Orphanage Sponsorship (2)
When we arrived at the orphanage's main gate, I paused to catch my breath and survey the surroundings. The only one with me was Emilia. In truth, Benedict Hartwell had offered to assign escort knights and attendants, but I'd turned him down.
'Can't have that.'
No matter how I thought about it, the answer was clear. Could knight escorts and attendants really stand idly by while a noble like me did volunteer work? I might end up resented by the servants just for trying to boost my image. So, I'd taken the carriage only to the outskirts and come to the orphanage alone with Emilia.
'Well, that doesn't mean the escort knights aren't covering every corner nearby.'
With knights stationed at key points along the streets, security wasn't an issue. Feeling at ease, I gazed at the orphanage's front gate. It was old, with rust spots here and there. Pushing it open by hand, the hinges creaked with a rusty groan.
"Hm."
Was the funding worse off than I'd expected? More importantly, no children were visible in the courtyard.
"……."
Seeing that, a thought suddenly struck me.
'Is this because of me?'
Didn't schools or military bases spruce up the place when big shots visited? It was probably something like that. Since a noble like me was coming, they must have rounded up the kids on purpose.
'Earth or here, same old story.'
In other words, the longer I stayed, the less playtime the kids would get.
'Gotta play it cool and not overstay.'
Pushing aside a twinge of regret, I strolled into the courtyard with Emilia. An elderly woman with white hair stood waiting in front of the building.
"Greetings to Young Master Ethan Hartwell of the Hartwell Count family. I am Jenovia, the director of this orphanage."
"It's an honor to meet you, Director Jenovia."
The orphanage director's name was Jenovia. Her face was etched with deep, intricate wrinkles, traces of time evident in her plain attire that spoke of a hard life. Even in her white-haired old age, she was still serving the children. I could sense her sense of responsibility as the one running the place.
'Still, she gives off a good vibe.'
Her warm smile radiated love for the kids. The glasses added an air of intellect and kindness.
'Feels kinda familiar, though….'
Her face seemed oddly familiar somehow. Probably just because her presence was that comforting.
But at my greeting, the director bowed her head.
"I worry you may have been inconvenienced on your long journey here. Normally, a teacher would have come out to greet you first, but she was occupied tending to the children and couldn't. My apologies."
She apologized for the improper welcome and explained the teacher's situation with the kids. But I didn't mind at all. Apologize for what? One look at the building told me there was probably just one teacher handling everything. How tough must it be caring for all these orphanage kids alone? Besides, I'd come comfortably by carriage to the outskirts. No need for her apologies.
I smiled and replied.
"It's fine. Children are our future and our hope. I should be the one thanking you for nurturing that hope."
In truth, population was power itself. In the Hartwell territory, every child born and raised safely became future strength. The kids here were precious, each and every one.
I spoke with genuine sincerity from the heart.
"……."
Director Jenovia caught her breath at my words for a moment before leading us to her office.
"Well then, shall we discuss what activities you plan to undertake? It will be a great help to the children."
Jenovia deftly prepared tea and set cups before me and Emilia. As we sipped, I listened to her stories. Mostly about the orphanage's situation, how donations were used—things tied to money.
Above all, Jenovia made a request that wasn't quite a request.
"First, I appreciate your desire to volunteer, young master. However, for the children's sake, please reconsider."
She was actually trying to stop my volunteering.
"If there are special circumstances, we can consider today's visit as your volunteer service."
In short, I could just sit there and it would count as volunteering. Watching her, I realized she had a point. If a noble like me pitched in directly, it would burden the director, teacher, and even the kids.
Hadn't I seen something similar in my past life? I nodded at her earnest plea.
The director smiled.
"Ah, right—you mentioned wanting to see the children?"
Her eyes changed. Of course, I hadn't come just to volunteer. I planned to check out the kids and, if any seemed promising, take one as my own lackey.
Now it was time to drop the pretenses and get to the real talk.
"Haha, how embarrassing. You're right, Director. Word must have spread, but as an illegitimate son, I have no one of my own in the mansion."
I wasn't expecting much anyway. If there was a useful-looking kid here, I'd take them on as a servant. Cloy was a valet, but not fully mine. And Emilia, who'd come with me, was still in training.
But Emilia shouldn't end up just as a servant. She'd been brought here originally as a link to Bella, so I planned to ease her into outside roles bit by bit. Bringing her today was laying groundwork for the future.
What I really needed was a true aide to support me.
The director was sharp; she seemed to grasp my intent.
"I see. Understood. We provide thorough education to our children here. You won't be disappointed."
Her words left a bitter taste. This wasn't Earth. Here, orphanage kids had to prove their worth somehow. The director probably knew that and educated them accordingly—studying for jobs at an age when they should be playing.
For a moment, my eyes met Emilia's.
"……."
She smiled faintly, but if I hadn't become the illegitimate son, she'd have lived a life no different from these kids.
After that, I chatted more with Jenovia. Then, briefly, I met some of the children.
'They're all so mature.'
Maybe because of their circumstances, the kids' faces were somber. It tugged at me. Since I was here, I decided to take two with me.
It felt wrong to come for volunteering and leave empty-handed, and if the director was right, they'd fit perfectly as my servants.
I suggested a few qualities to the director and asked her to recommend suitable kids.
"Understood, young master. But the children will need time to prepare. Is that alright?"
