Chapter 127. Christmas Eve Run (2)
“And now, let me introduce the Rudolph who’ll be handling our presents today!”
At Victoria’s confident introduction, Robert rolled in with a series of beeps.
Several pieces of rebar shaped like reindeer antlers had been attached to his head.
[System online. Ready to deliver gifts to immature fleshbag units.]
Robert’s eyes gleamed ominously as his mechanical voice beeped.
Nova stared at him in horror.
“The kids are going to have nightmares!”
“What a terrible thing to say! Look! His nose even lights up.”
The moment Victoria finished speaking, a red bulb near Robert’s nose lit up brightly.
Apparently, that was enough to qualify him as Rudolph.
“And the presents are ready too! I made every single one with love!”
Victoria pointed toward a mountain of gift boxes piled in the corner of the restaurant.
They were Christmas presents she had spent several sleepless days and nights making.
Nova stared at them suspiciously, then quietly asked Yukgap,
“Didn’t they say a business had already donated money for presents?”
“Victoria said Santa couldn’t give the kids mass-produced goods, so she made everything herself.”
Yukgap answered with the expression of a man who had given up on life.
Nova nearly jumped.
“You should have stopped her!”
“If that were possible, I would have done it already.”
Yukgap looked exhausted.
Nova did not know exactly what had happened over the past few days, but apparently he had spent them trying everything he could to stop Victoria.
And failed every time.
“Look!”
Victoria happily showed them letters written by the children at the orphanage.
“These are the letters they wrote to Santa.”
“They wrote messages for Santa and the presents they want.”
“Aren’t they adorable?”
“I used every bit of my alchemy to make presents just for these children!”
“They’re going to love them!”
Victoria kept smiling as she showed off the letters.
Yukgap leaned toward Nova and whispered,
“At least I secretly removed all the explosive materials whenever I saw them.”
“There shouldn’t be any serious accidents.”
“That’s a relief.”
Whatever else happened, they absolutely could not give dangerous objects to children.
Completely unaware of what they were whispering about, Victoria raised her voice excitedly.
“All right!”
“Today is Christmas Eve!”
“The children are waiting!”
“Let’s go!”
Just as they were about to leave the restaurant, a cold wind suddenly blew in from the distance.
At the same time, something sparkling began drifting across Yukgap’s vision.
He looked up.
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
Victoria, already prepared to leave, turned toward him.
Yukgap glanced at the sky.
“It’s snowing.”
“A lot.”
“Directoooor!”
Several children came running over at the sound of their own excited voices.
The orphanage director, who had been decorating the Christmas tree, smiled warmly.
“What is it?”
“Santa Claus really is coming today, right?”
The children looked up at her with anticipation.
They held this event every Christmas season, but the children still asked the same question every year.
And it was understandable.
For these children, Christmas was the one day when they could receive presents and truly feel like they were celebrating a special occasion.
Of course they would wait for it desperately.
“Of course.”
“You wrote your letters last time, didn’t you?”
“I’m sure Santa will come with your presents.”
“Really?”
The children smiled brightly.
“Hehe.”
Do they really like it that much?
The director smiled to herself and checked the time.
“Let’s see... they should be here soon.”
It was about time for the volunteers to arrive.
Then she noticed the sky outside.
Snow was falling so heavily that it was becoming difficult to see ahead.
“Oh my.”
“When did the weather get this bad?”
The sky looked as though a hole had opened in it.
Almost as if responding to her question, the weather forecast came from the radio.
[...A heavy snow warning has now been issued nationwide.]
[Snowfall exceeding thirty centimeters is expected, and significant traffic congestion is likely.]
[We ask all citizens to exercise extreme caution.]
[Unable to move. Unable to move. Unable to move...]
Robert’s wheels spun uselessly on the snow-covered road.
Yukgap was pushing him with all his strength from behind.
He shouted irritably,
“Put some more effort into it, scrap metal!”
[I am already trying.]
[My wheels cannot gain traction.]
Robert beeped back in complaint.
Turning into a truck and loading himself with presents for the children had gone well enough.
The problem was the sudden blizzard that had begun the moment they left.
Snow covered the area in an instant.
Now they were completely stranded in the middle of the road.
“It’s no use.”
Nova was also pushing Robert while shivering from the cold.
“The snow on the road is too deep.”
It was still falling so heavily that they could barely see ahead.
Everyone had gotten out and pushed with all their strength, but it was not enough.
“Robert!”
Victoria finally shouted.
