Chapter 224: Big Sis Hestia.

Chapter 224: Big Sis Hestia.

Hahaha, go, run, run, everybody! Hahaha!

Go, go, Big Sis is gonna catch us if we dont.

Come on, she cant find us when we hide in the dark! Dont break things or the Sisters will take our dinner away! Hiehie!

Jeez, tuning their voices out is harder than I thought. Cant believe Im being competitive in hide-and-seek against little kids.

Ten! Hiding or not, get ready to get caught~ How long has it been since I last played hide-and-seek, in the harmless, playful way and not in my usual hunting sprees? It was kinda hard to answer my own question since it has been so long, but I could just barely remember doing it with my cousins and kindergarten friends.

Anyways, if it hasnt been obvious enough yet, Im at the orphanage. After that fast travel debacle I had in the last three days, I just wanted to take a break from everything and make good on the promise I had with the orphans. Play with them and tell them a story about what happened at the elven outpost.

Besides, concerning the fast travel stuff, there wasnt much more I could do until Grimnir figured out what I meant by mana coded tags, since he didnt have access to [Mana Eyes]. Right now, fast travel seemed to be possible for our party, but only if Im around to control the nexus door. The next objective would be to create something that allowed anybody to teleport when Im not around, but that can be left for a later date.

In any case, I didnt want to think about my physics homework while playing a game.

Of course, using my improved senses and skills during this game of hide-and-seek would just be unfair for the orphans; as such, I agreed to suppress most of my senses to that of a normal human. Unfortunately, I still cheated. I heard them saying where they would go.

Still, I didnt want to end the game just like that. There were still a few kids who didnt go to the same place as the three I heard speaking, so it was about time I moved out and found them.

If you let some of the vegetables and bones sit in the water, the broth will become more flavorful and nutritious. Instead of throwing it away, use it to make a soup or thicken it for a stew. For my first stop, I head over to the kitchen by following the sounds of Tasiannas voice. Looking inside, I saw her speaking with a few of the grey-robed priestesses, who acted as the orphanages caretakers.

Wouldnt we have too much food, though? The boys can be large eaters, but the girls and we grey-robes dont need too much to feel sated, one of the priestesses raised her worry, pointing at the three full cauldrons. Since I visited the orphanage often, I also made a few donations to make the caretakers and kids lives better, for example, more cauldrons, various foods and ingredients, and some furniture that I made myself.

Tasianna shook her head to dispel the caretakers worry, willing to educate them. No worries, the two cauldrons full of broth can be left overnight. Let the taste settle in. Once tomorrow comes, you can remove the bones and mushy vegetables and use the broth to create something new. The third cauldron, the one filled with curry, we will serve that with the rice today for lunch and dinner. Oh, how is the rice? Can somebody check?

The rice needs more time. The water hasnt been fully absorbed yet, Miss Tasianna. Multiple clay pots were placed on top of the stone cookers, boiling the japonica rice Artorias likes to produce. It was at this moment that everybody noticed me. Oh, Lady Hestia, is there something you require from us?

Oh no, there is nothing. Im just playing hide-and-seek with the little kids, so Im just going around looking for them. Please, dont let me distract you, after all I jolted my head to the pile of barrels of ingredients and darted over there, giving the small kid hiding there a gentle tap on the head. Youre out! Get back in the room!

Mhmgrrr! I thought that would be a good hiding spot, the young boy pouted before running out of the kitchen dejectedly. With my goal done here, I left Tasianna to continue working with the grey-robes as I started looking for the next kids.

Slowly walking through the orphanage, I kept repeating Hide as much as you want, little ones, the dragon will still find you~ to keep the game tense for the kids. After I failed to find any of them in the hallways, I began looking through the different rooms, eventually ending up in the orphanage directors office.

Please, if you are doing the calculations, do them on a wooden slate or with the abacus. Dont be prideful about it since your employers will expect due diligence. You need to learn how to use the abacus fast and efficiently. I could hear Ellaines stern voice behind the door, followed by the collective acknowledgment of two kids. Looking through the doors slit, I saw the orphanage director, Eshe and her knights, and Ellaine giving work to two boys around eight years old.

