Dream Fulfilled
It had been twenty-six years since I entered the deep-dark indie dark fantasy game created by my orphanage classmate and one and only best friend. At the same time, it had been one year since I set up an orphanage in the forest of a quiet rural village and started living there.
I became aware of this world a few months after being born into it. "Aaaah—huh, me?" I was in my mother's arms as a baby. Then my baby brother, nestled in our father's arms, nailed me with a full-power flick to the forehead, restoring my identity as a Korean boy.
"...It's gone?" As I groped around and realized the emptiness down below, despair hit me. But then I spotted the familiar religious emblem in the house. Listening to my parents' chatter, I figured out where I'd reincarnated. That's when I knew I was living a second life as a girl named Aren Parates. And that's when I got my big dream.
"...When I grow up, let's start an orphanage."
From the moment I flailed my uncooperative limbs on the luxurious, fluffy noble bed, I'd been dreaming of the day it would come true. Because if I didn't, this world had no future.
My friend's indie game—this world—would enter its full deep-dark main story around when I turned forty. Several villainesses, appearing as bosses, would wreck the place. But that was now ancient history.
"That future doesn't exist anymore."
Luckily, I'd reincarnated into an indie game my best friend had led the development of—we'd scraped the bottom of the barrel on it. Thanks to our bond from orphanage days spanning over a decade, I'd even seen her personal setting bible. Outside her and the few developers, I probably knew this game best. Pure luck.
Reincarnating way before the main story kicked in helped too—the world wasn't that deep-dark yet. So I grew up grinding from infancy. Met a master through some fateful encounter and trained. Endured beggar-like hardships, became an adult. Ran away, adventured as a mercenary. Joined a hero party, even took swings at the Demon King. Then, a year ago, when conditions aligned, I started gathering kids I knew I could save.
Kids who would become villainesses in the distant future. Specifically, the ones who'd pull off continent-threatening boss episodes.
...Kinda weird to say, but it was convenient that the top-priority ones were easy to take in. No parents, or parents who couldn't parent. Or families so messed up the kid would cheer if they died right in front of them...
That tugged at my heart. Sure, they'd cause massive trouble later as evil villainesses, but kidnapping a kid from a normal, happy family? My conscience couldn't handle it. Might even butterfly-effect a new villainess not in the original story.
So, with my life's direction set, after enduring all sorts of painful storms, I finally achieved my dream. Now I lived in the orphanage I'd built in advance, watching over the kids I'd brought.
Currently, five kids lived with me. All were boss-level villainesses from the game's main story, destined for heinous acts. But just by gathering them here, I'd already secured half the world's peace.
"The other half's on me from here."
Yeah. For this result, how hard had I fought to get here? How much blood stained my hands gathering these kids?
"As director of this orphanage and their guardian, I'll raise these precious ones right and send them out into society."
Today's mirror pep talk done, I left my second-floor director's office and headed to the main building.
"—Kneel before the angel, you filthy devil child!"
"—Kneel? You kneel, you delusion-ridden gorilla with freakish strength!"
Opening the door and walking a bit, kids' voices and noise hit me. Looking down, two girls were fiercely trading punches.
Sigh, those troublemakers at it again. Gonna lose my mind.
Those two fought every single day. A girl with mysterious silver hair cascading to her waist, shimmering faintly. A girl with crimson hair like burning flames. Two ten-year-olds who looked too frail for brawls, yet fought with mouth and fists.
The silver-haired girl's punch sank deep into the redhead's gut. The redhead's eyes bulged, and she fired back an uppercut to the jaw. No training, no examples, yet her form was perfect—pure talent.
"—Gah, take thiiiis!!!"
"—Aaaah!"
Silver-hair countered instantly. Head snapped back from the jaw hit, but she calmly side-kicked the ribs. Cross-counter—they both crumpled.
They rose with spirited whooshes. No scratches despite the brutality. They knew each other's limits, kept it controlled but looked vicious.
"Ha, you! Today I'll send you to the rock-bottom of hell—get ready!"
"Argh, seriously!!! I'll hurl you to that angel world you love so much!"
Oblivious to me descending, they geared up again. Time to intervene—letting it slide could escalate.
