Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: 2. Orphan Gacha Probability-Up Event
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It was about time. At least, that's what I thought.
A year had passed since the first Orphan Gacha that brought in Laila and the others. Not much had happened in that time... aside from the trip to the snowy mountains at the Beril Family's invitation, it had all just been the usual orphanage routine.
Beyond that, just the basics of business operations? Securing cheap ingredients and demo spots for the products were already part of the core plan, so nothing too special there.
'The real products need a demo before customers will believe in them and buy.'
That was why I'd sent them out to inns and bakeries for part-time gigs. I'd split some of the earnings with them to boost their work motivation, but the rest went into the business budget. It wasn't a huge sum, but it cut sunk costs for the products considerably.
Of course, it was a bit iffy as a "demo," but honing talents through real-world practice was what mattered in the end.
'Lately, the locals have been such a pain anyway.'
I grimaced, recalling the unpleasant incidents from my recent market trips, but soon calmed down and reviewed the orphanage's recent budget, expenditures, and profit margins.
And I reached the conclusion I'd been mulling over for days.
'Time to spin the Orphan Gacha.'
The numbers said we could expand the product lineup without issue. Well, "temporary" staffer Laila had crunched those numbers, but... anyway.
The steady donations from the Beril Family over the past year had played a big role. They'd boosted net profits quickly, giving us some breathing room.
'Not that we can pull a ton of them...'
Still, ten pulls should be doable. All that gacha currency saved over the year was paying off.
Probability being what it is, ten pulls would probably just net me 1-Star Orphans or 2-Star Orphans, but the thought that maybe—just maybe—a 3-Star Orphan or higher would pop kept swirling in my head.
And to spin the gacha, you need not just the currency, but to head to a spot where it's possible.
"Let's go, Laila."
"Yes..."
I set out from the orphanage with Laila, my back-alley local guide.
At first, with no background or connections, I'd just wandered into random alleys yelling blindly. But now that I had a product-slash-connection-slash-"temporary" staffer in Laila—who knew the back-alley ecosystem inside out—there was no need for that. Having her made things way easier.
However.
'...Is today the day or something?'
Laila's face was stiff as we walked together. Considering how she'd always begged to tag along on outings before, it was pretty odd.
Maybe she was scared to return to the back alleys. Unlikely, but she might worry I'd ditch her now.
So I smiled and reassured her.
"Don't worry, Laila. I won't abandon you or anything. You're our orphanage's 'temporary' staffer and big sister, after all."
"Director... Yes, I'm a temporary 'staffer.'"
Of course you are. You're our aspiring noble, the one who's gonna secure my pension and retirement—why would I toss you away?
Ditching Laila would only save me on environmental cleanup fines for discarding a special product. After all the sunk costs I've poured into her? No way I'd go crazy like that.
Buoyed a bit by my words, Laila let out a sigh, then led me on with resolved eyes.
"Director, have you ever gone into the back alleys when heading to market or anything?"
"Nope."
"Good. This might sound rude, but please just follow my lead no matter what. The back alleys have all these factions tangled up—get caught in the wrong one, and it's big trouble."
"Got it."
I understood. The Orphan Gacha probabilities could shift? Like pulling thugs instead of orphans.
Most infuriating gacha scenario ever, so I decided to follow Laila's lead obediently. Instead of our usual roadside path, we stepped into the dark crevices between buildings.
"Then you probably don't know about the divided zones in the back alleys either?"
"Zones?"
"The spot you came to last time was a sort of neutral ground. That's how me and the little ones... managed to survive. But there aren't many orphans there for you to recruit."
"So where are the orphans?"
"There are zones. Places where kids abandoned by the world, by their parents, by everyone... gather."
Laila strode confidently through the back alleys as she said this. We passed men with menacing glares now and then, but since Laila was heading to a clear neutral zone, they just clicked their tongues and toyed with their daggers.
On the surface, it looked like any ordinary back alley—no neutral zone signs or borders—but the factions still avoided stirring up trouble here.
They just eyed me and Laila with greedy looks.
How long did we walk like that?
"Hey, Laila?"
"Is something wrong, Director?"
"Not doubting you or anything, but... it feels like we're going in circles. You sure about this path?"
"...Yes. The alleys all look alike, so it might seem that way. We're almost there."
I'd suspected as much, but of course. No reason for Laila to lead me around in loops.
Laila, suddenly quieter, headed straight somewhere.
Soon the alleys opened up into a small plaza-like area. And there...
"........."
Kids.
A good number of them, huddled under makeshift shelters of discarded wood planks, tents of rags, or straw mats.
As me and Laila—the uninvited guests—entered this orphans-only spot, several kids approached, clutching daggers or rocks.
"Who the hell are you? Get lost!"
"New faces... not Homias Gang either."
"No grown-ass bastards allowed here. If you're coming, just the girl—beat it before I stick you."
A few scrappy kids, acting like the action squad leaders, crowded in barking threats. But my attention wasn't on them.
Their blades gleamed with no shine at all, despite being drawn. Meant no talent for swordplay or combat—straight-up 1-Star Orphans.
Sure, they might have other talents, but that wasn't my takeaway right now.
'This place is a gold mine.'
