Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: 2. Orphan Gacha Probability-Up Event
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After the shocking breakfast came to an end.
Lunchtime meant free time, and the kids, who had gathered in one room right away, wore bewildered expressions.
"Free time...? So, we can really do whatever we want? Freely? For real?"
"...Couldn't find any whips or handcuffs."
"Ah, no, that's not the point right now! That breakfast we just ate..."
At one kid's words, everyone hesitated and fell silent. It wasn't because that kid had done something wrong or for any negative reason.
It was because the taste of the breakfast they'd eaten just moments ago—the freshly baked white bread and warm soup—still lingered in their mouths.
"Delicious..."
"Much better than moldy bread or muddy water... yeah."
The kids openly glanced at Tricksy. Since she was their leader, and she'd warned them not to be fooled by things like beds, it was hard not to watch her reaction.
But Tricksy said nothing.
She, too, was deep in her own considerable shock.
'It was really, really delicious.'
It was the kind of taste that she would've kept devouring even if it had been laced with sleeping pills or paralytics.
For Tricksy, who had considered a slightly moldy loaf of bread tossed to her by the orphanage director after a day of labor as the height of luxury, the freshly baked bread and soup had been far too great a shock.
"It's a trap... has to be."
"............"
"Definitely. What orphanage director gives orphans like us freshly baked bread and soup? It's all to lower our guard..."
"H-Hey, but Tricksy. You saw it too. The other kids ate it like it was normal..."
"......... "
"Even Eric bragged that he made the bread himself..."
An orphanage is a hell on earth, a grave for orphans, a place filled only with whips and abuse.
When that common sense she'd taken for granted—something she'd experienced firsthand—began to crack, Tricksy couldn't keep her composure.
Could they really steal away the orphans from a place like this? Would they even want to leave?
No, before that.
"Can't we... just stay here?"
"......... "
"I mean, yeah. We got permission from the director to come to this orphanage, right? So we don't really need to... run away or anything."
Would Tricksy—and the other kids—want to go back to Happy Orphanage?
After agonizing amid the wavering kids for a while, Tricksy turned her head.
Toward Karen, who had remained silent through it all.
"Karen, what do you think?"
"About what?"
"The bread and soup."
"Makes no difference to me."
"What?"
"Once it's in my mouth, everything just tastes like dirt anyway. Doesn't matter what they serve."
Right, Karen was always like that. That's why the director had included her in this spy mission, saying there was no worry of her betraying them.
And ironically, that attitude helped Tricksy reach a decision.
"It's all a trap. It has to be."
"Tr-Tricksy..."
"I knew it!"
Otherwise.
What was all the suffering I've been through? If this place is a normal orphanage, then what was the place I was at before?
What's the difference between them eating freshly baked bread and soup, and me treating even moldy bread as a luxury?
Luck? Just that?
"They'll show their true colors soon. They definitely will—"
"Kids, you there?"
Knock knock.
In the midst of her emotional outburst, a knock sounded. The director was asking if he could come in—something that would never happen at Happy Orphanage.
While Tricksy floundered, the door opened, and the orphanage director entered with a warm smile.
"You're all here. Normally, this would be talent training time, but you're new, so..."
"Talent... training?"
"Come along for now? It's something essential at our orphanage."
See? Showing their true colors already.
Lulling us with beds, freshly baked bread, warm soup to build goodwill, then tricking us like this. Obvious. I've seen through it all.
Tricksy and the kids followed the director. Whenever Karen, walking with empty eyes, lagged behind, the director thoughtfully slowed his pace to accommodate her.
And the place they arrived at was.
"This is...?"
"Pick something you like. That'll be enough."
"Wh-What are we supposed to do with these?"
"We're checking your talents and aptitudes. I have a pretty good eye for it."
Talents? Aptitudes? What do you want with an orphan's talents?
We're just livestock to you anyway. A livestock's talent is eating little and working hard without complaint. Then toss us out when we die.
Surely that's it.
"Oh, you have a talent for the sword. You can take the wooden one."
"You... handle the harmonica well. First time touching one? Impressive!"
"Hm, doesn't seem like you have a talent for mending. But don't be discouraged. The important thing is to try as much as possible."
The director's smile, as he paid attention to each child and offered kind words.
It seemed utterly free of any ulterior motives.
"So, Tricksy? What's your talent?"
"...Obvious."
"Hm?"
"This."
In an instant, Tricksy stole the wallet from the director's pocket. And then she froze.
'What did I just do?'
It was a pathetic act of defiance. Born from her twisted conviction that he must have ulterior motives, that he was definitely deceiving them.
You're crazy, Tricksy. You've finally lost it.
'No, maybe.'
This way, I can see the director's true nature. Show it to the other kids. Confirm it for myself.
