Chapter 28: Side Story Peaceful Orphanage

“This way, over here!”

“I’m coming!”

The playground of the orphanage was filled with the cheerful voices of children running around excitedly.

Matilda sat quietly on a chair, watching the bright, smiling faces of the children.

Each and every one of those children had a story.

From the child she found after hearing a knock and discovering them abandoned at the front door—

To the ones whose parents personally handed them over, saying they couldn’t raise them, and irresponsibly left.

She was the only one taking care of the children who had been abandoned by their parents’ neglect and indifference.

There were no other teachers.

Strictly speaking, there had been, but it was more accurate to say they didn’t exist anymore.

After Soo-ho and Sia awakened and began attending the academy in earnest,

The corrupt orphanage director and the other teachers—who committed misdeeds like it was second nature—had all been fired.

Now, she alone cared for the abandoned children with love as the orphanage’s only remaining head.

“······I hope he’s not worrying.”

While lost in memories of the past, a more recent incident came to mind.

Not long ago, when Soo-ho had visited the orphanage alone after a long while, she had suddenly collapsed in front of him.

– “Miss Matilda!”

She could still hear the boy’s voice, calling out to her right before she fainted.

He was such a kind and considerate child to begin with.

She couldn’t help but wonder if that incident might be affecting his life at the academy.

Even Sia, who had earned the nickname ‘saint’ after enrolling, was like that.

But Soo-ho was no less kindhearted than Sia.

Before the orphanage’s restructuring, when the other teachers were being violent toward the children, he stood in their way.

When the corruption led to budget shortages and all the children were going hungry, he shared his own meals with the others.

A child who always put others before himself.

Of all the people she had ever met, he was the one most fitting of the name ‘Soo-ho.’

And yet, Matilda did not blame her past self for collapsing in front of such a child.

“······Seo-yeon.”

That was how shocking the story Soo-ho had told her was.

Seo-yeon’s hair color had changed.

It was a simple sentence—neither lengthy nor exaggerated—stating only the clear fact.

A sentence that meant one child was about to be erased from this world.

She didn’t think it was just a simple dye job.

The Seo-yeon she knew had never once even tried to decorate herself—she was too kind and foolish for that.

– “She must never use magic.”
–” If she ever does…”
– “Her body will begin to malfunction, and eventually, she’ll die.”

She still remembered the words of the doctor who had examined Seo-yeon, urgently pleading with her.

At the same time, she also remembered the hopeful words: as long as Seo-yeon didn’t use magic, she could live a normal life.

······As long as she didn’t use magic.

But there was no way Seo-yeon could keep that promise after forcing her way to the academy.

She had already known this future would come.

When Seo-yeon had tearfully begged her to let her go to the academy, she had already anticipated hearing news like this one day.

Even so, she had dared to hope.

That Seo-yeon would give up on Soo-ho and Sia.

It was a cruel thought, but Seo-yeon could never catch up to them.

That’s just how innate talent worked.

An ordinary person who relied solely on effort could never match a genius who combined talent with effort.

Seo-yeon was the former.

Soo-ho and Sia were the latter.

Cold as it was, it would have been the right decision for Seo-yeon to give up on chasing after them.

It would have been the wise and rational choice.

But Seo-yeon didn’t give up.

She pushed her fragile body—one that would react violently even to slight use of magic—and forced herself to pass the academy’s entrance exam.

And when she returned, covered in blood from vomiting, clutching her admission letter…

Seeing her in that state, Matilda wept more bitterly than anyone in the world.

She was so proud.

So heartbroken.

She had worked so hard.

That small girl had worked so tirelessly with her tiny hands.

All for one goal—to keep up with her friends.

Why was the world giving such a child nothing but trials?

It felt like the entire world was trying to block her path.

–” Seo-yeon, are you sure about this?”
– “Don’t worry, Miss Matilda.”
– “······Alright. Then I’ll believe in you, Seo-yeon.”

So, Matilda became the child’s only supporter—not an obstacle.

