Chapter 172

—–

Gofumin was enjoying a big sandwich with slices of grilled meat, tomato, and cabbage, alongside some homemade mayonnaise I made myself. Mayo is not hard to make, just eggs and oil.

She also was enjoying a warm cup of cow milk that Julia had sold to me. I remember she said that it would go stale in a few days, so it wasn’t convenient to bring milk on long travels, but I told her it was okay.

Of course! Inside of my Inventory, time stops, so I can just store all these things.

People don’t know about such a great cheat, so my Inventory is really pretty amazing. I can store all sorts of food without them going stale. This could revolutionize everything because I could carry stuff and make meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and more never go bad.

I am literally a walking refrigerator.

Wait, that’s weird to say…

“Nom… Nom…” Gofumin stuffed her cheeks with the delicious meal adorably as she happily drank the warm milk.

“How is it, dear?” I asked.

“Guud!” She exclaimed.

“I am glad….” I muttered.

I don’t know how it ended like this but I kind of adopted her… even if she has her father right at my side, a goblin, and the chief of the goblin village.

“G-Gofumin, aren’t you going a bit too far? You shouldn’t abuse the goodwill of Maria-sama….” Sighed the village chief, and the goblin gave me a pitiful look.

“Ahaha, don’t worry about it, chief! I’ve already adopted your daughter,” I said.

“Y-You have?!”

“Ah… Well, that sounds weird, isn’t it? I am like her big sis,” I changed my declaration.

“Oh… Well, you’re good with all the children, I suppose, but Gofumin had grown very attached to you, Maria-sama… I am glad you’re filling the role that… her mother cannot take anymore,” Sighed the chief.

“Mama’s coming back one day… So I have to eat a lot and grow strong!” Said the little Gofumin.

The chief sighed once more. His eyes were filled with sorrow and fear. He had a hard time thinking about his wife, the adventurer goblin woman that went off one day and never returned for years…

I suppose she was most likely… well, she’s probably not here anymore, I guess. That’s what everyone thinks, but Gofumin is always thinking that she’ll come back one day and train her to become an Adventurer.

I guess I pity her… I actually just pity everyone! I am such a softie! I need help, please. Where is the instruction manual to become a ruthless badass op main character?!

There’s none. I guess I will remain forever flawed.

But it is still what makes me who I am!

“Don’t worry about it, dear. I am sure that your mommy would want you to get a head start! So if you want to, I can begin teaching you some moves or even magic? We could even find out what sorts of talents you got,” I said.

“Oohh! Sure! I like to hunt rats! I’ve hunted 13 whole rats!” Said Gofumin rather pridefully.

The little goblin girl puffed her chest and smiled while closing her eyes and furrowing her eyebrows. The air was so cold that a bit of steam came out of her nose, showing her excitement for showing off her prideful feat.

“I see, so you really are an amazing hunter! You already got the knack for it, dear,” I said.

“Hehehe, really?” She asked.

“Of course!” I said, petting the girl’s silky silvery-white hair as her yellow-gold eyes shone brightly.

Her green skin was rather healthy, mostly because she had been eating three meals a day and washing herself every day, things that they couldn’t do properly back then.

“As your father, I cannot really let Maria-sama have all the work, so I gotta teach you the ways too, Gofumin, don’t get too ahead of yourself!” Said the chief.

He had evolved into a Hobgoblin, so he wasn’t so small anymore and had become around the size of a small person, probably a meter and 45 centimeters?

Also, male Goblins gained hair after becoming Hobgoblins, but the chief was still as bald as an egg.

He still had that sharp nose as well, and he was rather on the uglier side of males, but he was still a nice and strong man.

Honestly speaking, someone so dedicated to his people and so responsible for them that shows such strength is really quite charming.

Eh? No, I didn’t mean in that way! I am not attracted to the chief… I don’t want to become the LITERAL mother of Gofumin, don’t get me wrong.

But I appreciate him.

I petted the chief, and he looked at me with a surprised look.

“H-Huh?”

“You’re a good chief,” I said.

“Th-Thanks… Nobody has… ever said such a thing,” He said.

Suddenly, the chief got all emotional as rivers of tears began to come out of his eyes.

“Damn… A-Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah, I am just happy to be recognized by Maria-sama,” He cried.

“Okay, haha… Don’t get too sad,” I sighed.

“Papa, don’t cry!” Shouted Gofumin.

“S-Sorry… I am fine now, dear,” Sighed the chief.

“Big sis, can I sit on your lap later?” Asked Takeshi.

“I wouldn’t mind it either….” Muttered Laura.

“Huh? Do you two want to as well? Well, sure. After all, you’re kids too,” I said with a smile.

The twins’ eyes suddenly shone brightly.

“Th-Then me too! Let me sit on your lap!” Said Emeraldine.

“No, me first!” Said Partner.

“Although it is quite embarrassing, perhaps you could sit on mine,” Said Lucifer.

“Agh, you three had to get involved in this? Only lap-sitting for kids! And no, Lucifer, I am not sitting on your lap. I know what you’re planning,” I sighed.

The trio gave me disappointed looks as if the world by itself was fragmenting before their eyes. They’re seriously pretty good at pretending to be sad, but I am not falling for the same trick twice. I already let them have their way with the bed stuff…

—–