Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: 3. Peaceful Daily Life of the Orphanage
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3-Star Orphan Kyle's arrival didn't just mean an addition to the inventory.
In fact, more encouraging than the recruitment itself was that the Orphan Auto-Hunt system had finally kicked in.
‘Orphans from the same background tend to get along well anyway.’
Laila, being an alley-raised orphan, could now automatically bring in other alley orphans just like her. It was similar to how Tricksy and Karen from Happy Orphanage had brought in their fellow raw materials from there.
In other words, orphans were now biting and bringing in more orphans. It was like a free gacha running without paid currency.
Truth be told, this was even more efficient than me going out and spinning the Orphan Gacha myself. No matter how much the alleys were an orphan mine and spawn zone, orphans didn't pop out endlessly like minerals or nim trees.
Not to mention, when it came to snagging high-rank orphans, using the orphan network like this was the way to go.
It was like clearing the Lüton Alley dungeon and occasionally scoring good loot.
‘And it's a 3-Star Orphan, no less.’
Kyle was especially a 3-Star Orphan with talent in ‘Leadership.’ It might be hard to hype that up for sales, but Kyle was useful in other ways. Orphanage operations, for one.
If they had talents in other fields, that'd be one thing, but with a talent solely for leading people, it was worth utilizing.
Ah, of course, not hiring him or anything. Just using the merchandise for orphanage ops instead of straight sales.
Even a broom seller keeps one around the house for dusting. Not saying our products are dust, but you get the idea.
We couldn't fetch full 3-Star price anyway, so we might as well milk that talent for all it's worth.
“Anyway, Kyle, welcome to our orphanage. But... did you come alone? What about the other kids?”
“They all refused to come, so I had no choice. Ah, I should use polite speech from now on. I had no choice, sir.”
“You can be casual.”
“...No, I'll stick to polite speech. The stares are pretty intense.”
Stares? I turned at Kyle's words, but all I saw was Laila beaming. What stares was he talking about?
Kyle looked utterly baffled, but Laila just clutched her doll with a happy smile. Whatever, stares or not, didn't matter.
‘A bit disappointing to pull a single from a rare free gacha...’
Still, landing a 3-Star from that single made it way more than worth it. Honestly, if the kids with Kyle had been low-quality raw materials like those at Happy Orphanage, it'd have been trouble.
More merchandise was good in itself. But stockpiling raw materials without buyers would bankrupt the orphanage. Once we scaled up, maybe, but right now we were nearly at capacity.
With our sales strategy set on premium orphans over bulk discount, reckless imports weren't great for business.
“If those kids change their minds, tell them to come anytime. I welcome any child who seeks this place.”
Of course, leaving the door open was smart. Tough to import at current scale, but fine after exporting some. Basic economics.
“...You're a good person.”
“Just doing my job as Orphanage Director.”
No merchant turns away walk-in merchandise begging to be sold. Why would I?
That said, Kyle coming on his own—solo—did raise questions.
“But Kyle, last time you said you'd stay for the alley kids' sake. You okay leaving them?”
“It's fine now.”
“Now...?”
“The gangs rampaging in the alleys suddenly went quiet. Homias Gang straight-up disbanded. That brought some order to the alleys, and we orphans, including me, got recognized as a faction. That's how I could come here.”
“Really?”
Great news. Lüton's alleys—my orphan goldmine—stabilizing meant steady imports.
Plus, rival orphanages wouldn't dare snatch merchandise recklessly. Someone unified the alleys and is lording over them, and if that top dog recognizes orphans as a faction, then rivals poaching would be challenging that authority.
Me? I'm the exception, obviously. Why else build the Orphan Auto-Hunt system? External grabs might be issues, but self-arrivals? Can't stop that.
‘The 3-Star who seemed to treasure his crew coming solo is suspicious, though...’
Kyle said he came because orphans got faction status, but for a leadership talent like him, growing the faction now to avoid being ignored makes more sense. 3-Stars have high base stats, so smarts too—why the orphanage?
Whatever, not my problem anymore. Ownership transferred to me. Picking up a gacha-limited orphan on a whim felt great.
“Then, Kyle, want to greet everyone? You came on Laila's recommendation, so you two must know each other.”
“We... know each other. Yes.”
“Good to hear.”
I planned to hand Laila's Beril Count Family duties to Kyle post-sale, so them knowing each other was perfect. Smooth handoff between merchandise.
