Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: I Picked Her Up from the Ruins
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I picked her up from the ruins, for now.
Holding the girl close, I emerged from the ruins just as the evening sunset began painting the world in its glow.
A brilliant orange hue.
After spending time in the dark ruins even during daylight, stepping out to this spectacle felt a bit overwhelming.
"Look over there, what an amazing sunset. It's like..."
"Uuu..."
Whoosh!
While I marveled, the girl did the opposite and buried her face against me with a grimace.
Maybe because it hadn't been long since escaping the ruins' darkness.
The sudden brightness must have stung her eyes, as she curled up like a small animal.
"She might be startled by the village lights."
I smiled and kept walking.
Fortunately, it was a short trip from the ruins to the village.
Just over one hill, and the village boundary was already in sight.
She, still nestled in my arms, showed a different reaction this time.
"Hua!"
"The village catches your eye too, huh? That's Promere, where I live."
Promere, named after the flames.
One of the most vibrant outposts in the Dias Dimension, where pioneering was still underway.
On top of that, Promere was backed by the Demon King, so its infrastructure was well-developed.
Schools, hospitals, movie theaters? Of course.
Even a dimensional gate back to my home planet, Earth.
Naturally, the internet worked too, so with some luck, we might even find her parents.
[From here on, even fragile humans are safe!]
We passed a village sign featuring a chibi Demon King character blowing hearts.
Then through the bustling village square full of various other races, into the quiet residential area.
Finally, I opened the door to the boarding house where I stayed.
?
"Hehe, back even earlier than when you left for those mushrooms? Welcome home, Yuan~"
A cheerful voice greeted me, along with a woman whose dazzling white long hair swayed as she moved.
Golden eyes, and a tail that flickered like small flames trailing from its tip.
She had the wings and horns typical of demons, but honestly, the tail stole the show.
Ah, this was Ihana, the landlady who packed me a sandwich.
She was a Balrog, the race that ruled the superheated zones.
A high-ranking species with combat prowess worthy of guarding the Demon King.
At first, I asked why someone who lived amid fire and magma had come to such an ordinary dimension.
'It was a job I got before inheriting control from Dad. The Demon King told me to monitor this place and make sure no dangerous magical beasts appeared! And to smash them if any did!'
On top of that, running a boarding house was on her bucket list.
So right after her honeymoon with her husband, she set up shop here in Promere.
"I'm back, Ihana. Judging by the smell from the kitchen..."
"Yep yep! My husband's kimchi stew loaded with pork! I can't wait to eat~"
The girl in my arms caught the delicious scent and turned her head.
Her eyes sparkled just like when she ate the sandwich.
If I left her alone, she'd probably start drooling.
Ihana finally noticed the girl and blinked.
"Huh... what's with the kid, Yuan? Didn't you say you were going mushroom hunting today?"
"Well... I'll explain over dinner bit by bit. For now, I picked her up from the ruins."
"Don't say it like you brought home a stray from the traditional market."
Ihana stepped closer and peered at the girl.
"Hua?"
"Don't worry. I won't eat her. The only one I eat is Seha♡"
"What kind of talk is that in front of a child."
Ihana chuckled and stroked the girl's head.
Surprisingly, the girl didn't resist and accepted the touch meekly.
Did they bond as fellow other races?
"Yuan, mind leaving her with me for a bit?"
"Ah, to give her a bath?"
"Yeah. Eating while all grubby like that isn't right."
"I'd be grateful. Honestly, if it were a boy it'd be fine, but since she's a girl, I was a little stuck."
I tried handing the girl over to Ihana.
But...
"Umuuu! Uuu!"
She clung tightly to my arm and wouldn't let go.
She even shook her head vigorously, rejecting Ihana with all her might.
"Oh dear? Did she just reject me? That stings a little."
"Right? And you're not even in your old Demon King era form."
For reference, this was the human-friendly form modern other races took.
Back in the old Demon King days, they were brutish and ferocious like monsters from games.
They could revert to their original forms now, but asking someone who wasn't a spouse or family was considered rude.
"Looks like she doesn't want to be separated from you, Yuan."
"Does that mean I have to wash her? Seriously?"
"What's wrong with that~ Kids used to follow their dads into the men's bath, you know?"
"If you put it that way..."
Letting her wander the house like this wasn't ideal either.
"Guess I have no choice~"
"Hurry back. Dinner's at 7, so be here in 30 minutes!"
