Chapter 5 - Volume 1 (1/2)

Volume 1, Chapter 5: I became a 3 year old

“……Do you remember me?”

Father asked as he looked anxiously at me.

Of course I remember.

As long as you are my Father, I’d never forget such a good-looking person.

His face was clearly revealing his thoughts…that since he couldn’t come see his young daughter no more than once or twice a year, it would only be natural for her to have forgotten him.

Ever since the matter of holy magic had passed, I, who had strongly recognized the [Demon] within me, was ever more firmly determined than before to conduct myself to behave like a human, so I was going try my best as a daughter as well.

“…Father?”

When I called out and walked towards him with toddling steps, Father showed a look of being surprised.

“Ohh…Yurushia. So you would call me father….”

Eh?　Come to think of it, was this the first time I called him [Father] in person?

Still…Father, aren’t you a bit too afraid I wonder?　I know how inhuman I look, but if you fear me to that extent, to be honest I feel down.

But I mustn’t lose heart because of this.

As a frail demon hiding among humans, the best idea was to be protected by wonderful people like Father. It wasn’t because the elegant old man happened to be my favorite or anything like that.

First of all, I had to get him used to me.

Today was my 3rd birthday.

As for presents, I received a comb made of silver from Mother. I was a little frightened by silver items, holy magic and the like, but no problems occurred. In retrospect, hadn’t I used a silver spoon all this time just fine?

From the three maid girls I received a book called [A Document on Magic Usable from Age 3]… even though books were expensive in this world….

From Trufi-san, who had completed her work as a wet-nurse and returned home, I received a small painting to decorate in my room. It was very lovely.

From Father, I received a huge bear plushy, a regular sized rabbit plushy, a bouquet of roses, and a ton of candies bought from a famous store in the royal capital.

When I tried eating the sweets…there wasn’t enough flavor as expected. It wasn’t any less in terms of quality when compared with the sweets from the dream world, but it was somehow unsatisfying.

But I had to persevere and eat it all…or else everyone will be sad.

My birthday party had ended. Father would always leave again when night came, but this time I tried to playfully keep him from going away.

I toddled my way to Father, who had always been hesitant of even being touched by me, and tugged on his leg that was on the sofa.

“……What wrong? Yurushia.”

When our eyes met, Father visibly lost his composure. ……So it was no good unless I acted more boldly.

“Father, hug~”

“Oh- ohh.”

Father was wide-eyed, responding in a voice that was hard to tell whether it was a reply or a groan. He then perched me on top of his lap with strong arms.

I was kind of excited. Not as a daughter, but as a maiden.

“”………””

Somehow it became silent.

I was simply emotionally moved from having a lap seat and resting my back against the chest of a man, but Father seemed to be at a loss as to how to deal with his alien 3 year old daughter.

And from that moment I carried out my plan. Yes. I am a cat. I will become a cat. This is definitely not me giving in to my instincts.

I nuzzled against Father’s chest with my nose.

Father seemed to tremble slightly, but I didn’t mind it.When I nuzzled against him even more, Father timidly patted my head.

With the intended message of, “Father, please pat me more diligently”, I rubbed my head against his large hands.

……Oh?　Something smells good. Smelling the same sweet scent that Mother gave off caused me to further increase my rate of nuzzling.

“……Were you lonely?”

Father asked me in a gentle voice.

Eh?　Was I?　Looking up at Father with a slightly pondering look, I saw that he was now directly meeting my gaze with a sorrowful expression on his face.

……Ho, how should I reply?　I felt a little flustered.Maybe it was the fault of the smell, but my cheeks were hot….

Unable to come up with a response and becoming embarassed in the midst of staring at one another, I escaped into that intoxicating smell by burying my face into Father’s chest.

“……Muu.”

“You sure like to be pampered…I’ll dote on you as much as you want then.”

Father’s voice became cheery as he gently brushed my hair with his large hands and tickled around my ears and neck. Father seemed to be having fun as he swiftly caught me when I twisted my body away from his tickling hands.

What could it be…this feeling. I was feeling a similar sensation to when I had mofumofu’d with [Him]….By any chance, was I being tamed…?

“Nyaa.”

Letting out a sound that even I couldn’t explain, I escaped Father’s hands to take refuge in his chest.

“Hahaha. Yurushia is just like a kitten.”

Feeling my face becoming even hotter from being whispered to in my ears, I resolutely stuck my face onto Father’s chest to find solace in that heady scent.

＊＊＊

There was a man named Folt.

He excelled in the sword, and possessed an exceptional mind. His future was full of great expectations, but he didn’t think to use his abilities to their fullest.

He had an elder sister and elder brother. The relationship between the three siblings was quite good.

