Chapter 211 – Ep.14 – Distortion
A lot has changed since the children were born. In the meantime, there were demons wandering around my house in the name of observation, and sometimes some demons even waved their hands and said, “Mr. Human~”.
“… “
After giving birth, no one was around my house. It seemed like they had heard that Kaede had given birth.
Just like children who keep an eye out for their newborn hamsters, the demons also seemed to be trying not to touch us. Well, I still couldn’t shake off the feeling of being a hamster.
Anyway, it wasn’t that bad. Actually, we needed some relaxation and calm.
“I’m sleeping again…” “
“Ugh. Basically, babies eat and sleep… All you have to do is do it well.”
For the first week, I really had to stick close to the kids. Since it was my first time having children, I was worried that something might happen, and I thought that if I wasn’t close to them, they wouldn’t be able to learn that I was a father.
Anyway, I put all my time and effort into taking care of my children. I thought that was the best thing I could do.
But isn’t the world always like that? What I think is best has the opposite meaning to someone else.
“Delin. Kaede is the one doing the breastfeeding anyway. Nin, even if you come out for a moment and rest… “
“No. I’ll be here. It’s an important time.”
Rico in particular wasn’t happy about our new routine. Of course, she didn’t express her regrets openly, but there was always a subtle emotion in her voice heard through the door.
“… Well, that’s right.”
Still, even Rico didn’t open the door and come in. Perhaps she also understood Riko’s immaturity as a newborn who needed her help, or her sense of parental responsibility.
But just because her head understands it doesn’t mean her heart will necessarily follow suit. I, too, am well aware of that contradictory mindset.
Still, my newborn children were so precious to me that I hoped Rico and her other sisters would be lenient and understanding towards us.
Rico sat alone on the sofa watching TV. What did she think of me and her children?
“… It’s so fucking boring.”
I’m not sure, but Rico always went back to the TV in silence without saying anything. Still, I thought she had lost a lot of personality.
Anyway.
It was only after about a week had passed that I was finally able to walk around with my children. It was already the time when cute hair had grown on the children’s heads, ears, and tails.
Since Kaede was the one breastfeeding, Kaede would usually hold the children for about half of the day, and I would take care of the children for the remaining half.
“You’re healthy.”
“But the hair on the ears and tail grows first before the hair… ?”
And, finally, the other sisters were able to meet Karin and Karen. Perhaps the sisters might not be happy with the two children, but surprisingly, Neva and Chichi did not show any negative reactions.
It was understandable that Neva was being generous. After settling the feud with Eva, Neva only showed a more kind and generous side than before.
What surprised me was Chi-Chi. It seemed that Chichi cared for Kaede more than I thought. Did she consider him her first friend? She lifted Karin’s finger to examine it for a moment, then smiled and slowly put it back down.
“You can’t be like your mom. “I have to take after her dad.”
Once again, the time I spent with them felt heavy. How many places have we traveled together and become influenced by each other?
Maybe my sisters have grown even more as I have grown.
… Well, they gave me strange looks as I was taking care of the children, and they also stroked their bellies, but I didn’t really have time to pay attention.
————————————
Let’s go back to the story.
First birth, first child-rearing,
After overcoming that hectic juncture, what followed was a serious discussion about what to do next.
“Now, everyone, sit down.”
Around the time that Karin and Karen were able to wag their tails and ears, we all got together for the first time and made plans for the future.
It was exactly 38 days after coming to the Demon Continent.
It was a meeting in which everyone participated, including Riko, who had always been blankly watching the demons’ entertainment on TV, and Eva, who had vaguely lost her presence. We called this meeting the [First Family Gathering]. Of course, due to the strong opposition of some (especially Rico) (“It’s so cringy. And why am I your family?”), It almost became a nameless meeting, but it became a [Family meeting] According to the majority rule.
“I will lead the meeting, and if anyone has anything to say, feel free to feel free. First, this is the topic of today’s meeting.”
