"…"
Standing speechlessly in front of the sisters who managed the orphanage with looks of disgust and resentment on their faces, I can't help but sigh before asking a question.
"I've already requested to have all children gather all together."
My father was informed beforehand regarding this matter. Even though the sisters of this place found it unbelievable, they would have to follow my request since it doesn't involve anything malicious but… they are stubborn.
"We are under the protection of the duke and we follow his orders, only," One sister, who seems the leader of this orphanage and goes by the name Linda, spoke sternly, "We wanted to hear your opinion first before we let them see you,"
'Come on now… Is this guy's reputation already that bad? Well, her reason is justified but still...'
Pondering over it for a few seconds, I have to use a forcible way to continue this. This might not be a major problem like the other two I've mentioned but still, I think this could be a way to break the rifts between me, Isaac, and the people of this land.
First, I have to rebuild this orphanage.
Smiling faintly, I looked at the sister coldly, "I wouldn't resort to using force, sister. Bring all the children here,"
Clang—!
Behind me was Isaac touching the hilt of his sword, glaring at me with his face filled with questions saying 'what the hell are you doing now?' or 'I knew you are trash,'
"What's the meaning of this?" Linda looked frightfully and spoke with nervousness, "Why do you need the children?"
Seeing that this could not go on, I decided to use the forceful way. Remaining passive to such matters wouldn't get me my desired results.
Feigning ignorance to the sister name Linda, I glanced half of my head and ordered, "This is your first job. While I walk, you guard me. It's obvious they would block me so do anything you can to stop them,"
"I would not—"
I took my first step before Isaac could even utter his next word. Then, I proceed to do another step.
Slowly, the silent hall was only filled with my light footsteps.
"Stop!"
One of the sisters get in my front but I continued moving forward. Even if I forced my way in, I would only get three sisters at most and be cornered like a rat.
Unless I have someone who could help me.
Whoosh—!
"Move," Isaac spoke towards the sister as he draw his sword, feeling weirded out as this goes on.
As he looked around, the restless expression of the other sisters was also evident.
'What's wrong with this place… I felt uneasy,' is probably the thing he was thinking. That's the line he also thought when he visited this place.
It's a chapter name called /Orphanage Verl Incident/
It's just a three-page chapter in which Isaac investigates the missing kids which was supposed to happen six months after his arrival, which is yesterday.
In a simple sense, this should happen not now but in the future.
The story behind this is that the children were sold off by these sisters to those fake parents and sold off once more to other people which again sold off once more to someone.
For a straightforward reason, they are trafficking kids.
It was a very easy task for Isaac since he had the strength. It was when the time people recognizes him and a thorough lookout on the orphanage happen towards the whole Fordent kingdom.
As to what happened to those kids, it remained unknown.
"Thanks,"
"Just get on with it…"
Smiling faintly after I bid my thanks, I walked up the stairs and started knocking at the doors one by one.
"To the children inside the room, to someone who could understand me, I want you to tell the other children that they are now under the care of Noelle Portnner, son of Duke Verl,"
There was no answer.
I moved towards the other doors and continued to tell the same thing but none responded. Still, I knew the children were inside.
Maybe they were afraid of someone such as me who has a very bad reputation or afraid of other people using them again.
"To the children..."
I waited and continued. I didn't put pressure and give the simplest words so that the children could understand.
Five whole minutes passed… Ten minutes passed… still nothing.
"They are just currently resting in their room! Get down here, trash!" Linda shouted as she looked at the edge of the second floor where I was currently resting my back.
Half an hour passed and I continued to wait.
"You! This is such a disgrace for our orphanage! The kids are totally safe! What are you blabbering about?! You are going to wake the kids up!"
She continued to rant the whole time endlessly only to soon stop when I take a glance at her, giving her a long stare before… smiling faintly.
'…idiot.'
I absolutely have to thank this lady's mouth.
It wasn't that much on the outside but I was honestly waiting for her to blabber useless things until I got the right words which are coming right from her very mouth. Though it was painful to hear, I didn't mind since it was needed.
Creak!
One by one, the doors of the children's rooms started to open. The small faces of the children peeked their heads out and a warm smile formed on my lips.
"Hello,"
Moving closely toward the door, my hand patted a child on the head and added, "If you are afraid, don't come out. Stay. But if you have the courage to move once again, I promise to give you at least a good life,"
I halted my tone, saying everything in a way that the children could understand, "I wanted to say you are all safe now,"
…
Hundreds of knights and soldiers surrounded the orphanage house, sisters were dragged away by them, and small children were assisted and guided, mainly with the help of Verl's attendants, who just heard the news just now.
"Hey,"
Glancing half of my head since I was called, I answered in an emotionless tone, "Are you here to nag me again? Honestly, I don't have energy left,"
"Why didn't you act sooner?"
"…"
Being told by an unexpected answer, I unnoticeably flinched before replying in a calm tone, "What do you mean?"
"I'm not an idiot," Isaac replied, "You knew the sisters have been doing malicious things to the children yet you didn't act? Just how lowly are you?"
'… and here I thought this could be enough as a start,'
Sighing inwardly, I came to realize that I didn't prepare any answer for this. I couldn't just tell him I know the contents of a book with you being the main character. This was supposed to be your story.
After thinking for a whole minute, I finally thought of something and rearranged them in my mind before replying.
With that being done, I executed it.
"At least for me, I did the right thing,"
"What are you—!"
"How could I know?" I calmly replied, "I was at the school the whole time before the break. With one week right here to there, do you think I would really have knowledge related to that incident?"
"…"
"Say, you must've heard from my father that I stayed one week in my room, right? Hey, you know, right?"
Well, that was just me being surprised the whole time of my transmigration.
"Now, why would I stay there for a week without being seen? Only coming up the day you arrive, huh? Hey, you people who judged people because they were trash at first are very common amongst people. Since you said you are not an 'idiot', you must understand what I was trying to say, right?"
"…"
"Yes, I was thinking of how to deal with this whole orphanage thing. I have to remove some problems so that I could face them head-on,"
…sigh, I don't know if laughing or being guilty is the best thing to feel here but I had to admit, my skills as a reader are being tested here.
"So that 'non-idiotic' brain of yours understand now? Well, then if it's, great. Haha!" Humorously speaking with a sarcastic laugh, I ended our talk while satisfying his question.
"..."
Silence enveloped the surrounding. Chills went down my spine as I began to rethink the words and actions I showed.
'He's not going to kill me, right? That's the whole idea of this operation. That would be so ironic…'
Half an hour later with full silence, I was sweating buckets.
'At least draw your sword! Don't give me that kind of silent response! Then threaten me like you always did!'
Gulping the saliva in my mouth so many times now, I heard the sound of my heart pounding very loudly, and soon enough, it stopped when Isaac spoke.
"I'm sorry,"
"…"
"I've been…no, I'm completely wrong this time. I understand your reasoning and I should've asked beforehand before I talked harshly,"
'Serves you right, hero,'
I remained my stoic expression even though I was smiling happily inside. He's not going to kill me!
At least, the thought of killing me must've momentarily been removed from his thoughts!
"Right, I almost forgot. The money I've taken from the duke, all of it, I want you to find a place and ask some workers to build the newly constructed orphanage." I paused, looking at the house, "We can't let the children have that house that already causes some trauma to them. Build a home for them, will you?"
"Why me…"
Before I could answer, one of the knights approached us and was about to ask a question but I tried to quickly drag Isaac, and seeing that he wasn't bulging because of his ridiculous strength, I moved to his back and presented him on the knight.
"He is the hero who saved the children," I smiled, "The one who discovered the irregularity of the orphanage,"