Chapter 1. I'm screwed! (6)
Chapter 1. I'm screwed! (6)
"......Brother Arno, you also said a moment ago that I should perform virtuous deeds."
"......That is true, but."
"If that is the case, then there is a method for that as well."
I turned around immediately and walked back out of the orphanage.
The air felt incredibly refreshing once I was away from that foul stench. Honestly, I don't think I could last even five minutes inside there.
"Erna!"
"Yes, Your Grace!"
As I called her name, Erna came running to me in a hurry.
I looked at Frida.
"Frida, how much money do you have on you right now?"
"Ah, yes, I didn't have time to pack much since we left in such a rush, but......"
As she said that, the pouch Frida pulled out from her bosom was quite heavy.
Inside were ten Empire Glantz and eight Empire Aurum.
In other words, 'silver coins' and 'gold coins'. 100 Empire Glantz, which are silver coins, make one Empire Aurum, a gold coin. And 100 of those Empire Aurum make one Empire Artifex, which is a 'Mahwa'. Of course, there was also the Ertz, the smallest unit, but I don't bother carrying those around.
As is typical in a fantasy world, gold coins were 'very expensive' money. So, it's enough money to hire several day laborers.
"Erna, go to the city right now and recruit some people. Preferably middle-aged women who have raised children before. The daily wage for each will be twenty silver coins."
"......Yes?"
I snatched the money pouch from Frida's hand and tossed it to Erna.
"Let's try to find about ten people? You can exchange the gold coins for silver ones if you need to. The job is to wash the children at the orphanage. As quickly as possible."
"Yes, understood!"
After I abruptly shoved a large sum of money into her hands and gave the order, Erna turned around in a hurry.
"Ah, wait, Erna."
"Yes, Your Grace."
When I called her again, Erna spun her body back around and approached me.
I took five gold coins out of the pouch in Erna's hand.
And just as I was about to flick them to Arno, who was following me out and staring blankly at what I was doing— I just placed them on his palm and held them out.
"This orphanage is dilapidated."
I said, looking at the wooden house that was moldy here and there from age.
"What do you think about fixing it up? I think this amount should be sufficient."
Hadn't I heard in passing that the price of a house in the middle of the city was about five gold coins? Whether real estate prices were set in a medieval style or not, it was still very cheap. Well, even that amount of five gold coins is money that most commoners would find hard to save in their entire lives. Since it would all be drained away before it could become a gold coin, usually.
"......."
Arno held out his hand with his eyes wide open.
I placed the gold coins in his hand.
Of course, the Duchy has been donating much more money than this to the Church every year. It's not just the Duchy. Quite a lot of noble families do the same. At least all the nobles within this Duchy would do so.
But usually, that amount all moves toward the Papacy. And then the Papacy distributes it to each local church as needed.
As a result, it ends up being a system where only a certain amount is kept, and the rest is all paid to the Papacy. Because it's a hassle to go back and forth.
The fact that the orphanage is dilapidated is probably due to that, too. They built it on monastery grounds to save as much money as possible, and the monks probably built the building themselves, too.
Arno looked at me quietly while holding the five gold coins in his hand.
Why is this woman suddenly acting like this?
That's exactly the expression he had.
She doesn't want to volunteer herself. But she wants to go to heaven. Well, I think this is standard behavior for nobles.
"How is it?"
I asked a little cautiously.
"If I repeat this, will I be able to go to heaven?"
Of course, my real goal isn't to go to heaven.
It's to keep my head properly attached to this neck.
"That is......"
"For now, I will wait a moment. When Erna brings the workers, have them wash the children properly. So that there is no foul odor. Isn't it that you are short-handed?"
"......."
Brother Arno was silent for a moment while fiddling with the gold coins in his hand.
And then he looked at me again and said.
"Your Grace. Are you perhaps afraid of death?"
"Of course I am."
I held out my hand slightly.
My fingertips are trembling.
"Ever since my father passed away, it has been like that. This girl is more afraid of dying than anything else. That is why I want to do good deeds, even starting now."
"My Lady......."
At my words, Frida clasped her hands together in front of her chest and muttered.
Why is she so nice to me? I insulted her respected uncle right in front of her, and Frida herself has been insulted several times and had to take the fall for my mistakes.
......Well, she must just have a kind heart. Unlike Rosalyn.
"Your Grace."
Arno, who had been lost in thought, opened his mouth.
"I apologize, but I do not think you can go to heaven simply by paying money."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Of course, the Goddess will help those who help themselves, but......."
Right. Something is a little off.
For someone like Arno, who sincerely believes in the Goddess, the logic of 'paying money to go to heaven' would sound very strange.
