Chapter : 15 : Ivy Nightshade!

The murmur of the goblin civilians filled the air as they gathered, their eyes flickering with uncertainty and hope. Whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.

"Is that the human we saw yesterday?"

"And the beast kin girl… she was disguised?!"

Luna and Aiden exchanged glances, realizing their magical camouflage had worn off without them noticing.

"If they're this strong… then…"

"Could we finally be free from those wretched hobgoblins?"

Before the uncertainty could spread further, Lysandra stepped forward. The princess's crimson eyes burned with determination as she clenched her fists.

"People of Grimclaw Kingdom!" she called out, her voice ringing with authority.

A hush fell over the crowd. Even Aiden, Luna, and Ivy turned to her, captivated.

Lysandra gestured toward Aiden, her expression proud. "This young man has saved us. His name is Aiden Nightshade. He made a promise—to defeat the hobgoblins and protect us!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Lysandra took a deep breath before adding, "If he succeeds… his reward will be marrying me."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, the goblins erupted.

"Marriage?!"

"A reward?!"

Aiden felt his face heat up as the cheers grew louder.

"All hail our Princess!"

"All hail our great King!"

"All hail our savior, Aiden Nightshade!"

Aiden looked at Luna, who was staring back at him, her expression caught between amusement and disbelief. Meanwhile, Ivy clutched his leg, hiding behind him. Her tiny fingers trembled.

Aiden quickly realized the problem—they were surrounded. Ivy was terrified, and she still needed food and proper clothing.

System, we need to get out of here. Do you have anything? Aiden thought urgently.

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[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: TELEPORTATION]

[COST: 5000 GOLD COINS]

NOTE: Teleports within a 2-kilometer radius. Multiple people can be teleported, but each extra person reduces the range by 200-meters.

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO PURCHASE THIS SKILL?]

→ YES | NO

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Without hesitation, Aiden selected YES.

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[SKILL PURCHASED: TELEPORTATION]

[SKILL CAN BE UPGRADED THROUGH THE SKILL TREE]

---

Aiden exhaled sharply. The drain on his mana was noticeable, but he could handle it.

Without warning, he scooped Ivy into his arms. The little goblin girl yelped in surprise, her fingers gripping the front of his outfit.

"M-Master?!" Luna stammered as Aiden grabbed her hand.

Lysandra barely had time to react before he reached for her too.

Teleport us to a quiet alley with no people, Aiden commanded the system.

In an instant, the world around them blurred.

A tingling sensation swept over Aiden's body. The air twisted, colors blending together before—

WHOOSH!

They landed in a alley. The walls of old stone buildings loomed on either side, muffling the distant noise of the celebrating goblins.

Aiden took a deep breath. Teleporting with multiple people had drained a lot of mana.

Ivy, still in his arms, blinked in awe. "Onii-chan… you can teleport?!"

Aiden chuckled. "Yeah, pretty cool, right?"

Ivy nodded rapidly, her fear from before replaced by excitement.

Lysandra, who had stumbled slightly, steadied herself. "You have more tricks than I thought," she admitted, crossing her arms.

Luna was staring at Aiden with admiration. Without warning, she hugged him tightly, her fluffy tail wagging. "My future husband is the best!" she giggled.

Lysandra stiffened, crossing her arms tighter as she watched the affectionate display.

Aiden smiled and patted Luna's head, earning a happy purr from her. Then, he gently set Ivy down on the ground.

"Alright, Ivy. We need to get you some proper clothes."

The little goblin girl looked down at herself, fidgeting with her ragged, oversized tunic. "I… I'd like that."

Luna grinned. "Master, use that magic skill that summons clothes! Like the one I'm wearing!"

Aiden smirked. System, open the clothing store.

A menu materialized before him. He scrolled through the options in his mind, his eyes catching on something familiar.

---

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO PURCHASE THIS OUTFIT FOR 500 GOLD COINS?]

→ YES | NO

---

He selected YES—

And Ivy's rags suddenly vanished.

For a moment, there was nothing.

Silence.

Then—

"Hyaaaah?!"

Ivy shrieked, her entire body exposed.

Her newly evolved form—taller, curvier—was on full display.

Luna and Lysandra both turned bright red.

"S-She's completely naked?!" Lysandra choked out.

Ivy's face turned beet red. She frantically tried to cover herself, pressing her arms over her small chest while her hands attempted to hide her lower half. But she was too small—there wasn't enough space to cover everything.

Her ears twitched furiously, her tiny fangs showing in pure embarrassment. "O-Onii-chan! D-Don't look!"

Aiden's face burned, and he immediately turned away, raising his hands in surrender. "S-System, hurry up with the clothes!"

A soft shimmer surrounded Ivy as the new outfit materialized onto her body.

She gasped, feeling the soft, comfortable fabric hug her form. Her new attire consisted of—

A black off-the-shoulder sweater, loose but warm.

