Chapter 76: Kitchen and Lightning

Translator: Soafp

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[Moegi PoV]

While the two haven’t returned yet, we played tag with him and then took a break to watch TV. It seemed like Aoi-chan was on the phone with her parents.

At this time, there were no children’s shows airing, so we watched a variety show that was on rerun. I placed him on my lap and supported him with my arms like a seatbelt so that he wouldn’t fall off my knees. It’s the first time we’ve been this close, and it feels a bit ticklish.

On TV, there’s a segment where idols are getting their body measurements taken. It’s quite entertaining, but he seems tired and starts dozing off on my lap.

“Are you sleepy?”

“I’m not sleepy… I don’t need sleep…”

He stubbornly claims he’s not sleepy when he clearly is. Maybe he’s got another five minutes left? As I think about that, I watch the TV, and they display the average height for men and women across the country before the idol’s body measurement segment.

The average height for women is around 160 cm at age 20, and I’m… 180 cm…

[You’re petite and cute.]

[No no, not really.]

They praise the idol on TV. She’s small with a cute, bubbly personality.

[Being small and resembling a small animal is charming.]

Is being small really that cute? I’m about one or two heads taller than the three of them… and taller than him too…

“Don’t worry about it.”

–A hand was placed on my head with a pop.

“180 cm is not a big deal.”

“!!”

He, who was sitting on my lap, placed his hand on top of my head, and I’m a bit surprised that he seemingly read my thoughts.

Even with his young mind, he seems to be comforting me.

“To be honest, I have hundreds of past lives, and one of them was a giant, about 5,000 meters tall.”

“Ah, I-I see…”

As he pets my head, my heart starts to race. Despite being small, he looks so big to me.

“At that time, I couldn’t get close to anyone, and no one could even reach the top of my head… but you’re different. My hand easily reaches your head.”

Saying so, he runs his hand through my hair as if combing it. To be honest, I can’t fully grasp what he’s saying, but his kindness gets through to me. And… his way of patting me reminds me of something…

[Moegi is such a kind child. Thank you always…]

Mom…

“…It’s just 180 centimeters. Compared to 5,000 meters, it’s nothing… Uh, well, in other words… Uh, what was I trying to say again…? Um, don’t worry about it. Yeah, that’s what I wanted to say.”

He seemed embarrassed and turned away, still not quite used to saying these things.

Before I knew it, I found myself hugging him tightly.

“O-oi.”

“It’s about time for your nap… I’ll comfort you.”

“I-It’s not like I need that…”

He says he doesn’t need it, but his body doesn’t really resist. Maybe he secretly likes it?

“Just leave it to Onee-san.”

“N-No…”

“Come on, come on.”

I return the head pat. He quickly starts to breathe deeply, showing signs of falling asleep…

“He fell asleep?”

“…”

He doesn’t respond, and it’s clear he has indeed fallen asleep. Holding him in my arms, I speak as if talking to myself.

“Hey, what you said earlier was unfair… If you say things like that, I can’t help but be conscious of it.”

“You see… I like being with everyone, so I try not to cross any boundaries. That way, I can suppress my feelings.”

“When I talk to Kohaku-chan, Karen-chan, and Aoi-chan… I feel restless somehow. But I can control it… But when something like today happens, I can’t help but feel jealous…”

“Stop teasing me so much, okay…”

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[Aoi PoV]

[Alright, then there’s no problem, right?]

“Yeah, we’re doing fine.”

[So, make sure you don’t cause any trouble.]

“I understand. See you later.”

After ending the call with my mother, I returned to the living room. There, the little one had fallen asleep in Moegi’s arms. He must be tired from playing tag.

“He fell asleep, huh.”

“Yeah, playing tag must have worn him out.”

“I see.”

“Can I leave him to you for a moment? I need some air.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Moegi left the room while holding the little one. Her face seemed a little flushed. I couldn’t help but notice it.

“Is something wrong? Are you feeling feverish?”

“Ah, no. I just have a fast metabolism… don’t worry about it.”

“I see.”

I moved closer to her. When she handed the little one over to me, he felt so light, reminding me that he was just a child.

“Alright, I’ll take care of him for a bit. Go take some air.”

“Okay.”

Moegi left the room. I sat on the sofa with the little one’s head on my lap. He fell asleep so peacefully, shifting around a bit. His ear looked a bit dirty.

“I should clean his ears later… but that might be embarrassing. And his breathing tickles my leg…”

Without doing anything special, time passed quickly. After a while, he woke up.

“…Are you awake?”

“Y…..e….s….”

“I’ll clean your ears a bit, they seem a bit dirty.”

“!? N-no, it’s okay…”

“I said I’ll do it, no objections.”

Suddenly speaking politely and acting flustered… it was a bit cute, but that’s not the point. If I said I’ll do it, then I’ll do it.

I fetched the ear cleaner from the shelf and returned to the sofa, placing him on my lap again.

“Okay, let’s start with the entrance.”

“O-Osu”

Did I often do this with my mother…? Compared to her, he’s a bit smaller, but I can do it without any problems.

“Does it hurt?”

“Oh, no, I’m fine.”

“Is that so…”

As I proceeded, I had to blow air into his ear to finish.

“Now I’ll blow air in. Fwuu…”

“Uwaa!”

He trembled as soon as I blew air.

“Did that tickle?”

