Chapter 19 - Rebellious Phase!
I feel like I saw a somewhat nostalgic dream.
But it vanished from my head as soon as I woke up.
Even though I can't remember it after just a few seconds, only the memory of having seen something remains.
It's a mirage flickering in the folds of my brain, frustrating and lonely.
Surely, forgetting it is the right answer.
If it had been something sad, it would probably drag me down all day.
Anyway, the dreams I see are almost always things I'd want to cover my eyes from. This morning's must have been a nightmare too.
That said, on very rare occasions, there are happy ones.
Yes, for example, the dream of when I rescued Elsa from the goblin's den. When was the last time I saw that?
That scene alone shines brilliantly within my disastrous life in another world, and I wouldn't mind it appearing at my bedside any number of times.
Stretching on the bed, I picked up the alarm clock.
Six thirty-two. I woke up earlier than the time I had set.
Since I have the day off from my part-time job today, I could have slept longer.
It seems that since reaching my late twenties, I haven't been able to sleep for long periods.
I wonder if it's what they call a phenomenon of aging.
Apparently, sleeping requires youth and physical strength too.
In fact, Angelica is sleeping soundly next to me.
...It's probably bad for me and this girl to be sleeping and waking up in the same bed.
It can't be helped because of physical limitations like the lack of space in the room, though.
There's no telling when a mistake might happen, so I have to do something about it soon.
Besides, I suspect this girl has been touching my body while I'm asleep.
Somehow, late last night, I felt a sensation of being fumbled with.
Sure, I understand that a man's body is a novelty to her.
But that's a violation of manners.
I'll overlook it as long as she's patting my upper body, but I intend to resist if she reaches for my lower body. I think such things while gazing at her sleeping face, which hasn't quite become an adult's face yet.
She's a young girl, and I'm an old guy.
No matter what, I have to lead her onto the right path.
Make sure you fall in love with a man other than me.
Today, I'm taking Angelica out of the apartment.
Dressing her in clothes that make her look like nothing but a modern person, making her look like just an ordinary girl.
That means Angelica will see a young man of her own age for the first time in her life.
She might even get hit on. ...That's fine.
The Holy Maiden, a position raised in complete isolation from men.
A maiden for the purpose of currying favor with God.
A living offering to put the people at ease.
She has lived her life as if she were public property.
In this world, she should fully reclaim the youth she lost.
It feels a bit frustrating to have her taken by some young handsome guy, but that's for Angelica's sake.
After finishing my preparations, I quickly whipped up breakfast.
Once that was done, I set about waking Angelica.
Shaking her shoulders, I called out gently.
"It's morning."
The reply was a grumbling sound like "Nnn-uuu." She's like a cat.
It would have been better if she really were a cat.
Being a human and a foreigner only leads to loss.
A girl with the face of a foreigner, with no passport or visa.
If she tries to live in modern Japan, it's bound to involve tremendous hardship.
I know all too well the pain of living as a foreign object. I must definitely create a place where she belongs. Definitely.
I squeezed my fist tight to renew my resolve and woke Angelica up.
"Good morning, Ange."
"Good morning... isn't it a bit early...?"
While watching her back as she trudged toward the bathroom with sleepy eyes, I reviewed today's schedule.
First, search the area around the apartment with my sensing skill to look for ghosts.
After that, explore the city.
Finally, thre—persuade Gondo to arrange an ID for Angelica.
That should be about it, I confirmed while sipping my coffee.
The fact that anti-social ideas naturally mix in means I've really come a long way.
It's fine.
I'll ruin my finished life as much as I want. It's a gift from a father to Angelica, who has plenty of future left.
While I was feeling sentimental alone, Angelica, who had woken up fully, jumped at me.
She had a look on her face like she'd found something good.
"What is it?"
"Stubble. Stubble. Scratchy, scratchy beard—"
While humming a strange song, she started stroking my jaw.
"I thought I'd touch it before you shaved it."
Perhaps a man's rough skin is that rare to her; Angelica was checking the texture with single-minded devotion.
