PHIM 07

Chapter 07

A week had passed since I gave the name to Adel.

At first, it didn’t stick well in my mouth, but now it felt as if Adel had always had that name.

Adel had also accepted the new name quite naturally. Her behavior was lively enough that it was hard to see her as a child who had lost all her memories.

…Though she did seem to have some separation anxiety.

From dawn, she had dragged her oversized slippers and insisted on following me outside. Even though her eyes were still half-lidded with sleep, she clung stubbornly to me. I ruffled her hair roughly.

Despite my rough touch, Adel giggled happily.

“Not cold?”

The weather, just entering March, was cold at best.

But Adel, wearing slightly oversized pajamas that left her neck exposed, shook her head.

“Mm, no. It’s warm because of you, Louisa-nim.”

Ah, so she’s asking me to make her warm, subtly.

I draped my robe over Adel, who was clinging to me like a cicada. The cold wind swept past the thin shirt she wore, but her hand, holding mine, quickly made the chill disappear.

From the warmth of our joined hands, a comforting feeling seemed to spread throughout my body.

I walked slowly, matching my steps to hers. Looking up at me, Adel laughed again.

The street, in contrast to Adel’s cozy smile, was hostile. No need to say, it was full of wary and terrified eyes watching us.

Adel’s gaze briefly flickered toward them, but when she met my eyes, her face turned pale, and she didn’t look at them again.

I doubted anyone would dare approach Adel after that.

Just to be safe, I scanned them once more. I didn’t radiate any hostility, yet they all instinctively shrank and nodded.

Satisfied, I smiled at their behavior and quickened our pace slightly, so Adel wouldn’t see them.

Perhaps because it was the frontline region of the Empire, where wars occurred most frequently, there was not a trace of beautiful scenery.

As time passed and the sun rose higher in the sky, the chill slightly subsided. Still, Adel shivered despite wearing the robe.

She crept closer, as if we were becoming one, so I scooped her up.

Though being lifted suddenly might have surprised her, Adel immediately wrapped her limbs around my neck and waist.

“Warm…”

Then she pressed her forehead to my shoulder and relaxed her body. After walking outside in the cold since dawn, she seemed sleepy.

I gently patted her back as she started breathing in a steady rhythm. From a nearby alley, a small scream sounded.

Yeah, yeah. You were surprised too, weren’t you? I didn’t expect this either…

I chuckled, realizing this child truly felt like a part of my life now.

What? Not following clichés? Not heartfelt?

Since naming her, though, I’d been more sincere with Adel than with anyone.

Honestly, with Adel being this kind, cute, and lively, how could I not be sincere?

It’s all Adel’s fault. Yes, yes. Cuteness is a crime.

Blaming Adel subtly, I hurried us home. Unlike outside, the house was warm thanks to the magical wards I had set.

Before long, Adel, still half-asleep, tried to throw off the robe.

I led her to her room beside my bedroom, removed the robe, and laid it on the bed.

I tucked her in and covered her with a blanket, but she kicked it off and clutched my clothes instead.

“Does this little one really think I’m a body pillow?”

Even asleep, she hugged my arms tightly, making me laugh again.

I sat on the bed and extended my arms. Adel rolled to the end of the bed, unable to resist.

A sword master, and yet unable to escape being dragged around…

Before I knew it, I was half-lying on Adel’s bed, using my arm as a pillow.

I tried to withdraw my arm and place a proper pillow, but Adel clutched my clothes as if sensing it.

She had done this before—it seemed to be her sleeping habit.

I decided I’d eventually have to buy a proper body pillow for Adel in the underground city, and closed my eyes.

Tap, tap.

“Mm.”

I frowned as if something touched my cheek and opened my eyes.

I had intended to keep them closed, but must have dozed off against the headboard.

Blinking a few times, I saw Adel’s face filling my view.

The touch earlier seemed to have been her hand. Her fingers were poking my cheek, perhaps trying to wake me.

I glanced at her hand, then met her eyes.

For some reason, her pupils were trembling as if there had been an earthquake.

“Uh, no, this is…!”

Adel’s hands flailed in front of me.

What on earth were those gestures for…?

Thinking it might be her unique greeting, I hesitated to mimic her, when she tilted her body toward my side.

Without even bracing her head, Adel’s forehead collided with my stomach.

“Ah…”

She sighed softly. Her whole face and neck flushed bright red.

The room must have been too warm. I reached for her and helped her sit upright.

Her bangs swung into my eyes, so I brushed them aside.

“Did I wake up too late? Next time, you can poke me awake like this.”

