Even though I'd decided I wanted to help the children, there was almost nothing I could do while heading home. After discussing it with
I couldn't tell how much of the soup the children over there would be able to keep down, so I decided to soak torn pieces of bread in the soup's clear broth to make a bread porridge, and have
Fran said that if Fran brought God's blessings from the front while Gil quietly delivered it from the back, they should be able to feed the smaller children without being noticed.
"Gil cares about them the most, so he'll be eager to take the lead."
"Tell Gil I'll give him one of my shirts so he can use it for dirty work."
This was all we could do today, but just knowing the children wouldn't starve to death tonight made me feel a little lighter.
Unlike me, whose expression had softened with relief, Fran kept his face tight as he stared at me.
"Mine, the High Priest is very likely to object to rescuing the orphans, so please be very careful around Deria."
"...What about the Chief Priest?"
I figured the Chief Priest would also object quite strongly, not just the High Priest, so I wanted to know what Fran thought about that.
"I'll speak to the Chief Priest myself. He's been just as frustrated as anyone about how the orphanage is handled and how the priests and priestesses are treated."
"Huh? I didn't get that impression at all?"
When I tilted my head, Fran's eyes widened slightly in surprise before he averted his gaze with a resigned expression.
"Were you listening to what Deria said? The High Priest holds more power. And the Chief Priest hides his true feelings deep down so he won't have his feet swept out from under him, which makes him very hard to read—but he's frustrated with the current state of the
"...I couldn't tell at all."
Where in that conversation was I supposed to pick up on the Chief Priest's frustration? Could Fran really hear people's inner voices?
As I racked my brain in confusion, Lutz gave a slight shrug.
"It doesn't get through to Mine. We should report that to the Chief Priest."
"Indeed. Mine, you also need to study the subtlety that's particular to nobles."
The lukewarm gazes of the two of them, looking at me like a slow learner, stung quite a bit.
Over the next few days, while having Gil secretly slip food to the orphans, I discussed with Fran how to report to the Chief Priest in a way that would get our request approved. I also got Lutz's opinion, and since Mine Workshop came up, I dragged in
I wanted to get permission from the Chief Priest as quickly as possible and dive into reforming the orphanage, but Benno snapped at me, calling me "thoughtless!"
"Don't charge straight ahead! When dealing with nobles, even if taking the long way around seems like a hassle, preparation and groundwork are essential! That's actually what decides everything. If you just barge in, you can't even be sure they'll agree to see you."
"Benno is quite right. Mine, you always rush into action as soon as you've made up your mind, but when you have an important matter to discuss, you should first convey a certain amount of information and your requests in advance, and make an appointment. There's no need for haste when speaking with nobles. You should take as much time as possible and prepare everything favorably behind the scenes."
Even the incident where I'd gone straight to the Chief Priest after being shocked by the orphans' condition—Fran admonished me that while I'd managed to arrange the meeting by begging him repeatedly, it was technically a breach of manners. If the preparation on the Chief Priest's end or the transmission of information hadn't gone smoothly, it wouldn't have worked.
"This is actually a good opportunity, Mine. Watch and learn how to make appointments with nobles and do groundwork. You'll need it from now on."
After much discussion, we decided that first, I would become the director of the orphanage and use Mine Workshop's assets to carry out what we'd frame as "workshop improvements."
Wash the children before their
Divide the people in the orphanage into groups: a papermaking-and-forest-gathering group, a household chores group, and a Temple duties group. We'd set up a rotation for about a month so everyone could experience everything. After that, we'd ask for preferences and reorganize. Freedom of career choice.
We'd need to identify necessary clothing and tools and purchase them through Benno.
To raise funds for this, I asked Lutz and
Thank you for always being there.
"What's the ultimate goal of the Mine Workshop
"Securing the orphanage's living expenses. If the children can earn enough to make up for what God's blessings don't cover and buy the food they need, that would be great."
"Food only?"
"I think food is fine. Most of the bare necessities for daily life are provided by the Temple, so as long as we turn a profit equal to food expenses, that should be enough."
As I answered Benno's questions, Lutz started writing out the price of paper and the cost of food needed, and began calculating.
"...If it's just food costs, it looks like we can achieve that pretty easily."
Lutz had said they could just gather things from the forest if there was no money, but given the scale of the orphanage, you couldn't just keep harvesting from the forest in large quantities over a long period. If they understood that the workshop could earn money, the food costs until things got on track could come out of the workshop's expenses.
"If Mine is putting up the money, isn't there no point in teaching them to gather?"
"I just want them to learn forest gathering while they're making paper. If they know how, they can find something to eat before they starve to death, right? Otherwise they might pick poisonous mushrooms like I did."