"Are you saying my actions are hypocrisy?"
"......That is......."
"If so, is there a standard by which that action ceases to be hypocrisy?"
Arno fell into deep thought after hearing my words.
"Isn't it just to continue doing it?"
"Then I will do it."
I said.
"I couldn't bring myself to enter today, but if I get used to it, wouldn't I be able to do it someday? They say it's harder for a rich man to go to heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but at least if there is a place to enter."
"Are you that afraid of hell?"
"Is there anyone in this world who does not fear the Goddess's divine punishment? Are you not afraid, Brother Arno?"
At my words, Brother Arno opened his eyes wide.
"Ha, haha!"
And he laughed once.
"Yes, that is true."
Brother Arno said while gripping the gold coins tightly in his hand.
"Yes, I am afraid. Because I am afraid, I try to understand and follow those words. Of course, I don't just fear the punishment."
"That is so. I suddenly became afraid. Because I experienced death right beside me."
Rosalyn was like that.
And if it were the original Rosalyn, she would have been terrified of that death and thrown all sorts of hysterics, making her position within the Duchy very difficult. Then, she would have reached for a means to live forever even after resolving all of that.
But the current Rosalyn is not. Because she has the 'knowledge that she shouldn't do that'.
Her nature cannot improve.
Actually, even as I said that, my insides were boiling. I have to come again tomorrow? Why doesn't Brother Arno just say that right away? Does he intend to play dumb after receiving five gold coins?
But at least, I could endure it. Fear was an effective tool. Especially the Rosalyn inside me was afraid of the 'Hero'. Even in scenario mode, and in free mode. Because dealing with the Hero was a very daunting task for Rosalyn.
"I will pray that Sister Rosalyn may be freed from that fear."
At the words 'Sister Rosalyn', one of my eyebrows twitched again. What kind of nonsense is this to the brilliantly shining Duke?
However, Rosalyn just kept her mouth shut, suppressing her feelings, and nodded slightly.
*
Erna arrived quite a bit earlier than expected. Leading ten middle-aged women as I had ordered. Even in a carriage, I don't know where she found it.
The women, who were to receive twenty silver coins each, had doubtful expressions until they got off the carriage, but as soon as they saw me, they prostrated themselves.
"I am not handing out twenty silver coins for free."
I said, holding my chin up.
"I am handing them out because I believe you will do your jobs properly. Please, do not disappoint this girl."
Fortunately, it was comfortable to act high-handedly in front of commoners who had nothing to look down on me for.
Perhaps it was the power of twenty silver coins, or perhaps it was because it was the order of the next Duke.
A few hours later, the unruly children of the orphanage were clean.
It wasn't that there was no smell at all, but at least it was bearable to stay inside.
"Then, I will come back tomorrow. Although I think it might be a late hour."
"I will wait with a joyful heart for someone who has given such great help."
Is he asking me to come again tomorrow and give great help?
Rosalyn lifted her head abruptly, then bowed it deeply.
If I tried to say something, I felt like my mouth would run off on its own, so I just chose to turn around.
......More than that, tomorrow again.
What am I going to do when I come tomorrow? Should I pour out gold coins again?
No, surely that is not what Brother Arno wanted.
Proper service.
So he wants service that is like service.
"......."
All the way back to the castle in the carriage, I was lost in thought.
*
*
*
The next day, evening.
A very late hour.
Rosalyn did not return to the orphanage.
No one was particularly disappointed. Because no one thought Rosalyn would come back.
Her visit yesterday must have been just a whim. Since she lost the father she loved so much, perhaps she had some kind of derangement.
Only Brother Arno was preparing to welcome a guest until that late hour.
And, at the time when the children had all finished dinner and were starting to doze off.
Knock, knock.
I heard the sound of someone knocking on the orphanage door.
Outside the orphanage, I could hear the sound of many people.
When Brother Arno opened the door and went outside, a young lady was standing there, facing the slowly setting sunset.
A very expensive dress made of black and red fabric.
But it is different from the appearance seen yesterday.
She covered her face from nose to mouth with a thick mask. She wore thick gloves on her hands, and silk arm warmers on her arms and legs.
As if she were afraid that something might touch her arms or legs.
And in her hand— surprisingly, a feather duster was held.
"Now, Brother Arno."
Said Rosalyn, with the area around her mouth covered by a mask. Her voice was full of firm resolve, like a knight facing battle.
"Is there more work that needs to be done?"
Seeing the incredibly large number of maids who followed behind her, Brother Arno let out a dry laugh, feeling dumbfounded for some reason.