Lunchtime Rebellion
Around midday, when the sun blazed mercilessly overhead like a mercenary's payday, a new aroma began wafting through the Hope Tree Orphanage, which had enjoyed a peaceful morning as usual. The soup I carried emitted a scent that made my mouth water and filled me with vitality just from a light sniff. I shouted energetically.
"Kids~ Come on, hurry up! Today's lunch is this director's special!"
Today's lunch was my turn after a long while. Gia, who usually handled meals (though I wanted to do more, the kids' overwhelming support kept her in charge), had gone on an errand to the main building. It was right around lunchtime, so she'd eat there and come back, she said. The main building's food was plentiful, and Kasel doted on her, so no worries. Just in case, with the village feeling a bit uneasy lately, I told her to wear her hood and be careful. There weren't many outsiders walking the outskirts anyway, and even if spotted, no one would immediately peg her as a demonkin. All good.
With the tableware set and apron on, I grinned and called the kids to the dining hall table once more. Only then did they start shuffling in from their rooms—some waking from naps, others drawing, reading books, or exercising. But then they sniffed the air and froze, faces turning grim.
"Alright, lunch is served. It's been a while, right? Health-boosting soup!"
I placed the pot of health soup, simmered since early morning, in the center of the table. The kids exploded in reaction.
"—Eek."
"—Is that... really...?"
"—The smell..., veggies, more veggies..."
"—Th-there's nothing but these chunks?"
As I stirred with the ladle, all sorts of vegetables revealed themselves in their glory.
"It's all good-for-you veggies, sure, but plenty of solids, right? And the nutrition is even more abundant."
They stared at the soup with satisfied expressions—or so I thought, but shadows crept over their faces as they kept eyeing it.
"Oh, right, I forgot..."
"Director's health soup... it's been ages."
"Second time? But it didn't look like this before..."
"Ughhh..., I-I can't eat this for real..."
Perched on their chairs, they leaned back as far as possible, faces scrunched up. Chloe especially looked like she'd confronted every sin in the world, terror in her eyes.
"Haha, you lot, no need to worry. Chloe, this recipe's been refined several times, so it won't be that bad."
I went to Chloe's side and gently stroked her messy hair, but her distrustful gaze didn't waver.
"...B-but, the taste?"
"It was already good, but I figured no need to make it tastier—I focused on boosting the nutrition."
Why did their eyes darken even more at my words?
"Wh-what ingredients are in it?"
"This and that. The veggie shop auntie dropped off a ton of super fresh ones this morning. Plus some foraged herbs, mushrooms, deer antler, a few root veggies..."
"—Ah."
"Not something you could buy even if you had the money. Of course, I prepped out anything poisonous—just eat up and enjoy—"
"Hiiieeeeeek!!!"
A soul-shattering scream tore from Chloe's mouth. She bolted from her seat. The frailest of our five kids, yet the terror of eating this soup ignited a primal survival instinct beyond imagination. The strength shaking off my hand was brutally powerful, no trace of her usual weakness.
Never seen her run like that. She fled from my side in a flash. Straight from the dining table, sprinting to her room, slamming the door with a bang.
"Heh heh..., I really thought this would cure Chloe's veggie phobia this time."
Why resist the path to perfect health when she'd have no escape if she stayed by my side? She'd had sweet cookies for yesterday's snack, greasy pork for dinner, and a hearty seasoned-meat sandwich for breakfast today! After all that, surely lunch could be healthy!
Well, whatever.
This was within expectations. I turned my head.
"......Where the heck did you all go?"
In that brief moment, the table was empty. No way—these kids? I flung open the door to outside. There they were, scattering in all directions.
"Sorry, Chloe sis! Sacrifice for us! We'll remember you!"
"If we dodge till Gia sis returns, there's hope!"
Epia and Serelda bolted in opposite directions. Camella, grinning like it was all a game, dashed toward the village alone.
"Domwangchyaat! Hiding in the shadows now!!!"
Oh crap. Epia and Serelda were one thing, but if Camella got serious about hiding, finding her would be a nightmare.
"—Kids! Come back now and I'll forgive you!"
No response, just the fading sounds of their footsteps.
"—Kids! At least be back before sunset! I'll forgive you then! Especially you, Camella!!!"
Still nothing. Rebelling against heaven-sent director over mere veggie soup.
Feeding kids is this tough, huh...
A wave of respect hit me for all the mothers raising multiple kids. Even my mom, with one son and two daughters in a prestigious countess household, must've had it rough...
