Book 4 Chapter 4 The Girl on the Street
A day has passed since I recovered from the ferocious sex with Irene.
Right now, I had just finished my usual ‘plant inspection’ from Julie’s place and currently on my way back to the mansion.
The session took longer than usual, as Julie offered me to have tea after that, and because she’ll feel bad if I say no, I conceded, resulting in my current situation.
Looking up the sky, I could only see a blanket of grey, which made me feel worried. Soon, droplets fell, and I was rained on my way home.
Thankfully, Julie has given me an umbrella in advance, so I managed not to get wet.
The umbrella she let me is far unique from the mechanical ones I had in my past life. It was made of plants and leaves, like you see in historical dramas, but the deciding factor was it has some kind of magic being cast on me, that even when the wind blew, I didn’t get wet at all.
Well, considering she manages a big farm by herself, it shouldn’t be surprising that she’s good at plant and water-related magic.
The only problem left would be the puddles, but that would be resolved if you walk down the street like an average person, and prevent your feet from getting stuck in the muck.
Still, for a city of outcasts to have well-maintained roads is proof of Irene’s excellent territory management. It made me feel proud of having such a wonderful woman right by my side.
“Plus, I got some fruits as a souvenir. I can’t wait to get home and eat them all together!”
I’ve gotten pretty used to the food in this world.
In fact, the fruit that I got this time had become one of my favorites already.
Perhaps my mind was out of the road, and I was walking too fast, I bumped into a person coming at the corner of the road.
“Ah, I’m sorry!”
I apologized by reflex to the victim. When I looked further, they were covered head to toe with a dirty hooded robe, and as I observed also, they looked shorter than me.
However, the other party just ignored me and headed in its own way.
When I was about to wonder what’s going on with this guy, after a few steps forward, the person collapsed, as they had exhausted all their strength.
“Eh. Hey! Are you alright?”
I threw out my umbrella and ran towards the person.
Soon as I picked up the hooded entity who has fallen forward on the paved floor, their face that was hidden under the hood was revealed.
“What the, isn’t this just a kid?”
From what I see, it’s a girl, probably four or five years younger than me, and has a pretty face that has no sense of maturity yet.
Rather, the problem is in the girl’s body.
I haven’t checked it thoroughly, but to think she’s only wearing underwear under this dirty robe.
Wait, isn’t this practically a school swimsuit?
Then, I felt her shiver in my arms, which made me resume to my senses.
She’s wet all over, and her body is getting cold.
“Are you okay? Hey, can you hear me?”
I tried slapping her cheeks to woke her up, but there was no response.
She’s just breathing raggedly.
“Not good, I need to get her fixed right away.”
Her body is shaking and has a good chance that she’s running a fever.
Even a non-medical expert, could recognize that she was in a dangerous condition.
I carried the girl, albeit a bit roughly, and hurried to the mansion, using my umbrella to keep her from getting any wetter.
Irene is away from the mansion due to her work as a mayor, so the maids greeted me instead.
But when they found out that I was carrying a soaking wet girl, all hell broke loose.
“Master Tomoaki, may I ask what’s with the child?”
One of the calmest and most collected women in the group came to me.
“She collapsed when we bumped into each other on my way home, and she’s really wet and badly cold.”
“Then, we’ll prepare hot water and towel in no time. Someone, bring this child to the guest room!”
A few of them came in a hurry at her words, but I raised my hand to stop them.
“No need, I’ll carry her myself. Rather, can I ask you for this umbrella and bag? Ah, there are some fruits in the bag that I got from Julie’s place.”
“Got it. Please leave it to us.”
After leaving the luggage to the maid, I put down the child I was carrying and held her in a side embrace.
“Are there any of you who can accompany me?”
“I’ll go with you.”
And, accompanied by one of the maids, I carried the girl all the way to the guest room.
Since my hands are full, I asked the maid to open the door and make the girl sit on the sofa.
The maid beside me looked at the girl and checked her condition right away.
“She does seem to have a bit of a fever…”
“Do you think you can handle it?”
“I’m sorry. I’m not a doctor, so checking the symptoms is only what I can do……”
The maid said in apology.
“Then, can you get me a towel for now?”
“As you command.”
While listening to the steps made by the maid as she left, I tried to take off her wet robe and make her lie on the bed for now.
Fortunately, the robe is simple. I can just pull it up to take it off.
However, soon as I took off her robe, I saw something astonishing.
“Wha, Cat ears!?”
The girl I found had cat ears on her head.
I couldn’t process the reality well, and could only stare at them hard, murmuring ‘cat ears, cat ears, cat ears’ repeatedly in my head.
Finally, I reached for the cat ears.
At that very moment, everything fell out of my brain, and everything was dyed with cat ears.