The elder sister was a willful woman, but kind to those below her, and beloved by everyone around her. She was the pride of her brothers, and even after she married into a family far away, her teachings strongly remained within the hearts of her two brothers.

The elder brother was a man of valor, and his personality was one that was farthest away from being described as delicate. His swordsmanship easily surpassed that of his younger brother Folt, and his bravery won him many admirers.

Folt greatly respected his elder sister and elder brother. The elder sister and brother pair also loved their clever and honest younger brother, and were proud of him.

But his cleverness and capability brought him misfortune.

The siblings’ household was a powerful one. And only one man could succeed the house.

Folt believed in his heart that only his elder brother, who was held in high esteem by many, could be worthy of becoming the successor to their house, and that his duty was to become his brother’s strength. So, seeking higher knowledge, he devoted himself to studying without rest.

But as time passed, there were some who voiced their thoughts of Folt being the suitable candidate for head of house.

Folt denied them all. But when he realized that those voices wouldn’t stop, Folt didn’t hesitate to seek audience with his father, deciding to abandon his family name.

But the one who stopped him, was none other than Folt’s elder brother himself.

The elder brother was aware of the great efforts Folt had made, and dearly valued his strength, because he recognized Folt’s character better than anyone else.

The elder brother didn’t mind conceding the position of next in line to the head of house, so long as Folt wished for it. He knew that Folt had the abilities for the position, but he also knew that Folt didn’t desire it.

He wished for Folt to be free. But even so, he wanted Folt to display his abilities by his side, and devised a scheme that went against the wishes of his younger brother, knowing full well that he would be resented.

It couldn’t truly be called a scheme, because in a way, the elder brother was only fulfilling familial duty.

The plan was to marry his younger brother into a relative’s household which only had a daughter. There would be no problems for the time being, but once his clever younger brother married, and if that household was to grow in influence, that would be sure to bring troubles in the future.

But the attitude of the relative’s daughter wasn’t good, and he had a bitter experience in putting the two together to marry.

The elder brother knew that his younger brother had someone he was mutually in love with. The person he loved was the daughter of a wet nurse, and also his foster sister. She was an extremely kind and beautiful girl.

However, as a foster child, she didn’t have a high enough social standing. Their family would be even more opposed to their marriage than the idea of marrying his younger brother to his relatives.

That was why the elder brother even resorted to forceful methods in bringing his younger brother closer to the house of his relatives.

Even though he knew this would bring sorrow to his younger brother and foster sister, he did so nevertheless.

Several years passed, and two daughters were born to Folt.

Both of them resembled their mother and were of such poor character, that the elder brother had even once asked Folt if these two were really his children. At the very least, it was a relief that they weren’t sons.

Folt couldn’t bring himself to confront his willful wife that was 2 years his senior about their children, while on the other hand, his two daughters favored their mother more than their father.

Folt had a sudden thought. Did I truly love my wife and daughters?　Taking after their beautiful mother, the two daughters were also lovely. Others expressed their envy of him, but Folt couldn’t understand why. He didn’t feel that he was loved by his wife and daughters.

Folt knew that all his elder brother had done was for his sake.

He was truly happy to be able to work for his elder brother.

But contrary to those feelings, Folt’s worries only continued to pile on, and his exhaustion only worsened as the days passed.

Seeing him in such a state, his elder brother told him of a place where he would be able to ease his spirit.

He headed towards that place, half in doubt, and there he found waiting for him, the woman that was his foster sister, who had never stopped loving Folt.

The two deeply felt the mutual love they had for each other, and in time, the heavens bestowed an angel between the two of them.

Their beloved daughter, who had come back to life from stillbirth, grew to be an unbelievably healthy child.

She was so pure and lovely that he hesitated to even touch her.

Was it alright for me to even go near her?　I have another wife, other children. Am I worthy of being her father?

It was the 2nd birthday of his daughter. Folt was shaken by the sight of his daughter.

His daughter was still only an adorable child just a year ago. Yet at the tender age of 2 she had become almost frightfully lovely.

Was she really human…?　Was she really not an angel?

Startled by his own thoughts, Folt was more hesitant than ever in making contact with his daughter.

But even so, when he closed his eyes, the figures of the woman and daughter he loved would come to mind.

When he thought to himself, what if this fear of mine caused my daughter to look at me with the cold eyes of my other wife and children?, he was overcome with anxiety that threatened to burst his chest.

On the day of his daughter’s 3rd birthday. Once again, he was harboring doubts and fears in his heart when his daughter called out to Folt, called him father. He had considered the possibility of being forgotten…it couldn’t have been helped.

Nevertheless, the time they spent apart was too long, and he didn’t know how to face his daughter.

But all of a sudden, his daughter made the first move of demanding a hug, and that sight of her caused Folt to realize just how foolish he had been.