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Chapter 49

The Vessel of Isto

โ€œSenseiโ€ฆ does it hurt? Does it hurt?โ€

โ€œMaybe if I pat it, itโ€™ll heal fasterโ€ฆ?โ€

โ€œI should have looked for a book on ointments.โ€

A chorus of concern.

The children of the Elpida Orphanage were all crowding around, staring at my back, wrapped in bandages. I appreciate their concern, butโ€ฆ isnโ€™t this a bit much?

After the battle ended, I returned to my room, where Mitera tended to my wounds.

โ€œThere, all done. The wound should close soon. There might be a small scar, thoughโ€ฆโ€

โ€œThatโ€™s more than enough. Thank you.โ€

โ€œAlright, everyone, letโ€™s let Isto-sensei rest now. Dismissed.โ€

With a clap of Miteraโ€™s hands, the children reluctantly left the room, casting lingering glances back as they went.

The only ones left were Mitera and the two strongest girls in Elpida.

โ€œIโ€™m sorry.โ€

As soon as my eyes met theirs, Fiole and Almoa bowed their heads.

Mitera gave me a questioning look, silently asking if she should leave. I shook my head and gestured for the two girls to sit down.

โ€œโ€ฆI couldnโ€™t protect you.โ€

Fiole muttered quietly.

โ€œEven though Iโ€™m supposed to be Istoโ€™s knight. I promised to stay by your side and protect youโ€ฆโ€

โ€œFiole, itโ€™s notโ€”โ€

Mitera began to say something, but I raised a hand to stop her. I wanted them to fully process their feelings.

โ€œIโ€™m also at fault.โ€

Almoaโ€™s voice was even softer.

โ€œI let my pride get in the way, focusing on the wrong things when I should have been protecting what really matteredโ€ฆ It was terrible.โ€

Both of them hung their heads in silence.

I waited patiently. The wound still throbbed, and I had to resist the urge to furrow my brow. But I held on, maintaining a calm expression, ready to listen until they felt ready to look up.

Maybe they spent about ten minutes lost in their regrets before they finally raised their faces, looking uncertain.

โ€œYou both did your best, no matter what anyone says.โ€

โ€œIstoโ€ฆโ€

โ€œIstoโ€ฆโ€

โ€œYouโ€™ve reflected enough, havenโ€™t you? I know you two โ€” youโ€™ve probably replayed everything in your heads a dozen times. Iโ€™m not going to deny those regrets. Let yourselves feel them fully. But thereโ€™s one thing I want to say.โ€

I smiled. It came naturally.

โ€œThank you.โ€

โ€œUโ€ฆ Uhhโ€ฆโ€

Fiole and Almoa began to sob.

Then, without thinking, they hugged each other. Theyโ€™d bickered, competed, fought alongside each other, and shared the same regrets. As a result, theyโ€™d become closer.

Mitera stood up slowly, wrapping her arms around both of them, offering comfort like the caring adult she was.

After Fiole and Almoa returned to their rooms, Mitera offered to stay by my side until I fell asleep.

โ€œIโ€™m not a child, you know.โ€

โ€œOh, donโ€™t be like that.โ€

She checked my bandages, took my temperature, wiped my sweat, and helped me lie down.

It was just like when I was a kid.

With a soft, snow-melting smile, Mitera said:

โ€œYou did well.โ€

โ€œSay that to the children, not me.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m the only one who can say it to you, though.โ€

Well, she had a pointโ€ฆ

โ€œAnd thank you, Mitera.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re very welcome.โ€

โ—†โ—‡โ—†

โ€œHey, look! The cityโ€™s in sight!โ€

โ€œWeโ€™re back!โ€

The children pointed, their fingers stretched toward the familiar walls of Wigarlus. The main road bustled with people. Despite the cityโ€™s past trauma, seeing it now brought a strange sense of relief. It felt like coming home, perhaps because weโ€™d been through so much.

โ€œLook, weโ€™re almost at Wigarlus.โ€

I called to the two on the coachmanโ€™s bench: Fiole and Almoa.

They sat there, exhausted.

Ever since that night of tears and regrets, theyโ€™d been busy hunting monsters whenever they could. Fioleโ€™s level had gone up to fifteen. While she wasnโ€™t as strong as Almoa or me, sheโ€™d stopped trying to compete openly. Their teamwork had become much smoother, from what I could see.

But stillโ€ฆ even though Iโ€™d told them to rest in the back if they were tired, they stubbornly refused to leave the coachmanโ€™s bench, always sitting on either side of me.

