Another Parish (3) "What should I start talking about? First, it's true that the children are being sent to District 29."
Dorthea, after pondering what to say first, acknowledged that what Zechiel said was true.
Martinez showed no particular reaction, but was inwardly surprised.
"Why exactly?"
"Rather, it's strange to be asking. Even after seeing the current state of our orphanage, you're saying this?"
"That is..."
Martinez realized his mistake.
He was well aware of the financial condition of this place.
Dorthea, reading the sense of guilt from Martinez, smiled and said not to worry.
"Don't blame yourself too much. This isn't your fault. It's just something that can't be helped."Dorthea continued with a sigh:
"If it were the Petra Order, they would provide at least minimal support in any country, but Tirna does not do that. As you know, Tirna is different from other countries. Opportunities are given to anyone based on ability, but conversely, those without ability are treated excessively harshly."
Martinez nodded.
Having lived in District 41, he had seen how people here live.
Of course, he couldn't claim to know everything just from that. The scenes he had seen were merely a tiny fraction of the darkness this city harbored.
Even seeing just that small part was this severe.
"You know that Tirna shows no mercy even to children. They make children do other harsh tasks just because they are young and small in stature, tasks even adults cannot do."
"So running this orphanage is essentially a difficult task?"
"It's not just difficult. It's pure madness."
Dorthea's voice was filled with complaints she had never shared with anyone before.
Though she always acted cheerful, she was not without stress in an environment where she must continue to care for children amid such financial difficulties.
Perhaps her smoking as a nun was just a temporary measure to relieve stress.
"Children keep coming in. Either their parents die, or they are sold for money, or abandoned. That's why here, once a child turns 14, they naturally must leave the orphanage."
"What do the children who leave do?"
"How would I know? They should do their own work based on what they've learned, but is it really that easy?"
14 years old.
Young. Far too young.
Martinez, who is considered young even outside, is several years older than these children.
In such a harsh city-state, what could a 14-year-old child possibly do?
Forget about doing proper work, they'd be lucky just to survive. They would naturally be likely to fall into crime.
"That's why District 29 offers help, saying they will take and raise children who turn 14."
Indeed. Was there such a backstory?
Martinez remembered the attire of Zechiel and his fellow brothers and sisters.
Despite the Petra Order having little influence in Tirna, their clothing was quite neat.
They even seemed more elaborate than brothers from other countries.
They had likely adapted to the environment while staying in Tirna.
"What can I do? I can't raise the children to the end, and since another district offers education, I have no choice."
She was in a position where she should rather support the children staying in a warm embrace for as long as possible, not going out to harsh environments.
"But their attitude was certainly not hospitable."
Martinez remembered their behavior of arbitrarily coming and causing a scene.
Dorthea also understood and gave a bitter smile.
"That's right. But that's because the place I stay is messy."
"Surely not."
"Think about it. District 29 is quite a bustling street. Though less than the 10th district, it's a place where everyone lives above average. If they come to this 41st district from such a place, how would they feel? Moreover, running this shabby orphanage while being treated like the same Petra Order. I would be irritated too if I were them."
Martinez remained silent.
He should have argued that fellow believers of the same god couldn't have such narrow and petty minds.
But those words didn't come easily. Instead, he found himself somewhat agreeing with Dorthea's words.
"Well, I understand being treated like that. Honestly, I'm not even a proper believer."
"...Sister, you have faith. The Father of Light in heaven would never make such distinctions."
"Maybe. But would other people really be the same?"
When Martinez couldn't answer, Dorthea laughed softly.
"Don't be like that. In fact, you're amazing for saying such consoling words. I don't care. As long as I can properly take care of the children, enduring this level of criticism is nothing."
"Sister Dorthea, have you ever thought about going to another branch?"
Martinez was surprised by his own question.
He didn't understand why he had asked this himself.
But the water was already spilled, so Martinez could only wait for Dorthea's answer.
Dorthea thought for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders lightly.
"Not really? Oh, I did have thoughts. When I first arrived here and saw this beggar-like environment, I wanted to quit."
"Then why didn't you leave?"
"Because I was the only one."
Dorthea's voice saying this was flat.
"The ones originally here all ran away with various excuses, and what remained was dumped on me, a novice nun. I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm just the only one left. Because I'm the only one who can do this, so I did."
Martinez was slightly shocked.
If Dorthea wasn't lying, she was essentially pushed here halfway.
"Still, now that someone has finally come under me, things have improved a bit. Though it won't last long."
"Sister Dorthea..."
"Don't make that expression. Well, the only thing I can do is complain like this. At least I'm glad I'm not getting nagged by my superiors."
But even so, Dorthea didn't show any signs of disliking it. Though she would verbally complain about how difficult and painful this work was, her actions never stopped.
"Sister, you really..."
"Ah, enough. Are you trying to say something embarrassing again? This conversation ends here. So go inside. It's bedtime for the kids, so take care of them well."
Martinez couldn't say anything to Dorthea, who was forcibly trying to end the conversation.
Martinez had no choice but to get up and head towards the room where the children were staying.
Standing at the door, he felt movements rustling inside.
Martinez pretended not to know and opened the door, going inside.
In the dim interior due to the gloomy weather, shabby bunk beds were tightly packed together. The children were lying down, covers pulled over them, sleeping soundly.
"Since they're all asleep, there's no need to talk."
As Martinez muttered to himself, the children opened their eyes and rushed towards him.
