I'm Playing as a Nun.

"...We were deceived."

On a warm morning, everyone gathered in the dining room and sat properly in their seats for breakfast.

However, unlike usual, the children's expressions, except for Ellie, were stiff today.

"It can't be helped. Fruits spoil quickly if not eaten soon."

I knew why the children had stiff faces. Seeing Rune and Iris with the stiffest expressions, I noticed they didn't seem to like today's breakfast menu.

They had meat for breakfast every time, but today's breakfast menu was a fruit salad without any meat.

"There's no meat at all."

"Don't make such an unpleasant face, Iris."

"But there's no meat..."

It was a very familiar situation. I had a feeling Iris would soon throw a tantrum and leave the dining room.

But no need to worry. I won't repeat the same mistake.

"If you want to resent someone, resent the World Tree that dropped all these fruits at once. I did nothing wrong."

"Ugh..."

Blaming the World Tree for all this. Even though it's just a tree, it seems to understand human speech uncannily well, so I'm a little wary of it.

Still, if I say I had no choice for the children's sake, the kind-hearted World Tree will surely understand.

Honestly, I just stated the facts, so the World Tree probably won't have anything to say either.

"You clearly said we eat meat for three meals a day..."

"Hmm? Who spread such a rumor?"

"Iris did... She said Sister Levi can only cook meat, so we eat only meat every day..."

"...There's some misinformation mixed in, but you don't need to be so disappointed. We're definitely having a party today to welcome Rune."

I'm planning to throw a party for Rune tonight. Even if it's just a small welcoming party with us in the church, I'll prepare various dishes Rune has never eaten before, so she definitely won't be disappointed.

I'll clearly show the children I can cook dishes other than meat.

"Then can we eat a lot of meat then?"

"Rune seems more interested in meat than the welcoming party...?"

"Yes. I want to eat meat too."

"...I'll prepare as much as possible."

Although it flowed in a slightly different direction than the reaction I wanted, it's okay. What matters is sincerity.

"By the way, what are you drinking, Sister?"

After somehow wrapping up the situation, I slowly lifted the cup I was holding and gently brought it to my lips.

Then Iris, staring intently at me, tilted her head slightly to the side and showed a puzzled expression.

"Huh?"

"You're the only one without a salad. What are you drinking now?"

At Iris's very sudden question, my body instantly stiffened. Because what I'm drinking right now is beast blood.

Usually, I would have had a normal breakfast with the same menu as the children, but...

"......"

I've been suffering from quite severe anemia since visiting the elf village. It seems to be a side effect of using too much blood for skills, so just for today, I decided to replace my meal with beast blood instead of food.

I had been secretly sipping it, constantly being careful not to let the children see the contents of the cup. I never expected them to ask about the identity of the contents I was drinking.

"...It's water."

"You're not eating salad, Sister?"

"I don't have much of an appetite today."

"You said we should always eat breakfast even if we don't have an appetite."

"It's okay for adults. We're already done growing."

Iris's expression became even more puzzled at my answer. It felt like she was expressing the unfairness with her face, so I had no choice but to awkwardly turn my head to avoid Iris's sharp gaze.

"You ate the meat just fine..."

"Adults can do that. That's an adult's privilege."

With those words, I downed the cup's contents in one go without hesitation. Perhaps because I had been replenishing blood with the transfusion skill until now, the act of drinking blood itself was not only unfamiliar but felt quite disgusting and unpleasant.

"Ugh..."

An expression I wanted to hide but couldn't. My brows furrowed mercilessly, my lips shriveled up as if I ate something inedible, and my whole face contorted in pain.

I belatedly regretted not using the transfusion skill, but drinking blood directly like this was an unavoidable choice as it showed much better effects in terms of efficiency alone.

"Why are you frowning so much while drinking water...?"

"It's too cold... My gums are a bit sensitive..."

Iris, who seemed to feel even more doubt at my poor excuse, now rapidly blinked her eyelids. The children's gazes felt very sharp on me today.

"Iris."

