Chapter 19: Warmth on the Rooftop

“So, I know you’re the Calamity God of the End, Little Ren, but I’ve never seen it. All I know is you can sprout tentacles.”
Doroshi stuffed half a sausage into her mouth.

Ren, who didn’t need to eat, delicately picked up a vegetable with chopsticks, chewing gracefully before responding.
“If Lady Doroshi is interested, I could summon my true body here after we finish eating.”

Doroshi’s head snapped up, eyeing Ren suspiciously.
“Summon it? That’s fine, right?”

“No problem at all,” Ren said with a casual shake of her head.
“At most, it’d flatten this area. If I compress my body to sixty kilometers, the damage would be minimal.”

“Wait, wait, wait! That’s not fine!”
Doroshi yelped, chopping Ren’s shoulder with her hand.
“No way! We can’t cause a global headline just for curiosity. And you, Little Ren, absolutely don’t do anything that dangerous!”

Ren nodded quietly.
“As you wish.”

The topic was far riskier than expected, so Doroshi shelved her curiosity about Ren’s true form.
There’d be time to see it later, right?

“Your cooking’s always so good, Little Ren. I can’t stop eating.”
Mouth full, Doroshi mumbled her praise.

“Your enjoyment is my greatest reward,” Ren said, accepting the compliment calmly.

Doroshi thought if she had to go back to cheap toast, half-price supermarket bentos, or instant noodle life, she’d rather bash her head into tofu.
‘Oh no, has Little Ren’s cooking trapped me?! Was this your plan—to make me dependent on your food and turn me into a gourmet captive?’

“You said the old Kimihiro Ren was human, right? Did you inherit this maxed-out cooking skill from her?”

Ren shook her head, her expression saying, ‘As if.’
“No, I don’t recall much about the human Kimihiro Ren, but I learned to cook after deciding to serve you, Lady Doroshi—along with other maidly duties.”

“What?!”
Doroshi’s chopsticks froze mid-bite, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“No way! You mastered this level of cooking in just two or three days?! Plus all the other maid stuff?!”

For someone who’d lived lazily for over a decade, stuck between instant noodle mastery and beginner fried rice, this was a critical hit.

“Naturally,” Ren said, brushing a red strand from her face, her flawless appearance a maid’s mandatory skill.
“If I couldn’t master these skills in a few days, how could I be worthy of serving you?”
“Not just cooking—etiquette, personal care, driving various vehicles, security techniques, cybersecurity, combat skills to protect you, and business acumen…”

“Hold up, hold up! Since when did I need a maid with that insane skill set?!”
Doroshi cut off Ren’s rambling, fearing it’d spiral into something terrifying.

“That’s how it is,” Ren said, pausing appropriately.
“I learned these skills by scouring the vast internet, but I’m still inadequate.”
“I couldn’t even provide you with a proper residence or transportation, leaving you with such a modest lifestyle.”

Doroshi felt like she and Ren lived in different realities.
If this was modest, what was her old life?

“In the near future, I’ll offer you a residence befitting your status and a superior quality of life.”

Doroshi gave a wry smile.
Befitting her status? Since when did she have any status beyond “ordinary high school girl”?

While Ren planned a lavish future for her, Doroshi spent the lunch break slightly uneasy.
After cleaning up, Ren followed her off the rooftop, muttering to herself.

“Entertainment facilities are a must. A swimming pool can’t be skipped. Maybe a sports complex too.”
“Transportation options need variety—flight capabilities are lacking. A data center’s necessary.”
“Hmm, it’ll require substantial funds. Humans are so troublesome. Maybe I should just threaten the world to offer tributes for Lady Doroshi’s protection…”

Doroshi didn’t dare listen closely to Ren’s murmurs—snippets alone gave her goosebumps.
“Uh, Little Ren,” she said, smiling nervously, “let’s not do anything dangerous, okay?”

Ren tilted her head, puzzled, but replied energetically, “Yes, Lady Doroshi, I understand.”

“I sure hope so.”
Unsure if Ren truly got it, Doroshi felt her dream of a peaceful daily life was still far off.

★

After that, Doroshi ignored the school’s online community, unbothered by others’ opinions of her and Ren.
Once school ended, they left together, heading home.

Dinner, naturally, was Ren’s domain.
Doroshi discovered Ren’s culinary skills spanned countless cuisines from different countries and regions.
The thought of eating such diverse gourmet meals daily made her mouth and stomach ecstatic.
‘I could grow an extra stomach just for Little Ren’s cooking,’ she declared.

They chatted over dinner, and Doroshi mentioned the classmate who was absent today.
Though Ren never cared about classmates, since Doroshi brought it up, she thought for a moment before answering.

The absent girl’s surname was Takapan, apparently.
Ren only remembered her because she’d badmouthed Doroshi, landing her on Ren’s mental “pest control” list.
Since it wasn’t worth wasting Doroshi’s time, Ren briefly mentioned the girl’s name, said she was probably out sick, and moved on.

Like yesterday, they chatted in the living room after showering.
Ren wore her own pajamas tonight, as Doroshi had said she couldn’t keep wearing hers.

“Those pajamas are cute. Where’d you get them?”
Doroshi propped her cheek on her hand, enjoying casual talk with Ren.

“They’re formed from a part of my true body’s flesh, just like my school uniform and maid outfit.”

Doroshi’s fingers, pinching the fabric, froze, her face stiffening.
“So, I’m basically touching your skin?”

Ren’s eyes lit up, thrilled by the idea, and she looked at Doroshi expectantly, as if urging her to touch more.
Doroshi yanked her hand back like she’d been shocked, speechless.

‘This kid—wait, no, I’m the kid compared to her actual age!’

When sleepiness hit, Doroshi half-forced Ren into her aunt’s bedroom, tucking her in.
After ensuring she was settled, Doroshi returned to her own room to sleep.