"Mine did have a high poisonous mushroom rate..."
Fran quietly made arrangements behind the scenes with the Chief Priest, and once things had reached a certain point, he secured approval—albeit unofficial—for my appointment as orphanage director and the establishment of the Mine Workshop Orphanage Branch. On top of that, he arranged an official appointment for me to speak with the Chief Priest.
When requesting a formal meeting, apparently you had to submit a written request several days in advance. I was taught the format and wrote a letter.
...Nobles are such a hassle.
By the time the invitation from the Chief Priest arrived, the children's condition had improved thanks to Gil's covert efforts. They'd regained their appetite and were able to eat some solid food besides soup. I was told they were gradually becoming more active. During the time it took to clean the feces-covered rooms, they'd improved to a healthy enough state to give them a proper washing.
After the third bell rang as designated by the Chief Priest, I made my way to his room with Fran. In my own room, Gil and Lutz were ready to spring into action at any moment.
"Chief Priest, thank you so much for making time for me."
"Oh, it's you. ...Come here."
It seemed the attendants had already been cleared out, as only
"Chief Priest!?"
Arno let out a surprised voice. Fran's eyes had gone round too. I had no idea what was going on, but I followed behind the Chief Priest.
The Chief Priest swept aside the bed's canopy with a rustle and beckoned me over. Behind the bed? Tilting my head as I approached, I could see another door beyond the canopy.
"This is where I'll speak with you."
The moment the Chief Priest held his hand to the door, as if pressing a fingerprint, a pale blue magic circle rose into view and the jewel on the ring he wore on his middle finger glowed red. The red light of the ring traced around the magic circle, and then it dimmed.
"Not even attendants are allowed in here. Mine, come in."
With a click, the Chief Priest opened the door and went inside without bringing either Arno or Fran. Looking into the dark room, I felt a moment of unease and turned back to Fran. Fran gave me a small nod to urge me forward.
"I-I'll be excusing myself."
The instant I stepped inside and the door closed, windows appeared in the pitch-black room and dazzling light poured in. The windows appeared as though shutters were opening.
"Whoa!?"
I shielded my eyes and waited for them to adjust. I could hear the Chief Priest shuffling around. When I slowly opened my eyes, the once pitch-dark room looked like a university research office.
Scrolls and parchment documents were scattered across the desk and shelves, and several books were stacked up. I didn't recognize the instruments, but there was a row of things on the shelf that vaguely resembled science lab equipment. In the corner of the room there was a long sofa—perhaps for rest—with documents scattered there too.
This was completely different from his usual room, which was neatly kept by his attendants. It was the Chief Priest's completely private space.
"I've set it up so that no one with less than a certain amount of Magic Power can enter. In the current Temple, there's probably no one besides you who can get in. It's perfect for secret meetings."
"What an amazing hidden room. It feels like the crystallization of magic..."
The Chief Priest swept aside the documents piled on the long sofa with a rustle and looked at me.
"...You have one in your room too, don't you?"
"Is that so? It's the first I've heard of it."
I'd never once pulled back the canopy of my bed, and the bed only had a frame without any bedding. Thinking about the possibility of it falling over, maybe I should put in at least some bedding.
"You won't be able to use it, since you'd need to register your Magic Power with the door."
"Magic Power registration?"
"That's not important. Let's get to the main topic. Sit there."
Cutting off the conversation, the Chief Priest pointed at the sofa he'd just cleared. He brought over a chair from his desk and sat down.
The face he raised smoothly wasn't expressionless like Fran's, giving no hint of emotion—it was a stern face with deep furrows between his brows.
...Is this going to be a lecture?
Having been scolded by Fran continuously over the past several days, I understood the purpose of today's visit. Could it be that he'd chosen this room because he intended to lecture me at a level he didn't want the attendants to see? Even if I called for Fran's help, there were only the two of us in this room, and there was no one who would come to my aid.
"A-Ah, um, Chief Priest. Why are we talking here?"
"Because Fran advised me that it would be useless to ask you for the kind of roundabout, indirect phrasing that nobles use."
The Chief Priest glared at me sharply. His face, which usually gave a cold impression when expressionless, was even more intimidating with the deep frown etched between his brows. Unlike Benno, who struck like lightning, this was the kind of fury that emanated a creeping chill, freezing you from the feet up.
"In fact, just the other day, you blurted out extremely important and borderline things without thinking at all, didn't you? The High Priest's attendant happened to be present on a matter of business—did you notice?"
"I didn't notice at all."
"And you don't seem to understand that it was the kind of conversation that shortens one's own life—criticizing the High Priest's conduct in front of the High Priest's attendant. Do you understand?"
"...I-I'm sorry."
