Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: 3. Peaceful Days at the Orphanage
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Homias had fled 20 minutes ago.
If he was really going to fetch those documents, he should have been back by now. But neither Laila nor Galen reacted.
Of course. What those two were after wasn't the documents Homias would bring—it was the backup he'd fetch.
Just as they were waiting in the ruins of the battered Homias Gang hideout...
Thud!
“Guhk!”
“...What is this?”
“What do you mean? We've captured the insolent rat who ran from you.”
In the end, Homias did return. And he wasn't alone. This much Laila and Galen had anticipated.
But they hadn't expected him to come back beaten black and blue, trussed up tight and dragged along.
The man who'd hauled Homias in—a fellow with a generous face—wiped his sweat and greeted Laila and Galen.
“Pleased to meet you both. Name's Hodrick.”
“So? What's this mean?”
“As you see it. As loyal subjects of the Empire's shield and the North's bulwark—the Beril Count Family—living peacefully free of monster incursions, we wish to aid the Count Family's endeavors.”
Galen narrowed his eyes at Hodrick's words. He'd left behind every piece of armor and sword emblazoned with the Beril crest, shrouded himself thoroughly in a robe. He'd even deliberately avoided the family's secret sword techniques. And yet, his identity was seen through?
Around the time Galen grasped Hodrick's true nature from that formidable intelligence-gathering...
“Information Guild, right?”
“Indeed, Lady Laila. As expected of the Beril Count Family's adopted daughter.”
Not just Galen's identity, but Laila's background too—Hodrick bowed his head with a friendly smile, as if he knew it all. It looked like a warm smile, but Laila wouldn't let her guard down.
Information Guild. A name she'd occasionally heard whispered in the back alleys while scraping by. An organization said to span the entire Empire, with no secret beyond their reach.
Shrouded in urban legend, its origins unknown. But from the moment Homias named them as his backup, Laila had taken interest. This was an opportunity.
‘I have no talents. I can't protect the Director directly... but information changes everything.’
Unlike Karen with her magic or raw combat prowess, Laila needed another path. Helping with orphanage chores was fine, but she had no intention of settling for mediocrity.
‘Just as the Director became special to me, I want to become... special to him.’
Every orphan harbored that desire. The craving for connection.
Abandoned by parents, left to survive alone—orphans often twisted inward or grew resentful of the world. And they yearned even more for special bonds. Humans were too lonely to endure solitude.
Family, friends, comrades—any form would do. Orphans fixated on such ties, especially extraordinary ones. Cast off from the closest, most profound bond of parent and child, they sought something even deeper.
That's why Laila had clung to her siblings in the alleys. Why she'd rejected the Director's good intentions. But now?
‘Eric got adopted. And it doesn't even faze me.’
Sure, it stung a little. She missed him. But that was it. No hysterics demanding he stay, no deep depression. Not just Laila—the other kids too.
It meant one thing. To Laila and the siblings, the orphanage had become something even more special.
The others felt it too, but Laila especially craved that uniqueness with the Director.
‘This won't do.’
She had to help him more. Make him happier. Become someone he truly needed.
Only then would she become special to him, forging a bond just for them.
Not this one-sided crush—a mutual need. For that, she'd released Homias.
For this very moment.
“No long talks.”
“Speak.”
“Your approach like this means you're taking my hand, not his, right?”
“Our intel doesn't grow from the dirt. We should have approached the Beril Count Family's adopted daughter first—truly sorry to meet under such regrettable circumstances.”
“If you're truly sorry, can you accommodate me?”
“That depends on how things go between us.”
Hodrick bowed to Laila while drawing a firm line. The Guild hadn't opposed her and Galen—in fact, they'd captured Homias themselves.
Emphasizing equal partners, not master-servant.
“Who knows. Aren't you the ones who need me?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Information Guild—impressive outfit. Spanning the Empire, no secrets unknown. Rumors even say His Majesty the Emperor backs you.”
“You flatter us.”
“But impressive as the Guild is, you don't strike me as a member from somewhere like Luton.”
“.........”
The Information Guild spanned the Empire. Hence a branch even in a rural backwater like Luton. Impressive indeed.
But what valuable intel came from Luton? The branch here proved the Guild's reach—but also how little this place mattered internally.
The Luton branch likely held no real sway. And a guildmaster there?
‘A dead-end post unrelated to advancement, or exile for those who fell from favor.’
To Hodrick rotting away in Luton, how had Laila appeared?
Adopted daughter of the Empire's power player, Beril Count Family—poised to become a Countess someday. A lifeline from the heavens.
“First off, no complicated negotiations or one-sided dominance from me.”
“...What do you mean?”
“I want one thing: the Guild's intel network. Guarantee that, and I can help you. Though you'll have to work harder.”
One might call it the same as equal trade. But much had shifted. Laila had made clear what she desperately needed—and declared she wouldn't exploit his desperation one-sidedly.
Not pure master-servant. Nor fully equal. Think of Hodrick as her close aide.
And Hodrick...
“...I'm the Luton branch chief, for all my looks. As a Guild member, cooperating with you is always welcome, Lady Laila.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. Moreover, you'll be treated as the branch's highest VIP. For reference, above even the lord.”
“Perfect.”
