Ch. 7 - Orphans

While Zoë watched over the bath, I returned to the bedroom to rest.

I tire easily, though I recover quickly. Dietrich’s energy remained intact, but I couldn’t keep pace. That contradiction made rest unavoidable.

Fifteen minutes after collapsing onto the bed, Zoë came back and told me the bath was ready.

“…”

She had returned naked. The sight of her childish belly made me rub my forehead in exasperation.

I didn’t ask why she was naked, or why her cheeks burned. My concern was the scratches all over her body, as if she had clawed herself.

“Zoë, come here.”

“Mm…”

Her arms, legs, stomach, thighs. Even her private parts bore signs of scratching.

Well, she’s a filthy street kid. One or two skin ailments make sense.

And probably the rest as ill, too.

Troublesome and contagious.

I retrieved a hand towel, filled a pail with hot water, and returned to her.

“It’ll sting a little.”

Zoë nodded in silence.

While I wiped down her body, she didn’t utter a single word. The scratches were deeper than expected; some scabs broke and bled. Still, she said nothing.

She was a child, and yet she was used to this kind of pain.

“…”

I was a rough adult, but seeing a child hardened to pain and disease stirred only pity.

“Wash the clothes you were wearing in the bathwater. Keep them clean. Don’t put them back on as they are.”

After a pause, Zoë nodded.

“Yes.”

It took refilling the pail three times to wipe her body.

I would’ve rather made her do it herself, but when I saw tears welling in her eyes, it felt cruel to force her. So I did it.

The fireplace crackled warmly. The shabby room let in drafts, but the heat was better than the freezing, filthy sewers.

Once I’d cleaned Zoë, I moistened my fingers with saliva and traced a holy symbol on her forehead.

“I grant you a blessing.”

Emerald light flared, swirling around her.

“Ah!”

Zoë’s eyes widened. Her wounds hadn’t closed, but the itching had stopped. My divine power was low; this was all I could manage.

“Just stay clean. If the itching comes back, tell me. That much I can handle.”

I needed to earn money to sustain us, and my divine power was limited for now. Stopping the itch and removing its cause—that much would have to be her path.

Zoë’s tears glimmered, but I didn’t care enough to ask.

I headed to the bath, Zoë behind me.

I undressed as well.

Skinny and boyish frame, ribs showing, no injuries or illness yet. I had to take care, or I’d lose the right to lecture the other brats.

First, we rinsed ourselves before getting into the tub together.

“It’ll sting, but bear with it.”

“Mn.”

She nodded and‌ sat down on my lap.

There was no soap or detergent. With no choice, we just soaked off the sweat in the tub, then washed our hair outside the bath before warming ourselves again. 

Finally, we used the leftover bathwater to wash our clothes.

After wringing them, we draped the garments over chairs in front of the fire to dry.

The inn offered no robes or extra clothes. I wrapped Zoë in a towel and let her share the bed.

Nights were freezing. A thin blanket alone could not protect a human like me. Desert climate—harsh and punishing. For Zoë and the demi-human brats was tolerable, maybe, but for me, it was a dead sentence.

As I was thinking this, I heard a soft knock‌ at the door.

Abby.

I intended to ignore it, but Zoë hesitated, reluctantly rising. Still wrapped in a towel, she approached.

I got up too, wrapping the thin blanket around my waist, and waited.

Abby didn’t flinch at Zoë’s state.

“Is Di still awake?”

“Yeah. He’s awake, but really tired.”

Abby walked in through the short corridor, frowning at my blanket-clad form, but said nothing.

“You’re late.”

At my curt tone, her brow furrowed, as if she’d bitten into something bitter.

“S-sorry. I had to meet with Ashita and the others. Here, food… Zoë, you eat too.”

She handed over sandwiches made with tough bread stuffed with meat and vegetables. I’d told her to make plenty, so there were six.

Zoë brought water in cups while I stuffed the sandwiches down. Abby sighed, eyes lingering on our drying clothes by the fire.

“So… what did you want to talk about?”

“Oni-girl and Cat-girl.”

“Ashita and Eva? What about them?”

“Work them harder. From the looks of it, Abby, you’re doing too much.”

I didn’t know exactly what her usual tasks were, but it was clear she bore the bulk of the group’s burden.

“…”

Abby lowered her gaze, her expression complicated. Seems I was right.

“You’re too soft. Make those two handle the little ones. If they fail, scold them as useless.”

“…”

She might be the oldest, but Abby was still young. A group where only the leader bears all the weight never lasts.

“…Are you giving me an order, Di?”

“No. I just don’t want to see you collapse, that’s all.”

Her stern face softened. I ate my three sandwiches while continuing, then pushed the remaining food toward Zoë.

“…”

Abby scowled. Zoë glanced between us, then hurriedly stuffed the food into her mouth.

“In any case,” I said, voice firm. “Abby, I’m your subordinate. I’ll earn the money you want, but everything else? That’s your responsibility. Your rights, your duties. Do you understand?”

“Tsk. Yeah. You don’t have to tell me, I know.”

“Then shove the trivial stuff onto those two. If they can’t handle it, find someone who can.”

“You’re right. I get it.”

Most likely… this was a place where only sharp, quick-witted kids—or the lucky ones who stuck with them—could survive.

I preferred being alone. Babysitting these wretched brats was the last thing I wanted.

“As long as I earn money, you won’t complain, right? Make them work. If you want, I’ll even step down from No.2. Put one of them in charge; maybe they’ll be motivated.”

I expected Abby to shrug it off, but she reacted sharply.

“No, Di, you’re No.2! The only one above you is me!”

I didn’t understand her fixation. I’m me. I had no interest in the kids or in Abby.

I stayed silent.

Abby licked her lips, uneasy with my silence, weighing her words.

“Di… you’ve got talent, and you’re smart. I… no, we need your strength.”

It sounded like an admission of weakness.

Despite being tough enough to survive in this harsh world and rising to lead, Abby now seemed crushed under the weight of responsibility.

Though I wore the body of a child, inside I was a grown man. I had at least enough mercy to spare for hungry children.

“Fine. I’ll follow your lead.”

I nodded reluctantly. Abby’s shoulders relaxed; she sighed. Even Zoë beside me exhaled a small, relieved breath.

“But let me warn you—I’ll act high and mighty. That won’t change,” I added after a breath.

Both Abby and Zoë burst into laughter.

“Yeah, we already know that.”

There was still so much to do to support this group.

Mother Asclepia, have mercy…

I looked up toward the heavens and cursed my wretched fate.

Comments