I'd hoped the Chief Priest would understand me at least a little, but apparently he'd been criticizing the High Priest's methods, and both the Chief Priest and the attendant—and everyone present—had been holding their breath.
"At the very least, remember the faces and names of the Blue Priests, as well as that attendant. How can you not know the people you need to be on guard against? You're far too careless."
The Chief Priest's exasperated expression looked just like the one Benno made. It seemed I was destined to be scolded wherever I went.
"...Benno often tells me I'm thoughtless too."
"Now that you mention it, he also said you have no sense of caution and never learn even after being deceived. I fully agree with Benno's assessment. As a Blue Shrine Maiden Apprentice standing on the side of the nobility, you must learn and master the ways of nobles."
"Yes."
The Chief Priest's opinion was entirely motivated by concern for my position. As Fran had said, the Chief Priest's true feelings were buried so deep that I couldn't read them—but it turned out he was protecting me from the High Priest.
"You have no instinct for reading hidden intentions, and you never try to hide your own opinions—you're too straightforward. But in noble society, that can be fatal. I'm fed up with having to sit through conversations where I'm constantly on edge. I couldn't even tell whether my intentions were getting across to you, so I determined this room was the best choice for discussing matters I don't want others to overhear."
"I truly apologize."
Since the Chief Priest had to say his true feelings outright for me to understand, this was where we needed to talk. It was a bother, but being able to have a frank conversation was a relief.
"Fran contacted me. You've decided to become the director of the orphanage, is that correct? At that time, you said you couldn't handle the responsibility—are you sure you're all right?"
Pinned down by his gaze, which carried a strong light as if probing into the depths of my heart, I straightened my back. My resolve to save them was firm. At the very least, I wanted to convey my determination, so I looked him straight in the eye.
"Honestly, I'm still scared of the responsibility. But I can't leave things as they are. If I can help them, I want to."
"Hmm. If you have the resolve, then I won't object."
Granted so readily, I felt as though I'd been caught off guard.
"Huh? Is that really okay?"
"I should have already given my approval unofficially through Fran?"
"I heard about that, but it was so different from our previous conversation that I was surprised..."
"If I'm indirect, you won't get the message. There's no helping it."
"Ahh, I'm sorry."
I apologized—I'd lost count of how many times—before the Chief Priest brought over several sheets of paper. After glancing through them, he turned his gaze to me.
"I've heard the general outline from Fran, but it's not very clear. Fran doesn't seem to fully understand it himself either. He said the conversation was progressing through the merchant's unique phrasing and unspoken agreements. So explain to me—what exactly do you intend to do as director of the orphanage?"
I explained the plan we'd all put together.
"I'll turn the orphanage into a Mine Workshop. First, I'll improve the nutritional condition of the children who will become workers, do a thorough cleaning of the orphanage-turned-workshop, and install the necessary tools. Then, in order to improve their nutrition, I plan to teach them to cook for themselves. If they can at least make soup on their own, combined with God's blessings, I think their nutrition will improve significantly."
"I see. And what's this about making all the orphans your attendants?"
The Chief Priest looked at me sharply.
"...As my attendants, I could send them outside the Temple on errands."
"If that's the only reason, then don't do it. When another Blue Priest enters, you'll run out of people to appoint as attendants, and if you take them all in, it will create unnecessary conflict. Send them out as errands under the director's authority instead."
"Understood."
If the children could leave the Temple, there was no particular need to make them attendants. I nodded in agreement.
"What happens after the children's nutrition has improved?"
"I'll have them make Plant Paper. Previously, only Lutz and I made it, so if we teach them the method, even children should be able to do it."
"Plant Paper, hmm..."
The Chief Priest glanced at the stacks of paper on his desk. Come to think of it, among the gifts Benno had presented, the one the Chief Priest had been most pleased with was Plant Paper.
"There won't be any unauthorized sales, and everything made at Mine Workshop has a Contract Magic agreement that it will be sold exclusively by the
"A good judgment, befitting a merchant. As long as it can't be seized by the High Priest even if discovered, that's fine. But what will you do with the paper?"
Looking faintly disappointed, the Chief Priest continued.
"I'll have them sell the products so they can buy food on their own to make up the difference. That way, I won't need to cover food expenses, and no one will starve due to changes in the number of Blue Priests and priestesses."
"What's your reason for doing this, when you're fundamentally indifferent to everyone else? You wouldn't take on this kind of trouble without any benefit to yourself, would you?"
That was the most important question. The Chief Priest intensified his gaze and stared at me. I stared right back with an equally unflinching look.
"So that I can read in peace of mind, obviously."
"What?"
The Chief Priest's eyes went wide, as if he couldn't understand.