“Okay. Let’s touch it.”
Like handling a very fragile object, I gently touched the cat ears, and was surprised at how unexpectedly comfortable and warm they felt.
“……haa! I don’t have the time for this!”
I came back to reality.
Immediately after that, the door to the room was opened.
“Master, here is your hot water and towel……eh, those ears…”
“I’m surprised too. Do you know anything?’
The maid seemed surprised at first, but she immediately came to her senses as I asked her a question.
“Yes, a little. I have heard of the existence of some humans with beast-like features, but this is the first time I’ve seen a real thing.”
“I see. Thank you for the effort. Let’s wipe her body for now.”
“Please allow me to help.”
After finding out that the girl had cat ears, the mansion caused even more commotion, but thanks to the efforts of the maids, the girl’s condition was stabilized.
According to the maid who has served as the coordinator, the cat-eared girl was of a race of the so-called Beast People.
They have enhanced physical abilities compared to humans, so as long as she gets a good night’s rest, she will soon recover.
“I was already surprised by the dark elf Julie, but I didn’t think there was a race of Beast People too.”
But this time, I was glad that the girl is one of the Beast People. If not, her life will truly be in danger right now, due to the lower metabolism of humans.
Still, to think such a child would wander around between the boundary of life and death……
“Master, why don’t you take a break for now? You have been taking care of her for some time now.”
Though I appreciate the maid’s offer, that’s not going to happen.
“Please look here.”
“Ara, this is……”
The girl is gripping the sleeve of my right hand, refusing to let go.
“Her grip is surprisingly strong, and I’m reluctant to pull it off forcibly.”
“Master Tomo is really kind……Then, please allow me to bring you a warm drink. I think Master Irene will return soon.”
‘Thank you. That’ll be very helpful.”
After a little while, the maid brought me warm drinks.
Soon as I drank some, my tensed nerves were relieved, and all the fatigue came out in a heap.
Even though she’s a little girl, it was still quite a burden to lift a person in the middle of a heavy rain.
“I guess I pushed myself too hard this time……but there’s no way I can overlook her as well.”
I made a soliloquy to myself.
About an hour later, Irene finally returned.
“It’s been a rough day, Tomo. How’s the girl?”
“She’s sleeping. A bit tired, but she’s still okay.”
“That’s good. Still, I didn’t expect one of the beast People to come to this city.”
Irene brought a chair next to me and sat down.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen her kind. Are they the same in other places?”
“More often than not, yes. Beast People have their own culture and are really exclusive in their own race, that’s why you rarely see them in cities where humans live.”
“Really? But they are so much similar to a human being.”
In fact, the girl’s face, the girl’s hand holding my sleeve, and her slender skin, they are all of a human child.
“……It’s almost like a fellow human, is it.”
Irene’s expression became downcast upon hearing my words.
When I was about to ask why, I just realized that I had stepped on a landmine and apologized in a hurry.”
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to-”
“It’s okay. I’m the one who should be sorry for getting swayed by the mood. After all, it was your unique treatment to us that you’ve become our saving grace in this world.”
She squeezed my free left hand, as if transferring all the feelings of gratitude to me. Then she looked over the bed, where the Beast Girl is resting.
“Looks like my Tomo has been reserved by this girl today. Though I still want to have sex with you, I guess I have to concede this time.”
“Reserved, huh.”
Seeing me dumbfounded with no idea what to do, Irene laughed a little.
‘Ufufu, I’m just kidding. It’s fine for you to stay with her, but it wouldn’t be a joke if you were the one who collapses. Take care of yourself.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t be beaten by a mere fever.”
Soon as I said that to Irene, she gave me a lovely stare, before letting go of her grip and leaving the room.
The only people left were the girl and me.
I don’t know how this girl came into the city, but I already have an idea why.
It’s because the girl is beautiful as well.
I don’t know if the Beast People have the same aesthetics as humans, but as the dark elves are the same, it is highly possible.
I also want to know why a child of this age had to come to this city alone, but I don’t want to dig it up because it might cause her trauma.
“For the time being, I have to ask at least her name once she wakes up.”
Up to this point, everyone has been calling her ‘that girl’, ‘that child’, and ‘that young girl’. It’s already getting hard to understand which one is which.
Whatever it is, I could only hope she gets better soon.
Against the backdrop of the rain that was getting stronger by the minute, I held the girl’s hand that was grabbing my sleeve.
As I was tired of the sudden movements due to the emergency, my eyelids became heavy.
Eventually, I wasn’t able to resist the drowsiness and bent over to lie face down on the bed where the girl sleeps.
And just on the verge of falling asleep, I felt the hand of the girl I was holding – twitched.
