Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: What the Child Needs (4)
The sandwich in Loren's hand had already dwindled by more than half.
'She's eating well.'
Row watched her absently,
then suddenly recalled the words she always said.
"Loren."
"Yes?"
"Didn't you say you shouldn't eat before the elder?"
Was his remark amusing?
Hubert chuckled heartily, as if it were entertaining.
Meanwhile, Loren flinched,
swallowed the mouthful of sandwich crammed in her mouth, and turned her head away.
"Th-that was an emergency!"
"So it's okay in emergencies."
"Ugh, you should have warned me it was made by the little one!"
"You spat it out before I could say anything."
Loren let out a groan and dropped her gaze to the floor.
"Argh, this sucks. I was thrilled to have new teasing material, and now I've been hit back."
"I've never hit you back."
"Ugh! That's what makes it even worse!"
"Heh heh, bickering as lively as ever today. You two get along well."
The child in his arms suddenly clung to him tightly.
Looking down at her, Row saw her lips pouting for some reason.
"...Huh?"
"......"
"Huh? What's wrong all of a sudden, Mr. Row?"
Loren blinked and approached.
The child, cheeks puffed out, whipped her head away.
Her gaze was averted, avoiding Loren's eyes.
"Oh dear? Our little one suddenly looks sulky."
"......"
The child gripped the robe even tighter.
Her eyes trembled slightly.
Row met her gaze, scrutinizing her carefully to read her feelings.
"What's wrong?"
"......"
"Hmm, is it because your big sis has been talking to Mr. Row too long and you're jealous?"
The child's small shoulders twitched upward.
She blinked hesitantly for a moment, then nodded ever so slightly.
Loren froze solid.
She stared blankly at the child, then covered her mouth with both hands and staggered.
"...Oh my god. Too cute!"
"......!"
"Sorry, sorry. Big sis is sorry. I'll stop talking. I won't even hang around!"
"That far? ...Ah."
Loren quickly poked Row in the side.
This was a signal that he needed to say something.
'What am I supposed to say...'
He stared at Loren,
and she urgently mouthed something, urging him on.
It took a while to realize.
Row looked at the child once,
then at Loren again.
And then, slowly patted the child's back.
"It's okay."
"......?"
"No matter who I talk to, you're always my first thought."
The child's small hand twitched,
and she cautiously lifted her head.
Finally, the child smiled.
A soft smile spread across her flushed cheeks.
Loren, watching the sight, staggered once more.
"...Argh, so cute."
"Heh heh, good thing. It's cold out—let's head inside."
"Yeah."
They headed to Loren's clothing store.
As the shop door opened,
warm air welcomed them.
Loren patted a small chair inside the store.
"Come on, little one, sit here."
"......"
"Whew, clinging to Mr. Row like she'll never let go today too."
Every time they came to the clothing store,
they'd leave the child and step out for errands.
At some point, the child started sticking even closer whenever they visited the shop.
Row knew she hated being separated from him.
But...
There was no choice.
'...Can't have her bursting while washing.'
Loren handled the child's baths.
Some days she had free time,
some days it was a regular customer perk,
some days she just wanted to be with the child.
She always had a plausible excuse,
but really, she volunteered knowing Row was clumsy with childcare.
It was something he was grateful for.
But,
all he could offer in return was
buying clothes for the child each visit.
Suddenly, he recalled their third visit to the shop.
That day too, Loren had bathed the child
and dressed her meticulously in clothes she'd made herself for her.
"Oh my, so pretty. Worth staying up all night. Laundry the previous outfit the same way. Got it?"
"Yeah. And this."
"Huh?"
He handed a gem to Loren after checkout.
Loren stared blankly at the gem, then flatly refused like Hubert.
She waved it off and pushed it back.
"Ugh, no thanks. Don't burden me with stuff like this."
"Because I'm grateful."
"If you're grateful, visit often. Dressing the little one in my clothes is my biggest joy these days."
Hubert approached leisurely, overhearing.
"Hold off for now. Give her a generous wedding gift when she marries later."
"...Wedding gift?"
"B-bookstore elder?!"
Loren's voice shot up instantly.
Her face flushed, and she flailed her hands in panic.
"N-no, no! We're not at that stage yet!"
"Heh heh, you'll end up with Shu eventually."
Row tilted his head at the unfamiliar name.
"Who's Shu?"
"The mushroom skewer stall you frequent. The young vendor there. Loren's childhood friend. Shu's about four years older."
"Ah..."
His gaze naturally turned to Loren.
She flushed red, flailed her hands, then bowed her head deeply.
"Uwaaah, why bring that up..."
"Yeah. When you marry, tell me. I'll give a fat wedding gift."
"...Argh!"
Recalling that memory made him chuckle.
He looked down absently.
The child clung tightly to his robe, lips pressed shut.
"Hmm..."
"Heh heh, trouble ahead today too."
Hubert burst into laughter while eating his sandwich.
Loren bent at the waist,
matching the child's eye level, and extended both arms.
"Little one, can you come to big sis for a bit?"
"......"
The child gripped the robe hem tighter.
She pursed her lips firmly and slowly shook her head.
"Aww, tricky. What now, Mr. Row?"
"Well... Ah."
Come to think of it,
today they planned to buy art supplies for the child.
"I'll buy the art supplies quick and come back while you're bathing with Loren."
"......"
"...Don't wanna?"
The child nodded.
