6. The Little Devil (2)
The days at the orphanage pass quickly.
We rise as the sun rises in the horizon, painting the sky a rosy hue, have breakfast, gather in the chapel for morning prayers, and then enjoy some free time.
After about an hour of free time, when the sun has fully risen, the children seek out what they desire, approaching the priests, knights, or nuns of the church. Those who wish to become knights seek out the knights, those who wish to study seek out the priests, and those who wish to devote themselves to medicine or the church seek out the nuns.
In this way, the children find their paths according to their desires and talents. When lunchtime comes, we all gather to eat, and then afternoon classes begin.
By the time the sun is setting in the horizon, classes end, and free time is given until the sun sets. After that, when the twilight descends upon the expansive garden, we wash ourselves and retire to our assigned rooms, looking forward to the next day.
Hoping that tomorrow will be a better day than today.
Hoping that tomorrow will be as peaceful as today.
Hoping that tomorrow someone who will become our parents will come.
Hoping that tomorrow…
Each of us falls asleep with our own hopes in our hearts.
We greet the morning together, and again, we greet the night.
In this way, a week has passed since I arrived at the orphanage.
*
Upon opening my eyes to the familiar warmth, an unfamiliar wooden ceiling came into view.
It’s certainly a wooden ceiling, just like in my old shack, but why does it feel so different?
As I lay there blankly staring at the ceiling, I absentmindedly reached out to the side of my head, but there was nothing there.
Perhaps because I usually fell asleep with Nae’s head next to me, the empty space felt strangely awkward.
“…Ah.”
Right. I couldn’t bring Nae’s head to the orphanage, so I left it with the demon.
I missed the routine of stroking Nae’s head, but I pushed aside my regret and got up from the bed.
I neatly tidied up the wrinkled blanket and used the magic taught by the demon to clean my clothes and body.
Belphegor of Sloth… or something like that. He said that was name of the spell he taught me.
‘Surely, with such a convenient spell, it’s easy to become lazy.’
I chuckled and stood in front of the mirror to fix my clothes.
This spell only cleans the clothes and the body, it doesn’t fix the clothes.
“It would have been nice if they made something for this too.”
[I didn’t tell you because you didn’t ask, but if you wish, I’ll teach you next time.]
As the demon’s voice echoed in my head, I looked forward and saw the demon smiling in the mirror.
Oh right. He said he could see and hear anywhere as long as there was a mirror.
“Kyaa, pervert…! Should I say that?”
[That’s a somewhat amusing reaction, but it’s bland without emotion.]
“So, what’s up? You didn’t come because I was complaining about magic.”
[I came to tell you some good news. I have something to tell you.]
Good news?
Oh, could it be…
“Saint Barkius is finally coming out of his room.”
[Yes. He comes out for inspection no matter what, once every two weeks.]
“And today is that day.”
At my words, the demon in the mirror nodded.
Seeing that, I smiled broadly and straightened my clothes.
I should get ready and go out.
With that thought, I was fixing my clothes when a red hand stretched out from the mirror.
[Here, this part is crooked.]
“Ah. I didn’t see it. Thanks.”
[“Heh, isn’t this my role after all? Don’t feel burdened, you can delegate everything to me. If you wish, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes, from the moment you open your eyes in the morning to the moment you close them at night… I can manage every single thing for you.”]
If you wish, even more than that.
I scowled at the demon, who was smiling crookedly, and shoved the demon’s hand back into the mirror.
“Because you keep showing up in the mirror, I can’t see myself.”
[“…My apologies. Well then, it’s time for me to comb Nae’s hair, so I’ll take my leave.”]
With a flash, the sunlight reflected off the mirror, and once it disappeared, my ordinary reflection was visible.
Finally, I can see the mirror.
I looked in the mirror, straightened my clothes, and left the room.
As soon as I left the room, I heard a commotion and turned around.
Why on earth are they so excited this early in the morning?
Watching the lively children running around the hallway for a moment, I turned my head away.
It was none of my business, and it was outside of my interest.
I left the dormitory with the sound of the children being scolded by the nun behind me and headed towards the dining hall.
I wonder where Barkius is now.
While looking around and heading towards the dining hall, I heard a voice.
“Hey!”
I stopped at the sound that seemed to call me.
It was obvious who it was without looking. There was only one person in this orphanage who particularly disliked me.
When I turned around, I saw nothing but a lump of mud.
Well, that’s how it is.
Since I had already anticipated it, I took a step back and avoided the mud.
With a thud, the lump of mud fell to the ground, and a considerable stench wafted up.
That’s… shit.
Looking at the guy who had thrown it, chuckling at the act that made him laugh involuntarily.
A face as slimy as his character, filled with greed, stealing from others, and a face and belly bloated from the accumulation of stolen goods.
