episode_0002

After work, my stomach barely filled with something that could hardly be called soup, free of any chunks.

And then, once again, hands reach out to claim the bed.

Everyone aimed for the second floor. Perhaps there would be fewer mice there.

However, today’s events made it clear to me.

Expectations are not to be had.

That’s why I headed towards the first floor.

Without fail, I caught and threw out the mice, and meticulously picked apart the sluggish insects one by one.

Seeing that there seemed to be no end to catching them, I wondered if the nuns deliberately gathered these creatures to scatter later.

“Rian, are you here?”

“Go away.”

The sound reached me as those creatures with multiple legs were busy at work.

Causing a commotion as always was Lena.

“Oh.”

Our eyes met.

Her face brightened.

Light found its way to the girl who had been so dark as to blend into the shadows.

“Hi.”

“…Hello.”

I crushed another one in my hand.

And then, she furrowed her brow slightly.

“Oh. Your wound healed so quickly?”

Just yesterday, it was swollen as if I had stuffed a ball in my mouth.

I was surprised by how swiftly her jawline had become refined.

The sallow complexion was unavoidable, but…

“It seems what Rian did was effective. It didn’t hurt at all yesterday.”

Speaking became easier.

Should I consider it fortunate, or should I worry about why she came so brightly?

“Hey, can you read to me again today?”

“What?”

“The heroic tale. Do you still have it? The one you threw away… or not?”

While the others were already getting ready in their beds.

Why was she making this request again?

“I can’t lend you the bed today.”

“I understand. I was really, really grateful yesterday.”

Her smile lifted.

Her eyes sparkled.

Could there be someone who fits the moon so well?

“I’m curious about the heroic tale. Uh – who was it… Northchail – town?!”

As her voice rose, I immediately reached out and covered her mouth.

If the mice started squeaking, the hand brooms would come flying.

“Hush.”

“Uh, yeah. Sorry.”

Innocent or pure.

Even though she was hit like that, why did she still want the book, even after seeing Duell’s lifeless body?

“See, wishes don’t come true.”

“Did you wish hard enough?”

Did she wish hard enough?

Was she trying to say the same thing as the nuns?

My idea of ‘hard enough’ is not really ‘hard enough,’ that kind of thing.

“The Lord hears an incredible number of wishes every day, so He can only see the brightest ones among them.”

With both hands clasped, her head slightly trembling.

The tears that wet the blanket.

Her delicate body trembled slightly.

“So, my dad said there are some wishes that can’t be granted. So maybe… that kid who brought the book…”

Lena began to sob.

The sound growing louder.

Eyes from the surrounding beds started to send glances.

At this rate, surely.

“Uh – Ugh?!”

I couldn’t cover her with the blanket.

There were still many bugs around.

If I didn’t catch them all, they would bite the skin, and then it would itch.

To maintain a proper posture, I couldn’t use the blanket right away.

So, I pulled her face towards me and wrapped her in my chest.

Pressing firmly on her back to prevent the sound from getting louder, I gently patted her.

“Shh…”

Wishes that couldn’t be heard.

Only the brightest ones reach.

Was it such a pitiful wish to hope that no one would get hurt?

Right now, even my hope that the nuns wouldn’t come looking for me,

The sound of crying not ceasing may belong to the unfortunate side.

If that’s the case, it must be the end now.

“Are you feeling a bit better now?”

Fortunately, no one came, and the eyes twinkling in the darkness closed.

The sound subsided, and Lena swallowed her tears.

There was quite a large stain on my clothes, but – it was better than getting hurt by being right.

“Yeah.”

“You know, instead of reading a book… could you catch the bugs in the blanket for me?”

Perhaps such a request is unreasonable.

After all, if even watching someone die was difficult, how could I do this –

“Alright. But you have to… read to me.”

A small hand grabbing the blanket so as not to miss the opportunity.

I remember there was a bit too much shivering, but maybe recovery is fast.

As the head nun used to say, children recover quickly.

“Is this how you catch them?”

The crumpled bug.

Looking at its motionless legs on the crushed shell, it was clear that its life had been cut short.

Nodding, I pulled out the book hidden under the bed and flipped through the pages.

“Today… the saint Yohanne appeared on the southern coast.”

“Saint Yohanne?! Uh -”

A slightly raised voice. But soon, she stopped herself.

She immediately closed the book and listened intently.

At this rate, she would be caught in no time.

