Chapter 36

It was early in the morning when I opened my eyes.

Momentarily panicking as I couldn’t see where Tia had gone, I soon discovered her clinging onto my waist.

It seems that she was buried under my chest, making her hard to see.

I carefully loosened the arms wrapped around my waist to avoid waking Tia.

Then, I naturally turned Tia’s body over and lifted her skirt slightly to take a look.

“She’s grown again…”

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Just yesterday, there were only small bumps near Tia’s tailbone.

Yet within a single night, her tail had grown to the size of my finger.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before it dragged on the ground.

“Just resemble me a bit. Just a bit…”

Who knew the little one would be a dragon.

After being hit by the tail as a surprise attack following the horns, I felt faint.

What if wings suddenly sprouted from her back tomorrow?

Even the thought was dizzying.

‘What else? Is there anything else?’

In a fright, I began to examine Tia’s whole body.

Starting with her hands.

I carefully touched her petite and delicate fingers one by one, examining them closely.

Fortunately, her nails were not growing abnormally hard or sharp.

Her hands certainly looked human.

Just in case, I checked her feet as well.

Each time I touched them, they wriggled, possibly ticklish, and were quite beautiful.

Aside from a slightly addictive smell, they appeared extremely normal.

It seems Tia needs to have her feet washed more often.

“Hmm.”

Next, I examined Tia’s mouth, poking around the insides with my finger.

There was nothing to suggest her throat was burning or anything like that.

However, I noticed a couple of loose teeth that seemed ready to fall out soon.

I need to borrow some thread from Irina in advance.

I thoroughly inspected every part of her body without missing anything.

However, I couldn’t find any scales like those of a dragon.

A sigh of relief escaped me.

Though I was terrified that Tia might grow up to be an ugly lizard covered in scales, it seems I might not have to worry much about that.

“Can’t we just stay like this?”

How wonderful it would be if she could remain like this forever.

How lovely it would be if her cute appearance continued…

Then, there would be no terrible tail growing and no larger horns.

The mere thought brought me joy.

But it was simply regrettable that this was all just imagination.

“She’s adorable…”

“Muu.”

I fiercely hugged Tia once more.

Soon, Tia moaned sleepily and wriggled.

I must have hugged her too tightly, waking her up.

Ignoring Tia’s struggles, I held her even tighter, and she eventually gave in, just letting herself be held.

“Mommy…”

Perhaps still drowsy, Tia closed her eyes again and hugged me tighter.

It was adorable how her short arms barely met behind my back due to their length.

Then, I wondered how much time had passed.

Just when I began to feel warm and sweaty, I finally released Tia.

She was soft and had the heating option, making her the perfect doll to cuddle on such a cold day.

I worried it might be too hot to use her in the summer.

It would be great if there was an air conditioning option too.

“Time to get dressed if you’re awake. Let’s go out.”

“Muhuh. Alright!”

Seeing Tia effortlessly change out of her clothes into her outfit made me feel a bit bittersweet.

Now she could eat by herself, go to the bathroom by herself, and change her clothes by herself.

My role was gradually disappearing.

I felt like I might eventually become an unnecessary presence for Tia.

“Hey, hey. You have to put the clothes you took off away.”

“I don’t know how…”

“Come here. I’ll teach you.”

“No, I won’t! I want to go out first!”

“Hey!”

Tia took a few cautious steps back and then fled.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at this.

She truly was still a child.

I felt somewhat relieved thinking that the day when Tia wouldn’t need me was still far off.

Though I did wonder if finding comfort in that was the right thing.

“Mommy still hasn’t changed all her clothes!”

“I’m right by the door! Muhuh.”

From beyond the door, I could hear Tia laughing.

It should be fine to leave her outside alone for a moment.

She was wearing a hat, after all.

Still, just in case, I decided to hurry a bit.

“All done…”

Now, I had become quite skilled at tying the waistband myself.

After fully dressing and tying my coat, I noticed I didn’t really look medieval at all, rather quite pretty.

If the me from my original world passed by and saw this, they might have casually asked for my number.

It seemed Irina truly had a sense of fashion that transcended time and worldviews.

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, I found myself in front of a mirror, spinning around to check my outfit.

A wave of self-loathing hit me, and my face flushed bright red.

I can’t believe it.

I shouldn’t be happy thinking I look pretty.

I’m a man, after all.

“Tia! Are you there?”

“Muu!”

