3 bar menu

Chapter 48

「H-H-Himezu-onee-chan…」

Lute and Lilith exchanged glances.

「Her consciousness is still muddled.」

Lilith nodded.

「Let’s go, Lute.」

Lilith urged me to move away with a nod of her chin.

「Himezu…onee…chan…」

With a sigh, Lilith spoke again,

「…I’m not your big sister.」

Once more, Lilith directed her words at me.

「…Getting involved with such a troublesome child will only lead to trouble. Let’s go quickly.」

Lilith grabbed my arm and, rather forcibly, started walking, half-dragging me along.

「Hey, Lilith? It’s a bit harsh to just treat her and leave… isn’t it?」

「…To be honest, I don’t want to get involved with troublesome children. We’ve saved her life. That’s enough.」

「But, Lilith, this is the slums, and there’s no order here, you know? A child like that, all alone…」

「…That’s not our concern.」

At that moment, we heard a soft voice from behind.

「…Papa… Mama… don’t fight…」

Lilith stopped in her tracks.

「Her consciousness is really muddled.」

It seemed that the girl had been in a semi-conscious state for a long time.
Although her physical strength had returned thanks to Lilith’s healing magic, it seemed her mind had yet to fully regain its sanity.
It was likely that, at the moment, the girl’s thoughts wandered between dreams and reality.

Lilith walked firmly towards the girl lying on the mat.
The girl spoke,

「…Mama.」

Lilith pointed at me and asked the girl,

「…And what about him?」

The girl turned her face towards me and said,

「…Papa.」

Lilith knelt down and smiled at the girl.

「…It seems she’s quite the intelligent child.」

She said with a soft voice, then pulled a handkerchief and a water bottle from her bag and began wiping the girl’s face.

「…Yes, you are intelligent… After all, you accurately guessed our future relationship. Plus, when I wipe your face, you have such a beautiful countenance. Yeah, cute… How old are you?」

「…I am… 8 years old…」

「…This isn’t a place where a girl of your age should be.」

The conversation was taking a strange turn, but I refrained from interrupting.

「…Lute? I can’t just abandon such an intelligent and cute girl in a place like this… Let’s take her with us.」

Lilith then brought the water bottle to the girl’s lips.
Glug, glug, the girl drank the water and said,

「Thank you for the water, Himezu… onee…chan…」

Lilith laid the girl on the mat and stood up.

「…I should probably stop… I am not your big sister.」

「What!?」

I couldn’t hide my shock at the turn of events.
Lilith again grabbed my arm and started walking, half-dragging me along.

「What’s going on, Lilith?」

「…I told you, we shouldn’t willingly involve ourselves in trouble.」

「But you just said we’d pick her up!」

「…It was just a moment of confusion. It can happen to anyone.」

At this point, we heard the girl’s soft voice again,

「…Papa… Mama… don’t fight…」

Lilith stopped in her tracks and asked the girl again,

「…What am I?」

「…Mama.」

「…And what about this person?」

「…Papa.」

Lilith nodded and said,

「We have no choice but to take her with us.」

「I thought it would end up like this!」

The sound of a punch echoed through the alley.

「Do as you like. Just what’s your deal really…」

Then, with a slightly reddened cheek, Lilith looked up to me and said,

「Could you… punch me again…?」

She’s a mess… seriously.

I sighed deeply while crouching down on the spot.

「…Haha… having a child without even getting married… What a sweet sound… Cordelia Allston, three steps ahead.」

In response to Lilith, who was striking a triumphant pose, I replied with a deep sigh.