Gia, Lying on the Ground
With a sub-director and staff running things separately, not only the main building—which operated smoothly on its own—but also the Hope Tree Orphanage's annex was equipped with a system that kept everything running even when Aren was away for long stretches. She didn't leave often, but when she did venture far, it always took time to return. After all, she had to collect the boss-level villainesses who would one day sweep across the continent beyond the Empire before their seeds could even sprout.
Aren's range of activity had no choice but to span the entire continent. For now, though, she could relax a bit, having gathered all the top-tier kids from her mental "first string." Still, the "second string" figures she'd cataloged in her head were no slouches either, so whenever promising intel came in, she'd go check it out.
Things changed after Gia and then Camella joined. That's when Aren started worrying about being away too long. When Gia first took charge of the orphanage kids and overtook her as number one, Aren was delighted instead. She could leave things to sub-director Kasel, who had a vague grasp of the annex kids' situation from the main building, or teacher Branche... but naturally, she trusted her longtime eldest more.
'Director, will you be back late today...?'
Gia thought of Aren, who'd eaten a light breakfast and headed to Drakanscale, as she moved a box of tomatoes. Today was time to organize the underground pantry. With the recent veggie delivery and the dried meats that had just arrived, it felt like the right moment, so she'd gotten started.
The orphanage's meals and snacks were entirely Gia's domain. It only made sense for her, who knew the ingredients' locations best, to handle the sorting.
"Unni! I'll put this here!"
"Yeah, set it in the meat section."
Epia smacked her lips and set down a bowl of dried bacon. Serelda, who usually bickered with her, was off at the temple for volunteer work—Gia had gone to watch. Camella had headed into the forest early to cheer up Chloe, who was still moping from the recent incident. It was wild animal territory, but with Camella there and beasts steering clear of Chloe, it was safe as long as they didn't go too deep.
"Nom nom nom..."
Behind Gia, who was neatly arranging things for easy access and tossing out anything spoiled or off, came the sound of jerky being chewed.
She turned to find Epia, as expected—one big piece of venison jerky stuffed in her mouth while she moved another box.
"Munch munch—ngya?!"
Epia startled, eyes wide. She thought she wouldn't get caught! Gia smiled at the funny reaction.
"Hehe, it's fine. You're helping your unni, so one piece is okay. Here, have this too."
She pressed a honey rice cake from her pocket into Epia's hand—the ones Aren had made before leaving that morning. Perfect for melting in your mouth.
"Whoa, honey rice cake!"
Epia's eyes sparkled like stars at the sweet scent. She gnawed through the jerky—her teeth scraping like a saw—then popped the rice cake in, bliss washing over her face.
"Mmm... ah, so sweet~ Lots of honey, love it~"
Gia watched Epia's melting expression with joy for a moment. Watching the kids like this naturally brought back memories of when they first arrived at the orphanage.
—Director, this child is...
—She's a new one. Our fourth at the orphanage.
When the director returned from a long trip and set down Epia, whom she'd carried in her arms—
—Grrrrr... stay back, stranger...
She'd crouched on all fours like a beast, glaring with the snarl of a dog loyal only to its master.
'We bonded over jerky at first. Hehe, Epia was cute back then too.'
She could barely speak then, but in no time, she'd become this talkative, helpful good girl.
—Sniff sniff, you smell weird, like burnt rags...
—Excuse me? I don't wanna hear that from someone who reeks like wild game!
Of course, she and Serelda had bickered from day one and remained near-enemies, but Gia secretly thought that dynamic wasn't so bad.
Time passed, and the sorting wrapped up.
"Unni, I'm heading up then!"
"Yeah, take a nap~"
Epia grabbed one more rice cake and pitter-pattered up the stairs. Gia dusted her hands, gave it a final once-over, and stepped out.
"...Haa."
Her head, light when focused on the task, grew heavy and complicated again.
"The director doesn't want me to get strong. She never has."
Not hating it, maybe... but before, whenever Gia asked to learn things to help out, unni always taught patiently. Except one thing: fighting techniques.
She recalled the first time she'd asked.
—I want to get strong like you, unni.
—...Why?
—If I'm strong like you, no one will bully me.
It was right after moving into the Parates estate. Riding on unni's shoulders while sightseeing, they'd paused at the training grounds where soldiers exercised.
Unni had said then: Getting strong doesn't make bullies disappear. Debts of gratitude breed equal resentment. Even if you grow strong and help many, that much malice will pile up too. And she didn't want Gia getting used to taking lives.
—It's okay. You don't need to be strong. Plenty of people will protect you from now on.
She'd been right. Yesterday's mess was nothing compared to before unni took her in. The fear stemmed from old trauma, not real danger. She never thought that man would succeed in kidnapping her. Sure enough, he'd met his end at unni's angry hands.
But what if he'd come to the annex while unni was away?
Even then, the other hyper kids would've shredded them. Gia could've stayed put.
