READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 17
“Tap, tap.”
Around the roaring bonfire, several skewers are still stuck. They look incredibly primitive and difficult for even children to eat.
“It’s well-cooked. Try this.”
“Thank you.”
Ellie, without any hesitation, takes the skewer handed to her by Can. Watching this, I immediately get up and walk over to Ellie without hesitation.
“No, Ellie. You shouldn’t take things from strangers.”
“Huh?”
“Besides, this skewer is too big for you to eat comfortably.”
“But Sister, I’m hungry.”
“Put that skewer down for now and eat this meat I grilled. It’s easier to eat and tastier.”
Ignoring the small mouths of children and just shoving chunks of meat onto skewers is hardly a meal for kids. Like me, slicing the meat thinly makes it easier to eat and chew. Children’s teeth are still weak, so if the meat is too big, they might have trouble swallowing it.
“How is it? Tasty?”
“Yes! It’s even tastier because Sister grilled it!”
Seeing Ellie’s satisfied expression fills me with pride. Clearly, children need my gentle and caring touch more than Can’s rough and thoughtless handling.
“You don’t seem to want to raise the children to be strong.”
“Huh?”
“From what I see, it looks like you’re taking care of children from the church.”
“Why do you say that?”
“These are the kind of children who need to be raised even stronger.”
“Is feeding them poorly grilled meat your way of raising them strong?”
“No, it’s about letting them experience things. Chewing tough meat helps them develop the ability to solve problems on their own in difficult situations. They learn patience through the process.”
I was momentarily speechless. Not because Can’s words made sense, but because it was absurd to think that chewing a piece of meat could teach problem-solving skills and patience.
“You’re making a big deal out of eating a piece of meat.”
“Small things add up to create something greater.”
“Stop exaggerating. I’ll take care of the children’s meals, so you just focus on quietly eating your grilled meat.”
I still can’t figure out what kind of person Can is. Despite my clear discomfort, they remain unfazed, staying put and chatting away.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass on the meat.”
“Huh? Then who’s going to eat this grilled skewer?”
“Calm down, white friend. It’s a shame to waste it, so just feed it to the kids. It’ll be a good experience for them.”
“Why am I your friend? And that’s so irresponsible…”
In the midst of my frustration, Ellie, sitting quietly beside me, suddenly tugs at my sleeve.
“Sister, I want to try that skewer.”
“…But Ellie, if you don’t chew it properly, it could get stuck in your throat and be dangerous.”
“I’ll be careful. So, can I try it…?”
Ellie’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, making it impossible to refuse.
“Just let her eat it, Sister. Kids these days can chew through rocks.”
Priscilla, with a bright smile, chimed in, holding a well-grilled skewer in her hands.
“Is it tasty?”
“Yes! It’s really tasty. It’s just grilled, but it’s good.”
Every time I see Priscilla, I worry. Her short-sightedness and recklessness might lead her to a dangerous path in the future.
“Levi… Can I just eat this skewer?”
Aizen’s cautious voice followed. I finally looked around, realizing the kids were watching me.
“……”
The kids were watching me. Despite the well-grilled meat right in front of them, they couldn’t eat because of my overreaction.
This wasn’t the atmosphere I wanted.
“…I’m sorry. I was too sensitive. I was just worried.”
“It’s okay, Levi. We know you didn’t mean it. We understand your heart better than anyone.”
“Thank you for saying that. Now, don’t mind me and eat to your heart’s content. Just be careful not to eat too fast and get an upset stomach.”
“Okay! Levi, let’s eat together.”
“I’m fine.”
With that, I put the plate of meat down and slowly got up.
“Where are you going?”
Ellie grabbed my sleeve and asked softly.
“I’m just going to take a look at the lake.”
“Sister, are you upset…?”
“No, not at all.”
“Can I come with you?”
“There’s still a lot of meat left. Priscilla will help, so finish eating and then come.”
With a faint smile, I answered calmly. Ellie, reassured, nodded with a bright expression.
“Huh? What’s there to help with just eating meat?”
“Make sure the kids don’t eat too fast. You’ve been playing well so far, so you can handle that much, right?”
