All Wrapped Up?
The wind blowing through the morning forest was cold, and to my exhausted body, it felt unbearably heavy.
I carried Riko, sleeping limply in one arm, while using the other to push aside branches as I walked along the animal trail. I could feel blood steadily seeping from my shoulder and abdomen. The wounds I’d taken in the fight with Baldo were deep, and since I couldn’t use healing magic, they were nothing but pain to me.
Healing was the exclusive domain of clergy, something even magical tools couldn’t reproduce.
“… Damn it, I gotta get back fast.”
No matter how much I muttered complaints, no one was there to answer.
If both Floating Magic Hands still worked, carrying her would’ve been easier, but the circuits had completely fried in the last battle. So I was forced to awkwardly hold her with my injured arm while using the remaining Floating Magic Hand to keep her balanced.
Eventually, when I cleared the forest and saw the city walls, tension loosened slightly in my chest.
The guards at the gate noticed us, their eyes widening in shock.
“H-Hey! Isn’t that… the Saint-sama!?”
“No way… it really is!”
A murmur spread, torchlight flickering.
Well, I did declare boldly that I was a Saint when interrogating that soldier…
Without stopping, I walked straight through the gate.
Immediately, people gathered as if they had been waiting. The residents who had panicked earlier when they learned about the kidnapping. Women covered their mouths, children peeked from behind adults. Everyone held their breath, staring at the small girl in my arms.
“Thank goodness…”
“She’s really safe…!”
Voices filled with relief and amazement erupted.
I just shrugged in response and didn’t bother saying anything.
“… Sorry, but… move. I need to get her home. Clear the way.”
When I pushed through the crowd, a path opened. With people’s gazes on my back, I headed toward the orphanage.
Thanks can wait… later.
When I returned, the children were clearly unable to sleep and had stayed up waiting. Himari stood with tear-swollen eyes, and when she saw me, hers widened.
“Director…! Riko… where’s Riko…!?”
Before she could finish, she saw the girl in my arms. The moment she spotted Riko’s small face, large tears streamed down Himari’s cheeks.
“She’s safe…?”
“Yeah, she’s just asleep. No injuries.”
When I answered, Himari clutched her chest and broke down crying.
The other children rushed in, surrounding me.
“Riko! I’m so glad!”
“Big Brother Ale, you’re awesome!”
“As expected of Saint-sama!”
Their hands grabbed at my legs and clothes, shouting over each other, and I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh.
Normally they’d be complaining about food portions or trying to escape studying, but now they were crying and laughing desperately.
“Come on, take Riko to her room. Lay out the futon. Get to bed.”
I gently set the girl down, and the children carefully carried her to the back.
… They look like Pikmin or something.
As I watched their backs, my knees suddenly buckled.
Strength drained from me. It felt like a taut string finally snapping.
“Director!”
Himari hurried to support me.
“… I’m fine. Just… tired.”
Even as I said it, I knew my body was screaming. Blood continued seeping from my wounds, and a dull ache spread across my back.
But now that Riko was safe, nothing else mattered.
The orphanage was filled with warm light and the children’s crying and laughing.
The complete opposite of that cave, soaked in blood and chemical stench.
“I’m glad you’re safe, Teacher.”
“Yeah, Lily. Thanks for protecting this place.”
Lily had stayed at the orphanage instead of following me. She’d judged that protecting this place was the priority.
She explained that while healing my wounds.
She was absolutely right. Apparently someone dangerous had shown up here, and honestly, having her stay helped a lot. If something had happened on this side, no amount of money would’ve covered it…
She also mentioned something about a suspicious organization, but I’ll just say exhaustion kept any of that from sticking in my head.
□
Several days passed since the incident.
In town, people were still fussing over me being Saint-sama or whatever, but I didn’t have time for that.
The orphanage had kids. They got hungry, hated studying, and cried when scolded. Life was the same as always—no, maybe a little noisier.
“Big Brother, again!”
A girl swung a wooden stick and charged at me in the yard.
“Idiot, I told you not to swing with your wrist. Look, like this—”
I summoned the now single Floating Magic Hand, grabbed the stick, and lightly swung it in front of her. The stick flexed in the air, and the girl’s eyes sparkled.
“Wow!”
Apparently, Riko had been awake when I arrived and saw my fight with Baldo. She told the others, and naturally some kids started admiring that stuff.
But in the end, they were way more interested in my magic tools than sword lessons.
Honestly, that made things easier for me…
“Dinner’s ready!”
Himari’s voice echoed from the kitchen. The smell of steaming stew spread, and the kids immediately dashed off.
“Hey! Wash your hands! Don’t go to the dining hall like that!”
“Eeeh! It’s fine!”
“No it’s not.”
Even while whining, the kids still ran to the washroom.
That noisy routine felt strangely comforting now. Since Riko came back, the orphanage’s atmosphere had changed a little.
Riko still seemed a bit tense since she was new here, but surrounded by Himari and the other children, she was laughing more.
They were probably being considerate.
One night while I was doing rounds, she quietly said, “Thank you.”
I had no words for that. I just told her to sleep and turned off the light.
During all this, Lily continued her duties as a guard.
She smiled from morning to night.
The children adored her, especially the older girls, who started copying her hairstyle.
“I want to be beautiful like Lily-sama!”
Whenever they said that, she gently patted their heads, smiling.
But she wasn’t someone who would stay in this peaceful routine forever. A Saintess was a busy person.
While we were cleaning up after dinner, she quietly spoke to me.
“… Ale-sama. Soon, there will be a change of guards.”
My hands stopped.
“A replacement, huh.”
“Yes. The official term was one month. My duty will soon end.”
It was something obvious, yet my chest tightened.
Once she left, it would be back to just the children and me. Not a problem. I was used to running the orphanage, and I’d managed fine before she came.
She had only been visiting briefly.
“… I see. Well, good work then.”
I forced out the words, and she nodded gently.
“Yes… but I will miss it.”
Her voice sounded soft, like a mother watching over children.
And then, sooner than expected, the farewell arrived.
She had been accepted by this town far more than I imagined, and sending her off turned into something like a festival.
My kids were crying. Loudly. So much that Himari and I were exhausted afterward. Exhausted enough that I didn’t even have time to feel sad.
And then, somehow, that same day, a new Saintess arrived at our orphanage.
And she was… quite the eccentric one.
What do you think about this chapter?
