I met a girl on my way to leave my extra money at the orphanage.
　She had blonde hair in a braid and rolling green eyes.
　It's not that I'm a pedophile or anything, but she's going to be a beautiful woman in the future.
　However, her figure is stinging.
　She was clad in a tattered coat with a flattened feather inside.

　The place is a busy place.
　Occasionally, she would bump into adults and say, "Mom. Mom........." he would mutter to himself.
　When I bumped into someone on the street again, I almost fell over.

'Oops....'

　I'll help you in the nick of time.
　Light.......... He was probably about five years old, but he was as light as a baby.
　Probably not well fed.

'Are you okay?'

Thank you, Uncle.

　Uncle.

　Ah!　I see.
　I was still activating 【Phantom Body】 at all times.
　Well, okay.
　Let's just go along with the conversation.

''Little girl, what's your name?''

It's Alisa. It's Alisa.

Is Alisa looking for her mom?

Yeah. Arisa. I said goodbye to my mom when she called me Cosiin. But she didn't come back. So I came looking for my mom.

　An orphanage child, after all.

　In my previous incarnation, I was an orphanage child.
　So when I saw Alisa's outfit, I knew something about it.

'Just now. Mom, I was there!　But when I said mom, she ran away.

　Did he run off?
　Your mother, she's still in town?

All right, all right. I'll go find your brother.

Really?

'Let's go back to the orphanage first. Maybe your mom's back home.

Yes.

　It would be better to send them back to the orphanage for now.
　I've seen enough kids like Alisa who went looking for their mama to get hit by a carriage and die, to make me sick.
　I can't just leave them like this.

　I activate the [Searcher (Seeker)] magic.

　[Mapped]

　Magically creating a map of the area.
　Beside me, Alisa opened her mouth wide in amazement.

'Uncle, wow!　I feel like a wizard!

　A wizard?
　I'm a [villager], in case you're wondering.

　Fortunately, there's only one orphanage in town.
　I took Alisa and went back to the orphanage.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


Thank you. My name is Mernare, the director of the orphanage.

　Mernare bowed deeply.
　Her hair was the color of grass with strong habitual hair and her skin was white.
　The director, with her calm purple eyes, was a much younger woman than she expected.

　After greeting her, she cut to the story Alisa had told her.
　Mernare let out a sigh, 'I see.

Alisa's mother is...?

I think he's still alive.

And you're sending him to an orphanage?

Orphanages used to be places for orphaned children who had lost a parent.

　I nodded.
　'Because I used to be one, too.

''But it's different now. These days, most of the children who are abandoned are [villager] children. It seems that some parents think that if they leave them in an orphanage, even [villager] children can have a good life...

　Now and then, orphanages have been a consistent part of state programs.
　But with the end of the war, the subsidies have been cut every year because the number of orphans has decreased. But the number of people has remained the same, he said. As [villagers] have been eliminated in favor of other professions, the orphanage has served as a fledgling center, Mernare explained.

　Subsidies are being cut, while the number of orphans is increasing.
　It was clear that the orphanage was not going to survive.

What about the management of the orphanage? What are you doing about the shortage of operating expenses?

It's...

　Mernare glanced at the child.

'No way..... The child--'

　Mernare shakes her head violently.
　He looked down as if he was about to cry.

'I didn't do it!　Trust me. But my former director............ To run an orphanage, you need money by all means. But........... But..........I can't do it. Such a cruel thing.....

　Mernare collapsed.
　Her face is covered and her shoulders shake.
　Tears spilled from between her hands and cheeks.
　All I could do was watch it.

　Gashaaaaaannn!

　I heard the sound of something cracking.
　Then the screams of children.
　Me and Mernare, who were talking in the reception room at the back of the orphanage, stood up.
　I went to the entrance and saw two men standing there.

　One is a merchant-like man.
　He is wearing a silk hat on his face with a face contoured like a bun.
　The other one is a man with a very [warrior] appearance.
　His armor is thin, and he shows off his mass of muscles in a showy manner.
　Large fists like a hammer were covered with thick armor.
　Definitely a fist fighter.

''Alisa-chan!

　Mernare shouted.
　The fist fighter plucked a nearby Alisa by the collar and fished her out.
　The girl has already passed out.

'Please don't, Mr. Peijin,'

　Mernare glared at the merchant-like man beside him.
　The man, Pei Jing, reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.
　He lit it and wiggled the purple smoke gracefully.

''I wouldn't want to do this either. But, Director Mernare. Isn't it about time you put your ears to the wheel and pay your debts?'

Wait a minute, sir. You'll have to pay me in a week.

I've said it. But you know what? You know what I mean?　A week after that is the amount you had to pay a week before.

But, but.... He said he'd wait.

I've got my own reasons. Now, do you want to pay for it? Or do you want to sell them? These children?　Or would you be willing to pay for it (s) by you?

　Pei Jing approached Mernare.
　She smiles disgustingly as she shows off her gold teeth.
　Gently, he reaches out to the Director.
　He tried to touch his chest area over his black clothes.

"Hey,

　He tapped Pei Jing on the shoulder.

　Yeah, and the moment the merchant turned around, he saw a fist in his eyes.

　Gosh!

　I shake my fist as hard as I can.
　Pei Jing was easily blown away and rammed into a nearby desk.

'Oh, you!　What the hell are you doing?!

　Rubbing her bright red swollen cheeks, Paigeen gets up.
　There was no magic, but he was surprisingly reluctant.

