The two guards, having seen enough for one morning, gave each other a shrug and returned to their post—watching the road, checking passing carts, pretending the last five minutes of absurdity never happened.
"Back to work, I guess," one muttered.
"Yep," the other replied. "Until he does sothing weird again."
Then, with one last look toward the gate Hazuki had disappeared through, she muttered under her breath—
"Can’t believe I have to chase soone just to deliver a eting request..."
She straightened herself, pulled out a folded note sealed with the guild crest, and began walking steadily toward the orphanage.
Hazuki arrived at the orphanage gate, a paper-wrapped bundle slung over his shoulder like a sack of treasure.
In the courtyard, Elvia and Chasia were crouched near the flower patch, playing with smooth stones and petals. The other kids were running around, chasing one another, giggling in the sun.
Hazuki stopped just outside the small gate and called out:
"Oi, kids. Co here."
The sound of his voice made everyone pause.
The children looked toward the black-haired human standing at the entrance, arms crossed, expression unreadable as usual.
So of them hesitated.
A few fidgeted, unsure if he was about to scold them or say sothing weird again.
But eventually, they shuffled toward him, slow steps, eyes darting.
Hazuki dropped the bundle down with a soft thud and untied the top.
Inside: Sweet buns, still warm, stacked in neat rows.
"Go and eat."
He pointed at the pile. "Each one gets two."
The kids blinked.
Then looked at one another.
Then, without a word, they rushed forward. Grabbing their share with bright eyes and soft thank-yous.
Even Elvia and Chasia paused their ga and walked up, blinking up at him.
Hazuki glanced at the two girls still hovering nearby.
" Oi you two!Go get your share too."
Elvia blinked up at him, Chasia tilted her head, then slowly stepped forward with a small smile.
Hazuki turned back toward the rest of the courtyard, where several kids were already stuffing buns into their cheeks like starving hamsters.
His eyes narrowed.
"OI!! Wash your hands before eating!"
A few kids froze, crumbs still on their lips.
"And you! Don’t eat while standing!"
The kid blinked, slowly crouching like it was a stealth mission.
"You—" Hazuki pointed at another boy holding a bun dangerously low. "Don’t you dare put that on the floor!"
The boy yelped and quickly pulled the bun up like it was a relic from a shrine.
Ridan hovered beside him, arms crossed, smiling like a smug ghost supervisor.
From inside the orphanage, the front door creaked open.
Miss Kisha—the gentle caretaker of the children—stepped out, brushing flour off her apron and adjusting her shawl.
She opened her mouth, about to call out.
"Kids, it’s breakfast—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
The courtyard was already filled with happy, ssy faces. Buns stuffed in cheeks, jam sared across mouths. Even the normally shy ones were sitting together, munching like they’d been handed treasure.
She blinked.
"...Ti."
Her gaze shifted toward the center of the chaos. Where Hazuki stood, arms crossed like an overbearing market vendor, surveying his domain.
"Oi, lady!" Hazuki barked across the yard, pointing a finger.
"Go get your share too!"
Miss Kisha stared at him.
"...Eh?"
"I bought extra! No point letting it go cold! MOVE IT!"
Miss Kisha couldn’t help the startled laugh that slipped out.
"Yes, yes. Alright, I’ll take one," she said, walking toward the tray like she was afraid of being scolded next.
Hazuki stretched his arms up high, letting out a long, lazy yawn.
"Man... I’m full and tired."
He scratched his head, then looked toward the doorway.
"Oi, lady!"
Miss Kisha, who was just finishing her bun, jumped slightly.
"Y-Yes?" she stamred.
Hazuki pointed lazily at her.
"If soone cos lookin’ for , you go with them."
Kisha blinked.
"Eh? W-Why ?"
"Just do it!" Hazuki waved dismissively.
"Tell them I said you’re going."
"B-But—"
"No ’but’!" Hazuki interrupted sharply, turning around as if that settled it.
He glanced over his shoulder.
"I’m not asking you to sell your body or anything! It’s just soone annoying from the guild looking for ."
He grunted.
"You handle it."
Kisha stood frozen, blinking in disbelief.
Ridan floated overhead, slowly tilting midair like he’d just witnessed a war cri.
"...You’re unbelievable."
Hazuki yawned again.
"I’m realistic."
"B-But... I’m just an orphanage caretaker..." Kisha murmured, fingers fidgeting at her apron.
Hazuki waved her off, already turning to leave.
"Yeah yeah, just go with them and tell them you’re the manager. Say I told you to do the... whatever."
"Umm... but who’s going to... look after the kids?" she asked, voice almost a whisper.
Hazuki stopped.
He blinked.
Then slowly turned around with the most deadpan face imaginable.
"Huh? I already fed them food and everything. What more do they need?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Just go."
Kisha looked down at the ground.
She hesitated.
Then nodded slowly.
"...O-Okay."
Just as the children were finishing their buns and settling into playful chatter again, the guild receptionist finally arrived at the orphanage gate, panting a little, but trying to compose herself.
She spotted a young woman standing near the doorway.
She blinked.
Not what she expected.
The woman had soft features, a gentle air, and clear beauty despite the modest clothes and apron. Her hands were folded in front of her awkwardly, posture straight but tense.
"Good morning," the receptionist greeted with a polite bow.
"Y-Yes... g-good morning," the woman replied quickly, eyes shifting downward.
The receptionist gave a gentle smile.
"Is the human with black hair... Mister Hazuki... here?"
"Ah... yes..." the young woman said. Then paused.
"...But—"
"But?"
The woman fidgeted with the corner of her apron.
"But he said... if soone from the guild was looking for him... I should... be the one to... manage it."
The receptionist blinked.
"...Ah."
A long pause.
Then the receptionist rubbed the back of her neck and chuckled faintly.
"...Sounds like him."
Kisha looked up, worried.
"Umm... is it... heavy work? Paperwork?"
( End Of Chapter )
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