Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: 2. Orphan Gacha Probability-Up Event
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“Then Hella! I’m counting on you! Seriously!”
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“Got it.”
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“Be as careful as possible! Don’t let her get a single scratch!”
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“I said I got it.”
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Even after the orphanage director repeated his earnest pleas several more times and finally left the room.
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Hella turned her head to look at Karen.
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It was a gaze utterly cold, nothing like the one she’d directed at the director moments before.
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“That guy’s such a worrywart. Honestly, I never imagined he’d end up doing something like this.”
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“............”
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“Orphanage director... Well, he must really care about the kids, seeing as he called even me here for your sake.”
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“...Magic.”
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“Hm?”
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“You’re here... to teach me magic, right?”
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“Pretty impatient, aren’t you? Our scout told me you were supposed to be quiet and level-headed.”
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“I need to learn magic.”
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“Why?”
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“...To become a noble.”
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“Hmm, a noble, huh.”
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Hella stared at Karen for a moment before curling her lips in amusement.
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“Well, that makes sense. But your real goal is something else, isn’t it? The one you haven’t even told your director about.”
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“............”
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“You’re trying to hide it, but it’s no use against my magic. My ‘system’ specializes in that.”
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“...System?”
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“You’ve only read the basic magic book so far, right? A system is a mage’s specialization. It’s like choosing the direction your magic will take—what spells you’ll use, how you’ll advance. You can’t even learn magic outside your system.”
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“So my system... is fire, then?”
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Whoosh.
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As Karen conjured a fireball above her hand, Hella let out a whistle.
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“Impressive talent, for sure. Well, it’s the talent our scout picked, so no surprise there.”
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“...So?”
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“Unfortunately, that doesn’t confirm it. That’s just basic magic for mages who haven’t awakened their system yet. Elemental magic is the most stable, so it’s in the basic books. Once you properly awaken your system, you won’t use spells like that anymore.”
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“Then how... do you learn your system?”
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“Listen to you. They say a puppy doesn’t fear a tiger, and awakening your system means being recognized as a full-fledged mage. I get that you’re a genius, but that’s a whole different story. Even the scout probably can’t tell that far.”
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“............”
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“Do you know what it means that the scout noticed you?”
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“...Does knowing that help with my magic training?”
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“Not really? But you should know anyway. Our scout... has a really good eye.”
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Scout—did she mean the orphanage director?
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Honestly, Karen didn’t care much, but Hella seemed different.
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She continued as if it had to be said.
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“It’s not just good eyesight. He has a special knack for it.”
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“...Special?”
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“He’s exceptional at spotting others’ talents and aptitudes. Plenty of adventurers owe their success to him. That’s why we call him a scout.”
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“.........I see.”
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“So—honestly, I don’t want you anywhere near Yujin.”
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In that instant.
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The mana from Hella that Karen had sensed earlier turned into a clear threat, crashing down on her. Her breath caught. She felt trapped from all sides. It crushed her.
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In the sudden life-threatening pressure, Karen hastily manifested a fireball.
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But Hella flicked her finger, and the fireball shrank as if trapped, then vanished completely.
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“Like I said, my system let me see you have ulterior motives. Mine is ‘Protection.’”
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“Pro...tection.”
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“It’s not just shielding—it lets me see what someone needs protecting from. So I can roughly gauge how big a threat they are... Oh my, you’re extremely dangerous. Far beyond some dream of becoming a noble.”
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“.........”
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“Well, wanting to be a noble is probably true. But that’s just a stepping stone, right? Your real goal is something else. And once I realized how dangerous that goal is, I had to think hard. Should I really let you stay near our scout?”
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“Urk...!!”
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“You’re a genius. That much is clear. But from my experience... there are plenty of geniuses, but someone with the scout’s eye? You won’t find another in the entire empire.”
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Crunch.
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Under the intensifying pressure, Karen was being crushed by something like an invisible wall.
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Hella’s eyes remained ice-cold.
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“No matter how young you are, the moment you learn magic, you could easily kill someone like Yujin. Should I really teach a dangerous girl like you and let you stay by his side? It’s quite the dilemma.”
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“Ugh...”
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“Get what I’m saying?”
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“W-What...”
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“Be grateful to our scout.”
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“Huh...?”
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Whoosh.
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With a single gesture from Hella, the near-death pressure lifted just as suddenly as it had come.
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But Hella’s cold gaze hadn’t softened as she stepped closer to Karen.
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“If the scout didn’t treasure you so much, you’d already be done for. But he chose to be an orphanage director and is caring for you orphans.”
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“.........”
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“Did you know you had magic talent? No? Even if you did, how much could one orphan learn? You’ve hit the jackpot in life. The scout spotted you, recognized your talent, and even called me here for you. Yet you act entitled, demanding magic lessons to become a noble, hiding your true intentions, only thinking of yourself—that’s why I gave you a little demonstration.”
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“............”
