“Everyone has to be careful not to get hurt. Especially pay more attention to fire and sharp objects.”
“Yes!”
Afternoon time.
The warm sunlight shines down, and the children who should be playing in the yard.
They all gathered in the kitchen.
Wearing kitchen hats and aprons.
As a reward for the clothes they were given, the children are trying to make snacks for Red.
Of course, this is a secret from Red. They plan to make it hurriedly while she is away on business.
“I will make the best bread.”
“No! I like cookies!”
“Isn’t something fluffy better?”
“Let’s make something that can last for a long time.”
The children’s differing opinions are hardly narrowing down.
I just wanted them to decide on something and proceed quickly. Honestly, whatever they make, Red will eat well.
I was silently hoping for a quick decision.
“What do you think, Lily?”
“…!?”
I flinched at the sudden question directed at me.
No?! Why are you asking me?
The children’s gazes turned toward me. It was a very burdensome look.
It seemed there was no option to remain silent. Besides, a half-hearted response like “anything is fine” wouldn’t work either.
Reluctantly, after thinking, I raised my hand for cookies.
A snack that won’t spoil easily would be better for someone as busy as Red. And cookies can be kept for a long time.
I gestured to explain my reasoning so the children could understand.
Whether my efforts were conveyed well, the children nodded with understanding expressions.
“Certainly… since big sister will be busy, a snack that won’t spoil might be better.”
“I told you cookies are the best.”
“Then, everyone agrees on cookies?”
Before the serious snack-making began, the children voted by raising their hands.
Everyone raised their hands for cookies.
“Alright, let’s make the most delicious cookies in the world!”
“Yay!”
With determination, the children were pumped with energy.
I raised my hand too to join the atmosphere.
At this momentum, I thought they might actually make cookies so good that one would die while sharing.
They were going to make a lot, so surely there’d be some left for me.
Ugh. I’m drooling.
However, something happened that crushed my expectations soon.
“Ugh! I added too much flour.”
“Ugh. The dough feels a bit sticky.”
Since they weren’t used to cookie-making, mistakes kept happening.
Even though I’m good at eating, I don’t know how to help with making it.
I could easily make it with Rene’s help, but we agreed to do it on our own.
Ugh.
At this rate, we’d make no progress. It’s frustrating.
“Don’t worry… we can just follow the book…”
Bada brought over a baking book and opened it.
We threw away everything we messed up.
We slowly started making it again by reading the instructions.
As I opened the flour package with strength, white powder burst out and covered the children’s faces, turning them white.
Looking at each other’s faces, we burst into laughter.
It was a bit of a funny scene, so I also smiled slightly.
Following the recipe in the large bowl, we added the ingredients, mixed the dough, and kneaded it.
I prefer eating over making.
“It feels better than before.”
“Kneading….”
“Hehe, it feels like I’m playing with clay. This is fun.”
“Here we go, here we go~”
Everyone was concentrated on the dough. The dough’s shape was gradually taking form.
At that moment, Lena praised my kneading skills.
“Wow! Lily has great arm strength.”
I rolled up my sleeves and posed with my revealed arms.
My white bare skin looked really soft and tender. It might be squishy if you press it.
However, despite that, the girls were in awe of my confident stance.
On the contrary, the boys shivered.
Why are they acting like that all of a sudden?
“Lily is stronger than she looks.”
“Yeah, she never went easy on us during arm wrestling before.”
“I’m still feeling the pain from the arm I used for arm wrestling.”
“I’m sure she looks really scary, so she won’t take her shirt off.”
I looked at the boys with contempt.
I never went easy on the boys.
I overwhelmingly won and made them taste defeat.
The world of competition is unforgiving.
Still, I played nice, sort of.
They’re being too dramatic.
The girls jeered at the boys’ weakness.
Even while having such trivial conversations, our hands didn’t stop.
Sweat beads glistened on the children’s foreheads. I could hear their weary breaths.
It was quite a physically demanding task, yet the children didn’t show any signs of dislike.
Instead, their faces were filled with joy.
Lena began to hum a tune while kneading.
The other children joined in humming.
A gentle melody echoed in the kitchen.
Children, filled with vitality in their hearts, were excited.
As the small hands diligently kneaded, a round dough was completed.
Everyone gasped in awe. Their small eyes sparkled.
Phew, that was really tiring.
We took the large lump of dough and pulled it, stretching it. Seeing it stretch made everyone beam.
But it’s not over yet.
After cutting the dough into smaller pieces, everyone started to shape it as they wished.
Various shapes were completed by the small hands.
Circles, triangles, squares, shapes of people and animals, and weird shapes.
Everyone looked at the cookie forms they made with sparkling eyes. And they giggled, proudly showing each other what they created.