Perhaps it would be better not to read after all.

– Tick.

Another sound of catching one more bug was heard.

With a bitten lower lip, I saw gentle eyes watching my every move.

While she didn’t seem to mind when others were hit and cried, why…

Why did her face, so fitting with the moonlight, make her react like this?

“Be quiet.”

Her hair swayed as she nodded her head.

Golden eyes sparkling in the darkness.

Watching them slowly turn towards the book, I began reading the story of a woman who silenced the blood and cries of war with her voice.

Eventually, today too, I fell asleep on the floor.

It hurts too much as if my neck and back are perfectly aligned, and I can’t think of resting at all –

“I’m sorry…! Today, today I’ll tidy up the bed in advance…”

Thinking about Lena rushing out into the hallway after saying that, it was impossible to get angry.

Since I owed her, there was nothing I could do.

“Quiet!”

The corridor seemed unusually noisy.

I should keep my mouth shut until I go outside, but why.

“Move aside if you’re injured!”

The nuns busily held the children’s faces and arms, moving those with scars or bruises to the right.

Dragging the unharmed ones to the left.

“You! Go to the left.”

Meeting her eyes.

Lena standing on the right looked at me with fearful eyes.

As if she didn’t understand what was happening.

Since I didn’t know either, I couldn’t help.

“Guests are coming today. Those on the right go underground, those on the left to the vegetable garden!”

Is that so.

Someone is coming to the orphanage.

If one must hide their wounds, to someone who doesn’t know this is happening…

Then does the right side get to rest from work today?

It might be a bit enviable.

“…! …!”

“What’s wrong?! Move quickly!”

Startled by the sudden command, I turned around to see Lena shaking something in her hands.

Towards me.

“This is -”

– Clack.

At the sound, I tightly closed my eyes, and then I heard footsteps.

A fair-haired girl holding her cheek.

The gathered hands scattered, and her gaze fell to the ground.

As if nothing had happened.

“The rest! Go outside. Now!”

The reason for the clasped hands is prayer.

So, could it be that the one who came today…

Even if mine wasn’t granted, was Lena’s wish fulfilled?

As Lena sparkles even in the moonlight, do wishes shine too?

If that’s the case, is today the day the hero has come?

To defeat these nuns and save us.

“Everyone will continue their usual tasks. If anyone dares to act foolishly—”

A nun repeating a known fact.

The headmistress seemed to have disappeared.

Perhaps it’s an opportunity.

An opportunity to tell the newcomer about our injustice.

The tools laid out were quite shiny.

They appeared of much better quality and sturdier than usual.

Was that the reason? Everyone awkwardly picked them up and headed towards the garden.

As it turned out, expectations were growing even higher.

If the visitor sees our awkwardness, notices our struggles, they will surely sense something odd.

If we mention the underground chamber to that person, no, if we even show the scars left on our bodies…!

“Let’s start working. Don’t waste time.”

A command quieter than usual.

Even trembling hands looked more anxious than us.

It was undoubtedly just a matter of informing.

If only we inform—

“Oh my, is that so?”

“Yes, haha. I got lost, but to encounter such lovely sisters like this. Surely it must be a blessing from God.”

The visitor was a man.

With a slightly scruffy beard and worn-out clothes.

The issue was that a nun without her veil was clinging closely to him.

“If you’re lost, you should rest. Let me guide you inside. Oh, those children over there are the ones being cared for in our orphanage.”

“Oh, really?”

His cloudy eyes briefly scanned us and moved on.

That’s how I knew.

This man was definitely not a hero.

He was not someone who could save us or even offer help.

“We must work hard.”

After giving a rough shake of his hand, he placed his hand on the nun’s shoulder and entered the building.

That was the end of it.

The opportunity Lena had prayed for did not come.

Until the work was done, for some reason, the head nun was nowhere to be seen.

Although better equipment than usual was brought in, even hoping for a better evening—nothing changed.

The disappointment was evident, not just in me.

“Uh… uhh…”

How many times did the spoon clink?

Strange sounds were coming from the headmistress’s room.

A man’s voice.

Clearly, it was someone who had come as a guest.

Could it be that they were tormenting this man too?

Just how malicious were the nuns at this orphanage?

– Thud. Thud.

Sounds like something striking repeatedly were heard before the door opened.

And what appeared was not the nun who was with me but—

“Hmm.”

For some reason, the head nun seemed much larger in stature.

The man did not emerge with her.