Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: 5. Orphan Awakening System Open
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Galen couldn't easily accept the reality before his eyes.
“Yujin, Senior, how long has it been since I last saw you? Honestly, I never thought I'd see you again.”
“Tell me about it. My choice was pretty unexpected even to me.”
“I heard you retired—is that true? And how did you know I was here?”
“Ask one thing at a time. Yeah, I retired, and I remembered you were from here because I heard about it last time.”
“Haha! As expected of you, Senior!”
Anyone would struggle to accept it when that massive, muscular middle-aged warrior kept calling him “Senior” and grinning good-naturedly.
Especially since he was the branch manager of the adventurer's guild in this great city.
‘Ulfrik, Ulfrik.’
It was a name he'd never heard before. But that didn't prove the warrior was weak. After all, Galen and the rest of the Beril Count Family had focused solely on repelling monster invasions, often ignoring other matters.
He'd only learned that this Ulfrik was the branch manager because he'd guided them to the branch manager's office.
‘……He's strong.’
Galen held a knight's title and had confidence in his skills from risking his life against monsters.
Yet he couldn't relax in front of this warrior Ulfrik. It felt like a tyrannical, profoundly pure mana was swirling around Ulfrik at its center.
That made it even harder to understand. How could such a powerful warrior know Orphanage Director Yujin? And why was Ulfrik the one calling Yujin “Senior”?
Without letting his guard down, Galen whispered to Laila, who sat beside him with a stiff expression.
“Miss, did you know about this?”
“……No, I had no idea.”
“Is that so?”
“When I think about it, yeah. I didn't know anything about what kind of person the Director was in the past or what he'd done…… I'm pathetic.”
“Miss?”
“Um, Uncle Ulfrik?”
“Hm?”
Laila, who had been mumbling self-deprecatingly, approached Ulfrik as if she'd made up her mind. He turned to her with emotions erased from his face, unlike when talking to Orphanage Director Yujin.
There was an overwhelming gap between the giant warrior and Laila, who was still just a girl. Even just being stared at made Laila feel crushed.
Even so, the moment Laila tried to open her mouth somehow.
Smack!
“Hey, don't scare her. She's from our orphanage.”
“That hurts, Senior. Wait, what? An orphanage?”
“I retired and opened an orphanage. I'm the director now.”
“Huh…… Come to think of it, that does sound like you, Senior. What's the kid's name?”
“Laila.”
“Ahem. So, Laila? Do you have something you want to ask me?”
After getting smacked on the back of the head by Yujin, Ulfrik instantly switched to a smile and spoke in a gentle voice as if soothing a child. Of course, his version of gentle still sent chills down the spine due to the mismatch with his appearance.
But even more absurd was how Orphanage Director Yujin had freely smacked the back of Ulfrik's head without hesitation. The adventurer's guild branch manager, and one who looked proud at that—hitting him like that? Just from that, it was clear what kind of relationship Yujin and Ulfrik had in the past.
That made it even harder to understand. What on earth had happened for Ulfrik to respectfully call Orphanage Director Yujin “Senior” and act so subservient?
And Laila seemed to feel the same.
“How do you know the Director? And why do you call him Senior?”
“Hm? Senior, you haven't told any heroic tales? Kids this age love those stories. Back in the day, Senior───”
“Should I proudly recount how I nearly died over and over, rolling right up to the brink of death?”
“……Yeah, it's not exactly easy to talk about. Well, Laila? This senior here used to be an adventurer. Honestly, he wasn't that skilled.”
“Hey.”
“But he was amazing in his own way? He was so weak, but he stubbornly survived and came back. I really thought he'd die right away.”
“Damn it.”
Every time Ulfrik continued speaking, Orphanage Director Yujin swung his fist without holding back. Ulfrik laughed playfully while perfectly blocking him with one hand.
The difference in their martial prowess was clear. So why……
“Then why do you call the Director Senior?”
“Because thanks to Senior Yujin, my life changed. Calling him my adventurer senior for that isn't weird, right?”
“……Pardon?”
“Ulfrik, chit-chat aside, we don't have time right now.”
As Ulfrik tried to say more, Orphanage Director Yujin cut in and changed the subject. But it was true. Their focus wasn't on Yujin's past right now.
Ulfrik nodded, sensing Orphanage Director Yujin's seriousness.
“Understood, Senior. What did you want to say?”
“Do you know what happened at the Beril Count Family?”
“We don't know either. That's not our territory……and the adventurer's guild doesn't have close ties with the Beril Count Family. But we did hear that contact cut off starting last month when the blizzard worsened.”
“We're heading there, so assign someone to us. Or come along yourself.”
“Orphanage Director Yujin? Even so, that's……”
“Agreed.”
“Pardon?”
They knew each other, sure, but asking him to venture into that blizzard together was reckless. At least, that's what Galen thought.
Yet Ulfrik accepted Orphanage Director Yujin's words without hesitation, and Yujin continued as if he'd expected it.
“Pack good gear. I don't want to freeze to death.”
“Of course! Leave it to this junior. Should I grab your old gear too, Senior?”
“……Yeah, for now. Wait, you still have that thing?”
“I picked it up when it was just gathering dust.”
“Good. Let's use it up and sell it.”
