Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Starting a Business Requires Products
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To start a business, you need products.
Living in this world is damn tough. That was the truth I realized on the second anniversary of my transmigration to this world.
Sudden transmigration to a fantasy world while sleeping? That can happen. No status window or cheats provided? That can happen too. Not even a tutorial? Sure, that can happen.
But isn't it a bit much to throw me in here completely talentless? Usually, you'd get some aptitude for magic or martial arts, right? Or at least some unique ability.
Ah, right. I do have one ability.
Hum.
"What a useful ability."
When I pick up the pencil on the desk, my hand glows faintly. It's not magic or anything like that. It's just how it looks to my eyes alone.
If the object I'm looking at performs an action that suits its aptitude or talent, it glows. A simple yet ridiculous ability. Still, thanks to this, I've managed to scrape by as an adventurer for two years despite having no combat prowess.
But what has those two years of adventurer life left me with?
I've danced on the edge of death countless times, faced mortal threats, and suffered serious injuries at times. What do I have to show for it?
Jingle.
Just three silver coins, barely.
Creak.
And this rickety old house that creaks in the wind. It's even built on the outskirts, making every trip to the market a ordeal.
Still, it was land I got cheaply through connections I made as an adventurer. Without that, I couldn't have dreamed of buying property.
And so, upon finally retiring as an adventurer, I made a vow.
"Let's build an orphanage."
And become its director.
For my retirement!
*
The word "orphanage" typically brings to mind images of abuse, labor exploitation, and bullying. And that's the reality.
In this medieval fantasy world, orphanages are treated almost like underground dungeons. As someone starting my own orphanage, I visited others to check out the industry, and they were all the same.
So why do orphanages persist? Simple. Our great His Majesty the Emperor showers them with generous subsidies. Long live His Majesty!
However, as you might expect, running an orphanage isn't profitable on its own. Why else would they hand out so much subsidy? It's because you need that much support just to keep the doors open. So the other orphanages abusing kids for extra income... well, that's just idiotic.
'Why hit the kids in the first place?'
Setting aside ethics, let's think about it logically.
What's the purpose of an orphanage? To take in and raise orphans? Sure. But there's something even more important.
Sending them out for adoption.
To be precise, sending them to wealthy families and pocketing a hefty sum.
I know full well that it's borderline human trafficking trash. But after rolling around in this dog-eat-dog world for over two years, I can say with certainty: for someone like me with no skills or talents, my options for making money are either risking my worthless life as an adventurer or this kind of trash business.
And orphan trading is relatively conscientious as far as trash goes. From the orphan's perspective, they're getting adopted into a good home. The orphans get new parents, and I get paid. Mutual benefit.
That's why beating and exploiting orphans like the other places do is downright stupid. What merchant damages their own products? In an orphanage, orphans are the merchandise.
'The other orphanages were a sight to behold.'
Beating, belittling, and abusing their own products. They had no idea of the basics.
I reported those orphanages to the Capital Inspector through my adventurer connections. Even bad shops are competitors in the same industry. Fewer rivals is always better—merchant 101.
"A three-story building, please."
"Well, you're paying, so we'll build it... but you planning to live alone in something that big?"
"No, I'm starting an orphanage."
"An orphanage? Tsk, got it."
Just look at the Carpenter's Guild's reaction. "Orphanage = beggar den" is the ingrained perception.
Still, it was a relief. No one here opposes orphanage construction because it lowers property values. Thanks to that, most of my adventurer earnings are gone, but my heart is full.
Because that orphanage will be my retirement fund.
Now it's time to hit the pavement.
"Do you happen to know where the slums are?"
"The slums? Why go there? It's crawling with thugs and orphans."
Bingo!
"That's exactly why I'm going."
"...? You're a weird one. That way."
Following the baffled resident's directions to the slums—or rather, the street stalls—I found them overflowing with products, just as expected. Orphans were everywhere you looked in the dark alleys.
Of course, that didn't mean I could just lure away the nearby orphans. They know orphanages are dumps, which is why they band together in the slums.
Even so, I had to come here. As an orphanage director, I need orphans, and to get them, I have to spin the Orphan Gacha.
