Shopping
The morning light streamed diagonally through the old window, and motes of dust danced in the sun’s glow.
In the orphanage’s dining hall, the scent of steaming soup lingered in the air. On the long wooden table sat plates of white bread and a warm soup made by adding fresh meat and vegetables to last night’s leftovers.
Beside them were apples—ones Himari had proudly brought home yesterday from the market, claiming they were on special.
The building might’ve been shabby, but since I ate the same meals, I never compromised on food quality. The bread wasn’t the usual rye loaf but white bread made from wheat. The meat was fresh monster meat, and the vegetables came from our own garden.
“Hey, don’t squish the bread. Cut it and eat, cut it.”
“Okay!”
Bad table manners lower their value as products. That’s why I always make sure they learn to eat properly.
At my reminder, the children holding their spoons all answered in unison. The sounds of soup being scooped and small teeth biting into bread filled the morning air gently.
From the entrance of the dining hall, Lily quietly watched the lively scene.
Her long, silvery-gold hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her jade eyes reflected the children’s smiles. Her very presence turned this ordinary morning into something like a sacred painting—so beautiful it almost didn’t belong to this world.
As she gazed upon it, she felt a nostalgic warmth stir inside her.
This place had always carried gentle laughter and small acts of kindness exchanged naturally between everyone.
Each time she felt that warmth, a ticklish feeling stirred deep in her chest.
“Teacher, do you have any plans today?”
Ale lifted his gaze from the soup, raising an eyebrow.
“Today? … Ah, Himari said she’s going shopping.”
“Director, have you finished eating?”
As if on cue, Himari appeared from the kitchen in her nun’s habit, holding a shopping list tightly in her hand.
“I need to get ingredients for today and tomorrow. Also… some plates broke, so I’d like to go a little farther out. The load will be heavy, so please come with me.”
“… So, I’m the pack mule.”
“Exactly. You’re the director, after all.”
Himari said it as if it were his sacred duty. Ale sighed, shoveled the rest of his soup, and finished his bread early.
But before he could answer, a gentle voice joined in.
“Then I shall come as well. I’m the guard, after all.”
Still smiling, Lily took a step forward.
“It’s just the city, you know? Hardly dangerous—”
“I’m the guard.”
The second time, her tone was calm but carried an undeniable firmness.
To be honest, there was almost no need for protection on the short walk from the orphanage to the market. I always carried my gear anyway.
Still, since we had been attacked inside the orphanage just yesterday, I supposed some caution wouldn’t hurt.
Then, with Himari casually saying, “I don’t mind,” the shopping team ended up with three members.
We cleaned up the dishes, gave the kids instructions to stay home, and gathered at the entrance.
I slung a large cloth bag over my shoulder, dressed as usual.
Himari held her purse and list, while Lily, instead of her white saint’s robe or yesterday’s dress, wore a pale blue cloak. Still, her face—and the aura surrounding her—made her impossible to overlook.
Well, it couldn’t be helped. She’d be noticed sooner or later; better to get it over with now than later.
“All right, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll protect you, Teacher.”
The door opened, and the morning air swept in. The cool wind carried faint sounds from the market in the distance.
As we passed through narrow, stone-walled streets, the damp scent of morning mingled with aromas of freshly baked bread and spices.
“... Do we really need all three of us for this?”
Ale muttered, his bag already heavy. Himari, walking beside him, replied in her usual calm tone.
“Yes. I can’t carry everything myself. And if you go alone, you’ll almost certainly waste money on something unnecessary. We can’t afford more weird magic tools.”
“Don’t call them unnecessary! Everything I buy—”
“Facts are facts. Besides, Lily’s guarding today, right? If I’m not there to stop her, someone trying to steal your wallet might end up ascending to heaven.”
Behind them, Lily tilted her head.
“Ascend to… heaven? I wouldn’t do that!”
“Really?”
“I wouldn’t!”
Their playful exchange continued as the three stepped onto the cobblestone main street.
