Nodding at Sylvia’s words about wanting to do something together, I sent the somewhat happy-looking Sylvia back to her room, and welcomed the next morning.

Early in the morning, after finishing my preparations to go out with Sylvia, I was transported somewhere in a car driven by Mr. Sebastian, Sylvia’s servant. Looking out the window, I couldn’t help but let out an internal ha ha.

So, that’s why she asked if I liked children yesterday.

As I quietly absorbed the sight of the building visible beyond the window, Sylvia spoke to me.

“I heard that it would be nice to do some volunteer work today while delivering supplies. It’s a meaningful activity, so I thought it would be great if Scarlett could join me.”

The sign on the building that came into view stated “Future Orphanage” in cheerful, cute letters.

*

As I got out of the car, Mr. Sebastian took out bags filled with wrapped items from the trunk and handed them to us.

Looking at Sylvia with a confused expression, she smiled slightly and explained.

“These are gifts for the children. There are toys, fairy tales, and drawing supplies among other things. Astra directly supports this place, so we occasionally deliver necessary items like these.”

Nodding my head, I followed Sylvia into the orphanage, where I could hear the cheerful chatter of children everywhere.

The interior was tidy yet decorated charmingly.

The rounded edges ensured that it felt like a proper orphanage where the kids wouldn’t get hurt.

“First, we need to greet the director since we’ve arrived, so please follow me.”

As I followed Sylvia into the office marked with “Director’s Room” on the door, a kindly-looking woman, presumably the director, greeted us with a wide smile.

“Welcome, Miss Sylvia! Oh my, you didn’t have to bring so much with you again.”

“Really? Should I take these back then?”

“Oh no, you don’t need to do that! We never refuse donations. Hehe, thank you as always. The children will really be happy.”

The director, who seemed to be familiar with Sylvia, joked playfully while accepting the bags. Then she noticed me standing awkwardly and asked Sylvia.

“Could you maybe introduce me to this young lady?”

“Oh, this is my friend… no, she’s Scarlett Evande from the same class at Aegis Academy. She’s here today to help me with the volunteer work and play with the children.”

As Sylvia introduced me, I nodded slightly towards the director, who happily returned the gesture with a smile.

“So, you are Miss Scarlett. I am Maria, the director of this Future Orphanage. Thank you so much for coming in to help today. Fortunately, the orphanage hasn’t been affected, but due to a recent unfortunate incident, some of our staff have had trouble coming in. We really needed people to play with the children… I truly appreciate it.”

“Oh… it’s nothing. You don’t have to thank me.”

As I waved my hand modestly in response to the director’s politeness, she chuckled briefly before stopping and asking us.

“By the way, do both of you attend Aegis Academy? If so, you might know our Si-woo.”

…There’s only one person I know with the name Si-woo.

“Are you talking about Yoon Si-woo? The, uh, white-haired boy…”

As I responded uncertainly, the director’s face lit up with excitement.

“Ah, yes! The handsome boy! Are you close with him?”

“Yes… well, we’re in the same class. We’re friends for now.”

As I recalled my recent conversation with Yoon Si-woo and answered her, I felt Sylvia’s gaze on me from the side.

Wondering if I had done something wrong, I glanced over and saw Sylvia looking at me with a somewhat resentful expression.

Just when I was pondering if I had messed something up, Sylvia broke her gaze from me and asked the director.

“By the way, how do you know Yoon Si-woo?”

Then the director smiled and replied.

“Si-woo hails from our orphanage. He did leave a bit earlier than the others.”

“Really? Is that true?”

Sylvia seemed surprised by the director’s words.

Thinking back, Yoon Si-woo did have a backstory of losing his parents—who were heroes—to a monster and being raised in an orphanage.

As I pondered that strange coincidence, Sylvia suddenly whispered to me.

“…Um, Scarlett, you don’t look that surprised. Did you know?”

Well, I read it in the novel…

I nodded at the thought, and Sylvia murmured to herself.

“Hmm, I see… Scarlett knows about this stuff because she’s friends with Yoon Si-woo…”

Her tone seemed a bit hurt.

However, since her voice was barely audible, the director continued.

