Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Responsibility Falls to the Evil Dragon
I'd already decided what to do.
Now it was time to examine the book more carefully, properly.
'If I jot down what I don't know, it'll be easier to ask about later.'
I'd have to buy some writing tools tomorrow.
With everything so tangled in my head, relying on memory alone wouldn't cut it.
The book.
Writing tools.
Things I never imagined getting close to again after picking up this child.
'I thought it'd be that way forever.'
I opened the book again.
This time, more leisurely,
following each sentence carefully as I began to read.
Starting from the table of contents, going through it step by step,
checking for anything I'd missed,
flipping through each page with time and care.
Slowly, cautiously, I peered into the book.
"......"
"Hm?"
A sudden presence caught my attention.
Lowering the book, I looked at the child, who had buried her face in my chest but was now gazing up at me.
As if she wanted something.
"What's wrong?"
"......"
"...Bored, maybe?"
The child nodded.
Come to think of it, the rabbit was full and dozing off nearby.
"I see."
"......"
"What now."
For now, I closed the book.
As soon as I set it down, the child's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"What do you want to do?"
"......"
"Oh, want to read too?"
It might be good for her to know how she'll grow.
I handed the child the Child-Rearing Encyclopedia.
She struggled to hug the book, bigger than her body, with both arms, her eyes rolling around.
The child peeked out from behind the book.
I started to read again but paused.
"Hm? What's up? Don't like reading?"
"......"
Slowly,
but clearly.
The child's lips pouted.
Her hand tugged lightly at my sleeve.
Then, glancing up at me, she leaned slightly into my arms.
"...Ah, want me to hold you?"
"......!"
The child's reaction changed.
Her eyes widened for a moment, then she nodded firmly.
A motion full of certainty.
"Alright. I'll hold you."
I carefully wrapped my arms around her.
Her small body wriggled in my embrace before quickly settling down.
I patted her back slowly two or three times.
"If you want something, tell me anytime. I can't do anything grand, but..."
"......"
"I'm glad you like being held. The bookstore owner told me to hold you a lot."
With her face buried, the child nodded very slowly.
Time flowed leisurely.
The rabbit slept soundly,
and the child breathed lazily in my arms.
I gazed quietly out the window.
The sunlight was still bright and warm,
and the fallen leaves rolled slowly, pushed by a faint breeze.
"...Nice weather."
I tried to read while holding her but paused.
"Outside?"
"......"
"Want to go out?"
The child's eyes blinked slowly.
With her arms around my waist, she didn't seem opposed.
"Yeah. Let's go. We should let the rabbit go too."
"?!"
"Hm?"
The child's eyes wavered.
A flicker of confusion and doubt in her gaze.
'Did "let go" catch her?'
I stroked her head leisurely as I spoke.
"We're not eating it, so no reason to keep it. We should send it back where it belongs."
"......"
The child's eyes welled up.
Lips pressed tight, a tear dropped.
Soon, she started hiccuping.
"......"
"Hmm..."
I felt a bit troubled.
What to do in a case like this.
I'd only said we'd let it go, but this much crying...
'Calm her down first.'
Very slowly, I stroked her back.
Her small body trembled.
As if holding back sobs, her lips were clenched tight.
"Don't cry."
"......"
"...How about we give the rabbit a choice."
"......?"
The child blinked.
I wiped her tears and continued slowly.
"Whether to go back or stay here. Let it decide for itself."
"......"
"If it likes being with us, it'll stay. Just like you did."
"......"
"If that's okay, can you hold the rabbit? We'll go out and ask."
The child looked down for a moment,
then cautiously lifted her head to look at me.
She spread her arms and hugged the rabbit.
Still a bit uneasy,
but her arms held it firmly nonetheless.
"......"
"Yeah. Let's go ask."
The child nodded faintly.
I gathered a blanket and a few books, then carefully stood.
I opened the door.
Warm sunlight and a gentle breeze flowed in.
The rabbit,
and the child,
poked their heads out to look at the outside scenery.
"Nice weather, right?"
"......"
The child's eyes sparkled faintly.
I leisurely headed to where we'd first seen the rabbit.