Even with gentle poking, it works, though pressing on her face in different directions wakes her faster.

I demonstrated by gently stretching and squishing her soft cheeks with my hands.

‘But these soft cheeks feel so nice…’

Unconsciously, I fiddled near her lips, and Adel squeezed her eyes shut.

“Ah, later… let me try later.”

Her words slipped out as I stretched her cheeks. Her nodding face was now bright red.

So adorable, I thought. I wanted to gently nibble her cheeks with my lips, but… she’s not an ordinary child.

‘They’d call it a new murder method.’

I settled for just this.

I brushed a few stray strands of her hair aside and got up. The bed jolted slightly as Adel flopped back onto the pillow, covering her mouth with her hands.

Collapsing so easily… should I feed her more meat?

Seeing her state, I furrowed my lips. The sun was high, and I thought it a good time for beef.

“Adel, stop waking up. Let’s eat.”

“Yesss.”

Her voice sounded dreamy, as if entranced. Her face buried in the pillow still seemed dazed.

…Was I really that heavy? Was the bed so bouncy?

I had gotten a bit soft from taking a break from requests. Maybe my abs had faded a bit too…

Money was running low, so I had to take a request soon. Another reason to go to the underground city.

I also had to find a guardian for Adel while I was gone.

Adel, now fully awake, trailed behind me and naturally hopped onto the dining chair, asking,

“Louisa-nim, what’s for lunch today?”

“Beef.”

We needed to plump her up.

Adel liked meat, so she nodded happily.

I took the meat from the fridge that Hart had magically prepared, seasoned it, and grilled steaks.

This is why magic is great. Steak on a battlefield? Amazing.

After preparing a perfect garnish, I plated two steaks and brought them to the table.

Adel had already set out a fork, knife, juice, and wine.

She picked up the fork and knife to cut the meat, but the table was high, and she struggled.

I cut my portion into bite-sized pieces and swapped plates with hers. Adel pouted.

“I’m not a kid. I can do it. Give me my plate back.”

She tried to act mature but barely hid her smile. I sighed dramatically.

“Adel, saying that shows you’re still a kid.”

“Why?”

“Adults like things that look young. And they like when others do it for them even more.”

Even grown adults feel happiness when they get ID-checked at a convenience store.

And now, slicing steak for her… anyone could forgive you for anything after that.

Adel’s face wavered at my serious expression, but she soon closed her lips tightly and said,

“That’s right. I’m a kid! I’ll eat this myself!”

“Exactly. No one doesn’t know you’re a kid. So let’s eat.”

Betrayed, Adel looked as if the sky had fallen.

So innocent.

I smiled at her, feeding her a piece of beef on my fork.

Her face relaxed as she ate it. Kids really are simple.

“Do you want a bib? You’re a kid, after all.”

“…I don’t want it.”

Oops, that was too much.

Adel shot me a sharp look. I awkwardly smiled and offered the steak again.

She finally opened her mouth to take it.

Am I raising a child or serving a little master? Still, I didn’t mind.

After finishing with juice, our rather luxurious lunch was over.

I put the dishes in the magical dishwasher Hart had made and sat in the living room with Adel, ready to read to her.

I prepared age-appropriate fairy tales filled with dreams and happiness, but Adel picked up a boring book titled The Advancement of Magic: Answers in Formulas that had been beside her.

“It looks hard…”

“Mm, but I want to listen to this one!”

…No, I think it’s too difficult.

Reading a magic book, when I make magic by intuition, was like an elementary student taking an impossible exam.

I didn’t understand a word. Total disaster.

Yet Adel’s eyes sparkled as she read.

“Adel, do you want to learn magic?”

“Yes. It looks fun. Especially on page 172…”

She flipped the book naturally. I tilted my head in curiosity.

“Adel, have you read this book before?”

Impossible. She said she couldn’t read when she first tried.

So every time, we would sit side by side and read together. At my slow pace, it took at least an hour.

Adel froze her hand mid-page at my question.

“Uh… on page 172… the picture! The picture is really fun! I glanced at it!”

“Really?”

“Of course! I really do! I can’t read the letters, Louisa-nim. You have to read it carefully beside me!”

Ah, maybe she peeked secretly.

I patted her back and opened the book.

Since it was a technical book, some words were difficult even for me, so my reading was slow. I didn’t understand the formulas at all.

If Adel was genuinely interested, I’d need to find a proper instructor.

But bringing an unawakened child to Hart was impossible. Rivael was in training anyway…

‘There’s still one person left…’

Too risky. Leaving her with them could have ended badly.

Just then, a tap sounded at the living room window.