“Just the other day, I heard he was entering the academy, but then I saw him pop up on the broadcast of the memorial service yesterday. He got officially appointed as a hero, but you’d think he’d let me know beforehand. It’s such a concerning surprise…”

With a somewhat melancholic look, the director then gazed at both of us seriously and asked.

“Anyway, while he is at the academy, has Si-woo caused any problems? When he was here, the girls were always competing over who would marry him, and that was my biggest worry when he said he was going to the academy. Since he’s so kind, he just can’t be harsh to those who like him, which makes me worry about his relationships with girls. What do you think?”

Well, it makes sense for the director to worry about that.

After all, Yoon Si-woo, the original protagonist, was notorious for being a clueless girl-magnet.

I think, however, I haven’t seen girls flocking around him at the academy that much.

It also seemed that Sylvia showed interest in Yoon Si-woo at one point, but at some point, it looked like she lost interest.

As I thought about this, I stole a glance at Sylvia, who just happened to be looking my way for some reason.

When I tilted my head in confusion, Sylvia sighed deeply and answered the director.

“…About that, you really don’t need to worry. Yoon Si-woo may not show it, but he has solid defenses against that. Trust me.”

“Well, that reassures me. I thought if something happened to Si-woo, it would be because of girls.”

The director exclaimed a thought-provoking line with a cheerful smile as she gathered the bags and spoke to us.

“Anyway, I’ve kept you two long enough. Should we head to the playroom now? Scarlett, since this is your first time, the kids may be a little shy, but don’t worry—our kids are generally more friendly, so you should be able to make friends with them quickly.”

Although I nodded in acknowledgment of the director’s remark, I was more worried about getting too friendly with the kids too soon.

I had done volunteer work at orphanages a few times before, and I knew that if I got too close to the kids, it would be hard to part ways later.

Recalling the memory of resisting the little hands of kids who pleaded with me not to leave, I hesitated as we reached the door to the playroom.

When we opened the door and entered the playroom with the director, all the little eyes inside turned toward us.

“Pretty sister!”

“Someone new is here!”

The lively expressions of the children sparkled with excitement as they seemed ready to dash toward us, but the director shouted.

“Attention everyone! We have guests who will be playing with you today! Everyone, say hello!”

“Hello!”

At the director’s call, they all placed their hands on their bellies and bowed politely.

As I was about to grin at their adorable gesture, the kids swiftly dashed toward Sylvia, surrounding her with excitement.

“Pretty sister! Show us the sparkles like last time!”

“Sparkle fairy!”

It seemed the children’s attention focused on Sylvia since they already knew her, but then one child pointed at me and exclaimed, suddenly changing the atmosphere.

“Look! This sister has a robot arm!”

“Whoa! That’s so cool! Can you launch it?”

“Rocket punch! Rocket punch!”

My prosthetic arm seemed to pique the children’s curiosity, and they suddenly raced toward me, leaving Sylvia behind. Bam!

As I was overwhelmed by kids swarming around me, all asking questions, Sylvia took something out of the bag she had brought and said.

“Okay, everyone. How about taking a look at this?”

At first glance, it looked like just a sword handle without a blade.

But when Sylvia pressed the button on the pommel, golden light surged from it, forming the shape of a sword.

I couldn’t help but let out an Oh wow! at the sight.

A toy sword modeled after the Radiant Sword.

It had only aired yesterday; how on earth had they managed to create a toy of such high quality in just one day? Is that Astra’s financial power…?

Whatever the case, the toy’s high quality managed to captivate the kids’ attention enough that they temporarily shifted their focus from me to the toy sword.

The fastest child who snatched the toy sword from Sylvia proudly raised it up and yelled.

“I am Yoon Si-woo! Where’s the evil witch?”

“Ah, me too! I want to be Yoon Si-woo too!”

“Hey, hey! I’ll share them with everyone, so don’t fight!”

It seemed that the children had seen Yoon Si-woo’s debut through the broadcast yesterday, as they shouted his name and began to role-play with the toy swords.

Feeling a bit taken aback by the chaotic scene, the director approached me with a smile.

“Ahaha, were you a bit surprised? The kids are quite lively. Well, if you wait a moment, they’ll calm down quickly, and then you can have some fun playing with them.”