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“Having received this much, you’ll have to pay the price, of course. What can you do for our scout?”
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What can I... do for him?
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That, well...
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“Money, or my body...”
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“Don’t be ridiculous. You think he wants that?”
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“.........”
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“Anyway, a deal’s a deal, so I’ll teach you until I’m satisfied. But think hard about what you can do for the scout. Selfish mages who only think of themselves don’t last long.”
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Like me in the past.
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Hella muttered the last part so softly as she pulled a much thicker magic book from her bosom than the basic one.
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“Then let’s start the lesson.”
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“.........”
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“I need to properly assess your talent too.”
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This was supposed to be the magic lesson she’d been waiting for, the means to her burning ambition.
Why was it...
──Think hard about what you can do for the scout.
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Hella’s words circled endlessly in Karen’s mind instead of magic.
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*
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“So, how is she?”
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“What do you mean? It’s the kid you picked. Of course she’s a monster.”
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“Right?”
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I nodded with a grin at Hella’s nonchalant reply.
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It felt like getting an A+ on a product evaluation. I’d seen it with my own eyes, but having a pro mage vouch for it was something else.
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Doesn’t a product feel more trustworthy with ‘Top-Rated Review!’ or ‘Certified by Whatever Association!’ plastered on it? You end up wanting to buy it even if you didn’t before. Same principle.
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And Hella was a mage whose personality and skill were inversely proportional. Certification from a Magic Tower mage? Even better.
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“You look pleased.”
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“Can’t help it. As orphanage director, how could I not be happy that one of our kids has talent?”
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“You’re the one who found that talent. Like old times.”
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“I told you back then too. I just had a feeling.”
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I hadn’t told anyone about my ability to gauge talents and aptitudes. Not even Hella, an old comrade from way back.
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There was a bad memory involved.
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‘I nearly had my eyes gouged out when I first mentioned it...’
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What an amazing world. If I hadn’t snatched the dagger from in front of my sleeping face and stabbed back, my life would’ve ended right there.
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After that, I kept my ability completely secret. I only hinted at talents or aptitudes by saying I had a good eye.
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Some didn’t believe me, of course, but enough did that even without combat skills, I joined Hella’s party compared to others. Got some connections as a bonus.
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“Anyway, Hella, take good care of Karen from now on.”
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“Hmm, now that I think about it, going back and forth from the Magic Tower to this backwater might get tiring...”
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“You’re teleporting anyway.”
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“Should I charge you for it now?”
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“Where’s the fatigue!? I’ll give you a massage right now! Or snacks!”
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“Pass. More importantly, Yujin.”
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“Yeah?”
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“I took a walk around outside the orphanage earlier... and some shady guys with bad intent were eyeing it.”
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“.........”
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“You know?”
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“Yeah, something like that.”
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I thought the outskirts location away from the city center would be fine, but they’ve come all the way here to lurk.
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I even went to the next city over to buy supplies because of it...
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“Handle it?”
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“If I left it to you, it’d just get worse. Don’t worry—it’s my job anyway.”
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“...I just like seeing you enjoy being orphanage director. You were grinning ear to ear earlier when the kids clung to you calling ‘Director! Director!’”
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“Was I?”
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What can I do? Each of those products is my retirement fund—how can I not smile?
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“And the kids looked healthy too. Nothing like the orphanages you see sometimes.”
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“I think we’re just average.”
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“Be proud. Kids raised in a place like this will surely turn out great.”
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“Yeah, probably.”
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As Hella and I chatted about the industry and product quality, Laila came in with snacks.
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“Director, guest. Please have some.”
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“Thanks.”
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“Tha...nks, Laila. But isn’t it free time now...?”
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“Where’s free time for staff?”
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“Uh, well.”
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“What a diligent employee. Magic Tower apprentices could learn from her.”
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“Thank you. So, are you the director’s acquaintance?”
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“Acquaintance? Probably something thicker than that.”
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“...Thicker?”
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“Mud’s thicker than water. Thinking back to when we first met still gives me chills.”
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“Hey, Yujin? We’re not at that level of reminiscing.”
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“The first thing he did was drag a fancy chair into the guild hall, plop down, and point around saying he needed a decent servant───”
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“Di-Director! Director!”
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“Tricksy? What’s wrong?”
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Lost in reminiscing about reuniting with Hella after so long, Tricksy burst into the parlor, looking like she’d run here in a panic.
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Tricksy flinched at Laila sitting beside me but quickly pulled herself together and shouted at me.
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“Karen, Karen...!!”
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“What about Karen?”
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“Karen got dragged off by the other kids!”
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“What!?”
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“No way, the back-alley thugs?”
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“N-No, Laila, it’s not...”
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Tricksy fidgeted awkwardly, but seeing my serious face, she spilled it.
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“By... city kids.”
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“......Damn.”
I’d figured some friction was inevitable. But.
‘How dare they steal my merchandise...!?’
Thieves are not forgiven.
It was a basic principle of merchants.