In a clear morning sky, with seagulls cawing and morning people busying about on the streets.
“Good morning,” Silver greeted others in a neutral tone, simply, as he got out of the boys’ bathing area, which is just the backyard of the orphanage by the well with a dressing room that is just a fence of wood.
Well, the orphanage is just getting by.
No money for a separate bathroom.
The only one in the orphanage is being used by those teenage girls who have to take turns.
Everyone in the orphanage is busy with some teen girls taking care of the babies and toddlers, some boys going out to refill the firewood because the magic stone is too expensive for the orphanage, some taking care of the kitchen, and some doing the cleaning.
As for Silver, he no longer has a task in the orphanage because he started running errands outside.
He brings back some food as a contribution.
Many children copied him when they saw him earn money even if it was just a little, especially those teenagers who were about to get out of the orphanage to live on their own.
Before this, they were just lying about playing or getting together with some other street children because they didn’t know what to do, but now they want to earn some money.
This is safer than thieving around the marketplace.
The matron was also gratified by this.
And because the events were spontaneous and everyone just followed up quickly.
No one knew who started doing this; they just knew everyone had suddenly started doing this.
“Are you going out so early?” the matron asked when she saw Silver going out of the orphanage.
“Yes, Ma’am. Not to run errands this time though. I have earned quite a bit from the tips this past few days, so I thought I would try reading in the library. Maybe I can try getting in the school district and then become an adventurer from there to Orario,” Silver said with a bit of excitement and a bit of an act, but not entirely.
He is just channeling his desire for the extraordinary.
“So you want to get into the academy. Well then, work hard. Hmmm. From now on, you don’t have to contribute to the orphanage, but you have to tell me what you study in the library every day to see if you really are learning something,” the matron said with an inquisitive look.
“That is if you really want to get into the school district.”
“Is it really okay? I mean, wouldn’t it be unfair to everyone if I do that?” He asked back in surprise from the sudden proposition.
“Don’t worry about that,” the matron said dismissively with a slight wave of her hand.
“If they also want to get into the school district, then they would also get the same treatment. It’s just that anyone who gets it must make some progress witnessed by me, or they would have to get back to doing what they are doing now. You are the same. I am not giving you some special treatment, kid. So you don’t have to worry about anything.”
“Is that so, but why, Mother Mathron?” he asked with a puzzled expression.
Other kids were also prickling their ears nearby to listen in.
“Because of this whole place.
Getting into the school district is actually an honor.
You might not have thought of it, but this port town of ours is just the countryside.
You might not understand because you have not seen a prosperous big city, but you must have looked at the school district whenever it arrived here, right?
You might think its situation is unique, but there are other cities more prosperous than it.
Like that city of Orario!
In that place, even commoners can use magic stone lights and other magic stone devices.
Magic stones are not expensive there.
You might not believe my stories before, but I have really been an adventurer.
I have been to Orario,” the matron explained patiently with a serious face.
Everyone but Silver was showing an embarrassed face because they really thought that the matron was just bragging to them and making them believe it when they were little.
As for Silver, he really believed it.
At least now he believed that the mathron really was an adventurer because some of the stories she spoke about could be cross-referenced with his memories of DanMachi.
Especially about the dungeon floors and monsters like the minotaur and the goblin.
“So that’s the case,” Silver said with a slightly convinced look.
“There is more!” the matron blurted out suddenly.
“The port town will also get some benefits if someone can get enrolled from here. If you get enrolled in the school district, the orphanage will get even more. Besides, you said you wanted to go to Orario to be an adventurer. I can tell you now, you don’t have to get enrolled to hitch a ride on that big floating island. You can also just ride it normally as a passenger. It is a boat after all. Just like how they also trade and transport things to different places.”
Everyone listening in nodded in understanding.
“I understand. Thank you, Mother Mathron,” Silver said politely with a smile.
“I think I better get going now.”
“Go on then,” the matron said with a habitual dismissive wave of a hand.
‘So I don’t need to enroll, huh?’ Silver thought as he made his way towards the library.
‘But I will still try to get in.
After all, I am not someone reckless or naive.
I don’t think I have some kind of protagonist halo like Belle.
I also don’t have a background like he does.
And as a person from modern earth who had undergone basic education, I know that it is better to learn more before going to the dungeon.
Especially since the dungeon is a dangerous place.
People can really die in there.
So it is better to be prepared.
Those who are prepared will not die.
‘Yeah, I know it already, Amuro.’
Silver mused on the last thought.
– word count = 1033
I will continue writing and updating until I have at least 20 chapters here, then start updating regularly with one chapter a day.