Chapter 11

“Is this alright? Leaving without even saying goodbye…?”

“Yeah. I can meet them anytime if I want, and it’s not like this is a farewell for life. For now, I just want to get out of here before Lord Arthur changes his mind.”

“…Luke will probably be furious, you know. About you accepting expulsion in his place.”

“Make sure you calm him down before he does anything rash, Minel.”

“Sigh… Alright, I’ll handle it.”

“Then… goodbye. Thank you for everything up until now.”

“Wait, Ausel.”

Minel gently pulled me into an embrace.
Warm, like sunlight.

“Your decision to save your friend was truly heroic. The days I spent with you are a source of pride for me. Always remember, no matter what happens, this will always be your home.”

“…I will.”

“Take care, Ausel.”

“I’ll be going now… Mom…”

In the early morning, I packed my belongings and left the orphanage.
Well, I didn’t really have any belongings to pack…

Duke Arthur granted my request and claimed it was me who struck Brut.
Since only Brut’s cronies and I were present at the scene, it seemed it was easy to manipulate the story.

Now, I am truly alone in the world.
With no family or anyone to rely on, being thrown out of the orphanage would typically mean a life of despair.
Under normal circumstances, my situation would be hopeless, but luckily, I do have a clear destination.

As someone who technically committed violence against a noble, I was handed a punishment befitting the crime.
The decree from the royal palace stated that, in addition to expulsion, I would be subjected to “a year of community service.”
In other words, I must work until I’ve atoned.

“Let’s see… what’s the address again…? It’s a bit dark…”

The decree contained details about the workplace, but it was still dim outside, making it hard to read.
As I approached a nearby house to borrow some light, the decree slipped out of my hand.
It folded itself automatically into the shape of a butterfly, fluttered away a little, and then started spinning in place nearby.

“Is it… guiding me…?”

Fifteen minutes after leaving the academy, I arrived in front of a massive building in the heart of the royal capital.
The butterfly turned back into a piece of paper and returned to my hand.

The building was enormous, 43 meters high, 100 meters wide, and 200 meters deep.
It was practically a castle, radiating an intimidating presence just by standing there.
It dwarfed the primary school building I had attended.

Adorned with magical lights, the red and orange bricks gleamed faintly.
Ten windows were lined vertically, indicating it was ten stories tall, though the windows on the first floor alone stretched five stories high.

This was the Adventurers’ Guild Hall.
A place where adventurers and clients could connect and job opportunities were offered.

My punishment was to work here as a janitor.
The hall provided rooms for lodging, uniforms for staff, and unlimited meals at the cafeteria.
Though my salary was only 10,000 diel a month during this year of service, it would increase to a standard amount afterward.

While punishment usually has a negative connotation, for someone like me with no place to go, having food, clothing, and shelter was more than enough.
I couldn’t expect anything more, being a criminal on paper.

The grand entrance door, over ten meters tall, was flanked by two enormous torches.
The door was slightly ajar, wide enough for two or three people to pass side by side.

“Is it okay to just walk in through the front…?”

I exhaled lightly and stepped inside.
The vast space extended far into the distance, making me acutely aware of how small I was.
The academy’s ballroom was quite large, but this was about twice its size.

Though the hall was mostly deserted, a few adventurers were dozing off at tables in the corners.
The air was thick with the smell of alcohol.
Bottles were scattered in the back, evidence of a lively night.

A large bulletin board dominated the center, covered with papers.
To the right, a small shop stood near the entrance. Farther back, long tables were lined up, likely a cafeteria, littered with trash and food scraps.

Shields and swords hung on the walls.
They looked too worn to be decorative, their scratches and dents reflecting the rugged lives of adventurers.

This wasn’t a place for kids…
I felt out of place…

Trying not to attract attention, I scurried over to the reception on the left.

“Um, excuse me…”

I was startled by the unusual sight.
From this angle, what had been hidden by a partition became visible.
Standing there was someone with green skin, her entire body resembling that of a plant.

Her large, ruby-like eyes shone, and she had impressive antlers like a deer.
Roots extended from her back like wings, with leaves sprouting from her head.
She wore a green dress, making it clear even to me that she was a woman.
Rather than conventional beauty, she exuded a natural elegance.

In the capital, non-humans weren’t uncommon, but I hadn’t encountered many at the academy.
Out in the wider world, I would surely meet many more like her.

“Welcome to the Adventurers’ Guild. What brings such a charming adventurer here today?”

“Oh, um… I’m Ausel, starting here today. Is Director Lanak available?”

“Oh, so you’re the new recruit. I’ve heard about you. My name is Rose. You seem quite young—how old are you, Ausel?”

“Twelve.”

“My, so young! You haven’t even lived one-tenth of my life. Such a responsible young man you are!”

“O-One-tenth!? W-Wait, does that mean you’re over a hundred years old?”

“Yes, I’ll be 180 this year. Though, for the first hundred years, I was just an ordinary flower growing in the forest.”

So she was a plant that somehow evolved into a humanoid form…?
The origins of non-humans varied widely, with many mysteries about their existence.

Despite being as old as a great-great-great-grandmother to a human, Rose’s vibrant green skin made her look youthful, like a fresh sprout.
Her lifespan must be entirely different.
It was fascinating.

“What’s the matter, Rose? Is there a problem?”

A man’s voice called out to Rose from the entrance.