Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Lia was the first to speak. She put both hands on her hips and tilted her chin up.
Her 3-head-tall body ratio didn’t exactly exude authority, but her nasty attitude was loud and clear.
“You know what they say. ‘If you don’t work, you don’t eat.’ Mitzu and Hael are out of breakfast today.”
“What?!”
“We and Erina made this breakfast! I have no intention of feeding Mitzu and Hael for free.”
At Lia’s firm words, Mitzu looked dumbfounded, and small sparks flickered around Hael. But the other kids weren’t even slightly intimidated.
Resen stepped up next.
“She’s right! Lia and I got the fruit, and Poi brought the mushrooms, but you guys didn’t prepare anything! You know what that’s called? It’s called ‘dining and dashing!’”
“Whaaat?! You’re using all these fancy words we can’t even understand! You brats are seriously petty! Fine, fine! We’ll bring something too! Just you wait!!”
Mitzu, not backing down, huffed and stormed off into the forest. Hael followed behind, shouting,
“We’ll show you!”
The kids, happy to have chased off the bothersome Mitzu and Hael with just a few words, danced with joy.
Erina was quick with her hands, so they’d probably finish preparing breakfast before the two returned. Then, just like old times—no, with Meian included, the five of them could enjoy a fun breakfast together.
Giggling, the kids waited for Erina and Meian.
Meanwhile, Erina and Meian had gone to get cooking tools, only to run into Dylan, and now wore troubled expressions.
Dylan, who had brought servants including a chef for the head of the family, was stubbornly insisting on eating breakfast with Erina instead of the meal prepared for him.
“Mr. Dylan? There’s someone already preparing your breakfast. How about eating here and joining us for a snack later in the afternoon?”
“No.”
“But it looks like everything’s already prepared…”
“Fortunately, I’m not the only one here with a mouth to feed.”
True to his title as the triplets’ uncle, Dylan was just as stubborn. Erina looked around, hoping for someone who could help.
But the servants merely watched with curious eyes, and none looked like they’d actually step in.
“We were just planning to eat something simple…”
“I also prefer simple meals. Let’s go. I’ll carry that for you.”
No matter what they said, Dylan twisted it in his favor and took the cooking tools from Erina and Meian.
Though his help was appreciated, both Erina and Meian felt uneasy having someone of such high rank helping them and sighed together.
“Erina’s here!!”
“Yay! Erina’s he—Ugh!! Why is Dylan here?!”
“We just managed to get rid of Mitzu and Hael, and now Dylan shows up without a clue?”
The triplets, who had run to greet Erina, frowned when they saw Dylan behind her. Their reaction was blatantly disrespectful, zero respect for their uncle.
But Dylan didn’t care in the slightest. He merely looked down at the kids, barely up to his knee, and smirked.
“Kids! Uncle was worried about your first breakfast while camping, so he came to eat with you! Let’s make something delicious and treat him!”
“Yeah, yeah…”
Unlike earlier when they handed over the ingredients excitedly, the kids now responded with a lackluster tone. Knowing exactly why, Erina tried to ignore the awkwardness between the blood relatives and got to work.
It was annoying to prepare extra food for Dylan, but cooking with Erina was just too much fun.
The kids eagerly followed her directions, their tiny hands busy at work. As they prepared breakfast with the forest as their backdrop…
BOOM!! CRASH!! RUMBLE!!
The ground shook, something massive seemed to fall. Leaves trembled on the trees, and birds scattered into the sky.
“W-What was that?!”
Startled, Erina looked around. But strangely, she was the only one who seemed surprised by the loud noise.
Dylan, Meian, even the triplets calmly continued their tasks.
“G-Guys? Mr. Dylan? There’s huge noise coming from the forest!!”
Another boom sounded, and Erina flinched, quickly pulling the kids into her arms.
“Erina, it’s okay!”
“That’s not a scary noise! Don’t worry! Lia will protect you!”
“Mama, hair. Shiny.”
The kids nestled into her, each whispering something sweet. Dylan, stirring the soup, squinted with jealousy.
‘Can I be hugged like that too? Should I pretend to be scared?’ He struggled with himself.
Beside him, Meian, who had been slicing fruit, had similar thoughts.
‘I’m small enough… Maybe I could sneak into the group?’
As both of them hesitated, waiting for the right moment—
“ERINA!!”
A voice, louder than the sounds from the forest, rang out.
“Mitzu?”
“It’s Mitzu.”
The kids, instantly recognizing the voice, wore unimpressed expressions. They had hoped to finish breakfast before he returned, but of course the glutton was fast.
Erina turned toward the voice and her eyes widened even more. Mitzu, and Hael, were running toward them, each carrying a mountain of baggage. The earlier noise had apparently come from their haul hitting trees and rocks.
They rushed over and dropped their burdens with a loud THUD! THUD!
“W-What…?”
Small forest animals and even herbivorous monsters Erina had only heard of before lay in piles. They seemed to have caught anything they saw.
Why on earth had they hunted all this at the crack of dawn?
Erina turned her gaze from the carcasses and looked at Mitzu.
“You… went hunting?”
“Yep! That’s payment for breakfast!”
“Huh?”
“You wouldn’t believe how much those brats bullied me, saying I had to pay for food! Is this enough?!”
Mitzu glared at the triplets, who now played innocent. Hael solemnly nodded beside her.
Erina, piecing together what had happened while she was away, first offered thanks.
“Th-Thank you. This is enough for everyone to have meat.”
“Exactly! So give me breakfast already!”
With a triumphant tilt of her chin, Mitzu shouted.
Though Erina had intended to prepare food for Mitzu and Hael anyway, she decided not to reveal the truth, for the sake of a peaceful breakfast.
After the chaotic preparation, everyone finally gathered and began to eat. Mitzu insisted on cooking the meat he’d brought, but Erina firmly refused. She had no desire to deal with blood first thing in the morning.
“So, what’s the plan for today?”
“We’ll head southeast to forage. I want to be back before the sun gets too hot.”
“I see. I was planning to inspect the area this morning, but since the forest you’re going to is rougher than yesterday’s, I’ll accompany you.”
At Dylan’s announcement, the two aides drinking soup straight from the bowl, Meian—who had planned to casually touch Erina’s hair while foraging—and the three baby dragons dreaming of a sweet morning date with Erina, all jumped up in shock.
“Lord Dylan?! A sudden schedule change like that isn’t allowed!”
“Why not?”
“What do you mean why?!”
As Mitzu raged, Dylan casually waved his hand.
“Go with Hael then.”
“Is that the same thing?!”
“What’s the difference? It’s just a patrol about security and defense. What, are you scared you’ll get beat up without me?”
At Dylan’s provocation, Mitzu’s eyes flared with rage.