Still... she wished she had enough power to prevent such situations entirely. This incident made her think that.
She wanted to grow strong.
"How can I get strong...?"
Unni emphasized nutrition and exercise. Should I eat more and train harder...? she muttered, pondering—
—Do you desire power...?
"...?"
Demon girl. Do you desire power...?
The voice reverberating in her mind made Gia instinctively glance toward the stairs descending deeper underground past the storage room. The atmosphere felt different there.
Gia slowly descended the stairs. A straight, wide passage—not too long—led to a massive stone door at the end. Even a burly adult man might struggle to push it open with both hands. Before it hung a black longsword, exuding a menacing aura like a decorative ornament.
Come closer... I shall grant your dream...
Gia blinked. She approached naturally, without fear, until she was close enough to touch it—
"—Oh, a spider on the hilt. Looks like it was about to build a web. Let me clean the dust too."
She pulled out the cleaning rag from her pocket, gently removed the spider, and wiped the blade along its edge.
—Aigoo. Thanks, Gia. That guy was gonna web the whole thing if left alone.
"No problem, ma'am."
A small gem between blade and hilt flickered and vibrated. A grumpy woman's voice echoed in Gia's head again.
—I've told you not to call me ma'am. I died at the ripe age of 25. You've got a nice word like 'unni,' you know.
Gia blinked wide-eyed.
"If the director calls you unni, so will I."
—Eyy, then I'm doomed. She's never called me unni, not even back in the day.
The magic sword Eseldra. Aren's longtime companion and ego sword, the very blade she'd wielded when rescuing Gia long ago. Now it hung before the underground treasury's stone door, guarding against intruders.
...Not that intruders ever amounted to more than the orphanage kids popping in periodically. So Eseldra spent her days chatting with them, gossiping with the other sentient artifacts inside the treasury.
—It's so quiet down here. I could hear voices from upstairs. You wanna get strong?
"Ah, yeah, that's..."
—Not weird at all. And I heard about the trouble. Epia spilled it.
"Oh, Epia did..."
Bzzz bzzz.
Eseldra vibrated as if in understanding.
—Glad you're safe. Those fools... even I've got bad luck compared to them, and I've been a magic sword for nearly a century.
Bzzz, bzzz.
It paused, then vibrated twice.
—Aren's super wary of you getting blood on your hands of your own will, for some reason. But! I believe growth comes through trials.
"You mean..."
—How to get strong... or something like that. I can tell you how to gauge if you qualify.
"Qualify...?"
—Yeah. Aren't you curious? How strong you could get with proper training. Beyond awakening qi cultivation—whether you could defy logic, warp providence itself. Who knows?
Just like Aren, Eseldra added.
Gia fell silent, thinking. Before, she wouldn't have cared, but now, with her interest piqued, curiosity bloomed.
"...How?"
Bzzzz, bzzzzz.
Eseldra vibrated long, satisfied.
—Can't just tell you outright from here. But I'll give you the method. First, convince Aren to take you to someone. Here's how...
Hearing the plan, Gia's eyes went wide, mouth agape.
****
The next dawn, just as the sun peeked over the horizon. I'd returned from Drakanscale before sunset yesterday, and upon waking, I prepped to head out again.
'A dungeon boss like that, huh...'
When Susan described the boss that wiped out her knights, I realized what it was.
'Gotta be a Dragon Fang Soldier.'
Dragon minions crafted from their master's fangs. Twice human-sized, ambiguously giant humanoid forms. Like stitched-together bones, generating armor and horned helmets from beneath the skin. A survivor reported it'd massacred the knights in seconds with its halberd.
One question, though: Dragon Fang Soldiers overwhelm with numbers, not single power. Against ten knights—four mid-tier, six low—even leaving one alive as restraint? No Dragon Fang Soldier that strong came to mind.
'Dragon Fang or not, if that dungeon's estimated A+ or higher, can't ignore it.'
Highest level among those popping up here—not the front lines or far north. Too close to the orphanage; trouble would splash over.
'Dragon-related, so best ask my master up top. Perfect timing for a visit anyway.'
Decision made, I geared up simply, told Gia—who'd come to see me off—that I'd be back, and turned—
"D-Director! No, uh, unni!"
"???"
Gia suddenly dashed in front, blocking me.
"Take me with you! If not... I-I'm gonna lie right here all day! Do nothing!"
Thud!
No sooner said than done. With a resolute face, she flopped flat on the ground.
'What... the?'
Normally she'd wave demurely: 'Come back safe, Director.' What was this?
"G-Gia. You..."
Was this the moment I'd half-dreaded, tucked in my heart? Finally, at long last... puberty had hit Gia?!
The shock left my jaw dropped.
"Why now of all times..."
I couldn't bring myself to ask if it was puberty... and just stared, dumbfounded, at Gia sprawled with eyes and mouth shut tight.