Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Midnight Intruder
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“Be careful, everyone. We don't want anyone getting hurt. Be extra careful with the fire and anything sharp.”
“““Okay!”””
Afternoon.
The warm sun was shining, a perfect day for the children to be playing in the yard.
But they were all gathered in the kitchen.
Wearing chef hats and aprons.
They were making a snack for Red themselves, as a thank you for the clothes she bought them.
Of course, it was a secret from Red. They were rushing to make it while she was out for work.
“I’m going to make the best bread ever.”
“No! Cookies are better!”
“Wouldn’t something fluffy be better?”
“Let’s make something that will last a long time.”
The children just couldn't agree.
I wished they would just pick something and get on with it. Honestly, Red would eat anything they made.
I silently prayed they would decide quickly.
“Lily, what do you think would be good?”
…!?
I flinched at the question suddenly thrown my way.
What?! Why are you asking me?
All the children’s eyes turned to me. Their gazes were incredibly pressuring.
It seemed like not answering wasn’t an option. But giving a half-hearted reply like 'anything is fine' wouldn't work either.
With no other choice, after some thought, I raised my hand for cookies.
For someone like Red, who's constantly on the move, a snack that doesn't spoil easily would be better. And cookies can be kept for a long time.
To make sure the children understood, I naturally explained my reasoning with vigorous hand gestures.
My hard-earned explanation seemed to get through, as the children nodded their heads in understanding.
“That’s true... Since she's always so busy, a snack that doesn’t spoil easily might be better.”
“See, I told you cookies were the best.”
“So, we’re all agreed on cookies, right?”
Before starting to make the treats in earnest, the children took a vote by raising their hands.
Everyone raised their hand for cookies.
“Alright, everyone, let’s make the most delicious cookies in the world!”
“““Yeah!”””
The children, filled with energy, let out a cheer.
I raised my hand too, joining in on the mood.
With this much enthusiasm, I thought we might actually make cookies so good they'd be to die for.
Since we're making a lot, there'll surely be some for me to eat, too.
Gulp. My mouth is watering.
But something happened that quickly dashed my expectations.
“Aah! I poured in too much flour.”
“Ugh. The dough is all gooey.”
Unfamiliar with making cookies, they made one mistake after another.
I'm good at eating, but I don't know how to make them, so it was hard for me to help.
We could have easily made them with Rene's help, but we couldn't ask her. We had decided to do it ourselves.
Ugh.
At this rate, we wouldn't make any progress. This was a problem.
“Don’t worry... We just have to follow the book...”
Bada brought a baking book and opened it.
We threw all the ruined dough in the trash.
Reading from it, we slowly started over.
When we tore open the flour bag with force, a cloud of white powder poofed out, covering the children’s faces and turning them white.
They looked at each other’s faces and let out cheerful laughs.
It was a rather funny sight, so I let a small smile slip out.
We put the ingredients into a large bowl as instructed in the book and began to knead the dough.
I prefer eating to making, though.
“This feels better than before.”
“Knead, knead…”
“Hehe, it feels like playing with clay. This is nice.”
“Heave, ho~”
Everyone was focused on the dough. Its shape was slowly coming together.
Just then, Lena complimented my kneading skills.
“Oh! Lily, you have strong arms.”
I rolled up my sleeves, flexed my revealed forearm, and struck a pose.
My pale, bare skin looked incredibly soft and tender. It might even feel squishy if you pressed it.
But despite that, the girls let out sounds of admiration at my triumphant attitude.
The boys, on the other hand, shivered.
What's with them all of a sudden?
“Lily’s stronger than she looks.”
“Yeah, she didn't go easy on us in arm wrestling before, either.”
“My arm still hurts from that arm-wrestling match.”
“Her face is probably super scary, that's why she doesn't take off her mask.”
I gave the boys a pathetic look.
When it came to the boys, I never went easy on them.
I had won overwhelmingly, handing them defeat.
The world of competition is a cold one, after all.
And I even went easy on them, in my own way.
Such crybabies.
The girls booed at the boys' weakness.
Even while having such silly conversations, our hands didn't stop.
Beads of sweat formed on the children's foreheads. I could hear their tired breaths.
It was quite a laborious task, and though it must have been tiring, the children didn't show any signs of dislike.
Instead, their faces were filled with joy.
Lena hummed a tune as she kneaded.
The other children hummed along.
A gentle melody filled the kitchen.
The children were excited, their hearts full of life.
As a result of their small hands working diligently, a round ball of dough was complete.
Everyone gasped in awe. Their little eyes sparkled.
Phew, that was really tough.
They lifted the large lump of dough and stretched it between them. Seeing how well it stretched, they all beamed.
It wasn't over yet.
After cutting the dough into smaller pieces, they each began to shape it as they pleased.
Various shapes were formed by their small hands.
Circles, triangles, squares, people and animal shapes, and other strange forms.