Luton branch prioritizing her over Luton's own lord. That sufficed.
Hodrick, to escape this post and rise, had placed himself under her.
“Then your first task, Hodrick.”
“Speak, Lady Laila.”
“...I need a force to replace the Homias Gang. Ones who'll listen well.”
Galen for muscle, Hodrick for intel.
Both now under Laila's command.
‘For the Director.’
Time to rule Luton's shadows.
*
Something felt off lately.
Even strolling Luton's streets, I scanned surroundings carefully.
‘Stings a bit, somehow.’
I'd felt odd gazes in central Luton before, but they seemed harmless, so I'd ignored them. Even mentioned it to Laila as a minor worry.
But those glances I could dismiss as chance had grown bolder lately. I could spot glares here and there.
Likely Happy Orphanage remnants, rival orphanage pawns, or shady types. And their numbers were increasing.
Hide away?
‘Why should I?’
Had to hit central Luton for shopping anyway. Core raw material imports meant entering the back-alley orphan mines in town. Cower in the orphanage? If they besieged it, worse trouble.
No real reason to flee. Business was legit—plus, sheer force.
‘Sure, I'm weaker than those guys.’
Not really weak—party's bottom-ranker, always protected in fights—but that's because the others were brutally strong. No combat talent, but countless brushes with death.
Opponents weren't mages or knights. Just street toughs swinging blades. No reason for death-defying me to fear them.
Current orphanage power ranking: me at #2. (#1: 4-Star Orphan Karen, FYI.)
‘Lure 'em out first.’
Stroking the cleaver in my coat, I strolled central Luton pretending ignorance. Orphanage guarded by Hella's magic tools; briefed Karen and Laila on intruder response.
Karen was gung-ho; Laila just smiled. But 4-Star orphan power should handle most outsiders. More worried Karen's spells might torch the place and our assets.
No more hesitation—I headed to a deserted spot. Acting oblivious to tails or stares, making it easy for ambush.
As I reached the dim back-alley entrance, burly men blocked my front.
Surrounded in seconds. My eyes swept the thugs.
‘Cripple one first, set the tone.’
In brawls like this, instill fear. Not monsters or soldiers—these punks, see a limb shattered like Victor's, they'd hesitate in terror.
They closed in slow. A few more steps, I'd strike first—
“Uh, um. Director Yujin?”
“...You know me?”
“W-well, yeah... F-famous! The famous orphanage director—how could we not? Heh heh, what's brings you here suddenly?”
“Business or not, you're blocking my— ”
“Sorry! No intent! You lot! Clear the way now!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Sorry! Truly sorry!”
“No, wait...”
“No need to come all this way! Uh, first, take this! Modest, but from the heart!”
Unlike his rough face, the thug bowed frantically, rubbing hands, offering a coin pouch.
Hm.
“What's this?”
“Oh, you know, donation! For the orphanage! Heard you run a real proper one—moved even us back-alley trash! So, to help operations!”
Donation? Moved? From these scum?
But the silver coins inside were real. No fakes, and plenty.
Watched by lurkers, now surrounding—then groveling with donations.
Suspicious as hell. My response? Obvious.
“Truly grateful. Big help to the orphanage.”
“O-of course! Haha! We'll bring more often!”
Old world, new world—timeless truth.
Money's always right. Free money? Doubly so.
Black money needs caution, but not this. Their eyes held desperation and fear, not malice.
Orphanage director was near-insult level image-wise, but not enough to scare thugs. Something causal here.
Obvious cause.
‘Happy Orphanage fallout.’
They'd caught wind of me crushing Victor—or misunderstood the Smile Family vanishing after picking a fight.
Misunderstanding, naturally. Happy Orphanage stole from other shops; self-defense magic activated. Our fault?
Pull grenade pin stealing it? Thief's error, not grenade's. Separately, if they misunderstood and offered tribute? No reason to refuse.
Problem solved, I felt the satisfying weight at my belt, stopped at a shop for a small doll.
Bribe for our precious 4-Star orphan. Karen seemed to like these.
‘Karen's magic zeal is great... but, tch, Laila's acting weird lately.’
Post-incident, Karen fully cooperative, generating value. Fix one issue, another pops: now Laila.
She'd been heading out for "walks" more. Not suspecting escape—I'm her owner—but suspicious.
Too busy to tail her, though.
‘Time to investigate properly.’
Her outings piled work on me. Ironically, orphanage-dependent goods sold to Beril Count Family.
Mulling vaguely, back at orphanage.
“...Huh? You?”
“Meet again, you.”
There stood a 3-Star orphan.
The one from last Orphan Gacha—complete set item I couldn't snag!
“Kyle, right? What's up at our place suddenly?”
“That offer you made me—still stand?”
“Offer...?”
“To join the orphanage.”
What?
Precious 3-Star volunteering? Why?
As I blinked, Kyle smirked.
“Laila sent me here.”
“Laila?”
“Ah, Director!”
Figuring why this 3-Star came knocking—familiar voice from behind. Laila's.
I rushed and hugged her tight.
“Laila!”
“W-whoa, Director!?”
“Here, this doll! For you!”
“Director...!!”
Karen? Step aside. Right now, Laila's the star.
As ex-scout, I declare: Laila, top orphan recruiter!