The Doll Master of the DanMachi World

Meitellia cried out in surprise.

"But that's not right. You're not a god."

Gods were fundamentally different from the people of the Lower World. Even with their divine power sealed, the moment one saw a god, an inexplicable impression would arise: Ah, this is a god.

Gods were perfect in the eyes of mortals, though that perfection was not reflected in their appearance.

They could still be tall, short, fat, thin, young, or old, but their bodies were perfect.

Even if they truly had flaws, those would be "divine imperfections," completely unlike those of humans.

Most obviously, gods did not need to use the toilet.

Clearly, Ming Ge was not a god. For a moment, Meitellia could not understand the meaning of his gestures and could not help feeling a little regretful.

"Someone in this world actually doesn't understand the common language or the sacred language. How strange."

Meitellia muttered to herself.

She had spoken two languages in total: the common language used throughout the world, and the sacred language brought down by the gods of Heaven.

But Ming Ge understood neither, and his own language was also unknown.

Where had he come from?

How had he arrived in Orario?

All sorts of mysteries swirled through Meitellia's mind, making her heart itch with curiosity.

Meitellia liked tales of heroes and fairy tales as well, yet even so, she could not imagine where he might have come from.

Recalling a scene from one of the stories she had read, it was as though she had brought home a frail "hero" in his weakest days, after which a romantic tale of heroes would unfold... Thinking of that, Meitellia's face flushed slightly.

Sneaking a glance at Ming Ge, Meitellia found that he had been looking at her all along.

Seeing the confusion in Ming Ge's eyes, Meitellia's face grew even redder.

Had he caught her peeking at him?

How embarrassing.

She patted her cheeks, pulled herself together, and revealed a gentle smile.

Watching her smile, Ming Ge finally set aside his worries.

Never mind that he had no other choice—just looking at her smile made him feel as if both body and soul had been cleansed.

She was far too gentle.

"Ah, right. Wait a moment."

Seeming to remember something, Meitellia picked up the crystal lamp beside her, then opened a door and walked inside.

Left alone, Ming Ge could not help letting his thoughts run wild.

There were fantasies about the girl, as well as fear of the unknown, and it made him grow restless.

Only when Meitellia reappeared before him a while later, carrying a book in her arms, did he finally relax.

"Sorry, that took a little while. You weren't scared being alone, were you?"

Seeing the slight agitation on Ming Ge's face, Meitellia playfully stuck out her tongue.

Ming Ge felt a little embarrassed at the sight of her gesture.

Meitellia enthusiastically patted the chair, curled her fingers in invitation, and made her intentions obvious.

Still somewhat puzzled, Ming Ge sat down beside her. Then he saw a book on the table before Meitellia, its cover decorated with fairy-tale-like illustrations.

Was this... a children's primer?

"I'll teach you how to read, along with the common language."

Smiling gently, Meitellia opened the book. It depicted several basic objects and animals.

"This word is pronounced 'water.' Water~"

Meitellia spoke in a soft voice that made his heart itch.

Meitellia awkwardly taught Ming Ge.

They sat very close together, and Ming Ge could even feel the warmth of her breath. Their fingers occasionally brushed against each other, throwing his thoughts into disarray.

But he soon calmed down, because Ming Ge knew this was an opportunity. At the very least, learning this world's language would give him a better chance of surviving.

After studying seriously, Ming Ge quickly memorized the contents of the book.

He was not a child. If he read something aloud once, repeated it silently in his heart, and then read it again, he could commit it to long-term memory.

Meitellia seemed very surprised by this. Even in another world, his learning ability was considered quite good, wasn't it?

Was there no magic to assist with learning?

It seemed... this world's magical system was still in an ancient version...

"Ming Ge is amazing."

Meitellia awkwardly pronounced Ming Ge's name, then reached out and patted his head. Smiling brightly, she said, "Amazing, amazing. You did wonderfully."

Seeing Meitellia treat him like a child, Ming Ge was speechless, yet he genuinely felt happy inside.

Ah... had he become a stray cat tamed by a beautiful girl?

Still... it didn't feel bad~

Teaching the Common Language

"Ah, it's already this late."

Meitellia glanced at the sky and cried out, "Oh no, oh no. It's already time to rest."

"If my sister finds out, she'll definitely be angry."

Remembering that Ming Ge could not understand her, Meitellia stood up and took his hand.

Meitellia's hand was warm and delicate. Combined with the darkness around them, it made Ming Ge's heart race again after he had spent so long concentrating on studying.