Lady Ellaine, I thank you for your help. I cannot express how thankful I am that you are willing to help these two young boys with their future. May the Goddess bless your kind soul, the director expressed her gratitude to Ellaine.

There is no need, Director. Helping orphans find a place after they become adults is part of my duty as an aristocrat. Still, I am simply offering them a place through my connections, but they will have to impress their employers themselves. Ellaine then turned to the two kids. Do you understand? Your trial period will begin in a few months, so until then, you must learn how to read, write, and calculate at an adults level.

Yes, Lady Ellaine!

When Ellaine isnt being too self-conscious or working with Grimnir, she really can exude a nobles aura.

Today was RestDay Sunday in Earth terms. As such, Ellaine was free for the day and asked me if she could come to the orphanage along with me and the others from Aurora. After getting acquainted with the kids and how the orphanage operated, Ellaine offered to help with some paperwork, to which the director and Eshe agreed.

From what I had overheard, it seemed Ellaine offered those two kids a potential working place at the Sarlenzia company through her connection with Amelia Greenveil. Last I heard, their relationship hasnt mended yet, but Amelia and Ellaine were both professional enough to keep their past from affecting their houses businesses.

With the introduction of yeast and a ton of pastries and rice sweets, it was very likely that Duke Greenveil would become the next Grand Duke of Economic Affairs in three years while Arcanuess Helvas would most likely take on an important position at that point. It wouldnt do the girls any good if they couldnt act like adults.

Now, speaking about Ellaine giving two orphans a job at a high-profile merchant company, it probably would be hard for them but, if they could succeed in becoming merchants, they probably would be able to live rather okayish. Since they were orphans, an opportunity like this was extremely rare.

Normally, from what I heard, orphans from the church-managed orphanages generally had only two options to choose between before they became adults. Either they join the church as grey-robed priests and potentially remain at the orphanage working as caretakers, or leave to live the rest of their lives as normal commoners. At the age of seven, children were lawfully allowed to work, so it was normal for orphans who reach this age to find work as apprentices to prepare for their future if they werent planning on joining the church.

Now that I think about it, since Im technically an underage child. Am I not breaking Artorian law? Wow, I didnt think of myself as such a rule breaker.

When I peered more into the room, I noticed the two boys were actually beastmen one was a wolfkin and the other was an arvisian. Which reminded me how rare white-robed beastmen priests were, unlike the grey-robes variant. Considering that most beastmen have a slower mana growth than even humans, it was probably hard for them to master the necessary holy magic. Or it could just be racism.

I left Ellaine to finish her teaching, continuing my search for the kids, managing to find two more kids within the rooms. After having searched every room, I went over to the prayer chapel and dining hall of the orphanage. There I saw a group of young kids gathered around Saori and a grey-robe.

This is the entire alphabet. You should have already learned some of your letters by now, so the caretakers want to help you learn how to form them into the words you speak every day. Before we start, is anybody here still unsure with their letters? Saori asked the kids, but none of them raised their arms. As Saori looked around, she noticed a few kids who seemed a bit uncomfortable. There is no shame in learning, everybody. If there is something you do not understand, then you should not be embarrassed to say so. After all, it would be a sin to the God of Knowledge, Istari, if you did not try to learn.

Looking around warily, the kids Saori looked at raised their arms shyly, prompting Saori to smile and nod at them, praising them for their bravery. She then told the grey-robed next to her to help the kids learn their alphabet and that they could always rejoin the group once they were more confident.

So Saori is the type of teacher who makes sure all the students are at an adequate level, huh? Its probably the correct move, but it could make some students feel left out.

Still, watching Saori actually teaching was nice to see. Aside from helping Tasianna learn how to cook and sew properly, Saori hasnt done any teaching since she came to Peolynca. Ive learned about Saoris time as a teacher from Tamae and the others, but I was still curious how Saori acted as an educator.

I couldnt watch her for too long, but seeing her patiently teaching the students, helping to clear up any confusion by answering their questions in as much detail as possible, and making sure the children enjoyed learning says more of her experience as a teacher than what shes been telling me. Its not like I didnt believe her, but it was just that her actions spoke louder than words.