That all orphanage directors are scum, less than human.
That it would've been the same no matter which orphanage I went to. That it wasn't just my luck that made me end up like this.
To prove that...
"No, Tricksy. That's not your talent."
"Pardon? What do you..."
"You seem to have excellent handicraft skills."
"...You're right. That's why I do stuff like this."
"No, that's not your talent. Want to try this clay?"
"What's the point of touching something like this...?"
"Make whatever you want. Anything at all."
What I want? That's obvious.
Freshly baked white bread, not moldy bread.
Warm soup, not muddy water.
Even if it's all deception and lies, I want those again—
"Look, Tricksy."
"Wh-What...?"
"You made this."
And there sat bread and soup. Of course, not real ones. Just clay models, but so exquisitely detailed that one might mistake them for the real thing at a glance.
"I... made this?"
"That's your talent, Tricksy. Not something to waste on pickpocketing or theft."
"........."
"You could become a fine artisan."
"Me...?"
"Of course. I guarantee it."
Who are you to guarantee anything? Who are you to talk about my future?
Who the hell are you?
"You're one of our orphanage's kids, and I'm your director."
"...Ah."
"You can definitely do it."
Jackpot.
Five pulls on Laila's turn, and five more now—I'd prayed for at least 2-Star Orphans.
Never expected a 3-Star Orphan to show up here.
'Though the glow is dimmer than the 3-Star Orphan I met in the alley.'
It's still brighter than any 2-Star. In fact, Tricksy's glow was so dazzling that the other kids' lights were invisible.
Wasting talent like this on pickpocketing is a massive loss.
'Proper artisans make enormous money from a single piece.'
Bakers, cooks, farmers are one thing, but raising an artisan is a different league... Still, it's necessary for product processing, so I'll handle it. Anyway, a 3-Star Orphan. Considering most artisans and artists in the city are 2-Star level, this is tremendous potential.
Can't let a product like this slip away. Even if it's used goods from another orphanage, no reason to refuse.
'She volunteered to join, and she acts like she's used to dealing with me. Must've bounced between orphanages or acted the same elsewhere.'
I don't know the details. But I don't care about motives—if the reward is a 3-Star Orphan, I can smash through any ulterior ones head-on. I've adventured some, and I have a bit of connections.
Besides, who says you can only sell fresh, wild-caught new orphans? Even repackaged used ones disguised as new—consumers won't know. Quality is what matters for products.
Meanwhile, Tricksy fiddled with the clay in disbelief. She occasionally picked up nearby thread and needle, and each time, a strong glow appeared. Seemed like her talent was specifically classified as 'Handicraft.'
'Which idiot orphanage let a goldmine like this go? I almost want to thank them.'
Orphan Gacha is a huge success. Process and sell Tricksy right, and I'll rake in a fortune.
Of course, doesn't mean the other products aren't important. Main items matter, but a merchant pays attention to everything they sell.
One 1-Star Orphan, but the other two are 2-Stars. I turned last to the girl with fiery red hair.
Product name was... Karen, right?
'No glow even after touching all sorts of things.'
So two 1-Star Orphans including her. 1-Stars have their uses too. 2-Stars cost more to train their talents anyway. Pros and cons.
For now, focus on the 3-Star...
"...Hm?"
In the talent assessment room stocked with dough, thread and needle, hoes, clay, wooden swords, and more.
While the other kids discovered their talents, got excited, and marveled.
Karen showed no reaction, drifting past everything with utter disinterest, like she couldn't care less. She only touched because I ordered it—no voluntary interest at all.
As Karen, walking with vacant eyes, stumbled and bumped into a display shelf holding various items.
Before the product could get damaged, I quickly lunged to catch her.
"Karen, you okay!?"
"...Why'd you save me?"
"What?"
"It's just gonna get hurt anyway. Such a trivial thing—why bother?"
"Karen?"
"It's all pointless anyway."
Karen spat out utterly pessimistic words without any resistance. She didn't try to escape my arms or make any other moves. Even if I tossed her away right then, she'd have accepted it.
'Defective product?'
I'd seen this vibe occasionally during my adventurer days. Adventurers who'd lost all their party or faced insurmountable despair often looked like this.
What the hell did she go through to become defective merchandise? I weighed the A/S costs against 1-Star sales prices as I picked up the fallen items.
Then, as Karen reached out—perhaps deciding to help—and picked up a book from the floor.
Flash!
'Crazy!'
Startled by the light exploding in front of my eyes, but it vanished the moment Karen let go of the book. I immediately checked the title.
It was a basic magic tome.
Meaning Karen had magic talent.
And not just any.
"...Jackpot."
Surpassing not only 2-Stars, but even the 3-Star I'd just seen from Tricksy.
A 4-Star Orphan level of talent.