Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: First Guest at the New Orphanage
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“Over there!”
“One more!”
Through my ragged breaths, up to my chin...
I heard voices shouting at me from behind.
“Agh, damn it!”
I picked up my pace a little.
Even if they caught me stealing supplies, it was just food for ten boys, right?
They could cover it by skimping on a few drinks from their own pockets—no one would notice.
“Why are they chasing me full throttle in the dead of night?!”
Those guys clearly had no idea how good it felt to donate to poor orphans.
They'd only get it if they bought those half-forced charity drives at school or the Christmas seals.
“Huff... huff...”
The back alleys were a maze, so they hadn't caught me yet, but it was only a matter of time.
There were just too many of them looking for me.
And once they caught up, it'd turn into a stamina contest.
A starving kid versus grown men weighed down by armor all day?
Maybe it'd be more realistic to let them catch me on purpose, then kick 'em in the nuts and bolt.
“Ha, fuck. I hate gambling, but...”
A fork in the road appeared.
Left led deeper into the back alleys.
Right led out to the streets.
I bolted right without hesitation.
Left would dead-end soon enough.
Back alleys were confined spaces by design—walls at the end were a given.
Was this the right choice?
No clue.
But fuck, what even was the right choice?
Just do what felt right and regret it if it failed.
Clack-clack.
Maybe because it led outward.
Turning the corner at the intersection, I ran smack into a soldier holding a torch.
“...Huh?!”
“Sorry! Coming through!”
I dodged the hand swiping at me with a deep bow.
Then slipped between his waist and the torch.
“Hey! Another one's here!”
“What? Still some left?”
“I thought we could finally sleep now...”
They could've just gotten overtime pay and clocked out once their shift ended.
From their disappointed grumbles, this soldier must've been on a flat salary.
Damn, that made me feel a little bad.
“Whew.”
Running flat out, a wide-open space came into view.
Unlike the alleys I'd been weaving through, this was a main road.
A massive street built with purpose, leading straight to the city gates.
“Huh?”
“What's that?”
“The guys inside couldn't catch one little brat like that?”
Soldiers spread out here too.
But I didn't stop—I kept running.
My target: the back alleys on the opposite side.
That area had wealthy merchants' homes dotted around, so they'd hesitate to make a racket.
“Hey, kid! Stop right now!”
“Fuck! Would you stop if you were me, mister?!”
“...”
“Pfft! Grain lost a trash-talk battle to a back-alley brat?”
“Fair point, though.”
I sprinted full tilt across to the other side.
They clearly hadn't expected me to pop out like this.
With some distance between us soldiers, I successfully ducked into the alley.
'Gotta put some real distance between us.'
I vaulted the right wall.
Slipped through a hidden shortcut hole only us orphans knew about.
Dumped crates and junk to block the path behind.
I managed to gain some ground, somehow.
“Haven't found him yet...”
“One came this way...”
“Hope no one gets hurt...”
But they kept coming, relentlessly.
Unusually so for hunting one back-alley kid.
Maybe they had some other agenda.
“...Ah!”
Mid-sprint, I slammed to a halt before iron bars straight ahead.
What the hell?
This used to be an empty lot, in my memory.
A pretty big mansion had gone up while I wasn't looking.
In the back alleys, on the outskirts no less?
“Cough... hack...”
Clutching my raw throat, I peered closer.
A fresh-looking nameplate gleamed on the dusty wall.
[ Rebecca Orphanage ]
“Ah.”
This must be the new orphanage Bern mentioned.
I hesitated for a moment.
“...Should I go in?”
Nowhere else to run, at least.
Was relying on this place smart?
Might end up as stew meat if I did.
I didn't know stories from kids who'd gone in or local gossip.
But no other options...
“—He went this way...”
Voices nearby—I slammed the main gate bars hard, no hesitation.
Clang-clang!
Then hid off to the side.
“Fuck it...”
It wasn't a snap decision.
If word had spread even to street orphans like us, they wouldn't pull obvious shady shit.
No visitors, and suddenly a kid who entered vanishes?
The palace guard would bust in and lop heads off—no surprise.
Plus, it looked legit enough.
Rumors of big money poured in.
Too sunk cost for a quick scam.
More likely a real orphanage than an organ-harvesting den.
...Probably.
“Now.”
Light leaked through the mansion door crack.
No one around—I sprawled limp before the bars like I'd die if they didn't let me in right away.
“Oh dear, poor child, how did you end up here...”
Moments later, a warm middle-aged woman's pitying voice from close by.
'Nice.'
Gamble paid off, at least for now.
Duck out early tomorrow morning and head home.
“Come on in, dear.”
The woman gently stroked my back...
'Huh?'
And hoisted me up with one arm.
Thick forearm pressing through my clothes.
Too massive for just big bones or genetics...
Did they have a gym inside or what?
“I was sad no one came when we opened, but who knew fate had this meeting in store...”
Tucked under her arm like nothing, she locked the gate tight with her free hand.
Then carried me inside.
'...I can still escape, right?'
Felt like she was carrying air.
No confidence I'd wriggle free even thrashing full force.
All I could do was swing limp with gravity.
And so, I became the glorious first guest of this orphanage.
In conclusion, it was a legit orphanage.
Framed imperial documents with the royal crest hung openly in the director's office.
Plus, the lack of kids was temporary—they'd brought some over from other orphanages with help.
“At least it's not sketchy...”