Even if this choice would ultimately lead to the child’s death.

Even if, to truly wish for the child’s happiness, she should have tried to stop her.

Someone had to be on the child’s side.

If even she blocked Seo-yeon’s path, there would be no one left beside the girl.

As her guardian.

As her teacher.

As someone who loved Seo-yeon more than anyone.

She signed the forged academy admission form that would eventually kill Seo-yeon.

It was a contradiction.

A cruel, horrifying contradiction.

And she knew that better than anyone.

---

At first, everything was fine.

– “Miss Matilda! It’s me, Seo-yeon!”
– “Today, we learned how to control mana!”
– “It’s not very useful for me, of course······.”
– “But it’s okay! I just have to try harder, right?”

The letters from her small child always captured the image of the lively girl she knew so well.

She even seemed more cheerful than when she was at the orphanage.

Though Matilda had raised them with love, the academy was undeniably a better place for children to grow up.

The letters were filled with Seo-yeon’s excitement over new surroundings and meeting new people.

As more of those letters arrived, Matilda slowly began to feel at ease.

‘See? Nothing’s wrong.’

It was all just needless anxiety.

Her choice to sign that letter of admission hadn’t been a mistake.

She kept reassuring herself, as if casting a spell to calm her own fears.

Seo-yeon’s letters continued after that.

Some days, they were about regular academy classes.

Other days, about how much fun she had spending time with Soo-ho.

Other days, cute, innocent confessions about how jealous she felt over the new girls hanging around Soo-ho.

The little postscript that said “Don’t show this part to Soo-ho!” never failed to make Matilda smile.

She had known for a long time that Seo-yeon liked Soo-ho.

It would’ve been strange if she didn’t.

Matilda, who had loved all the children in the orphanage, could hardly be unaware of the bond between those childhood friends.

Even though their relationship had changed somewhat after Soo-ho and Sia awakened their powers…

She still understood Seo-yeon’s feelings better than anyone.

Of course, Matilda’s educational philosophy meant she never directly interfered in their personal relationships.

But secretly rooting for Seo-yeon had never been a lie.

And so, the exchange of letters went on.

But then, at some point, the intervals between Seo-yeon’s letters began to grow longer.

At first, she didn’t think much of it.

Letters from Soo-ho and Sia had mentioned that midterms were coming up.

And knowing Seo-yeon had to work harder than anyone else due to her inability to use magic…

She figured Seo-yeon was just busy.

Busy studying hard.

That’s what she thought, and so she didn’t worry too much.

–” Hello, Miss Matilda.”

It wasn’t long before she realized that had been a terrible mistake.

It was a letter that arrived just like any other.

The same mailman, the same delivery, the same process.

But its contents were completely different.

It didn’t have any of Seo-yeon’s usual traits.

The handwriting was too neat. The sentences felt strangely distant.

It felt like someone else had written it in her place—

Using cursive, and only signing it with the name “Lee Seo-yeon.”

And that was when Matilda should’ve realized something was wrong.

Instead of dismissing it with thoughts like,

‘She’s just growing up now.’

‘Maybe she wanted to sound more mature.’

She should’ve tried to find out what was really going on.

She should’ve figured it out and offered help as Seo-yeon’s supporter.

But she didn’t.

Not until an entire month passed without a single letter—

And Soo-ho arrived at the orphanage alone, wearing a calm expression, to deliver the shocking news.

“······No.”

That was when she realized what she had done.

She had pushed a child who could have lived a long life straight into death.

Instead of telling her not to climb a tree she could never reach, she had encouraged her, cheering from the side.

The contradiction she had once thought horrifying…

Had finally come back to her.

In the form of the death of the child she cherished most.

In the form of a cold letter from the child who used to smile more brightly than anyone.

“······Seo-yeon.”

But regret, when it comes too late, means nothing.

All she could do now was remain, as always—

The orphanage’s sole, peaceful teacher.

The orphanage she sat in was just as peaceful as ever today.

Disgustingly so.

Peaceful.