While Galen stood there blinking, preparations wrapped up in an instant. Before he knew it, he was walking with Orphanage Director Yujin, who had gathered something; Ulfrik, the same as before; and Laila, who clung tightly to Orphanage Director Yujin no matter what.
As they left the great city and drew nearer to the north, the blizzard intensified. The light snowfall at first had become a raging storm that obscured vision.
Galen gritted his teeth at the obvious anomaly.
“The north has always had frequent blizzards, but I've never seen one this bad right from the entrance. Director, Miss Laila, you should head back.”
“Haha! The knight from the Beril Count Family worries too much.”
“……Mr. Ulfrik?”
“Surviving in this environment is Senior's specialty. And that Laila girl doesn't seem interested in turning back either.”
“……….”
Perhaps she felt guilty for using the Beril Count Family's power without intending to join them. Galen remembered Laila's words about wanting to help.
Laila, gripping Orphanage Director Yujin's hand tightly, turned resolute eyes toward Galen.
Galen channeled his mana and drew his sword as well.
“Understood. If you've both decided, it's my duty to protect you somehow.”
“As expected of a knight—reliable. But it'll be fine this time.”
“Pardon?”
“Because I'm here. Whoa, already coming.”
“Grrrrr!!!'
With Ulfrik's nonchalant words, a sharp howl rang out from the blizzard. The moment Galen heard it, he drew his sword, ignited it with mana aura, and erected a barrier.
Something charging through the blizzard bounced off the barrier and retreated, and soon silver-furred wolves revealed themselves from all directions.
“Snow Wolves……? Impossible! Those live deep in the snowy mountains—why are they at the northern entrance!”
“Looks like the worsening blizzard expanded their territory. Knight, look after Senior and the kid.”
“Wait, there are over 20 at a glance—you can't handle them alone───”
Thud!
Before Galen finished speaking, Ulfrik charged the Snow Wolves first. Galen didn't know Ulfrik's exact skill level. But over 20 Snow Wolves in a blizzard-limited visibility was overwhelming even for him.
Even so, Ulfrik rushed in without hesitation.
And right after Galen realized Ulfrik held no weapon in his hands.
Slash!
“Yelp! Kyiiing!!”
“……Huh?”
Metal flashed in the light, and soon one Snow Wolf's neck was cleanly severed.
What Ulfrik swung wasn't a greatsword fitting his giant frame, nor a spear or even a fist.
He……was wielding daggers in both hands.
Slash! Crunch!!
The over 2-meter muscular giant moved with agility. Hiding his form in the blizzard, he darted about like an assassin, gripping the daggers in reverse grip and stabbing vital points.
It was dagger technique worthy of admiration even in Galen's eyes.
……But precisely because of that, it felt utterly bizarre.
“Phew, that should do it for now?”
“Um, Mr. Ulfrik? That……”
Galen had no prejudices or stereotypes. But even so, Ulfrik's fighting style was bound to create an inevitable bias.
The scars covering his body, masculine features, overflowing muscles on his giant frame.
No one would expect a warrior who looked like he'd swing a greatsword or hammer to move so nimbly and gracefully with daggers like an assassin. Even Galen, a knight, was seeing it for the first time.
“Hah, common reaction. Everyone's surprised I fight like this.”
“Well……”
“Of course, I wasn't like this from the start. It's all……thanks to Senior. That's how I made it this far.”
“Pardon?”
“Knight, you should know how much luck it is to travel even briefly with Senior. ‘Golden Eye’—anyone who matters knows the name.”
“Golden Eye……”
“Just like that woman Hella said.”
Ulfrik smirked, his gaze turning toward Orphanage Director Yujin and Laila. More precisely, toward Yujin, who held Laila protectively no matter what.
It was a look filled with worry and concern, as if saying he'd always been that kind of person, from way back.
Soon, Ulfrik let out a deep sigh.
“Senior, you still hung up on that time……”
“Pardon?”
“……More coming. Knight, let's go!”
“Ah, yes!”
Before Galen could question Ulfrik's quiet mutter.
Galen drew his sword and charged into the blizzard after the monsters.
As a knight, to protect Orphanage Director Yujin and Miss Laila.
Crunch! Crunch!!
Sounds of bursting and slicing echoed. Galen and Ulfrik moved around, handling monsters and guiding the way through the blizzard.
It was a truly comfortable ride.
‘Meeting that Ulfrik again is a pain.’
Still, unlike his size, he had talent in dagger skills, stealth, and tracking, so his navigation was spot-on. As expected of a 3-Star talent.
Walking through the blizzard was a bit tough, of course, but not unbearably so. After all, it was plenty warm inside the thick layers of clothing.
Not warm from the layers. It was because I'd tucked Laila inside my clothes, and she was walking while hugging me tight.
It started as anti-damage packaging for the goods, but Laila had an unexpected feature.
‘Self-protection on top of space heater now.’
They say kids have higher body temperatures than adults—is that why? Laila, face buried in my chest, was incredibly warm.
Monsters handled automatically, pathfinding provided, and even warmth.
Sure, I'd still collect delivery fees, but overall, it was a pretty comfy shipment.
‘Our dear customer.’
Your ordered orphan is being delivered.
Please wait a moment!