Chapter 19: Clang!

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, we began splitting firewood to prepare for our trip to the village.

Thanks to Alex and the villagers, food and clothes were no longer immediate concerns.

However, you can never have too much money, right?

Besides, we’d need funds to purchase essentials like books for the orphanage later.

It made sense to start saving now.

“Yah—there!”

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

“Phew… See? That’s how you split firewood.”

“You’re so cool!”

Since Harp was new to chopping wood, I enthusiastically demonstrated by swinging the axe a few times.

Even though this was a regular chore for me, the axe was still heavy, and it didn’t take long for sweat to drench my body after a few swings.

“Miss, can I give it a try?”

“Huff… Sure! Of course. You’re taller than me, so you’ll probably be great at it.”

“I’ll do my best!”

Harp took the axe from me, stepping up to the log with the proper stance I had shown her.

“Harp, don’t overdo it! Take a break if you feel tired!”

“Yes, Miss!”

Splitting firewood is surprisingly delicate and demanding work.

Each chop has to be purposeful to produce sturdy, well-dried firewood.

“Here we go…”

While Harp focused on chopping, I decided to take a quick break.

Wanting to dry off my sweat-soaked body, I plopped onto the ground and sprawled out.

If it took me roughly thirty minutes to split a log, Harp would likely take about the same time.

That was plenty of time for me to cool off, or so I calculated.

“Ahh, this feels nice.”

The shade of the enormous tree was cozy, the gentle rustling of leaves creating a soothing ambiance.

The grass tickled my body as the wind rustled through it, soft and calming like a nature-made blanket.

This is nice.

Lying here, I could easily drift off into a nap.

This is what a natural bed feels like.

“Maybe I’ll just close my eyes for a bit—”

“Miss!”

“Huh? Harp? What’s wrong? Did you get hurt?”

“I finished splitting the firewood! Can you check it?”

“…Already?”

It hadn’t even been five minutes.

“Let’s see… Oh, wow, you really did.”

“How is it?”

“…Wow.”

I stared at the neatly split logs, each one cleanly cut with precise edges.

Nearby, my own work—lopsided and rough—sat in stark contrast, almost pitifully so.

Harp, you’re incredible at this.

I never imagined she could chop firewood so quickly and accurately.

“These are amazing! Way better than mine.”

“No way, Miss. Compared to you, this is nothing!”

“You don’t need to be so modest.”

“I’m just telling the truth. Didn’t we promise not to lie to each other?”

“…Yeah. You’re right.”

“Now, how about you give it another shot, Miss?”

I shook my head.

My body still felt sticky from sweat, and I was too drained to even think about picking up the axe again.

Firewood chopping may rely on technique, but you still need a decent amount of strength.

“You’re still tired, huh? No problem! I’ll handle your share too!”

“Harp, I keep saying, don’t overdo it—”

“It’s fine! With your praise, I’m invincible! Take this!”

“W-wait, Harp?!”

And then, it happened.

An unexpected turn of events.

Harp, clearly energized by my compliments, had been chopping logs with swift, enthusiastic swings when it happened.

“…Miss, the axe head is gone.”

“Oh. R-right. This feels strangely familiar somehow…”

It was.

The axe head had once decided to “run away from home” during a previous chopping session.

Sure enough, this time was no different.

Harp now held only the small, round wooden handle in her hands—no sharp blade in sight.

“Where did it go?”

“Good question.”

Where had it gone?

—Clang!

“…Ah.”

“Oh no.”

The missing axe head didn’t go far.

It had, predictably, chosen to show off its “ferocity” once more, landing amongst a sea of shattered glass.

Yes, another window had fallen victim.

And not just any window.

“Uh… Miss? Isn’t that…?”

“Yeah. That’s the bathroom window.”

The bathroom window.

If only I had taken a quick rinse earlier this morning…

I sighed, utterly defeated.

Now we’d have to repair the window before we could even hope for a proper shower.

“Are you okay?”

“Me? I’m totally fine. I mean, aside from feeling sticky and gross, and just a little too warm to deal with this.”

“…I’m so sorry.”

Harp’s ears drooped as guilt clouded her face.

“Don’t worry about it. No need to apologize.”

I smiled at Harp to ease her guilt.

After all, I’d smashed a window or two in my time.

Well… more than a couple, honestly.

Back then, all the windows in the orphanage were shattered.

“Besides, I was already planning to head to the village. Now we’ve got an excuse! We can stop by the bathhouse while we’re there.”

“The bathhouse?! I-I’ll come with you!”

