Rising from the Slum City of Reincarnation in Another World ~ Gathering, Hunting, and Living a Slow Life by Eating

Chapter 55 Silver-haired cat ears and Minya.

Ciel-chan was still at home after having breakfast.

“Well… I don’t have anywhere else to go, meow.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

I gave her food and let her into the house.

It’s a simple fact.

Although she’s not a pet that I picked up, because she’s human, the responsibility lies with me.

In the morning, I decided to observe the situation and started weaving a basket with Minya.

At first, Ciel seemed unsure, but she gradually got the hang of it and became more skillful.

It’s not the first time I’ve picked up a child.

That’s right. Just like how I picked up Minya on a rainy day, it’s something that suits me.

I couldn’t possibly kick out Ciel-chan, who was working diligently, at this point.

Originally, an elderly couple of high status from Eldania lived in this house.

It must have been about eight years ago when Eldania collapsed.

And a few years ago, my mother Tomaria and I, arrived in the slums of Lanierda and were taken in by the elderly couple.

For a slum dwelling, it was relatively spacious for the two of us to live in.

Of course, compared to a normal house, it would be much smaller.

They were just ordinary and kind-hearted grandparents.

I have a few memories of them too.

However, within a little over a year, the grandfather’s health deteriorated, and he passed away, followed soon after by the grandmother.

Mother and I ended up inheriting this rundown house, and it was then that I found the Minya family.

And so, like this, I ended up picking up another girl.

“How are you doing, Minya-chan?”

“I’m fine, meow.”

“That’s good to hear, meow.”

It seems like they are checking on the progress of their work.

Yes, they seem to get along quite well like this.

After all, they are both cats.

“There’s a saying about being covered in cat hair, right?”

On top of Ciel-chan’s head, as always, her adorable cat ears are twitching.

I want to pat her head, but we’re not that close, so I hesitate whether it’s okay to touch her.

I have no mercy when it comes to petting Minya’s head, but that’s because we’re like siblings.

I wouldn’t go as far as to pet the head of a stranger’s child.

However, I really want to touch it.

It’s so cute.

Twitching like that. It’s irresistible.

“Ed-kun, what’s wrong?”

Ciel-chan tilts her head and looks at me with round eyes, showing a curious expression.

She’s ridiculously cute.

There’s no foul play here. Yes, no foul play. I swear to Raffalier-sama

In this moment, Ciel-chan wins.

I reach out my hand and gently stroke her head and cat ears.

“Phew, puff, ahhh…”

Ciel-chan let out a soothing sigh and narrowed her eyes, seeming quite comfortable. It seems she’s not bothered, so it should be fine.

Sometimes there are children who desperately shield their heads when you try to touch them. Many of those children have been subjected to head injuries regularly. However, it doesn’t seem like Ciel-chan comes from such a violent household, where she had to escape.

One of my concerns has disappeared, but she still hasn’t told me the reason why she was crouching here. Will she share it with me eventually?

In the slums, many of my acquaintances have come from unknown backgrounds. The Minya family is the same.

While it’s not taboo to discuss one’s origins in Lanierda, people tend to avoid such discussions because many have tragic pasts. They’re focused on living in the present.

Just having an opportunity to start anew and face forward is something to be grateful for.

The Lania family is originally from Eldania and were involved in the escort business, specifically in the commercial sector. I’ve heard that they had connections in that field. Since Lanierda was established eight years ago, Lania must have been born after they arrived in the slums. Despite their current home being even shabbier than ours, they still maintain connections with the Commercial Guild and apparently work in escort-related jobs in shops within the Trieste city. They can pull off such feats because they have business partners in other cities.

I’ve heard rumors that they were former nobles or still have connections to nobility in other countries, but the details are unclear.

I’m sure when they were young, they must have escorted between Trieste and Eldania.

“Minya, Minya, this handle here.”

“Ah, yeah. You turn it like this and then push it here.”

“Thank you, nya.”

“No problem. It can be difficult at first, so feel free to ask more.”

“Okay.”

Ciel-chan and Minya are already good friends. Minya, who used to walk behind me, has taken on the role of an older sister, teaching her everything. It’s a positive development.

With Minya’s long golden hair and Ciel-chan’s semi-long silver hair that reaches her shoulders, coupled with her cat ears, they look like angelic sisters. They are incredibly adorable.

Ciel-chan is a bit dirty, but we’ll go for a bath in the afternoon. And maybe I’ll borrow Minya’s spare brown clothes to replace her worn-out pink ones.

I realize that having three sets of clothes, the main outfit and backup options, would be ideal. By the way, neither the slums nor the city of Trieste have access to electricity. It seems like electricity hasn’t been invented in this world yet, to some extent.

Perhaps due to their small hands, they excel at intricate and delicate tasks. Both Minya and Ciel-chan are skillfully weaving baskets, rivaling adults. Considering that Ciel-chan has just started, she’s doing quite well.

“Ciel-chan seems to be quite skilled at basket weaving, huh?”

“Yeah, umm… because I used to do similar work at home. Ah!”

She wears a face that unintentionally reveals she mentioned something about her home, displaying a slightly sad expression. Minya understands and refrains from probing further about her home.

Minya consoles Ciel by gently stroking her head. Encouragement can be conveyed without words.

“Ciel-chan, you’re amazing for helping out. As for me, I’ve been playing around until recently.”

Minya begins to share her own story.

“Ed had a big fall back in the early spring, I can’t remember exactly when. Since then, he’s been acting a bit different.”

“Different, you say?”

“Yeah, not in a bad way, though. He’s become more reliable. He gathers edible wild plants and delicious mushrooms too. I started helping him out too. I’ve graduated from being just a burden.”

“I see.”

Ciel responds with a somewhat puzzled expression, understanding only about half of what was said.

Well, it’s hard to believe if you think about it—remembering my life in another world, awakening appraisal skills and an item box, becoming capable of anything. And considering I keep my reincarnation and appraisal abilities hidden, it wouldn’t be strange if I only seemed like a strange person to others.