Chapter 37 From now on, try your best to be a good person...

A fleeting glimpse in the cold water.

Big brother, the older brother who shares the same name as Xiao En.

Fimini sat on the boy's lap, soaking wet, and this was the first time he had seen Mainkuen's face clearly.

"So beautiful!"

Like gold, his vertical pupils shone with a strange brilliance, complementing his sharp and beautiful face.

"!!!!"

So, big brother, why are you blocking my view in such a panic?

*

It was as if nothing had happened.

"Big brother, are you taking a cold shower? Aren't you cold?... Is that a tattoo on your neck?... Wow!"

"Splash—"

A towel was first placed over Fimini's face. Mainkuhn, trembling, pinched his sharp nails and used his wrist to lift the child out of the cold water.

"......Um."

"Waaaah, I can't see anything!"

The towel on his head blocked Fimini's entire view. The water droplets were wildly wiped away, and all he could see were the afterimages of blond hair and fabric. He could no longer see the boy's face.

"......"

Next, a soft bath towel was wrapped around her head and body. Fimini felt light, her feet lost their footing, and she was carried a few steps quickly before being stuffed whole into the bedroom bedding.

It was warm and dry, but when he pulled the cloth off his head again, the boy with droopy ears was no longer there.

All that remained were wet footprints on the floor.

"!"

Big brother, he ran away.

Fimini pondered the footprints for a while.

Does anyone really enjoy taking a cold shower in the fall?

Does anyone actually enjoy diving in a bathtub?

A terrified scream in front of the opera house, cold skin and a trembling body, and a constant avoidance of face-to-face interaction...

"......"

Fimi is small, but not stupid.

Feeling a slight chill, the child rolled off the bed and went to the closet to find his old clothes.

Mom, I've made up my mind—

"...Go to bed."

A cold, gloomy command rang out from behind the door.

Wow! How did the big brother know what I was doing?

No, no, that's not the point!

"Brother En!"

He tiptoed to pull the bedroom doorknob.

"I...I have something to tell you!"

"!"

The half-demon, who hadn't even had time to cover his face, frantically pressed himself against the door.

"That's how it is."

Damn it! I was so caught up in negative emotions that I forgot about little Fimimini!

"That's it."

Maine pressed his forehead against the door panel, his broken tail hanging softly behind his back.

...What a failure I am.

"OK."

Fimini was an exceptionally obedient and good child who never rebelled.

He took a step back and spoke softly but firmly to the door.

“I want to say, if I make Brother En feel uncomfortable, then just throw me away.”

...!?

Tide's tail bristled and stood on end, and Mainkuhn accidentally left five inch-deep scratches on the white wall.

Little Fimi, why do you say that?

*

"Because of Brother En, you've been very unhappy, haven't you?"

"......"

After a series of eerie creaking sounds, a long silence fell behind the door.

Fimini took it as the default.

"Brother En never smiles or speaks. He always seems very sad and anxious."

Sensitive and kind-hearted human children repeatedly savor the bitterness from the half-demon's eccentric and strange behavior.

"I think it must be because of me."

And in return, they expressed concern, reflection, care, and worry.

"After all, I ate your food, wore your clothes, and slept in your bed, but Mora didn't repay me... Mother, Mother can't repay me either."

"That must be why my older brother is unhappy."

"!!"

No, that's not it!

I'm sad because I'm a cowardly, incompetent piece of trash—

The half-demon's heart pounded with terror, while the child's innocent voice continued.

"I can tell, big brother, he's a good person."

"Although I'm not entirely sure, I think my older brother took me away because he was worried that the dean would treat me badly."

"Although I don't know what bad things my mother did, my older brother must have wanted to put her mind at ease before leaving, so he bought me new clothes and took me on the cruise ship."

Fimini still remembers the silent, droopy-eared boy who stood by the ticket booth for a long time before hesitantly and awkwardly trying to buy a ticket.

"Big brother, I've been feeling unwell. I even cried out in pain when the white-haired gentleman touched me..."

Fimini knew nothing; Fimini disliked seeing others suffer.

I dislike seeing anyone suffer because of me.

"The storybook says that only happiness and joy are worthy of good people."

The child lowered his eyes and gave the door a strong yet gentle smile:

"Open the door, and I'll walk away by myself. Then the big brother will be happy again."

