Chapter 20

Looking as if to say it was utterly ridiculous, Nines pursed her lips and shook her head from side to side.

"Nines, you have connections in the eastern autonomous city, right?"

"I refuse."

She sat back deeply in her chair, clamping her lips shut as if to change the subject. It was clear she had no intention of continuing the conversation. Perhaps this was what it meant to be completely out of options. Of course, I had expected as much.

"Rugis, you can't have forgotten. For those who leave the orphanage..."

"---The orphanage doesn't lend a hand. I remember that well, having heard it until my ears were tired of it."

She pointed at her ear in an exaggerated manner, then slumped into her chair like Nines.

The orphanage only protects those who belong to it. That is the ironclad rule here.

Those who leave the orphanage, whether through sponsorship or any other means, are no longer protected. Even if they occasionally enjoy the past or use it as a place to stay for a night, relying on those connections is out of the question.

If such a thing were to happen, the orphanage's trust would be undermined. If someone sold into a brothel were to escape and the orphanage were to protect them, it would be a betrayal of the sponsor.

There are other reasons. In the backstreets of the capital, there are not only orphanages but also those who run brothels, those who manage the riffraff, and various organizations that cater to different lifestyles.

And the orphanage is connected to all of them. Women and those who are good with numbers are sponsored to brothels, and those who are strong are sponsored to become bodyguards.

If the orphanage were to have direct connections not only with organizations but also with those who have been sponsored, it would become too powerful an entity. If that were to happen, other organizations would not be able to overlook the orphanage.

Therefore, the orphanage must remain weak to avoid being targeted and must continue to be a neutral zone that adheres to non-interference.

"---That's the way it is. I heard it alongside Alieno, and it sounded ridiculous."

"Then, the conversation is over, boy. No matter how dire your situation, I cannot lend a hand as the head of the orphanage."

Nines narrowed her purple eyes and stiffened her expression, as if to show that she would not listen. It was entirely true. There was no way to argue against it. That's why I didn't come here for such a conversation.

"That's right. I didn't come here to ask the head of the orphanage to protect me. No, it's not that."

I stood up from my chair, leaning over the table with my hands on it, looking down at Nines, who was still seated. She blinked, seemingly surprised by my attitude.

I have no power. I have no wisdom or knowledge. The only education I have is what I learned at the orphanage. I don't have the rhetorical skills to persuade people, and I'm not shameless enough to lecture on morals now.

So, I have to use the weapon I have. That weapon is,

"I came here to make a deal with you, Nines. An equal one."

My weapon is knowledge. Yes, the knowledge of this era, which I have experienced once before, and which I must stand alongside Celia Bardonic, Richard's grandfather, and Nines.

"...Rugis, this is the last time I'll tell you. A deal is something that people who have what they need do with each other."

Nines sighed deeply and spoke at length, as if explaining the ways of the world to a child.

"You are seeking connections. But I need nothing. I am content. So, a deal cannot be made."

"That's not true. Even you, Nines, are a living person, not a moving corpse."

I raised my palm, which was still on the table, speaking in a clipped tone.

The sound of a held breath seemed to fill the air. All natural sounds seemed to fade away, and for that moment, the only sound was Nines' gasp of shock.

Her purple hair swayed, and although she was trying not to show her agitation, her eyes and body movements were clearly different from usual.

Under my hand was a ring with an engraving.

The ring that one of the men who attacked Celia Bardonic and me, the one wearing a helmet, had worn.

I had thought it might be useful for something, but I never imagined I would use it in a deal with someone almost like family.

"...What about the ring? I don't know if you're trying to bribe me with money, but such a thing is worthless."

Her voice had already returned to its usual tone, as if she had no interest. She acted as if it was nothing and tried to impress that it had no value.

"Yes, it's not for sale. Do you know this engraving? It's the emblem of the Old Faith, isn't it?"

I pointed to the engraving on the ring, listing the facts that Nines would know, one by one. Her purple eyes flickered.

"I don't care about the truth of the world or anything like that... The man who had this ring was a captain of a squad with decent weapons and horses. He attacked me and Celia Bardonic, who was a knight, even though the document I was delivering to Coriden's fort was a forgery."

A tense atmosphere enveloped the orphanage.

I had to remain calm. If I showed my anxiety, it would be meaningless. I couldn't reveal my weakness. I just needed to state the facts.

With that, as if prompted by Nines' words, I swallowed and continued.

"Well, I thought about what to do. If I reported this to the guild—especially since Celia Bardonic was there, not just me—it would start a hunt for the Old Faith, I thought."

Yes, even if the attack was only on me, it wouldn't matter. A lowly commoner has no voice and no value. But Celia Bardonic is different. Despite her fallen status, she comes from a noble family and is a knight. Moreover, she was a knight in the Order at the time of the attack.

All I had to do was spread the story. Once the rumor started, people would judge that she was attacked by the Old Faith and had to leave the Order as a result. They would easily come to that conclusion.

If that happened, the rest would be simple. The discontent with the economy and high taxes, the pretext of maintaining order, and the righteous cause of an attack on the upper class. The kingdom would eagerly start a hunt for the Old Faith. I could say that with certainty.

---Because the hunt for the Old Faith and the conflict between the Old Faith and the capital actually existed in the future I knew.

"---Rugis, why did you bring this story to me?"

My words stopped. After a moment of silence, Nines lowered her gaze and spoke.

"Not that---but, Nines, you value ancient beliefs, don't you? Then, I want to do my best to help, out of conscience."

It felt like a conversation where only the tips of the swords were touching, where only the edges of the words were meeting.

I showed that I understood her situation but avoided making it explicit. I wanted her to think that this was just a deal, not an enemy.

After a while, a heavy sigh escaped her.

"Very well. You've grown from a scrawny brat into a fine man, Rugis."

"That's a relief to hear. Especially from you, Nines."

She narrowed her purple eyes and prompted me to decide the terms.

"Transport to the eastern autonomous city and a guide. If possible, citizenship—two, just in case."

"Understood. I have plenty of connections in the autonomous city. I can't promise it will be easy, but I'll try. So, Rugis, what will you provide me?"

Nines' response was immediate. Citizenship in the autonomous city is not easy to obtain. She was implying that the Old Faith had influence there as well.

I fiddled with the ring in my hand and spoke.

"Destroying or handing over the ring. And... I will move Celia Bardonic to the autonomous city. Without the evidence and the witness, it will be a two-for-one deal."

"I see."

Nines' throat made a chuckling sound.

"You've really become a fine man, Rugis—let's make sure to get the citizenship."

She smiled, a rare, almost seductive smile for the orphanage, and said,

With this, the two prerequisites for dragging that woman out are in place. All that's left is the execution.

I sighed deeply in relief, knowing that the two difficult negotiations had been successfully concluded.