Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: 3. The Orphanage's Peaceful Daily Life
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Hella finished her lessons and left. She'd said she'd teach until she was satisfied, but she departed sooner than expected, which was quite surprising.
Still, it was a good thing. If Karen unnecessarily realized her potential, she might sell for relatively less.
'She said stuff like "Can I really trust you?" before leaving.'
From way back, the proper way to handle Hella's words was to let them go in one ear and out the other. It wasn't just me—my other companions did the same.
The only regrettable part about Hella leaving was that I'd hoped she might buy Karen while she was here. Even with a 2-Star Orphan like Eric, it was something, but a 4-Star Orphan like Karen would fetch a much bigger sum.
Unfortunately, Hella didn't buy Karen. Actually, that turned out for the best. It would've been awkward if she'd demanded a friend discount.
On top of that, in-person purchases are cheaper than delivery, right? In that light, I nearly sold off the expensive product Karen at maximum discount.
'I almost made a mistake like that, blinded by Eric's sale price.'
The discount a merchant talks about is just a ploy to lure in customers. Even if they bring a discount coupon, they hit you with all sorts of restrictions and limits, barely giving any real savings.
Reflect on it, reflect. I'm just a novice merchant who sold his first product. Overconfidence is forbidden.
In the end, there's only one thing I can do right now.
"Laila, are you okay?"
"What... do you mean?"
"About Eric leaving."
Product care.
It was the virtue and basics of a merchant, and something I always had to do.
It wasn't strange to have a one-on-one talk with Laila, who seemed a bit down after Eric's adoption.
"I know you're sad that one of your beloved little siblings has left. But... the other kids will leave the orphanage soon too. They'll meet good parents and good people and get adopted. That's what an orphanage is for."
"......"
"Someday, you will too."
Ah, of course, I didn't forget the gaslighting. The Beril Count Family is waiting for you, right? No way I'm missing out on that noble pension.
"Thank you for the comfort, Director. But I'm fine."
"Hm?"
"Since I'll have to keep experiencing goodbyes if I stay on as orphanage staff anyway. I've already prepared myself for it."
"...Right, you're a 'temporary' staff member."
"Yes, temporary 'staff.' Besides, if it's you, Director, you'll send my siblings to the best places, won't you?"
"Of course."
"I can trust you, Director. So I'm okay."
Laila nodded with a smile, as if she really was fine. It was fortunate that the product's condition had improved, but separately from that, the gaslighting had failed again today. Of course, I'd try again tomorrow.
"Eric went to the neighboring village anyway, so he can visit the orphanage often, right? Thank you for your consideration, Director."
"Consideration?"
"You deliberately had him adopted nearby for our sake."
Well, it was intentional, but for reputation management, not for the products. Still, strictly speaking, it wasn't wrong.
'She's fine now, but some products might develop resistance to being sold. There are self-returning products out there, so it's bound to happen.'
In that situation, if a sold product comes back to the orphanage looking much happier and hangs out with everyone? Then the other products would naturally not resist sales.
If I keep that up, I could build an orphan network, or even an orphanage alumni association made up of our graduates. Through that, I could gather all sorts of info and run the orphanage business even smoother.
"Of course. It's all for you kids."
"You're the best, Director."
"Thanks. Oh, right. How have things been with Karen lately?"
Laila and Karen. They're the most important products in the orphanage business right now. In other words, the ones I need to manage with the most care.
Especially since if their relationship soured like last time, it'd be a problem. Laila's already locked in for nobility, and Karen will probably sell to some noble house too. That would make these two our orphanage's top outputs. In other words, they'd lead the orphanage alumni association, the orphanage cartel.
'No pointless faction fights, though.'
Moreover, with Laila acting more like temporary staff than an orphanage kid right now, if she and Karen truly came to hate each other, the Karen-led kids might rebel against the orphanage. Overthinking? Honestly, Karen's attitude makes it seem excessive, but since this is a real risk, I had to guard against even wild delusions.
One wrong move, and we could have an orphanage kids' union. As a merchant and businessman, that was one thing I had to avoid.
Just as a captain guards against mutiny on board, and a king prepares for coups or treason, a businessman must do the same with unions.
That's why I'd asked Laila about it first, but.
"Laila?"
Laila.
Squeezed her eyes shut.
As if recalling an unpleasant memory.
*
Laila quietly recalled the events from a few days ago.
