Chapter 9– CUTE CREATURE (1/2)

CHAPTER 9 – CUTE CREATURE

While I was busy with my thoughts&h.e.l.lip;

“h.e.l.looooo~! Gerald-chan!”

Mother appeared carrying a tray with a cup of water. My younger sister Sierra was sticking close to her. The 2 year old Sierra, who hadn’t been weaned yet, had learnt to walk and talk.

“All that’s left is to graduate from breast milk,”

Mother sometimes says with a wry smile. Sierra had yet to meet her expectations.

“h.e.l.looooo~! Niitan1!” she giggled.

So cute!

Unlike Mother’s hair which was an autumn leaf brown, Sierra had beautiful chestnut brown hair. Her inquisitive reddish-brown eyes darted about, her adorable lips curled into a smile.

It was no doubt what you would call an innocent smile. Simply watching her was enough to make me happy.

“Niitan, niitan!”

she cried out, waddling over on unsteady legs. The sight of her arms reaching out, wobbling left and right as she staggered over brought a smile to my face.

I was overcome with the desire to protect her. I felt – how do I describe it – like something warm was filling up my heart. Her presence alone brought others joy.

What could it possibly be? What is this cute creature?

It’s so cute!

“Sierra, just a bit further. Come on, Oniichan is here!”

Without noticing, as Sierra approached me I ended up calling out encouragingly. Since I was slightly bent over while cheering Sierra on, she ended up snuggling face first into my stomach. She smelt like baby milk.

Oh-my-G.o.d-such-a-seriously-cute-so-cute-super-cute-creature.

“Amazing! You did great walking so far!”

I praised her with much enthusiasm. It’s amazing for a 2 year old to walk so far!2 She made it to me all the way from the back door!

If that isn’t cute, then what is? I grinned. I wonder why the particular way a child’s face lights up as they smile is so captivating.

I squeezed Sierra in my arms. She’s SO soft&h.e.l.lip;

What a delightful creature. I want to keep hugging her close and go back to sleep. I wish they sold body pillows like this.

“Oww, niitan it hurts!”

“Ah, sorry. Was I squeezing you too much?”

“No, it’s okay to squeeze more!”

This is dangerous. My brain is about to short circuit. So cute! After hugging her tightly again Sierra hugged me back. Ahh, I can’t let her marry anyone.

You need to be oniichan’s wife, oniichan’s.3

I won’t hand her over to anyone.

Without question!

And so, while I was busy rubbing my cheek on Sierra like a cat,

“Here’s the water. You worked pretty hard today, didn’t you?”

“Err&h.e.l.lip;yeah, thanks. I wanted to test a lot of incantations, so I can use them properly.”

When I conveyed that I didn’t want to make any mistakes like before, Mother returned an affectionate smile.

“I’m glad. I’d rather not waste any food, you know.”

“Yeah&h.e.l.lip;me too. I don’t want to waste the food you cook either. It’s so delicious!”

“Oh dear, still a child and already so good at flattery.”

“D-don’t call me a child!”

But it’s true, Mother’s cooking is honestly delicious. I hadn’t eaten such delicious food even in my past life. Certainly, since it was a farming village the food was bland and there was no gourmet cooking.

Yet, taste isn’t determined purely by the ingredients and technique. I believe who cooked the food is equally as important. There’s nothing quite like a mother’s cooking. So I absolutely refuse to waste such food again.

“Sierra too! Sierra wants water too!”4

Sierra complained next to me, interrupting my secret vow. It looks as if Princess Sierra greatly desires some water.

“Okay, okay. Have half of mine.”

I answered and handed her my half empty cup. But then, Sierra was about to drink when the cup slipped out of her hands. The water spilled from the cup, soaking her clothes.