Monster - Chapter 32
Chapter 32: The Rabbit Nanny
The Aztec Tower World.
Lin Sandie had spent the entire night looking at the light screen. Her consciousness had briefly departed at one point, but she had yet to figure out the extent of her real-world injuries and had returned to this Tower World.
She had also tried to return to reality—that is, to wake up—several times on her own, only to find that she failed each time. This confirmed what Pie had said: when her physical body sustained injuries that required her to remain asleep, her consciousness could not leave the Tower World.
And as soon as she woke up in reality, her consciousness here would disconnect. However, the specific time flow and what would happen after the disconnection were things Lin Sandie still needed to investigate.
Looking on the bright side, it meant her real self was probably still salvageable. If she were destined to die, her consciousness here would have vanished long ago.
After reviewing what her current points could buy, Lin Sandie decided to first exchange all of them for the "Soulmate Buff." Then, she would gift her entire body (the rabbit doll) to Little Fool. The buff had a 10% chance of leaking her true thoughts, but firstly, the probability wasn't high, and secondly, she held no ill will toward the little savage. It seemed she had no secrets that couldn't be revealed. Once they could communicate telepathically, Lin Sandie would verbally instruct her on how to use her own starting points to purchase other essential items.
Although the "Illiteracy Elimination Potion" would be very useful for Little Fool, Lin Sandie didn't plan to have her use points to buy it immediately. After a full night of research, she discovered that there were a vast number of items on the light screen, which even included an "online store" where points could be used to purchase goods.
As someone from a modern, civilized society, Lin Sandie was all too familiar with online stores. Her pessimistic nature made her doubt that Little Fool could control herself after becoming literate and seeing the dazzling array of products.
Their points were too scarce to be wasted. To cure her illiteracy, Lin Sandie planned to use the most primitive method: she would teach her to read herself.
Lin Sandie knew that the language and writing system used here in Aztec were certainly different from her native tongue. The only reason she could understand Little Fool was because Pie had used some method. Teaching Little Fool her own native language would surely make her seem like an oddball in this world, but Pie didn't care. The text on the light screen could certainly be adjusted to a language Little Fool could understand. And even if Little Fool learned her language, according to the rules for Sentinels and Guides on missions in the Tower Worlds, Pie would automatically translate Little Fool's words into the local language.
Once her decision was made, Lin Sandie immediately used her points to purchase the "Soulmate Buff" and applied it to her body. Then, with a thought, she "gifted" herself to Little Fool. Since the girl had already implicitly claimed the rabbit doll as her own when she found it, the condition for accepting the item was met. Now, Lin Sandie could speak to Little Fool telepathically.
Glancing at the sky out of the corner of her eye, she saw it was still pitch black, a night so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Lin Sandie wanted to wake Little Fool, but seeing how soundly she was sleeping, she waited patiently for another two or three hours. As an adult, ensuring a child had adequate sleep was a natural obligation.
During the time she spent checking the list on the light screen and waiting for Little Fool to wake up, she used her healing skill on the girl as soon as the cooldown was over. After a full night of treatment, Lin Sandie noticed that all the wounds on her body had disappeared, except for a faint mark from the cut on her brow bone. It seemed her basic healing skill was not very effective on external injuries.
It wasn't until the sky began to lighten that Lin Sandie prepared to wake Little Fool. But just as the thought occurred to her, she paused. She couldn't just start by calling her "little savage" or "little fool." It was too undignified.
Lin Sandie recalled the tone and manner of the caring older sisters on children's television shows: Hello there, little one~~~
"No, that won't work. We're teammates. We'll have to face many missions together, and I might need her help. I can't just be a caring sister or a nanny."
After much thought, Lin Sandie sighed internally, feeling she was being too serious. Perhaps this Little Fool wouldn't even care what tone she used.
"Ahem, wake up." Lin Sandie cleared her throat and called out to the sleeping child in her usual tone of voice.
Little Fool's eyelids fluttered, but she didn't wake up. Instead, she hugged Lin Sandie in her arms a little tighter.
"Wake up." Lin Sandie raised her voice slightly in their mental conversation, calling out again.
"Mmm…" Little Fool finally woke up, murmuring groggily, "Mom?"
Pie must have spoken to her before. Since it was also a female voice, she had mistaken it for her mother's.
Lin Sandie was amused.
"I'm not your mother," she continued the conversation.
"Then who are you?" Little Fool showed no fear, simply asking a natural question in return. She slowly sat up and looked around.
At that moment, Lin Sandie heard her stomach rumble.
"I'm right in front of you. Look down and see."
Little Fool naturally lowered her head and saw the rabbit doll she had picked up from the trash heap yesterday.
