Clang!

After having a peaceful breakfast together,

We were chopping firewood to gather bundles to sell before visiting the village.

Food and clothes were taken care of thanks to Alex and the villagers, but the more money, the better.

We would need to buy books and other necessities for the orphanage, so it was best to start saving now.

"Ugh— Hyaaah!"

"Ooo, amazing!"

"Phew... See? This is how you chop firewood."

"That was cool!"

Since Hope had never chopped firewood before, I swung the axe enthusiastically to demonstrate.

But even though I did this every day, the axe was still heavy, and after a few swings, I was already drenched in sweat.

"Eve, can I try it once?"

"Hah... Huff... Of course. You're much taller than me, so you'll probably do well."

"I'll do my best."

Hope took the axe from me and positioned herself in front of the firewood, just as I had shown her.

"Hope, don't overdo it. You can take a break if you get tired!"

"Yes!"

Chopping firewood was surprisingly meticulous and physically demanding.

Every swing of the axe had to be done with care to create sturdy, well-dried logs.

"Here goes..."

While Hope was chopping, I decided to take a quick break.

I lay down on the ground to dry off my sweaty body.

It took me about thirty minutes to finish chopping one log, so Hope would probably take about the same time.

That should be enough time for my sweat to dry off—

That was my plan.

"Ah, this feels nice."

The shade cast by the massive trees was cozy.

The grass swayed in the wind, tickling my skin gently.

This was nice.

I could take a nap here.

This was what you'd call a natural bed.

"Well, maybe I'll doze off for a bit..."

"Eve!"

"Huh? Hope? What's wrong? Did you get hurt?"

"I finished chopping the firewood! Can you check it?"

"...Already?"

It hadn't even been five minutes.

"Let's see... Oh... You really did."

"How is it?"

"..."

I looked down at the cleanly split firewood.

Beside it were the uneven, ugly logs I had chopped earlier.

...Hope was insanely good at this.

I never expected her to be this fast and precise.

"You did an amazing job... You're better than me."

"Aww, compared to you Eve, it's nothing."

"You don't have to be that modest."

"I always tell the truth. We promised not to lie to each other, remember?"

"...Right. That's true."

"Now, how about you give it another try?"

I shook my head.

My body was still sticky with sweat, and if I tried swinging the axe again, I might just collapse from exhaustion.

No matter how much technique mattered, basic strength was still necessary.

"Oh you're still too tired. Then I'll chop the rest for you!"

"Hope, I keep telling you not to overdo it..."

"It's fine! With your praise, I'm invincible! ...Hyaaah!"

"Wait, Hope?!"

"Huh?"

Then, an unexpected disaster struck.

Excited from my compliment, Hope began swinging the axe faster—

And that's when it happened.

"...Eve, the axe blade is gone."

"Oh, uh, right. Something like this happened last time too..."

The axe blade, which had once gone missing before, had once again abandoned its home.

Now, all that remained in Hope's hand was a small, round wooden handle—

The sharp metal blade was nowhere to be seen.

"Where did it go?"

"Good question."

Seriously, where did it go?

— Clang!

"...Oh."

"Ah."

Fortunately, the runaway axe blade was found nearby.

As expected, in its usual show of 'ruthlessness,' the area around it was covered in shattered glass.

Another window had broken.

And to make matters worse—

"Uh, Eve. That's... Uh..."

"Yeah. That's the bathroom."

The bathroom window had shattered.

...If I had known this would happen, I would have at least washed up in the morning.

I felt empty inside.

All the strength drained from my body.

Now I wouldn't even be able to take a proper shower until it was repaired.

"...Are you okay?"

"Me? Oh, I'm totally fine. Except for the stickiness. And the heat from all this sweat."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's fine. No need to apologize."

After all, I had once shattered the windows just like that.

"Anyway, since we were planning to go to the village soon, so this works out perfectly. I can stop by the bathhouse while we're there."

"Huh, the bathhouse? I-I want to go too!"

"...Huh? You too, Hope?"

"Yes! If Eve is going, I'll go anywhere!"

"Alright, let's go together."

For some reason, Hope's face started to brighten.

She must really like bathhouses.

