Chapter 144: Seton Swordsmanship Hall (6)
A month had passed since the clash with Seton Swordsmanship Hall.
During that ti, the children of Love’s Orphanage had brightened considerably. Instead of wallowing in self-pity and inferiority, they began moving with enthusiasm in all things.
“Director! Teach swordsmanship!”
“I’ll do it properly this ti!”
“Yes! I won’t give up because it’s hard or think I lack talent!”
“I’ll do well! I’ll stick with it!”
“Hm.”
For Hagio, it was nothing short of delightful.
Of course, he knew not all the kids could beco great swordsn. Not everyone was Glen.
But that was fine.
If they lacked talent for swordsmanship, they could study academics.
If they lacked talent for academics, they could try sothing else.
What mattered was not losing courage and hope.
Glen had taught them that, and fortunately, that lesson seed to hold for now.
The problem was—
“Ti to leave.”
“Already?”
“Already? You’ve been squatting here for a month… We can’t overlook this anymore. Clear out everything by tomorrow morning.”
“A man preaching God’s word sure is harsh.”
“How dare you ntion God before a priest?”
They were being forced out of the orphanage building they’d grown attached to.
There was no helping it.
They’d hoped the frightened Priest Benedicto might cancel the eviction, but that didn’t happen. Instead, the old man, regaining his composure, raged and expedited the process, forcing them out a month earlier than planned.
‘But it’s okay. We’re not without a place to go.’
The silver lining was that they had a new ho.
After shooing the priest away, Hagio addressed the orphanage staff and children.
“Everyone ready?”
“Yes!”
“We’re ready!”
“We can leave right now.”
“Good riddance to this town. I was sick of it.”
“The director’s right. For so-called servants of God to drive out可怜 kids for money… They’ll face divine punishnt.”
“May God’s blessings be with our future.”
“Good. Let’s rest early today and head to Marzen tomorrow morning.”
“Yes!”
Philip Portville, a prominent figure in Marzen, had made the offer.
After much deliberation, Hagio accepted.
There weren’t many options, and it wasn’t a bad proposal.
Though the orphanage’s victory over Seton Swordsmanship Hall had healed the children’s emotional wounds, falling out with Ruibil’s influential figures was a significant burden.
Rather than continuing to face them, relocating entirely seed preferable.
‘And there’s Harang.’
His peer—
no, his friend now. Hagio smirked at the thought.
In the ‘village,’ they hadn’t been close, yet sohow it ended up like this. What a strange bond.
Regardless, going where Harang was could only be a good thing. Even if Hagio was absent, Harang would protect the kids.
He was also curious about Eddy’s rcenary Corps, with whom Harang had a deep connection.
‘It’s exciting in many ways.’
The children shared that anticipation.
A new ho.
A wider world!
Many were especially thrilled to live sowhere other than Ruibil.
It was inevitable.
For them, Ruibil was a place filled with painful mories. Before and after entering the orphanage, they’d faced all sorts of contempt and disdain, so starting anew elsewhere brought them joy.
‘Of course… it won’t all be smooth sailing.’
Driving the carriage away from Ruibil, Hagio wore a worried expression.
The most critical issue was how trustworthy Philip Portville, that old man, really was.
He seed sowhat close to Harang, but until two months ago, Hagio had no connection with him.
The desperate situation had forced him to accept the offer, but making such a decision without any trust carried significant risks.
What if the new place was far worse than Ruibil’s orphanage?
What if he made unreasonable demands after providing the land?
It seed entirely possible.
The children’s labor might be insignificant, but Hagio’s martial prowess had many uses.
‘If he intends to use as a hunting dog… Fine. I’ll comply to a certain extent.’
Hagio nodded.
Like Harang, he believed the outside world operated on give-and-take, transactional relationships. If Philip provided a proper place, Hagio was willing to fulfill a few of his requests—as long as they didn’t cross a line.
But if they did…
‘No, let’s not think like that.’
Hagio shook his head.
Though he told himself not to, doubts and anxieties kept sprouting. He knew the outside world, while not as harsh as the village, wasn’t exactly paradise either.
‘Stay sharp.’
Ultimately, this was the thought that dominated his mind during the journey to Marzen. Unlike the children, who slept soundly from exhaustion, Hagio barely managed an hour of sleep per day.
But—
His worries proved unfounded.
“Hello. Are you Hagio?”
“Yes… What’s this about? Who are you?”
