While I was listening to the gossip from the round table behind us and letting Deets sermon go in one ear and out the other, soone else appeared next to Deet. This ti, it was a young girl.
Using my Person Appraisal Skill, I discovered that she was a level 5 hunter nad Marron.
She had the air of a complete beginner, nave and innocent. I wouldnt say she was beautiful, but she had cute freckles.
U-um Im looking for people to join my party, and I was wondering if youd like to band together.
Sorry Ive already got a party.
Perhaps because it was a girl who had asked, Deet turned her down outright without bringing into it.
Oh, I c-couldnt possibly ask you, Deet! Youre too famous. I was asking him.
The girl looked at .
Huh? ?
Yes! If you like, shall we go and explore the second floor of the dungeon? I know a secret place where dicinal herbs grow. You can sell them for a fair amount of money.
H-heh heh heh. This is embarrassing what should we do, Deet? Ack!?!
This must be the if you try to talk to , Ill kill you aura that the adventurers were talking about.
From the town of Herakleon, also known as Yomi Town, we rode in a cart.
After about three hours, the town of Sebirida ca into view. This was the town where Rias old employer, the forr Count Kache, and his family lived.
What do you think of Sebirida?
Its lovely. Really idyllic.
It was hill country all the way from here to Herakleon, and people were farming cattle.
But, according to Ria, there wasnt much good arable land; livestock farming was the main industry, but it didnt thrive.
The Kache family, who supported the people of their fief, had fallen into ruin as epidemics and bad harvests followed one after another. There were also structural problems; all the young people were leaving for Yomi, where the dungeon was.
We got off the cart at the town gates, which were made of wood and looked more like the entrance to a pen. We paid the driver two gold.
We could have walked it in half a day, but that would have been hard for Nick and Mary.
Im with Nick and Mary on that one. Besides
I could see Deet standing with her hand braced against a tree. Miri was rubbing her back.
I dont feel so good
All that alcohol shed drunk back at the Adventurers Guild had been shaken up by the cart.
But if we hadnt co in the cart, I dont know whether shed have been able to drunkenly stagger all the way here.
Miss Elf, are you all right?
For so reason, Mary had beco attached to Deet. Deet tried to smile to stop her from worrying, but her face was pale.
Im fine.
You dont look fine.
Hey, Deet. Get on my back.
Huh?
I made a gesture to show that Id carry her.
I-Im fine.
The orphanage is quite far from the town, so weve still got a ways to go.
I forced Deet into a piggyback.
Dont, this is so embarrassing! Put down!
Stay still! Well, everyone, shall we set out?
Deet yelled at as I carried her along, calling an idiot and a fool. I noticed that perhaps because my [Strength] had increased she seed lighter than when Id last carried her.
We walked off a slight distance from the rest of the party, which was headed by Ria. Deet imdiately cald down.
Thor Th-thank you.
Dont worry about it.
I cant be upfront about things. Even in the Guild tavern.
I get like that sotis, too.
Deet squeezed her arms around my chest a little more tightly.
I felt like I was beginning to understand why a little girl might beco fond of her.
After wed walked for a while, the orphanage ca into view.
It looked just like a big house with earthen walls, but I could tell it was the orphanage from the thirty or so children playing in the garden.
Look, its Ria!
The children gathered around us or rather around Ria.
Im sorry for being away so long, everybody! Is the director here?
A few of the children went off into the earthen-walled orphanage.
After a while, a woman with a large scar on her face ca out of the orphanage, surrounded by children.
Her eyes, as they looked towards us, were sharp. Both Deet and Miri, exhausted, took a wary stance.
Director! Director Reika!
Ria. So you survived?
Huh? Shes the director?
She was beautiful, but she looked like a yakuza woman whod co to force the orphanage to sell off its land to pay its debts.
I used my Person Appraisal skill on her. Her profession was brigand, and she was level 29.
Brigand? Isnt that like a bandit?
As I thought that, Director Reika addressed .
That was a long ti ago. I earned quite a bit of money from it, which I used to build this orphanage.
Huh? How ?
How did she know what I was thinking?
You just used your Person Appraisal skill on , right? A brigand is a type of thief, so I can tell when people are using their skills on . You were making a face that said shes a brigand?! Ha ha ha ha ha.
Having said this, Director Reika laughed.
Oh, no I wasnt
Apparently shed given us such a harsh look before because she didnt know who the rest of us were; we were with Ria, who was rumoured to be dead.
Its the scarred face. I cant help the impression it gives people. But anyway, you must all be tired from your journey. Sit down, and lets talk.
Director Reika invited us into her office.
There was a small sofa. By squashing up, we managed to fit on it.
I see. Youd like to entrust Nick and Mary to our care? Mm-hmm.
Is that all right?
Until now, Ria had only set out the facts, but now she made the request.
Of course well take them in. Theyre very welco here. Theyll have a lot of friends, and nothing to worry about.
Director Ryze patted Nick and Mary on the head, smiling broadly.
Nick, Mary, you can go outside and play with Ria and Miss Deet.
She opened her office door and motioned the four of them outside.
She closed the door again, leaving and Miri in the office with her.
The director was still smiling, but her face had beco a little more serious.
If Im not mistaken, you, Mr Thor, are the groups leader, and you, Miss Miri, are a representative of the Thieves Guild.
W-well, sothing like that.
Miri nodded at my answer.
What Im about to tell you can only be said when there are no children around. Embarrassing as it is to admit, this institution is in considerable financial difficulties.
From the way shed practically forced Nick and Mary out of the room, Id guessed it must be sothing like that.
Thank you for acting so welcoming in front of Nick and Mary.
Not at all. I had to, in front of the children.
This institution had originally been kept going by support from Rias employers, the Kache family.
With the Kache family gone, that support had been cut off. The orphanage was barely hanging on with the crops of the regions impoverished farrs and with Rias earnings as an adventurer.
Ria had been unable to go adventuring for a while.
I couldnt say these things in front of Ria, of course. Shes still only 18. Im very glad that youve made her part of a supportive family, where she doesnt have to carry such a heavy burden
Ha ha ha ha ha.
Best just to laugh and leave it there. But that future wouldnt be so bad
Things being as they are, I have no choice but to ask this of you. I want to look after Nick and Mary, the children you brought with you. Which ans
Director Ryze looked at Miri.
Could I get the underground Thieves Guild to support the orphanage? I used to be involved in underground business, too, so I know how trade works below the surface, where the eyes of the law cant see. If you were to support us, wed be able to take in even more children.
Director Ryze seed to be saying that, if the Thieves Guild supported them, the orphanage would be able to take in the children that the Thieves Guild looked after.
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