A lace-trimmed black bra, just barely visible from the sweater's neckline.

Tight, high-waisted black shorts that hugged her hips.

Ivy hesitantly moved her arms, looking down at herself. Her eyes widened in amazement.

Luna and Lysandra gawked.

"I've never seen an outfit like that…" Luna murmured.

"It's… oddly cute." Lysandra admitted.

"But those string like garments, it's the same as those Master gave me before having proper clothes." Luna said, with a neutral expression.

Lysandra vlinked at Luna but didn't said anything.

Ivy's fingers tugged at the sweater's hem, feeling its softness. She twirled once, then turned to Aiden, her cheeks still pink.

"Onii-chan… do I look okay?" she asked shyly.

Aiden smiled. "You look stunning, Ivy."

The little goblin girl giggled, shifting on her feet.

Lysandra and Luna nodded approvingly.

"You look adorable," they both said in unison.

Ivy beamed.

Ivy waved her hand toward her, telling him lean toward her.

Then—

She suddenly ran forward.

Aiden leaned down slightly, confused. "What is i—"

SMOOCH!

Ivy kissed his cheek.

Luna and Lysandra froze.

Aiden's eyes widened.

The little goblin girl pulled back, her cheeks as red as embers.

"Onii-chan… thank you!" she whispered, smiling brightly.

Aiden knelt down, ruffling her hair. "Of course, Ivy. Welcome to the family."

Ivy let out a small, happy laugh, leaning into his touch.

Ivy stared up at Aiden, her red eyes shimmering with emotion. Her small hands trembled as she gripped the hem of her sweater, her lips parting as if searching for words. But instead of speaking, she suddenly threw herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Aiden's waist.

Aiden blinked in surprise before steadying himself. "Ivy?"

She buried her face into his chest, her small frame shaking. Then, a choked sob escaped her lips.

"Onii-chan… thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "No one has ever been this kind to me before."

Warm tears soaked into Aiden's clothes. Her delicate shoulders trembled with every sob, as though a weight she had carried for so long had finally been lifted.

Aiden felt his chest tighten. He gently placed his hand on the back of her head, stroking her soft, black hair. "It's okay now, Ivy," he murmured. "You're not alone anymore."

Ivy clung to him even tighter, her small fingers clutching his cloak as though afraid he might disappear.

Luna, watching the scene, felt her heart ache. Without hesitation, she knelt beside Ivy, her tail swishing as she placed a comforting hand on the young goblin girl's back.

"Ivy… from now on, no matter what, we'll be with you," Luna said, her voice filled with warmth. "We'll make sure you're happy."

Lysandra, standing beside them, hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. She placed a hand on Ivy's trembling shoulder. "That's right. You have us now. You're one of us."

Ivy's sobs grew softer, but her grip on Aiden never loosened. She hiccupped between sniffles, her small body pressed against his as if absorbing his warmth.

Aiden let out a soft chuckle, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "You don't have to thank me, Ivy. We're family now."

Ivy lifted her head just enough to look up at him. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, but a soft, trembling smile formed on her lips. "F-Family…" she echoed, as if the word itself was foreign yet precious.

Aiden nodded. "Yeah. Family."

A fresh wave of tears spilled down Ivy's cheeks, but this time, they weren't of sorrow.

"Thank you…" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luna and Lysandra exchanged glances before both of them wrapped their arms around Ivy as well.

It was a soft, warm embrace, filled with unspoken promises.

Ivy hiccupped, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensation of being held, being cherished, being loved.

For the first time in her life, she wasn't alone.

She had a place where she belonged.

Aiden smiled, holding her just a little longer.

Then—

A loud, grumbling noise echoed in the alley.

Everyone froze.

Aiden's lips twitched upward as he glanced down at Ivy.

"Oh? Someone's hungry now," he teased.

Ivy's face turned bright red as she quickly pulled away, pressing both hands to her stomach.

"N-No, I'm not!" she insisted, even as her stomach betrayed her with another loud growl.

Luna giggled, her tail wagging. "Ivy, your tummy just exposed you!"

Lysandra smirked, crossing her arms. "You're blushing so much."

Ivy let out a small whimper, covering her face. "S-Stop teasing me!"

Aiden laughed, patting her head. "Alright, alright. Let's get you something to eat."

Ivy peeked up at him, her embarrassment fading slightly. "Really?"

"Of course."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Then… can I have something sweet?"

Aiden chuckled. "We'll see what we can find."

Ivy grinned, bouncing on her feet. "Yay!"

Luna and Lysandra exchanged a glance, both smiling.

"Let's go, then," Aiden said, leading the way out of the alley, his new little sister holding onto his hand.

And just like that, a new chapter in Ivy's life had begun—one filled with warmth, love, and laughter.

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END OF CHAPTER : 15 : IVY NIGHTSHADE!

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