To mislead Croton and any potentially dangerous individuals connected to him, I once again pretended to have a vocal cord impairment.
If it weren’t for my potential interests, who would want to be a dispensable mute?
After naturally and fluently writing my name for Croton to see clearly, he thoughtfully rested his slightly pointed chin on his hand, staring at the string of characters that “I really shouldn’t be able to understand” for a while before smiling slightly.
“Yueyu… Ah, no… This probably isn’t your real name, is it?”
Honestly, I was a bit shocked.
Even though my movements while writing the fake name were so smooth and natural, how could he have noticed… unless he had seen that name before.
Or perhaps—
Hiding the azure blade of [Blue·Honesty] condensed on the back of my hand behind me, I maintained my current expression and casually approached Croton.
He was a witness to that incident.
“Why would I know… Well, look, there’s a character error here, right? You simply reversed the name but didn’t notice that specific characters need to rhyme.”
Oh, I see. I hadn’t specifically studied this in this world. I heard names have unique writing styles here, and it seems that’s true.
Hurriedly retracting the azure blade, I wrote down “I see” and smiled in response.
Croton smiled too, saying he used to be a teacher, a civil official who taught children “language and literature.”
However, in my opinion, the part about being a civil official was largely false….
Inadvertently, I caught a glimpse of his palms, which were covered in calluses. Clearly, he had held onto something so tightly that he never let go, and experience told me… those weren’t left by any teaching rod.
But it didn’t matter much now.
“By the way, I haven’t asked for your real name… but never mind. You must have been through something to hide your real name… (Upon seeing the name) Wait, is that really okay!? Telling me your name just like that.”
I nodded, indicating he was someone I could trust. Croton scratched his head sheepishly and gave a wry smile for a moment.
—9:43
After explaining the force manipulation as [Mage Hand] in a few words, Croton tried to bring up my past again. Perhaps my somber expression made him stop, or maybe he didn’t really want to do it in the first place….
Croton just casually said a few words before leaving the room.
Under his management, this orphanage seemed quite well-run. However, my journey wouldn’t end here…..
I was thinking about when to leave this place—What was that sound? It seemed to be coming from downstairs…..
Following the noise, I leaned my head toward the windowsill—the view here was excellent, facing the street directly… and it allowed me to clearly see what was happening on the first floor.
A carriage was parked on the narrow road, with what appeared to be a coachman and the carriage owner standing beside it. As for the source of the commotion—they were holding onto Xi’erwei and Light, while the other children could only watch anxiously, unable to help.
Croton came to mediate. He stood between Xi’erwei and the two men, his mouth opening and closing as if questioning the reason for the trouble.
After a few exchanges, the two men seemed unable to argue with Croton and grew furious, throwing a punch at him—
(Pushing open the window)
“Whoa! Grr…”
“Shi… Yueyu? You…”
Under the astonished gazes of everyone, I repaid the man’s punch on Croton’s behalf. Controlling my strength, a precise fist like a cone ensured his internal energy would be disrupted.
“T-this, sir, are you alright?”
“What do you mean ‘alright’? Do I look alright like this?!”
“Hmph, serves you right! (Under Croton’s gaze) L-Light and I are going inside now. Yueyu, thank you.”
After a few whispers, Xi’erwei, Light, and the other curious children hid at the far end of the orphanage hallway.
“…Ah, Yueyu… It’s really nothing, just—Huh? You want to communicate? Ah, okay.”
Taking the paper and pen, I quickly wrote down my questions. Seeing my attitude, Croton explained the entire incident… As for the reason he kept it from me, he probably didn’t want me involved in this “minor” matter.
①: Xi’erwei and Light were playing on the street; the carriage was proceeding as usual.
②: Light suddenly fell ill and collapsed in the middle of the road, and the coachman naturally tried to stop the horses.
③: For some reason, the carriage horses lost control and crashed into a fruit stall beside the orphanage.
④: The carriage owner, dissatisfied with being held accountable for compensation by the stall owner, came to “settle the score” with Xi’erwei and Light.
Summary of the incident completed.
After organizing the logical sequence of events and considering the cause, I realized that our side was actually at fault. No matter how we sorted the evidence or rallied public support.
The crowd of onlookers was growing, including a few low-level players watching the commotion. Although their levels were too weak to have a significant impact, if they spread the “news”…
I didn’t even need to consider the consequences—my life would be over.