You know, Saori told me if she had a choice of becoming a teacher again or becoming a restaurateur, she would choose the latter ten times out of ten. She argued that being a teacher didnt fulfill her as much as being a chef, despite how stressful both jobs were. Saoris wish to travel the world complimented her cooking as she could produce more dishes, after all.

Nevertheless, looking at her content expression right now, I did question what would happen if that ten times out of ten was put to the test.

After snatching the last few kids above on the ground floor of the orphanage, I decided it was time to end this game and went back to the kitchen area, heading through a door that led me down to the basement.

From counting them, it seemed only a single kid was missing. I thought three entered the basement, so two of them probably ran out before I came here.

Come out, come out, wherever you are~ I sing-songed as I strutted down the stairs, lighting up the darkness by snapping up a flame. As my every step echoed through the basement, not a peep escaped the last kids mouth. Still, it wasnt like I couldnt feel her anxiousness, I could smell it figuratively.

Hiehiehiehie, I let out a creepy laugh, enhancing the atmosphere of the predator hunting down her prey. Come out, come out, otherwise the light goes out. Can you run from a dragonewts eyes, little one? I dulled my steps and extinguished the flame in my hand, moving forward as silently as a ninja, sneaking up behind my unexpected target. Booooo!

KYYYYYAAAAAAAAH!!! The kids voice erupted in such a loud cry that it made me slightly guilty, but I didnt let this chance go as I gave the little girl a huge hug.

Hiehie, looks like you got caught, Abi~ Come here, you know you shouldnt go down the basement otherwise, the director will ground you hard. I showed the little girl a wide smug smile. As I continued my embrace, I noticed that her arms were a bit cold and decided to increase my body temperature to heat her up. Wow, its cold down here. How about this, is it warmer now?

Urgh, thank you, Big Sis, the girl thanked me with an embarrassed face before hitting my arms, pouting. But why did you have to scare me like that? Ahhh, I was about to cry!

Hiehie, but you didnt, right? Youre brave enough to go down in the darkness and wait here while you two other friends ran up. I wiped the tears from the girls eyes and patted her hair, messing it up a bit before lighting up another flame. Still, dont do this, again, alright? If you arent a beastman with good eyes or have [Night Vision], dont go down here in the dark. Its dangerous and you could hurt yourself badly. Always come here with an adult or one of your older siblings, okay?

Yes, Big Sis

Putting her on my shoulders, I let her grab my horns like a steering wheel as I brought her upstairs. When I opened the door, one of the caretakers was already waiting there, smiling at us, but it was clear enough that she wasnt in the best of mood. The poor little girl and her two other friends would be in quite a lot of trouble today, hehe.

After seeing the three rule-breaking kids off, the hide-and-seek was over with my overwhelming victory, as expected. After getting everybody some nice, cool water from Tasianna, I brought the kids I played with outside, where I saw Grimnir surrounded by kids looking at him with wondrous eyes.

While Saori was acting like a teacher, Grimnir seemed like an old grandpa or veteran as he retold stories of his adventurers to them. As I brought the kids over, I greeted Grimnir who was stroking his growing beard with pride as he saw the kids marveling at his tales.

You seem to be happy for someone who didnt want to leave his smithy, I gave the dwarf a teasing smile.

Grimnir scoffed at my comment, raising his head up to show off his horns. Pah! And I could have been more productive if I were in my smithy, but if Im being forced to come, I aint gonna waste my time by whining about it. You complaining that I shouldnt teach these kids how the world is outside this citys walls, lass?

I shook my head. Nah, as if, old man. You just do you, Mister Tsundere~

Huh? What in Crustacias name is that word, huh, lass? Hey, Hestia! Come back here!

Time went by quite fast as we had fun. The day in Griffonpeak usually began at something like seven am, an hour later than in villages, I think, so there was quite some time for us to play with the kids. When lunchtime came, Eshe and her knights had some of the curry made using Saoris recipe, praising it for being good despite how different it was to theirs. The kids, though, loved it since it was sweeter than Eshes curry.