"Ah, brother! That's not fair!"
"That's right! We're curious too!"
"It's bedtime, what are you still doing?"
The children hesitated and stammered. Eventually, the oldest among them stepped forward.
Colleo, who was turning 14 this year and would soon have to leave the orphanage.
"We're just curious, that's all."
"Colleo."
"Those people came outside, right? The people from the other order."
"Did you know?"
"Of course I knew. I've seen it several times. Since I was young, the older brothers and sisters here have left first. Now it seems to be my turn."
And now it was his turn.
Knowing this, the younger siblings clung tightly to Colleo.
"No! Colleo, you can't go!"
"That's right! Who will we play with if you leave!"
Colleo was well-liked among the children. Unlike his 14 years, he was mature and took care of his younger siblings without finding them annoying.
Already so composed, if he could receive proper education here, Colleo was a person who would grow up to be great.
Even Martinez, who wasn't particularly perceptive about people, felt this way.
"Don't you want to go?"
"...Yes. I want to stay here. I like my siblings, I like Sister Dorthea. And Brother Martinez too. People say this place is bad, but I don't know. These are such good people."
In Colleo's eyes facing Martinez, a faint but expectant light flickered.
"You know, can I continue to stay here?"
"That is..."
Martinez was about to say it wasn't possible, but suddenly a thought occurred to him.
Really? If it's because of lack of money, wouldn't having money solve it?
'Then how would I earn money?'
Setting that aside, how should he answer whether Colleo could stay here or not.
Dorthea's complicated face emerged in Martinez's mind. Simultaneously, the poor facility appeared.
Rotting wooden floors. Water leaking from the ceiling. Musty beds. A broken rocking horse.
In contrast, if Colleo goes to District 29, how would it be? Better clothes. Better food. Better education.
Dorthea knew this and said it couldn't be helped.
"It might be difficult."
"Why?"
Colleo's expression darkened. But he didn't get angry. Because he knew that shouting here would be futile.
"Because the Sister decided so."
"But I don't want to go. I don't want to be separated from my siblings."
"If you go first, you can meet your siblings. You'll meet the older brothers and sisters who went before."
"...You're lying."
Colleo bit his lip tightly.
"It's a lie. If my older sisters and brothers had gone before, why didn't they write me even one letter?"
"Everyone must be busy. Anyone would need time to adapt to a new environment."
"Then if I go there, I won't be able to contact my siblings either."
"That is..."
Martinez observed the children's reactions. The other children's faces became teary, agreeing with Colleo's words.
Martinez didn't know what to say. He lacked the eloquence and social skills to comfort these children's complex inner feelings.
"...Everyone go to sleep now. We'll talk tomorrow."
Eventually, what Martinez could choose was to avoid answering.
Colleo, watching Martinez's reactions, carefully said,
"Brother. Then, can't you show me that one more time before sleeping?"
"That again?"
"Yes. All the kids want to see it too."
Martinez scratched his head a bit awkwardly but didn't refuse the children's request.
Their sparkling, expectant eyes were too burdensome.
"This is the only time."
But he would say the same next time too. He had said something similar last time.
Still, this was cheap for avoiding an answer.
Martinez raised his holy power on his palm.
What started as a small flame soon transformed into an octahedral shape through holy alchemy.
It instantly divided and expanded, filling the entire room. The scene of golden jewels sparkling in the dark room was almost spectacular.
Martinez transformed some into cute animals, and some into wonderful toys.
The children watched with shining eyes.
Someone brought their finger to the light and laughed.
The dark, stuffy orphanage was filled with brilliant light.
Martinez found this scene unfamiliar.
For heretics, this power was a symbol of fear and death. But these children were different.
They liked his power and looked at it with admiration.
While people of the same order would feel reverence or sometimes fear, pure children were different.
Therefore, Martinez liked this place. Even when the children whined to play, he found it cute.
Perhaps because he too had grown up in an environment without family, receiving harsh teachings from a young age.
That's why he felt a sense of kinship with these children.
Still, it was good.
If even this small sense of kinship could bring joy to these children.
"Let's sleep now."
Martinez retracted his holy power. The children lay down on their beds with regret.
After confirming everyone was in bed, Martinez quietly closed the door and left.
He thought this matter had ended safely but two days later, Colleo went outside and was missing.
*
"Hmm. Is that how it happened."
Osian nodded. The child had disappeared, and with no proper way to find him, he had come to seek advice.
"How could this not work?"
"It's not that it can't work. It's just that the direction is wrong. I'm not very good at finding people."
Osian's expertise was combat. He wouldn't lose to anyone in anything related to combat, but finding a missing child was not his forte.
"That is..."
Martinez's expression darkened. Osian was the only competent fixer he knew.
Even if he looked for another fixer here, there was no guarantee they could handle the job properly.
Perhaps reading Martinez's expression, Osian immediately spoke.
"I said I'm not good at it, but I never said I would refuse the request."
"Then..."
"Not all fixers solve everything by themselves."
Osian stood up.
"Let's go. Because there's someone who can give appropriate advice."
"Huh? Where are you going?"
It was just as Ena was approaching with a completed food platter.
A sweet fragrance brushed past the noses of Osian and Martinez who had stood up.
It had such an excellent smell that it stimulated appetite even with a full stomach.
"...But first, filling the stomach is a priority. If we don't eat, the tasks we need to do won't go well either."
"...That's right."
The two who had been standing awkwardly sat down naturally again.