Let’s eat Cake

You would think that losing sight of a little girl you just rescued would make one freak out. You would also think that losing another little girl that had been your responsibility would illicit a similar response. Yet Leo didn’t need to as Sophia seemed to take it upon herself to do all the worrying for him.

“Zen! Cor! Come on this isn’t funny anymore!” Sophia yelled as she frantically ran around the guild looking any and everywhere. Aside from the sideways looks from the fellow adventurers not one bothered to look for the two.

“Little girl, red hair, about yay high. Little wolf demi-human. Did you see them pass by?” Leo on the other hand was simply asking around normally. After all if they were gone, then they were already out of the guild. After another set of nos Leo thank them for their time and went to sit at a table.

There had to be something they wanted. After all it was on him for not paying attention. He then began to ponder if this was Zentella’s idea or Cor’s. Sure, he was the one to suggest the two to become friends, they looked the same age after all. Sure they seemed to be getting along well enough, but to already began the stage where they are willing to cause trouble together? Yes, Cor had just been wrongfully kidnapped, but why wouldn’t she want to go home? Did she not like adventurers? No, she seemed more than willing to listen to him once he revealed that he and Zen were adventurers. Wait… she was more excited that Zen was one. She probably hasn’t eaten anything good for awhile. But grown-ups don’t let you have what you want! It is in every kid to dream of access to money in order buy what they want to eat!

Leo stood up fast at his epiphany, “Sophia!” He called to the girl on the second floor. She stopped and clutched the guard rail, “I think I have a good idea where they went.”

The flustered guild girl came rushing down and asked, “What do you mean?”

“I think they went to get some food, maybe even dessert. Do you know any pastries shops or bakeries in Bellen?”

“A couple.” she then thought about it for a second, “But we’ll be running around town and we could miss them if we pick the wrong one.”

Leo didn’t consider this. While his idea did sound good in his head, that didn’t mean that he was right. If only he had some way to track Zen, but she was the one that could do that. Wait… the System. “Open party menu.” The red system screen appeared before him on command once again, but this time to where his registered party members are. He found this setting back at the dungeon. Originally writing it off as nothing more than a way to keep track of party health, Leo had a feeling that there could be something in here.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah right.” Leo turned as he noticed that from Sophia’s perspective her might have appeared to be looking at her inappropriately. Turning he went back to the screen and then clicked on Zen’s name. Once again it pulled up her stats, a lot of which were in parentheses probably to indicate her output when she infuses her body with mana. Looking through it he found what he was glad that the system screen provided.

[Track Party Member]

“Okay lets go.” He said as he headed out of the guild.

“Hey wait!.” Sophia called chasing after him.

He figured he explain on the way that his magic allowed him to track Zen. Sophia still had trouble processing his terms when he used they system screen, but she was kinda beginning to understand. Yet, how else could Leo explain something that only he seemed to have seen from his old world?

His old world… Already he was referring to his home like that huh? Not even a full month and Leo was already writing off his house, his parents, his friends, his life… Well that’s not true, he already wasn’t living one back on earth. Here though? Here he fought and killed an assassin, defeated a horde of bandits, lost to a second assassin and lived, took down a golem, and even raided an evil thieves guild. Already he was living more here than back there. Even this set back now seemed… manageable. Heck he was even thinking of this as only a setback and not a full-blown mistake like he would have. Did he really change that much since coming here?

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

His mind then refocused as the system seemed to be indicating that he was getting closer. Right… it wasn’t him, it was the system. He had to remind himself at that fact. If he wasn’t given this system when he came here there was no way he would have accomplished any of what he did.

Turning the corner they saw a little bakery. Heading inside they found the two girls by the counter. Zen seemed to catch the two’s presence and simply nodded at them acting as if all was okay. Cor looked startled as she was holding a bag of pastries.

“Ok, that will be about 40 stelle.” The man behind the counter stated. Zen nodded to him and pulled out a big coin and handed it to the man, “Pleasure doing business.”

Leo quickly walked up past the two girls as they attempted to give him a peace offering and looked straight at the man behind the counter, “Well?”

“Well what sir?” The man asked getting nervous as he didn’t see Leo and Sophia walk in.

“Give the girl her change… now.”

The man got startled and then played off what he was attempting to do, “Oh of course… silly me.” He then went into the register and pulled out the change that Zen should have gotten.

After Leo ensured that the money was the correct amount he and Sophia walked the two girls outside.

“Zen… Cor… Why did you leave?” Leo said holding a hand to his face

Then he was looking down at them he saw the two. Cor he understood looking bashful and apologetic. Zen looking that way too avoiding his gaze was not what he expected. then Cor broke first saying, “I wanted to eat sweet bread… Momma always buys me sweet bread when she comes to town. She tells me that they taste even better when you eat them after you buy them.”

To his surprise Zen also spoke, “I had the money… and I never had any… so I hid us and we came here.”

Sophia then stepped in, “We were worried about you two. You can’t just run off without telling us.”

“But Zen-Zen is an adventurer.” Cor said as she now was looking away, “She is strong so we were safe.”

Leo sighed as he knelt down, “Look, just because Zen is strong doesn’t mean that she can protect you both without back up.” Turning to Zen he held out the change, “Zen… you got to count your money so you won’t be ripped off.

“I…”

Looking at her Leo didn’t know what to feel. He was frustrated. He was relieved that neither of them weren’t hurt, that they were safe. He was annoyed that some asshole was going to take advantage of little girls. Still… from what Zen had told him of her past,, she now has an adverse reaction to being scolded. Even so, that wasn’t an excuse to run off on their own. “Okay Zen. Here’s what were going to do. We’re going back to the inn and we are going to get ready to take Cor back home. You can still help me, but if you are going to attempt to do something like this you have to talk to me first. We’re a team remember?” Leo then held out his pinky.

Zen turned to him then nodded.

At least she was looking at him again. It might seem like he was being lenient again, but Leo actually thought of a suitable punishment for the two’s impromptu grocery run. “Sophia, do you think you could get me some paper and pencils?”