“Pleased to et you. I’m Allan Portville, a direct mber of the Portville Family, sent by the Family Head to guide you and the children of Love’s Orphanage.”
“Ah… Nice to et you.”
“Please, follow .”
A mber of the Portville Family ca to et them at Marzen’s city gate.
He ignored the long queue waiting to enter and strode forward. The orphanage children trembled with anxiety, fearing retaliation from those angered by their cutting in line.
But no such thing happened.
Instead, people nodded as if it were only natural.
With puzzled expressions, they passed through the gate, and such treatnt continued thereafter.
‘The way people look at us is different.’
‘What’s going on? Is it because of him?’
‘Is our guide soone important?’
The children’s faces gradually filled with astonishnt.
It was only natural. Wherever they went, they’d been treated as outcasts, akin to beggars.
At the market, rchants scowled; in alleys, thugs harassed them; in plazas, patrols watched them with glaring eyes, suspecting trouble. That was their norm.
But not now.
So passersby even greeted their guide and waved at the children with smiles.
The most astonishing mont ca last.
“Here it is. This is where the children of Love’s Orphanage will live from now on.”
“…Is this really the place?”
“Yes. The Family Head took special care to choose a fine location, haha.”
His laughter carried pride.
And Hagio couldn’t help but agree.
The space was five tis larger than Ruibil’s.
Not only was it newly built and spotless, but the furniture inside was of exquisite quality.
That wasn’t all.
Had they consulted soone familiar with orphanage needs?
The teachers let out small gasps of admiration at the abundance of essential supplies and necessities.
“Wow! What’s this!”
“This is amazing!”
“Are we really living here?”
“This is insane!”
The children’s reactions were far more fervent. Unlike the teachers, who were cautious, they expressed their emotions openly and unabashedly, all filled with joy and excitent.
“…”
“Are you alright? You’re awfully quiet…”
“Ah, I’m fine. No, more than fine…”
Hagio couldn’t finish his sentence.
In all his ti in the outside world, he’d never received sothing without expecting a catch.
Perhaps it was the sa now. It was highly likely Philip Portville’s generosity ca with expectations.
But that was okay.
Whatever he wanted didn’t matter.
As long as he continued to show this level of care for the orphanage and the children…
‘Whatever you want, I’ll accept it.’
He’d received an imnse favor.
Unable to express it any other way, Hagio felt his eyes redden slightly as he looked at the wonderful environnt of the new orphanage.
***
At that mont—
or rather, long before—Priest Benedicto’s hatred had been simring. Unable to resolve his festering anger and humiliation, he frequently raged within the temple, ready to do anything to exact revenge on Love’s Orphanage and that Harang fellow.
Of course, he couldn’t do it alone.
So he reported to his superiors.
Specifically, he sent a letter to Juberroa Schmitz, a First-Class Demon Inquisitor, claiming there were suspected Demon Worshipers who needed swift investigation.
But—
“What? Demon Worshipers? Looks like this old fool’s finally gone senile.”
Rip—!
Juberroa Schmitz, upon reading Benedicto’s letter, tore it up without hesitation and tossed it into the trash.
He’d never liked Benedicto, even when he was a bishop, but more than that, he knew the old man had a history of using such tactics to eliminate rivals. Juberroa Schmitz had vowed not to trust the liar’s false reports anymore.
‘Besides, catching a few asly Demon Worshipers isn’t much of an achievent.’
Having already risen to First-Class Demon Inquisitor, Juberroa Schmitz’s ambitions were far greater.
To beco one of the four Special-Class Demon Inquisitors in the Holy Kingdom.
To beco one of the three knight commanders.
And ultimately, to ascend to the throne of the Holy King.
For that, he’d fabricate demons to hunt if needed.
Fortunately, so intriguing beings had recently erged into the world.
“Inquisitor, a report.”
“Oh, yes, yes. What’s co up? Anything? Anything?”
Just then, a subordinate paladin arrived with torture results. Juberroa Schmitz awaited the report with an eager expression, and the paladin spoke.
“It seems they’re from the sa group. As usual, regular torture didn’t break them… We used ntal magic to read their minds. It turned them into idiots, but… we found overlapping information.”
“What was it? What?”
“The village… and Godok.”
“The village? Godok?”
“Yes.”
Nodding, the paladin spoke with conviction.
“They’re highly likely connected to ancient Black Magicians… in other words, beings tied to demonic rituals.”
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