A short while later—
A familiar landscape came into view.
"Here."
"......?"
"Where we caught the rabbit."
Did she understand what I meant?
The child stared down at the rabbit in her arms.
I carefully set her down.
The rabbit once.
The vast field once.
After hesitating, the child slowly crouched.
Then, she gently placed the rabbit on the grass.
The rabbit looked up at her.
Her fingertips hovered in the air.
As if wanting to pull it back.
But—
With fists clenched tight, she lowered her hands.
A light breeze brushed by.
The grass rustled softly,
and the rabbit's ears swayed gently with the wind.
"......"
"You can go."
The child gazed at the rabbit, eyes brimming with tears.
The rabbit took one step, two steps.
Quickly moving forward.
The child's body shook with sobs.
But
she didn't try to grab it.
As if respecting the rabbit's choice.
Her gaze fixed on the rabbit.
Lips pressed tight, her clenched fists trembled slightly.
The rabbit stopped.
After sniffing and nibbling some grass,
it soon turned and ran back toward us.
Lightly stepping through the grass,
straight back into the child's arms.
"......!"
The child's eyes widened.
Her lips quivered, and her arms moved again.
This time, without hesitation, she hugged it tight.
"...It came back."
"......!"
"Must want to stay with us. ...What an odd one."
The child's shoulders shook slightly.
Then she broke into a radiant smile.
"...Huh."
A smile that lit up the moment, sparkling brighter than the sunlight.
Exactly like the smile I'd seen in the vision of her future.
I watched quietly, then smiled softly.
"...So you can smile like that now too."
"......?"
"Nothing. It's nothing."
I draped the blanket over her shoulders.
The sunlight was warm, and the weather wasn't too cold.
"You did well."
"......!"
The child looked up at me, face wet with tears.
I slowly knelt,
matching my eyes to hers.
"That was hard."
"......"
"But you let it go. That's really impressive."
"......"
"Letting go of something you don't want to is hard, even for me after eons of life."
The child's lips trembled.
Holding the rabbit, another tear rolled down.
But her expression
was much firmer than before.
I smiled softly and wiped her tears.
"Let's rest here a bit before heading back. The rabbit seems to like it too."
"......"
The child's face brightened.
I sat leisurely beside her.
Hugging the rabbit tight, the child gazed up at me.
"Right. Want me to hold you again?"
"......!"
Her small head nodded clearly.
Seeing that, I
spread my arms slightly and carefully hugged her.
Sunlight filtered over our heads,
and the late autumn breeze whispered gently.
A single leaf drifted silently onto the back of my hand.
Truly,
a fine day.
Feeling the breeze leisurely, I murmured.
"Guess I should buy a book about rabbits too."
"......?"
"If we're living together, we need to learn about each other."
"......"
"That's what responsibility means."
The child tilted her head.
Seemed she didn't quite get it.
But that was fine.
She'd understand someday.
Yes.
Even if it's just a possible future.
A child who smiles so dazzlingly.
Who readily says she'll protect someone.
She'll surely engrave responsibility in her heart one day.
'The problem is she's an Evil Dragon who says she'll protect...'
The bold face from that memory came to mind,
and a chuckle escaped me unwittingly.
I stroked her head.
"It's okay. Until then, I'll carry it for you."
"......?"
"I have to take responsibility for you too."
The child's eyes widened round.
She cautiously buried her face in my chest and rubbed her cheek.
A small warmth seeped in.
Her body heat
touched near my heart carefully.
I tightened my arms slightly around her.
The child, holding the rabbit, pressed even closer to me.
"Oh, right. Want to help if you're okay with it?"
"?"
"There was something in the book earlier I wanted to check."
The child looked up at me.
Her eyes held a bit of curiosity and subtle anticipation.
"It was about infant development stages. Apparently, humans change by month. Child-rearing methods differ accordingly."
"......?"
"So, I need to know how many months old you are. Can I compare and check with you?"
The child tilted her head.
A face saying she didn't quite understand.
But she soon smiled and nodded.
A clear sign of agreement.
"Thanks."
"......!"
I chuckled and opened the book again.
And,
not long after,
I faced a problem with no answer for the first time in ages.