Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: A Visit to the Orphanage
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This was the second time.
Riding in a carriage with a carnivore beastkin.
And this time, even Ed, who had been something of a comfort, wasn't here. The carriage interior, where only Billy and I sat facing each other, was filled with a strange tension.
"Um, where are we going?"
Billy hadn't told me the destination, just saying I'd know when we got there as he led me outside.
I gazed around the Rub Family's carriage with curious eyes. It was utterly different from the Morton Family's modest one, which prioritized simplicity over flashiness.
The interior was painted a deep blue, symbolic of the blue hair typical of wolf beastkin, with gleaming gold accents throughout.
Even though the color could seem drab, it didn't feel dark at all—it exuded luxury.
'Looking at something else makes it a bit better.'
Since I was more focused on the carriage than on Billy, a sense of calm finally settled over me.
Unlike the Morton Family carriage we'd taken to the Wolf Territory, the Rub Family one offered an incredible ride. Soon, it left the well-paved road and began rumbling along a bumpy dirt path.
Not long after entering the dirt road, the carriage slowed to a stop.
'Where is this?'
I peered out the window on one side, but I couldn't get my bearings at all. All I could see was a single ivory-colored building.
As the carriage halted, Billy got out first and extended his hand. I cautiously took it and stepped down.
'Whew, I thought I was going to suffocate.'
Unlike Billy, who had lounged with his legs crossed, enjoyed the scenery, and even chatted with me, I hadn't been able to sit still.
I'd felt like bolting somewhere or at least hiding, but...
What could I do inside the carriage?
I'd just endured it, fidgeting with my fingers, rolling my eyes while pretending to examine the interior I'd already scoped out multiple times, and biting my lip.
At least I wasn't trembling visibly like before. What a relief.
The moment I let go of Billy's hand, I spotted a middle-aged woman approaching us warmly from across the way and looked up at him.
"Who's she?"
"She's the director who takes care of the children here."
"Children?"
Just then, the director rushed up to us with a kind smile, greeting us enthusiastically.
As we followed her inside, bewilderment gradually turned to surprise on my face.
"Director! He burst my peach with magic!"
"You teased him first, calling him a dummy who can't control his magic power!"
"Who are they, Director?"
"Whoa, a herbivore beastkin! Emil, come here. They don't have fangs like you!"
The wide room inside was decorated like a kindergarten classroom, filled with over twenty children playing together—making things, snacking, and so on.
"They're children who were forced to work as magic slaves."
Billy leaned down and whispered so the kids wouldn't hear.
"These children..."
"Are the ones Lady Morton rescued."
"Me?"
I'd only reported it.
Wasn't it Billy who'd infiltrated the Horse Mansion and rescued them all?
Yet hearing that these were the children I'd saved, despite doing nothing myself, made the classroom scene feel entirely new.
'Come to think of it.'
The children were using magic naturally in their daily lives—a stark contrast to anything I'd seen while living in the Sheep Territory, which had no proper mages.
Pew—
"Hey, you idiot! Why are you even making that?"
One child was waving their hands, trying to create something with light from their palms, but it exploded.
Another child scolded the now-sniffling kid, hands on hips, in a lecturing tone.
"We don't have to make stuff like this anymore. Haven't you seen the others?"
The scolding child swept a finger around the room, then pulled the seated one to their feet and ran off to join the friends.
Watching quietly, the director explained in a troubled voice.
"That child was only recently rescued, so they still feel anxious without making magic items."
"Ah..."
"Thanks to you, the children can grow up safely with support. We truly appreciate it."
She gazed pityingly at the awkward child hovering at the group's edge, then bowed in thanks.
"Direct the thanks over here."
Billy pointed at me, and the director thanked me as well.
"No, really, I didn't do anything."
I waved it off, but Billy shook his head.
"Lady Morton has no idea how big a deal what she did was."
Billy, who'd been hyping me up like I'd accomplished something huge, flashed a charming smile.
"I really wanted to show you. How the rescued children are living."
Watching the kids play happily made my chest swell with emotion. I smiled proudly around the room when one child ran up, looked up at me curiously, and grabbed my hand.
Their small, reed-like fingers gripped mine tightly as they dragged me inside, shouting.
"Guys! An adult without fangs!"
"Whoa, we've seen kids like Emil, but an adult without fangs is new!"
The kids swarmed like I was some rare exhibit—mostly carnivore beastkin, with herbivore ones peeking from behind.
Dazed, I beckoned the herbivore children. A few with gentle eyes approached.
Seeing smiles spread across their faces brought one to mine as well.
Soon, I was in the midst of them, feeling like I'd returned to childhood innocence as we played together.
Billy, leaning against the classroom door, wore a warm smile.
"Kids, I'll come again next time."
The sun was setting before I knew it. Time to head back to the mansion, and reluctance washed over me.
"When will you come?"
"After how many nights?"
Their round eyes sparkled as they asked. I turned to Billy standing by the carriage. He silently held up an open palm.
"After five nights, you'll see me again."
I pinky-swore the promise, waved a final goodbye, and the carriage rolled toward the Rub mansion.
As the waving children faded from view, Billy gave me a brief explanation, sitting straight.
After my report led to the Horse Mansion rescue, the Magic Tower had cracked down on magic slave exploitation sites in earnest. Many were saved as a result, and the young children were being protected at that ivory building.
"Thank you."
I spoke sincerely.
"I just reported it without evidence, but you acted so decisively."
"It was the right thing to do. By the way, you've never even been to the Zebra Territory—how did you get that information?"
"Oh, that was from the Information Guild."
Billy's lips twitched as he heard the full story. He covered his mouth. Laughter leaked through his fingers.
"You got scammed."
"Scammed?"
"That wasn't worth the price. Not rare information at all."
Eh?
If that wasn't rare intel, what was?
As Billy spouted nonsense, he landed a critical hit.
"Hmm, though you do look like an easy mark."
Hey, this wolf?
He bit his lip to stifle a laugh at my sharpening glare, then spoke while trying not to grin.
"No one would try scamming a lady wielding a shovel."
"I could demonstrate in front of the Family Head if you'd like."
Billy just laughed in response. Even upon arriving at the mansion, his upturned lips didn't fall.
Ed returned after his two-day Magic Tower field trip.
I'd been dying to know what they did there, so the moment he arrived, I gave him a brief rest and dragged him out for a garden stroll.
The path I usually took had few servants, which put me at ease.
"Ed, how was the Magic Tower trip?"
"It was fun!"
I ruffled his grinning head and sat beside him on a garden bench.
"What was the most fun part?"
Ed cupped his chin thoughtfully, then his eyes lit up as he remembered.
"Granting the chimpanzee's wish?"
"Huh?"
"I know all about it. That chimpanzee harassed you last time, right?"
I hadn't breathed a word to Ed—how did he know?
"The Tower Lord said some omnivore beastkin are twisted like that. He asked if I'd grant a wish together, so I did what he wanted."
"Ahh..."
What the heck were they teaching this kid?
I didn't know what kind of beastkin the Tower Lord was, but my gut screamed he wasn't normal.
A few days after Ed returned,
I got a chance to see the Magic Tower Lord's true nature for myself—something I'd only vaguely guessed at.