The donation earlier, plus a 3-Star. Today was bountiful.
“Come in first. Let's eat.”
“Yes.”
“Yes!”
I gave Laila and Kyle my sincerest smile.
Fine merchandise indeed.
*
“Now what do I do?”
“No, this is enough.”
“...Enough? I thought you called me here to use me as a lackey or something.”
“Nothing like that.”
After lunch, on the orphanage's third floor.
Kyle, following Laila in cleaning, kept glancing at her warily—more fear than fondness.
Contrary to claiming they 'knew each other' in front of the Director.
Laila cleaned diligently, sweat and all, oblivious.
“I only did that because the Director seemed concerned when he saw you last time. Honestly, I don't care what happens to you. It's all for the Director.”
“...But he doesn't even know what you did in the alleys.”
“You didn't know either? I only found out yesterday.”
“No way you'd miss it with those stuck-up thugs bowing to you.”
Yesterday, Laila visited Kyle—flanked by the bosses of new factions rising in Homias Gang's wake.
To them, she was a kid half their age, an orphan they always ignored, yet the bosses groveled.
Seeing that, Kyle finally realized Lüton's alley unifier—the mysterious 'top dog'—was Laila.
“Anyway, really nothing else you want from me? For real?”
“Think everyone's out to trick you? The Director invited you out of concern, and you accepted. That's enough. If you're worried about the others, I'll protect them, so relax.”
“What's your angle? Hiding your identity even from the Director...”
“Orphanage rule one: Always respect the Director. No second warnings.”
“...What's your identity that you hide it even from him?”
“Identity? I'm an orphan. Just like you, rolling in the alleys a few years back. Fly-by-night life, abandoned even by parents.”
“............”
“And the Director gave me dreams and a future. Need more than that?”
“So you hide ruling the alleys from him?”
“He doesn't need to know dirty business like that. I just... want to help him.”
Yeah. The Director Laila reveres—Yujin—doesn't need to step into alleys or sewers.
He's a shining, warm person. Laila was just a moth drawn to that light and heat. And moths would do anything for it.
True to her alley roots, she'd protect him from the sewer shadows. No need for him to notice her devotion.
That devotion and sacrifice was Laila's dream.
“If he knew, he'd scold me. Say it's too dangerous, stop. But I can't stand the thought of Homias Gang trash targeting him again.”
“.........”
“That's it. Bringing you was to show him I'm helpful. And the reward... was plenty.”
Laila gazed at the doll in her arms—precious, ecstatic. The warmth and weight of the Director's embrace still lingered, filling her with joy.
Kyle eyed her with dismay, but Laila didn't care.
“So just follow the orphanage rules strictly. Do that, and I won't meddle.”
“I heard the first. What's the rest?”
“Obey the Director. Never defy him. Always be grateful to him.”
“Hard to believe this is a normal orphanage.”
Kyle chuckled dryly, but no urge to leave. He'd meet the kids often anyway, couldn't afford to piss off alley boss Laila, and above all...
“...Yeah, no normal orphanage feeds orphans like this.”
The warm bread and meaty stew at lunch were divine.
Recalling that blissful meal, Kyle nodded. One taste, and the old life was done. Better bring all the alley kids here.
As he thought it wasn't bad at all, Laila shot him a glare.
“But the others won't come, right?”
“No reason they would. Not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“The Director said they're welcome anytime. Gotta obey him.”
“...Hmph.”
Jealousy filled her eyes.
Kyle soothed her while leaving wiggle room. He hoped the kids would feel the same shock he did.
Like the ones he'd seen on the way up—kids genuinely playing, chasing dreams.
He wished that for his crew too.
“No worries, they won't show for a while. Call if you need anything.”
“Won't need to.”
“More limbs the better, right? Gotta stay on the good side of the alley boss.”
“Just clean.”
Kyle's talent was leadership—or really, street smarts.
The 1-Star Orphan Laila snapped coldly. Kyle smiled faintly.
He'd have to watch his step around her for a bit.
But orphanage life seemed pretty good.
*
And the next day.
“P-Please take me in! I followed Brother Kyle!”
“...Didn't you say they wouldn't come?”
“N-No, it's...”
Kyle sweated as Laila scowled openly.
Meanwhile, Yujin smiled kindly at the girl who'd arrived solo, just like Kyle.
“Come on in.”
‘Tch, knockoff orphan?’
With entirely different thoughts.
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