304 Chapter 221: Friends' Reaction
Friday, August 10, 1349.
Cheerwood Borough. Harvest Church.
Taking a bite of the oatmeal cookies, Sasha let out a pleased sigh as she looked at the cook.
"Delicious as always Opera! A thousand thanks." The giantess said with a toothy smile as she sat at the church kitchen table.
Opera who was wearing a simple black cook's robe with some stains on it, gave a small smile to the woman as she poured her a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
"I'm glad you like it, Sister Sasha."
Her crimson eyes moved to the other person at the table and her smile turned gentle, like that of a loving mother.
"You like them, Jerry?"
The young freckled girl nodded weakly, slowly eating a large cookie in her hand, in front of her was a half-empty glass of milk.
"It's very tasty Miss Opera..." Jerry said in a somewhat tired voice, her face no longer had any wounds and had gained back its color thanks to Planter Opera's care.
The young 14-year-old girl no longer looked so thin and tired, thanks to Opera's meals. Slowly her cheeks were filling out but she was still extremely affected by what had happened.
Smiling at the girl, Sasha placed her huge hand on her head and ruffled her hair.
"Is there anything you want to do today little one? There are some games I played all the time back in my homeland when I was little that I know you'll love!"
Jerry gently shook her head, taking a soft bite of the cookie and chewing slowly.
"Thank you for the offer Miss Sasha but I'd rather stay inside."
The woman's smile didn't falter but she nodded in enjoyment.
"Perfect little one. In that case, would you like to play cards today too?"
Jerry's hand that was reaching up to grab a cookie paused for a second in midair before continuing on its way.
"...I'd like to." The girl nodded with her lips lifting into a very small smile.
Sasha's smile grew and she jumped to her feet.
"Perfect! I'll go get the cards! I'll be back in a moment!" With that said she ran for the kitchen door and took off in search of her target at a light jog.
Jerry watched this with her little smile as she continued to slowly eat the cookies.
As she grabbed the glass of milk, Opera stood in front of her with a spoon in her hand filled with a green paste.
The smile on the little girl's face vanished and she looked green at this.
" Do I really have to drink it now Miss Opera?"
The black-haired woman had a serious look on her face and nodded.
"You are under my care so I have to see to your health. Be a good girl and open your mouth. Like this ahh~" Opera said calmly but was clear that she wouldn't take no.
Jerry seeing the woman's burning gaze and reading that she only wanted what was best for her, just sighed and opened her mouth.
"Ahh~"
Shoving the spoon into her mouth, Jerry swallowed and stuck out her tongue.
"Too bitter!"
Opera smiled at the little girl and laughed gently.
"Good medicine is bitter."
Jerry just frowned and popped another cookie into her mouth to try to get the taste of the medicine out of her tongue.
'She looks like a little mouse!' Opera thought fondly as she watched the little girl's cheeks puff out.
Knowing it wasn't right to say that, she just gave another giggle as she placed the spoon in the sink to clean it.
"Miss Opera, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, Jerry."
"...Do you think Mr. Kenway is okay?"
Halfway through cleaning the dishes, Opera's hand froze for a second at the question before she continued cleaning.
"Jam... Adryan is a strong man. He can take care of himself." She replied trying to comfort the girl but she was worried too.
Wednesday's paper had been a revelation to them.
Jerry had cried all day and fainted several times over it.
Neither she nor Sasha knew what was wrong with the little girl. No matter how many times the giant girl told her that Jam-Adryan was fine, she didn't seem to listen to them.
So, in desperation, they went to Father Utravsky for help.
"She thinks that Mr. Kenway sacrificed himself to avenge her, she feels guilty because she thinks he ruined his life for her."
Hearing that Sasha used her secret mode to contact the man and 15 minutes later the giantess delivered a letter from Adryan to Jerry.
