Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: 4. The Most Conscientious Orphan Dealer
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There had been a slightly unsavory incident, but finding a new sucker—no, customer—wasn't difficult.
Anyway, it was because Karen was a 4-Star Orphan. And on top of that, she had a talent related to magic, which could be called a human rights character among 4-Star Orphans.
Fortunately, the noble customers didn't care whether the merchandise was new or used. Probably because a reliable intermediary like the Lüton Barony was involved, they didn't even come directly to the orphanage for a direct deal.
There was just one thing that bothered me.
"......Rumors about Viscount Cornell, you say?"
"That's right. Servants who fled from the viscount's household were saying a curse had fallen on the family. They claimed the Cornell Viscount Family was a rotten house, completely different from its outward appearance."
"Hmm......"
"Of course, the next head of the family, the young master, quickly quashed the rumors, and since no one died except Viscount Cornell himself, it all blew over...... But still, it doesn't seem like something to ignore."
Rumors about the Cornell Viscount Family's secret. This was pretty surprising information even to me.
That was because the Cornell Viscount Family I knew was just an ordinarily kind one.
'The Viscount Cornell himself was from the Magic Tower and donated to various places, and he had a good reputation among the nobles.'
On top of that, I'd heard he actively adopted orphans with magic talent and added them to the family register. Of course, very few could become direct descendants, but whether as collateral branches or exclusive mages, it was a life-changing opportunity for the orphans.
It was a family with both a good reputation and rumors to match, and they didn't hesitate to pay the hefty sum befitting a 4-Star Orphan, which was why I'd chosen them as customers.
'Should I be more careful about picking customers?'
But honestly, I was a bit at a loss on this front. I had some connections from my adventurer days, but that didn't mean I had ties to noble society.
......Strictly speaking, it wasn't that I had none at all, but it would have to be someone like Hella—no way in hell would I contact that crazy bitch again. Absolutely not.
Why would I reach out to a lunatic who tried to kidnap me when I said I was retiring? Even during my adventurer days, the way she stared into my eyes and licked her lips, and the time I nearly had my eyeballs gouged out after carelessly mentioning my abilities—it gave me chills just thinking about it.
Anyway, that meant for information on noble families, I had to rely on street rumors, the public image they'd built, and Hainkel's intel.
'The problem is that Hainkel is only a baron.'
He was a noble, and it was true he could provide some information on other families like this, but he couldn't uncover their inner workings or secrets.
To do that, you'd need to be a grand lord ruling this region or some high-ranking influential figure......
'The Beril Count Family are influencers, but it's more like they're given preferential treatment because of their role.'
The Beril Count Family blocked monsters in the northern snow mountains, so they got commensurate treatment, but that didn't mean they wielded great influence in the empire. Why else would they pick their heir from among orphans? They had their own circumstances.
I could just sell to whoever pays the most since I'm selling anyway, but that's an utterly amateurish way of thinking.
"Lord Hainkel, do you have any places you recommend?"
"Recommendations, hmm...... Is this for your 'business' as well?"
"Of course. It's a very important moment."
"......In that case, how about the Elan Count Family? They might be interested in an orphan showing considerable magic talent, even if it's not formal adoption."
The Elan Count Family was what I'd just mentioned—a grand lord dominating this area. In terms of prestige or territory, they were incomparable to the Lüton Barony or Cornell Viscount Family.
They had multiple direct descendants, so no need to adopt orphans, but they'd still welcome one with magic talent.
It could be seen as a pretty good option.
"But I'd prefer somewhere smaller, if possible."
"May I hear the reason?"
"It's all for the business. And for Karen too."
Wouldn't that treat her like a servant rather than a noble? What if a 4-Star Orphan like her ends up resenting me?
I'd seen her take down that wild boar beast last time—one fireball from her and someone like me is done for. Without the full preparations from my adventurer days, it's pretty dangerous right now.
It's the exact same reason I don't force Laila on the Beril Count Family. Like a luxury item with a warranty and ongoing service, the merchandise I handle is special, so I have to keep managing it even after sale.
If the merchandise or customer ends up dissatisfied with me in that process? It damages my orphanage's brand image. Especially with a noble family.
That's why customers on the scale of a barony or viscount family were better than something huge like the Elan Count Family. If I were planning to sell once and run, I'd go for the biggest score possible, but that's not my plan.
Fortunately, Hainkel seemed to understand and nodded.
"Smaller ones are easier to control and manipulate...... I see."
"......?"
Control? What? Ah, does he think I plan to keep manipulating the orphans after selling them? With the Elan Count Family, it might be hard for me to control the orphan?
'Ugh, is that how people think?'
I respect the free will of my merchandise. That's how their quality improves. After selling, I planned to only handle warranties and after-service, not micromanage each one.
And yet Hainkel casually suggested using the orphans to take over noble families.
It wasn't human thinking at all. Was this the medieval noble mindset? It was downright chilling.
'No wonder he's so enthusiastic about the business.'
Good thing Hainkel was an ally. It'd be trouble if a psychopath human scum like that was an enemy.
I felt downright saintly for just planning to build an information-sharing network and cartel with the sold orphans, maybe run something like Orphanet.
"Anyway, somewhere else, please. Around the level of the Cornell Viscount Family would be fine......?"
Huh? Wait, thinking about it now, didn't it say Viscount Cornell died and his eldest son became the head?
