Chapter 44 : Life in a Medieval Fantasy Orphanage (2)

“Hwek, Hwek, Hik.”
Sonia lay sprawled on the ground, panting. Her chest heaved as if it’d burst, sweat streamed down her face, and her limbs trembled from the exertion. Could she even handle the day’s schedule after this? Still, she didn’t regret it—better than being eaten by the monster wolf!
“Hmm, thanks to Mother Isolde’s military training, huh? You run surprisingly well for how you look.”
“Mil… Hwek, huh? What’d you say?”
“I said you played well.”

Sonia lifted her head to study Lena. Despite siccing the monster wolf on her, Lena wore an innocent, giggling expression. Beside her sat the beast.
“Th-That thing’s name is Badugi?”
“Yep, my pet dog. Cute, right?”
“…”

Dog? That thing? Cute? Sonia couldn’t agree. Good thing Lena explained midway when she nearly cried—while chased, she’d truly thought she’d be eaten if caught.
“Uh, y-yes! Cute!” Sonia forced a smile, nodding. She couldn’t refuse or say anything bad—her nature as the social hub. Kids, especially orphans, craved someone on their side. And looking now, he does seem kind of cool…?
“Right? Kids’ eyes really are pure.”

Lena clapped, delighted. See, she likes him that much. That’s what matters.
“Those worn-out adults see our Badugi and call him vicious, say he should be abandoned… Seriously, no consideration at all.”
“Umm, I don’t think the adults are wrong, though.”
“What’d you say?”
“N-Nothing important!”

Her tiny rebellion was crushed by Lena’s sharp gaze and the wolf’s head turning toward her.
“Hic.” Did he hear me? Badugi’s coming closer! Sonia kept smiling, body tensing.
“Kya!” Just as she thought he’d bite her collar—whoosh—up she went, suddenly atop Badugi’s back.
“Oh, what’s this? Big Sis Celine only got scolded, but you like Sonia?”
Grrr!
“Ah, you mean Big Sis is frustrating ‘cause she keeps stepping up despite being hopeless? Hmm, she does have clumsy moments.”

Wolves are pack animals—to Badugi, Lena was the leader. But some newcomer kept stepping forward instead, showing hostility? How dare she! Stealing my master’s attention and trying to keep me in check! Celine was naturally displeasing, but Badugi endured. Lena’s training had made him gentlemanly—he knew to tolerate humans she accepted into her pack. Sonia and the other kids, like Celine, were part of it. As second-in-command, he saw it as his duty to look after them… and, well, playing with her was fun too. One side plays, the other takes care—a mutual benefit.

Sonia, oblivious, trembled atop the wolf. “…So warm.” But soon, she melted into the cozy fur. Cold from sweating, Badugi’s warmth was comforting. Kids are sensitive to emotions—touching him, she felt no malice. Her body relaxed. Lena watched with a pleased smile.
“Badugi likes her, and the kids like her too. I can let them live together without worry.”
“Live together?”
“I mean, introduce Badugi to the kids and let them play.”
“You really were planning to raise him here…”
“It’ll be okay, right?”
“Probably not?”
“Why not!”

Lena burst out in frustration. “Why are people here so strict with our Badugi! You liked it too! You enjoyed it, and now it’s not your problem? Pleasure and responsibility are separate? Abandoning your loyal companion?”
“That’s not it—first, you need the Sister’s permission.”
“Ah.”

Mother Isolde ruled the orphanage—if the homeowner says no pets, that’s that. But Lena hesitated. “That Sister seems really sketchy.”
“Huh? Why? What’s wrong with her! Come to think of it, when Malcom’s group called you out, you said she embezzled funds and whatnot! She’s wonderful—takes care of kids like us! You shouldn’t say that about someone good, our parent!” Sonia poured out her words in a rush. Even for the easygoing social butterfly, slandering Mother Isolde was intolerable. Ignoring the chill from Lena, she protested passionately.

Lena blinked. Wow, the quiet kid suddenly got angry. Seeing her blank reaction, Sonia snapped back to herself.
“Ah, um, I didn’t mean to get angry. Sorry—come to think of it, I came to apologize, not do this.”
“Apologize?”
“About the initiation. For not stopping them—I’m sorry.”
“Huh? Weren’t you part of their group?”
“No! I was scared of Malcom’s gang and couldn’t interfere, but I watched to make sure you didn’t get hurt bad!”

The misunderstanding cleared, but Lena felt no guilt for flicking the wrong kids. Kids grow up fighting, they say. Thanks to that, they followed her now— wasn’t the super-flick a necessary evil? More importantly, the initiation wasn’t all the kids—just one group.
“Hmm, so Malcom’s gang is fully brainwashed, but the others still have a chance to return to normal? Seeing you get mad, delaying enlightenment might be dangerous.”
“Brainwashed? What’s that? You use hard words.”
“Even using policies to keep the masses ignorant!”

She doesn’t know such a simple word? Even upper elementary kids would! How neglected must their education be? Mother Isolde must’ve deliberately stunted their knowledge so they wouldn’t see the truth! How frightening!
“Sonia, listen carefully.”

Lena revealed the shocking truth: this was a military facility masked as an orphanage, sacrificing them for Mother Isolde’s ambitions. Proof? The military schedule! No entertainment! Their ignorance! Hands on hips, chest puffed, she challenged, Well? Still defending her? Breaking the egg is hard for a baby bird, but only then can it fly. This truth hurts, but once you awaken, you’ll be reborn…
“Lena, being treated like a human is normal here, you know?”
“?”
“We live better than adults outside.”
“That can’t be right. Did Mother Isolde tell you that?”
“Kids sent here from tough circumstances said it—better here than out there.”

Lena’s military comparison held, but without bias, it was healthy. In medieval life, food was the priority. Beyond morning labor, they fed them, let them exercise, made them study—wholesome, thanks to Mother Isolde’s sacrifice for charity and freedom. Older kids even worried about life after leaving.
“…Really?”

Lena realized her mistake. I was thinking too modern. People here lived tough lives. Medieval fantasy novels showed happy commoners, but were those academy settings with electricity and airships?
“Lena, you really grew up sheltered. What’ll we do? It’ll be hard to adapt. It’s okay—I’ll help! I’ll ask the kids to be extra nice too, don’t worry! They’re all good!”

That’s not true. Back home, she was a work-home s*ave; here, she’d survived the wild alone. But saying that now would sound like bragging, so Lena just pouted sullenly.
“First, I was gonna introduce you to the kids at break… but this won’t do. Follow me.”
“Where?”
“To the Sister.”
“Ah, you’ll help me ask to keep Badugi?”
“That too, but first, you need to apologize.”
“Who?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you misunderstood her and said mean things. If you’re wrong, you confess, right? That’s what they say.”

As a religious facility, they did scripture and confession—but this was direct apology, not confession. Not that I don’t want to. If Sonia was right, Lena had slandered a saint deserving a citizen’s award with hate comments. This is why you stay neutral on unknowns. Years from civilization made her forget her forest friends’ teachings. She took Sonia’s hand and followed quietly.

To the director’s office.
“Ah, someone’s inside.” Sonia peeked through the slightly open door, just like with Celine last time. Is eavesdropping a basic skill here?
“…The Mister is here.”
“Mister?”

Lena rested her chin on Sonia’s head. Mother Isolde was talking to a man.
“?”
Lena’s gaze caught his name.
[George’s Crew Second-in-Command Pener]
George’s Crew—the bandit beasts she clearly remembered.