Chapter 407 – Who Cooked Lunch?

「Are you hungry?」

「Mooo!」「Pigggi!」「ryaa ryaa!」

The beasts all responded at once.

Timi was holding Shiggy, but she was still flapping her wings as she answered.

Shiggy actually had something to eat before I slept, but like a baby, was hungry again quickly.

「Timi, can you tell me whatever it is you were going to tell me after we eat?」

「Sure. No problem – it’s no big rush.」

「I see. Well, then let’s eat. It’s already afternoon, so I’ll go buy something and we’ll eat it.」

「Mooo!」「Pigggi!」「ryaa!」

Femm just stood there wagging its tail. Looked hungry as well.

So we all went out. Timi followed us, holding Shiggy.

「Ah, Al! Good day!」

Tom said, running up to us.

「Hey, did you eat yet, Tom?」

「Yeah! Had breakfast!」

「And lunch?」

「Not yet!」

「Okay, well we’re hungry so we’re buying lunch…you want to come?」

「No, we already got it ready!」

He said happily and grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen.

「Old man! Good morning!」

「「「Morning!」」」

Kay saw me and ran right up to me.

After that, all the orphans greeted me as well.

「Hey everyone.」

「Come and eat lunch with us, old man!」

Now Kay grabbed my hand and led me to the table.

「Thanks. I guess we should eat with you guys then.」

「Sure!」

I looked on the table, and everything there looked delicious.

Shiggy flapped her wings while in Timi’s arms and wagged her tail.

「ryaa, ryaa」

I bet she was really hungry after one glance at all that food.

「This looks really good. Is there a place in Elkay nearby that makes all this?」

「I made it! Kay helped!」

They both looked at me proudly.

「That’s really good, Kay.」

I patted her head.

It wasn’t the level of food that normal kids would make. It might have been that Millet had a hand in it.

She probably made them food in Mulg and they just brought it back to Elkay.

If that was the case, then I’d have to thank Millet as well.

「I helped too!」「And me!」「I helped!」

All the orphans said together, so I patted their heads as well.

「Great work, all of you. It looks delicious.」

「I helped as well.」

「You did well, Tant.」

「Heh heh.」

Tant really recovered in the last few days. She smiled at me.

Kay then pulled at my arm and said,

「Right, right? We thought you’d wake up soon.」

「Must of been hard to make all this good food. Did Millet help you?」

「No! It was Belda that helped us.」

「Wha? Belda?!」

What kind of appointed agent does cooking? There had to be a mistake.

Maybe there was another woman in town named Belda.

As I was thinking this, I heard Belda’s voice from inside the kitchen.

「Hey, kids! I have these fresh pies to pull out! Come and help me!」

「「「Sure!」」」

They all ran deep into the kitchen. I decided to go with them.

There I saw Belda standing, facing away from me.

She had a pink apron on and her long, blond hair was tied in a white ribbon.

Next to her was Cruz and Vi-Vi, and they were both without their masks.

I guess Belda really did know who they were.

She knew Cruz was the hero, but Belda didn’t know who I was…I think.

That’s why I quickly slid my hand into my magic bag and pulled out my wolf mask.

「Hey, kids, be careful with this, it’s hot!」

「Ah, Alra, good morning!」

「You’re late! Well, after yesterday, I guess I can’t blame you.」

「A…Alra…you woke up!」

Cruz and Vi-Vi greeted me, and hearing this, Belda then did as well.

「Good morning, Ms. Agent. What’s going on here?」

「Um…」

She started to blush.

「I was going to ask you more about what happened yesterday, and I guess just got drawn into this…」

Seemed like she was quite nervous and having trouble explaining herself.

She had come all the way to Tom’s to ask about yesterday.

She knew that I was asleep and that the kids here had nothing to eat.

Seeing that the kids only had dried meat to eat, she started fixing food.

「Thank you for feeding these little ones.」

「It’s no problem! They’re the most important thing in Elkay.」

「And if you need an explanation, I’d be happy to provide it now.」

「No need! I have all the time in the world.」

She probably was reluctant as she knew I was tired.

I was thankful for that, but an agent is busy. Especially after what happened yesterday. She probably was very unsettled.

「You’re busy, though, Belda. Are you okay being here for this long?」

「Certainly. I have all my affairs complete for the day.」

Belda must have just told all of her workers what to do, so she had nothing to do.

Or at least that’s how it seemed.

She must be some leader to have everything thought out and directed to workers after a day like yesterday.

And her workers too had to be superior to carry everything out.

「Help us carry this, old man! I’m hungry!」

「Me too!」

「Yeah, Alra! My stomach’s growling!」

So everyone helped her carry the pies.

We got to the dining room and Luka, Yureena, Millia, and Steff were there.

Seems that the four had done some work at Wolf Wholesaler. Then Tom had called them in here.

The store was close to Tom’s after all. It probably took him a few seconds.

And hearing Belda talking about pies, they knew that lunch was coming.

「Good timing, Tom.」

「Y…yeah!」

Tom blushed a bit.

And so we all ate lunch.

Belda looked a bit nervous as she glanced at me from time to time.

It was hard to eat with someone watching you like that. Even so, I think anyone that makes food is nervous like that.

I took a bite from some flavored meat,

「Is it good, old man?」

「Yeah it is, very good.」

「It’s great!」

Cruz said with a smile.

And with that the kids and Belda looked a bit relieved.