Inside Jerald-san's house...
[ Alice-chan... can you please stay here and live with me? ]
[ ... ]
[ what are you saying, John!? ]
[ but... but I really like Alice-chan! ]
[ no! can't you see that Alice-chan already has Haruto-kun? ]
[ but his ugly... and old... what if he is just forcing Alice to live with him! ]
[ that is rude John! come! I'll punish you outside! ]
[ UwaaWaa!!! ] Clare-san forcefully took her son John-kun by the ear outside.
[ I'm really sorry Haruto-kun... my son John is just really that kind of a kid... ]
[ no, I don't mind. ]
After I wake Alice up, we immediately went to Jerald-san's house. Food was already served when we arrived. Different kinds of meat dishes are served at the table. I asked Jerald-san of why they only have meat. Apparently, it was because vegetables are really hard to produce at this season and they also lack people with knowledge of farming to make producing vegetables much easier and better.
What also happened a moment ago was when I and Alice sat on the chairs inside, A kid suddenly kneeled beside Alice asking her to stay with him. The kid is Jerald-san's second oldest son whose age may be the same as Alice. He was also the kid I caught staring at Alice the other day and the one who also requested Hector ojii-san to bring Alice with him.
[ but really... now that I look Alice-chan properly... she's really cute, right? ]
[ I agree. Alice might be really thin but she's still really cute. ] I patted Alice's head as I said so.
Alice's face suddenly became bright red and smoke came out of her head, she is now also shaking uncontrollably on her sit.
[ o-onii-chan...! ] Said Alice while still piping hot and still can't seem to look at me at my face.
Maybe I'm embarrassing her too much... Alice is also a shy kid to everyone, even at me, so maybe I shouldn't tease her like this too much.
[ you're really are a good pair Haruto-kun. ] Jerald-san said with a smile on his face as he looked both of us.
[ haha, yes, I think so too. Right, Alice? ]
[ ...ye-yes!!! ]
Alice exploded after that...
[ hey... are you okay Alice...? ]
[ I-I'm fine onii-chan... ]
[ you don't look so good. ] Alice really doesn't look so good so I started to get worried.
[ I'm fine onii-chan... ]
[ hmm... right... just tell me if you don't feel good okay? ]
[ ...you're dense Haruto-kun... so dense... ]
[ dense? dense how? ]
[ no, nevermind... anyway how do you like the food? me and my wife worked really hard to make them. ]
[ yes, they're really good! in fact, some here is the tastiest I ever ate in this world! ]
[ haha, yes, thank you. I never thought that such an exaggeration would make me feel proud of my wife but yes, for me, my wife's cooking is the best in the world too. ]
Well, my only experience with food in this world until now is Marinda-san's cooking, Marinda-san never cooked something like this but I'm sure she can also make something as good as this if she ever tries to cook on an occasion like this.
[ also, I'm sorry if Carla can't thank you personally... she still needs to rest for some time so she still can't... ]
[ please don't worry about it. Your family already treated me enough, and it's not like this is the last time I will visit here, so she can thank me if I ever visit again. ]
It's not that I'm expecting or wants her to thank me but I think her family wouldn't seem to be satisfied if she doesn't thank me herself.
[ is that so? then I will make sure to tell her that. My other kids also like to thank you for saving their oldest sister, but they're really shy. ]
[ It's fine. ]
They have actually been staring at me for quite a while now, but I don't mind.
[ hmm... my father asked me to take you back to Citrine right? I actually also have plans to go in there anytime soon too to buy recipes for my bread, but it's nice that I will be able to go there with you. This village is not that far compared to the other small villages near Citrine, so it'll be easy, half a day is enough to travel back and forth with a horse. ]
I remember traveling for almost 12hours to reach here, so it'll be nice if I could cut that 12hours of walking.
[ I guess I'm really lucky to have a lift then. ]
[ yes, you said you want to go as soon as possible right? ]
[ yes. ]
[ then let's go after we finish eating, I figured you now want to go back to Citrine, so I will help you arrive there as soon as possible. ]
[ un. Thank you Jerald-san. ]
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[ ano... I want to thank you for saving onee-chan... ] a girl only a few years younger than Carla-san said.
[ me too... ] a little girl smaller than Alice also came forward.
[ I hate you onii-san... ]
[ umm... I also want to thank Nii-san. ] a little boy whom I think is the youngest of all the eight kids lining up in front of me, Alice and Jerald-san shyly said.
[ hmm...? is that so? thank you too. ] I said as I patted the little boy's head.
so basically, Jerald-san and Clare-san have a total of 8 children, 5 girls, and 3 boys, including John-kun who is still crying.
[ thank you again for saving my daughter Haruto-kun. ]
[ unn... thank you also for your family's hospitality Clare-san. I really had fun. ]
[ is that so? then please come again if you like. ]
[ of course. ]
I really love the hospitality they showed me and now Jerald-san, Clare-san and even Hector ojii-san are now really close to me too.
[ Jerald! no sidewalks okay! ] Clare-san suddenly shouted at her husband.
[ ...! ye-yes! ] Jerald-san shivered but was still able to reply. I thought Jerald-san was the serious kind of guy, but I guess she's still under Clare-san.
[ then please travel safely. ]
[ yes. ]
the atmosphere between the two of them then suddenly turned around a 180 degree and It's kind of a little bitter despite being sweet.
[ if onii-san comes back will I be able to see Alice-chan again...? ] John-kun who just finished to wipe his tears on his face with his hands suddenly asked.
[ of course, so wait for us okay? ] I replied to him with a smile.
[ I'm not talking about you onii-san! I only want Alice-chan! ] John-kun shouted to me those words like he's throwing knives at me, and it actually hurt a little.
Alice suddenly made a gaze towards John-kun while also emitting deadly killing intent as soon as she heard those words from John-kun.
[ okay okay! it's okay Alice... ] I whispered to Alice as she's becoming more and more dangerous every second John-kun stares at me with his hatred.
This kid John-kun has a really serious problem towards me...