Well, I didnโ€™t mind.

When we reached Griffoโ€™s mansion, as always, Redelia parked off to the side. The household had even built a small shed just for Redelia, as sheโ€™d mentioned, which felt a bit excessive.

As we entered, the children scattered through the house. Theyโ€™d grown quite close to the maids, who now greeted them warmly with smiles. The place had started to feel like our own home.

Now, it was time to greet Griffo.

I led Almoa to the study to introduce her as our new companion.

โ€œExcuse us.โ€

โ€œOh! Back already, hero?โ€

โ€œPlease donโ€™t call me that.โ€

I replied with a twitch of my brow. Same as ever, Griffo.

โ€œI heard from the boss that you resolved two incidents in Minegel. Word is, youโ€™re seen as a hero over there.โ€

โ€œIt was all thanks to my companions.โ€

I glanced at Almoa beside me. Still looking drowsy, she held her contracted spirit, Avril, close to her chest.

โ€œThis is Almoa Savance, who helped us in Minegel. Sheโ€™ll be joining us as part of the Elpida Orphanage team.โ€

โ€œโ€ฆNice to meet you.โ€

Almoa looked away slightly as she spoke.

Meeting new people is still tough for her, I thought.

Griffo, however, didnโ€™t seem bothered. He laughed heartily, โ€œAnother beauty, huh?โ€

Then Almoa murmured:

โ€œGriffo Moniโ€ฆ I remember studying his name while learning about adventurers. A seasoned, silver fox of an adventurerโ€ฆ And to think you know him.โ€

โ€œJust a lucky coincidence,โ€ I replied.

Griffo was still beaming as he praised me.

โ€œThings are certainly lively around you, Isto.โ€

โ€œThanks to that, lifeโ€™s been good.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s the way! Life is to be enjoyed. But not many people manage to leave their mark while having fun. Isto, youโ€™re my pride and joy.โ€

He laughed heartily.

โ€œLooking forward to working alongside you in the field.โ€

โ€œWhatโ€ฆ?โ€

I gave an awkward smile, wondering what he meant by โ€œworking alongside.โ€


Former Guild Employee Opens an Orphanage

Former Guild Employee Opens an Orphanage

Former Guild Employee Opens an Orphanage. Students' Talent Blooms With The Skill [Awakening Appraisal], And While You're At It, You Level Up!?, ๅ…ƒใ‚ฎใƒซใƒ‰่ทๅ“กใ€ๅญคๅ…้™ขใ‚’้–‹ใใ€€ใ‚นใ‚ญใƒซใ€่ฆš้†’้‘‘ๅฎšใ€‘ใง็”Ÿๅพ’ใŸใกใฎๆ‰่ƒฝ้–‹่Šฑใ€ใคใ„ใงใซ่‡ชๅˆ†ใ‚‚ใƒฌใƒ™ใƒซใ‚ขใƒƒใƒ—๏ผ๏ผŸ
Score 9.9
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: , Artist: , Released: 2020 Native Language: Japanese
โ€œShut up, shut up! Youโ€™re out, thatโ€™s what have been decided!โ€ former staff Isto was expelled from the guild for being too low-level. Although his high administrative skills and discerning eye were indispensable for guild management, they were never been appreciated. The world is on the midst of unprecedented battle boom. While high levels and strong battle skills were on high demand, there was nowhere to hire Isto. At loss, Isto tries to work at an orphanage where he was once taken care of and encounters a girl who is about to be killed by a monster. The level difference between Isto and the enemy is more than four times. Moreover, the monster is a super-rare monster. Isto, however, tactfully defeats the monster and saves the girl. Thenโ€ฆ The Gifted Skill [Awakening Appraisal] is released. By risking his life to defeat the monster, Istoโ€™s natural talent blossomed. This [Awakening Appraisal] was an extraordinary ability that allowed him to release the hidden skills of others including copying and using their skills. The girl whom Isto saved was also found to have special combat skills through the [Awakening Appraisal]. By copying her skills, Isto was on his way to becoming an all-around strongman, which he had never imagined. Meanwhile, the guild that fired Isto has stopped its paperwork while on the state of collapse. Isto flatly refuses the request to โ€œcome back.โ€ This is the story of a man who was banished for no good reason, who is loved by the genius girls who protected him, and who eventually (unwillingly) becomes a legendary adventurer through the power of [Awakening Appraisal].

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