Everyone stared at the cookie shapes they'd made with wonder. Then, giggling, they showed off their creations to one another.
“Aw, what are those supposed to be? Mine is the best.”
“What are you talking about? Yours is the ugliest.”
“Aren't I the one who did the best?”
Just then, Lena poked me in the arm.
“What do you think of my cookie? I did a good job, right?”
I flinched for a moment when I saw the shape of Lena's cookie.
This is... surprising.
It was a very unique shape.
Seeing her triumphant face, I hesitated for a moment, then gave her a thumbs-up for her rather unique aesthetic sense.
Lena beamed, pleased with my praise.
Honestly, the best-made cookie after mine was Bada's.
Bada must have been born with an artistic sense, because her cookie shape was quite cute. Almost too cute to eat.
As if sensing my gaze, Bada turned her head towards me, and our eyes met.
I secretly gave a thumbs-up to Bada, who was looking at me with a curious expression.
Bada hehe-ed, smiling happily.
Now, only the final step remained.
We put the baking sheet in the oven, set it to the right temperature so the cookies wouldn't burn, and started baking.
As time passed, a sweet smell began to fill the air.
Just smelling it was enough to make me smile.
But.
Everyone's faces were filled with tension.
The atmosphere would change depending on whether it was a success or a failure.
I wasn't worried. I was sure they would turn out fine.
Ding~!
Time was up. We carefully took out the finished product.
The children's faces lit up.
Wide smiles spread across everyone's lips.
“Wow~”
A satisfying result.
Everyone tasted the freshly baked cookies.
They all blinked, then gasps of delight escaped their lips.
Only after picking out the best ones and wrapping them up nicely did we enjoy the rest of the cookies ourselves.
Yum, yum.
After that.
Red returned in the evening.
When presented with the gift of cookies the children had made themselves, Red's eyes widened in surprise before she accepted them with a pleased smile.
The children beamed, happy that Red had accepted them so joyfully.
*
Late at night.
All the children were asleep, and I had snuck out into the yard.
Kneeling in front of the flowerbed, I gently brushed the flowers with my fingertips.
It was a peaceful time.
It was so different from the outside world that I sometimes forgot what it was like out there.
Maybe that's why I've let my guard down a little.
Sigh...
How long will this peace last? Will this place remain safe in the future?
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching from behind me.
I glanced back to see it was Rene.
Even though it was night, she wasn't in her casual clothes.
I didn't ask questions like, 'Why are you still dressed like that?'
“What are you doing out at this hour?”
In response to Rene's question, I gestured towards the flowerbed.
Rene chuckled softly at my indication that I was looking at the flowers.
“Looking is nice, but it’s late, isn’t it? You should sleep early so you can grow tall.”
Hmm. My height won't change even if I sleep early.
I didn't bother saying that.
Instead, I nodded as if to say I understood.
Then, with a gesture, I asked where Red had gone.
Red had taken a call and gone out late at night.
“Ms. Red? She often goes out like that. I know you’re worried about her, but you don’t have to worry too much. Ms. Red is strong.”
Worried?
I know Red's skills well enough not to be worried.
I was just genuinely curious.
In any case, I nodded at her words.
“Anyway, don’t stay out too long. You’ll catch a cold.”
With that, Rene left.
Rene headed back toward the building, but she didn't go inside.
She went outside, avoiding my gaze.
I lifted my head in the direction Rene had gone.
‘An intruder...?’
A few hours after Red had left.
I sensed suspicious presences in the distance. Several of them.
The owners of those presences seemed to be watching the orphanage. The unpleasant sensation made it impossible for me to close my eyes in peace.
Attacks on places where people live, like robberies and raids, are hardly rare. In the outer districts, they're practically a part of daily life.
But to think they would target an orphanage sponsored by Red...
Do they not know what this place is?
Or are they targeting it intentionally? If they're lurking with a purpose, could it be revenge against Red?
Whatever the case, Rene had moved to drive the unwelcome guests away.
I figured Rene's skills would be more than enough.
There's no need for me to sneak around and 'take care' of them.
I savored the quiet moments for a little longer, then stood up.
‘It's cold. Maybe I should go in and sleep.’
As I started walking back inside, another presence made me stop in my tracks.
A deeply unpleasant presence.
Just one?
A human figure lightly hopped over the iron gate and entered the yard.
The intruder took a few steps before noticing my presence and stopping.
The moonlight shone down, revealing the suspicious person's identity.
It was the same skull mask used by the Cult of the Grim Reaper.
But the aura they gave off was distinctly different from the followers I had met so far.
‘A feint...’
I pretty much understood.
A very simple plan: lure Rene outside, then have someone else infiltrate.
…This is a problem.
Judging by their total mana, this is a difficult opponent to 'take care of'.
It wouldn't be hard to defeat them if I raised my mana, but if I'm not careful, others might realize that I'm the Grim Reaper.
Hmm. What should I do.