Chapter 8

While the dwarf girl, Zoi, was watching over the bathtub, I focused on resting my body in the bedroom.

I get tired easily, but I recover quickly. Although Diethart still has plenty of room to spare, I can't keep up with him. This contradiction is what makes me need a break.

After lying on the bed for about fifteen minutes, Zoi came back and said the bath was ready.

"..."

Zoi returned naked, and the sight of her frog-like belly as a young girl made me rub my forehead hard. Why is she naked? Why are her cheeks flushed? I decided not to ask. What concerns me is the scattered scratch marks on her body.

"Zoi, come here."

"Um..."

I examined her closely. Her arms, legs, abdomen, and thighs all had scratch marks. There were even marks in her genital area. Well, she's a dirty street kid. She probably has a few skin diseases. This is probably true for the other kids as well.

It's a real hassle, but these are contagious diseases.

I headed to the bathroom, took a hand towel from the supplies, filled a bucket with freshly boiled water, and returned to Zoi.

I then proceeded to clean Zoi's entire body.

"It might sting a bit."

"..."

Zoi nodded silently. As I wiped her small body, she didn't say a word. The self-inflicted scratches were deeper than expected, and some scabs broke, causing minor bleeding, but Zoi remained silent. She's a child, but she has a high pain tolerance.

"..."

I... I'm a rough adult, but I still have the common sense of a modern Japanese person. I only feel pity for a child with skin diseases and a high pain tolerance.

"Wash the clothes you were wearing in the bath water. Make sure they're clean. Don't put them back on."

Zoi paused for a moment, then nodded quietly.

"......Yes."

It took three refills of the bucket to clean Zoi's small body.

I wanted to make Zoi do it, but seeing her with tears in her eyes and looking dejected, I thought it might be a bit too harsh, so I did it myself.

The logs in the fireplace crackled.

The room was shabby and drafty, but it was relatively warm. It was a hundred times better than the dirty and cold sewers.

After thoroughly cleaning Zoi's body, I wet my index and middle fingers with saliva and drew a holy symbol on her forehead.

"I bestow my blessing."

Suddenly, emerald green light scattered and enveloped Zoi's body.

"Ah...!"

Zoi was a bit surprised and then looked at her body. The wounds didn't heal, but the itching stopped. With my limited divine power, that was the best I could do.

"..."

Zoi still had tears in her eyes. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, and I didn't care.

I headed to the bathroom, and the naked Zoi followed me.

I also undressed. The skinny kid's body showed no signs of illness or injury. I need to take care of it, or I won't be able to criticize the kids anymore.

First, we took a quick rinse together and then got into the bathtub.

"It might sting, so bear with it."

"Um..."

Zoi, who nodded briefly, was sitting on my foot for some reason.

Looking around, I couldn't find any soap or detergent. I had no choice but to rinse off the sweat in the bathtub, and after we went outside to wash our heads, Zoi followed suit. We warmed up in the bathtub one last time and used the leftover water to wash our clothes.

◇◇

I wrung out the clothes and hung them on a chair in front of the fireplace.

The cheap inn had no change of clothes, so I had no choice but to wrap the naked Zoi in a towel and share the bed with her. It was freezing cold here. If I slept alone under the thin blanket, I might freeze to death. It might be a desert climate. The harsh weather was tough on me, a human, but I had to do something about it or I wouldn't last long.

Just then, a soft knock on the door echoed. It was probably Abby.

I was in no mood to answer, but Zoi, who couldn't ignore it, got up with a groan, gave me a lingering look, and walked to the door, still wrapped in a towel. I got up, wrapped the thin blanket around my waist, and waited for Abby.

Abby seemed to have no interest in the towel-clad Zoi.

"Is Diet still awake?"

"Um... I'm awake, but I'm really tired..."

Abby, who had come through the short hallway to the bedroom, frowned at my blanket-clad appearance but didn't comment.

"You're late."

I said curtly, and Abby scowled.

"Sorry. I was with Ashita and Eva. Here, food. ...Zoi, you should eat too."

Abby held out a sandwich with hard bread, meat, and vegetables. I had asked for a lot, so there were six of them.

Zoi brought a glass of water, and while we were eating the sandwiches, Abby sighed at the clothes hanging by the fireplace.

"So, what's the talk about?"

"It's about the ogre and the cat girl."

"Ashita and Eva. What's wrong with them?"

"There's something wrong. You need to give them more work. From what I can see, Abby, you have too much on your plate."

Abby, who usually does things I can't see, is undoubtedly responsible for the kids' lives.

"..."

My observation seemed to be correct, as Abby's eyes drooped, and she had a complex expression.

"You seem to be too lenient. First, push the responsibility for the kids onto those two. If they can't handle it, blame them for being incompetent."

"..."

Abby might be the oldest among the kids, but she's still a kid. She probably feels a lot of pressure. However, a group where only the leader bears the responsibility won't last long.

"..."

Abby looked at me with a serious expression, but then relaxed a bit.

I talked while eating three sandwiches and pushed the remaining half to Zoi.

"..."

Abby frowned at the sight, and Zoi, who looked surprised, compared me and the unhappy Abby before stuffing the sandwich into her mouth.

"Anyway..."

I said again.

"Abby, I'm your subordinate. I'll earn the money you want, but everything else is your job, your right, and your duty. Got it?"

"...Yeah. I know. You're right."

"In that case, push the trivial tasks onto those two. If they can't handle it, find someone who can."

"...Yeah. I understand..."

Probably...

This is a place where a sharp, perceptive, and quick-witted kid and a lucky kid who can follow them survive.

I prefer working alone, and I don't want to take care of these unbearable kids.

"As long as I earn the money, you have no complaints, right? Anyway, give those two more work. If you want, I'll step down as No. 2. Let one of them do it, and they might get motivated."

I said this casually, but Abby reacted strongly.

"No way! Diet, you have to be No. 2! No one is above you but me!"

I don't understand why she's so attached to this. I'm me. I have no interest in the kids or Abby.

"..."

Abby licked her lips several times, as if choosing her words or thinking deeply.

"Diet... You have talent and a good head. We... no, we need your strength..."

It sounded like a surrender.

Abby, who had survived in this harsh environment and become the leader of a small group, sounded like she couldn't bear the burden anymore.

I...

I may look like a small kid, but I'm an adult inside. I have a bit of compassion for a struggling kid... I think.

"...Alright. I'll follow your will..."

Nodding hesitantly, Abby seemed relieved. She sighed and so did Zoi.

"Let me make one thing clear, though. I'm not going to change my tone. I'll still sound like a boss."

Abby and Zoi both laughed at this.

"Of course, I know."

To support this group, I have a lot to do.

...Mother, have mercy...

I looked up to the sky and lamented my unfortunate situation.