Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Tsundere Peeking Through?
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The goblin nest was bigger than I'd expected. They'd multiplied like fleas in just a month or two.
'Fleas... those crazy little bastards.'
Anyone who's ever lived alone knows the terror of fleas.
Those things are insane.
You try to catch them, and they vanish before your eyes. They've got zero fear, always charging straight at you.
Even when you're cooking, they dive right in. Turn your back for a second, and you'll find their corpses floating in your soup.
'Fuck.'
I'd built up some tolerance from seeing all sorts of filth, but fleas were still a nightmare. Just thinking about it pissed me off.
"Let's wash up and head back to the village. If you show up like that, it'll crush your families."
We'd rescued all the women from the cave. We'd searched every nook and cranny to make sure no one was left behind.
Quite a few had survived. Only Jenny was from our village.
The rest were from other villages.
None of them were unscathed. Having been violated by goblins, it was hard to hold onto your sanity unless you had nerves of steel.
Broken women were everywhere.
Not a few were already pregnant with goblin spawn, their bellies swollen. Goblin gestation is just four days.
Those women would give birth within four days at most.
'We'll decide what to do after they give birth.'
I couldn't just kill them outright because they had goblins in their wombs. This wasn't that harsh a world.
A fantasy land teeming with monsters capable of interbreeding.
Surprisingly tolerant. Women weren't shunned just for being assaulted by monsters.
Men doing the dishes was a whole other issue, though.
"I've got spare clothes. Everyone, pull yourselves together—body and soul—and let's head back to the village."
"Bless."
The first-gen girls managed the makeshift shower area.
Charlotte lined everyone up in front of the shower booth, while Nine cast blessings on them.
Olivia supplied the water, glaring at me with a sour expression.
'I don't get it. I really don't.'
One minute she's snapping at me in that rude tone, bitching about why she has to listen to me. The next, after we finish clearing the cave, the shower booth I wanted is all set up.
Guess she's not a complete psychopath. I let out a sigh of relief.
Then a question popped up.
If she was gonna build it anyway, why not just be nice about it? Wouldn't that be better for everyone?
'Why the attitude?'
Was she imitating Tina, the childhood friend heroine deliberately designed as a tsundere archetype?
'Olivia's not a tsundere.'
Tsundere needs a balance of prickly and sweet. Olivia wasn't tsundere—she was just dere without a mom.
'Mom-less dere?'
Nah.
"Olivia number two showed up at the inn. She's five. So that means Denis sis and I raised her from age five..."
Why was she so grown up, then?
'Golden sun genes?'
It was a mystery.
The women kidnapped by the goblins finished showering one by one and emerged.
It wasn't much of a shower—just rinsing off with water and scrubbing down there with soap. Things moved quickly.
'But where's Jenny?'
Finding Jenny was our mission.
Jenny was right next to Olivia, looking up at her and chattering away.
"Sis, you're the goddess, right?"
"I'm not a goddess. Stop calling me that filthy slut."
"Sis, then are you a mage? If I become a mage as strong as you, can I do amazing stuff like this?"
"Yeah, but you can't. You've got no talent."
Olivia replied with a deadpan face, crushing the little girl's dreams without hesitation.
Her opponent was Jenny, though. The girl who ignored adults completely.
"I wanna be a mage too."
Admiration sparkled in Jenny's eyes. She'd started idolizing Olivia number one.
Olivia stared at her for a moment, then let out a smirk.
"You're so simple."
"Simple? What do you mean?"
"Nothing. It's just funny how things go your way."
Olivia gave Jenny's shoulder a light shove.
"Go wash up and come out. Even if a full shower's too much, at least wash your face."
"Then can I become a mage?"
"You gonna spout more nonsense? You planning to meet your parents looking like that? What the hell are you even thinking?"
Olivia mocked her with all her might.
"Be grateful you have parents waiting and worrying just for you."
"Mom and Dad? Oh..."
"Get lost already."
Jenny trudged off toward the shower booth, dejected.
I sidled up to Olivia. She flinched, her shoulders trembling.
She was trying hard to play it cool, but I could tell she was hyper-aware of me.
"You've been craving parental love, huh."
"What?"
