Chapter 38: Take Lei with or Not

Mm, what shall we do with her tomorrow? Bart looked indecisive, and Alistair fidgeted.

Lei ish good. Shiththing. Niwe and shithiww.

You were certainly well behaved while we were travelling.

Bart thought.

I, Ill take her since I can bring her to work with me.

But, you know. Im at Brendels too, so Ill feel better if she was with me.

Doesnt this world have something like a nursery school?

Widsh gathher?

Gathher? Oh, gather? The kids get together in the afternoon, so infants stay at home until then. Most kids help out at home and some even work as apprentices like Alistair. So they dont really go out before then.

Bart looked a little troubled, but then he said as if moving on, Hey, lets eat first. We didnt have much choice in what we ate during our journey, after all. Then he opened the parcel with Mill.

The soft looking bread was cut by Mill with a knife. The meat was still steaming and looked like it had been scraped from a bigger piece of meat. Vegetables that looked like eggplant, and were larger than Alistairs palm, was covered in sauce. There was also mashed potatoes.

Ive eaten the mashed potato thing at home. But I havent been allowed to eat a lot of meat yet. My vegetables always get smashed into something soft so I couldnt tell what it used to be. Im so happy that I get to eat all this.

Mill chopped the eggplants and meat into smaller pieces. He put a slice of thin bread onto a plate and along with the eggplants, meat and mashed potatoes before putting it in front of me. By the way, Im sitting on top of Clydes legs.

Well need to make her a chair before we make the bed.

Cant we just borrow a chair?

We can probably find one somewhere. Lets go look for one tomorrow.

I was given the smallest fork as they talked, and I stabbed the meat first. The meat stuck well onto the fork.

Uh oh.

I only have my front teeth for now, but I bit hard onto the small piece of meat.

I dont know what kind of meat this is, but the umami is brought out really well, and its tasty.

Thashthy.

Everyone relaxed. The potato was soft and easy to pick up with a fork. The eggplant also went with the sauce and was tasty. The bread quickly disappeared.

What about seconds?

Donth newd. Thhanwsh.

My tummy was full.

Hmm, when I think about it, I think its better if we cook for Lei.

Weve been eating at a lot at restaurants until now.

Shyt! We have to clean.

Isnt it normal for a chef to be clean? Did it become this dirty because you guys dont cook?

Lei hewp cwean.

Oh yeah. Alright, lets get cleaning.

After that, Alistair bathed me in a bucket; apparently people dont normally take baths in this world. Alistair watched me until I fell asleep after that, but since I havent slept in a bed in so long, I fell asleep straight away.

(Barts POV)

Hey, what are we really going to do with Lei tomorrow? Kyaro asked me a little sternly.

I said Ill-.

Alistair, shut up.

Well, I think its best if Alistair and I take her with us to Brendels.

Then whatre you worried about?

I, who was sitting with my arms crossed, unfolded them and put them onto the table.

I dont know if we should hide her or not. And Brendel keeps a lot of small things at his shop, so I was worried that babies might want to play with them.

So thats what youre worried about, Kyaro said as if he were shocked.

You cant hide her even if you try. It was the same for Alistair. Its better if you just tell him about her from the start.

Everyone else nodded too.

And carpentry is much more dangerous. At least you work inside with magic stones.

Being a chef is also dangerous even though its an inside job. And lots of different people come to the restaurant.

We cant leave her at home alone.

Its already been decided.

The four looked at me.

Alright, fine. But, you know-.

What now?

I went to report to Brendel today, and I also sold the magic stones we got.

And? Everyones faces seemed to say. Hunters hunt Hollows and sell magic stones. This was common practice.

We had so many magic stones, and they were all of good quality. We earned a few years worth of pay.

Wow.

Brendel knows about Alistairs barrier box. But he knew that wasnt how we got the magic stones and he questioned me for a long time. I thought it was better if he knew, so I also told him about Lei.

Isnt that fine?

I got really depressed when I thought about the people who would appear because they would want Alistair and Lei.

The arseholes from the fief capital?

Yeah.

Alistair hung his head down.

The mayor was stopping them right now, but they think its a waste for such a strong magic user to stay in Lentforce since its already protected by the barrier and had the nerve to tell us to send Alistair to the fief capital.

Theyll probably tell us to send Alistair or Lei to the fief capital since theyre both strong magic users.

Or theyll try to make us send both of them, huh.

Im-. Alistair lifted his face.

If mum and I had headed to the fief capital and theyd helped us out, then I would have repaid their kindness. But, we came to Lentforce instead, and the people here took care of us. I dont want to go to the fief capital just to fill magic stones day in and out. I dont even know anyone there!

Mill patted Alistairs shoulders.

We wont make you go there. You said it didnt you? Even in Kingdom, its better if people dont do jobs relating to filling magic stones until theyre 18. Theyre barely allowed to fill magic stones even when they turn 10. Its no good to push yourself. Surprisingly, Mill remembered such an important thing.

But its scary for them to say that they want you. Im-. Whats the fief capital trying to do? Mill was right. Thats why the mayor also couldnt agree with them.

Thats why Im worried. A lot of people come into the magic stone stop, and I dont want them to find out that Lei can fill magic stones.

Youre right.

We have to get Lei to act like a normal baby.

Pfft. Kyaro started laughing at my words.

What?

Cause-.

Kyaro laughed for a while before speaking again, Cause we all know that Leis not a normal baby.

Yeah.

What did I say? It just came out.

Kyaro was still acting strange.

Its not enough to get Lei to act like a normal baby.

What?

If we ask Lei to act like a baby, and she does it. What kinda baby is that? Even Mill probably cant do that.

I can, Mill grinned and joked back. Kyaro looked serious.

She wasnt selfish at all while we were travelling. She says what she needs to. She didnt cry at all except for when wed first met her. And yet, she cries for her father and brother in her sleep. Thats like an adult doing their best to keep it in isnt it?

I guess so.

Mill put both his hands behind his head and bent back.

Oi, youre gonna fall.

*BANG*

Oh boy.

Ouch.

See.

But shes cute, Alistair grumbled.

She tried very hard to be on her best behaviour, but she always surprises me. She pouted when we first met her and told me to hug her. She does act selfish sometimes like when she wants to walk.

She wont push herself and she doesnt let us push ourselves either, Kyaro continued Alistairs words.

She knows that well make more trouble for ourselves if we dont take it easy.

Leis a weird baby.

I want us to be together even if shes a weird baby. I want to treasure her.

Yeah, Mill replied in a carefree way as he laid on the ground. I put his chair back.

I know. I know. Ill be honest. Even I think Leis cute.

Me too.

Same.

M-e-t-o-o.

The last one was Mill.

Gees.

I wont hide Lei. But I also wont tell people that she can fill magic stones. And Ill protect her as best as I can. Thats fine, right?

Everyone firmly agreed. Lei is going to be Lentforces citizen tomorrow.