"Got it~"
I headed to the bathroom with her stuck to me.
I filled the tub with warm water.
Shampoo and body wash... no need for kid-specific ones, probably.
I looked at her sucking her thumb while clutching my pant leg.
"Um... we're gonna wash now, so is it okay to take off your clothes?"
I pointed to the tub and mimed undressing.
Even did a silly doggy paddle imitation.
"...Uu!"
She raised both arms high and looked at me.
"Such a clingy personality."
I peeled off the rags she was wearing.
"...Yikes."
It was worse than I thought.
Her stomach was sunken, ribs faintly visible from malnutrition.
Her limbs were covered in scratches and mud stains.
"Excuse me. Tell me if it's too hot."
I carefully lifted her and dipped her feet in first.
"Hua!"
Good, she was splashing happily, so the temperature was fine.
I scooped water with a basin and wet her hair.
I lathered the oily, limp strands with shampoo and rinsed several times.
Even gently scrubbed her single horn.
Surprisingly sensitive spot—she fussed a bit only when I washed there.
As I cleaned her, her natural hair color emerged.
"Pretty golden color. So shiny."
"Uu...?"
Did she understand it was about her?
"Fuhi!"
She pointed to herself with a big grin.
"...Not fair. Smiling like that with such a face is cheating."
When she grows up past this girl phase into adulthood, she'll break plenty of hearts.
Beauty who knows her own charm is the scariest kind.
I patted her sparkling blonde hair, contrasting sharply with her former grime, then refilled the basin.
"Gotta clean your body too. Then we can eat."
I washed her until she was fluffy and clean.
Seeing her neatened up confirmed it even more.
This kid's definitely going to be a lovely beauty.
While drying her hair, Ihana's voice came from beyond the door.
"Yuan, I brought clothes for the little one. Left them outside the door."
"Thanks, Ihana!"
I'd only thought about bathing her, not what came after.
I thanked her for the kindness, picked up the fluffy-clean girl, and left the bathroom.
"T-shirt from Dorothy, huh? Underwear... you got it from the all-in-one store quick."
I handed them to the towel-wrapped girl and gestured for her to put them on.
She put on the underwear right away.
But instead of wearing the T-shirt herself, she handed it to me.
"Umu!"
Just like when I removed her rags, she raised both arms to me.
"Want me to do it again?"
Nod nod.
What was this cute, lovable creature?
I couldn't refuse her affection, so I dressed her in Dorothy's T-shirt.
Ah, Dorothy was a fellow lodger here.
Just thinking to myself, but she was the tiniest among the other boarders.
"Hehe..."
She seemed pleased, twirling the sleeves happily.
Even if it was Dorothy's childhood shirt, it was still oversized.
"Sun's down today, so no choice. Tomorrow, we'll get properly sized clothes from the shop."
"Hua?"
"Yeah, now let's go eat?"
I carried her back to the kitchen.
The kimchi stew aroma had intensified.
The kind that made cooking short music play in my head automatically.
"My goodness, even spam with egg rolls? Are you proposing?"
"Sorry, already married~ Come on in, Yuan."
The person setting plates on the table looked up.
Black hair, golden eyes, soft and gentle impression.
Ihana's husband, Seha.
Childhood friends from next door since young.
A match that started at five and led to eternal vows—the textbook childhood sweetheart romance.
"Seha's mine, got it? Don't get any ideas, Yuan!"
"Yuan's a guy to begin with, Ihana. Anyway, that kid..."
I nodded to Seha.
"Yeah, I tailed her with Ihana's sandwich to the ruins."
"Like a succubus or something. Anyway, sit down. Tell us slowly what happened today."
"Of course. Looks like the others aren't back yet?"
Only four servings were set today.
Usually, this boarding house table was a lively seven-person affair.
"Dorothy and the rest headed out adventuring this morning. Something about finding a cave with maple syrup-flavored icicles?"
"They won't be back for a while. Shame, I wanted to share today's encounter with everyone."
Seha chuckled and placed porridge in front of the girl.
He even portioned side dishes onto small plates for her. Bonus thoughtfulness.
Ihana must have tipped him off beforehand. Such a considerate couple.
I looked at the girl.
Already drooling, spoon in hand, glancing at me.
"Uu...?"
"It's fine. Go ahead and eat. Slowly, slowly."
"Umu!"
She scooped some porridge after I picked up my spoon, reassured.
Then, with my own gratitude.
"I'll dig in~"