A few days after Miku enthusiastically participated in the academy’s entrance ceremony.
On one of the floors of Amamiya Tower, the orphanage was finally getting properly underway.
What happened was that they actually took in orphans and began living there.
The children were all between the ages of four and six, totaling ten in all.
Considering that there are practically only two adults raising the children, it was decided that they would start with this number and see how things went.
As they arrived at the building where they would now live, the children, brought before the structure Kousuke had built, were initially stunned.
They truly felt as though this was the place where they would live from now on.
Regardless of its size, the building was brand new, and they probably didn’t think it was suitable for orphans like themselves to live in.
In reality, orphans in this world were accustomed to living in old temples or houses, so Sally figured the children’s reactions were only natural.
Watching the children, Sally clapped her hands together.
“Hey! Don’t keep making those faces, go and decide which rooms you’ll be using. Naturally, boys and girls will be separate!”
At her voice, the eldest girl hesitantly looked at Sally.
“Um, excuse me. Can we really live here?”
“I understand you might not believe it, but it’s true. You can see it anytime you want from now on, so get moving!”
When Sally called out to them once more, the children finally began to move sluggishly.
They still felt a sense of disbelief, but they moved because they felt it was better to follow Sally’s voice (command?).
Kousuke and the others watched the children’s behavior from a little distance away.
They had already greeted the children, so they intended to let them do as they pleased from now on.
“I guess leaving it to Sally was the right choice?”
Sally, who had frequently visited the orphanage in town, appeared to Kousuke to be accustomed to handling children.
With that kind of demeanor, she might be perceived more as a cool older sister than a mother.
Silvia, who was standing beside him, nodded at Kousuke’s words as he thought this.
“That’s right. I thought there might be a bit of awkwardness, but it seems to be no problem at all.”
Both of them had thought Sally might struggle at first since she hadn’t actually experienced child-rearing.
However, to their pleasant surprise, Sally was showing a vibrant expression.
“Since she was the leader, she often looked after the newcomers even when she was active. I think there are still many adventurers who gather around her when she calls out to them.”
“I see. You’ve introduced a truly valuable person, Ririka.”
Kousuke said thankfully, in response to Ririka’s explanation.
Ririka hastily shook her head from side to side at Kousuke.
“No! This is nothing! Rather, it seems to be beneficial for the leader as well, so we are the ones who should be grateful!”
Ririka knew how truly grateful she was for the opportunity given to the caring Sally to be involved with the children in this way.
Therefore, Ririka even thought that she didn’t need to receive thanks from Kousuke.
Of course, she understood what Kousuke was saying, so she replied with the intention of conveying her gratitude.
Sensing that Kousuke and Ririka might get caught up in a gratitude contest if left unchecked, Silvia intervened in the conversation.
“By the way, what about Rin?”
From when the children greeted Kousuke and the others to when they entered the house, Sally had led them.
During that time, Rin had not appeared at all, so Silvia was curious.
Floria was the one who answered Silvia’s question.
“Ah, if that’s the case, she was taking care of Jin inside the house? Jin will be meeting the children for the first time, won’t he?”
While Kousuke was greeting the children, Floria had gone to check on the house.
It was then that she witnessed Rin having a pleasant conversation with Jin.
Rin, having recently met Jin again after a long time, had apologized first for her long absence.
However, Jin had said to the apologetic Rin, “Have you grown a bit?”
To Jin, who had said that, Rin had replied with a bitter smile, “You haven’t changed at all from the old days.”
The reason Rin decided to take care of Jin while the children came was due to her trust that Sally could handle it.
During the preparation period, Rin and Sally had thoroughly discussed and decided on their respective roles.
Within that, Rin had decided that it would be better to leave the care of the children to Sally.
However, that’s not to say she intended to completely hand it over.
Silvia nodded at Floria’s explanation.
“Is that so? If that’s the case, she’ll likely be meeting the children around now.”
“Probably. I’m curious to see how His Excellency will react to the children.”
Floria said with a slight smile, and Ririka directed a probing gaze at her.
“Um… is Old Man Jin that strict?”
“No, I wonder? He can be strict, but he’s not the kind of person to scold for strange reasons, is he?”
“I think so too.”
Silvia agreed with Floria’s words, and Kousuke nodded.
Still showing a worried expression, Ririka was further reassured by Silvia.
“You don’t need to worry so much. Although he’s an eccentric who chose to live in seclusion, he’s also the one who raised Rin, you know?”
It was shortly after Jin began living on the tower floors that he took Rin in and raised her.
Although Kousuke and the others hadn’t been watching the entire time, they had seen how well Rin had grown, so they hadn’t had any worries from the start.
Ririka also showed a look of understanding after hearing Silvia’s explanation.
With Rin as an example, she realized there was no need to worry so much.
Furthermore, there was the reassurance that everything would be alright with Sally there.
Kousuke, who had been listening to their conversation, stared intently at the building where the children had entered.
“Well, whatever the case, whether it goes well or not depends on the children who will grow up from now on… If possible, I hope they aren’t raised in too unreasonable a way.”
What Kousuke was worried about was whether they would raise the children by strangely instilling religious faith.
This was something he was expecting from Sally, not Jin or Rin, so it was still unclear to Kousuke.
“If that’s the case, I think it will be alright. …Probably.”
“What is it about that last added word that makes me curious?”
When Kousuke said that, looking at Ririka, she gave a dry laugh.
For the past few days, Ririka had been talking with Sally frequently about the orphanage. During those conversations, she had expressed immense gratitude to Kousuke, who had devised this plan.
Given Sally’s tendency to become single-minded once she sets her heart on something, there was a possibility that her feelings towards Kousuke might lead her to act recklessly.
It was the thought of that possibility that caused Ririka to add that subtle wording at the end.
“It-it’s your imagination. Knowing the leader, she’ll put on the brakes at the very last moment.”
To Ririka’s answer, which offered no reassurance at all, Kousuke decided to visit frequently for a while.
The orphanage has officially started operations.
It’s a departure filled with lingering anxiety for Kousuke, lol.
Even the author doesn’t know yet how the children raised here will grow.
*The next update will be posted on May 1st.