"I overheard you talking to Jenny. I've got good ears."
In NTR Tsukuru games, eavesdropping is key. Whether it's info or moans.
"So what? What do you want me to do about it?"
Olivia scowled fiercely, glaring like I was full of shit.
I met her fierce gaze with a gentle smile.
"I'll shower number two with love. That fix it?"
Number one was too late, but number two still had a chance.
'Even the share of those sex-crazed monkeys.'
I'll teach her what parental affection is. Then she won't end up like number one.
Olivia number one started panicking. Maybe touched by my boundless mercy.
Her lips quivered.
"What the fuck is that bullshit?!"
"No, number two. The little Olivia who just arrived. Your past self. I'll take care of her with all my heart."
No bad intentions like in the NTR Tsukuru game world. As an adult, I'd give it my all.
That's what I meant.
"No need for that."
The big Olivia brushed off my good intentions. Kinda tsundere-ish, in a way?
"Heh, got it."
"...I said clearly, no need. Don't get cocky, seriously."
"You're the type who hides her true feelings, huh."
"Shut up, fuck off! I said no, so drop it!"
Input complete.
There was another reason the first-gens had followed us to the goblin village. Charlotte and Nine probably tagged along out of professional duty, pure desire to save people. But not Olivia.
The material girl had her own agenda.
To keep an eye on that little brat Jenny, who'd later cling to Dyke.
Jenny gets saved by Dyke today. First-gens or no, Dyke wrecks the goblin village solo.
The naive girl falls for her savior. Admiration and longing masked as interest, turning to love as her body matures.
'I remember it perfectly.'
The first-gen had a childhood too. Her gaze and attention had been fixed on Dyke.
Thanks to him, she hadn't been sold to some pervert noble and got to stay at the Cradle of Abundance.
In a way, she was like Jenny. That's why she knew all too well.
'That village chief's granddaughter who kept hanging around! Jenny, you fucking bitch!'
She was just a kid. Ten at most.
No real threat. Olivia's victory—slim waist, massive hips.
Still pissed her off.
—Mister, how do you swing a sword?
—Mister, it's too heavy. I don't get it.
—Mister, these are tea leaves from the lord. Wanna try some?
Back in her scrawny, impoverished childhood, when all she had was her bony little body.
She remembered it clearly. Jenny slyly butting in...
'No way in hell, you cunt.'
She'd redirected Jenny's gaze. Engineered it so the admiration pointed at her.
Result: Jenny had zero interest in Dyke.
A bit annoying with Jenny clinging to her, but fine. Better than another bitch buzzing around Dyke.
"You're the type who hides her true feelings, huh."
"Shut up, fuck off! I said no, so drop it!"
Dyke turned away with a satisfied grin. Olivia frowned at his back.
'What the hell is he thinking?'
Dyke had no clue. That first-gen and second-gen could perceive each other.
He didn't know she'd deliberately threatened the second-gen.
Soon Charlotte two and Nine two would join, and the truth would come out fast. But Olivia wanted to delay that moment as long as possible.
'What if he says to take her along?'
If the first-gen could care for second-gen? No need for Dyke to keep her.
Easy to cut ties now.
No attachment yet. Not tamed.
Had to make her dependent on first-gens ASAP.
Truth could wait till then.
In a way, second-gen was a hostage.
Who else will care for her if not you? She'll die without you.
The hostage ploy worked.
Dyke planned to raise the second-gens. He'd grumble about dishes but play dad to the hilt.
Excuse for first-gens to stick around the Cradle of Abundance.
But that didn't mean she wanted the second-gens getting special affection from him. Deep down, she hoped they'd keep their distance.
She knew what feelings she'd harbored for Dyke as a kid, so she was wary of second-gen. And second-gen had picked up on first-gen's mindset.
Pouring affection on second-gen now?
From first-gen's view, total bullshit.
Olivia ground her teeth watching Dyke tend to the women. But the venomous look faded quick.
"Heh heh."
A smile crept onto Olivia's lips. Just seeing her dad filled her chest.
If she'd yielded, she'd have eaten him up again tonight.
Kinda regrettable.
Olivia smacked her lips and kept supplying water. Dutifully doing the job she'd been given.