'That's unexpected.'

Considering how shy she was, I thought a public bathhouse wouldn't suit her.

Not to mention, beastfolk usually hated water, so I figured it would be a terrible match.

Especially since Hope was a cat beastfolk.

"Hope, have you ever been to a bathhouse before?"

"Huh? No, this is my first time."

"I see. Then I, as the director, should teach you properly."

"Huh, what are you going to teach me...?! I-I'll do my best to learn!"

"It's just bathing. You don't have to get that fired up about it..."

"Oh, okay..."

Dragging my sweat-covered body, I grabbed a single silver coin from the stash and stepped outside.

Clink. The sight of all the other coins sparkling inside the safe was quite satisfying.

The reason I only took one silver coin was simple.

Carrying too many coins was heavy.

And we were just going on a casual trip to the village—there was no need to bring all our money.

"Alright, let's head to the village!"

"Hope, the village is this way."

"...Ah, ahem, let's head to the village!"

Come to think of it, this was Hope's first time visiting the village too.

Looks like I had a lot to teach her as her guardian.

"U-um, Eve, can I... can I hold your hand...?"

"My hand? It's still sweaty, so it might feel gross."

"It's fine! That makes it even better!"

"...Huh?"

"I-I mean, I was going to say I don't mind! A-anyway, can I hold it?!"

"Uh, sure."

The moment I finished speaking, Hope snatched my hand at lightning speed.

She moved so fast, I could barely saw it.

"Wow, Hope, you're really quick. Does it feel uncomfortable at all?"

"I'm a cat beastkin, after all. Hmm, no, it's actually nice. Your hand is really soft, so it doesn't feel bad at all."

"Heh, thanks."

Hope was really sweet.

Even if it was just flattery, she always said the kindest things.

How considerate.

Who raised this kid? Whose orphanage is she from?!

Oh, right, mine!

"Eve, your hand is so warm."

"Because I have a kid's body."

"...You're talking like you're not a kid yourself."

"Because it's the truth."

Even in this body, my mind was still that of an adult.

And not just any adult—an elite warrior with the soul of a super-cool, top-class fighter.

"Hmm, then what about me?"

"Hope, in my eyes, you're still a little baby."

"Hmm."

"You don't have to believe me. The truth doesn't change— Hrk, hiik?!"

"Oh? Really?"

"Hiyaaah, h-hold on, wh-why are you— haha, s-stop that!"

"Oh, interesting reaction... Aha, so this is your weak spot, Eve!"

"Wh-why are you suddenly tickling me, hyaaah?!"

Just like that, I was completely at Hope's mercy, getting tickled relentlessly.

Why was this happening?! I had no idea.

Did something I said offend her?

Either way, thanks to her, I was completely exhausted, collapsing onto the ground like a ragdoll.

Hope... this terrifying child...!

"Ugh... I can't move my body."

"Oh no, I'm sorry! Your reaction was so funny, I did it without thinking..."

"That was too much. I'm really sensitive to tickling... Please be careful next time..."

"I will, I promise."

Well, at least we were almost at the village entrance when she attacked me.

If it had happened earlier, I would have been forced to ride on Hope's back all the way to town.

'That was close.'

If that had happened, I wouldn't have been able to show my face as a director anymore.

What kind of orphanage director gets carried around by their own resident?

That would be so embarrassing.

"...Oh, next time, I'll try—"

"Hope?"

"A-ah, it's nothing! Oh, look, isn't that the bathhouse?! Let's hurry!"

"Eh, w-wait, slow down a little! My legs aren't fully recovered ye—whoaaa!"

The moment Hope spotted the bathhouse, she excitedly dashed forward.

And because she was still holding onto my hand so tightly, I had to push my half-dead legs to their limit just to keep up with her.

'...Taking care of kids is seriously exhausting.'

As we ran, that thought hit me like a revelation.

If just looking after one almost grown-up Hope was this exhausting,

Then if we ever took in a younger child... No, even if just one more person needed my care,

I would probably collapse on the spot.

"Eve! Hurry!"

"O-okay, just, slow down a little—ack!"

Or maybe... that time had already come.

"Faster!"

"Uwaaaah!"