The morning bustle of the marketplace enveloped them—fishmongers shouting, fruit sellers calling out cheerfully, blacksmiths hammering away. The city itself seemed alive.
The air was thick with the smell of roasted meat and sweet fruits.
“Oh, Ale! Morning!”
A burly baker waved, his flour-dusted hands bright in the sun.
“The bread from yesterday go over well?”
“Yeah, it was great. The kids loved it.”
“Glad to hear it! And hey, you’ve brought some fine ladies with you today! Here, miss, try this one!”
The man grinned and handed a small loaf to Lily.
“Thank you.”
She accepted it with both hands and smiled sweetly.
The sight drew murmurs from the surrounding customers—some even whispering, “Is that a saint?”
Even so, Lily didn’t lose her gentle smile.
Beside her, Himari paused at a vegetable stall.
“These roots look better than before. Changed suppliers?”
“Sharp eyes, miss. Aye, from the northern farms. Seems they’ve found a way to grow ’em even in snow. Tastes better too.”
“Then I’ll take some. Director, we’ll need these—and that one, too.”
“Do we really need that much?”
“You’re an elf. Eat more greens. Eat the grass if you have to.”
The shopkeeper burst out laughing.
Himari was well-known among the merchants. I’d lived here long enough to be familiar myself, but at this point, she was the one everyone loved more.
As we walked on, a few kids from another street ran up to Lily.
“Pretty lady! Here, a flower!”
They offered her a small, uneven bundle of wildflowers.
“Oh my… thank you. They’re beautiful.”
She knelt to meet their eyes as she accepted the flowers—exactly what you’d expect of a saint.
We kept moving toward the market square, where the crowd grew thicker and livelier.
Colorful stalls lined the streets, the air a swirl of spices, bread, and fruit scents, pulsing like the city’s own heartbeat.
“This town’s got energy, even in the morning…”
Ale muttered. Himari responded coolly.
“Energy means money flow. The more stable it is, the more likely we’ll get donations for the orphanage.”
Lily clasped her hands in front of her, eyes sparkling as she looked around.
“Teacher, there’s a crowd over there.”
She pointed toward a small plaza, where a performer was setting up—dressed in red and white stripes, wearing a jester’s mask, a little bird perched on his shoulder, and several colorful balls in hand.
“A street performer, huh.”
“Looks fun! Let’s watch for a bit!”
Lily approached, fascinated. Maybe she’d never seen something like this before.
“Well, it’s free entertainment. A minute won’t hurt.”
The jester spun the balls gracefully, the crowd cheering and clapping.
“Oh! What a lovely young lady we have here! For you, a special sky performance!”
He tossed one ball high into the air—where it burst with a soft pop, releasing sparkling confetti and a small blue gem that fell neatly into Lily’s waiting hands.
“Wow, amazing!”
Her innocent delight brought smiles to everyone watching.
The jester continued with jokes and tricks, drawing laughter and applause. His act brought warmth to the lively morning.
When his show ended, we moved on through the rows of stalls.
“Director, the wild herbs here are cheaper. Let’s get these too.”
“What about meat?”
Ignoring him, Himari filled her bag with vegetables.
Then, from the corner of the street, an elderly couple called out to Ale.
“Oh, is that another abandoned child? She’s quite the pretty one.”
“No, she’s one of our old residents—just came back for a visit.”
“Ah, I see. Well, take your time, dear.”
Lily returned their warm smiles with a polite bow.
The market bustled with kindness amid the chaos. People chatted, haggled, and occasionally gasped when they recognized the saint walking among them.
Even when I wasn’t watching, Lily seemed to handle it all gracefully. She was already fitting right in.
Then the jester appeared again, bowing slightly toward her.
“Come again, lovely lady. Keep that gem safe.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
She smiled, bright as ever.
And so, our footsteps continued—slow, steady, wrapped in the warmth and color of a peaceful morning.
“—Whatever happens, don’t let go of it, all right?”
That day, nothing happened yet.
It was still just a bright, bustling, ordinary day.
What do you think about this chapter?