"Little Rabbit!" Little Fool exclaimed in delight, scooping Lin Sandie up. Her eyes, a lighter shade than most people's, sparkled brightly. She held Lin Sandie high. "Are you Little Rabbit?"
"Yes, I'm your partner."
"What's a partner?" Little Fool asked curiously.
"It means we'll always be together from now on. Wherever you go, I'll go too," Lin Sandie explained in a way Little Fool could understand.
"Okay, Little Rabbit, I'm your partner." Little Fool happily hugged Lin Sandie with all her might.
So innocent… Lin Sandie couldn't help but smile. She continued, "Do you remember your name?"
"Umm…" Little Fool tried hard to understand Lin Sandie's words, but after a long while, she still didn't know how to answer the question. All she could do was hold Lin Sandie up high and grin foolishly.
Lin Sandie saw that she was missing an incisor, with a new tooth just starting to grow in its place.
She must be at the age where she's losing her baby teeth…
Lin Sandie decided not to get hung up on the name. She said to Little Fool, "From now on, I'll call you Little Fool. Only I can call you that. If anyone else says it, they're insulting you, understand?"
It was necessary to establish a basic sense of right and wrong with her first. Otherwise, the silly girl might think people were just calling her name when they were actually insulting her.
"Mhm, mhm." Little Fool nodded seriously and solemnly.
"Next, think of these two words in your mind: Points," Lin Sandie coaxed gently.
"Points!" Little Fool shouted obediently and forcefully.
Sigh… not shout, think. Lin Sandie was exasperated. It seemed teaching Little Fool not to reveal her inner thoughts would be a long road.
Fortunately, a light screen that Lin Sandie could also see appeared in front of Little Fool. However, being held in the girl's arms, it was difficult for Lin Sandie to get a full view of the screen.
"Let me perch on your shoulder, Little Fool."
Little Fool happily lifted Lin Sandie up and set her on top of her head.
Lin Sandie had no time to complain about her not knowing the difference between her shoulder and her head. She continued giving instructions, "Little Fool, think about the online store. Just think it in your head, okay?"
"Online store!" Little Fool shouted obediently and forcefully.
The child is still young, I can't ask for too much… Lin Sandie covered her face in her mind, consoling herself.
The screen flashed, and Lin Sandie saw various products. Compared to the items with magical abilities, these things that could be bought in the secular world cost very few points. As for what to buy, Lin Sandie had already figured it out last night.
"Little Fool, look at that box at the top."
"Okay, I see it. What is this, Little Rabbit?"
"I'll tell you later. Look at that box, and then think: children's electric toothbrush."
"Children's electric toothbrush!" Little Fool shouted loudly without hesitation.
The items on the screen changed, and Lin Sandie saw rows of cute children's electric toothbrushes. Giving Little Fool no choice in the matter, she autocratically picked a plain but long-lasting model. That toothbrush came with two tubes of children's toothpaste, apple and strawberry flavored, for the price of 1 point.
After teaching Little Fool to buy the toothbrush and toothpaste, Lin Sandie immediately had her search for a digital watch. Losing her sense of time would plunge Lin Sandie into an unknown panic. A mobile phone, while affordable with her points, wasn't practical here. So she had Little Fool buy the digital watch she had picked out last night—a discreet model that looked like a black wristband. The watch also cost 1 point.
The items bought from the online store appeared out of thin air beside them. Lin Sandie didn't rush to have Little Fool open the packages. Instead, she directed her to buy food, preschool books, a towel, children's underwear, and other things she deemed necessary.
As for food, Lin Sandie again gave Little Fool no choice, directly having her buy a box of egg cakes and a case of children's milk.
All these things cost a total of only 2 points.
"Little Rabbit, what are all these?" Little Fool asked, looking at the small boxes that had suddenly surrounded her.
"My nightmare," Lin Sandie sighed. She didn't want to do this nanny work either, but Little Fool had no one to look after her, and they were now bound by a common fate. They might have to face many missions together later. Since she was an immobile rabbit doll, many things would require Little Fool to act. Lin Sandie had to ensure she was in good health.
After saying this, Lin Sandie got busy teaching Little Fool how to wear the watch and use the electric toothbrush. As for breakfast, that was an item she would tell her about only after she brushed her teeth.
"We're two of a kind, Little Fool. We both have our flaws. Maybe we were bound together because we're a perfect fit like that. After you eat breakfast, we'll study your skills." While directing Little Fool to a clean pool of water nearby to brush her teeth, Lin Sandie tried to use a gentler tone to make up for her earlier impatience and unfriendliness. But soon, she became irritable again.
"Don't eat the toothpaste!"
"You're still eating it!! Don't think I can't see you!"
"I said don't eat it! Are you trying to drive me mad!?"
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