“Well… I didn’t say I couldn’t…”
“I’ll leave the kids to you for a bit.”
“…Okay, take care…”
After roughly sorting things out, I headed towards the lake.
“Uh, huh?”
“How long are you going to sit there like a snake? I have something to say, so hurry up and follow me.”
Not alone, but with Can.
Despite the somber atmosphere, Can remained calm, still grilling meat. It was annoying, and I still couldn’t figure out what kind of person they were.
What kind of person blends in so naturally? The more I think about it, the more absurd it seems.
“Not all Sisters are prim and proper, huh.”
“Enough of that, just reveal your identity already.”
“Huh? Now?”
“I couldn’t ask earlier because the timing wasn’t right.”
I asked about Can’s identity, as far away from the kids as possible. At first glance, they seemed like an adventurer who happened to pass by, but upon closer inspection, there were many suspicious points.
No, they were blatantly suspicious, and it seemed like only I noticed.
“I’m just lost. I’m not a suspicious person.”
“Ordinary people don’t blend in like this. You’re obviously suspicious.”
“No, I just happened to pass by and thought it looked fun—”
“What exactly did you tell the kids to make them trust you without a hint of doubt?”
Can looked slightly flustered by my sharp question.
“I told them the same thing I just told you.”
“Huh? Are you saying the kids believed you just based on that?”
“They were so excited they didn’t even ask about me.”
“…Oh, come on.”
It’s a lie. Our kids wouldn’t do that. With the Demon Tribe visiting twice in the past few days, they should be more cautious than usual.
“The kids trust you a lot. They seemed to think everything would be fine as long as you were around.”
“Even so, that’s too careless. Do you think I’d believe such a flimsy excuse?”
“I didn’t lie.”
“As the children’s guardian, I always keep my senses sharp, no matter where I am. If you think I’m just like Priscilla over there, you’re seriously mistaken.”
I couldn’t see Can’s expression because of the helmet, but I could vaguely tell they were more flustered than before.
“Sigh… It’s true that I’m lost, and it’s also true that the kids didn’t doubt me. No matter how many times you ask, I can only give the same answer.”
“You’re really persistent.”
“What can I do? It’s the truth.”
“Then how did you get lost?”
“I was on a mission with a mid-level group heading to a destination when they suddenly disappeared, leaving me alone here.”
“…Mission?”
“But I don’t even know what the mission is about.”
The more I listened, the more absurd it became. I understood that “mission” roughly meant a request, but not knowing the details was beyond comprehension.
“Not knowing the details of the request… does that even make sense?”
“It’s not a request, it’s a mission. And everyone just drags me along without explaining anything, so I can’t do anything about it.”
“Sigh… Then where is this destination?”
“I don’t know. I was just following the mid-level group.”
I didn’t want to do this. I wanted to resolve things smoothly, but every word from Can was irritating me more and more.
“Did you hit your head in the forest or something?”
“I get what you’re thinking, but I wish you’d believe me. I’m only telling the truth.”
“You don’t know the mission details, you don’t know the destination… What exactly do you expect me to do?”
“Let’s start with introductions. My name is Bell Ross. The kids call me ‘Mister,’ but I haven’t lived that long.”
“Now of all times, you’re introducing yourself…?”
“What’s good is good. This way, you might be a little less suspicious of me.”
I couldn’t follow Can’s thought process. Is this really the right way…?
“…I’m Levinia Fallen Grace. I take care of the children at the nearby church.”
“That’s a long name. I heard the kid call you ‘Levi.’ Can I call you that too?”
“No. Call me Levinia.”
“So firm.”
It felt like we had a lot of conversation, but somehow, nothing stuck in my mind. Instead of revealing their identity, my suspicions only deepened, and I ended up learning a name I didn’t even want to know.
“Anyway, I get that you’re a bit out of it from getting lost in the forest. Do you know roughly how many hours it’s been since you got lost?”
Can fell silent for a moment, deep in thought, then casually answered.
“It’s been over a week, I think.”
I was stunned by Can’s unexpected answer.
“Thinking about it, I’ve been wandering in this forest for quite a while.”
“Are you out of your mind?”