Hard bread, but three square meals.
Lumpy mattress with a thin blanket.
Better than street life, sure...
“Dane! Quit slacking and work! Get the whole blue crate from the warehouse!”
“Yessir! I'll grab those scrap metal piles for you, Bren!”
But nothing was free.
Apparently monthly funding wasn't enough to cover us kids.
Or maybe they wanted to teach us harsh reality.
The orphanage partnered with businesses for “job creation.”
Translation: cheap child labor.
“Nngh!”
Orphan kids worked outside all day except meals and sleep.
Some at bakeries, some flower shops.
Then they'd whine about it being tough.
Yeah, bellies full. Try hauling ore at a forge all day.
“Fucking sucks!”
“Dane! Save that language for when you botch an order and add an extra zero to the bill!”
“Yessir!”
Maybe 'cause I was fourteen, the oldest, they sent me here?
Time to chat with the director later.
Still, the imperial papers worked magic—no brutal sweatshops.
If one popped up, tell Director Teresa, and she'd switch us quick.
Some shops just... vanished overnight. No clue. Don't care.
“Good work today, Dane! Must've been rough with the deadline.”
“Eh, it's all to eat. Happens sometimes.”
“Haha! True enough!”
His bushy arm thumped my back.
Work was grindy, but the all-guys vibe made it tolerable.
“Take this for later. Don't forget tomorrow!”
“Roger. Heading out.”
Grabbed a thick loaf and left the forge.
Hard work scared kids off, so bonuses like this now and then.
Squish.
“Ooh, nice.”
Decent bread—this yielded softly under pressure.
Street swipes were literal bricks.
“Phew, off the clock at last.”
Rubbing my sore shoulders, I headed to the square.
Orphanage rules: gather at set time, head back together.
Thud.
“Huh?”
Zoning out on the walk, someone dashed up, grabbed my right arm, and yanked me into an alley.
Looking down: familiar bobbing brown hair.
“Riel?”
Long time no see—Riel dragged me deeper, checked for anyone, nodded, and spoke.
“Uh, th-that...”
She had something to say, but kept hesitating.
About a month since that day?
Hm, first meet in ages—awkward was fair.
I approached carefully, patted her shoulder.
“It's fine. No one's here—take your time.”
“Ah, uh...”
She froze a sec.
“I-I was worried... you disappeared...!”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Vanishing like that... then suddenly here...”
Riel buried into my chest, hugged my waist tight, and sobbed.
I'd thought of Bern and her...
'Just no time.'
Work ended, straight to group march home.
They roamed too much to track down easy.
“Y-you okay...?”
“...Man, I've had so much crap lately. It's rough.”
“...!!!”
Riel's eyes went wide.
Shy personality aside, her emotions ran deep.
We'd tease her like this with Bern sometimes.
“W-wait! Sorry, kidding! No rough stuff, no danger!”
Tears welled fast—I soothed her quick.
Bad timing for jokes.
I wiped her eyes, explained hastily.
“Staying at the new orphanage. It's safe, brand new—nice facilities. Tell Bern that.”
“Uh-huh...”
Riel clung to my shoulder awhile.
Arms locked around my waist.
All I could do: rub her back till she calmed.
After what felt like minutes.
“Hey, Dane! Out here!”
“Ugh, usually nagging me to hurry...”
“...That's 'cause you dawdle!”
“Let's wait a bit more.”
Orphan kids calling me.
Already gathered—time to go.
Riel heard, lifted her head slowly.
“Gotta head out.”
“Yeah...”
“Riel, if you get in trouble, come to the orphanage. It's pretty good.”
“...”
Conflict in her eyes.
Me being there, probably debating with Bern.
I slipped the forge bread into her hand.
“Personally? Against it. Work's brutal, and you're cute.”
Girls sometimes hit rough spots—next day bedridden with soreness.
Riel's alley runs built stamina, sure.
Still, hated seeing a familiar face suffer.
Plus, orphanage drama with relationships? Hassle.
She was pretty, after all.
My little sis is the best—that vibe.
Frequent hangs made Riel feel like real family.
“Catch you later. Visit sometimes—off work same time daily.”
“...Yeah.”
I paused.
This loaf was my blood-sweat-earned bonus.
Bern stuffing his face?
Irked me.
“Share if you want, but eat solo if possible. Picturing that pig full sours my mood.”
“Yeah, hehe...”
“Later.”
One last head ruffle for Riel.
Then off to the square.
Steps felt lighter than usual.
'Looks like things worked out.'
Good—my call was right.
Riel leaned against the alley wall, unmoving for a long while.
Unconsciously hugging the bread to her chest, the sensations replayed.
Firm shoulders.
Gentle back pats.
Soft voice.
“Ah, uh...”
No thoughts till now.
Grabbing his arm on the street.
Burying her face, sobbing.
All joy of reunion—no room for else.
But now, alone... something off.
Body hotter than usual, heart pounding.
“Wh-why...?”
Never like this before.
Months together pre-split—no such feelings.
Washing at the well? Pure curiosity.
Brother's pal. Close bro. Nothing more.
“S-since that day... been embarrassed...”
Her face flushed crimson.
Faint sweat scent at nose-tip.
Hand-back brush giving the bread.
Occasional “pretty” praises.
All today.
Weird.
“G-gotta get home and rest...”
Riel clutched the bread carefully, scurried off.
Planning to return same time tomorrow.