“[Writing] Director, we’re at fault. It was already good enough that I got justice for you. Now, we need to think about how to prevent them from causing further trouble.”
“…I understand. In that case, I’ll discuss compensation with ‘Kailan.’ Yueyu, if possible, please protect the children.”
“[Writing] I’m just a ‘child’ myself. Don’t count on me.”
While I was quickly writing, the coachman impatiently slapped the paper and pen out of my hands, spewing vile and shameless words incessantly.
Well, since things had come to this, I could only remain silent. Besides, I was still just a “mute” for now.
“Huh? Are you even listening! I’m talking to you (kicking away the paper and pen, stepping on the clean sheet)—can you hear me?” Originally, I wanted to crouch down and pick up the fallen stationery, but I hadn’t expected the carriage owner to cause such a scene.
“Looks like a deaf-mute. Let me teach you a lesson… Aaaah!!!”
How could I let you take advantage? Did you ever think the girl in front of you just taught you a lesson?
Without using too much force, I simply controlled the hand he swung at me, then reached out to restrain his body… and gave it a sharp twist.
His elbow and shoulder instantly dislocated. As for his hand, I might have twisted it clean off.
Well, he brought it upon himself.
“Aaaah!!! My! My! Hand!” Amid immense agony, the coachman wailed uncontrollably over his irreparably damaged arm.
The onlookers saw it all, but no one called for the guards, and no one left either. They simply wanted to record the entire incident as an “anecdote” to share with friends for amusement.
However, not far away, I distinctly saw several guards chatting and laughing, seemingly indifferent to what was happening here. Yet, the moment I twisted the coachman’s arm, they rushed over as if they had super hearing and wheels on their feet.
I should have realized it earlier—what kind of place this really was.
“Hey! Everyone, move aside!” For some reason, almost no players served as guards here.
Perhaps they didn’t want to get involved in this mess either.
Then, from the murmurs of the crowd, I learned that they weren’t exactly guards. To be precise, they were more like a “mercenary group” hired by the “government” using tax funds.
Players generally avoided frequenting the city of [Gaili] because there were no player guilds or any player associations here. Players here were practically helpless unless they were inherently powerful or influential.
These mercenaries were quite formidable. In a one-on-one fight in normal mode, I could probably suppress them, but against a whole team, it was uncertain.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Master Dick? What’s wrong, causing trouble with a little girl today? Don’t worry, buddy, I’ll definitely get you justice, alright?”
“Thank you very much.” Dick bowed respectfully, then hurriedly hid behind the mercenary with the coachman.
“Hey, on closer look, this girl is quite a beauty. They say girls change a lot as they grow up, and she’ll be even more stunning. So, little girl, how old are you?”
I had no reaction to the mercenary’s words. Honestly, if anyone showed even a hint of that kind of interest in me, I basically didn’t want to engage with them.
“Oh ho ho, this must be what they call ‘tsundere,’ right? Yeah, that’s it. It’s quite popular these days.”
Think whatever you want. I guess next, he’s going to grab my hand and drag me away regardless of my opinion.
The ideas and formulas are basically the same. Anyone who has read the novel can guess most of the plot after reading only the first half—except for truly excellent novels.
Like “Survival in This World Ends Here,” “All Demons,” and so on—they’re all really good reads.
“Hey, don’t leave. We haven’t finished talking.” Oh my goodness, don’t tell me this guy is a lolicon. Although I’m not exactly a standard loli…
Fortunately, I didn’t earn the labels “freak” or “monster” for injuring the coachman. Otherwise, what awaited me would only be violent suppression and a cold anti-magic cage.
Croton seemed to want to say something, but my gaze stopped him. The orphanage children still needed his care, and he couldn’t afford to get himself involved over this minor incident.
“Well then, Yueyu, may we meet again if fate allows.” Honestly, I didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Croton’s words. It might have been a hint about my outcome or simply a well-wish.
If non-violent compliance could buy temporary peace, then there was no problem—unless it crossed my bottom line.
“Hey, you’re quite obedient. Please, get in the carriage.”
Following his command, I boarded the carriage that had somehow parked across the street. Inside were seats made of iron, though one side had a blanket placed on it.
“Come, please sit.” The mercenary captain immediately followed me in, taking the lead on the bare iron chair and gesturing for me to sit as well.
It felt a bit uncomfortable being “served” so “respectfully.”
Just kidding, I’d rather go anywhere, as long as I’m taken to [Feltro].
