CH 18

“Munch munch… Good…”

I’ve brought the hungry Ririi with me to a cafe. It’s on the main street of the commercial block, and it’s no exaggeration to say it’s the most popular cafe in the capital right now.

It’s not very big, but there are men and women of different ages and races all enjoying themselves in here. And we got in right away, despite the line outside.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes! Pahcakes are fluffy!”

“Pancakes.”

Ririi is doing a good job using a fork and a spoon to continuously bring pancake covered with a lot of syrup to her mouth. Pancakes are one of this store’s signature dishes, and most customers order them, but unfortunately, I’ve never had them. I don’t like sweets all that much.

“Tate’s food is good.”

Ririi smiles at me with her face sticky with syrup. I try to smile back, but am I really?

“Is this your first time eating pancakes?”

“Yes. First time.”

“…I see…”

My head starts running at full speed.

…Pancakes aren’t the least bit rare. I’ve been to other towns and villages on assignments from the ministry of magic, and I’ve seen them in cafes in those places several times.

Weiss seems to be defying expectations and pampering her, and he never ordered them in some cafe somewhere?

The fact that Ririi never had pancakes before sticks out to me a little.

“Have you ever been to a place like this, Ririi?”

I ask, and Ririi shakes her head widely while looking around.

“Hum, there was Miss Horo’s store, and Mister Loretto’s place!”

“…Miss Horo? Mister Loretto…?”

“Ririh loves Miss Horo! She’s nice and friends with daddy.”

“What…”

Ririi talks about ‘Miss Horo’ with a big smile on her face. She’s probably someone she met before they came to the capital.

I can tell by her face that they really got along.

…But more importantly…

“…What kind of relationship did Miss Horo have with your daddy?”

…She was friends with Weiss?

That doesn’t mean they were… Right?

Of course not.

I shake my head and try to clear it of those bad thoughts.

“Hm… Miss Horo has a clothes store, and gave Ririh clothes.”

“…I see.”

I’m relieved to hear Ririi’s response is more innocent than I thought. It doesn’t sound like they were living together or had any kind of sordid relationship. They were probably just customers of hers.

“Where did you live before you came here?”

I lose focus and ask Ririi a question I was thinking of asking Weiss directly.

“Hum… A place called… Zenith? Yes!”

“Did you say… Zenith…?”

I couldn’t even begin to imagine the bomb that would drop after that question.

Zenith.

The name of a town of villains, that’s said to exist somewhere.

◆

“I’m back.”

“Daddy!”

I open the front door, and Ririi comes running. I stand still with my arms open, and she dives into my chest. Then I head to the living room with her in my arms.

“…You’re late, Weiss.”

Sieglinde is reading a book on the sofa. Her face is still pointed at the book, but she moves her eyes this way.

I see what looks like Ririi’s drawings on the table. It looks like Sieglinde did a good job looking after her.

“It took a while to find my prey. Thanks for looking after Ririi today.”

“It’s all right. I want us to get along too.”

Sieglinde closes the book and walks this way. She looks a little tired, probably because she’s not used to dealing with kids.

“And did you?”

“Well… Who knows? She still won’t call me mommy.”

“Of course she won’t. She didn’t immediately start calling me daddy either.”

The first time Ririi called me daddy, I cried by myself in bed after she fell asleep. It was really emotional…

“Ririh likes Miss Sieglinde. She gave Ririh pancakes!”

“Really?”

“…It looks like the expense was worth it.”

Sieglinde is playing it cool, but I can see a little smile on her face. It’s like she’s half happy and half taken aback by being hit directly with a kid’s honest affection.

“Well then, I’ll be going back. Call me again if you need me.”

Sieglinde passes by me and goes home.

“Bye bye Miss Sieglinde!”

Ririi walks to the entrance to see her off, and waves until Sieglinde’s back is out of her sight.