Chapter 108
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Orphanage (2)
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In Armang's only orphanage, Arvilla's director's office.
"As you know, the Endex drama club made a donation here."
Dent bowed his head at Elise's words.
"Yes. On behalf of the orphanage, thank you. It will be a tremendous help."
"So... I've become a bit interested in this place, you could say."
"Hmm. That's also something to be grateful for."
"And also, while I'm at it."
Elise picked up her teacup. The black tea was a deep, rich color.
"I have a few questions about Sion Askal as well."
"About Sion, you say."
Dent's expression stiffened slightly.
"Yes."
"Aren't you an alumna? You might know him even better than we do."
"That's true."
Elise sipped her tea, pretending to be calm.
She was a little surprised. It tasted so good.
Tea from cold regions always had such a deep flavor.
"We are alumni, but..."
She started to say something but stopped.
Dent had a peculiar expression.
Not suspicion, but like he was holding back a laugh, his lips twitching.
"...By any chance, are you interested in Sion?"
At that moment, Elise nearly blurted something out. She almost spilled the teacup in her hand.
She barely held it back.
"Interested... yes, I am."
It wasn't a lie.
Not good interest, but bad interest.
"Oho~ The younger generation really is bold... Ahem."
Dent cleared his throat with an intrigued look, while behind the counseling room door, the teachers' commotion buzzed like vibrations.
Elise glanced that way and nodded toward it.
"...The soundproofing isn't great, is it?"
"Yeah. It isn't. Hey! What are you all doing back there? Get out!"
A stampede of footsteps receded.
The teachers retreated. Dent turned back to Elise.
"Ahem. Well, Sion does have that sharp, handsome look. He was the only one I taught who got into Endex. And also..."
Dent seemed ready to ramble on endlessly about trivial things.
"Sion Askal. He had leukemia, right? Demonic leukemia."
Elise cut straight to the point.
A furrow formed between Dent's brows. He asked back in a suddenly serious tone.
"Why are you asking about that?"
"Because I was in that hospital too."
"...The hospital?"
Dent pondered alone for a moment, then clapped as if realizing something.
"Ah~ Right. That was Petra University Hospital, wasn't it?"
"Yes. That's correct."
"Hmm~ Then, by any chance, were you the friend Sion mentioned back then?"
Friend.
Elise's fingers tightened on the teacup handle. The surface of the black tea rippled slightly. She nearly spilled it but managed to stay composed.
"Friend... Did Sion call me that?"
"He did. He said 'a slightly weird friend,' but anyway, he was happy to have made a friend."
A slightly weird friend.
Elise took a sip of the black tea and smiled faintly.
"The tea is delicious."
"Ah, thank you."
"Then, have you ever seen that friend in person? I'm curious if it was me or some other kid."
Acting experience came in handy at times like this. Expression control, the ability to lie naturally—all part of performance.
"Hmm... You're quite forward. But no, I never saw their face. It was a ward visitors couldn't enter, right? Anyway, that's what he said. I don't remember clearly."
A crack appeared in Elise's poker face.
The only ward at Petra University Hospital that visitors couldn't enter was one place.
The psychiatric ward.
The place where Yael had been admitted instead of prison.
"...Then. One more thing."
Elise said, her smile trembling at the corners of her mouth.
"Why was Sion registered at the orphanage?"
Dent waved his hand dismissively. This time, he was firm.
"I can't tell you that far. You already knew about the leukemia, Petra, and the friend thing is fine, but we can't share Sion's wounds."
"..."
Elise shrugged.
"Fair enough. You're right."
How Sion Askal's parents died. She could investigate that herself if she wanted. Tracing an entire human life was hard, but beginnings and ends were surprisingly easy to find.
"...Thank you. My interest has only grown because of you."
"Ohohoho— Well, well, Sion, huh? You like him that much? Man, I'm jealous. The attention of the top prospect..."
Dent scratched his head with a goofy grin, but the real issue right now wasn't Sion.
It was 'Yael'.
[She's my real friend.]
Yael's words might not have been a lie.
Sion Askal might really have been friends with Yael.
How horrifying.
"Well then."
Elise checked her wristwatch.
"It's about time for me to go. Oh, no need to see me out. I want to look around alone."
Dent, who had half-risen awkwardly, sat back down.
"Yes. Not much to see... Take care."
"Sure."
She left the director's office with her attendant. A scramble of footsteps—teachers hid like mice in the hallways.
"...Sigh."
