Chapter 122
Something slams into my stomach.
When I wake up with an "ugh," there's a One-Eye right in front of me.
They used to wait until I woke up, but lately, they land one right in my stomach.
The reason for this is to let me know that the beastfolk children have woken up.
This way of waking me is exactly like my little sister.
I asked them to change the way they wake me... but they still haven't stopped.
...How heartless.
I head to the living room on the first floor.
The beastfolk children are already awake, but they're sitting on a chair in the corner of the room.
They seem a little afraid of Core and the others, as well as Boss-san.
Though their reaction to Shuri is the strongest.
They seem to have gotten a little used to me.
More importantly, I want to find these children's parents.
I tried several times to communicate through gestures, but it didn't get through, and they gave me apologetic looks.
I don't want to make them look like that.
I feel truly sorry that I can't speak to them.
Still, it bothers me that these two children don't seem to want to go home.
Normally, they'd want to return to a place where people they know are, rather than stay with a stranger like me.
Could they really have been abandoned by their parents...? Is that possible?
Even in Japan, there were places where children could be left when their parents were unable to raise them for various reasons.
Looking at the world as a whole, there were even more kinds of problems.
Even in another world... I might need to be careful when searching for their parents.
"Good morning."
"G-good morning."
Both children are remarkably mature.
I thought I'd have them teach me some words, but the children ended up learning Japanese instead.
Though they've only learned simple greetings.
I... heard it, but I couldn't make out what they said.
Kids really are amazing.
"Let's eat breakfast."
What they've learned over the past few days is:
Good morning, good night, breakfast, lunch, dinner, eat, bath, and no.
They're starting with the words that are important for getting by.
No, I'm the one who needs to learn them...
I haven't made any progress at all so far. I won't give up, but I'm starting to feel discouraged.
The two of them run over to me, looking a little happy.
They don't do anything unless I say something.
It does make me wonder a little, but they might just be nervous, so I plan to wait patiently.
It's still progress compared to the first day.
They cried their eyes out no matter what I did, and I was at a loss that day.
I'm not good at dealing with crying.
Whenever my nephew cried, I'd panic, and everyone around me would laugh at me.
My older sister used to laugh so hard she held her stomach.
She'd laugh uproariously beside her own crying child.
...Is this what they mean when they say mothers are strong?
Come to think of it, the two of them are unusually afraid of the stone figures.
I think they're cute. Is it just a difference in sensibilities... or am I the weird one?
No, that can't be.
Are Japanese yokai frightening in another world?
Well, I suppose having only one eye could be scary...
It's too late to remake them now... I hope the children get used to them.
Today's breakfast is bread and soup.
There's more if you want seconds, so you don't have to hurry.
Eat slowly.
Gestures work for things like this.
If we keep at it for a few days.
Hmm? It's unusual for the farming team to come see me first thing in the morning.
Outside? Pulling me... Ah, the harvest!
I'll do my best.
The children... I'll have them help too.
They're so thin that I'm worried about them, but they're afraid of the One-Eyes, so maybe I should have Squirrel stay with them.
I ask Squirrel, sitting on the desk, to look after them.
It seems to have gotten through, and Squirrel approaches the children.
They seem to understand that Squirrel is safe.
Thank goodness.
...
Now then, time to harvest the vast fields!
This is extremely important, since it will provide food for the winter.
Last winter, we couldn't go outside for several days.
Let's work hard.
Children, don't overdo it.
...It's huge.
No matter how much we harvest, the fields just keep going.
I know we need to work hard... but my back!
The children are working hard too.
Huh?
There's a One-Eye nearby. Are the children all right?
Have they gotten used to it?
Well, they don't seem to have a problem with it.
Whenever I stop moving my hands, the farming team glares at me.
Okay, okay, I'm sorry.
I'll work hard, so please don't kick me out.
Let's really give it our all.
The wheat is incredible... Ten times as much as last time, or even more?
The farming team's agricultural knowledge seems to have become truly impressive.
...
We finish up after harvesting the grapes too.
Have the One-Eyes already started making wine? Shuri joined in... and got kicked out.
Give it up. Every stone figure is a professional. If you get in their way, they'll really come after you.
The harvest took longer than last time.
The previously empty parts of the Fruit Forest had all been filled in.
There were new vegetables too, all thanks to the farming team working hard every day.
With every storage room filled with food, we're ready for winter.
...All those morning taste tests were worth it.
When it went on for a full week, I finally bowed my head and asked them to stop.
That week was rough, since most of the ingredients were awful.
I could just about endure the bitter and numbing ones.
The portions were small, so I could endure them.
But when the indescribable stuff spread through my mouth, even a small amount was...
Ugh, some things are better left forgotten.