“Oh, sure…”

…Seeing the kids enjoy themselves without a care made me realize it’s a really nice facility.

While I was thinking that, my attention was caught by a girl sitting alone in a corner, staring blankly at the sketchbook hanging around her neck, completely disconnected from the laughter of others.

“…Excuse me, director. Why is that child over there sitting all alone?”

As I inquired about the child who had an air of melancholy, the director looked at her and gave a wistful smile.

“…You mean Rion? Well, Rion just became a part of our family a few days ago…”

“Ah…”

I didn’t need a long explanation to understand.

That meant she had come to this orphanage after losing her parents in the recent incident.

Instinctively drawn, I approached the little girl named Rion.

As I got closer, she closed her sketchbook and stared at me with empty eyes. I carefully asked.

“Um, would it be okay if I sat next to you?”

Rion, who had been gazing at me silently, nodded slightly. I gently crouched beside her and asked.

“What were you doing?”

She didn’t answer right away, but eventually spoke as if she had no other choice.

“…Drawing my mom and dad…”

“I see. Do you miss your mom and dad?”

Rion didn’t respond.

She probably wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone.

In moments like this, trying to force a conversation was useless.

I released my crouched position, leaned my back against the wall, and muttered.

“Haa, I miss my mom and dad too…”

Years had passed since I last saw them, but the longing never faded.

As I reminisced, Rion abruptly spoke.

“…If you want to see them, you can go visit.”

At her question, I chuckled softly and replied.

“I can’t see them, that’s why I miss them.”

“…You can’t see your mom and dad anymore either?”

“No. I can’t see them anymore. That’s why I miss them every day.”

After I responded, Rion sat quietly for a moment before gently placing her tiny hand on mine.

Perhaps it was a sense of solidarity shared among those with similar pains.

Through that little hand, I felt a bond between us.

As I gazed at Rion sitting next to me, I noticed the sketchbook hanging around her neck.

The sketchbook looked a bit worn for something just received; it indicated it was an item she had before coming to the orphanage.

“…Is that sketchbook something precious to you?”

“…My mom bought that sketchbook for me when I turned five. My dad bought me crayons, but I’ve used them all up, so they’re gone now.”

“I see. So you really enjoy drawing, Rion?”

“…I like drawing.”

To the girl who said she liked drawing, I asked gently.

“I brought some crayons today. Would you like me to get you some if you want to draw?”

Rion thought for a moment before slowly nodding her head.

I retrieved a set of crayons from the bag I brought and handed it to Rion.

As she looked at me, she inclined her head politely.

“…Thank you.”

“Not at all.”

Rion took her sketchbook off and laid it down on the floor, glancing at me as she said.

“…Because I’m thankful, I’ll draw something for you.”

When I pointed to myself with a questioning look, Rion nodded.

Then, she opened the new crayon set, took a few crayons in her hand, and touched the sketchbook.

At that moment, Rion’s gaze shifted as she drew.

While drawing, she stared straight at me.

However, her gaze seemed to drift like she was looking at something beyond me.

The paper gradually filled with her strokes, but after starting to draw, her eyes never looked down.

After a moment, when the sheet was completely covered, Rion’s eyes regained their vivid sparkle.

She extended her sketchbook toward me.

The drawing was filled with shades of red.

“…What did you draw?”

“…I don’t know. I just drew what I saw.”

What she saw…

I took a moment to examine the drawing.

In the drawing, there was a woman with red hair, surrounded by flames devouring the world.

I pondered, had I ever used fire since arriving at the orphanage?

As I was deep in thought, Rion leaned against me and mumbled.

“…I’m sleepy, I think I’ll sleep…”

The moment she nestled against me, the little girl closed her eyes and began to softly snore.

I was momentarily taken aback, then adjusted my position to make her comfortable, and slowly looked back at her drawing.

As I flipped through the pages, I found some ordinary drawings she had made, like of families, but there were also sheer oddities among them, like the one she just drew.

The most peculiar drawing was etching on the very first page of the sketchbook.

A sketchbook received as a birthday gift when she turned five.

From its condition, it seemed she had it for at least several months.

But for some reason, on the very first page of the sketchbook,

was a boy with white hair swinging a golden sword toward a dark sky.

What on earth did this child see in me?