The porcupine battle boar that Lulu had been engaged in a fierce battle with was reduced to shards of ice by a single glance from Urien. The severely wounded Olef was detained along with Blour, Sally, Lulu, and Xixi. As for Urien and Amy, they were unanimously championed as heroes by all of the onlookers, so they were not taken into custody.
The personnel from the Gray Temple quickly cleaned up the scene and carried away all of the dead bodies. All of the onlookers also dispersed, leaving two investigators standing next to Joshua and Anna with complex expressions. They were at a loss for what to do with the dead elf and his grieving granddaughter.
After such a tragic event, Mag closed down the restaurant for the night.
"Father, Big Sister Aisha will be fine, right?" Amy turned to Mag with a concerned expression. Yabemiya was also appraising Mag with a worrisome look.
"Don't worry, she did a good deed, so she'll definitely be fine. She's just going to the Gray Temple to clarify the situation." Mag nodded in response. He could tell that Blour was no ordinary elf, and they weren't at fault anyway, so he didn't have to worry about them. His main priority was Little Anna. Blour had asked him to look after her in his stead during his absence.
Amy's gaze fell on Anna before she turned to look up at Mag. "I feel so sorry for that big sister. We should go help her."
Mag walked into the restaurant, and quickly returned with a blueberry ice cream in his hands. He led Amy over to Anna before squatting down in front of her.
"Don't cry, Big Sister. I'm Amy, and this is my father. Your grandfather has become a star; he's gone to a better place. Can you let us look after you?" Amy wore a genuine expression on her little face as she consoled Anna in a mellow voice.
Anna slowly raised her head upon hearing that. She looked at Amy and Mag with her red and swollen eyes, and tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
"Don't cry, Big Sister. Your grandfather has become a star. Father says my mother lives on the moon. They're both in the sky, so they won't be lonely up there." Amy stepped forward and gently wiped the tears from Anna's eyes.
"Really?" Anna looked at Amy with a hesitant expression.
"Of course. Father would never lie to me." Amy nodded firmly. She then pointed up to the moon, and said, "Look, there's a new star next to the moon; I didn't see it last night. It must be your grandfather. He didn't leave you; he's still looking at you from up in the sky."
"Grandpa..." Anna looked at the bright star that Amy was pointing to, and her eyes gradually lit up.
"That's right. Your grandfather told you that he was going to become a star. He wouldn't lie to you. These two are going to take him away now and bury him so his soul can completely transform into a star. That way, he'll be able to stay with you forever in the night sky." Mag also offered consolation in a gentle voice. Even though he was lying, if a lie like this could give a child like her a happier childhood, then he was willing to tell a lie.
"Really...?" Anna looked at Mag, and then down at Joshua. She seemed to be quite hesitant and conflicted.
"Yes. Father wouldn't lie." Amy nodded firmly.
"Maybe you can bid a final farewell to your grandfather. Remember what he told you: become a free and kind-hearted elf," Mag encouraged.
Anna was silent for a moment before rising to her feet and bowing to Joshua in farewell. "Goodbye, Grandpa. I'll talk to you every night from now on."
Mag stood up and turned to the two Gray Temple investigators as he said, "Take him away and find a good burial site for him, please. Please notify me of the burial location after the event, I'll issue the required fees."
"Alright." The two of them nodded gratefully before carrying Joshua onto a horse-drawn carriage, which soon departed.
Anna looked on all the way until the carriage had disappeared into the distance. Tears began to shimmer in her eyes as if she were going to cry again.
"This is the blueberry ice cream that you like. Your grandfather must have wanted to take you here again for another ice cream, right?" Mag handed over the blueberry ice cream with a smile.
Anna looked at the ice cream with a hesitant expression, and didn't accept it.
"The ice cream is super delicious; I really like it too. You should take it, Big Sister." Amy offered encouragement, and as she did so, she couldn't help but lick her lips at the sight of the ice cream in Mag's hand.
Anna grappled with an internal conflict for a moment before carefully accepting the ice cream that was being offered to her. A cool and refreshing sensation wafted toward her, and tears began to flow down her face again as she took her first lick.
"It's a little cold outside, so let's go sit in the restaurant. Amy can sleep with you tonight." Mag was feeling quite sympathetic toward Anna. Both her parents had passed away, and her grandpa was also gone. She had no relatives left in this world.
Anna nodded gently, and Amy held onto her hand before leading her into the restaurant.
Boss really is a good person, Yabemiya thought to herself.
After entering the restaurant, Mag went into the kitchen, and cooked Amy and Anna a Yangzhou fried rice each. After eating an ice cream and a Yangzhou fried rice, Anna's mood improved significantly. There was still no smile on her face, but she wasn't crying anymore, and she was reciprocating Amy's attempts to make conversation with her.
After finishing the fried rice, Mag took the two little girls upstairs to tuck them into bed.
"Ugly Duckling, you'll have to sleep on the floor tonight. Big Sister Anna will take your place today." Amy appraised Ugly Duckling with a serious expression as it tried to clamber up onto her bed.
"Meow~" Ugly Duckling looked up at Amy with a pitiable expression. It rolled onto its back, then sidled up to Amy's leg, and rubbed its little head against her foot.
Anna's eyes lit up at the sight of Ugly Duckling. She had found the orange kitten adorable when she was eating her fried rice, and she was struck by the urge to hold it.
"Wheedling won't do any good." Amy remained resolute in her stance.
"Meow-" Ugly Duckling was immediately deflated, and it turned to Anna with a beseeching look.
"Um... Can we let it sleep on the bed as well? It looks so miserable." Anna mustered up the courage to speak up after a brief hesitation.
"Alright, then. Seeing as Big Sister Anna is speaking up for you, I'll let you sleep on the bed." Amy nodded slightly reluctantly as she looked at Ugly Duckling.
"Meow-" Ugly Duckling immediately gave an elated cry, and a smile also appeared on Anna's face.
"Alright, all three of you should go to bed now." Mag tucked the three of them in with a smile on his face. Ugly Duckling was nestled between the two little girls, and as he looked at the three little heads poking out from under the blanket, Mag was suddenly struck by the feeling that he had two daughters.