“Hey~ what on earth is that? Mine is the best.”
“What are you talking about? Yours is the ugliest.”
“Isn’t mine the best?”
At that moment, Lena poked my arm teasingly.
“How about the cookie I made? It’s well made, right?”
I flinched for a moment when I saw the shape Lena made.
That’s amazing.
That’s a pretty unique shape.
With a proud look on my face, I hesitated a little, then gave a thumbs up for its unique artistic sense.
Lena smiled widely, clearly happy with my compliment.
Honestly, the cookie that was made second best after mine was made by Bada.
Bada seemed to have artistic talent, as her cookie shape was quite cute. It was almost too good to eat.
Noticing my gaze, Bada turned toward me, and our eyes met.
Seeing Bada’s curious expression, I secretly gave her a thumbs up.
Bada chuckled, smiling happily.
Now only the final step remained.
We placed the oven tray in the oven, adjusted the temperature so the cookies wouldn’t burn, and began baking.
As time passed, a sweet smell started to emanate.
Just from the smell alone, I couldn’t help but smile.
However.
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 firmly believed they would turn out well.
Ding~!
The time was up. I carefully took out the completed results.
The children’s faces brightened.
Big smiles spread across everyone’s lips.
“Wow~”
It was a satisfying result.
Everyone tasted the freshly baked cookies.
They all blinked in surprise, then gasped.
After selecting the best ones and packaging them nicely, we enjoyed the remaining cookies together.
Munch munch.
Afterward.
Red returned in the evening.
The surprise gift of cookies that the children made seemed to astonish Red, her eyes growing wide, and she accepted them with a cheerful smile.
The children beamed when Red happily accepted them.
*
Late at night.
All the children were asleep, and I quietly slipped out to the yard.
Kneeling in front of the flower bed, I gently brushed the flowers with my fingers.
It was a peaceful time.
It’s really different from the outside, and sometimes I forget what the outside world is like.
Maybe that’s why I’ve loosened up a bit.
Hoo…
How long will this peace last? Will this place be safe in the future?
Just then, I heard footsteps approaching from behind me.
I turned my head slightly and saw Rene.
Even though it was night, she wasn’t in casual clothes.
I didn’t ask the same question about why she wasn’t dressed like that.
“What are you doing out at this hour?”
I gestured toward the flower bed in response to Rene’s question.
She lightly smiled at my indication that I was looking at the flowers.
“Looking is nice, but it’s getting late, don’t you think? You need to sleep early to grow tall.”
Hmm. Even if I sleep early, my height won’t change.
I didn’t bother to mention that.
Instead, I nodded as if to agree with her words.
Then I gestured to ask where Red had gone.
Red had gone out at night after receiving a call.
“Red? She often goes out like that. I understand you’re worried, but you don’t have to worry too much. Red is strong.”
Worried?
I know Red’s abilities well enough not to be worried.
I was just genuinely curious.
Still, I nodded at her comment.
“Anyway, don’t stay out too long. You might catch a cold.”
After saying that, Rene left the spot.
She turned back toward the building but didn’t enter it.
Avoiding my gaze, she went outside.
I looked in the direction Rene had gone.
‘Is it an intruder…?’
A few hours after Red had gone out.
I sensed suspicious presences a bit far away. There were several.
The owners of the auras seemed to be watching the orphanage. I couldn’t comfortably close my eyes with such an unpleasant feeling.
Robberies and raids are rare in places where people live. Especially in the outskirts city; it’s a common reality.
But would they really target the orphanage that Red supports…?
Do they not know where this is?
Or are they intentionally targeting it? If they are lurking with intent, could it be revenge against Red?
Whatever it may be, the intruders were moving as Rene was trying to chase them away.
I thought Rene’s strength would be enough.
She wouldn’t need to sneak around and deal with them smoothly.
After enjoying a bit more quiet time, I stood up.
‘It’s cold, I guess I should go to sleep.’
As I started walking to go inside, I suddenly froze at another presence.
A very unpleasant aura.
Is it one person?
A figure lightly crossed the iron gate and entered the yard.
The intruder took a few steps and stopped, noticing my presence.
The moonlight shone down, revealing the identity of the suspicious person.
It was the same skull mask the Cult of the Grim Reaper used to wear.
Yet, the aura felt completely different from the believers I had met so far.
‘A demon…?’
I roughly understood.
A very simple operation: luring Rene outside and then having someone else intrude inside.
…This is serious.
From the total amount of magic power, they look like a tough opponent.
If I raise my magic power, defeating them wouldn’t be hard, but if I’m not careful, I might draw attention to the fact that I’m the Grim Reaper.
Hmm. What should I do?
