Chapter 6
“That… I have to go home.”
“Oh, right. Let’s hurry back, then. Daddy will make you lots of delicious food when we get home. We can fix up your room right away, too. What color do you like? My daughter is as pretty as a princess, so you’d want a princess-like room, right?”
No, that’s not it.
“I mean, I have to go here.”
I held out a slip of paper with an address written on it, both hands extended toward him.
“Kessnia 1st Street, No. 98. Hmm, it’s a bit farther from here. Then we can go there first and then head home.”
“That’s my house…”
“Oh, I see. Our new house! Right?”
“…”
“What? Is there something on my face?”
No, that’s not it. Your house is your house, and this house is my house…
I almost said that, but stopped in case I’d start crying again.
It seemed this man—who claimed to be my father—thought it was only natural that we’d live together.
Every conversation somehow ended with, “Let’s finish up and go home.”
“Shall we take a carriage? Or should Daddy give you a piggyback ride? Carrying you would be better, right?”
“…I can walk.”
Let’s just get there first.
Every time Mr. White used the word “Daddy,” my stomach churned.
I wanted kindness, but this was the kind of overkindness that made me seasick. So I reached my hands out.
“Give me the note.”
I’ve never had a dad before.
“Here.”
This time, I tucked the toy capsule machine safely into my all-purpose pouch, strapped it to my waist, and started walking toward Kessnia 1st Street, No. 98.
I could feel him following me again.
I wanted to tell him not to, but he might cry again, so I gave up.
Grrr…
After walking for a while, my stomach rumbled like thunder.
In the past, I could go three days without eating just fine, but now that I was younger, it seemed I’d lost my immunity to hunger.
“Ugh…”
I clutched my belly, holding back the hunger as I walked on resolutely.
I didn’t want to show weakness.
I can’t let something like this break me! I was thinking that when—
“Sweetie.”
I straightened my back, pretending nothing was wrong, and turned around.
“What?”
Mr. White was rubbing his stomach with a troubled expression.
“I’m so hungry I can’t walk anymore. Should we eat something nearby before we go?”
He could just stop following me… but then again, he might cry, so forget it.
I looked up at him cautiously.
“Are you really hungry?”
“Yes, very.”
He even swayed as if he might collapse.
I glanced quickly around.
Kessnia Street was practically the main downtown area, so a restaurant wasn’t far away.
That one’s too expensive-looking…
Look left, look right!
Ah, that one will do.
I spotted a slightly shabby place.
They wouldn’t throw us out there.
I was willing to hold out a bit longer, but if he was hungry too, then fine.
I nodded toward him and held out my hand. A large, warm hand quickly met mine. It felt strange.
“Th-Then… let’s go eat together.”
Before I knew it, the table was piled high with food, and I was gulping down my saliva.
I’d planned on going into a cheap, shabby shop, but Mr. White brought me to a whole building that was a restaurant.
No wonder it was the most eye-catching building on the street.
There were fresh salads that looked like they’d come straight from the farm and glossy meat dishes by the plateful. I’d never even seen such things in my previous life.
Even the staff didn’t kick me out. In fact, they bowed deeply and welcomed me in.
This really is another life…
Just looking at it felt like my happiness bar was full.
Was it okay for me to eat something this luxurious?
He hadn’t even paid yet.
Mr. White, who had said he was starving to death, smiled at me and handed me a fork and spoon.
“Here, these will be easier for you.”
“….”
I awkwardly accepted them with both hands.
“Just wait a moment.”
Then he skillfully cut the steak into bite-sized pieces and offered them to me.
“Here, you first.”
“I… I can do it myself.”
“Yes, I’m sure my daughter could do it even better.”
I eyed the plate suspiciously.
According to Mafius, now that I was living a new life, I wouldn’t suffer injustices anymore.
As an apology, I’d supposedly get an even happier life than I should have had. So it should be fine.
My head knew it, but it was hard to get used to it. My first instinct was still suspicion.
But my body was honest—my mouth filled with saliva the moment I cracked it open.
He kept looking at me like he wouldn’t eat until I did.
So I reluctantly speared a piece of steak and put it in my mouth.
Mr. White’s smile grew even brighter.
“It’s good, isn’t it?”
I nodded, stuffing in another bite before I’d even finished chewing the first.
In all my lives, I’d never eaten anything this delicious. I wanted to eat as much as I could before I got full.
The crazy man didn’t seem so bad now… maybe.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but being seven years old seemed to make my instincts stronger.
I was eating without a thought when I felt a gaze on me.
I swallowed, glanced up, and found Mr. White resting his chin on his hand, smiling fondly at me.
He hadn’t even touched the steak in front of him.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Hm?”
“You haven’t eaten anything.”
You should eat when you’ve got good food in front of you.
“Oh, I’ll eat now.”
“…Okay.”
But instead of picking up his fork and knife, he took a napkin and reached toward my face.
“Ah…”
My cheeks burned. I must have gotten food all over my mouth.
I really was acting like a little kid. I quickly scrubbed my mouth with the napkin. Then I suddenly wondered—
If he knew my name, did he know other things too?
“Do you know how old I am?”
“Seven.”
“My birthday?”
“February 3rd.”
I was shocked again. Even I didn’t know that! Mafius hadn’t told me either.
“How… do you know?”
“Of course I know. I’m your father.”
So he just naturally knew things about me, like how I knew about this world?
It felt like I was the only one who didn’t belong. There were so many strange things about this.
“How old are you, then?”
“Three thousand one hu—no, twenty-six.”
“You just said three thousand something.”
“Your dad is twenty-eight.”
Huh? You just said twenty-six…
“Uh-huh, sure.”
I nodded doubtfully.
I was about to spear another piece of meat when I stopped. I still wanted to eat more, but I was getting full.
I looked at the table full of food and thought—
What a waste…
And Mr. White had barely eaten two bites.
Could I… ask them to wrap it up? What a waste.
While I was eyeing the food, Mr. White asked,
“Want some ice cream?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Then how about some fruit?”
I shook my head again.
No more greed. It might make me pay for it later.
“I think we should go find the house now.”
“Sweetie, Kessnia 1st Street, No. 98, right?”
I stared blankly into space.
“Yes… that’s right.”
“I don’t see a house here.”
“Uh, there’s definitely supposed to be a house here…”
I rubbed my eyes and looked again.
Why was there nothing but a huge empty lot?
A very huge one.
I was sure this was between No. 97 and No. 99. Mafius’s note clearly said No. 98!
Even No. 97 and No. 99 looked like run-down, abandoned houses.
“No matter how I look, this doesn’t seem like a house… How about we go to the one Daddy built? You’ll love it.”
“W-Wait a second!”
This couldn’t be happening.
I quickly dug into my all-purpose pouch and pulled out the conette Mafius gave me. Without letting him see, I turned away, opened the lid, and pressed the gem in the center.
“….”
Press.
“….”
Press, press, press.
Why wasn’t it working?!
Press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press…!
Tick!
A red light lit up in the gem.
Ah, it worked!
Tick.
It went out again.
“….”
I just stood there, holding the conette in both hands, blinking.
Had I… been scammed?
