TFPOTRN | CHAPTER 17

~CHAPTER 17~

It was quite a challenge for me to grant Sian’s request to get along with the children naturally and keep an eye on them.

I hadn’t really had many chances to spend time with kids before, so I didn’t think it through.

“U-Uwaaah! It’s a witch!”

The problem was that I looked too scary to play with them right now.

They say even a rotting fish is still a herring, but I’m still the Demon King after all.

It’s not like I have an ugly face.

From the moment I possessed this body, I thought it was beautiful.

But depending on how kids see it…

“Eek, scary!”

…I can understand that kind of reaction perfectly well.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think they’d react like that.”

“It’s not Sir Sian’s fault that I look scary.”

“…Please don’t take it to heart. Once they’re grown, no one will think you look frightening.”

“So you mean kids do think I look scary, then.”

“…!”

His face said I’d hit the nail on the head, which made me even more annoyed.

I used to think he had a face that was impossible to read…

Who would have thought.

Turns out, it was just a face that was thinking nothing at all — and whenever he did think, it showed right away.

He still looked like he was trying to come up with the right comforting words.

Should I appreciate that, or not.

The more he tried to comfort me, the more pathetic it felt.

In the end, I just patted his shoulder twice instead of saying anything.

“You have a lot to do, right?”

“Huh? Well…”

Of course he did.

It wasn’t just anyone who sent him here — it was the High Priest himself.

If he came by once a month, there must be plenty for him to inspect.

“Go ahead. I’ll look after the kids.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Of course. Who do you think I am?”

Even with my confident reply, Sian didn’t seem to want to leave, as if something was bothering him.

Why isn’t he leaving?

Just as I looked up at him with a puzzled face, a realization struck me.

Oh… could it be…

“You’re worried I might harm the kids because I’m a demon?”

From a holy knight’s point of view, leaving a demon alone with children could be unsettling.

But hearing that, Sian turned pale and waved his hands wildly.

“What! I’d never think that!”

“Really?”

“Yes. If I’d been worried about that, I wouldn’t have come with you in the first place.”

“Well… fair point.”

He stared at me intently, and by the time his gaze started to feel heavy, he spoke again.

“Did you really think I’d see you that way?”

“Hmm.”

It wasn’t something I’d thought deeply about before saying.

I just figured it could make sense from his position.

The silence stretched out.

When he finally spoke again, his voice seemed to tremble slightly.

“If I really had thought that, it would have hurt you, wouldn’t it?”

Hurt…?

He sounded more hurt than I did.

I couldn’t even find the right words to answer, my eyes darting everywhere for something to focus on.

Then I looked at him.

Sian was staring straight at me.

“……”

Ah, there it was again.

That same expression.

The one he had when I asked, ‘Was that all we were to each other?’

A mix of frustration and faint sadness.

“Understood.”

Just as I was trying to read his expression, he spat the words out in a tight voice and turned around.

“Sir Sian?”

“I’ll go tend to my duties. Please take good care of the children. I’m not even the slightest bit worried leaving them with you, Lady Serena.”

“Uh… alright.”

Only after my reluctant answer did Sian finally start walking away.

Why is he so upset?

If we’ve cleared up the misunderstanding, shouldn’t that be a good thing?

Even if he really had thought that way…

I wouldn’t have been hurt at all.

I’m far too worn out to be hurt by something that small.

I’ve seen too many people die — myself included — to be wounded by a bit of doubt.

He just doesn’t understand that yet.

What can I do? It’s not like I can tell him I’ve lived through twelve lives.

I watched his back fade away before turning around myself.

I had work to do too, after all — what Sian had asked of me.

This orphanage was under direct supervision of the Holy Knights’ leader, so it wasn’t particularly large.

Judging by the director’s appearance and the children’s clothes, it wasn’t exactly well-off either.

I walked slowly through the halls.

Sian had stormed off without telling me where the kids were, but that wasn’t a big problem.

It was almost mealtime.

They’d all gather in the dining hall soon.

I could just help with serving food.

People soften up when they eat. After serving, I could sit beside them, chat a little, and do what Sian asked me to do.

Perfect plan.

Thinking that, I began circling around the orphanage.

I didn’t know where the dining room was, but the place was small — I’d find it soon enough.

But what I found wasn’t a dining hall.

“Hey, get it!”

Rustle! Rustle!

A mischievous voice and the sound of something running through the grass came from not far away.

Did the kids find some small animal? Maybe a stray cat?

The problem was, the sound was getting closer and closer.

They were having trouble catching it, apparently.

I hoped they weren’t expecting me to help.

I had no intention of catching anything for them — that might be fun for the kids, but miserable for the poor animal.

Better to just slip away and pretend no one was here.

I quickened my pace, almost breaking into a power walk.

But before I could leave, something burst out of the bushes faster than I could move.

“Whoa!”

“Ah!”

It wasn’t a small animal that ran into me — it was a child, dirty and scruffy.

We collided head-on and both fell backward.

My tailbone throbbed from the impact. A little harder and it might’ve cracked.

Good thing this is the sturdy body of a Demon King and not a fragile human one.

I thought they were chasing an animal, but maybe it was just tag.

Kids really should learn to play more safely.

If the child hadn’t hit me, they’d probably have hit a wall or pillar and gotten hurt worse.

Rubbing my sore back, I frowned and looked down at the kid.

The child was also staring up at me — at the one who’d served as their cushion.

Red hair and red eyes…

Whatever I was about to scold vanished right away. That shade of red reminded me too much of Ratia.

I only fed her bread before I left… I hope she’s not hungry.

Or maybe Jahar’s teasing her again.

I couldn’t bring the demon beast here, so leaving her behind had been weighing on me.

I’ll bring her something tasty when I get home.

Thinking that, I stood up just as more rustling came from the bushes — louder this time.

Sounded like the kids chasing this one were closing in.

“Shouldn’t you be running?”

I asked the dazed-looking child.

In tag, getting caught is bad, right?

At my voice, the child blinked, then turned to look behind them.

The rustling grew louder and closer.

“Eek!”

The kid looked genuinely scared, and I hesitated to just leave.

Could this be bullying, not a game?

Kids that age often gang up on someone weaker.

I was scanning for any signs of injury when the child suddenly reached out to me.

“Serena! Please hide me!”