She'd been so excited earlier, but this was useless.
He felt a bit troubled.
Then Loren clapped and stepped closer.
"Ah!"
"......?"
"You know, Mr. Row says he wants to see the fluffy clean little one after bath. Says she's super cute and pretty then?"
"......!"
"...Me? Ah."
A slight pain jabbed his side.
Loren poked with her elbow, eyes pleading him to play along.
'I'm no good at this stuff.'
He hesitated, then nodded slowly.
"...Y-yeah. Probably."
"!"
The child's eyes widened round.
Her grip on the robe loosened.
Staring at him intently, she eventually reached arms toward Loren.
"Yes!"
"Heh heh, good work. Loren."
Loren carefully scooped the child into her arms.
The child in her embrace seemed a bit shy, glancing at Row.
Loren grinned at her and waved.
"Go on, hurry back. Not too late like last time."
"Yeah. I'll rush."
Row waved to the child.
"Be back soon."
"......!"
The child's eyes sparkled.
Soon, a small hand shyly waved back.
He left the clothing store and quickened his pace.
"Art supplies first?"
"No, bookstore first."
"Right."
The bookstore's paper scent greeted them.
Hubert entered the counter and deftly donned his apron.
"So, what book today?"
"The child's started walking practice lately."
"Oh..."
"Anything helpful?"
Hubert stroked his beard and nodded gravely.
For some reason, his nod seemed heavier than usual.
"Hmm..."
"What's wrong?"
"Might be hard to solve with books."
Hubert paused, then continued slowly.
"The child can't walk because her leg was badly injured when her house burned."
"...Yeah?"
"Her aunt sought donations everywhere for treatment, but..."
Hubert's expression darkened.
Unusually tense.
His hand on the counter clenched into a fist, then released.
"From her condition, hard to believe that money went to her."
"Yeah, same thought."
"...To think she'd exploit her own niece."
Hubert rubbed his forehead.
His usual kindly smile had long vanished.
"Looking back, there were too many oddities..."
"......"
Hubert sighed deeply and continued.
"Got sidetracked. Anyway, might be too late for proper treatment."
"...Yeah."
"Healing magic might work, but reversing that injury needs a powerful blessing."
Healing magic.
Beyond Row's reach now.
Couldn't use holy attribute magic since becoming the Evil Dragon.
After sorting his thoughts,
he looked at Hubert and spoke.
"Any nearby...?"
"Regrettably no. Right after the war. Most summoned to the capital."
"...Yeah?"
"Even in the capital, few skilled enough for high blessings."
Silence fell.
He sank into deep thought again.
'Blessing...'
There was one.
A way.
Not just high blessing,
but from the origin of holy attribute, more than enough.
But...
'Have to take her to Dianos Continent.'
By now, he was stockpiling power against disasters.
Couldn't leave the sanctuary,
so to heal her, bring her directly.
'Need to toughen her to withstand warp magic.'
Row knew what to do.
As he organized his plan,
a heavy 'thud' sounded with Hubert's voice.
"Here, books on treatment and rehab."
"Ah..."
Suddenly, a stack of books towered on the counter.
Hubert tallied casually.
"Try something. Better than nothing."
"Yeah."
"By the way, no plans to teach her speech?"
"Not yet. She doesn't want it."
"Heh heh, you too."
Hubert laughed and began wrapping the books.
The bag looked hefty as always.
After a while organizing, Hubert spoke.
"Speech—she might feel the need only after learning."
"...Yeah?"
"Teach when you have time. Slipped in some textbooks."
"Yeah. Thanks. How much?"
"Free. Regular perk."
Hubert winked handing the wrapped bag.
Row took it and bowed.
"Always indebted."
"Heh heh, such formal words."
"...Thanks. I'll use well."
"Good. That's enough. Hurry—the child's waiting."
"Yeah."
He left the bookstore.
Quickened his steps again.
"Pretty late. Art supplies with her then."
"Right."
Cold wind,
bustling crowds.
Pushing through all,
he headed to the clothing store where the child waited.
He hurriedly opened the door.
A clear bell rang.
"......!"
"I'm back!"
"Sorry. Late."
The child's face bloomed brightly.
Her expression alone showed she'd been thrilled waiting.
'Good.'
Loren approached proudly, straightened, and pointed at the child.
"How's this? My masterpiece. Cute, right!"
"......"
"Uh..."
Row gazed at the child.
Her face gradually flushed bright red.
'Looks fluffy.'
Definitely warm-looking.
Perfectly tailored to her body,
both outer and lining soft material.
As he analyzed the clothes, Loren's voice came.
"Ugh, praise her!"
"Ah, yeah. Suits you well. Cute."
"!"
The child's eyes sparkled.
Wearing Loren's pink coat,
she shyly reached both arms toward him.
As he went to pick her up,
the child shook her head and mimed holding hands.
"......"
"Got it."
He gently clasped her small hands.
Loren said from the side to slowly pull her forward.
Tilting his head, he did as told.
"......!"
"Huh?"
The child stood up.
Her posture wobbly,
thin legs trembling nonstop, but...
The child who always fell was clearly on her feet.
But,
the limit came quick.
Her whole body shook as she plopped down.
Instantly, large teardrops welled in her eyes.
"......"
"...Good job."
"!"
"...Yeah. Really good job."
The child's shoulders shook faintly.
Soon, tears flowed with a bright smile.
Probably,
a similar smile
spread on Row's face too.