"!!!?"

hapiness? ?

Wait a minute—

It's too late. That kind of thing won't return to my soul just because you're gone!

"Don't worry about me! I'll go see the former dean first... If that doesn't work, I'll go back to my home in Grey River."

The answers that drove Mainkuhn crazy continued.

“I have friends in Grey River too, I’m not lonely at all! Little En comes to visit me often, ah, Brother En, I’m not talking about you, Little En is another friend of mine…”

Shut up, I've had enough!

Your mother is an idiot, and so are you!

Mainkuhn flung open the door and, at the same time, raised the towel in his hand, covering Fimini completely.

"!? Big brother?"

Through the soft cotton fabric, a human child receives a trembling hug.

“Remember, Fimini.”

This was the first time Fimini had ever heard such long and clear words from this boy.

"I'm taking care of you only because I love you, Fimini."

I was already hopelessly in love with you before you even put the only candy in my mouth.

The love of monsters, the love of beasts, the love of cats.

These worthless things have long since filled your pockets.

You cunning, despicable, little human.

*

Benevolent gods, there is something I must confess to you.

When I took the child away, I was filled with both hope and doubt.

I was never ready to be reborn as a human.

No, I can't be human.

So let's start over:

I'm not ready to play the role of a good human being.

Play the role of a law-abiding, good human being who doesn't cause Fimini, Navigette, or anyone else any worry or fear.

"...Is this why you came to the Fireplace House in the middle of the night to knock on my window?"

Arecino looked indifferent, but only Clévy could see the weariness and sleepiness in her eyes.

"You should have foreseen this situation when you took that child away. Your current dilemma is the punishment for your impulsiveness."

"Waaah!"

Mainkuhn draped himself into the shape of a lop-eared rabbit.

I never expected Amélie to be so heartless, refusing to let me take the blame for her no matter what!

"Can't you have a more balanced set of values?"

Clementine had deduced the truth through the Fools' intelligence network, and combined with Mainkun's body language and their shared understanding from growing up together, she roughly understood what he meant.

"One should take responsibility for one's actions. Amélie made the right choice. If she really made you take the blame—"

A dangerous smile appeared on Clementine's face.

"I'm going to make trouble for her."

"?"

The boy with gray and white hair looked back at her with a confused expression.

Is this your usual personality?

"Fool."

Clementine smiled and changed the subject:

"If you don't want to keep it anymore, just give it to the fireplace house. No one will blame you for it."

No way! Fimini is just a kind, ordinary child; she shouldn't end up like us.

Mainkuhn shook his head repeatedly, his drooping ears snapping loudly.

He should live in the light and laugh like any ordinary Fontainebleau resident.

"Do you know how to raise a child? How do you teach him about human nature? How do you guide him into human society? He'll need to find a job and something, won't he?"

"......?"

Mainkuhn gave her a questioning look.

Why does Fimini need to find a job?

I am a half-demon, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will live for a very, very long time, while Fimini is a human with a short lifespan.

I can support him for the rest of his life! Why should he work?

"Oh, is this right? This isn't right."

Clementine disagreed with the half-demon's ideology, but couldn't quite put her finger on why:

"Living a carefree life without working, yes, yes, that's great, wait, no, no, isn't that just spoiling a child?! Wait, even if you really don't work, so what? A person's value isn't determined by work, yes, yes..."

“.

Peruvéli watched Clementine's left and right brains clashing, speechless.

"Aren't you afraid that your demonic power or emotional outburst might hurt him?"

Before knowing who the serial killer [Lynx] was, Arecino had approved of Mainkuen having children, but now she's not so sure:

"You know the strength of your claws; if you tighten them even slightly, a human child's little hand will be crushed into a pulp."

"......"

This is indeed a problem.

But as long as I protect Fimini well enough, and keep him forever away from evil people and their dark desires, I will never lose control of my demonic power in front of him. As for the emotional issues arising from my human form...

"......"

Mainkuhn took out a package.

Inside was an oversized trench coat, ordinary leather shoes, and a Mora bag filled with green grass balls.

"?...I remember I gave you enough money to buy some more upscale clothes."

No, Pepe, these things have a meaning far more valuable than Mora.

Although the trench coat doesn't fit me, it once belonged to a brother who came from the same family as me.