Actually, it wasn't an unpleasant memory. If anything, it was one she should sigh in relief over.
While helping the Director and Damian tend the vegetable garden behind the orphanage as usual.
"La, Laila sis! Director! Run away!"
"Damian? Why all of a sudden...?"
"Wild boar! A wild boar's here!"
"What?"
"Oh no, Damian!"
"Oink!!"
Thud thud thud!!
A house-sized wild boar smashed through the orphanage fence and charged in. The massive thing, nearly 3 meters long, trampled the garden crops and barreled straight at Damian, but the Director threw himself in and barely saved him.
It wasn't some ordinary wild animal, of course. A tiny fraction of wild animals absorb mana and become beasts, and this giant wild boar was one such beast.
"Laila, are you okay!? It doesn't seem like it's been a beast for long, thankfully..."
"D-Director."
"It's too dangerous, so everyone stay behind me and don't move."
"Oink!!"
"Damn beast, how dare you...!!"
Was it because Damian and she had nearly been hurt? The Director glared at the beast with murderous rage.
The beast tried to charge at the Director right away, but.
Whoosh!!
"Oink!?"
"Father! Are you okay!?"
"Karen!"
"How dare a mere beast go after Father!!"
"Oink!!"
Karen appeared out of nowhere and torched the beast with a fireball, saving their lives.
But even after the beast stopped breathing, Karen kept unleashing fireballs, not satisfied. The Director had to personally stop her rampage to finally halt it.
"That's enough, Karen."
"B-But Father! You!"
"Not that—any more and it'll burn too much to eat."
"...Huh?"
"Beasts can use mana, so their meat is incredibly tasty. Thanks to you, we'll all have a special dinner tonight. We survived because of you, Karen."
"Father..."
"We would've been in danger without you. Thank you so much."
"If it's for you, Father... it was only natural."
And watching that. Watching Karen get petted by the Director.
Laila could only watch helplessly. Afterward, she calmed the terrified Damian while clenching her fist.
It wasn't jealousy of Karen. Karen had saved Laila, Damian, and the Director. Even if Laila didn't like Karen, she wouldn't resent her for this.
But instead.
Laila felt powerless.
'If only.'
If only she had talent like Karen. Even if not magic, talent in something else.
Then she could've protected the Director right now.
'...Strength, strength.'
She'd known deep in her bones since before coming to the orphanage that she lacked strength. When she lived in the back alleys with her siblings, strength was what she'd desperately wanted most.
But she had no talent for sword or magic. If she'd had talent in some other field, maybe, but on her first day, the Director had told her personally that she had none.
Until now, she'd never resented that. Talent or no, Laila was the orphanage's big sister, temporary staff, and helping the Director was her dream.
'I...'
Laila had subconsciously thought she was special. That she was the only one who could stay by the Director's side. That unlike the other kids who got adopted, she'd remain at the orphanage forever.
That's why she'd been jealous of Karen monopolizing the Director's attention.
'But with talent like that, it's unavoidable.'
Even to Laila, ignorant of magic, Karen's talent shone brilliantly. A younger kid felling such a massive beast in an instant. Seeing those flames, she had no choice but to accept it.
That's why she gets the Director's favor. That's why he pays her attention. That's why he cares for her.
So that's why.
"......"
"Laila, thank Karen too. We survived thanks to her, and now we get a delicious dinner."
"...Thanks, Karen."
"I only did what was natural, Laila sis."
What was natural.
To Karen, facing beasts and protecting the Director was 'natural.' As if it was her duty, like... the orphanage's bodyguard.
From some point on, Karen had started calling the Director 'Father' and actively following him. And to Laila's eyes, the way Karen looked at the Director was a bit different from how the other kids did.
A little deeper, a little heavier, a little darker.
'Like... me.'
But Karen had earned the right to show those feelings. She'd protected the Director with her own power. She'd proven her role.
...Of course, Laila knew. She helped the Director in different ways than Karen. Sorting documents, managing the kids, preparing meals—she actually helped far more than Karen.
But that wasn't enough. Laila wanted to be irreplaceable, the one and only to the Director.
Like a child craving special love from a parent, like a kid wanting to be the main character.
That's how Laila wanted the Director's affection, so.
"...Director."
"What is it? Did something happen with Karen...?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"Anything, Laila."
"Tonight, tonight."
Laila.
Asked the Director with trembling eyes.
"Sleep with me, Director."
"...Huh?"