'I just rescued a woman from a s*xually harassing father,'

Who the hell are you anyway?　Ah..... Oh, I see. I see. You're thinking of helping this orphanage or something, aren't you?

　Pei Jing stood up, supported by his attendant fist fighters.
　With a smile on the corner of his mouth, he said.

'Don't do it. Don't do it. These people are all scumworms abandoned by their parents.'

Mr. Pei Jing!　Please don't say that in front of the kids!

　Mernare screams.
　But he was a step too late.

'Have we been abandoned?
"Mom...... Dad......
'Oooh. I miss my mom!

　The children began to cry in unison.
　The inside of the orphanage was filled with the sound of children mewling and crying.
　Then the fist fighter raised his fist with all his might.
　A roaring sound echoed through the orphanage.
　When I looked, I saw a hole in the wall.

　The children were stunned and froze with their mouths open.

　Inside the quieted orphanage, Pei Jin's voice rang out.

'I am. I'm just trying to turn this scrap worm into a usable scrap worm. Do you understand?　Besides, we have a warrant. I don't care if you get out of here or not. You're good at this, but give it up. If you back off now, I'll forgive you for hitting me.

You have to back off, don't you?

What the...

　It is true that debts are not paid, which is a bad thing.
　If you lend it to them, you have to pay it back, that's a given.

　But.........

　I can't stand taking advantage of people's weaknesses and trampling on human dignity just because you are a [villager].

''Shut up. Do it!

　Pei Jing orders the fist fighter.
　The unspoken [Warrior] comes straight at him.
　He raises his fist loudly.
　Fast--.
　A twist of the hips. Eyes. The moment of impact.

　At the very least, this fist fighter is top notch for his employer.

　Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　A metallic sound roared through the orphanage.

'Heehahahahaha!　He's a former B-grade fist fighter. He has crushed the heads of many fist fighters with his big fist. You're the only one who can...

'I see. Former B-grade.... I see. No wonder you're so strong.

What...

But he's weaker than I am...

　I was catching my fist.
　A full boost of [muscle mass enhancement].
　I was receiving a fist strike that reminded me of the rush of a boar.
　That's not all.

　Ballynnnnnn!

　With a hard thud, the fist fighter's armor popped off.
　As more air swirled around, it blew the man away.
　As it was, it engulfed Pei Jing, who was behind him, and he was slammed into the alleyway.

　[Denaturation] of [Blacksmith (Blacksmith)].
　I made the composition of the hard hand armor brittle, and furthermore, I blew it up with the magic of the 【Mage (Wizard)】 called 【Storm Foam】.

　The fist fighter was unconscious while Pei Jing was conscious.
　However, it seems that the fist fighter was too huge to move.
　I reached out for help, but all I got was a cold stare.

　That's when I realize.
　Across the street.
　From the shadows of a building, I saw a blonde woman looking at me.

'MOM!!!'

　It's Alisa who jumps out.
　Then the woman jumped out too.
　They hugged each other tightly in the middle of the street.

'Mum.... You're back at last.'

I'm sorry, Alisa. Mom, I've been... I've been so sorry. About you...

　Apparently, Alisa's mother was living in the city with a lot of regret in her heart.
　But one day, she saw Alisa in the city.
　Unable to contain her feelings, she visits the orphanage.

Will I get to live with you again, Mama?

Yes. Come live with us, Alisa.

　A smile finally lights up between father and son.

'Remember, Paigeen. There isn't a parent in the world who doesn't think of their child.

Huh...

　I gave Pei Jing all the gold I had.
　The merchant colorfully looked at the bag of gold coins.

'That's never enough, is it?　Take it with you and go away, and don't get involved in this orphanage again. If you do anything else ever again, consider yourself lifeless.

　I glare at him.
　Pei Jing immediately shudders at the hound-like look in his eyes.
　He knocks the fist fighter up and walks away quickly, taking the money with him.

''Thank you. Well.......... Speaking of which, I still have your name.

It's not something to be named. Also, there might be another guy like Payzin on the way. Be careful when you borrow money.

'Yes. I'll be careful.

''If you'd like, there's a village east of here, in the Stark territory, where only [villagers] live. Why don't you try living there quietly?

Is there such a thing?

You should visit a lord named Luxor. Maybe he can help you.

Yes. By all means!

　Such a marnare's eyes were as radiant as if a possession had fallen from them.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


　A month later--
　I was visiting the village.
　Children's songs for children were echoing.
　Their cheerful voices enlivened the village.

'Ah!　It's your brother Lasell.

　It was Alisa who found me.
　He's coming with the kids.
　They soon surround me.

　I carefully stroke Alisa's blonde hair.
　Tickled, the little girl laughs.

"How are you, Alisa?

Yeah. Alisa, I'm fine. Mum's here too.

　Then he pointed to it.
　Alisa's mother was waving at her.
　There was Mernare at her side as well, holding a wooden tray with a serving of cookies in her hand.
　The sweet smell lured the children back on their heels.
　They rushed to the candy that Mernare had made.

　But the important thing is that Alisa is standing by my side.
　'Huh,' she smiles good-naturedly.

''What's wrong, Alisa?''

Nope. It's nothing. It's just--

"Just?

I just thought I could smell my uncle's (sic) uncle's (sic) uncle on you, brother.

　With that, Alisa shook her blonde hair and rushed over to her mother.

　Oh dear.........
　It seems that I still don't have enough training if the child can see through me.