Anyway, since it was a regular meeting that I actively pushed for, I was also in charge of hosting it.
“Is it okay for it to continue like this from now on?”
This meeting was absolutely necessary.
After the first twins were born, what was the first worry you had while raising two children day and night?
“I can’t live like this, unemployed and doing nothing. To be honest, we haven’t really done anything since we got here. Everyone was watching TV. “Except for Neva sometimes going out to exercise alone, what did you do the rest of the time?”
I can’t live like this, just rolling around at home. It’s not that I don’t have a cause because I’m avoiding the attention of demons, but I can’t live like an unemployed person forever.
What do children see and learn as they grow up? No, before that, everyone was just sitting around, so the atmosphere felt saggy. This is probably why adults said that people should work and live.
“Sister Kaede says she had no choice because of her childbirth. Then what about the rest?”
“Uh… ? Me, I was studying the handcuffs the demons gave me… “
“Me too! “I also studied together.”
Chichi and Eva hastily come up with an alibi, and Rico doesn’t seem to have any intention of making an excuse.
“I used to live like this? “What’s wrong with having fun when there’s no work to do?”
“It’s okay now, but if we continue to live like this, it will be a big problem. Anyway, I’ll just tell you the conclusion.”
Well, actually, I didn’t invite my sisters because of the textbook answers. I looked a little further into the future than that.
“We should go back.”
You can’t live your whole life on the Demon Continent. I have to go back. No matter how much the demons here take care of us, there is a limit. I was convinced by the way they looked at us and the way they looked at us.
That we can’t live normally here. Both us and our children.
“Think about why you came here. We decided to go to God’s Garden. Our goal is to resolve everything there and return.”
The atmosphere suddenly froze at my sharp remark. It was as if cold water had been poured on it.
But you have to say what you have to say. Just as a bitter medicine is good for your body, words you don’t want to hear become a shortcut to enriching your life.
“I thought about it all the time while taking care of the kids. It seems that the Demon Continent is much more peaceful and developed in many ways than we thought, but I still think it will be difficult to completely blend into this society. Not only are there physical differences, but those demons are people who need to be taken care of… ? I feel like I’m being treated like that. “You know what I mean, right?”
Everyone’s expressions were not good. Seeing him blinking with his eyes wide open made me sigh.
You must have been surprised. I didn’t know you were thinking like this. It was worth it. Until now, I’ve always just said I don’t like it.
Still, I am a man who does what he does.
As a father, you should be an example to your children.
Since he has decided to live here, he will really live well.
“Okay, everyone, make your faces. I know you’re embarrassed, but let’s calm down and discuss again. First, quickly… I have to find it. From that person… ?”
That person.
What was your name? We definitely came this far together.
“… Wow. I don’t remember. Anyway, let’s rejoin quickly… From God’s Garden… Let’s find it… ?”
Okay. I need to find God’s garden. But the person I came with clearly decided to go there with me.
“What was your name? I really don’t remember. It’s really strange. I think I knew about it until a few days ago. If anyone remembers… “
“Delin?”
When I came to my senses again and looked around, everyone’s eyes were on me.
“What are you talking about?”
“Who… ?”
There was something subtly off about the conversation. Even though we were saying the same thing, what we remembered was different.
“Don’t you all remember? We came together… ! We went together all the way from Albator Kingdom to Mudriel, and even in Atlantis, we were right next to each other… !”
Somehow, something felt strange until now. There were a lot of things that were overlooked too vaguely.
“… Helen. That’s right. Helen. I remember. You came with us… “
The conversation continued for thirty more minutes, but no one could think of Helen until the end.
Like an elaborately put together puzzle, the memories of the other sisters and Eva were uniformly distorted.
In an instant, a chilling energy covered her body. A feeling as if I had opened something I shouldn’t have opened.
“I never forget the name. It was Helen. I need to find it… “
No matter how much I try to remember her,
What comes to mind is,
There was only a slightly faint, bittersweet kiss and the strong smell of cigarettes.