...Anyway, that's that.
"First, force-feed Chloe and think later."
The rest had to eat sometime. A bit later.
"Ughghghghgh......"
Having tucked the now-even-healthier-but-unconscious Chloe gently into bed, I stashed the soup in the kitchen and waited for the kids' return.
It took about an hour on foot from the Hope Tree Orphanage annex to the main building. Following the path down to the village entrance and skirting the outskirts brought the main building into view before long.
Gia left the main building with the vice director's escort, stepping lightly along the outer path. She'd walked this route countless times since Aren first led her to the orphanage—back and forth between annex and main—but the quiet, peaceful country road never lost its charm.
The hearty meat stew and rye bread from lunch still warmed her, leaving her pleasantly drowsy.
Feels so at peace...
The earthy scent tickled her nose. Staring blankly at the nameless wildflowers by the path, the sounds of nature etched themselves into her mind: birdsong from the hills, rustling grass, livestock lowing, insects chirping...
...Oh, those flowers.
She paused at a fork leading into the woods, crouching to examine a cluster of yellow blooms. She didn't know the name, but they stirred memories. The day Aren took her hand and led her from the facility, the same flowers had bloomed in a nearby field.
Maybe because she'd been dreaming of those days lately, seeing them today felt especially joyful. She carefully plucked one from the bunch and brought it to her nose. The fresh, sweet scent matched that day's memory perfectly.
"Hee hee, it's been three years already. Director was so cool back then..."
Three years since Aren took her in, but they'd only started living together after the annex was built.
—Stay at my estate for a bit. I want you by my side forever, but... this damn world's not letting me.
Aren had brought her to the Parates estate and entrusted her to the family.
—They're trustworthy. I've brought you here myself and vouched for you—they won't neglect you.
—...Yes. I believe you, sis. If you say so.
Aren's words—the one who'd freed her from the facility and shown her the outside world—were gospel, no matter how outlandish.
True to her word, the Parates household treated Gia well, almost all of them. A few servants and knights grumbled about her demonkin heritage but knew better than to lay hands on Aren's ward.
She learned so much there, shaping who she was now.
—Sis, can't you stay one more day?
She'd lived there two years.
—Schedule's tight—sorry. Next time, I'll bring gifts.
Aren visited every six months or so, spending the day chatting and playing before leaving.
—It's been long... the end, huh. Even the war.
Two years in, after the demon king army-empire war ended.
—Waited long? Now we can go, Gia.
Aren returned changed, more than ever. Outwardly the same—chatting amiably with townsfolk, family, retainers. But Gia sensed it by her side. She knew: Aren was suppressing immense sorrow.
—Something happen?
—Nothing—ah, you noticed? Haha, just a bit down. That obvious?
Gia nodded; Aren stroked her hair softly. That touch, laden with bottomless grief, pierced Gia's heart.
Soon after, Aren led her from the territory... and they settled here together.
"I want to help sis more... any way?"
Aren always laughed it off, insisting Gia helped plenty.
"Camella, Serelda, Epia, Chloe... probably more kids coming."
Aren went on long trips every month or two, returning with items or new orphans. Gia didn't pry, but bonding with them revealed: each had extraordinary traits, an otherworldly aura. Aren roamed the continent, gathering pitiful orphans for reasons hard to voice. And Gia herself was one.
She sensed it but didn't dig deeper.
If it's sis, there's a reason she hasn't said... Hope she tells me someday.
Oh, sat too long. Better hurry back, make snacks.
Gia pocketed the flower and stood.
Ah, the hood.
A breeze? Her hood slipped, exposing her horns.
"—Whoa, suspected but yeah, demonkin for sure. Worth the stealthy tail."
A stranger's voice from right behind—no prior presence.
When—
Before she could turn, a merciless hand chop struck her nape.
"Ack—!"
Not out cold, but vision flashed; she crumpled like a leaf.
"Damn, tough one? Most guys drop from that."
Gia gritted her teeth, lifting her head. A hulking man loomed close, filling her sight. Rough, utilitarian gear—no style, pure function. Face unknown.
Didn't notice this giant approaching...?
Too lost in flower memories? Or...
"—Outsider, sir... why...?"
"None of your business."
He smirked viciously, slowly raising an iron-plated club.
"Should've passed out first hit. Sleep tight. Uncle's sending you somewhere nice."
—Crack!
The club descending on her crown was her last sight as darkness swallowed her vision.