Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: First Winter (2)
As I opened the door, cold air rushed in through the gap in an instant.
“……!”
The child in my arms flinched in surprise.
I gently wrapped my arms around her small shoulders.
“The wind’s pretty strong.”
“…….”
“You’ll get used to it soon.”
The child nodded.
When the wind blew fiercely again, her cheeks quickly flushed red.
I quickened my steps.
Cold air,
White breath blooming with every exhale,
The slightly frozen feel of the soil underfoot.
Passing through that gap,
Trees suitable for firewood came into view.
‘She could get crushed if one falls….’
I’d make sure that didn’t happen,
But caution never hurts.
I sat the child on a flat rock a short distance away.
“Wanna sit here?”
“…….”
As I set her down,
She looked up at me for a moment, then pouted her lips.
Soon her eyes filled with dissatisfaction as she stretched out both arms.
“Sorry, can’t do that. It’s dangerous.”
“…….”
“Help me out after this, okay?”
The child hesitated a moment before pulling her hands back.
With her head bowed,
She placed her hands neatly on her knees.
Her eyes still brimmed with dissatisfaction, but she seemed to be trying to accept it.
“I’ll be right over there.”
“……”
“Not going far. Got it?”
The child slowly nodded.
Good girl.
‘Annoying, but maybe knock them all out at once….’
I took off my robe
and approached the oak leisurely, rotating my right arm.
“Hmm….”
Not exactly a massive tree.
Even the thicker ones were barely human-torso size at best.
I tapped it a couple times with my hand to check its condition.
‘This’ll do fine just like this.’
After a brief moment of thought,
I released only the polymorph on my right arm, as planned.
Misjudge the strength and it’d shatter,
And even flying debris could hurt the child.
The shape of my right arm distorted.
Under the skin,
Smooth, sharp scales slowly pierced through and emerged.
Soon my entire arm was covered in hard scales, reverting to its true form.
“……!”
“Hm?”
The child sitting off at a distance had her eyes wide open.
Mouth agape, she stared fixedly at my right arm.
“Surprised?”
“…….”
The child blinked, then slowly shook her head.
Her expression….
It was thick with worry rather than fear.
Clearly checking if I was okay.
“I’m fine. Just back to normal.”
“…….”
“…Not quite the original?”
“……?”
“The real thing’s way bigger than this.”
Not sure if the explanation got through.
She just stared intently at me.
I glanced at her once,
then at my depolymorphed arm once.
No need to keep it out longer than necessary.
‘Better hurry.’
Still,
Fortunate.
No eyes on us but the child’s.
The best thing about this forest
was how remote and rugged it was—no one came here but us.
If not for that,
I wouldn’t even consider releasing the polymorph.
Something I’d learned wandering:
Humans these days
see non-humans as strange, uncomfortable beings.
Not every land was like that.
Like Dianos Continent, home to my lair,
some places respected non-human history,
embraced their cultures, accepted the differences.
But
such places were rare on this continent.
The country we were in was no different.
Here, wary glances at non-humans were still the norm.
‘Well… the accepting types are a hassle too.’
I looked back at the oak.
Up once,
down once.
After observing leisurely, I gripped the trunk base with my right hand.
‘…Thicker than a human’s now?’
Still,
With the polymorph released, it was like gripping a cup.
“Umm….”
Uproot it whole?
Or just crush it here?
After a moment’s thought, I applied a bit of force to my fingertips.
With one sharp crack,
the oak snapped right in my hand.
I eased my grip,
and the splintered chunks fell to my feet.
Good—no debris toward the child.
That was enough.
“…Huh?”
“…….”
Feeling eyes again, I turned to find
the child staring with round eyes.
“What?”
“…….”
“It’s fine. Light.”
I lifted the now uprooted-free tree with one hand and moved it.
Where to set it so she wouldn’t get hurt.
I picked a spot where it wouldn’t roll even if off-balance and carefully lowered it.
“Being careful’s a workout.”
“?”
“How many more to smash….”
Annoying,
but I’d come out at night once she slept and clear them all.
I repolymorphed my right hand.
Scales vanished,
back to human arm.
I slipped on my robe and looked at the child.
“All good now.”
“…….”
The child sitting far off reached out her hand.
Suddenly thrust forward.
No trace of unease.
If anything, urging me to hurry over.
“Sorry. Still got work.”
“……!”
Had to chop the trees into pieces before bringing her.
