The way back to the orphanage was much more peaceful.
As we left the forest, warm sunlight poured through the leaves, and a cool breeze brushed against our cheeks.
The tension we had felt just moments ago seemed to vanish, and everyone walked with light steps.
Sua spoke up first.
“By the way, teacher, wasn’t I really cool today? You saw me charge at the monster at the end, right?”
I smiled softly as I looked at her confident face.
“Yeah, Sua. You were really brave. But next time, I think you should act a little more carefully. No matter how much of a hero you are, you’re still in a baby body right now. If you get hurt, it’ll be a big problem.”
“Ah… Yeah. I got it.”
Sua puffed out her cheeks but soon burst into laughter and continued.
“Still, I was the coolest, right?”
Liel, overhearing, giggled and chimed in.
“Sua, I think the coolest one was Uncle Alex, wasn’t it? He blocked all the monster’s attacks.”
“What? No way! Uncle was just a shield. I was the one who really fought!”
Alex laughed loudly from behind us.
“Hey, shields are important too. It’s the tank’s job to buy time for people like you to attack.”
Harp shook his head and murmured quietly.
“We won because everyone played their part. Who was the coolest doesn’t really matter.”
“Yeah, Harp’s right.”
I nodded in agreement and added.
“We won because everyone worked together. If even one person was missing, it would have been much harder.”
As the orphanage came into view, everyone’s expressions grew brighter.
When the familiar building came into sight, Liel let out a light sigh and said.
“Ah, we’re finally back… Our precious home. There’s no place as comfortable as here.”
“Right. The orphanage is the best.”
I nodded and responded.
As soon as we reached the door, Sua swung it open and ran inside.
“I’m going! I’m going to take the first bed!”
Alex followed her in, laughing loudly.
“Hey, don’t rush in too quickly! I need a break too!”
I entered the orphanage behind Harp and Liel.
As we stepped inside, the familiar smell of wooden floors and the warm air greeted us.
Once inside, I looked at Liel and Harp and said.
“Liel, Harp. Could you help me prepare dinner? Since we have Uncle Alex here after a long time, I want to try making something new.”
Liel smiled and nodded.
“Sure, teacher! I’ll do my best to help!”
Harp quietly responded.
“Understood. What should we prepare?”
“I’m thinking of making carrot soup. Liel, could you help me prep the carrots? Harp, please boil some water.”
They immediately headed to the kitchen to begin preparations.
I smiled brightly as I pulled out ingredients from the basket.
While things were bustling in the kitchen, the familiar noise from the living room began.
Uncle Alex sat at the dining table and, with his usual mischievous voice, said.
“Heh heh, it’s been so long since I’ve had one of Eve’s dishes. I’m really looking forward to today!”
As soon as Sua heard this, she dashed to the table.
But instead of sitting at her chair, she plopped down on Alex’s lap.
Alex looked at her in surprise and said.
“Hey, hey, not there! Go find your seat! What are you doing?”
Sua shook her head and crossed her arms, saying.
“Nope! This is the most comfortable spot.”
Alex sighed and tried to get her off his lap, but Sua stubbornly held her ground.
Finally, Uncle Alex gave in and said.
“Sigh… Fine. Just go to your seat once the food comes out.”
“Okay~!”
I chuckled softly, watching them from a distance.
In the kitchen, the cooking was going smoothly.
Liel skillfully prepped the carrots and asked while looking at me.
“Teacher, is it okay to slice the carrots this way?”
“Yeah, that’s perfect. Liel, you’re really good at cooking.”
“…Thank you!”
Liel smiled brightly and began chopping the carrots even more enthusiastically.
Harp carefully placed his hand over the boiling water and adjusted the temperature with magic.
“The water is at a good boil now. I think we can add the carrots.”
“Great. We’re almost done. We just need to wait until the carrots soften.”
I added the final touch to the soup—seasoning.
Well, it was just salt, but still.
As the carrots began to cook, a warm, savory smell started to fill the kitchen.
