Surviving a Harsh Fantasy with Cheat Items (WN)

As we ventured further inland, we quickly discovered a small stream.

The lush greenery suggested there might be some fresh water, but I hadn’t expected the land to be so abundant in water resources.

「What should we do?」

「Well, we don’t have any tools, so let’s gather firewood and heat some stones.」

With the all-purpose ‘Neutral Sword’ that can cut through anything, crafting tools and chopping wood was an easy task. While the stones were heating up, I dug a hole with an improvised shovel made from a wooden stick, a sharp stone, and a vine tied together. We then filled the hole with plenty of water from the stream, arranged the heated stones, and made an impromptu bath.

「We just need to fill it with water, right?」

With Rara-chan’s help, our natural open-air bath was ready in no time.

「Alright, let’s put the heated stones into the water.」

Using tongs made from a wooden stick tied with vines, I carefully picked up the heated stones. It’s amazing how much you can create with simple wooden tools. Thanks to the knowledge I picked up from Grandpa Yorogi the lumberjack, I’m capable enough to mimic a carpenter.

The sound of the sizzling stones turned the cold water into hot bathwater. And just like that, the open-air bath was ready.

「Wow, this is amazing!」

Hearing such genuine praise felt great. My survival skills, honed during my time camping out, were finally put to good use.

「Alright then, Rara-chan. Let’s get you out of those clothes and get them washed.」

「Take them off?」

Usually so obedient, Rara-chan hesitated for some reason.

「You need to take them off to get in the bath. Your clothes are covered in sea dragon stomach acid and sea salt, so let’s wash them. They might not dry right away, but it’s warm enough here that wrapping yourself in palm leaves will keep you from catching a cold.」

Not that Rara-chan’s race was prone to catching colds from a bit of cold air anyway. The outfit she was wearing was a simple tunic made of rough fabric with no underwear. So, even if it was replaced with palm leaves, it wouldn’t make much difference.

「Alright, I’ll take them off…」

「Good, I’ll take care of the laundry for you.」

I had detergent and soap in my backpack. I always carried essential survival items, which is one reason I remained calm even in this sudden survival situation.

Even with my enhanced physical abilities from years of being a hero, swimming with a heavy backpack for long periods would have been impossible. If Rara-chan hadn’t pulled a boat from the sea dragon’s stomach, I would’ve had to abandon my heavy gear.

Considering that, washing her clothes as a thank you isn’t too much to ask.

As she handed me her tunic, Rara-chan looked uneasy, fidgeting with her hands that were covered in green scales. Her long tail swayed nervously from side to side.

When I noticed her staring at me with wide, slit pupils, she suddenly said,

「Takeru-san, your body is different from mine, right? I’m different from everyone else too…」

So that’s it. Rara-chan had been worrying about how her body differed from others. Indeed, she was different from humans and the reptilian Sheba tribe, with their lizard-like or snake-like scaled bodies.

Whether it’s because she’s a half-human, half-demon, Rara-chan’s torso had soft skin like a human, but her hands and feet were covered in green scales. Seeing her bare, with a long tail sprouting from her smooth backside, I realized just how unique she was.

It’s an interesting mix—half-human, half-reptilian. Though demons are often thought of as savage, the Sheba tribe, though less refined than humans, still had their own culture, including wearing armor and clothing.

Even for me, it was my first time seeing the naked body of a lizard-type humanoid, and it piqued my curiosity.

Looking at Rara-chan’s budding chest and backside, they resembled those of a twelve or thirteen-year-old human girl. Considering that reptilian humanoids mature faster, it wouldn’t be surprising if she was already entering puberty.

She must be at the age where she’s starting to feel self-conscious about her body, being different from both humans and the reptilian Sheba tribe.

As the adult nearby, the responsibility weighed heavily on me. A vague response here might lead Rara-chan to believe that her body was truly abnormal.

「It’s okay. There’s nothing strange about you. In fact, you’re very cute.」

「Cute?」

「Yes, Rara-chan, you’re cute. I think you’re beautiful, too. From a human perspective, you’re a beautiful girl, even more so than the dragon maidens.」

Even though she’s still a child, she’s a girl, so telling her she’s cute or pretty should suffice. It might seem a bit superficial, but this approach has helped me navigate many tough situations in this harsh, fantasy world.

Apparently, I was right, as Rara-chan’s expression softened, and she smiled, relieved. With her now calm, I urged her to get into the bath first.

I then undressed myself, washing both our clothes in the stream before hanging them up to dry on a tree branch. Until they were dry, we’d have to wear leaf clothing.

When I got into the bath, the water was a bit lukewarm. Adding more stones heated over the fire made it just right. Primitive as it may be, a natural hot spring has its own charm.

「So, Rara-chan, do you know how to wash yourself with soap?」

「Soap?」

「Well, if you’re not used to bathing, you might not know how to use soap. Here, let me show you. Start with your hair. Lather up the soap and clean it thoroughly.」

「Okay.」

I lathered up Rara-chan’s hair with soap and began washing it. When it comes to washing kids, I’m a bit of a pro.

After her long, unkempt hair, I moved on to washing her body. Being a girl, even though she’s still a child, I was careful to wash her gently without using a towel.

Given that she had never bathed before, there was quite a bit of grime, but I scrubbed it all off, making sure she was clean from head to toe.

「Haha, Takeru-san, that tickles!」

「Just bear with it a little longer. I’ll make sure you’re squeaky clean.」

Even as Rara-chan squirmed, I kept scrubbing without hesitation. Sure, scrubbing under her arms, sides, and between her legs would tickle, but the trick is to wash with firm but not too strong pressure.