"I'm Yujin, and I've just built a new orphanage!"
"Orphanage? Another scummy pimp shows up."
"What do we do? Chase him off?"
"Look where he's standing. If we rush him, he'll bolt to the main street. Let's watch for now."
"Our orphanage welcomes all orphans, regardless of gender, age, background, or looks!"
"Bullshit. They'll only take pretty girls and strong boys."
That would be true for a typical orphanage. Easier to abuse and exploit that way.
But not me. That said, these slum orphans have no reason to trust me... but with so many, one's bound to be different.
"Any orphan is welcome! Everyone!"
"...M-Mister. Really?"
"Ollie! Get back here! Before he grabs you!"
"B-But sis... rotten bread and sleeping on stone floors... no more..."
"We told you orphanages are worse! Hurry back!"
A grubby boy hesitated as he approached me. The bright eyes typical of boys his age were gone, replaced by deep, sunken ones.
The girl who seemed like the leader hurriedly reached for Ollie, but he knew the orphanage reality too. He was just too exhausted, too desperate, clinging to the tiniest hope.
The girl knew it was a scam and tried to pull him back.
"Ollie, right? Of course. Our orphanage has delicious meals and soft beds."
"R-Really?"
"Ollie! Y-You! Get lost! Go away!"
"What's your name?"
"None of your business! Scram!"
"Aren't you tired?"
"Not tired at all, so scram!"
"Not you—the kids you're looking after. This Ollie kid looks beat."
"…………."
Behind the leader girl, I saw three kids smaller than her. Four including Ollie. No way kids that young survive the slums alone, so she'd been feeding them all.
Obviously, they wouldn't thrive in that environment. Malnutrition was a given, and without proper washing, they'd be frail from constant minor illnesses.
She knew that reality, so she fell silent for a moment.
"That's why I built the orphanage—for kids like you. Let me help."
"...Bull...shit."
"One more time: what's your name?"
"………Laila."
"Pretty name. Laila, Ollie, and the kids behind you—want to come to our orphanage? Trust me."
"………."
Laila pondered. Seemed my earnest desire to make money had gotten through.
"You're thinking it over."
"If you were a real orphanage director, you'd have kidnapped Ollie already."
Average orphanage, indeed. What's a "real" orphanage director then?
"I am an orphanage director. I just care for the orphans properly."
"What a joke."
"It's my job too. So, will you come with me?"
"S-Sis, let's go. We got marked by the Wangcho Gang last time... couldn't eat for days..."
"Ollie's wounds are too bad. He groans in pain every day."
"Let's go, sis..."
"Kids."
Life in the slum alleys must have been hell, as the children pleaded with Laila. Seeing them, my eyes gleamed.
They hadn't done anything to evaluate their aptitudes yet, so no talent readout, but my adventurer instincts let me size them up.
'All five are 1-Star Orphans.'
A shame they're all bottom-tier 1-Stars, but that's Orphan Gacha for you. Ten pulls, ten 1-Stars; a hundred, a hundred 1-Stars.
Sometimes you hit the jackpot with higher ones. No reason not to take 1-Stars, though.
Even 1-Stars fetch a good price if raised well, and taking them brings in more 1-Stars—who might bring 2-Stars or 3-Stars. It's like auto-farming.
Amid the kids' nonstop pleading, Laila finally relented.
"...Fine."
"Hm?"
"Is your orphanage... really good? No beatings, no starving as punishment, no working till your fingers freeze in winter?"
"Of course."
I can't understand those orphanages. As I said, no merchant damages their products. Naturally, I won't either.
Clean, healthy, shiny orphans sell for more than dirty, sick, smelly ones. Simple logic.
Gazing at my retirement fund and future products, I reached out.
"Call me Director from now on."
"...We'll see."
Great, five 1-Star Orphans secured. Wanted to pull a 10-roll, but this'll do for today.
After bringing Laila and the orphans to the orphanage, I locked the door right away.
"W-What?"
First things first.
"Wash up, kids."
"Huh?"
"I've prepared hot water. Go on in."
Time to turn these into products.