“…Huh? You too, Harp?”

“Wherever you go, I’ll go too, Miss!”

“Alright, let’s go together.”

Harp’s face lit up like the morning sun.

She must really like the idea of the bathhouse.

‘That’s unexpected.’

Considering Harp’s shy nature, I would’ve thought a public bathhouse would be intimidating.

And as a feline beastkin, she wasn’t supposed to like water either.

It was practically a sworn enemy for her kind.

“Have you ever been to a bathhouse before, Harp?”

“Huh? Oh, no, never.”

“Got it. Well, as your teacher, I’ll show you the ropes.”

“Eep! What will you teach me?! I-I’ll do my best to learn!”

“It’s just bathing. You don’t have to be that enthusiastic…”

“Ah… Yes, understood.”

Despite her calmer tone, Harp’s tail flicked excitedly behind her.

I grabbed my sweat-soaked body and a single silver coin for our trip.

Clink.

The sight of the other coins glinting in the moneybox brought a small smile to my face.

Why only one silver? Easy.

Coins are heavy, and we weren’t going shopping, just visiting the bathhouse.

“Alright, let’s head to the village!”

“Harp, the village is this way.”

“…Ahem. Yes, let’s head to the village!”

It hit me then—Harp had never been to the village before.

There was so much I’d have to show her as her teacher.

“Um, Miss, your hand…”

“My hand? It’s still pretty sweaty, so it might feel gross.”

“That’s why it’s even better!”

“…What?”

“I mean, I was going to say it doesn’t bother me… Anyway, can I hold it?!”

“Uh, sure.”

As soon as I gave my answer, Harp darted forward and grabbed my hand.

She moved so quickly it was like her hands were a blur.

“Wow, Harp, you’re really fast. So, does it feel okay? Not unpleasant or anything?”

“I am a feline beastkin, after all. Hmm… Actually, it feels fine. Your hands are so soft that it’s not unpleasant at all.”

“Hehe, thanks.”

Harp is such a sweet kid.

Even if it’s just flattery, she always knows how to say the nicest things.

Whose orphan is this? Who raised her?!

…Oh, right. Me!

“Your hand is really warm, Miss.”

“That’s just because it’s a kid’s body.”

“…You say that like you’re not a kid yourself.”

“Because it’s the truth.”

Even though I’m stuck in this babyish body, my mind is all grown up—a super adult with the mindset of a top-tier warrior!

“Hmm, so what about me?”

“Harp, to me, you’re still just a little kid, heh.”

“Even if you don’t believe it, the truth never changes—hic, hey! What are you—ah!”

“Hmm.”

“W-what are you doing?!”

“Oh, quite the reaction! Haha, so this is your weak spot, huh, Miss?”

“Hey, why are you suddenly tickling me—heeek?!”

And so, I became a hapless victim, tickled mercilessly by Harp.

Why was she doing this? I had no idea.

Did I say something that offended her?

Did one of my comments get on her nerves?

Whatever the reason, by the end of it, I was utterly drained and collapsed onto the ground.

Harp, this terrifying child…!

“Ugh… I can’t even move my body.”

“Oh no, I’m sorry! Your reactions were so funny that I just… lost myself.”

“You went way too far… I’m super ticklish, so please don’t do that again.”

“Okay, I’ll be careful next time.”

At least we were nearly at the village entrance when the tickling happened.

If it had been earlier, I might have had no choice but to let Harp carry me all the way to the village like a sack of potatoes.

‘Thank goodness that didn’t happen.’

If it had, I’d never be able to live it down as the head of the orphanage.

Being carried by one of the kids—what a disaster that would have been!

“Hmm… Next time, maybe I’ll actually—”

“Harp?”

“Oh, no, nothing! Ah, isn’t that the bathhouse over there?! Let’s go!”

“Wait, wait! Slow down! My legs still haven’t fully recovered—whoa, Harp!”

The moment Harp spotted the bathhouse, her excitement got the better of her, and she took off running.

Because she still had a firm grip on my hand, I had no choice but to stumble and struggle after her, my legs barely cooperating.

‘…Raising a kid is seriously tough.’

That thought crossed my mind as I staggered along, chasing after her relentless energy.

Looking after Harp, who’s practically an adult in size and demeanor, was already exhausting.

If a younger kid ever joined, or if the number of people I had to care for increased to just two, I’d probably collapse from exhaustion.

“Hurry, teacher!”

“Okay, okay, but can you please slow down just a little, just a tiny bit—aaack!”

Or maybe that moment had already come.

“Faster!”

“Aaaaaah!”