I Picked up a Corrupted Heroine (The Secret Boss), and When I Spoiled Her, She Became Uncontrollably Affectionate With Me - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Holy Maiden of the Moon Buys Clothes

“So this is the main street with all the stalls…”

Ria’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the rows of street vendors.

“Is this your first time coming to the main street?”

“No, it’s not the first time… but I’ve only been here a handful of times.”

“I see. Then today I’ll show you some things you probably don’t know.”

“…?”

“Alright… this way. Come with me.”

I walked with Ria for a bit and stopped in front of a stall that smelled really sweet.

There were already about ten people lined up.

“What kind of shop is this…?”

“Hmm… it’s hard to explain. Just try it and see.”

We got in line at the back. About ten minutes later, it was our turn.

“Hey, old man! Long time no see!”

“Hm?”

The uncle cooking at the stall looked up, saw me, and his face lit up.

“—Oh! If it isn’t Asta! It’s been a while!”

“You look like you’re doing well, old man.”

“Yeah! Thanks to you! Anyway… looks like you’re not alone today, huh?”

The uncle shifted his gaze to Ria beside me.

“Yeah, this is Ria. I’m taking care of her for a while.”

“Hoh, never thought Asta would make a daughter before a wife…!”

“Stop that. She’s not my daughter or anything.”

“Really? No matter how you look at her, she seems like a daddy’s girl who’s stuck to her father…”

The uncle pointed at Ria, who was clinging tightly to me. She gave him a suspicious look.

“Ah… well, this kid has been through a lot… she’s probably just being cautious.”

“Hmm… but she sure trusts you completely. She really likes you! Might not be long before I see your real daughter! Gahaha!”

“Cut it out, old man…”

Think about the age difference…

Ria looks about ten.
I’m twenty.

No way that works.

But the more I try to explain, the more he’ll misunderstand, so I’d better order quickly and escape.

“Old man, can I order now?”

“Sure. The usual?”

“Yeah, two please.”

“Coming right up! …I figured you’d say that, so I already made them while we talked. And as an apology for teasing you, it’s on the house!”

“You sure? Thanks, I’ll take you up on that.”

I took the “usual” from the uncle and sat down on a nearby bench.

“What is this ‘usual’… exactly?”

“You’ll see when you open it.”

I opened the bag. Inside was a fish-shaped snack wrapped in light brown dough.

“Is this… a sweet?”

“Yeah. It’s called taiyaki. There’s sweet cream inside.”

“Wow… I’ve never seen this before…!”

“Actually, the uncle’s sweets weren’t selling at all, so I taught him the recipe.”

“Really?”

“Well, it’s not something I invented myself.”

Of course, it came from my Japanese knowledge.
Some people might call it cultural pollution… but taiyaki should be fine.

“Here, eat it before it gets cold.”

“O-okay!”

Ria took the taiyaki and nervously bit into it.

“—Mm! The outside is crispy and there’s sweet cream inside… it’s really delicious…!”

She stuffed her cheeks full with the taiyaki.

Good, she seems to like it.

“Ria? You’ve got some cream on your mouth.”

“Eh!? R-really?”

“Yeah. Hold still, I’ll wipe it off.”

I used my handkerchief to clean around her mouth.

I thought she was pretty mature for her age, but she has cute kid sides too.

Feeling a bit warm inside, I took a bite of my own taiyaki.

“Yeah, it’s always good…! It would be perfect if it had red bean paste instead of custard cream though…”

“Red bean paste? Is that tasty?”

“For me it is. I’m more used to it.”

But… it looks like this world doesn’t have red bean paste, so I’ll probably never eat it again.

Well, can’t be helped.

“Alright, after we finish eating, let’s go buy some clothes for you.”

“…Yeah.”

Ria looked down a little and spoke vaguely.

“What’s wrong? Something on your mind?”

“No… it’s not a big deal, but… I keep thinking about what you said earlier, that she’s not your daughter or anything…”

“Ah…”

Ria kept a complicated look on her face and asked,

“Asta… what exactly am I to you…?”

It was a tough question.

“M-maybe you see me as a love interest…”

“—Hold on, no way. Absolutely not!”

“…I see…”

“To me, you’re someone I need to protect. I don’t see you that way at all, so don’t worry.”

“…Understood.”

Phew, I managed to avoid being seen as a lolicon.

But why does everyone think I’m one?

I like kids, but I’m not crazy enough to see them romantically.

Still…

“Why do you look a little disappointed, Ria…?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

“R-really?”

“More importantly, you’re buying clothes for me, right? Let’s go quickly!”

Ria stood up from the bench and held out her hand.

I took it and stood up, then—

“!!?”

Suddenly Ria linked her arm with mine.

“…I’m actually a grown woman, you know.”

“Huh? Ria? Did you say something?”

“…No, nothing. Let’s go already, okay?”

“Eh, ah… yeah.”

I let Ria pull me along as we walked arm-in-arm toward the clothing stores.

—

We left the main street and went into a shop that sold children’s clothes.

“Wow… there are so many different kinds of clothes.”

Ria stared closely at the clothes nearby.

“Um… I don’t know anything about fashion, so just pick whatever you like.”

“Hmm… but I don’t really know either…”

“—Do you need any help?”

A female shopkeeper came over to us.

“Ah… yeah, I’m having trouble choosing clothes for her…”

“I see. Would you like me to pick some for her?”

“Really? Then…”

I looked at Ria.

She looked a bit nervous but gave a small nod.

“Please do.”

“Yes! Excuse me, but may I ask about your budget…?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

“Understood. Then I’ll pick out some super cute outfits for her.”

The shopkeeper took Ria with her and disappeared into the back of the store with an excited look.

It’ll be fine… right?

I sat on a nearby chair and waited for dozens of minutes.

Then the shopkeeper called me from the back.

“—A-Asta… h-how do I look?”

There stood an angel.

Ria was wearing a pure white dress that gave her a very innocent and clean feel.

“It looks really good on you.”

“R-really…?”

Ria twisted her body shyly.

The shopkeeper smiled warmly and said,

“Fufu, Ria has such good features. A simple dress that brings out her natural beauty suits her best…!”

“Thank you so much. By the way, I want to get a few different kinds… could you pick some more?”

“Of course. I already prepared several. For example… how about this?”

What the shopkeeper showed us was—

“—A maid outfit!?”

It was a real maid uniform.

“Oh? I thought she was your servant or maid, so I prepared this… was I wrong?”

“Uh, well…”

Since we don’t look alike, she probably thought we were master and servant instead of parent and child…!

While I was hesitating—

“—Yes, that’s right. I’m Asta’s servant.”

“R-Ria!?”

Ria leaned close to my ear and whispered softly.

“…I really like the word ‘servant’…! I don’t want to be just someone you protect. Please make me your servant.”

“Uh… b-but…”

I tried to argue, but when I saw Ria’s determined face that said she wouldn’t back down, I swallowed my words.

“…Fine. But don’t forget you’re still a child, okay?”

“Yes…!”

Man… I can’t win against this girl.

“Then we’ll take a few maid outfits… and some normal clothes too, please.”

“Understood. I’ll prepare them right away.”

And so, the girl who tried to kill me yesterday somehow became my servant.

Life really is full of strange things.

After that, we bought the other things we needed and started heading home.

—But things weren’t good enough for us to get back without any trouble.