My Evil System

[BONUS]

When we were back in the house, I immediately saw Emi and Sheryl flanked on the couch by the fireplace, drinking some tea.

Along the fence, tea trees were planted near the fruit trees, so we could enjoy tea whenever we wanted.

"Oh, you're back?" Sheryl beamed.

"Ah . . . yes." I wanted to ask if they were done with their chores, but I decided against it.

"You're also back, Ford? Did you catch a lot of fish?" asked Sheryl with a bemused expression, and tone mocking.

Ford shrugged. "Yeah. I did."

'I?' It was me who did all the work, though. Not that I minded it.

While the three conversed, I went to the kitchen and gave Megu the fish for that day. A total of two large fish, three medium fish, and five little fish.

Megu clapped her hands in delight and beamed. "My . . . so many fishes. Leave everything to me, and you can go and get some rest."

I scratched the back of my head and said, "Thanks then."

My gaze then went to her child, Angelica, who was playing with everything she got her hands on. Fortunately, she wasn't breaking anything.

"Fish?" Sheryl's voice shifted our attention to her.

Sheryl was already in the kitchen and whined. "Fish? Are we going to have fish again? Can we eat something like pork or chicken? Or even like beef?"

Megu briefly shot me a look and gently told Sheryl, "Don't worry, dear. I can cook up something delicious with this fish."

Sheryl rolled her eyes. "Unless you can make fish taste like real beef, then I doubt it would be delicious."

She then sashayed out of the room.

There was a silence that lingered between us before Megu broke it with her soothing voice. "Sorry about her, my Lord. It's just her age."

I shrugged. "It's fine. And you can just call me by my name," I said. "She does remind me of my sister. They're around the same age."

Megu clasped her hands in glee. "My . . . you have a sister?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

Sadness crossed Megu's eyes for a moment, and she sighed as she looked at her daughter. "I wish I could give Angelica a sibling too."

She chuckled. "But I guess it's impossible now."

"Ah . . . your husband." I didn't want to ask, but my curiosity got the best of me.

Megu shook her head, and the smile on her face vanished. "No longer alive. He died in an accident when Angelica was only six months old."

Megu's eyes shook, and a tear almost dropped on her cheek before she quickly blinked them away. "I feel sad for her. She no longer has a father who'd love her, nor could she ever have a sibling to play with."

". . ." I didn't know what to say since I was not one to comfort others. She could always just remarry, right? Or was it insensitive of me if I told her?

"Ah. Sorry." Megu sniffed, wiped her tears, and forced a smile. "Look at me, making things awkward."

"It's fine," I immediately said, "You can . . . augh . . . tell your problems to me. I heard that it will make you feel better if your told your problems to others."

Megu's eyes rounded and mirrored mine. And I immediately raised my hands and stuttered, "Ah, a-and don't worry! I will not tell anyone!"

Megu was still in shock, but she suddenly burst into a smile and nodded. "Thank you, Cross."

My lips closed tight to hold the silly giggles inside. Megu was so beautiful and kind that it was impossible not to feel like you were in heaven when speaking to her.

A mature woman's charm was hard to resist.

<Is that your type now, Host? Dementia is also older than you>

I was only giving compliment where it's due.

"I-I . . . I'll go look around, then," I stuttered and immediately ran outside before something strange could happen.

<What exactly do Host have in mind that would happen~?>

". . ." I ignored it like I usually did and moved on with my life.

I passed by Ford, Sheryl, and Emi by the fireplace, chatting and drinking tea as I hurried outside.

With my makeshift umbrella, I went back out and even passed by Edgar, who was hurrying towards the house.

"Edgar," I called him, but it seemed like he didn't hear me.

He had a silly smile on his face, and he seemed to be whistling under the rain.

I thought for sure that he would be more stressed out, but I guess he liked being with the animals.

Nevermind. I continued on my way, planning to check the breakwater in the ocean. It would bother me to no end if I didn't check it, so I would go to the ocean every day.

While I'm at it, I would also forage.

When I reached the sea, my eyes were immediately glued to the breakwater on the ocean. So far, it still kept the waters at bay, and the waves still didn't reach the coconut trees as they used to before the breakwater was constructed.

After making sure that everything was fine and that the Blood Rain was neither getting weaker nor stronger, I went to forage around the area.

After an hour, I went back just in time for lunch. However, it seemed like I was too late. They were already eating, but there was not a single dish left on the serving plates.

None was left for me.

I was more surprised than angry at this point.

"Ah, sorry . . . ," Sheryl said. "We were so engrossed with our chat that we didn't notice that we had already finished all the food."

Florin also went inside at that moment, and she, too, was confused at the turn of events. She was smiling as usual, but her anger could be felt by everyone in the room.

Megu immediately stood with an apologetic smile as she said, "I-I'll cook something again."

Florin beamed. "And what will you cook? Herbs and spices?"

( . . . continuation on NOTES)