She really was starting to look clean. As I scrubbed with care and attention, her skin gleamed. Even with her half-reptilian body, when cleaned, she could easily pass for a beautiful girl.

Finally, I moved on to her long tail, scrubbing it when suddenly, her shoulders shuddered, and her body jerked.

I was taken aback. I thought it was fine to scrub it since it was just out in the open, but it seems her tail is more sensitive than I expected.

「Huff… Sorry, my tail is really sensitive…」

「No, I was a bit too rough. If it really hurts, you should tell me. I’ll be more gentle.」

「But somehow… oh, when you’re gentler, it feels more… ticklish… I can’t… take it…」

「What am I supposed to do? This is fascinating.」

When I gripped it tightly, her green tail wriggled and flapped about in my hand, like it had a mind of its own. Intriguingly, a gentler touch seemed to provoke a stronger reaction than a rough one. How curious.

「Eek! Please stop playing with my tail!」

Rara-chan, now red-faced, raised her hands in protest, genuinely upset for the first time.

So, her weak spot is her tail, huh? I always thought a lizard’s tail was something to be discarded, but I guess not.

If this is a common weakness among lizard-type reptilians, it might come in handy if we ever face them in battle.

Since they are mercenaries, there’s a chance they might be hired by the enemy one day. With that in mind, it’s good to research their weak points.

Though I must admit, the tail’s smooth, slippery texture felt nice to the touch, which is partly why I was so intrigued by it. But it’s probably best to leave it at that since she’s now squeaky clean.

「My bad, my bad.」

「I’m not talking to you anymore!」

Rara-chan wrapped her long tail around herself and hid it protectively. She’s surprisingly agile.

It seems I went too far in trying to build a rapport with her in the bath.

I apologized and promised not to do it again, then finished cleaning her by washing even between her toes.

「Hmm.」

「N-not there either!」

Wait, is this area sensitive too?

As I washed her legs, checking where her gray skin transitioned into green scales, it turned out that the webbing between her toes was off-limits as well.

I see, that might be because it’s a mucous membrane, making it particularly sensitive.

This exploration of her anatomy suggests that even the tough-skinned reptilians have their vulnerabilities.

「Interesting.」

「I told you to stop tickling me!」

Rara-chan let out a shriek, arched her back, and fell into the water with a splash.

Oops, it looks like I went too far again.

「You’re all clean now.」

「Ugh, I won’t forgive you. I’m getting revenge!」

「Wha—what are you going to do?」

「I’m going to tickle you and make you squeaky clean too!」

「No, washing isn’t the same as tickling—hahaha!」

「Take that!」

I was thoroughly submerged in the bath by Rara-chan, who had just learned to lather soap, and now I was facing a full-scale counterattack.

After playing around in the bath, we gathered around the campfire for a meal.

We had plenty of coconuts to drink. We also foraged for some edible items around and roasted them over the campfire.

Before eating, while I said “Itadakimasu,” Rara-chan would say a peculiar greeting, “May I eat you?”

Even though food doesn’t speak and can’t say “please eat me”, it seemed like some form of naturalistic animism.

For the demons, the gifts of nature are considered the blessings of the Mother of Chaos, so neglecting them could be seen as inviting punishment.

Spending time with Rara-chan, I found that the Mother of Chaos worship of the demon race was far from the image of a heretical cult. It seemed more like a simple doctrine in harmony with nature.

Indeed, it appeared that the New Continent was more influenced by the Mother of Chaos than by Asama.

Seeing coconuts, which are rich in nourishment, growing so conveniently, I couldn’t help but feel the touch of nature’s blessings.

Even though it had only been half a day, I had quickly adjusted to this primitive lifestyle.

I, at least, was comfortable with it, and Rara-chan looked quite fitting in her wild coconut leaf outfit.

Rara-chan, however, seemed a bit restless. She fidgeted, wagging her tail and wringing her hands as she asked me,

「What are we going to do now? 」

「Well, I’ve put up markers on the beach so we can spot any incoming ships. It’s a bit early, but let’s rest here for today. If there’s no rescue by tomorrow, we’ll explore inland. 」

「No, I mean what are we doing right here and now? 」

Rara-chan patted the leaf bed laid out in front of the campfire, trying to make it more comfortable. Though a bit crude, it was sufficient for sleeping. But instead of sleeping, was she thinking of something else?

「What are you talking about? 」

「Making babies. 」

I spat out the coconut juice I was drinking.

「No way! 」

「Not doing it? But I was told by the tribe leader to do it with you, Takeru-san. 」

What was that old man thinking?

I had been upset about her tail touching earlier, and now it seemed like she was clinging to me more after lying down on the bed. So that’s what she meant.

I had sensed such an intention when I sent Rara-chan from her village, but it was still too early.

「Rara-chan, you’re still a child. 」

「In Sheba’s village, someone my age is considered an adult. Everyone does it. Do you not feel like doing it with me because my body is unusual? 」

「Feel like doing it… 」

「Yes. 」

Her serious gaze made it clear she would be hurt if I refused. For reptilian beings like her, who have an average lifespan of around forty years, reaching adulthood and starting a family is normal at a younger age.

「…It’s not that I don’t want to. I do feel that way, but according to our country’s rules, you can’t engage in such activities until you’re an adult. 」

「How old is an adult? 」

「In the Kingdom of Silesie, it’s fifteen. You’re not fifteen yet, are you? 」

Rara-chan counted on her fingers and realized she hadn’t reached that age yet. She accepted this with a nod.

Whew, that was close. The differences in common sense can be terrifying.

So, I managed to settle for just sharing a bed, and we went to sleep early that night.

When the sun rose, I changed into dry clothes and confirmed that no ships had arrived at the beach where I had placed markers.

I decided to take Rara-chan and head inland to explore.