Good Yohan (2)
The nanny shared a few more stories of Yohan's good deeds.
"When he was little, Yohan had such a strong sense of responsibility. Whenever the kids got into fights, he always stepped in to settle things."
"Yohan, is that true?"
"The little brats were being too loud, so I just asked them to shut up a bit."
Lost in her own trip down memory lane, the nanny never caught the whispers between Yohan and the others.
Even if she'd been fully lucid, she probably wouldn't have heard them. The whispers between a goddess and her minion were far too soft for an elderly nanny's ears.
"There was one more good story about Yohan. When he started elementary school, he saved his desk partner from being bullied. That kid really liked Yohan after that."
"Mad Demon?"
"The little brats could've just picked on the desk partner. But they started messing with me too, so I taught them a lesson."
Yohan recalled those cocky elementary school kids. Looking back, that was when he'd first discovered the satisfying feel of hitting people.
If you want that feeling in real life, you either pay settlement money or end up in a detention center, so I got hooked on virtual reality games instead.
Thanks to that, he'd racked up an undefeated record in the Gods' Game. He felt a twinge of gratitude toward the elementary school ringleader who'd led the bullying.
"Anyway, Yohan was truly a good boy. When he said those strange things right at the door, I worried he'd forgotten his manners. But to think he has such a lovely wife and children... He's really all grown up."
The nanny trailed off mid-sentence and dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief. An old person's tear ducts were broken—they just wouldn't stay under control.
"Look at me, getting all sentimental at this age. No matter how many procedures I get, old age just won't be denied."
"Would you like me to take a look?"
Sophia casually rested her hand on the nanny's shoulder. The nanny felt the various aches throughout her body melt into comfort.
"Sophia's hands are healing hands. How can just a touch make me feel this good?"
"Grandma..."
Not to be outdone, Evni toddled over and took the nanny's hand.
Feeling those tiny fingers wriggling in her own, a soft, warm smile spread across the nanny's lips.
"Evni, was it? Are you holding Grandma's hand so she won't hurt?"
"Mm..."
"Aww. Our little puppy is not only cute but kind too. You take after Yohan so much. When Yohan was little, he was just as kind and adorable as you."
"L-Lan-lan-i?"
Lan-lan-i asked, then twisted her body in embarrassment. The nanny looked at her with equal fondness.
To someone of her advanced years, Lan-lan-i and Evni both looked like the same little babies.
"Cheonsol is your mother, right? Lan-lan-i takes after Cheonsol a lot, but you've got Yohan's lower face written all over you. You're a beauty."
"Hmph!"
Lan-lan-i tried hard not to show how pleased she was.
As a novice dad, Yohan fretted that Lan-lan-i might be sulking, but the nanny—a master of childcare—could read every emotion on the girl's face.
The children really do love their father.
Kids sense people's emotions more keenly than adults. It was clear they adored him because they'd received so much positive feeling from their dad.
"What do you like most about your dad?"
"Mad Demon's good at fighting!"
"Huh?"
The nanny looked startled. Lan-lan-i was too busy bragging about her dad to notice the reaction.
"Mad Demon is great with a sword and great with his fists, and his body's super strong! He's never lost a fight!"
"Uhhh?"
"Yeah..."
"Wait, wait just a moment. Yohan, what on earth is going on here?"
Yohan panicked. The kids pulling a troll move? Completely outside his calculations.
Sophia, on the other hand, had prepared for this exact situation and delivered a plausible excuse.
"Actually, Yohan is a pro gamer. And I'm the team owner."
Sophia was the Goddess of Earth. Just by making physical contact with the nanny, she'd read her information.
Having confirmed the woman had no interest in games, she told a lie that wouldn't get caught.
"Ah, so when you said fighting..."
"It's about games. Yohan boasts a very high win rate."
"I see."
The nanny was impressed. To think one of the children she'd raised would end up in a profession like that.
They continued chatting for a while longer. The nanny felt her stamina nearly depleted.
"Kids. This grandma is getting a bit tired."
"Then we'll take our leave now."
"Go on, then. I'll see you to the door."
The nanny saw Yohan's party off. Watching Yohan walk away, she thought:
The boy grew up so kind and well.
Thanks to that, she could spend the next few days happily.
After finishing our outing on Earth, we returned to the Divine Realm and picked the next place to visit.
"Let's go see the wild humans! Wild humans! Fresh, lively wild humans!!"
"Master. Mad Demon is having a fit like this—shouldn't we calm him down?"
"There's really no helping it. I guess we're going to the forest."
I did it. I did it. I pulled it off!
As I struck a victory pose, Evni copied me. Facing my daughter, I pumped my arms up and down.
"Fighting! Fighting!"
"Fighting..."
"Want to join in, Lan-lan-i?"
"No!"