Of course—for them, the orphanage was home. Parting suddenly from friends they'd lived with would be sad. I could understand that, unlike other nobles.
"Got it. I'll send a carriage soon."
And with that, my schedule wrapped up.
The illegitimate son of the Hartwell Count family, Ethan, had left the orphanage.
"……."
Orphanage director Jenovia gazed in the direction he'd vanished. Then she murmured softly.
"Lucy."
"Yes, Eighth Elder."
At the director's words, a young woman appeared.
"How did the investigation go?"
Called the Eighth Elder, Jenovia had ordered the orphanage's sole teacher, Lucy, to gather all information on 'Ethan.'
This orphanage wasn't ordinary to begin with. It was managed by the Eighth Elder, a member of Black Raven's council of elders.
So, they needed to investigate anyone approaching, like Ethan.
"Yes. First, Young Master Ethan is indeed the illegitimate son of the Hartwell Count family. Naturally, he's not a Black Raven member, and it seems he lived in a village on the outskirts of the principality until recently."
Up to here, he seemed like any ordinary bastard son. But Lucy continued.
"However, we found one strange detail."
"Strange?"
The Eighth Elder pressed at the mention of something odd.
"Yes. Before Young Master Ethan left the village, a nearby mine was raided. And we confirmed Celestia's involvement in the mine raid."
Celestia was the Succubus Empress personally sealed by the Leader. According to Lucy's report, the Vice Leader had unilaterally broken the seal.
"Once freed from the seal, Celestia sent her hounds to the magic stone mine."
"……."
Why had the Vice Leader released Celestia's seal? Why had her Shadow Hounds gone to the magic stone mine?
What caught the Eighth Elder's attention was the location. Small villages dotted the area near the magic stone mine. And the Hartwell bastard son had grown up in one of them. They weren't far apart.
"Also, the mage who accompanied him when the count family fetched the bastard was confirmed to be Adeline's direct disciple."
"……!"
The Eighth Elder's eyes widened at the sudden influx of info. Adeline was the Fire Tower Master and a Black Raven member. Even if her direct disciple wasn't, the Tower Master's influence was inevitable.
At a glance, these events seemed unrelated. The High Council had ordered the release of the Leader's sealed monster to destroy the magic stone mine. The bastard son was in a nearby village, and by chance, the Fire Tower Master's disciple showed up. Then the bastard Ethan visits this orphanage, saying he needs lackeys.
Of course, the kids here weren't ordinary either—they were the future of Black Raven.
The Eighth Elder recalled Ethan's words.
- Children are our future and our hope.
A tone like he already knew everything. And there was one more piece of info.
"By the way, Lucy. The High Council recently warned about it, right? That Phantom has begun operating."
"…Yes."
Even the emergence of the Leader's secret guard, Phantom.
Was all this mere coincidence?
'No way….'
The Eighth Elder shook her head. Coincidences repeated become inevitability. And that's exactly what was happening now. Multiple coincidences weaving a single play—like someone's scheme.
"Hm."
The Eighth Elder pondered. She'd felt something off since the letter about the count's son coming to volunteer. True nobles donated money, not time.
A vague suspicion was solidifying into certainty. Ethan's words flashed through her mind.
- As an illegitimate son, I have no one of my own in the mansion.
In short, he wanted someone loyal only to him.
- It won't be hard for the children. They just need to follow my lead.
That meant absolute obedience to his commands.
- Ideally, one boy and one girl.
True—different genders could handle varied tasks.
Ethan's demands were bold. Linking them to recent events led to one possibility.
"…Phantom."
The Eighth Elder murmured. It wasn't mere speculation—it was conviction.
"From now on, assume Ethan is Phantom and list out the intel."
Lucy looked shocked at the order. Phantom was the secret guard, famous for never showing themselves. Appearing now?
But Lucy felt the same unease, unable to deny it.
"If Young Master Ethan is Phantom, as you say, Elder…."
Then her eyes widened too.
Why destroy the mine by releasing Celestia? Was the bastard in the nearby village and the Fire Tower's involvement coincidence? And Phantom's activity warned by the High Council—it all fit into one incident.
"N-No way…!"
As Lucy gasped, the Eighth Elder nodded.
The magic stone mine was a decoy. The real target was the Hartwell Count family.
The Fire Tower mage had likely performed a paternity test for the count—at least on the surface.
'Of course, the test was fake.'
The real bastard was dead, replaced by Phantom's Ethan.
"……."
Thinking this far sent chills down the Eighth Elder's spine. It had all flowed so naturally. Probably the Leader's plan.
"We've been had big time."
She let out a hollow sigh. Phantom had been right in front of her, and she'd sensed nothing. No power from Ethan at all.
He must have hidden it.
'Even I, an elder, couldn't detect it….'
That meant Phantom's level surpassed the council.
Yet such a Phantom was asking for help.
'Must be some critical mission.'
Phantom moved only on the Leader's orders. In a broad sense, this request was the Leader's command.
Whatever the mission, she just needed to comply.
Sorting her thoughts, the Eighth Elder ordered Lucy.
"Lucy, send Lena and Lei to the Hartwell Count family. They'll satisfy even Phantom."
Hearing the command, Lucy shuddered momentarily. Lena and Lei were the orphanage's most ruthless twin siblings.