With a sigh, she stepped out onto the playground. No grass, just sand, with a few benches scattered around.
She sat on one. Her butt felt cold.
Through the windows of the opposite building, she caught glimpses of children.
Children.
Elise shook her head at the sight of those kids.
She hated children.
Quite a lot.
Enough to exclude them from her life.
But people recoiled if you said you hated kids?
You could hate pigs or whatever, but hating kids made you a psychopath or sociopath...
"...Hey."
Suddenly, a cute voice laced with complaint called out to her.
"Hm?"
Elise turned that way.
Nothing there.
"Not there. Here."
"...Where?"
"Berry, down here."
A voice coming from a bit below.
Behind the bench, two short kids were glaring at her.
Their eyes gleamed like lasers.
"Who are you two?"
"I'm Berry. This is Bell."
Introducing themselves boldly, they stepped forward, hands clasped behind their backs, bowing politely.
Manners were good.
"...Okay. Hi."
"By any chance."
Berry climbed onto the bench first, all confident. The attendant looked at her, but Elise signaled to leave it.
"Do you know Sion?"
Berry asked about Sion. Elise almost laughed.
Everything here was connected to Sion Askal.
She owed money laundering suspicions an apology.
"...I know him."
Elise glanced at Berry's chest. A smartphone dangled like a necklace. Sensing her gaze, Berry clutched it tight.
"Sion gave this to Berry."
"Did he?"
Compared to her own latest model, it was outdated.
"Isn't it pretty old?"
"What'd you say?"
"Nothing."
Maybe she was the abnormal one, changing phones yearly.
Berry asked again.
"How's Sion doing?"
Sion again.
These two seemed interested only in Sion.
I'm the 6-star prospect, though.
"He's doing well."
That was all Elise said.
"As expected~"
"Wow~"
The two kids' eyes sparkled dramatically.
"What happens if you do well?"
Of course, curious kids.
"If you do well all the way, you go to college."
"Whoa... College..."
"Col-le-ge..."
Berry and Bell gaped blankly. Then they waved their hands around.
"Berry, Berry too, dreams of being a knight. Wants to go to college like Sion."
"I see."
Elise expressionlessly rummaged in her coat pocket. Luckily, she had snacks. Three imported chocolates.
"Share these."
And go away quick.
"Whoa."
"Wow!"
Berry and Bell took them with shining eyes. Bell tore open the wrapper immediately; Berry stuffed hers in her pocket and asked,
"What's sister's name?"
"Elise. Elise Petra."
"Does Elise play mobage too?"
"...Mobage?"
"Mobile games."
"Ah."
Elise rubbed her forehead. She couldn't understand slang. Had she gotten this old already...?
"Come play with us next time... Ah! Gotta go now. Teacher Tiger's coming!"
Berry pointed somewhere. A teacher who looked like a dorm supervisor was watching them.
"Okay. Go on."
"Wait, before that!"
As Berry hopped down from the bench, she held out her smartphone.
"Number swap! Wanna?"
"..."
Elise hesitated briefly, then nodded.
Better than refusing to her face—just give a fake number.
"Sure."
"Tell me!"
She recited a number to Berry. Berry poked at the screen with small fingers and showed [Saved].
"Done! Bye-bye!"
"Bye-bye!"
"Go on. Hurry."
Berry and Bell ran off, their big heads bobbing disproportionately to their bodies. Watching them, Elise murmured softly.
"It's a proper orphanage. Makes me feel stupid for suspecting."
She had a vague distrust of donations.
She'd seen too many rich folks building altars or faking charity for laundering.
"I'll sponsor here too, like Sion Askal. But sustainable support."
This place seemed fine.
"Luren. Do you know what those trees on the back mountain are?"
Elise asked her attendant Luren. He shook his head.
"With my limited knowledge, no."
"'Lehalsi.' Saw it in Nature three months ago. Processed right, they give mana stone-level efficiency for heating."
She subscribed to medical journals, mana studies, science mags—tons.
A habit since young; no high schooler knew cutting-edge stuff faster.
"I'll sponsor a workshop to process Lehalsi. And..."
Pausing, Elise thought of Berry and Bell. A smile crept unconsciously onto her lips.
To reiterate, she hated kids.
"A library."
Because she liked them too much.
"A library it is."
They made her smile constantly.
Made her want to watch them forever.
Made her forget her duties, ambitions, goals sometimes.
"Kids need books."
Skip summer and fall luxury drops, and she'd have the funds.