Chapter 5: Turning Over Big Mom's Card – The First Talent Copied!
"No one's going to pick you up here~" sneered a child from the Long-Arm Tribe, wearing yellow clothes, his arms bent at two joints. He grinned wide at Linlin, giving her a thumbs-down before making mocking gestures at Roy.
"The children here are all very unique~" the nun said with a gentle smile, spreading her hands as though everything were natural.
"Her personality's so bad her parents abandoned her~!" a fat boy in a purple fur cape chimed in, crossing his arms and tossing his head back with a shrill laugh.
"You'll all get along soon enough~!" the nun added, her eyes narrowing as she smiled.
"Well, thank you. I'm hungry!" Linlin replied, nodding happily as she looked at the nun and the other children.
Roy stood to the side, quietly watching the orphans of the Sheep's House—and the ever-smiling Sister Carmel.
"Then let's eat. Wait a moment, I'll prepare everything," the nun said sweetly, turning and walking into the house toward the kitchen.
The Sheep's House sheltered all kinds of children—princes cast out after uprisings, those nearly enslaved in poverty, children of the Long-Arm Tribe, children of the Fish-Men.
If Carmel weren't secretly a trafficker, she could have been seen as a truly great woman. After all, she raised children without caring about race or status.
Roy's eyes narrowed, but he quickly masked his thoughts and hurried into the house. "Sister, let me help you cook!"
"Oh? Then, can you handle this?"
"Of course~" Roy said, putting on his most innocent tone.
Acting cute was embarrassing, but sometimes it was the best way to fool villains.
…
Two figures appeared in the forest outside. A boy and a girl—both giant children, their size close to Linlin's.
The girl had sparkling eyes, wore a yellow and purple headscarf, and her light-gold hair was tied into two braids.
Her name was Gerth.
The boy wore a two-horned helmet, a black cloak, and a sword strapped across his back. Redding, the giant swordsman, walked behind them, casually rubbing the boy's head with a massive hand.
"Hey! Don't rub my head!" the boy shouted, pushing the hand away in annoyance.
His name was Hajrudin, and Redding was the one responsible for training him in swordsmanship.
"Hello, are you new here?" Gerth asked Linlin with a warm smile.
"And there's another newcomer!" a white-haired fishman child muttered from where he squatted on the steps, looking lost. He raised a finger toward the house.
"Huh? Where?" Gerth blinked, searching inside curiously.
…
In the kitchen, Roy washed his hands. Hearing the noise outside, he peeked out curiously.
What a beautiful giant girl…
"Hello~ I'm from the Long-Arm Tribe!" another child came running in, slinging his arm around Roy's shoulder.
"Oh, hello," Roy answered flatly. Outside, Gerth waved brightly. "Hello, I'm Gerth!"
Roy waved back with a faint smile. "I'm Harold Roy."
The Long-Arm kid leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Hey, hey, do you think she's cute~?"
"…" Roy ignored him, rolling up his sleeves before slipping back into the kitchen.
"Sister, let me help you." He took the ingredients from Carmel and began preparing them.
[Intimacy with Gerth +1!]
[Intimacy with Gerth +1!]
[Intimacy with Gerth +1!]
As the notifications rang one after another, Roy twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth while chopping vegetables. Not bad… maybe flirting with giant girls had its perks. He only wondered if giant talents could even fit into his card slots.
…
Outside, Linlin sat chatting with Hajrudin and Gerth, the three of them similar in size.
"Roy's cooking is delicious!" Linlin bragged proudly to Gerth.
Gerth hugged her legs, blinking in curiosity, listening attentively. Compared to the other orphans of the Sheep's House, who all seemed rough and strange, Roy looked different—better.
"And he's amazing at hunting! With just one swing of his dagger, he can kill a rabbit in an instant!" Linlin's stomach growled as she spoke, and she quickly wiped the drool from her lips with her hand.
"Tsk~" Hajrudin curled his lips in disdain, drew the sword from his back, and swung it proudly in front of the others.
"It's just catching a rabbit. We giant swordsmen will one day be known across the world, carrying the legacy of the Giant Pirates!"
As he spoke, he sneaked glances out of the corner of his eye, waiting for their reactions. The orphans of the Sheep's House only laughed, not taking him seriously.
Linlin rubbed her stomach and muttered softly, "I'm so hungry~"
Gerth had heard the same complaint so many times already that she simply responded with a perfunctory, "That's amazing~"
"…" Hajrudin fell silent, sulking.
A table had been set up in the open space before the house. Roy stepped out of the kitchen carrying a dish, setting the fragrant meal down. His gaze flicked toward the boastful Hajrudin. There was one thing he found odd—Hajrudin had trained with a sword since childhood. So why, when he grew up, did he abandon the blade for his fists?
"Linlin, it's time to eat." Roy waved, then smiled at Gerth. "Want to join us?"
"Okay~" Gerth nodded brightly.
Roy glanced at Hajrudin, who was glaring at him, then turned back into the house to fetch the rest of the food.
"…" Hajrudin froze. Why hadn't Roy invited him?
By lunchtime, Hajrudin had been called away by Redding, leaving Gerth to stay and eat with the others.
In the open yard, children gathered around the table.
A Long-Arm Tribe kid stretched his arms across the table to grab food from every plate within reach.
A fishman child bared his sharp teeth now and then to scare the Long-Arm kid.
A strange panda-like cub lurked nearby.
Linlin towered over them all, even taller than the nun herself, and Gerth sat close by.
What a strange little group of "cute kids."
"Mine, mine, all mine—it's so delicious!" the Long-Arm brat cried, snatching food everywhere. But when his eyes darted toward Linlin's plate, he thought better of it and quickly pulled his hand back… only to reach for Roy's instead.
"Snap!"
Without even looking up, Roy caught the boy's hand in his left grip. "Eat your own food. Try stealing again, and I'll have Linlin remove that extra joint of yours."
Linlin blinked, finally noticing the child's unusual arm. She grinned mischievously, rubbing her hands together.
"I was wrong, I'm sorry!" the boy squeaked, shrinking back like a turtle retreating into its shell, dragging his stool away.
"Today's meal was cooked by Roy," the nun said warmly, patting the troublemakers' heads. "He's a very good cook."
"Delicious!!!" Linlin cheered, shoving a mouthful of rice into her mouth with delight.
…
A week later.
At the Sheep's House, Roy lay in the grass under the shade, flicking his fingers at the glowing cards only he could see.
Linlin's intimacy worked differently than others. With most girls, intimacy rose through affection or beauty. With Linlin? It was all about food.
At first, the meals worked quickly. But as days passed, the gains slowed.
[+1 Intimacy… +1 Intimacy…]
Over the course of a week, he had only managed to squeeze out five more points.
He sighed. "The same ingredients over and over… she must be getting tired of it. I'll need to find a way to mix things up."
Then the system chimed:
[Reach 60 Intimacy with Linlin – Talent Card Unlocked!]
Swish—swish—swish…
The dull gray faded from one of the cards before him, replaced by a dazzling orange glow.
Roy's eyes widened.
[Steel Defense…]
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