When I came back, I was reporting my impressions of the tour to Miss Flair.
"When I walked the streets, I thought... I thought I saw that the streets were very unsafe, just like you said. And the outskirts of town seem to be even worse. A lot of people out of work and orphans. We'll talk about the out-of-work people later, but how many orphanages are there in this town?
　It's not like there aren't any orphanages, so the city's population is probably too big to have enough of them .

I see. I'll have to gather the garrison as soon as possible. And I'll check on the orphanage now.
　With that, Miss Flare started going through the papers in her room.
　Then she finished quickly and answered my questions.

"From what I've found, there aren't any in the city.
　Not one?

Are you kidding me?　This city is so prosperous and yet there isn't a single orphanage?

"Yes. Not one. The previous custodian destroyed them to cut costs.

That guy again: ......
　He's really just an afterthought: .......
　If they hadn't destroyed the orphanage, wouldn't this city have been a bit safer?
　That guy should have been treated more roughly: .......
　All right, I'll build the orphanage.

"Okay. That's right: ......I'll renovate Gotts' house and turn it into an orphanage. I'll ask the maids who work at Gotts' house to work at the orphanage.

Okay. Do you want me to arrange for the renovations?

No, no, you don't have to arrange that. There's a vault in there, I'll just do the creative magic on my own.
　Besides, it'll go faster.
　Might not be a good idea not to spend the money.

Okay. How do you plan to get the kids from the orphanage?

I'll get some for now. I'll send you when there are more soldiers in the garrison. Oh, and, uh, the only age you can go to an orphanage is 14.
　Bell said he was sent out of an orphanage when he was ten years old.
　Maybe it wouldn't be a problem to keep her at that age.
　I heard you can work in this world from the age of ten, but it's too bad you can't send them out into the world at ten years old.

I understand. I'd like to offer you that job as soon as the garrison is assembled.

Yes, please. I'm going to the Gotts' house now.


　I transitioned to the orphanage and gathered the maids at the door.
　And I told them what we were going to do.
"Tomorrow, I want to start the orphanage here.

This is an orphanage?　Wait a minute! What is going to happen to us! Besides, we don't have the facilities here to start an orphanage here tomorrow!
　As soon as I started to explain, the head maid pointed out the problem.
　By the way, the head maid has a slave collar.
　This seems to be because Gotts, who loves slaves, chose a slave for his head maid who is always with him.

Now, calm down. There's a lot of explaining to do.

Oh, I'm sorry.
　At my words, the head maid came back to me and immediately apologized.

It's okay. It's natural to feel uneasy. Okay, let's get to it. First of all, about you guys ......, would you mind taking care of the kids here? Please.
　I said that and bowed my head from the beginning of the explanation.
　It's easier to explain when you get the consent first.
　Well, if he refused, I wouldn't be able to continue explaining: .......

'Oh, raise your head. No nobleman should ever bow to a common man!

No. It doesn't matter if you're a nobleman or not, I'm doing you a favor.
　There's nothing I can do but ask you to quit your job as a maid.
　I'm really sorry that I'm making a decision to change jobs on my own.
　But I can't start the orphanage right away unless you maids do it for me.

He really is an odd man. I can't imagine how much easier it would have been for our Lord if he were like Master Leons: ......
　Yeah, it must have been a hell of a job taking care of Gotts.

Thank you for your hard work. Well, he's on trial in the Imperial City right now. ...... So, will he be working at the orphanage?

Yes. I'll work. Taking care of the children is easier than taking care of Master Gotts. Besides, it's part of a maid's job to take care of children.


　I asked cautiously, and the head maid said yes, more than I expected.

"We're all good with that, right?
　And when the head maid confirmed it to the other maids, they all shook their heads .
　I didn't expect them to agree so easily: .......

Thank you. Well then, I'm going to start renovating the mansion ......, but first we have to free the people who were still slaves.
　I've been talking to you for a while now, and I can't help but notice the head maid's collar .

'Huh? Will you let us go?

Yeah. Give me your hand.

Wait a minute. I'm good. Just let the other kids go.
　When I held out my hand ...... the head maid said that and carefully pushed my hand back with both hands .

'Okay, but ...... can I ask you why?'
　Why?　What reason would I have for refusing?

'Well, ...... I'm a slave to Master Leons now, aren't I?'

Speaking of which, yes.
　All of Gotz's wealth is now mine, so those girls who were Gotz's slaves and property are now my slaves .

Then I'll keep them. I, Master Leons, will remain your slave.

'What? Why?
　You may be my slave, but you're still my slave, okay?

"Hmmm, a secret. Oh, to teach the children not to discriminate against you just because you're a slave.
　No, you said it was a secret in the beginning.

'You just thought of that ......, didn't you? Well, okay. If you ever want me to let you go, just let me know.
　In a few seconds of your book, I'll take that collar off.

Oh, yeah, sure.

So, anyone else who wants to be released, come to me.

　The other maids would like to be free, if you think they would like to be free: ......
'Um, ...... I don't have to release mine either.
Me too: ......
Me too: ......
　I've been rejected by all of them .
　Seriously, ...... are they all the same reason as the head maid?

'What? Well, if it's good, it's good: ....... Okay, well, let's start the renovation. Well, then, let's break it up for now.
　With that said, I decided to end the conversation with the maids and start remodeling the mansion.

''Having said that, ...... what kind of equipment do we need? Oh, I'll ask Belle from the orphanage.
　Yes . Growing up in an orphanage, I'm sure Belle would know what to expect!
　So I moved over to Bell's place.

"Bell, do you have a minute?

"Yikes!
　As I shifted, two women screamed and fell on their asses in front of me.

'Oh, I'm sorry to have startled you . You are ......
　The one who was on her ass with Belle was the elven woman I had saved.
　Then I looked around and saw that the place I had shifted to was the room where the former illegal slaves lived.
　And it seems I've done it.

"My name is Anne.
　As I was looking around the room, the elf woman told me her name.

'Okay. . Anne. You can call me Leo. All right, I'll be out of here. Hey, I'm going to take your bell.
　It wasn't good for me to be in the midst of a group of man-phobic people, so I grabbed Belle's hand and decided to leave the room .
　But I was immediately stopped by Anne.

'Well, wait. Leo-sama wouldn't be afraid of the women here, so don't worry about it.

'What?　Really?　Really?
　You don't have to force yourself to say that, do you?

Yes. We're so grateful to Master Leo for his help.

Are you sure you're okay?
　When I persistently checked, everyone around me nodded quietly.

'Okay. ....... Well then, let's talk about it here, shall we?
　Maybe you can get some input from Anne and the others.