GalaxyTL
Even though I’d asked that brave question, Gil-san and Maille-san just blinked for a moment and then smiled gently. Did they think, “What’s this child saying?” Seriously, there’s a limit! I couldn’t just accept such a luxurious item, even if I was a child! I’m not some rich kid!
“I see, you’re just as intelligent as they say, Lady Meg. I understand what you’re getting at. However…”
“…I’ll take over from here.”
I was a little curious about what kind of rumors were circulating, but Gil-san suddenly picked me up and said this while making eye contact, so I focused on him.
“Meg, do you know how much money it takes to raise a child to adulthood?”
To raise a child to adulthood… That’s right, I remember reading something about how in Japan, aside from food and daily necessities, you also had to pay for school, extracurricular activities, and various other things, and it all added up.
I wasn’t sure if the concept of schools or extracurricular activities even existed in this world, but people lived longer here, and they took longer to reach adulthood, so it must have been even more expensive.
“Um… a-a wot, I guess…”
I’d given it a lot of thought, but it still came out as a stupid answer. Ugh. But it seemed like Gil-san understood.
“Yeah. It varies from person to person, but it takes a lot of money.”
That’s right, there were individual differences. There were probably normal households, poor households, and rich households.
“I’ll ask you one more question. Who pays for all those expenses?”
“…Their pawents.”
That’s right. But I didn’t have any parents right now. That’s why I needed to be as self-sufficient as possible. But I couldn’t do that, so I was relying on the guild’s kindness. It wasn’t an orphanage, but the concept was similar. I couldn’t be living extravagantly.
Or so I thought.
“That’s right. And children accept that. Meg, your guardian… is me.”
“Eh…?”
I’d assumed Gil-san was my guardian, but his words sounded… definitive.
“I felt bad for doing it without your permission, but… It’s dangerous for you to remain unidentified. So… I filled out the necessary paperwork. As of now, you’re my daughter.”
Wh-Wh-What!? I was stunned.
“Of course, if your real guardian shows up, and we can confirm your safety… we can change it. It’s temporary, but you’re my daughter now. Did you not like that…?”
…I was such an idiot. I was acting like a proper adult on the inside, but I was just a spoiled child.
I hadn’t even realized how much everyone around me was doing for me, how seriously they were thinking about my well-being, how they were trying to protect me.
A warm teardrop rolled down my cheek, landing on the back of my hand.
“I… don’t dislike it… Thank you… thank you. Thank you sho much…”
We weren’t blood-related, and we’d only known each other for a short time, but the deep, genuine affection Gil-san and the others had for me… had taken root in my heart as well.
Gil-san waited for my tears to subside before continuing,
“Until your real guardian shows up, or until you become an adult… I’ll provide you with everything you need, as your parent. I’m giving you this magic tool because I believe it’s necessary for you.”
As he said this, he skillfully put the bracelet on my right wrist with one hand.
“It’s certainly expensive. But I want to give it to you as a memento, to commemorate us becoming parent and child. Will you accept it… as my daughter?”
Ugh, Gil-san was being such a good dad! I felt tears welling up again! I hurriedly wiped them away with my left hand and gave him the biggest smile I could manage. I replied cheerfully,
“Okii! Thank you! Gil-papa!”
“Guh! !!”
Huh? I’d just blurted it out… But why was Maille-san choking? And Gil-san was staring at me with wide eyes, what’s wrong?
“Is papa… no good…?”
“N-No, it’s not bad, but… It’s just… strange.”
Well, it was a surprise to be called “papa” so suddenly! And he didn’t really feel like a “papa” to me, not with him being so young… …Even if he was easily over 200 years old!
“Ahem, excuse me. It was such an unexpected statement. Um, Lady Meg? Calling Gil “papa” could cause quite a stir. How about calling him that… when it’s just the two of you?”
“Hmm, that’s not a bad idea.”
Oh, what a good suggestion, Maille-san! It’s true that if I kept calling him “papa” out in the open, it would reach everyone’s ears, and the rumors would get out of control. I decided to accept his proposal.
“Now, back to the matter at hand. Lady Meg, why don’t you try imbuing the bracelet with a little bit of your magic power?”
“Hm?”
“It’s the same as creating water. Imagine that the bracelet is part of your body and let your magic power flow into it.”
I did as they said, imagining my magic power flowing into the bracelet. The loose bracelet then adjusted to fit my wrist perfectly! I wonder how it works. It must be magic.
“Okay. The bracelet now recognizes you as its owner, Lady Meg. It’ll protect you. Treasure it.”
“Fuwaa…! Okii! Thank you sho much!”
I then hugged Gil-san and said “Thank you!” He hugged me back lightly and even patted my head! This is the privilege of being a daughter!
“Let’s go to the next place. Maille, sorry for interrupting you.”
“Sorry fo giving you twouble!”
“Don’t mention it. Please come again anytime! You’re always welcome. You inspire me. Being around beautiful people like yourselves enhances my own beauty… no, it makes us shine even brighter…”
Ah, no. Had Maille-san gone back into self-admiration mode…?
“…Let’s go.”
“I-Is it really ok?”
“It’ll never end.”
And so, we went to the next location, with me still being carried by Gil-san. Maille-san was still lost in his own world. I couldn’t help but think that Gil-san was walking a little faster…!