Chapter 30: Feels like I’ve had a drink.

As we chatted away, time slipped by, and before we knew it, the sun was setting low in the sky.

“Such a shame. I wish I could stay the night,” Ellie sighed.

“Ellie, you trying to get yourself in trouble? Stop talking nonsense and pack your stuff.”

“But if not today, when else will I get to see Eve’s squishy cheeks again?”

“…You can see them tomorrow before we leave.”

The evening outside wasn’t pitch-dark yet, but Ellie and Alex started gathering their belongings, preparing to leave.

Harp had convinced everyone that getting a good night’s sleep was essential for the journey tomorrow.

“Alright, see you all tomorrow!”

“Yes, see you tomorrow.”

“Don’t forget to pack!”

“I don’t have much to pack anyway!”

“Ahaha!”

Alex, still wearing his massive backpack, twirled in place before heading out of the orphanage.

“…What’s with Alex these days?”

“Seriously, he’s acting like a total kid.”

“Agreed, teacher.”

“Absolutely! This big sister doubles down on that agreement.”

What a silly man.

“Well, I’ll head off too. Don’t forget to wake up early tomorrow. I’ll make sure the best carriage is ready, so don’t worry about that.”

“Thanks, Ellie.”

“If you’re really grateful, give me another hug next time.”

“Of course.”

“And Harp…”

“Yes, I know.”

“You’re really going through with it, huh? Big sis supports you.”

“Yes.”

“Wait, what are you two talking about?” I interjected, confused by their cryptic exchange.

“Hehe, it’s nothing. See you later.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“Uh… alright. Take care on your way back…”

Ellie followed Alex out into the night.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that Ellie and Harp’s brief conversation had been meaningful.

What was it about?

Maybe I imagined it…?

Silence.

As the noisy pair left, the orphanage was once again enveloped in peaceful stillness.

Growl.

Suddenly, the loud growling of my stomach broke the quiet.

Since I hadn’t eaten all day, my hunger finally decided to make itself known.

In the silence of the orphanage, the sound of my stomach growling echoed like thunder.

Luckily, it wasn’t embarrassing—Harp’s stomach let out the same rumble, syncing perfectly with mine.

“Teacher.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Same here.”

Now that I thought about it, we’d been so busy since morning that we hadn’t even had a proper meal.

Considering the time, it was definitely time for dinner.

“Harp, is there anything you want to eat? I’ll make it for you!”

“You, teacher?”

“Yep! Just tell me what you’re craving!”

I puffed out my chest confidently, striking a proud pose.

It was something the old me would never have said, but things were different now.

After all, I had awakened my overwhelming culinary talent!

Sure, the food might look a bit odd sometimes, but as long as it tasted good, that’s what really mattered, right?

“Um, Teacher.”

“Yeah?”

“For tonight’s dinner… can I make it?”

“You, Harp? I’m okay with it, but why?”

“Well, it’s just… you’re always so busy, Teacher. You know, because you’re the head of the orphanage.”

…

“True, being the head does come with heavy responsibilities. The weight of the crown is no joke.”

“So I thought… maybe I could prepare dinner for you sometimes.”

“Oh, I see!”

It was only then that I truly understood Harp’s intentions.

Hehe, so that’s what it was. Harp is such a good kid.

This must be one of those moments.

Like when a child thinks they’re all grown up and decides to cook a meal for their parents.

It was a good sign.

Harp, who had once blindly followed my lead, was now opening her heart and showing signs of growth.

Sure, some might say I was overanalyzing her offer to cook just one meal.

But look at those eyes.

Those are the eyes of sincerity.

“Teacher, is it okay? It’s the last dinner before our journey.”

“…Heh, of course, it’s okay. Tonight’s dinner will be Harp’s to make.”

“Really? Yay! Thank you, Teacher!”

Harp was so thrilled to be in charge of dinner that she started hopping around the orphanage, radiating joy.

“Go for it, Harp! I choose you!”

“Yes, sir!”

“…I’m bored.”

Flap, flap.

I sat on the bed, clutching my growling stomach while swinging my legs back and forth.

Originally, I had planned to help Harp with the cooking, but she had shooed me out of the kitchen, saying she wanted to prepare a surprise.

Now, I was stuck waiting for her call, perched on the bed with nothing to do.

“Ugh.”

I was bored.

I wasn’t the type to enjoy idle time to begin with, and with this restless, childlike body, sitting still was unbearable.

I was so bored I ended up kicking my legs or staring at the lines on my palms, pretending to find them fascinating.

“Huh?”

