MCPTD 03

Chapter – 03

“My hands aren’t dirty. So, where’s your house?”

The little boy stayed silent for quite a while. Since I had already decided to be kind, I chose to wait patiently.

After a long silence, the child finally spoke.

“Uh… o-over there. My house.”

I looked toward where he was pointing.

It was at the very end of a shopping alley. A two-story building that looked like it might collapse at any moment due to poor maintenance.

A sign hung on the gate:

Elpis Orphanage.

Does he live in an orphanage?

Orphanages in this era usually fell into two extremes. Either the director abused the children to pocket subsidies, or they were genuinely good people who took proper care of them.

Since he was outside in the rain, maybe he’s being mistreated?

Even if I had already been told my time to live was limited, I wasn’t the kind of trash who would ignore child abuse.

“I’ll walk you back. Let’s go home.”

Instead of answering, the boy tightly grabbed my hand. Even though he had been in the rain, his hand wasn’t cold. It actually felt slightly warm.

Warm.

Suddenly I realized something.

After losing my family, this was the first time in a long while that I had felt the warmth of another person.

I entered Elpis Orphanage together with the boy.

A woman who looked to be in her forties came rushing out. She had curly brown hair and looked obviously talkative.

“Oh my goodness, sweetheart!”

“……”

“You went out again? I swear, you’re going to be the death of me! You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”

The boy quietly hid behind my back. I simply stated the facts in a dry tone.

“I saw him near the shops. He said he lives here, so I brought him back.”

While the director showered me with thanks, I slowly looked around the orphanage.

A few thin logs crackled weakly in an old fireplace.

Perhaps because of that, the inside of the orphanage felt rather cold.

This place looks very poor.

I glanced at the staff member taking the boy to the bath.

Only one staff member too. They’re severely understaffed.

As I calmly assessed the situation, the director led me into her office. She gave me a warm cup of hot chocolate and began chattering endlessly.

She explained the boy was about ten years old, that for some unknown reason he wandered outside whenever it rained, and that they often had to go looking for him.

“I see.”

I lightly cut her off. I didn’t think I needed to know more.

If you learn someone’s story, you inevitably develop some kind of feelings toward them. Then you start wanting a better relationship, wanting to stay with them longer, wanting to live longer.

I already decided not to cling to life.

Fortunately, the boy didn’t seem abused. That alone was enough for me.

“But I was really surprised you held his hand. That child never holds anyone’s hand—”

Maybe I just wanted to stop her talking, because impulsive words slipped out of my mouth.

“I’m not interested in knowing more. I was just thinking of making a donation.”

Her eyes widened in shock.

I knew it would sound suspicious. I was wearing a robe pulled low over my face. I was even using voice-altering magic to hide my identity, so she couldn’t clearly hear my real voice.

“I’ll provide the money. You feed him, clothe him, and send him out into the world properly.”

“……”

“That’s all I want. It’s not dirty money, so don’t worry. I can provide documentation if necessary.”

After hesitating, the director finally spoke.

“You must have your reasons.”

“……”

“I can tell after raising children for so long. I won’t pry.”

When I said nothing more, she carefully continued.

“And if you support us, I can only be grateful. Our orphanage desperately needs funds.”

I nodded.

“Still, don’t trust people too easily. I’ll send someone skilled in accounting to handle the donations instead of me. Then hopefully we’ll never see each other again.”

I would completely erase the name of the Vuetri family, send annual auditors, and only receive accounting reports.

That would be the end of this connection.

As I left without even acknowledging the director’s farewell—

The rain had completely stopped, and sunlight was shining again outside.

At the alley entrance, I spotted the boy in the yellow raincoat again. It seemed he had changed back into it while the staff wasn’t watching.

“Take care. And don’t go outside when it rains.”

I hadn’t expected a reply. But unexpectedly, one came.

“……If I do well… will you come again?”

“No. I won’t. Just live well on your own.”

The boy said nothing more.

I turned around and slowly walked away.

Somehow… I feel a little good.

I had done one unexpectedly good deed. Not that it would change the world.

As I felt the strange lightness in my steps, I realized something.

I had found a goal for this life.

Yes… from now on, let’s try doing good things.

Let’s do things that make people smile. I had never done anything for others before.

In this life, I would do good deeds, leave behind a good path—

And then die beautifully.

Suddenly, I remembered my mother.

She had been a warm person who shared bread with the needy and offered her hand to those who fell.

“Siena, my daughter. If you help others, you’ll become happy too.”

“I don’t understand. Why would helping others make me happy?”

Only now did I think I understood what she meant.

“This is actually pretty fun.”

For the first time in a long while, I felt energy fill me as I smiled brightly.

The next day, at Elpis Orphanage.

Director Jenny’s eyes widened in shock.

When the elegant girl in the gray robe had said she would donate, Jenny had expected a modest amount of supplies.

But…

“W-what in the world is all this…?”

…She never imagined gifts would be piled up like a mountain!

“With this much, we could even rebuild the old building.”

Jenny watched with emotion as the letter delivered by a white carrier bird, the money, and the managers sent by the girl carefully organized the orphanage.

Though she didn’t know the donor’s identity, Jenny didn’t doubt her at all. After seeing so many people while running the orphanage, she felt certain the robed girl was not someone who would lie.

“With this money, we can even make nutritious snacks for the children…”

“Teacher! We got new pajamas!”

Seeing pajamas perfectly sized for the children, Jenny smiled brightly.

For the girl, this might have been a simple act of kindness.

But for the children here, it was a miracle.

“Hey kids, aren’t you curious what kind of person our sponsor is?”

“Yes!”

“Since they sent so many gifts, maybe it’s even His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Wooooow!”

As everyone shouted together, one boy spoke up.

“G-good……”

Everyone turned toward the boy in the yellow raincoat.

It was rare for him to speak aloud. He usually avoided touch and only spoke when absolutely necessary.

But this time was different.

Blushing slightly, he quietly murmured:

“A g-good… person……”

Jenny, who had been watching him affectionately, smiled warmly.

“Then they must be a good person! I’m so curious who they are.”

“But… when are they coming again?”

Jenny looked troubled by the unexpected question, then smiled playfully.

“Hmm… maybe when you finish all your soup?”

“……”

“It’s soup from the sponsor, so you should eat a lot.”

“But… it wasn’t just for me…”

Sensing the faint possessiveness in his words, Jenny laughed softly.

“Still, you’re the one who brought them here. They’ll probably care about you the most.”

After hearing that, the boy nodded firmly.

Then he scooped up a huge spoonful of soup and stuffed it into his mouth.

Very diligently. Very seriously.

“Shall we send a thank-you letter to our sponsor? We can send it through the bird they provided.”

Jenny smiled as she looked at the white bird the sponsor had sent.

The boy nodded.

With a very determined expression, as if he had made an important decision.