Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: 1. A Business Needs Products
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An orphanage is a business that costs less to start up compared to other industries.
Space? One big house is enough. Required skills? Nothing special. Raw materials? They're scattered all over the back alleys.
However, separate from startup costs, the sunk costs are considerable. Raising orphans, the main product of an orphanage, naturally requires money. It's also a drawback that it's hard to turn a quick profit.
‘That's probably why others in the industry overwork and exploit their products.’
That's selling the future for the present. You have to live in the present for there to be a future? Then they shouldn't have gotten into the orphanage business.
At least for someone like me, who's prepared a fairly thorough business plan, that doesn't apply. Above all, in business, it's important to make a lot of profit, but even more important to cut down on expenses.
“Director! Eric and I made breakfast today! It got a little burnt, but......”
“The bread turned out......a total mess too.”
“No, this is a splendid breakfast for me. Isn't it for everyone?”
Saving on my stamina and labor.
“Director. We finished mending our clothes.”
“Impressive. They look just like new? Now everyone has clothes they won't envy others for.”
“Yes!”
Saving on new clothing purchases and mending costs.
“Director! The carrots are almost fully grown!”
“They look even more plump because we grew them ourselves. We'll have carrot stew soon.”
“Yay!”
Even saving on ingredient purchases in small ways.
Best of all, there's no dissatisfaction with these savings. You won't eat food made by your friend? Won't wear clothes mended by your friend? Won't eat carrots harvested by your friend?
Bringing in orphans who already know each other has these advantages. Like a faction buff of sorts?
Maybe because it's for their own use, their proficiency levels rise quickly too. It felt like a 5x experience critical success—not bad at all.
And leading these 2-Star Orphans...
“Kids, it's bath time now! Everyone to the bathroom!”
“S-Sis. I wanna play a bit more......”
“If you wanna play hide-and-seek inside together, you have to wash up now, right?”
“Coming right away!”
...was Laila, a 1-Star Orphan. She had no talents herself, but she was a product with leadership and command skills.
Honestly, the biggest worry in running an orphanage was taking care of kids who might bolt anywhere, but now Laila was handling that, which was a huge relief.
Her being a 1-Star Orphan was a concern, but without her, running the orphanage would be tough in many ways, so it didn't matter. She was closer to a manager for the products than a product herself, and the most encouraging part was not having to pay her a salary.
‘Still, I need to find a proper buyer for her.’
Leadership and command skills. Great on paper, but from a seller's perspective, they're pretty vague abilities.
Selling 2-Star Orphans with talents in baking, cooking, farming, or mending is easy. This may be a small city, but there are plenty who want to adopt kids with useful skills beyond mere labor.
The key here is thoroughly checking the adopter's personality and background.
‘If it's a customer who needlessly abuses the product, I might get complaints.’
Customers who cherish the products and treat them like real children are far less likely to complain, and above all, they send steady donations to the orphanage. You can't just sell to anyone for quick cash.
If worse comes to worst, I could set them up for auto-hunting independence under the guise of "graduation" instead of adoption......but that kills profitability. My main revenue streams were adoption fees and ongoing donations after sending off the orphans.
The amounts they send on their own after earning wouldn't break even for way too long. It's good for building the orphanage business's foundation—reputation—but...
‘Better to sell them after all.’
Money from auto-hunting isn't much anyway. With plenty of time left, now's the time to figure out how to sell Laila for top dollar.
Since this was my first product training batch, I didn't spin the Orphan Gacha again. Better to gain experience managing and selling these five properly than bloating the numbers carelessly.
And so, a month flew by.
“Pardon the intrusion, but is this an orphanage?”
“Yes? It is.”
“I've come for an adoption.”
A blond young man suddenly knocked on the orphanage door.
A fine suit, an elegant sword at his waist, perfectly groomed hair. This guy reeked of money.
Even without the money smell, he was the orphanage's first customer to come knocking—a real big fish. I wanted to close the deal nicely if possible.
“But I'm sorry, we're not accepting adoption requests right now.”
“Pardon?”
“Our children have only been here a month and are still healing from their pains bit by bit. Sending them suddenly to an unfamiliar place wouldn't sit right with me as director.”
“Hmm......”
“So, I must decline. Truly sorry.”
The products weren't fully ready yet. What if I sold them like this and got complaints or returns?
Reputation is key in this business. Like I said before, I wasn't selling my retirement and future for immediate cash.
“......This place is different.”
“Pardon?”
“I understand your feelings, Director, but could you at least hear me out? Frankly, it won't be a bad deal for you either.”
“What do you......”
“My introductions are late. I'm Galen, knight of the Beril Count Family.”
The blond youth, Galen, bowed his head. A knight? From the Beril Count Family at that?
“The Beril Count Family—surely not?”
“As you know, our lord is the current Margrave of the Empire.”
“Ah, no. Why would a noble come to a place like this orphanage......?”
“That's exactly what I want to discuss.”
The Beril Count Family. Not top-tier in the Empire, but certainly among the prominent houses.
Why had a knight of the Margrave—called the bulwark of the north—come all the way to an orphanage in this small eastern city?
Since he was likely a noble himself, I hurriedly opened the door and hosted him. Hosting meant cheap black tea and the charred bread from this morning's products, though.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
Sir Galen showed no displeasure as he partook in the cheap tea and burnt bread. With a light bow of thanks, he opened his mouth with a smile.
“Before coming here, I visited several orphanages, but this was the only proper one. I thought it fine to relay my lord's words, so I intruded.”
“The Margrave's words......?”
What on earth had the head of the Beril Count Family, the Margrave himself, said to send him here?
My questions vanished the moment Galen spoke.
“My lord intends to adopt an heir.”
“Pardon?”
“Boy or girl doesn't matter, nor does talent. My lord emphasized just one thing.”