Suddenly, Liel approached the soup and pressed her hands together.
A faint yellow light began to spread from her hands, sparkling and scattering into the air like shimmering powder.
“Liel, what’s that?”
I asked in surprise.
Liel smiled lightly and said.
“It’s my sacred power.”
“Sacred power?”
“…Why are you adding that to the soup?”
I still couldn’t quite understand as I looked at her.
Liel slowly sprinkled the yellow glowing powder over the soup and replied.
“If I add this, the soup becomes much fresher. I don’t really know why, but it always works. It’s like a routine I do when I eat snacks.”
I was momentarily taken aback, but seeing her serious face, I somehow felt I could trust her.
“Uh… is it really okay?”
Harp, standing next to me with his arms crossed, added.
“Don’t worry, teacher, sacred power isn’t harmful. If anything, it makes everything better. I don’t really understand the principle, though.”
“Well, if Harp says so…”
I muttered quietly while watching her sprinkle the sacred power into the soup.
Once Liel finished sprinkling the powder, a subtle light and a refreshing aroma spread from the soup.
“It’s perfect now!”
Liel smiled brightly.
I scooped up a spoonful and tasted it.
“Oh… it really is fresher now. It kind of feels like there’s some herbs in it too.”
Liel nodded proudly.
“Right? It’s thanks to my sacred power.”
Sua and Uncle Alex seemed to catch the scent and shouted.
“Teacher! Hurry up and bring it over! My stomach’s about to eat my back!”
Harp smiled and said.
“Now that it’s ready, shall we bring it over?”
“Yeah, let’s go. Everyone must be hungry.”
As I carried the soup to the table, I whispered to Liel.
“Liel, your sacred power is really amazing. Can I ask you to do it again next time I cook?”
Liel blushed slightly and quietly answered.
“Of course, teacher. Anytime.”
After that, we all gathered around the table and started spooning the warm carrot soup into our bowls.
The table was filled with a savory aroma, and the subtle, fresh smell from the soup was enough to whet our appetites.
“Wow… this is really delicious!”
Sua exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
She kept moving her spoon and filling her mouth with the soup.
“Teacher, this is the best!”
Uncle Alex took a spoonful and nodded in approval.
“Hmmm… this is really a special soup I haven’t had in a while. As always, Eve’s cooking never disappoints.”
Liel also quietly took a spoonful of the soup and smiled.
“This fresh taste is really great. I’m happy I could help, even just a little.”
“Yeah, Liel. It tastes much better thanks to you.”
I smiled and praised her.
Harp put his spoon down and tilted his head slightly, saying.
“Is this fresh aroma because of the sacred power? It’s really unique. I never expected a scent like this from the soup.”
“Right? I told you!”
Liel wore a confident smile.
“I think this fresh taste is making me even hungrier!”
Sua had already finished her second bowl.
She raised her empty bowl and said.
“Give me more! I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this soup!”
“Eat slowly. You’re going to get a stomachache, you glutton.”
Uncle Alex tried to stop her, but Sua ignored him and continued to gobble down the soup.
Even after finishing her third bowl, Sua showed no signs of stopping.
She held a bowl full of soup in her hands, constantly moving her spoon, and said.
“This is truly a legendary taste! I never thought carrot soup could taste this good!”
“Hero, take it easy. There’s a limit to how much your stomach can hold.”
Uncle Alex said with a worried expression.
But Sua shook her head and smiled widely.
“Don’t worry! My stomach can be emptied endlessly for this soup!”
Liel chuckled as she watched her.
“Sua, if you keep eating like that, you’re really going to get a stomachache. Eating slowly is important, you know.”
Harp calmly ate his soup and quietly said.
“This soup… it’s not letting me go. Ah, Liel, the sacred power you added is really the kicker. It’s too much, but…”
“Delicious!”
Liel shyly smiled and replied.
“I just did it because I wanted to help. But I’m glad you like it.”
I smiled proudly as I watched everyone enjoying their meal.
It was the same peaceful everyday life at the orphanage as always.