Just as I struggled to hide my badly contorted expression and churning stomach, Rune, who had been timidly voicing her dissatisfaction with the salad until a moment ago, suddenly opened her mouth quietly with a peaceful expression.

"If you keep chewing this, it tastes like meat."

Rune showed Iris a vegetable stuck on a fork with her small, chubby hand. Iris's attention then naturally began to turn towards Rune.

"Try it, it's delicious."

"Liar. How can vegetables taste like meat?"

"It's true... Ellie is eating it deliciously, too."

"Ellie likes vegetables. That's why she's eating it deliciously."

She clearly intentionally intervened in the conversation to divert attention away from me. Rune tried to change the topic and atmosphere naturally so that Iris wouldn't focus more on me. Iris immediately responded to those words and continued the conversation about vegetables for quite a while.

"......"

Silently watching the two, I couldn't help but reaffirm my determination to definitely make Rune the true protagonist tonight.

She must have been quite disappointed that the meat she had hoped for as a breakfast menu didn't come out. Nevertheless, Rune's helping me slyly was not only commendable but also very lovely.

"Ah, right. Levi, I have something to say."

"Yes?"

Just then, Aizen, who had been munching on the salad with his mouth full, suddenly widened his eyes and turned his head towards me.

"I want to go camping in the forest today."

I was a bit dazed because of Iris, who had been quite persistent, so I didn't understand Aizen's words immediately. No, I unintentionally let it go in one ear and out the other.

"From lunch today until lunch tomorrow."

But I belatedly reacted at Aizen's confident words that followed and slowly began to furrow my brows.

"Camping?!"

"Yeah! You'll allow it, right?"

"No, why all of a sudden...? It's only been a few days since we returned to the church..."

Aizen answered my bewildered question with an innocent smile.

"I really liked what I saw and experienced at the elf village. This time, I want to try camping in the forest."

"Still, it's too sudden... Besides, I said we're having Rune's welcoming party later."

"Don't worry about that. We can have the welcoming party while camping."

I was so taken aback. I already knew that Aizen's adventurous spirit was quite exceptional. However, it had only been a day since we returned to the church. I had just said we would have Rune's welcoming party...

"No. If you said you'd do it a few days in advance, I would allow it, but today is too sudden, and everyone is tired."

"Huh? I'm not tired at all?"

"Of course, you're not, Aizen, since you always have overflowing energy. But Ellie, Iris, and Rune right now..."

Ellie's eyes, quietly eating next to Aizen, suddenly sparkled. As if she was secretly looking forward to camping.

"Ellie looks full of energy?"

"...?"

Compared to Aizen, Ellie is quite well-behaved. But Ellie, of all people, being interested in camping...

"It sounds fun... I want to try camping, too."

"Uh, Ellie... Camping isn't as romantic as you think. There will be more hard work than fun..."

"Still, if we all work together, won't we somehow make it work?!"

Ellie was unexpectedly optimistic. Come to think of it, even though she whined a lot to me, she never expressed further dissatisfaction or grumbled even once.

I just didn't notice. Perhaps Ellie also had an adventurous spirit no less than Aizen's.

However...

"Still, what can't be done, can't be done. Today's protagonist is Rune, no matter what. If you decide things so arbitrarily..."

"I want to try camping too."

"M-me too..."

For a moment, I doubted my ears. I could understand Iris, but I had no idea why even Rune, an elf, wanted to go camping.

"Why Rune...?"

"A welcoming party in the forest... Honestly, I'm a bit excited."

The atmosphere instantly shifted towards Aizen and began to heat up. It was good to see everyone smiling and having fun, talking about camping without exception.

But as I blankly watched them, floating alone like an isolated island, worries began to pile up like a mountain.

"I guess it can't be helped... Then let's all go to the forest once the preparations are done."

But the atmosphere had already heavily tilted towards Aizen, and even Rune said she wanted to go camping. There was nothing I could do in this situation.

As I sighed deeply and muttered in a small voice, Aizen's bright voice was heard once again right next to me.

"Ah, right. I should have told you in advance, but I forgot."

"Yes?"

"Levi, please don't come with us. This time, only we will go."

I was unexpectedly abandoned.