If you don't want to, just say no. Why whip your head around like that? A scratch appeared on this fragile dad's heart.
I'd take that scratch out on the slave spirit.
"Lirota! Lirota, where are you?"
You called...
Mini Lirota toddled over. Krista pinched Mini Lirota's head between two fingers.
I was putting this one to work. Why are you looking for them?
"Go back to your main body."
Mini Lirota was too cute to take my frustration out on.
No!
Lirota, being a high-ranking spirit for a reason, sensed the danger and refused to return to their main body.
This little one was seriously cunning.
"You can't stay mini forever. Just wait."
Shiver!
Lulu at my feet also shivered and issued a warning to Lirota.
They say children learn by watching their parents. Lulu had learned the proper attitude for dealing with slaves.
"Mad Demon. Master is calling you."
"Yohan, you! We're all ready to leave—why aren't you listening? Stop harassing Lirota and pay attention!"
"I'm sorry."
When you've done something wrong, you apologize immediately. Digging in your heels only makes the lecture longer.
"As long as you know. Then we're heading to the forest where the wild humans live."
We traveled through a portal to the forest.
"The air is nice."
The colosseum where we battled had a sand floor, so you couldn't even politely call the air good, and 22nd-century cities... well, the less said the better.
The wild humans' forest retained a completely undeveloped, natural appearance.
"This is a forest? There are so many trees and plants."
"Forest..."
Lan-lan-i and Evni, seeing a forest for the first time in their lives, eagerly looked around in every direction.
Roll roll roll
"Lulu. If you keep rolling like that, you might catch on a root. Come into Mother's arms."
Cheonsol scooped up Lulu, who was tumbling across the ground, and cradled her. Nestled in Cheonsol's embrace, Lulu wriggled with excitement.
"The kids like the forest more than Earth."
"It must be the difference in air quality. Honestly, the air in your homeland was not good. This lady found it a bit hard to breathe as well."
"Earth's air pollution is pretty serious, yeah."
Goddess Sophia agreed with Cheonsol. As expected of women—they empathized well.
"Anyway, since we're in the forest, let's find some wild humans! Which way should we go?"
"Just walk and you'll run into them. They changed it to random encounters to prevent people from mass-capturing wild humans and breeding them."
The reason was obvious without looking. Similar things had happened enough times that it was easy to predict.
"Some evil god mass-captured them and wiped out the wild humans' bloodline, huh?"
"Exactly."
"Then we just need to walk around like we're taking a stroll."
"They say rare medicinal herbs turn up sometimes. But the odds are so low you shouldn't worry about it—just enjoy the walk."
How was I supposed to not worry after hearing that? Who in our party would know medicinal herbs well?
"Evni?"
"...?"
Evni, who'd been happily stomping on the dirt, looked up at me. With elf blood mixed in, she seemed to like this especially.
She looked so happy I decided to just leave her be.
"Being an elf, you like the forest, huh?"
"Yeah!"
Look at her answering firmly without stretching out her words like usual. So cute.
"Lirota. If any medicinal herbs show up, pick them properly on your own."
I'm a spirit of rock, not of earth...
I'm the earth spirit, so I know them well! If we find herbs, I'll make Lirota dig them up!
"Krista's reliable as always."
The slave spirit was surprisingly not that useful. Closer to a dedicated snack for Lan-lan-i.
After walking a bit more, Sophia shouted.
"Ah! We've encountered a wild human!"
The space in front of us warped, and a sturdy woman appeared.
Finally, I could start some fun baby-making with a wild woman! The anticipation lasted only a moment.
"What is that..."
The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. The wild human's appearance was just... neither pretty nor ugly.
The problem was she hadn't washed, and grime was practically dripping off her. Evni and Lan-lan-i scrunched up their faces.
"Gross. Her blood probably tastes terrible too."
"Smell..."
Sophia grinned at me.
"Yohan? What's your impression of the wild human? Not what you expected?"
"So you already knew, Sophia..."
"Of course. She's a wild human who lives in the forest. Water's scarce—how is she supposed to wash often?"
"That... makes sense..."
My interest evaporated instantly. I wanted to go back to the Divine Realm.
"You. Who? Here. Where?"
The wild human asked us. Sophia explained.
"Wild humans can only see gods. They can only see minions during a battle. Because..."
"Another evil god thing?"
"Bingo!"
At this point, I was curious just how far the evil gods' antics went. I should put out a bounty for a biography of their exploits.
"Anyway, since we came all this way, want to battle?"
"I'll pass."
"This lady recommends Lan-lan-i."
"Huh?!"
Lan-lan-i jumped in shock and stared at Cheonsol. She trembled like a child who hadn't gotten a birthday present.
"Me? Why?"
"You've never battled even once, have you? Wild humans are frail, so they'll make a good opponent."
"That sounds great! Lan-lan-i, let's battle!"