Chapter 15: Kendrick
In the border town of Karashock, at Nightmoon Tavern.
It was still too early for meals, and the tavern had yet to open its doors, but the kitchen stove was already lit.
“Chomp, chomp…”
Elrose sat at the dining table, devouring the food in front of her like a hungry tiger.
“It seems that the Angelic Onee-san is really hungry,” Stella remarked.
“No kidding! After sleeping for so long and only having a bit of thin liquid to eat each day, who wouldn’t be hungry?” Luna said.
At that moment, Lilith walked out of the kitchen again, placing the food in her hands before Elrose. “Eat slowly, don’t rush. We’re a restaurant, and we have plenty of food.”
“Mm-mm-mm, got it,” Elrose nodded vigorously, waving the golden chicken leg in her hand and said blissfully, “Lilith, your cooking is just amazing.”
Elrose was so moved she was about to cry.
How long has it been since she last tasted such delicious food?
As a slave, Zeke couldn’t eat proper food, and Gideon, being a Shadow Demon, couldn’t eat at all.
She had almost forgotten what food was supposed to taste like.
Hearing Elrose’s praise, Lilith puffed out her chest. “Of course! I was once known as the ‘Strongest Little Chef in Karashock.’”
“Wow, that was how many years ago? Is it necessary to brag about it?” Luna quipped.
“What’s wrong with bragging? Every bit of it is part of my glorious history,” Lilith replied.
“Pfft, as if that’s glorious history,” Luna scoffed. “I still remember that grand promise you made to inherit Nightmoon Tavern. After learning to cook from Kendrick for over ten years, you still couldn’t even master 30% of his skills, couldn’t graduate, and ended up running to the Adventurer’s Guild to become an adventurer.”
“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t hit the face, and don’t expose old scars, okay?” Lilith remarked.
Luna stuck out her tongue playfully. “Who cares about you?”
“You…”
Elrose, gnawing on her chicken leg, paused slightly and looked at Stella, curiously asking, “Stella, who is Kendrick?”
“He’s the owner of this Nightmoon Tavern,” Stella smiled. “And he’s also our father.”
“Oh, so that’s how it is,” Elrose responded. “Where is he then?”
“He stepped out, but he should be back soon,” Stella pouted, angry. “Speaking of him, it makes me mad. He taught us from a young age to help others in need, and yet when we encountered the Angelic Onee-san in the forest, he actually told us not to bother. Seriously.”
“I find it strange too,” Lilith said in confusion. “That’s not something Kendrick would usually do.”
Luna picked up a cookie in front of her, took a bite, and lightly said, “Ah, he’s just getting old, worried too much about everything he does.”
At that moment, a figure quietly approached from behind the group.
“Hmm? Did I just hear someone insulting me?”
Everyone turned around abruptly.
“Kendrick…” Luna jumped in surprise, dropping the cookie in her hand.
“Yo, Luna.” Kendrick stood in front of Luna with a gloomy expression and immediately punched her on the head without saying a word.
“Ow, ow, ow…” Luna cried out, clutching her head.
Kendrick rolled his eyes and, in an annoyed tone, said, “What old or young? I’m only in my forties, in my prime, thank you very much!”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re amazing, whatever you say,” Luna retorted defiantly.
Seeing that Luna was still not conceding, Kendrick reached out his large hand and pinched her cheek hard. “Hey, little girl, can you not be so stubborn? Can you give me, as your father, a little bit of face?”
“Ow, ow, ow.” With that, Luna completely softened, quickly apologizing, “I was wrong, I was wrong! Dad, I’m sorry! Let go, or if I get disfigured, how will I get married in the future?”
“That’s more like it.” Satisfied that his authority as a father was maintained, Kendrick let go of her.
Elrose saw this and quickly put down her chicken leg, wiped her mouth, and respectfully walked in front of Kendrick. “Mr. Kendrick, hello.”
“Oh, I didn’t notice before; isn’t this the sleeping beauty? You finally woke up.” Kendrick pulled out a chair from the dining table and sat down suddenly. “So, sleeping beauty, what do you wish to instruct me on?”
“No, no, no, not instructing at all,” Elrose quickly waved her hands. “I just wanted to express my gratitude. Thank you for saving me in the forest.”
“I don’t need thanks; just thank them,” Kendrick replied lightly. “Didn’t they just tell you? When I encountered you, I didn’t actually want to save you.”
【Hostility…】
【Vigilance…】
Elrose could clearly feel that this burly middle-aged man in front of her held intense hostility and vigilance towards her.
Although she had no idea what she had done to warrant such suspicion.
By normal reasoning, she should be viewed as a small, cute, and pitiful lost girl, right?
Was there really a need to be so wary of her?
Could it be that he noticed something?
Though she felt tight inside and relaxed on the outside, Elrose’s expression remained completely unchanged.
“No, Mr. Kendrick, you’re joking,” Elrose said with a smile. “The so-called father is the head of the family. If you didn’t approve, they couldn’t bring me back, right?”
“Whew, this little girl can talk.” Kendrick chuckled, then shook his head and continued, “But you’re wrong about one thing. Our family has always been democratic. Any disagreements are decided by voting. While I’m the head of the family, I only have an extra 0.5 votes in family resolutions.”
“The reason you were brought back is precisely because, during the vote, all three of them agreed completely that you should be saved, and no one was on my side,” Kendrick said with a wry smile. “So, for this, you should still thank those three.”
Elrose nodded, then faced the three sisters again, bowing once more. “Thank you, thank you for saving me.”
“It’s only right to help those in need,” Lilith said.
“Ah, it’s no big deal. Besides, it would be such a pity if someone as cute as you died in the forest, wouldn’t it?” Luna added.
“Mm-mm-mm, helping each other, helping others is our joy,” Stella said.
Looking at the three sincere smiles in front of her, Elrose felt a warmth in her heart and even a little urge to cry.
This feeling of being cared for and loved… this pure kindness…
Since Joy left her, she had not felt this way again.
On the lonely throne, cold winds blew everywhere.
Countless evil spirits knelt at her feet, yet no one was her friend.
They only feared her, revered her, or even coveted her power.
So in her last life, at the moment the Hero slayed her.
She even felt a bit of joy, thinking loneliness would finally end.
But everything didn’t end. She shockingly returned to the world in her prime.
At that time, she felt particularly confused. She found that she had nothing much to do.
Now, however, it was different.
She had returned to being human.
She once fell into a demon for revenge, for money, for power, swore to abandon everything belonging to humanity, to never be human again.
But now, she gained a human body, even returned to the human world.
Elrose suddenly realized that this might be a brand new beginning.
Compassion, kindness…
Perhaps she could reclaim those things he had abandoned over the years.
She could become human again.
Elrose’s heart raced, and an unprecedented wave of emotions surged within her. She looked at the three innocent girls in front of her and bent down once more.
——————–
Author’s note:
The names of the three sisters are Lilith, Luna, and Stella, which respectively mean night, moon, and star, hence the Nightmoon Star trio.
By the way, one of the three sisters will become the heroine’s harem. Can you guess who it will be?
