Jediel smiled broadly with a relieved expression, seemingly reassured by Onyx’s words that he felt better.

Meanwhile, Killian, who was preparing for the game, had completely lost his motivation. It was because of Veronia’s expression as she worried about Onyx’s wrist.

Watching her frown at Onyx, then glare, then smile again, made him feel empty inside, as if a hole had been punched through his chest.

‘What am I even doing here…’

A deep sense of futility drained away his energy. He felt this kind of game was pointless.

“You must win!”

“Killian, cheer up! We’re on the winning side!”

Espin and Jediel waved their hands in encouragement, but it didn’t revive his spirits. Veronia’s gaze was still fixed on Onyx’s wrist.

He started the game in that state, and naturally, the result wasn’t very good.

“Out of 10 darts, two 8 points, one 9 points, and seven 10 points for a total of 95 points. The time is 3 minutes and 57 seconds!”

“So the winner of this dart betting game is Mr. Onyx!”

When the host couple shouted loudly, the spectators who had been watching all along burst into applause and cheers.

“You were both excellent!”

“Thanks to you, we had fun too!”

“Good job! Congratulations!”

“Now you can have a delicious meal, little one!”

Laughter erupted from here and there.

The host couple approached with stuffed animals as big as Jediel’s body. One was a rabbit doll, and the other was a squirrel doll.

“You both showed us an excellent game. These are gift prizes for the two of you who achieved high scores.”

“A rabbit doll for the one who hopped like a rabbit, and a squirrel doll for the one who ran nimbly like a squirrel.”

The hostess gently placed the rabbit doll in Killian’s arms and the squirrel doll in Onyx’s arms.

“…Thank you.”

“…”

The expressions of the adult men receiving the dolls that filled their arms were rather disgruntled.

Meanwhile, Jediel’s eyes shone as brightly as the sun as he looked up at the two men. They were well aware of the child’s gaze filled with longing. But they pretended not to notice, as if they had made an unspoken agreement.

“It would look nice displayed on the bed.”

“I often feel lonely eating alone, so I could put it on the chair across from me at those times.”

Killian and Onyx muttered to themselves loudly enough for Jediel to hear.

Jediel quickly became glum. He had thought with quite high probability that the dolls would become his, but it seemed the uncles were just going to take them.

“I’m not envious at all. I got this, you know.”

Tch, Jediel showed off the small wooden puppy doll he had received earlier with a sulky expression.

At that moment, Killian and Onyx exchanged glances and grinned. Then they began nodding at each other. They seemed to be coming up with some kind of plan.

Killian spoke first.

“I think it would be better if you took this doll, Jediel. I’m getting on in years, so it doesn’t seem right to put a doll on my bed, even if it’s just for decoration.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Here, take it.”

“Wow! Thank you!”

Killian gave the large rabbit doll to Jediel. The child hugged the doll that was as big as his own body with both arms spread wide. His mood quickly improved, and he smiled brightly.

This time, Onyx spoke up.

“Mr… no, Uncle feels the same way. It’s lonely times when you should eat with people, not dolls. It just won’t do, so Jediel, you take it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Here you go.”

“Oh! I’m so excited! Thank you! Uncle Onyx!”

Onyx handed the large squirrel doll to Jediel.

The child had to walk unsteadily, barely managing to hold the rabbit doll with one arm and the squirrel doll with the other. Sweat was already streaming down the child’s face.

Killian and Onyx chuckled, finding the sight adorable.

What was so amusing about teasing a child with this kind of prank? Why were the two men who had been in competition suddenly of one mind in trying to tease the child? Veronia and Espin shook their heads at the two men’s childish prank.

Meanwhile, Jediel took steady steps forward, not giving up despite how difficult it must have been to walk while holding two large dolls.