...I can understand why it turned out like this considering her circumstances, but this is bad for my heart.
The scent of the shampoo and conditioner she used yesterday is wafting from her hair.
Why does Angelica smell so good?
It's been like that since I met her.
Despite being a person from another world, from her first day in Japan, she carried a sweet, clean scent not much different from a modern high school girl.
In that world, they probably only have soap.
Or maybe after she was summoned to my room, she took a shower on her own before I came back, I imagined.
That's impossible, though. Angelica didn't even know how to turn a faucet until I taught her.
"Father? You've stopped moving?"
My eyes met Angelica's as she squished my cheeks. Large, clear green eyes.
"Is it interesting, rubbing your cheek against my stubble?"
"Very."
Her breathing is even getting a bit heavy; she's a total pervert.
If the genders and ages were reversed, she'd be the one getting arrested.
"...Ange, I'm the first man you've ever seen, right?"
"You are."
"There should be more of a reaction. Don't you think it's scary or creepy? You're so different from a woman that I'd expect fear to come before interest."
How can she touch me or look at me with those strange eyes? Isn't it like being horny for the first alien you make contact with? Thinking about it that way, I even feel a sense of awe.
As I looked at her with eyes of trepidation, Angelica pulled her face away slightly and said,
"I had at least some knowledge of appearances."
Did they provide some level of sex education even inside the temple?
Well, otherwise she wouldn't be able to press herself on me. It seems she knows what 'naughty things' are.
"In the temple, there are lots of paintings and stone statues depicting male gods. Even for a Holy Maiden, I've already grasped what kind of form a man has."
"You studied with those?"
"On the day a nude statue was brought in, all the priestesses were in an uproar. We all stared at it like we were spectating."
"I didn't want to know that reality..."
The image of a garden of maidens is collapsing with a clatter.
"'Eh, is it really shaped like this?' we'd say, surrounding the statue and touching it."
"It's like an all-girls school."
"Touching a stone male statue is just dull, though. There's no scent, no sound, nothing at all."
"That's why I like this better—" Angelica said, smiling as she stroked my jaw. Rather than smiling, her face looked like it was about to melt off.
"You're making a face you shouldn't show to people."
"Because I'm happy."
"I'm a blessed daughter to have a father who is kind and lets me touch him as I please," Angelica whispered.
I'm not a father figure worthy of such praise, though. Even so, she's attached to me? This much?
Inadvertently, I reached my right hand toward Angelica's cheek. No, what am I doing?
I might be feeling a sense of loneliness about letting her go myself.
"...You understand, right, Ange? We're going outside today. There are plenty of men younger than me walking around."
"Eh!"
"You've got a good look in your eyes now. Are you looking forward to it?"
I stroked Angelica's cheek with my thumb as she nodded eagerly. I'm a total sexual harassment old man. I hope she'll forgive me, since this is the only time.
"Ange. If you find a good man outside the house, you can go with him."
"...?"
The expression vanished from Angelica's face as if to say she didn't understand the meaning.
"I'll handle the procedures so you can live in this world. I'll bring you what you need later."
"...Why are you saying such a thing?"
"I have no money, and I'm already over thirty. If there's a young man who's perfect for you, it's better for you to be with him."
"Am I in the way? Are you implicitly telling me to leave?"
"Of course not."
It's fun being with you. That's exactly why.
"I'm saying this because I care about you. You understand?"
Angelica's response was to snap her mouth shut around my thumb.
"Yafah."
"...You can't pronounce things properly like that."
While sucking on my finger with a 'chu-chu' sound, Angelica said,
"Yafah. I won't fall in love with any other man."
What an unlistening daughter. If I weren't the one she was doing this to, she'd be attacked right now, I warned her.
"It's okay if it's Father who attacks me."
How can she make such a face despite being a virgin?
"I don't need a young man. The person who acts as both my boyfriend and my father has to be an older man. ...Besides, I like Father's taste the best. ...Fufu, Father is getting a little red."