> "I have conquered empires. Tortured kings.
But nothing prepared me… for finger painting."
— General Esdeath, emotionally compromised by a crayon
---
[Location: The Empire – Esdeath's Castle, post-multiversal downtime]
She returned to find:
Her fortress cleaned.
Her execution chamber turned into a playroom.
And her elite soldiers now running a daycare.
Esdeath (coldly):
> "Where. Are. My torture devices?"
Soldier #1 (trembling):
> "You… said we needed to improve morale.
So we started a community initiative. For children. With snacks."
Esdeath (horrified):
> "You replaced the Guillotine with a juice bar?!"
---
[Morning – Observation of the Tiny Hostages]
The children… were everywhere.
Coloring. Laughing. Climbing on her throne.
One handed her a drawing of herself holding hands with a smiling sun.
Child:
> "You're scary but you have cool boots."
Esdeath:
> "...I don't know what emotion I'm experiencing. Is this… acceptance? Or a slow mental collapse?"
---
[Afternoon – Chat Ping While Holding a Crayon]
Esdeath (typing angrily):
> "I HAVE BEEN INFILTRATED BY INFANTS.
MY ARMY HAS BECOME A KINDERGARTEN.
SOMEONE SEND A WAR."
Deadpool:
> "Color outside the lines, queen."
Tsunade:
> "Maybe you're healing."
Kazuma:
> "They turned you into a daycare general?! HA— wait. Same thing happened to me. Nevermind."
MC:
> "What's worse, Esdeath? Losing control… or caring about it?"
She didn't reply.
She hugged a toddler.
Then stared at her own arms like they betrayed her.
---
[Evening – Doomsday Drill Turned Story Time]
She tried to do a military drill.
The children turned it into a conga line.
She tried to teach blade basics.
They used foam swords and called her "Ice Mommy."
She gave up. Sat down. Read a storybook aloud.
It was about a lonely queen who learned to smile.
She didn't cry.
She just blinked really hard.
---
[System Notification]
> *Trait Gained:
*"Frozen Heart, Warm Hands (Lv.1)" – Increases influence over allies when emotionally confused or shown affection. Unlocks hidden "Protector" passive if near vulnerable allies (even annoying tiny ones).
---
[Final Scene – Esdeath's Room, Midnight]
She sat at her desk.
Her diary open.
One sentence added:
> "Day 172: A child gave me a sticker. I did not kill them.
What the hell is happening to me."
---
End of Chapter 36: Esdeath