“Yes…”

“You’ve become quite obedient…”

“It’s not like that.”

“Hmm…”

I finished cleaning both ears and put everything away.

“That’s it.”

“Thank you…”

After cleaning, I could hear the sound of the door opening. The two of them must have returned.

Meeting him changed everything dramatically. I never expected that to happen.

[She’s scary.]

[Her eyes are so intimidating.]

Being alone was tough. During break time, I was always alone. I wished someone would invite me to play dodgeball or soccer, and there were so many things I wanted to do, like collecting cute stickers or playing house…

I wanted friends, but no one talked to me or came close.

I had given up, but then I met him, and everything changed drastically.

He’s an important friend… a friend… a friend… a friend…

Even though it should feel right, something doesn’t quite fit. Still, I greeted the two of them as they returned home.

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[Moegi PoV]

“Kyaa, kyaa!! So cute!”

“Wait, you’re going to suffocate Izayoi like that!”

“I…I can’t breathe…”

After I went to get some fresh air and returned, the two of them had already come back. I worry that Kohaku-chan might accidentally suffocate him with her enthusiasm.

Aoi-chan pretends to be disinterested, but I can tell she’s sneakily keeping an eye on the two of them.

Well, it seems it turned out like this after all.

“Okay, it’s my turn now!”

“Nope! From today, I’ll be taking care of him. We’ll take baths together and sleep together…”

“Oi, I can’t breathe…”

What a blissful way to die, I think to myself. After that, the two of them continued to vie for his attention.

Even during meals…

“Look, here comes the airplane! Open wide!”

“I can eat by myself.”

Kohaku-chan tries to feed him a piece of hamburger.

“Now, eat your vegetables too.”

“I can eat by myself.”

Then, Karen-chan offers him some vegetables… It seems he doesn’t like being treated like a child, so he eats quietly by himself.

That day, the two of them continued to dote on him without stopping.

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[Gindou PoV]

I found Mini mini Izayoi-kun incredibly precious. I had been taking care of him all evening, but it still wasn’t enough. I briefly thought about taking a bath together, but I decided against it.

After I took a bath and Izayoi-kun also finished, it was time for bedtime. I needed to put him to sleep. The other three were already in the bath, and Mel-san was in the laboratory.

“I’ll sing you a lullaby to help you sleep.”

“Pfft, won’t work on me. I have max Sleep Resistance skill, you know.”

“Neeen, neen korori yo~”

“Z z z”

He falls asleep so quickly. I’m surprised at how fast it is, but more importantly, I can’t help but grin as I look at his sleeping face.

He’s so adorable… and right now, so defenseless… just the two of us…

Since he protected me right after I enrolled, even during the summer festival… I’ve wanted him so much. But Mother said it wasn’t allowed. I can’t inconvenience him by forcing my desires on him…

The only thing that bothers me is ……

[It doesn’t matter. You have to force yourself if you want him…..right?]

“!!”

A voice seems to come from somewhere, sending a shiver down my spine. I look back, but there’s nothing there.

That voice… it sounded like… mine?

I’ve felt like someone else was inside me before, but I’ve never heard a voice like that before…

An indescribable uneasiness fills me. I decide I can’t stay here any longer and leave his room.

After that day, I never heard that voice again.

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In a dark space somewhere, there lies a certain black mineral.

When the demon trio, Try Rebellion, created their battleship, a leftover mineral from the Demon Lord suddenly started moving… It split into four parts, each taking on its unique form.

One took the form of a lion with a face and body, walking on two legs, a huge monster.

One had four arms, an Asura.

One had black devil wings and white angel wings, a fallen angel.

One was a pure white angel.

They were nameless demons, beings that shouldn’t have existed at this point in time – the Demon Lord’s Four Heavenly Kings.

They were like clones of the Demon Lord, but each possessed their own independent thoughts, and their personalities were the worst.

The lion-like demon began to speak, its vulgar voice echoing in the battleship’s storage room.

“Kukukuku, it seems that the demon trio, Try Rebellion, is struggling against some insignificant opponents.”

“…”

The Asura-like demon remained silent with its eyes closed. The fallen angel responded to the lion-like demon.

“Could you please stop that vulgar way of speaking? Honestly, this is just ridiculous.”

The fallen angel spoke in a sophisticated manner, which seemed to provoke the lion-like demon, as its face turned red. The angel intervened to calm the situation.

“Please, stop this. We shouldn’t be arguing about such things.”

As the angel spoke, the two demons stopped and turned to see someone running into the storage room.

Skeleton, Dr. Okama, and Golem. The demon trio, Try Rebellion, had noticed something was wrong and came here. The door opened, and they looked puzzled.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, this is Michelle-sama, I presume.”

Representing the four, Michelle asked, and the angel replied.

“We are the …… nameless demons born from the wreckage of the Demon King …… yes, let’s say …… the Four Heavenly Kings.”

Bone Saburo readied his sword. If they were born from the Demon Lord, he thought they intended to erase them.

“Wait, we are not enemies. Please put away your hostility.”

The angel calmly pacified Bone Saburo. Slightly puzzled, Bone Saburo asked,

“What is your purpose?”

Upon hearing that question, the angel smiled.

“We are here to defeat the races that you are struggling against… and conquer both worlds.”

On that day, the “Four Heavenly Kings” that should have awakened in the “mid-game” of the “story” awoke prematurely.