While I was rolling around aimlessly, something unusual caught my eye in the corner of the bedroom—a small, worn notebook.

The little notebook, frayed and aged with time, lay on the floor, one of its pages fluttering slightly.

“What’s this?”

It wasn’t something that had been in the orphanage originally.

I’d searched the building thoroughly multiple times, and if there had been a notebook like this, I would have found it long ago.

Curious, I moved closer, and as I did, the contents of the page became visible.

“A diary?”

The page had today’s date and weather written at the top. Below that was a short entry.

“Today’s the day. Ellie said it’s almost time to carry out the plan. I’m so excited, Teacher!”

The handwriting was unmistakably Harp’s.

So this notebook was Harp’s diary?

How adorable.

Seeing her write in a diary like this confirmed that, at her core, Harp was still very much a child.

“Harp, you shouldn’t leave your diary lying around like this.”

No matter how close we were, reading someone else’s diary was wrong.

I shook my head vigorously to dispel the adult temptation to peek further into Harp’s entries.

Instead, I carefully placed the diary back where I’d found it.

“Still… ‘Today,’ huh? What’s this plan about?”

Of course, I couldn’t just erase what I’d already read.

The words from Harp’s diary echoed in my mind, sparking curiosity.

My sharp brain began piecing the puzzle together.

“Wait a second… Ah, so that’s it!”

It wasn’t a hard problem to solve.

Considering Harp’s behavior earlier and the diary’s contents, there was only one possible answer.

“Harp must’ve learned a recipe for something delicious from Ellie!”

No wonder she wanted to prepare a surprise for me.

That’s what it was all about!

Hehe, Harp, what a sweet kid.

I couldn’t wait to see what dish she’d made for me. Could it be grilled lizardman skewers?

I’d been going on and on about skewers lately, so the chances were high it was skewers.

“Hehe…”

Oh no.

Just imagining sizzling skewers in front of me was enough to make my mouth water uncontrollably.

I could practically taste it already.

“Teacher! Dinner’s ready!”

“Slurp… Oh! Coming right now!”

“Yes, Teacher!”

Perfect timing.

I leaped off the bed and dashed toward the kitchen, as eager as a pet rushing to its owner’s call.

“Welcome, Teacher!”

“What’s on the menu today, Harp?!”

“Here you go!”

Ta-da!

Harp added her own sound effects as she presented a beautifully grilled skewer, golden and perfectly cooked.

“Knew it!”

As I expected, Harp had prepared skewers.

My prediction was spot-on again!

I couldn’t help but be amazed at my flawless deduction.

“It’s made from the meat that bald guy gave us last time.”

“Oh, that… Minotaur… something?”

“Minotauros meat, Teacher.”

“Ah, right. Ahem. Anyway, it looks delicious. Can I dig in?!”

“Of course! Enjoy!”

Not hesitating for a moment, I took a big bite.

Chomp!

“…It’s delicious!”

“Hehe, how is it?”

“Wow, this is incredible! I mean it! Combine every skewer I’ve ever had, and this one is the best by far!”

“Hehe, thank you. It makes all the effort worth it.”

As I devoured the skewer like someone possessed, something white and powdery caught my eye.

It looked a bit like sugar or salt, sprinkled lightly over the skewer.

But it wasn’t melting from the heat, so it couldn’t be either of those.

“What’s this white powder on the skewer, Harp?”

“Th-that’s, um… the secret sauce!”

“Secret sauce?”

“Yes! The bald guy taught me this skewer sauce. It’s, uh, enhanced with fruity… flavor, which deepens the taste!”

“Ohhh, that explains the subtle sweet smell I’ve been noticing! So that’s what it is!”

“Exactly! That’s it!”

As expected of someone who dabbles in skewer-making as a hobby. Who knew he had a secret sauce?

Yaaawn.

After finishing a skewer, a wave of drowsiness hit me out of nowhere.

Maybe it was all the running around earlier.

My body felt heavy, sluggish. I was tired.

“Ugh, I feel so sleepy…”

“Is it post-meal drowsiness? They say kids tend to get sleepy after eating.”

“Harp, you’re a kid too, you know…”

“It’s fine. I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Th-that won’t do! You need to eat well to grow big and strong.”

Wobble.

Suddenly, I lost my balance and swayed, nearly falling over.

“Teacher, careful! You almost fell!”

“O-oh, sorry.”

This was strange.

My head felt foggy, my thoughts fuzzy.

What was this feeling?

Like a pleasant, tipsy buzz…

As if I’d just had a drink.