I called out loudly for Tia while sliding my foot into a heel.

In the past, I would easily twist my ankle and break it, but now I was quite accustomed to wearing high heels.

After frequently wearing them, ordinary shoes felt quite odd now.

“Tia! Are you still there?”

“……”

There was no answer.

She was just responding energetically moments ago.

It seemed she might be crouching next to the door, waiting to surprise me.

How predictable.

I flung the door open.

“Are you hiding again?”

“……”

“Huh?”

Nobody was there.

Tia wasn’t behind the door either.

I was shocked and began to survey the surroundings, but it was the same.

Just moments ago, Tia had been kicking stones in front of the house, and now she had completely vanished.

The world around me felt hazy.

“Tia! Tiaaa!”

I shouted desperately for Tia.

In the moment I could see no sign of her, panic began to set in.

“Mommy?”

“Ah! You startled me!”

I nearly fainted at the voice that came from behind me.

Turning around quickly, I saw Tia peeking out from the roof of the house.

How on earth did she get up there without making a sound…?

Sighing in relief, I calmed my racing heart.

She hadn’t been captured by a kidnapper.

“What are you doing up there…?”

“Zizi!”

“……”

Tia smiled brightly and extended her right hand.

In her little grasp was an unnamed bird, looking around confused.

Seeing its fluffy feathers, it seemed to be a chick.

What a sudden surprise to have climbed up on the roof and caught a bird.

“There’s a Zizi house here!”

“Put it down. It’s pitiful.”

“Muu. Zizi is happy for Tia!”

“……”

Happy, indeed.

But seeing it shivering and glancing nervously at Tia, it was clearly terrified.

“I want to raise Zizi!”

“No. Put it back in its nest and come down.”

“Muu…”

When I sternly said it, Tia pouted her lips and let the bird go.

The bird landed on the roof but seemed to tumble sideways.

It must have realized it was in the presence of a top predator and froze.

“Uh, huh?!”

When Tia leaped from the roof without hesitation, I was startled and rushed forward.

As I stumbled forward with my ankle twisting, Tia landed quite steadily on both legs.

I stared blankly at Tia, who was running towards me with a worried expression.

How on earth did Tia get on the roof?

A little kid climbing up two stories without making a sound and leaping down like that!

She didn’t just inherit those bizarre horns and tail from her father.

Maybe she was even blessed with the dragon’s immense strength.

If she’s already this sturdy and strong, I wonder how powerful she will be when she fully grows up.

“Mommy, are you okay? Did you tumble?”

“Yeah, I fell…”

Tia knelt in front of me and gently patted my head.

In that moment, I felt a slight shiver.

It dawned on me what kind of being the child in front of me truly was.

A human weapon with superhuman physical abilities, immune to the curse of eternal life.

What if she also had magical talent?

‘That’s it.’

Suddenly, clarity struck me.

Magical talent.

If she had that, I could enroll Tia in school.

This nation suffers from a shortage of mages due to frequent wars.

So if she had magical talent, they would spare no effort, whether noble or commoner, rich or poor, desperately seeking out mages.

“Tia!”

“Muu?”

“Try casting magic! Any magic!”

“Magic…?”

“Uh, yes. Stretch your hand out into the air and shout—fireball!”

“Fireball?”

“……No.”

Suddenly plagued by self-loathing, I stopped.

I would have to check if Tia even had magical talent later by asking the hero.

Though getting help from him feels uncomfortable, I had no alternative.

“Ugh…”

I brushed off the hem of my skirt and stood up.

My ankle was red and swollen, and my entire body was covered in dirt.

Seeing Tia’s body covered in fluff, she must have completely stuffed her head into the bird’s nest.

“Let’s go to the shop and clean both of us up.”

“I don’t want to wash…”

“Come on, you smell.”

“Muu. But Tia likes Mommy’s scent…”

“I like Tia’s foot smell too, but you need to wash. And we need to clean your clothes too.”

“Muu…”

I grabbed Tia’s little hand, pulling her along.

Though she appeared to resist a little, she was being dragged along.

Thinking she could definitely hold on if she wanted to, I felt my heart become uneasy.

Of course, Tia seemed to be in high spirits, bouncing along and giggling.

“Muu? Zizi!”

“Stop grabbing that!”

All the while, Tia kept trying to catch flying birds on the way to the shop, making my head ache.

I had indeed raised a little tiger, no wait, a little dragon.

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