Glen pulled out a chair and sat down, smiling. "These are our hometown utensils—let me show you."
He deftly picked up a piece of stir‑fried meat with the chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.
Laila and Bonnie exchanged a glance, both eyes wide with curiosity.
They copied Glen's hand motions, clumsily trying at first. Surprisingly, they seemed to catch on quickly and soon managed to pick up food—something that took Glen off guard.
He'd actually been ready to grab forks and spoons if needed. Letting them try chopsticks had just been a spur‑of‑the‑moment interest, but apparently it wasn't necessary.
When that first bite hit her tongue, Laila couldn't help but squint in delight. The flavor was intoxicating—not enough to make her lose composure, but definitely worth savoring.
Bonnie, well, she had no such restraint. Being the cheerful type, she didn't hold back her praise.
"Oh! This flavor! It's amazing!"
Those words filled Glen with an indescribable pride; he barely kept his poker face.
"You two are students, right? Got a day off today?" Glen asked between bites.
"Yes, sir. Bonnie and I are both students at Mes Academy. We do have a day off today, but we'll be back in class tomorrow." Laila wanted to enjoy the food like Bonnie, but being polite, she took the time to answer.
"Ohhh…" Glen nodded slowly, then asked, "Mind if I ask—do you study magic at school?"
At that, Laila gave him a strange look, and even Bonnie lifted her full cheeks, eyes mirroring the same puzzlement.
"You have to go to a magic tower and find a specialized instructor for that. The academy doesn't teach it, though we do cover some basic related knowledge." Laila explained gently.
"Uh… I don't know much about that." Glen's expression turned a little sheepish.
"I see." Laila didn't press.
Fair enough—Dylan's memories really had nothing on magic. The original owner barely went to school; his knowledge was equivalent to that of an Earth elementary graduate. As a rich kid, he'd spent his father's money on fun, not classes. Naturally, he lacked common knowledge.
Soon, the three of them were full. Glen had cooked a large amount because of his big appetite; he just ate a bit less, leaving plenty for his guests.
Over the meal, casual chat brought them closer. The girls loosened up and showed their naturally lively sides. Glen wasn't stone‑faced anymore either, occasionally cracking jokes that got genuine laughs.
"Lunch at Glen's place is so good—if I could have it every day, I'd do anything for it," Bonnie said, patting her stomach in satisfied bliss.
"Who'd want to cook for a greedy cat like you? If they did, you'd eat them into poverty," Laila teased.
"I'd be happy to let you try more dishes, but you'd need guts to handle it," Glen chimed in.
Thinking of the town's creepy vibe, Bonnie shrank her neck. "Better not…"
Seeing the girl's adorable timidity, Glen and Laila both laughed.
After Glen cleared the dishes, Laila said with a slightly apologetic tone, "This hasn't been a very proper visit. My gift doesn't seem enough for this meal. If Mom finds out, she'll scold me."
Her basket held fruit, vegetables, bread—no meat. Meat was expensive in this era, hence her remark.
"Showing gratitude isn't about the gift's value. Your sincerity is enough for me." Glen voiced his true feelings. He liked this well‑behaved girl; she was basically his first real friend in this world.
Laila was touched.
Those words would be ordinary on Earth, something anyone with social sense could say, but here, they carried deeper weight.
"I'll remember your words," Laila said earnestly.
"Me too," Bonnie added, equally moved.
They chatted a bit longer. The girls kept asking about the town, but Glen didn't know much himself and answered honestly.
Finally, noticing they wanted to leave, Glen took the initiative to see them out.
"Well, it's quite a walk back to your place. If it gets dark, that's trouble. Head home so your families don't worry."
Laila and Bonnie agreed it made sense and politely said goodbye.
After they left, Glen secretly ordered the beast to shadow and protect them. He'd already decided how to make money—and was ready to act.
…
"Mr. Glen is really interesting. Maybe we can spend more time with him," Laila said as they walked the quiet dirt path.
"I agree, but, Laila, I still think this place isn't safe. Better to travel with friends," Bonnie nodded, then suggested.
"Hmm…" Laila thought a moment, then smiled. "Will you come with me, then?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "You should find a strong guy. The two of us together aren't exactly a fortress!"
"Bok? No way—his courage is smaller than yours." Laila pictured the chubby redhead trembling back in town and almost laughed.
Bonnie looked indignant. "My courage isn't small!" Then, thinking of Bok, she frowned. "Wasn't that guy always shouting about becoming a knight? How's he cowardly?"
"You just don't know him…" Laila seemed about to share some of Bok's embarrassing stories, but a familiar voice cut in.
"Thank the heavens, Laila! I've been waiting here forever—so glad you're safe."
A short, middle‑aged man with a dark brown beard approached, flanked by two burly men a head taller than him.
Laila froze, eyes widening in surprise. "Dad…?"
It was her father, Bob.
Bonnie looked between the man and Laila, unsure what to say.
"My child, you have no idea how worried I was when I heard you came here. It's dangerous! Come, let's go home." Bob smiled kindly and beckoned.
But the two men behind him wore cold expressions, making the girls uneasy.
"No! I won't go with you! You nearly killed Mom!" Laila's anger flared at the memory of her mother's bruised face in the clinic. Her voice was firm.
Bob's eyelid twitched, face stiffening briefly, but he quickly defended himself. "My dear girl, it was an accident. I'd been drinking, and your mother was wrong—she should've given me the money. Otherwise, none of that would've happened."
"Alright, Bob, we don't have time for your father‑daughter drama. Let's just do this!" one of the burly men interrupted impatiently, stepping forward to grab the girls.
Sensing hostility, the girls panicked and tried to run.
But they stood no chance against full‑grown brutes. No sooner had they moved than big hands gripped their shoulders.
A powerful yank sent them crashing to the ground. They struggled, but the men pinned them tight and started dragging them back the way they'd come.
"Let us go! You jerks!" the girls shouted.
"Go easy—she is my daughter," Bob called out, voice low.
"Daughter? Heh… You stopped being her father the moment you sold her to the boss."