From what I knew, Viscount Cornell's wife had passed away years ago, so the current young master...... no, the current head, was an orphan?
To be precise, since he's an adult, "orphan" might be better as "solitary person," but whatever.
'Anyway, he's an orphan too, so he might feel a kinship with Karen.'
Should I just sell to the Cornell Viscount Family again......?
*
The decision was made. The new buyer would be a different barony, not the Cornell Viscount Family.
It wasn't out of consideration for their current chaotic state after the head's death. It was a more practical issue.
'In their confused state, it'd be hard to scrape together the payment for another 4-Star Orphan.'
Plus, they might pull some crap like demanding the merchandise without a refund since they didn't get one before. Better to sell to another family here.
The only issue was choosing where. If it turned out to be like the rumored Cornell—fine on the outside but rotten within—it'd be trouble.
And the one who solved that dilemma wasn't me.
"This place."
"......Karen, are you sure?"
"Yes, I like this one."
It was the merchandise herself. While I was agonizing, Karen came over, looked at the customer candidates, and picked one barony.
It was an utterly ordinary barony. They occasionally adopted orphans, but that was it—a smaller family even than Lüton.
I didn't know why Karen was so certain about this place, but instead of overthinking, I went with her choice.
'There are technically better options.'
Karen wanted to become a noble, and in a modest barony like this, her chances of becoming a direct noble descendant rather than a mere servant were very high. And with her strong desire, crushing it might affect her quality.
......No reason not to grant the merchandise's one request at this point.
'The customer doesn't pick the merchandise—the merchandise picks the customer.'
In a way, that could be the pinnacle of sales.
"I'll be back, Father."
"Karen."
"Don't worry. I'll faithfully follow your will."
Karen left with a much softer smile than before. No sign of sadness, just full of joy at becoming a noble.
Anyway, just a few days after Karen returned, I sold her again. The process was a bit iffy, but looking at the end result for me.
'It's basically double the profit.'
Jackpot.
Huge score!
*
'Father.'
Karen quietly recalled him. His image, his voice, his kindness.
It had only been a few days, but meeting Father again after a month was so sweet. Especially the way he stroked her head, as if praising her for perfectly completing the task—it was pure bliss.
If anything, she should be grateful to him. For giving her this chance, this foundation to reach that author, that duke.
It was different from unconditional love or parental sacrifice...... It was a person she respected and revered, acknowledging her.
That praise was more addictive than anything.
'I'll do my best.'
Even heading to another family in less than a week, Karen harbored no complaints. Instead, she was filled with motivation.
Because if she handled this splendidly too, Father would praise her again. She couldn't wait.
"So...... Karen, right?"
"......Yes."
"You're such a pretty girl. Especially this hair."
Karen, lost briefly in ecstatic pleasure, soon hardened her expression. After arriving at the barony, the fat baron's touches, as her supposed adopter, were rather overt.
His gaze lingered on her chest or legs, and even after she firmly shook off his subtle groping hands, it continued.
It wasn't that Karen was unaware of the baron's proclivities. Thanks to Laila sister's info and what she'd gleaned from the Cornell Viscount Family, she knew his secret tastes.
And yet she'd chosen this place.
"Just leave everything to your daddy here. I've handled girls like you before!"
"........."
Because this barony was connected to that author and the duke.
Fulfilling her goal while doing deeds that her 'child-loving' Father—like in the Cornell Viscount Family—would despise. Handling this place and returning would surely please him.
"Come here, heh heh......"
Karen coldly stared at the fat baron approaching with a repulsive expression, then suddenly thought.
The baron's feelings toward her were utterly repulsive and unpleasant. He called himself a father, yet was nothing like her Father. It especially irked her, evoking the real father, that author, though the direction was different.
But why?
Surprisingly, she felt strangely accustomed to that 'feeling' itself.
'Father......'
Thinking of Father, of Yujin, brought warm emotions. A smile naturally formed, happy memories flooding in.
It was the same as thinking of Mother. However, thinking of Father had something different from Mother.
Why did thinking of Father make her feel good?
Why did it bother her when other women were near Father?
Why did her body heat up every time she thought of Father?
Why had her lower belly throbbed when Father stroked her head?
Why?
"......Does Father love me, so I love Father the same way?"
"Karen, are you accepting my love? Then I'm so happy......"
Crunch.
"Wh-what? Aaaagh!!"
Even as black [Curse] magic surged up and snapped the baron's shinbone.
Karen continued her contemplation without a care.
'But that can't be, because it's different from the love for Mother.'
Karen loved her mother. She had been little Karen's everything, and Mother had truly loved Karen in return.
But that love back then felt different from this love now. And if so, why did she feel a sense of kinship from this baron's repulsive acts?
......Perhaps, just perhaps.
'If I caressed Father the same way......'
Like how the baron had tried to touch and do filthy things to her, if Karen did that to Father.
Could she find the answer to this dilemma?
'I still don't quite get it.'
Since these emotions were all new, she couldn't reach a clear conclusion, but anyway, Karen had immediate business right now.
Looking down at the writhing baron like an insect, Karen declared.
"From now on."
"Kugh......!?"
"I'll clean this place up, as per Father's orders."
Karen smiled brilliantly, innocently.
The day she realized this inexplicable emotion and reunited with Father, this sensation where her lower belly heated up whenever she thought of him.
It felt so very enjoyable.