White, I hope his spirit will guide me to reunite with my brother, just as he and Jasmine did.

The shoes, though ordinary, came from a young girl like a yellow rose and a tolerant old man.

This is the first time I've received such a kind gift from humans since leaving the fireplace house; I must cherish it.

The money bag tattooed with 'Mr. Big'... All the Mora he earned from magic has been returned to Navelette, but the joy of owning personal property for the first time is still etched in his memory.

And most importantly, this green grass ball...

"Catnip."

Mainkuen blinked and presented the ball to Peruvieri.

A perfect creation of the gods.

Just a gentle sniff can take away anxiety and fear, and it has no physiological addictive properties... It's a pity there is a refractory period.

"So, can we optimize and improve it? Medicines, injections, anything is fine."

If it continues to stimulate my nerves, bringing me lasting pleasure and peace.

Then wouldn't I be able to walk into the crowd without fear and play the role of a good person?

"etc."

Peruvée suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

"You were quite calm tonight; though taciturn, you didn't tremble even once..."

right.

The half-demon placed the catnip under his nose, took another deep breath, and his vertical pupils dilated with pleasure.

handy.

What is that?

"Confiscate it!! I thought your condition had improved!"

Clementine snatched the mint ball away, scolding it in alarm:

"No more inhaling until we're absolutely certain there are no side effects!"

......ah?

*

"Excuse my bluntness, but this doesn't solve the problem at all; it's just another form of escapism."

Peruvelle, her face as cold as her eyes, put away the grass ball in her hand:

"But if it really doesn't harm you at all, I will use the executive's resources to create an anxiety-relieving drug for you."

"She compromised so quickly~ She's not like Pepe at all!"

Shut up, Clay.

We all know that the six-year-old child who kept saying he wanted to be human is dead.

For Mainkuhn now, a desire to become human has arisen within him, even if it's just to "play"—

That's no easy feat.

“...Pepe.”

The request had been granted, but Mainkuhn still looked at her with a bright, shining gaze.

"Is there anything else?"

The half-demon's eyes darted around, and he looked extremely guilty.

What toys do human children like?

That's a good question.

Arecino pondered for a moment.

"We used to play with... um, Hilichurl skeleton puzzles?"

"It's big, heavy, and smelly. Let's get something simpler!"

Clementine pondered this:

"I've got it! I'll use the Crystallize to forge a small knife for Fimini. It'll be both beautiful and practical!"

"It would be better to use mist-shrouded grass bags to raise water fireflies."

"......"

Mainkuhn recalled the children's toys he had glimpsed while wandering around Fontaine.

It's great that none of us who grew up in the House of Hearths are normal.

He decisively rushed home and shooed the drowsy Fimini into the toy store in Fontaine.

"purchase."

"???"

Fimini held the Mora bag in her hands, then looked at the droopy-eared boy guarding outside the door, and was dumbfounded.

"Big brother, you don't need to worry about me..."

"purchase."

Mainkuhn pushed him back in, allowing no room for refusal.

Pepe said that all expenses would be paid by the wealthy.

*

There is still one important thing to do.

After ensuring that Fimini wouldn't be bored at home alone and providing him with enough food, Mainkuen immediately transformed into a big cat and sneaked into the Momang Palace as the sun rose.

Good morning, Your Excellency Cat God.

Navelette was startled when she saw the cat dart into the office, then greeted it politely:

Have a wonderful day.

Starting work so early?

Mainkuhn was also taken aback.

I was planning to sneak a peek at the files while you were away.

After all, I don't want to hit you or take you away. I can only cower in your arms like a thief, with a guilty heart and timid hands, avoiding your eyes, and searching for information about my brother.

The cat skillfully jumped onto the sofa, its four paws outstretched, squeezing and stomping on the soft cushions.

"Gurgle~"

"Your Excellency Cat God."

Navelette cut open the newly bought cat food and awkwardly poured it into the food bowl.

"After breakfast, please discuss the contract with me again...?"

“zz…”

A soft snoring sound came from behind, and Navelette turned around to look.

The big cat was curled up in a silver-gray ball of fur on the sofa, fast asleep.

"What a waste of a beautiful morning."

Despite sighing, Violet took out a thin blanket and gently covered the cat with it.

"A large cat bed would probably need to be custom-made."