Chapter 162

Atonement.

I finished talking with Ravioli-san, so I went to find Mikelle.

“Ei! Yah!”

“Eat this!”

“You still have a long way to go!”

“How about this!”

“Your aim is good, but your speech is a mess.”

She was apparently teaching the kids swordsmanship with wooden swords. What happened to showing Mikelle around?

“Ah!?”

Mikelle panicked and straightened her back. No, it really is fine? You seem to have fitted right in.

“U, umm… pardon me. When I told the kids I liked to practice sword, they wanted me to teach them.”

“Yea! Teacher Mikelle is super strong!”

“Her teaching method is good too!”

“She’s better at teaching than you, Rosarin Oneechan!”

It can’t be helped, teaching is best taught from experience. Manya is a musclehead, you know?

“No, that’s not true at all!”

“You don’t have to comfort me. You learned swordsmanship?”

“Y, yes. It’s common for women in Wolfanea to learn some form of martial arts for protection, so…”

“Oneechan, prepare yourself!”

The three kids who learned swordsmanship from Mikelle suddenly started rushing towards me.

“Too naive!”

I changed my ring into a pair of wooden swords, and lightly struck them.

“Kyan!”

“Ow!”“I got done~”

The kids looked vexed. Wahaha, I won’t lose easily.N? Mikelle stared blankly. Then, she got fidgety.

“So Rosarin-sama can use swords too.”

“Yeah. Well, reasonably well.”

“Won’t you have a match with me?”

Mikelle looked straight into my eyes. There didn’t seem to be any malice in her words.

“Sure. Come at me anytime.”

I took one of the wooden swords the kids dropped and took a stance.

“Yah!”

Mikelle’s hit came down on me. It’s heavy!? Wildcat beastmen delicate-looking, so I thought she would be the speed type.

“Wah! There!”

Although I was surprised, she wasn’t as good as the Hero, so there weren’t any problems. I thought I would be practicing with someone who received a young lady’s training, but she’s quite skilled. Her style is similar to Hero’s. Is it Wolfanea’s style?

“Haah!”

Mikelle attacked from above, but too slow! I took a moment’s chance and drove a blow into her abdomen.

“Kuha!?”

Mikelle fell to her knees. I didn’t hit her that strongly. Mikelle smiled.

“It’s my complete defeat.”

I lent her a hand to get up. As I brushed the dust off from her skirt, Mikelle looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“To be this skilled at your age… do you have a secret of getting strong?”

“I compete with those stronger than me.”

“I see… can we spare again another time?”

“Sure.”

The kids applauded. Why?

“Teacher Mikelle, you are so cool!”

“You have lost, but to be able to exchange blows with Oneechan that much is amazing!”

“Oh dear, both of you have some wonderful skills.”

Ravioli-san addressed us while smiling.

“However, you really made our kids open their hearts to you even though they are so hard to please.”

“Eh? I think everyone here is a good, well-behaved child.”

Mikelle tilted her head. One of the kids told Mikelle playfully.

“You see, Rosarin Oneechan told us to drive the bad people out!”

It got silent all of a sudden. No, well… I did say that.They remember well.

“Ojousama, what is this about?”

“I taught the children a method to distinct bad people.”

“… I see.”

“Children have discerning eyes, you know? They are observing the staff on a regular basis, and they are sensitive to malice.”

“Teacher Mikelle talks while looking into our eyes.”

“She listens to us properly, too.”

As I thought, Mikelle isn’t a bad person at heart. The children recognized she isn’t their enemy. You could say that her straightforward personality was easier to accept for the kids. Well, it’s just as I expected, though.

“Now then, I should return home.”

I try not to come to the orphanage very often.

“As expected.”

Stop grinning! Even though Mikelle is frightened by Gator!

“Anyhow! Although you guys have been used, it means there was a chance to use you! Don’t just support everyone who asks, make sure to find people you truly can rely in the future!”

“”Yes.””

Well, since I went my way to save them, I wish them happiness in whatever they decide to do in the future.

Mikelle and Gator became friends over this incident, since they were close in age. One person seemed jealous, but let’s pretend I didn’t see it.