Chapter 99
Chapter 99
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: I Need to Grow Up Quickly. (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It was time for all the children to be asleep.
The night was deep, but an unexpected commotion was stirring at the orphanage.
Waggling noises—
"Look at them! They must be hurt!"
"Shh! We have to be quiet."
"Yeah, Jaynie sis said we can't talk badly about others."
She was a remarkably sharp little girl.
She silenced the children in an instant.
And the one called Jaynie was the person standing right in front of them now.
"...How did you find this place? And the children behind you..."
There were over forty of them, so she was understandably flustered.
Seeing their poor conditions, Jaynie's eyes darted around busily.
Old Man Closel sidled up next to me stealthily.
"I'm not doubting you, but entrusting the children here could lead to trouble."
In truth, the old man's words were spot on.
Once they realized the kidnapped children had vanished, they'd launch a search no matter what.
Eventually, the chances of finding this place were high.
But.
"It's fine."
From earlier, the grandmother's gaze had been persistently following them.
Speaking of the grandmother spirit possessing my body.
She wasn't just one to bless children with fortunes; she also protected them to ensure they grew up well.
The constant urge to click her tongue made it clear she felt deep pity for them.
"Then it's settled. Do you need any other help?"
"Hmm..."
As I pondered, Jaynie strode right up to me.
With a very spirited expression, no less.
"I get that the kids are sick. And that there are complicated circumstances. All the kids who come here have their stories."
Jaynie, who had started to say more, suddenly placed her hands on her hips.
"Helen? Could you heat up some stew first?"
"Yes!"
The children scattered in groups of twos and threes, heading somewhere.
It was probably stew for the kids standing behind me.
Jaynie cleared her throat.
"To put it bluntly, it's impossible to take all these kids at once."
I didn't respond, just watched quietly.
She seemed to have more to say.
"But! I'll make it work somehow."
Brown hair and thick eyebrows.
A straight nose and full lips.
Even her eyes resembled a deer's.
Her facial features were excellent.
"Hmm..."
An ordinary person without any great fortunes.
She probably wouldn't hit any jackpots either.
She was giving everything to the children around her.
"What a fine person."
"Pardon?"
Her character was straight like bamboo.
And it extended in a very positive direction.
"There was a reason they came here."
"Hey! Stop saying weird things and..."
"You'll receive blessings. Hmm, it seems like it'll come in the form you desire."
Even the form Jaynie desired would be beautiful.
My heart warmed, and it seemed the grandmother approved as well.
I immediately rummaged in my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.
"Wait a moment."
Scribble—
It was short, but this should be enough help.
"Hmm... Since we're doing it, better make it thorough, right? Luna."
"Awoo?"
"Can I borrow your hand for a sec?"
Alured muttered dazedly with a blank expression.
"What in the world is going on..."
The night before, he'd received contact from Closel.
The destination was the capital, and they'd entered the Harp Kingdom's border.
Alured, who had been rushing to rendezvous with the group, was having a bizarre experience.
"...Another one!"
A child whose lips were blue, not knowing where it hurt.
Her sunken eyes suggested she hadn't eaten properly.
"Little one, are you okay?"
The child's cloudy eyes turned to Alured.
"Priest...?"
"Yes, I'm a priest who serves Lady Ilia."
"I... I don't have any money."
Alured flinched.
How many times had he heard that today alone?
He'd just come from treating another child right before this one.
They all said the same thing.
No money.
How could children worry about money before their pain?
"Lady Ilia..."
It must be karma from his past deeds.
"Little one, using holy power doesn't require payment."
This power was meant for places like this; demanding payment would be absurd from the start.
"Really...?"
"Even if there were costs, the priests would cover them. Don't worry."
Better to act first than talk more.
Pure white light poured from Alured's hand.
At the same time, color returned to the child's pale face.
Her blue lips gradually regained their natural hue.
"Haa... It's warm."
"Why are you here alone?"
At Alured's question, the child's face fell.
"If I say I'm sick, sis will worry."
"Heavens..."
Such a considerate child already.
Her reluctance to worry others was truly beautiful.
Alured's gaze softened endlessly.
"Um, Priest! If maybe..."
"Tell me."
"There are more sick friends. Can you help them?"
"Let's go together."
Alured nodded down at the child.
And sure enough, it continued like this.
From one sick child to another.
How could this happen at every turn?
"No way..."
Alured, following the child, perked up his ears at the voices around.
"Heard there was a fire last night?"
"All the food inside burned up."
"That's not all. According to a friend of mine..."
Restless chatter going back and forth.
Alured realized at once.
Chris was involved in that incident.
'As expected, these aren't just random events.'
His steps quickened.
Along the road, toward the outskirts.
After walking quite a ways, Alured arrived at a place bustling with meal preparations.
"Sis! We're short on bread!"
Everyone was busy moving about despite the early morning hour.
"Mr. Carlson said he'd bring more!"
"Sis! The friend who came yesterday has a high fever!"
At the mention of fever, a woman rolled up her sleeves and ran off.
Alured dashed toward that spot as well.
"I'm a priest from the Church."
The woman was about to say something.
Alured waved his hand to stop her.
"No need for money."
"No, it's not that."
Swoosh—
Flash—
Dazzling light flowed over the child's body for a while.
Her breathing gradually eased.
Only then did relief appear on both their faces.
"Thank you. We would've been in trouble without you, Priest."
"Are there more sick children?"
Alured busily went here and there.
Flash—
'What in the world happened?'
Their conditions were terrible.
He could even see signs of abuse.
They seemed like children with nowhere else to go.
The woman called "sis" from earlier approached Alured.
"Not sure if it's true, but..."
"What is it?"
"She said to give this to the chubby-looking guy who comes."
"...?"
Alured accepted the note with a bewildered expression.
One person came to mind who might be called "chubby."
Looking down at the paper, Alured soon confirmed it was from Chris.
- Help to the best of your ability. Protection needed.
Short message under Chris's name.
And a small handprint stamped below.
"...Luna?"
An adorable handprint was imprinted on the note like a seal.
"Did I give you the right one?"
"Yes."
Alured glanced around and pulled a pouch from his pocket.
"This is all the money I have right now."
30 silver he'd brought as travel funds.
With so many children here, it wouldn't help much.
He should've brought more spare cash.
'This is woefully insufficient.'
After a moment's thought, Alured pulled out a communication orb from his pocket.
Flash—
"This is Alured."
- Sir Alured! Speak.
"I need the power of the priests in the Harp Kingdom. Please contact the closest ones to the border."
Having traveled with Chris, Alured could sense it intuitively.
This wouldn't end with just this once.
'Rendezvous will be delayed.'
He hoped this was the reason he'd been drawn here.
"Lady Ilia..."
Rustle—
I'd only fallen asleep at dawn.
Tired, but what could I do?
It was all fate.
Scribble—
I opened my eyes to see Serena sleeping right in front of me.
Flawless snowy white skin.
Picture-perfect features and crimson lips.
Perhaps because she was asleep, her cold expression had softened a bit.
As I gazed at Serena, I noticed something missing.
"...Huh?"
Luna, who should have been sleeping between Serena and me, was gone.
"...?"
I bolted upright and ended up gaping.
A small figure was standing on the bed.
Luna grinned at me.
"Grown."