In that instant.
Wiping away his gentle smile, Galen exuded knightly dignity and pressure, his expression utterly grave.
“Mental fortitude.”
“Mental......fortitude?”
“Yes. If you agree to my lord's request, come to his mansion with the child to be adopted. Simple, isn't it?”
“It seems the Margrave is set on testing us thoroughly.”
“Why do you say that?”
“My knowledge is limited, but I know where the Beril Count Family's mansion is located.”
“Ah, I'm liking this orphanage and its director more and more. Are you running it alone, by any chance?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“If you're open to my lord's proposal, let me know. In the meantime, the Beril Count Family will ensure the orphanage's protection.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It's for securing my lord's heir—what's this much?”
With that, Galen went to the next room to await my answer. All that remained on the table was the Beril Count Family crest he'd left to prove his identity upon arrival.
An adoption request from nobility—the Beril Count Family at that.
“Kids, come on out.”
“…………”
“I noticed you listening behind the door.”
“......Sharp eyes, huh.”
With a creak, Laila and the products shuffled in. They all looked anxious, having overheard Galen.
Naturally, only one product would go to the Beril Count Family. But they weren't worried about not being picked.
“D-Director.”
“Speak, Eric.”
“From what that knight brother said......one of us has to go?”
“…………”
“We're gonna be separated?”
Because these five had survived together in the back-alley slums, enduring day by day.
They were anxious at the thought of one leaving. I responded.
“This is a really good opportunity. Being adopted into nobility......is completely different from ordinary adoptions or graduations.”
“N-No! We don't want anyone leaving us!”
“Eric, I understand your anxiety. I always respect you all. And yet I say this because it's that big an opportunity.”
At my earnest yet gentle words, Eric shut his mouth. Even as kids, they knew what it meant to become a noble's heir. Still, worry overrode that.
Above all, I had no intention of sending off the 2-Star Orphans. If anyone from here...
“Laila.”
“......Me?”
“Want to give it a try?”
Of course, only Laila. A chance to sell a 1-Star Orphan for top price? Pass?
The 2-Star Orphans could fetch good prices just by raising them well here. Meanwhile, I'd been pondering what to do with Laila, the 1-Star Orphan—then the perfect customer appeared who doesn't care about talent.
Minimum cost, maximum effect. The basics and principle of commerce.
Of course, with Laila gone, I'd have to take over her role, but this deal would leave plenty of change even after that hassle.
“I'm serious. There probably won't be a better chance.”
“I, of course......”
“......If it's Laila sis, it's okay.”
“Mina?”
“Sis has always worked so hard. In the back alleys......and here at the orphanage now. Always worrying about us and thinking of us.”
Laila's youngest sister, Mina, said with her head bowed.
Her voice trembled with reluctance to let go, yet Mina didn't take back her words.
“So, sis deserves to be happy. Sis could become a noble.”
“Well, if it's Laila sis, no helping it.”
“Laila sis always looked out for us, so now it's our turn to look out for her.”
“S-Sis. I......I'll endure it. Don't forget us, okay?”
“Kids......”
The siblings were sniffling. They hated sending off the sister who'd always cared for them, but wished for Laila's happiness even more.
Feeling their sincerity, Laila clenched her fists with trembling eyes.
“......It's really okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“You're a pathetic adult. You rely on me for that. So if I leave......”
“Even if so, what's most important to me is your futures.”
The money you'll earn in the future, that is.
“Have you decided?”
“…………”
“Then pack your things. It'll be a rough journey.”
“......Okay.”
*
“Sis! Take care!”
“Don't forget us!”
“Sis! Come back for sure!”
“Waaah! S-Sis!!”
“You idiots, don't cry! Y-You're making me cry too......”
“......Thanks, kids.”
Receiving her siblings' send-off, she leaves the orphanage. We'd talked plenty last night, but they still burst into tears.
Just over a month, yet leaving felt quite reluctant. Had she grown that attached already? Thought of it as home without realizing?
“No need to worry about the kids. That knight even brought maids from the count family to look after them.”
“......I know.”
It was strange. A month ago, she couldn't have imagined leaving with the director.
She'd realized over the past month that this director was different from others. Even so, she kept her distance while walking.
Laila approached the director's back after some hesitation.
“C-Can I really become a noble?”
“We'll give it a shot. No guarantees.”
“But......there's a chance, right?”
“Of course.”
Noble, a noble.
Laila, who'd only known back-alley slums, didn't know exactly what nobles were. But she knew one thing.
The Wangcho Gang that terrified her trembled before them. People above people, who ate and slept full every day. Becoming one would surely mean happiness.
Mulling over "noble," Laila glanced back. The orphanage was now a tiny speck in the distance.
‘Adopted into nobility, becoming a noble......’
Could she call that her dream? Was she dreaming like her siblings, eyes sparkling back there?
Then, were her eyes sparkling now too?
Shaking her head vigorously to clear the thoughts, Laila approached the director. Now was the time to tell him what she'd been thinking.
“I've got a lot to say. Leaving your pathetic siblings with a pathetic adult.”
“Yeah?”
“If the kids so much as cry, you're dead. Lots to tell you, so listen well.”
“That's fine, but I have a lot to tell you too. Like I said yesterday, this trip won't be smooth.”
“Huh? What do you mean? Can't we just go to the mansion?”
“It's not just any mansion. The Margrave's is at the top of a snow mountain.”
“......What?”
“Now we have to climb the snow mountain.”
No wonder the director had packed such a heavy, bulky bag for a simple trip to the mansion.
He grinned at Laila.
“Did you think becoming a noble was easy? Steel yourself.”
“.........”
She should retort something. The old Laila would have.
But seeing the director's smile made her heart race, her words catch, her gaze avert for no reason.
Why on earth......?