Or orphan mine? Anyway, it was overflowing with untested orphans ripe for the gacha. How many 2-Star Orphans here? 3-Stars? Maybe even higher.
So I patted Laila's head—glaring back at the squad leaders—and stepped forward.
"Hey, kids. I'm the director of that orphanage over there. Today—"
"Ptooey!"
...Hmm.
"Not just some bastard—you're human scum, huh? Your orphanage livestock getting scrawny, so you come to round us up?"
"Orphanage director? Just kill him! My little bro got dragged to one last time...!!"
"Stab him!"
The moment I revealed I was an orphanage director, the prospective products—mere threat-posturing before—went berserk. Some even had murder in their eyes.
I was about to ask Laila what to do in this situation, but...
"How dare you... spit at the Director?!"
"Hey, Laila? Calm down."
"Director, you saw that? I get how you feel, but this is reality—these beggar bastards' treatment. So let's head back."
"Head back?"
"The orphans are rejecting you—what can we do? Let's go for now... and try again later."
"You rejected me at first too."
"........."
"It's always the same, Laila. And you said you know how I feel."
"Very director-like..."
"Yeah, I'll do my director duty. Save more orphans..."
Stock up on more products to generate more profit.
That was my sole purpose.
"So, kids?"
"Watch the perimeter! He brought thugs!"
"Protect the girls and little ones! Can't let that scum take 'em!"
"Everyone, when I signal, we'll—"
"Breakfast, lunch, dinner every day. Every meal comes with warm bread."
"...Huh?"
"Dinner includes meat. No late-night snacks for health reasons, but daily different treats."
"What the...?"
"About twenty beds total. Wake-up time's free, but sleep in and breakfast might be gone. Mornings to lunch are free time; afternoons are talent-and-aptitude-matched training, with pay after."
"........."
"Only three obligations at our orphanage."
"Get exploited, work through the night, get abused by scum like you?"
"Eat well, sleep well, grow well. That's it."
Gotta fatten 'em up to sell high. That's what I thought as I pushed Laila forward.
My "temporary" staffer, who'd feared and distrusted me just like these prospects a year ago.
"Laila here was just like you. Screamed that orphanage directors can't be trusted, all the same. Even snuck out nights after arriving to scout the place."
"Wha, Director? You knew?"
"Of course. But it didn't matter. It's an orphanage, and orphanages are... for you kids only."
The prospects had gone quiet. Even if they didn't believe my words, they felt the sincerity in my voice.
As the kids murmured, eyes full of wariness and doubt raining down...
"Fine, orphanage director. Say that's true."
"You're...?"
"Then let's ask directly—how many kids here will follow you?"
A boy stepped forward from the prospects. And the moment I saw him, I knew.
That intense, pure light.
A 3-Star Orphan!
"Right? If you're a 'real' orphanage director... you'd only take volunteers?"
"Of course. You included."
"Me? Sorry, no dice. Unless every kid here goes to your place."
Recruitment conditions for 3-Stars and up? Probably had 'Leader' talent. He was clearly leading the prospects now, acting to his aptitude—that's why the light shone.
The 3-Star Orphan boy scanned the plaza and shouted.
"Anyone here wanna go with this orphanage director, step up! You know my style—no cursing deserters, no holding anyone back. Do what you want!"
And...
Silence from everyone.
"See?"
"......Yeah."
"You're definitely different from the orphanage directors I've seen. A real one. But... not everyone thinks so."
"............"
"We get by fine on our own. So leave. If you're a real orphanage director."
Damn, the more I see, the more I want him.
Leading the kids like that, total obedience without pushback or suspicion, charisma mixed with humor just right...
Peak 3-Star Orphan vibes. How could I not?
'But nothing doing for now.'
Gotta build rapport with this 3-Star boy first—head back today...?
"Me."
"...Tricksy?"
"I'll go. That's okay, right, Kyle?"
"Wait! You're serious...!!"
"Andrew."
"But Kyle!"
"I just said—gonna make me a liar?"
"...S-Sorry."
The 3-Star Orphan boy Kyle lightly subdued the big kid with a glance, then approached the girl who'd raised her hand.
I half-expected threats or warnings, but...
"Just remember that, Tricksy. We're always open to you... run back if it's dangerous."
"Got it. And these kids are coming too."
"You sure? You and them at Happy Orphanage..."
"It's fine, don't worry."
Not just Tricksy, but about five more kids behind her stood up. Though their group's leader seemed Tricksy, they all looked uneasy.
Trust and faith between them a bit lacking, but the scene felt familiar—like Laila and her siblings.
"......?"
"........."
I locked eyes with a red-haired girl.
With utterly empty eyes.
"So, can I call you Director from today?"
"Hm? Of course."
"Please take care of me. In every way."
"I'll take care of you too. Laila, she's gonna be your fellow orphanage kid now—say hi."
"...Take care of me. I'm Laila."
"I'm Tricksy."
"Right, Tricksy. Our orphanage is great... as long as you don't cause trouble."
"I'll be careful."
Unlike Laila's cold gaze, the product called Tricksy gave a slight smirk.
Seeing that smile, I intuited.
'This product...'
Used goods?