‘Debris risk here too.’
I lightly pressed and split the logs.
Wood was fragile enough anyway.
Removed all sharp edges and tidied the ground.
“Done.”
“!!!”
The child still had her hand out to me.
I stepped over to her.
Her hand gripping mine was warm.
“Now, wanna help?”
“!”
Her eyes sparkled.
She clutched the box to her chest
and wriggled to climb down the rock carefully on her own.
I scooped her up quick.
“Good. Let’s go. I’ll demo.”
“!”
She balled her fists like leave it to me.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I sat her on a rock far enough from flying splinters.
Perfect spot.
Safe,
and good view for the demo.
“Watch close.”
“…….”
“First, nails like this…. Wait, human nails are weak.”
“……?”
“I’ll handle that.”
I scratched a gap in the log’s center, perfect for slipping a hand in.
“Grab both sides like this.”
“!”
“Then spread your arms a bit.”
The log split in half.
Inner flesh exposed, softly thunk apart.
Her eyes went wide.
“Next…. Easier now, so grab with both hands, bit of strength.”
“?”
“Like so.”
The half split again.
A few repeats,
and firewood-ready chunks done.
“Easy, huh?”
“!”
“Wanna try?”
Excitement lit her face.
She set the box down and carefully descended the rock.
I gapped the thinnest log.
“Go for it.”
“!”
Her small hands gripped the wood carefully.
Tiny fingers far too short to clasp it,
yet she didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah. Grip tight both hands.”
“…….”
Her eyes turned dead serious.
Lips pursed tight, breath hushed still.
Slowly,
carefully,
she spread her arms, tensing.
“……!”
The log creaked, a hairline crack forming.
Decent first go.
“Oho.”
“!”
Her head snapped up.
Eyes twinkling with shock and joy.
“Medicine’s working better than I thought.”
“……!”
“Body’s still weak—no need to shatter it.”
“…….”
“Good job. Thanks for the help.”
I finished splitting the rest, then stroked her head.
Her shoulders twitched, then her cheek leaned into my hand.
Winter wind’s doing?
Her cheeks even rosier.
“Cold?”
“…….”
“Gotcha. Won’t head in. Finish quick, draw outside.”
“!”
“Handles cold better than before. Good.”
At this rate,
She’ll toughen up more before winter bites deep.
‘Switch meds post-winter.’
Her hand clutched my robe hem tight.
“Hm?”
“…….”
“Ah, draw first. I got the rest.”
She shook her head.
Then pointed at my split firewood.
Plain as day:
Wants to help.
Laughter slipped out.
“Alright. Together then.”
“!”
“Okay, uh…. Hold on.”
I chopped twigs short for her grip,
piled them neatly nearby.
“Sort these twigs instead of big logs?”
“……?”
“Need ‘em for kindling.”
“!”
“Careful, no cuts.”
Her hands sprang into busy motion.
Tiny hands hugging twigs one by one—like a little squirrel.
“You’re a natural.”
“!”
She beamed wide.
I gently stroked her head.
“Good. Nice and slow. Delicate stuff.”
“!”
“Yeah. I’ll speed through mine.”
I turned back to the log pile.
Her careful rustles trailed behind.
Hurried through the rest.
And at last,
Drawing time—she’d been dying for it.
‘What to draw….’
While I pondered,
she glanced my way,
then slowly moved her pen over the paper, eyes down.
Careful.
Dead serious too.
“Hmm….”
Her crown maybe.
Easy shape.
Round little thing,
white hat burying it, ears peeking.
‘I can manage that.’
I picked up my pen leisurely.
How much time passed.
The scritch-scratch beside me stopped.
I turned—caught her sneaking peeks at my paper.
Her eyes screamed:
What even is that?
“You.”
“?”
“…Why the ‘no way’ face?”
In silence, she flipped her paper.
There:
Some weird cloud blob,
crooked lines sprouting wild.
“…The heck is that.”
“…….”
“Me?”
“!”
“…Guess that’s what I look like.”
Oddly shaped.
She nodded, smug as could be.
Pure confidence.
“Yeah. Nailed it.”
“!”
She grinned ear to ear.
Shoulders bouncing with glee.
I reached out, gently cupped her head.
“Heading to the village soon.”
“!!!”
“Got it. Bringing you too.”
She nodded hard, then buried her face in my chest.
I drew her close gently.
Small, warm heat seeped softly into my chest.