The hidden power of this orphanage, smiling with a face full of lowly desires.
“You bastard, I told you not to look at me with that fucking face!”
“What face?”
“Don’t look at me with that fucking face! You’re dressed too neatly, anyone would think you’re a noble!”
“Hmm…”
“Pfft… Do you think someone will take you in just because you’re like that?”
He belittles others with a narrow-minded view, and those who think they can do it with power try to pull them down to their level.
He enjoys stepping on weaker girls and boys, and he can’t tolerate anyone better than him…
“What was your name again?”
I don’t remember.
All I remember is that he’s that kind of guy.
He was so upset by my words that he started to get angry, his face turning bright red.
He was the one who started the quarrel, so why is he getting angrier?
I was genuinely curious about that.
As I blinked at the guy whose name I didn’t even know, he scowled even more.
“A worthless orphan… Do I look like a dick because I’m being nice to you?”
“I don’t even know who you are. And you’re an orphan too—”
“You son of a—”
Before I could finish my sentence, he rushed at me like a wild boar and grabbed my collar.
But he only grabbed my collar, he didn’t hit me, nor did he throw me to the ground.
“You’re asking for it! Really, huh? You shit!”
He raises his fist but doesn’t strike.
He barks, but doesn’t bite.
The maximum threat he can muster is to grab my collar and curse.
What on earth does he want to do?
I had that thought but didn’t voice it.
Because a better idea came to mind.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
“…You should have done that from the start.”
At my response, he scrutinized me from head to toe with a deeply furrowed brow.
After staring at me for a while, he finally let go of my collar with a snap when he saw the nun coming out of the dormitory.
“Hey. You give me your side dish today. If you don’t want to get hit.”
I nodded at his words, pointing at me.
Finally, with a satisfied smirk, he turned his back and headed towards the dining hall.
I watched his retreating figure for a moment, then used magic to clean my clothes.
I tried it because I thought it would work, and it really did.
‘I should’ve tell him I wouldn’t.’
With that thought, I headed towards the dining hall with a broad smile.
In the dining hall, Archbishop Barkius, whom I had been waiting for, was having a meal with other priests and nuns.
Since I didn’t need to eat anything anyway, I casually filled my tray with food and rushed to the table where Archbishop Barkius was sitting.
The guy who had grabbed my collar earlier glared at me, but the Archbishop was more important.
“Hehe, hello.”
“Hmm?”
At my greeting, Archbishop Barkius, who was eating, looked at me.
The priest sitting across from him blinked at me.
“Kid, we’re having an important conversation right now….”
“Father Gateo. It’s okay. We can talk about work later, can’t we?”
“…Yes, understood.”
So his name is Father Gateo.
…Ah, right. He was the first priest I saw when I first came here.
No wonder his hair color looked familiar.
As I blinked at Father Gateo, I smiled at Archbishop Barkius.
“Can I sit next to you and eat? I really wanted to meet you, Archbishop!”
“That’s fine. Sure, go ahead and sit.”
I sat next to the Archbishop with a big smile.
The Archbishop looked at me with a pleased smile and asked.
“So, why did you want to see me?”
“Oh, the other kids said that the Archbishop is a really great person, that he feeds us delicious food and lets us sleep in a warm place. So, they said you’re an amazing person. That’s why I wanted to see you with my own eyes.”
“Hehe. That’s a compliment that makes me blush.”
The Archbishop, who laughed heartily, continued speaking while patting my head with a benevolent expression.
“But that’s not because I’m great, it’s because of the people who donate to the cathedral, the farmers and cooks who make the food you eat, the architects and laborers who built the building. I just held my position, I didn’t do anything. So, when you meet them later, make sure to greet them with a bright smile.”
Looking at his face, I grinned and nodded.
Of course, I had no intention of ending it there.
“But the Archbishop is indeed a great person. That’s what I think!”
“Hehehe, may I ask why you think so?”
“If the Archbishop hadn’t brought and raised the Saintess, the farmers, cooks, architects, laborers. No, all humans would have died.”
The Archbishop, who had been looking at me for a moment, stroked his beard and continued speaking.
“That’s… not because I did well. It’s not because I was great. It’s just that God arranged it.”
“But didn’t it happen because the Archbishop followed that arrangement?”
At my words, the Archbishop who lightly shook his head closed his mouth.
The nun and priest next to him who had been listening to the conversation stiffened their faces.
After waiting for an answer for a moment.
The Archbishop gently smiled and patted my head.
“The food will get cold. I’ll get up slowly, so eat comfortably.”
Is that it for today?
I nodded my head and picked up my spoon.
The expressions of the nun and priest looking at me were not normal, but it was none of my business.
Thx.