"...That's enough, you violent brats. Even in front of me?"
Stepping between them, I declared. They crouched like angry cats, roaring beastly "Kyaaak!"
"Of course!"
"Obviously!"
"Kids. I said no. Ignore me and keep fighting? No breakfast, arms up till sunset."
Nodding toward the kitchen, they glared like I'd pulled some evil trick. Note: today's cook wasn't me, but my proud eldest, who'd been with me since before the orphanage.
These two included, the kids lit up knowing I wasn't cooking. Simple reason: my food tasted worse than hers to their picky tongues. Kid tastes—a mystery.
She learned from me—how was I outdone? Equal I'd accept, but "Eww, Director's food sucks" was murder.
"Tch, just don't fight. Shorty. Blackmail with sis's food? How low."
"You'd keep going otherwise. Epia."
The redhead—Epia—puffed her cheeks, relaxing her stance.
"Was gonna go all out today. Lucky you—planned to dunk your head in lava in hell."
"Serelda. I said stop too?"
The silver-hair—Serelda—eased up, trying casual but still buzzing with excitement.
Stances down, mouths weren't.
"Hmph, a self-proclaimed angel talks big. Tell the village temple priest: 'I just look human—I'm an angel descended from heaven!' Hope that's all—a lump on your head'd be lucky."
"My true power sleeps deep within, awaiting its time. Even the Holy Kingdom's Pope couldn't sense it. Not commoners, not devil kids like you."
"Blah blah. Words mean nothing if they piss people off. Always 'I'm the angel, you're the devil spawn.' Angels without wings or halos?"
Zzt. Zzt! Sparks flew from their glares—I flicked both foreheads quick.
"Ow!"
"Ugh!"
"No more mouth fights. Now, gather the others for breakfast."
They nodded silently. No fights till dinner now. Even knowing it always ended this way, it tensed me up.
Their delusions aren't baseless...
In-game: "Archbishop Serelda". Phase 2: "Forgotten Archangel Serelda". An ancient archangel of a dead god, lost memories and power, fallen to the mortal world. Regains most in-game, builds a massive heretical church harming many as its leader boss villainess.
Likewise: "Daughter of Asmodeus Epia". Phase 2: "Incarnation of Asmodeus Epia". Child of the mighty demon Asmodeus, who could hell-ify a city just descending. Awakens half-demon blood for unknown reasons, devours a kingdom, summons invading demons—boss villainess.
In twelve years, they'd have wrecked the world. That's why I took them. This orphanage housed only such kids.
"Kids, bright sunshine—great morning, right?"
Fist-sized breads of various kinds. Creamy potato-mushroom soup. Boiled veggies, thinly sliced roast rabbit. At the laden table, I clapped, smiling softly.
"Eat up hearty, start the day strong!"
They grabbed utensils at my words. Epia dunked bread in soup like a beast. Serelda used manners awkwardly, pitying Epia's face. Others ate too.
"Hweeng, I hate boiled veggies..."
Purple bob-cut glasses girl—Chloe—shoved cabbage aside openly.
This shy bookworm turns the empire's third into plague lands—a mad witch.
"Yeah? Then I'll eat it~"
"Uh, that's rabbit, not cabbage..."
"Didn't say veggies. I hate 'em too~"
Light blonde bob, androgynous Camella giggled, snatching and eating a piece openly.
Bastard royal blood. Solo thief-assassin who topples her kingdom—a genius killer.
And...
"Kids, no. Plenty more meat—don't steal others'."
Black-haired near-adult Gia, silver horns screaming non-human, kindly portioned extra meat.
First priority kid I took pre-setup. Tops all villainesses as final boss: commands hundreds of thousands undead, mutual destruction with hero—strongest Demon King.
"Director, eat too. Made extra today."
"Thanks as always, Gia."
She smiled warmly, adding to my plate. Noisy but utterly peaceful meal continued.
Minor squabbles (I could handle) aside, them eating together amiably...
Is the ideal future I dreamed of.
I realize it often. Maintaining this is solely my burden. Their fates rest on my shoulders.
I don't know everything. This peace won't last smooth.
So anyone who shatters it?
I'll kill them.
No hesitation. Slash without mercy.