Chapter 41 : Beast or Human?

“Ehem.”
Reinhardt, Knight Commander of the Red Rose Knights, cleared his throat. Was it because I talked so much after such a long time? His throat felt ticklish. Come to think of it, how long had it been since he’d spoken this much? His old mind struggled to recall the exact date. They say family is everything when you get old. That saying rang true. How could someone without family endure the sorrow? No matter how well you treat others, what does it matter? Work was just work.

As he aged and his tenure lengthened, his peers retired, leaving only distant juniors—juniors reluctant to spend time with their burdensome, tension-inducing superior. I’m not that strict or rigid. Couldn’t they just see him as a senior instead of the Knight Commander, ask about the sword, seek advice on a knight’s mindset? Anyway, this is why kids these days… Reinhardt revealed the very reason his juniors avoided him, blissfully unaware. If retirement loomed, he might’ve realized it, but that possibility had vanished. A wild child had approached him cheerfully, chatted with him, and soothed his loneliness.

“Hehem, it’s been a while since such a promising newcomer joined.” Of course, it was Lena. Lena has unleashed poison upon the knight order! Now, the Red Rose Knights were doomed to a lifetime of being compared to her and receiving displeased glances!
“Talented, good-natured, and highly ambitious. She’s a great fortune for our knight order.”

She even had the luck to claim a divine object. He’d wondered what would become of the order after his retirement, but now he could rest easy. Of course, she needed refinement—especially her mana manipulation. It was clumsy, like she’d tried it for the first time. Any knight should naturally handle mana, so her body must not keep up with her overflowing talent. Lack of talent is a problem; having it is a blessing. Awkwardness could be polished through training, and guiding her was precisely a senior’s job.

“Ehem, since I don’t have much to do in my later years, I should organize what I can pass on.” He wished he could’ve polished her basics today, but circumstances didn’t allow it—a pity. A newcomer must be busy, days flying by with tasks and errands. Reinhardt consoled himself: today wasn’t the only day. She’d promised to return. With such talent, choosing the faded Red Rose Knights over others meant a strong sense of duty. She wouldn’t run off, so they’d meet again soon. Eagerly awaiting that, he drew his sword after a long while.

“From now on, this is the house where you’ll live, Lena.”
“Huh? A house? The knight order provides even that? Awesome, saved money.”
“It’s not a house you’ll live in alone, though.”
“Really? Ah, a homestay? Real estate is expensive—connecting with locals would be cheaper. I’m fine with that too.”
“Home… what? Anyway, let’s go inside. I’ll explain the details there.”

[Hope’s Fence Orphanage]. As Celine and Lena passed through the entrance, a sign fell behind them.

“I leave her in your care, Sister.”
“Yes, Knight. I’ve heard the circumstances—a pitiful child. Though my strength is meager, I’ll do my best to care for her.”
“May the Sun God’s protection bless you.”
“May the Sun God’s protection bless you.”

What’s going on? What exactly is happening? Lena tilted her head, mouth agape. She’d definitely heard “homestay” (not really). The grounds were larger than other houses, suitable for one. But… aren’t there too many kids? Dozens of eyes peeked through the slightly ajar door. Is this medieval fantasy logic? By their standards, is a homestay dozens instead of five or ten? It’d be great for soccer teams. But the host’s attire… it resembled a nun’s habit—not the fantasy kind with lewd tweaks, but a real, concealing one. A nun and dozens of kids of various ages—this felt less like a homestay and more like…
“An orphanage?”

Hearing her murmur, the nun nodded. “This is the Hope’s Fence Orphanage.”
“Gasp!” It really was. An orphanage! Lena glared at Celine. She told me to leave everything to her, I trusted her, and she sold me off with that blank face! I’m an orphan without parents… well, that’s true. No relatives or guardians… also true. But I’m a proper adult… counting my previous life. Orphanage… I guess I do have to go, right? Lena quietly conceded.

Living abroad isn’t easy—different environment, culture, even era. Interacting with local kids and adapting might be efficient. Mistakes might be forgiven as a minor, an orphan at that. If it didn’t suit her later, she could sell her jewels, buy a house, and leave.
“I’ll say my final farewells to Lena and take my leave.”
“Yes, I’ll wait outside.”

The nun left, leaving Lena alone with Celine. The reliable knight image melted away—her eyebrows drooped, mouth turned down slightly, crestfallen.
“I’m sorry, I tried my best, but this was all I could do.”
“Huh? About what?”
“About sending you to the orphanage.”
“Ah, this? It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

She’d already grasped the necessity. Seeing her nonchalance, Celine looked even guiltier.
“No, I only thought of my own situation. There was an option for me to become your guardian and live with you.”
But she’d decided against it. Beyond the practical reason—she’d be too busy as a newcomer to raise a child—she’d considered Lena’s wild upbringing, disconnected from society. Bridging that gap wouldn’t be easy; someone needed to teach her social norms and ordinary life wholeheartedly. That’s why she chose the orphanage—a specialized place for kids like Lena. Now, leaving her, she regretted it.

“And there was also the option of recommending you as a knight.” She’d realized during the bandit attack that Lena didn’t need protection. Talking separately cleared her vague misconceptions. She’d sensed it teaching her the sword—Lena learned fast, moving naturally. The Great Forest wasn’t a pushover; even with monster protection, incompetence meant death. She could’ve reported Lena’s talent and suggested she join the order.

“Knight order? Ugh, no thanks.” Lena shuddered. Dilapidated facilities, few members, and those who didn’t respect elders—the grim reality erased her romantic knightly dreams. Besides, she wanted glory, not to be worked to death. Not only back home, but I have to enlist here too? A terrible thought.

Seeing that, Celine’s heavy heart lightened. She’d refused the knight option, judging it wasn’t what Lena wanted.
“I’ll make time to visit often. Write me if anything’s inconvenient—I’ll provide ample support, so don’t feel pressured.”
“Eh, you’ll go that far?”
“Even this isn’t enough.”

She was her savior—Celine only regretted she couldn’t do more.
“And lastly, remember this isn’t the Great Forest. You mustn’t kill people recklessly.”
“I know that.”

Lena was civilized, valuing human life. Of course, beasts in human skin—like those bandits—were exceptions. Back home, she’d restrain violence even against scum, but the medieval era was different. Treating beastly bastards like beasts was fine. Celine’s worry was just nagging. As long as people acted human, it wouldn’t happen.

The incident occurred not long after Celine left. Lena was unpacking onto the bed assigned by Mother Isolde (the orphanage director nun). The door burst open, and a crowd of boys and girls—looking like they’d chewed gum and stood with weight on one leg—swarmed in.
“Hey! You!”
“?”
“You’re the newbie, right? Follow us outside.”

This brat who hasn’t even dried behind the ears, talking down to me… Ah, right, I’m their age now. Kids think they’re grown, but to adults, they’re just willful. Lena, elder at heart, tried calming their rebellious phase with a composed tone.
“Mother Isolde said to unpack first?”
“Do that later. Don’t you get it? Living here, who’ll you spend more time with—Mother Isolde or us?”

A boy with short-cropped hair and sharp, upturned eyes spoke. Lena grasped the situation but feigned ignorance.
“Why do you want me to come out?”
“It’s our rule. A newbie has to go through the initiation ceremony to join our family.”
“Oh, an initiation.”

The atmosphere suggested it wasn’t a warm welcome with snacks and chat.
“Sounds fun.” Lena grinned, hehe, and licked her lips. The wild didn’t distinguish between beast cubs and adults—no matter how young, a beast was a beast. I wonder how many beasts are among them?