"If I know there are children starving just beyond the wall, I can't stop worrying about it. While I'm absorbed in a book, it's fine, but the moment I stop reading, that image comes flooding back, and the guilt and discomfort become unbearable."
"So you're becoming director of the orphanage and running a workshop solely to remove obstacles to your reading?"
"That's right."
When I nodded emphatically, the Chief Priest pressed his fingers to his temples.
"You are... an even greater fool than I anticipated."
"I get that a lot."
"...Fine. What's the timeline? If I grant permission, how long until things are on track?"
"Most of the preparation is already done. With the current season, I think about a month should be enough to make paper, sell it, and be able to buy a reasonable amount of food."
"Oh my."
The Chief Priest murmured that this time the preparation had been much more thorough.
Benno and Fran had checked the plan for holes multiple times from both the merchant and noble perspectives, so there shouldn't be any issues. I still vividly remembered them bluntly stating that the biggest risk factor was me.
"Very well. I grant my permission."
"Thank you. Fran said that if it was the Chief Priest, he would understand as long as things were properly explained. Benno also said the Chief Priest has good eyes for a priest, so if I'm going to consult anyone, it should be the Chief Priest. ...Why are you different from the other priests?"
I asked, knowing full well this was a question that would get me scolded if asked outside, and sure enough, the Chief Priest told me with a sigh, "Don't ask me that outside this room."
"I don't intend to go into detail, but like you, I didn't grow up in this Temple. I grew up in noble society and entered the Temple for a particular reason. That's why the High Priest's methods can rub me the wrong way, but open opposition right now wouldn't be wise. Be careful not to provoke any more anger."
"...Won't running the orphanage provoke anger?"
Orphans earning their own money—it went directly against the way things had always been done. When I asked timidly, the Chief Priest scoffed.
"I do intend to maintain the appearance that I pushed this through, but don't do anything too flashy. In your case, your common sense differs so far from ours that we can't even predict what you'll do. Report everything you do to me. And listen carefully to what Fran says. Understood?"
"Yes."
After having the Chief Priest drill the mantra of "report, communicate, consult" into me multiple times, I left his hidden room and returned to my own room with Fran.
Gil and Lutz greeted me with eager eyes.
"Mine, how did it go?"
"I got scolded a lot. They told me to seriously learn how to be noble. Thoughtless and careless..."
"Does that mean you can't be the orphanage director?"
Lutz and Gil's faces clouded with worry. I quickly shook my head.
"No, I did become the director. Mine Workshop is fine. It's just... I really do get scolded everywhere I go, don't I..."
"Well, that's just Mine for you."
Lutz lightly patted the top of my head and gave a small laugh.
Before I could begin the orphanage reform, there was still one more thing I had to do.
A talk with Deria. I wanted to put a gag order on Deria, whose job it was to feed information to the High Priest.
No matter how much I tried to keep things secret, with other attendants milling about, Benno and Lutz coming and going, and people bustling around the orphanage, there was no way Deria wouldn't notice. But until the workshop's work got on track, I really didn't want the High Priest to interfere.
Deria had also said she'd help the orphans if she could, so I believed she'd be supportive of rescuing them. Surely, now that preparations to help them were nearly complete, she wouldn't say it was better for them to die.
Meeting her gaze, I decided to ask Deria honestly. Since Deria also reported when she met the High Priest's attendants, I felt that a straightforward request would work better than any roundabout approach.
"Hey, Deria. I'm planning to help the children before their Baptism Ceremony. That's why I don't want the High Priest to interfere. I'd like you to keep quiet about this for a while. You also want to help those children if you can, right? Would you do this for me?"
After a brief silence, Deria squeezed her eyes shut tight, then shook her head as if trying to cast off something she'd remembered.
"...I don't want to go to the orphanage. I don't want to remember it, and I don't want anything to do with it."
"Yes, I know. That's why I just need you to stay here and keep watch over the cooks. I'm just asking you to look the other way for a little while. Can you do that?"
Managing ingredients and supervising the cooks was absolutely necessary, so someone always had to remain in the room. If I assigned that job to Deria, who didn't want to go to the orphanage, she herself wouldn't need to head there.
"Fine, I'll keep quiet. But this isn't for your sake—it's for the children. Don't think you've won me over."
With a slightly relieved expression that she quickly turned away from with a "hmph," Deria gave me her promise to keep quiet. Breathing a sigh of relief, I made a promise to Deria too.
"Thank you, Deria. I will definitely help them."
"I-I didn't ask you to. But if you're going to do this, don't you dare fail."
Her attitude was prickly, but I think it was fair to say Deria had her hopes up too, right?
I'd been scolded by the Chief Priest, and Deria's gag order was secured.
Now all the preparations are complete.
Next time, the Mine Workshop Orphanage Branch launches.