Ch. 12 - Causality

After much thought, Abby designated two of the seven rooms as living quarters.

“Di, tell me what you think.”

“No complaints. If anything, I’d suggest splitting them into two zones: one for sleeping, one for daily living.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. Especially at night, sticking together would be safer if something happened.”

By early afternoon, no summons had come from Alex yet.

Cat-girl screeched at the kids as she helped prepare the meal. Sui, the lizard-girl, occasionally glanced at me, which I noticed but ignored.

Meanwhile, Ashita and Zoë stayed glued to me, never leaving my side.

“Abby. I’ve got a suggestion, want to hear it?”

Abby nodded. She seemed to be in a good mood.

“Of course. If it’s from you, I’ll listen. Let’s hear it.”

“When we have a bit more leeway, buy clothes for the kids.”

“…Fine. Got it.”

She replied with a cool face, though her eyes flickered away. She’d answered, but she didn’t really get it.

For Abby, her treasure was only one person—Dietrich Becker. Nothing else mattered. That much was written all over her behavior.

One day, that would lead to disaster. But that wasn’t my concern. Eventually… that would be her crossroads.

She pretended to understand, but she still underestimated what it meant to lead a group.

Well then, how would Mother Asclepia’s hand of fate punish this reckless little Queen Bee?

◇◆

We ate simmered fish for lunch.

Surprisingly, Cat-girl turned out to be an excellent cook. She even laid out the vegetables properly, and there was soup as well.

As I offered thanks for finally receiving a proper meal, she muttered dryly, “Forget the gods. Thank me instead.”

“Of course, I thank you. Is there anything you want from me?”

“Nope!”

I hadn’t done anything to earn her dislike.

“…”

Just then, I felt Ashita’s gaze. When I turned, she looked away, awkward. As usual, I couldn’t read her thoughts.

Cat-girl, however…

“Why are you staring at me like that?! Gross!”

Being openly disliked felt oddly refreshing.

After lunch, with divine power still to spare, I decided to treat the kids’ skin conditions.

“Alright, Zoë. Come.”

“…Okay.”

What’s with that pause?

Sometimes, Zoë gave off… a strangely sexual air.

In the bathing room, I stripped her bare without hesitation.

“Hmm… Not bad.”

Her condition had improved since the last time I treated her. Some scratch marks remained, but they’d fade in time.

With hands folded behind her back, Zoë tilted her head and peered into my face.

“Zoë. I have a question.”

“…Yes.”

Again, that pause. What’s with that?

“Some of the others are still scratching themselves, right? How many?”

“Sui and Abby don’t seem itchy, I think…”

“I see.”

So the rest of the kids were the real problem. Abby and Sui aside, the others should all be considered infected.

I wiped Zoë down carefully and gave her a blessing.

“Wow… so pretty.”

It looked like a miracle. In truth, I’d held back, using only enough power to reduce the itching.

“Hey, Di, you’ll bathe with me too, right?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

The bathhouse wasn’t large. It made sense to bathe in groups and finish quickly.

In the bath, Zoë washed me thoroughly, front and back. I didn’t resist. After all, every time I’d collapsed before, she was the one who’d cleaned and cared for me.

“Is it okay if I say Zoë belongs to Di, right?” She asked, her face blushing faintly in the steamy water.

“Yes, that’s right,” I replied flatly.

We were still children, but after doing things like this, it was only logical that our relationship would eventually follow that course.

“But as I said before, I won’t force you. If you ever hate it, you can stop.”

“I won’t hate it. Hehe.”

She spoke in her usual spoiled, sweet, yet unwavering tone.

There’s an old saying: A dwarf’s will is of steel. Their stubbornness surpasses even that of an old goat.

Later, I would come to understand this painfully well. At the time, I dismissed it as a child’s words.

◇◆

Sanitation was critical. Now that we had this house, there was hope. But this was a contagious disease—or so Dietrich believed.

Which meant: unless everyone was stripped and treated, the cycle would never end. If left unchecked, it could escalate into a severe infection.

When I explained this, Abby’s answer was blunt.

“Then just take care of it quickly, Di.”

“Don’t make it sound easy.”

I doubted Cat-girl or Ashita would accept my treatment so readily.

“Forget Eva. Ashita should be fine, though.”

“We need to finish before sundown.”

Nights here were cold. Clothes had to dry, and most kids only had rags to wear. Planning for drying time was necessary.

And then there was another thing—bathing habits varied depending on the culture. In Japan, daily baths were normal. In countries with hard water, frequent bathing damages skin and hair. France, for example, developed perfumes to mask odors.

“What’s with that serious face, Di?”

“…Nothing. There's no time to waste. Let’s begin.”

“Right. Then start with me.”

I considered starting with the sickest, but this wasn’t urgent enough to risk friction. I’d already accepted my role under Abby. Opposing her now would only cause trouble.

“Zoë, help wash Abby’s body in the bathhouse. You know what to do?”

She smiled and nodded.

“Thoroughly wipe and wash her. Then call Di before she gets in the water?”

“Exactly.”

Small, strong, clever—choosing Zoë was the right decision. Satisfied, I nodded.

“No, Di. You do it all. That’s an order,” Abby said with a sweet smile.

Her fox-like eyes narrowed, but the weight behind them left no room to argue.

“…Fine. You’re vital to this group. If we’re being thorough, it should be me who examines you. If you’re not against it, then there’s no problem.”

“Then let’s head to the bath. Don’t miss a single spot.”

I ruffled Zoë’s hair—her squint matched Abby’s sharpness—then followed them to the bathhouse.

Just before, I caught Ashita signaling to Zoë, and Zoë nodded.

I watched Abby’s back bounce ahead of us.

…Women. I’ll never understand them. Even after living for thirty years, I still didn't.

The workings of a woman’s heart were a puzzle I, a blockhead, would never solve.

That much, I realized.

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