The girl spent the rest of the day reading the letter. Now and then she cried but not as seriously as the previous times and she recovered faster. The next day she was back to normal and even better than the previous days, as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Listening to the woman's words, Jerry nodded and went back to eating the remaining cookies calmly.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence formed and neither of them knew how to break it....
"I'm back!"
Luckily there was Sasha who entered the kitchen with a big smile and a deck of black cards in her hands.
"Come Opera! It's more fun with more people!"
Wiping her hands with a towel, Opera nodded at the woman's words and sat down at the table together with them.
"Remember the rules?" Sasha asked with a mischievous smile as she began shuffling the cards.
"Whoever runs out of cards and shouts One wins." The red-eyed girl replied with a nod.
"Perfect! Well, let's get started!" Sasha said with a smile and began dealing the black cards.
The highlights of these were the large One written on their backs.
This was one of the most popular games invented by Emperor Roselle.
...
Harvest Church, Hidden Basement Room.
Looking at the letter in his hands, Utravsky let out a heavy sigh and walked to the torch that illuminated the basement.
He placed the letter in the torch and let the fire consume it, destroying it.
His gray-blue eyes which seemed to carry a huge burden moved and looked at the end of the basement.
Sitting on a simple wooden chair was the sleeping figure of a beautiful black-haired woman. Although she appeared to be sleeping, her chest did not rise and if anyone touched her they would notice that her body was ice cold.
This woman was extremely beautiful, with jet-black hair that fell to her lower back, skin as white as the finest of ceramics, and purple-blue lips, she wore a brown dress that looked extremely ancient.
Her hands were placed gently one on top of the other in her lap and her head drooped to one side.
Behind this woman's back was a strange metal box covered with cobwebs and strange symbols.
Utravsky looked at this woman for a while before turning around and walking out of the basement leaving the sleeping woman alone again...
...
Another part of Cherwood Borough. House of Xio and Fors.
Letting out a shaky sigh, Fors counted again as she lay on her bed dressed in nothing but a sleeping gown.
"100...570...890...and 1,000!" Placing the last green bill on top of the others. Fors smiled happily and hugged her pillow tightly, kicking her legs in the air.
As soon as they arrived home after the mission they found the promised 2,000 pounds along with the Sheriff's formula on top of the kitchen table along with a letter explaining that he was fine and that he had managed to take down Qilangos.
"Xio! Let's go to that Lay and Relax restaurant! My treat!" Fors shouted towards her friend who was reading the newspaper sitting on the sofa in the room.
Looking at her friend with a flat face, Xio just sighed and shook her head.
"Maybe next time. Things in East Borough have gotten a little hectic and the jobs haven't-"
"You're worried about that crazy bastard right?" Fors interrupted her friend causing her friend to slightly crumple the newspaper in her hands.
"...Am I that obvious?" Xio replied with a long sigh.
Smiling at her friend, Fors got out of bed and not even bothering to put on shoes, walked barefoot to hug Xio's back.
"I'm your best friend. It would be a shame not to be able to notice."
Sighing into Fors' arms, Xio put down the newspaper and leaned back further.
"...We may have gotten off to the worst possible start but I still consider him a good friend. I can't help but be worried."
Chuckling at her friend's words, Fors rested her chin on the sheriff's golden hair.
"That lunatic is too strong to fall so easily. Not only did he escape from the churches when they had him cornered, but he also finished off that pirate. I think he'll be fine."
Hearing her friend's words, Xio sighed heavily and sank deeper into her arms.
"You're right... He was always good at hiding after all."
Smiling, Fors let go of the hug and quickly went to get ready.
"Come, let's buy another pumpkin pie!"
Xion was a little surprised by this but after a few seconds, she recovered.
Shaking her head with a small smile, she got up from the sofa and went with Fors to the pastry.
...
Somewhere in East Borough.
Walking and passing carefully through the crowds, a simple black-haired man with a stubby face held a bag full of cooking ingredients between his gloved hands.
'Today it will be noodles with meatballs and apple juice!' Adryan thought with a small smile as he walked towards his new apartment.
