Chapter 22

"Is something like this even possible?"

For a girl as cute as an idol to suddenly roll her eyes back and collapse...

I was so shocked that I couldn't do anything and just froze.

Then, a few seconds later, the elf girl regained consciousness and returned to her original kneeling position.

"I'm sorry. I lost my composure."

"Uh... are you okay?"

"Yes. I just lost control of my emotions."

Lost control of her emotions...?

"By the way, what about these documents?"

The elf girl cleared her throat and, as if to change the subject, shifted her gaze to the documents I was holding and the papers scattered on the floor. She picked up one of the nearby papers and nodded.

"Proof of Mayor Schultem's misconduct, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"Indeed, Miss Renny. You were looking for this, weren't you?"

Hmm. Actually, I just thought about destroying their hideout.

But there was a big fish behind it. What should I do now?

While thinking, I nodded. The elf girl smiled.

"Please leave this to me. I'll gather the evidence and organize it."

"Really?"

"Yes. Please take your time, Miss Renny."

"Okay."

I accepted the elf girl's offer and handed over the documents I was holding.

I had just met this girl. Come to think of it, I hadn't even asked her name.

I probably shouldn't trust her so easily, but the [Bell of Perception] didn't ring, and I think she's on my side. My intuition tells me so.

...Well, it's not really intuition, but...

After all, how many people would cry just from being petted and then collapse just from wiping their tears? If she were actually an enemy, she should act more convincingly!

So, I handed over the secret ledger I found in the safe.

The elf girl respectfully took the documents from me and quickly gathered the papers scattered on the ground.

"Then, Miss Renny, let's go back. Your mother is worried."

"Okay."

Come to think of it, the elf girl came because my mother told her.

She would be worried if she knew a three-year-old was wandering around at night.

I left a note, but I should get back quickly.

"Okay, I'll go back."

After answering, I put on the hood of the [Hermit's Robe].

This should make me invisible to others—

"R-Renny-sama!?"

"Here."

"Huh... huh?"

"I'm here."

I think the elf girl saw me suddenly disappear.

To reassure her, I gently held her hand.

"Item power. Robe. Presence disappears."

"Eh, eh...!"

"Can you hear my voice?"

"Yes! I can hear a very cute voice!"

The elf girl blushed and nodded rapidly.

Then, she continued.

"Miss Renny, you also have other very powerful items equipped, don't you?"

"Uh-huh."

"Have you told your mother about them?"

"No."

"...Where did you get the items?"

"...I've had them from the beginning."

Yeah. If someone asks where I got the items, the only answer is "from the beginning." They're carry-overs from the game I played in my previous life.

"...I see."

The elf girl, after a moment of shock, became serious.

"Miss Renny, you are indeed special."

Her bright blue eyes were filled with determination.

"I understand that Miss Renny has special powers and excellent items. We'll think about that later, but first, there's something important."

"Something important?"

"Yes. Miss Renny is still small and in the stage of growing."

"Uh-huh."

I understand that very well.

I've grown a lot from age 0 to 3, and I've been thinking about how amazing children's growth and development are. I can talk, walk, and now run!

"Therefore, I hope you try not to rely too much on your equipment."

"...Not use items?"

"No, of course, you can use them when necessary. Please use them if you feel in danger."

"Uh-huh."

"However, over-reliance on powerful equipment might hinder your physical growth. ...It's like your body might become lazy..."

"...Muscles won't develop?"

"Yes! Do you know about muscles? To grow, you need muscles. I hope you walk and run a lot on your own without relying on equipment."

I nodded in agreement with the elf girl's words.

Right now, with the [Cat's Hand Gloves] and [Rabbit's Boots] equipped, my physical abilities have skyrocketed, and I don't feel tired at all.

It's great, but considering I'm still a child and in the growth stage, getting used to this might not be good.

To grow properly, it's important to experience lifting heavy objects, running, and various activities without equipment, just like a normal toddler.

"Understood."

I really got it. It made a lot of sense.

Instead of just telling a three-year-old not to use items, she explained the reasons clearly and in a way I could understand. My impression of the elf girl improved.

"Take off the equipment."

I let go of the elf girl's hand and whispered, "item box." Then, I put all the equipment except the [Hermit's Robe] back into the item box.

"Taken off."

"Eh... eh... already? I didn't even notice..."

I immediately put her advice into practice, but since I was using the [Hermit's Robe] to hide my presence, the elf girl couldn't sense anything.

The elf girl's eyebrows drooped.

"How embarrassing... I don't understand anything about Miss Renny... No, my feelings don't matter now. Miss Renny is special. She has wonderful abilities. That's fine."

The elf girl straightened her eyebrows and made a fist with her right hand.

I gently placed both hands on her fist—

"I'll try to walk."

"Y-Yes!"

"But... I have a request."

...Since I'm a three-year-old.

I splash [Healing Potions] on my father, drop [Fertilizer] in the fields, and make documents rain down...

"I want to hold hands while walking."

I think I might fall...

"Y-Yes! O-Of course!"

At my words, the elf girl's cheeks turned red as if a sound had been made.

Then, she whispered as if she had just realized something.

"Eh? Wait, eh? The warm, small thing touching my hand... Eh? Could it be, eh? This small, soft, heartwarming thing... is Miss Renny's... hand?"

The elf girl stopped moving after saying that.

I don't really understand, but at least my request to hold hands was accepted.

But I actually have one more request.

Since it might be a bother, I took off the hood of the [Hermit's Robe] so we could see each other's faces.

"Um..."

"..."

"If I get tired..."

"..."

"Can you carry me?"

Of course, I'll try my best to the end. If it's really impossible, I can equip items.

But for growth and development, I want to use my body as much as possible!

I thought being carried would make me use my body more than relying on equipment...

I looked into her bright blue eyes, wondering if it was okay.

Then, the elf girl—

"Ah, impossible, noble, impossible, reward."

Said that and rolled her eyes back, collapsing again.