During that time, Eshe and her knights had to excuse themselves, as it seemed the Lycerepth called on them and the other Empire representatives for a meeting. It concerned the date for their return to the Empire, since its been almost a month since they got here. Eshe told me it was sooner than she thought, since she heard Pestrodus, the Lycerepth Judge responsible for this trip, hasnt finished his investigation yet.

It was a bit saddening to hear Eshe would be leaving soon. I didnt like saying goodbye, but it wasnt like we wouldnt meet again. One day, I will have to visit the Empire, so Ill be meeting up with her when that time came. Yup, gotta stay positive!

After lunch was over, Saori, Ellaine, and Grimnir took this time to help the older kids learn some essential skills. Aside from reading, writing, calculations, and bartering with people, after a few kids asked if they could learn some survival and adventurer skills, those were taught as well. Whatever the kids wanted to do after they left the orphanage was at their discretion.

The caretakers and the director didnt like the idea of some of them becoming adventurers, but they acknowledged it had happened in the past. The majority of the caretakers were once orphans from this very orphanage, and they have experienced their siblings becoming hunters or mercenaries and disappearing from their lives. They wouldnt encourage it, but they acknowledged having people like us teach them some basics would help them prepare if it did happen.

While Tasianna and I were playing with the kids, two caretakers took a few kids to go shopping. Apparently, the curry we served today was so delicious that the kids ate more rice than expected. They wanted to fill up the rice stores before it potentially empties out at dinner tonight.

43 humans and beastmen have become your fans

Total fan count updated. Total fans of [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]:2600

Big Sis, youre an incredible singer!

Our Big Brothers and Big Sisters told me you had a consuuart where you sang a ton of your songs! Im sorry we couldnt come! We had to go to sleep, the Sisters told us.

Yes, so please sing more! Your voice is like a gift from the Goddess!

I heard Eshe brought the older kids and a few caretakers with her when she came to my concert. She didnt take up one of the VIP seats due to the kids, but they were apparently still protected by an entourage of lycerepth members. Also, Pestrodus didnt come, despite my personal invitation. Disaaaaaaappointing, yo.

We hunt them down like the beasts they are.

The men didnt last for too long. The intimidation technique was so effective that they emptied their shit midway through their confession. After Saori and Grimnir knocked them out again, I lowered the wall and the [Air Shield]. We brought them out of the alleyway and were looking for a guard to hand them in. The place where we were going, we couldnt just rush in blindly.

Lady Hestia?

Lady Eshe? While going out, we coincidentally met Eshe. When I asked her why she was here, she told me she was on her way back from the meeting.

Uhm, who are those two men? What are you doing with them? she asked me, causing me to frown.

They are child kidnappers. Slavers. My words instantly made not only Eshe but the usually stoic Sir Alikar and Dame Anivh react. Even without me explaining things, from the look in Saoris, Grimnirs, and my face, they were able to deduce what happened. When I explained it to them, the face darkened even more.

Im getting them back, I promise this to you, Lady Eshe. Could you please handle these two and bring them to the guards?

Eshe stayed silent at my request, closing her eyes as she contemplated what I said. When she opened them, a rage similar to the one I felt a few moments ago could be seen in her eyes, contrasting her usual demeanor. Allow me to help.

There was no need to argue.

Sure. Get ready, were going to Shaturein.

A note from AbyssRaven

Two chapters ago, Klea'Hatma suggested to go easy on them. Two chapters later, broken bones about to make people scream those answeres out. Aggressive diplomacy, if you will.

If you guys want to support me, Hestia and "A Dragon Idol's Reincarnation Tale" (or just read up to 17 advance chapters + any Patreon-only chapters) please check out my Patreon: Rawr!

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Monday, November 1, 2021 11:07:46 PM Germany [Member of Zard Skwad]

Bio: Hey there, AbyssRaven here. I'm just an avid Light Novel and Fantasy story reader who randomly thought of a story and began writing about it.

I eventually found out that I've been spending a bit too much time with building, planning, and researching for the story, that I've decided to just share it with others.

Writing is mostly a hobby for me, but I would still love any kind of criticism to improve on it.

I'm also german, so please excuse anything that sounds a bit weird...I wouldn't mind you pointing it out though.

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