Chapter 33 – Happy Orphans (1/2)
With everyone's hands washed, I had a look at the simmering pot. As best as I could tell, it was ready.
”Alright, it's ready”
”Everyone! Let's head to the dinning room now!”
Following up for me, the director called everyone to order, and the small army of kids rushed over to take their seats at the arrayed tables.
When the kitchen was cleared out, I grasped the heavy pot in my hands and carefully lifted it up. I had wanted to try carrying something that would normally look impossible with my body, and this was the perfect opportunity.
The iron pot was pretty warm as well, but not so hot that it burned my hands as I awkwardly carried it over. And despite it probably weighing more than I did, as long as I actively resisted against it's mass, my centre of gravity stayed inside of my body rather than in front of it. Hooray for stats!
”Wow!”
”That's amazing!”
”You're so strong!”
”Miss Scarlet, are you sure you're fine carrying it by yourself?”
”Ah yea. I have a pretty high level, so I'm fine”
I quickly placed the pot on the ground, then one by one, I levitated over the kids' bowls, filled them, than floated them back to a chorus of 'oohs' and 'aahs'.
”Miss Scarlet, I can do the serving. You don't need to mind such a thing”
”It's fine. It'll be faster if I do it”
”If you say so”
”By the way, what about your bowl?”
All the seats were occupied, and I didn't see any extra bowls for the director.
”Ah, no. The children come first”
”I made enough for everyone. That includes you as well”
”That may be true, but I'd rather the children have their fill first”
”Look, you're the kids' caregiver. If you collapse because you didn't eat properly, then it's the kids that'll be in trouble, won't they?”
I felt like we suddenly swapped positions from a few minutes ago.
”That's...I understand. It wouldn't do to not be able to care for the children just because I didn't care for myself”
The short lady quickly made her way to a shelf and timidly came back presenting a bowl. I made sure to fill it up all the way with some extra meat.
”Does everyone have their food?”
”Yes!”
”We do!”
”What about you?”
”Yea, you don't have any!”
”Miss Scarlet, do you remember what you just told me?”
Out of nowhere, Philia reversed our positions.
”Ah, no. I ate before coming here, so I'm not hungry”
”Really? Well, we'll believe your words. Now everyone, what do you say to Miss Scarlet?”
”””Thank you for the meal!”””
All at once, the kids started to gorge themselves out on the stew. Even the director happily ate as she stood at the side.
”Ah, could you handle the refills Miss Philia? I'm gonna take a look around if you don't mind”
”Oh, ah yes. Of course. But wouldn't you like a guide?”
”It's fine. It's better for you guys to eat first, and I won't be long”
Without giving her a chance to object further, I quickly made my way out of the dining hall.
I passed through one room to the next, examining the conditions these people were living in. While everything was well kept and ordered, especially considering that there were dozens of kids here, the rooms were pretty sparse. The furnishings were barely adequate, and everything looked like they were cobbled together from scraps. The building itself was only just barely holding itself together, with cracks everywhere, most of which were filled in with mud to avoid drafts, but that only had limited effectiveness as many of the window shutters didn't fit properly, and some were even missing.
It felt like everywhere I went, I could feel the poverty just constantly screaming at me.
If this orphanage didn't have such a strong beginning, it most likely wouldn't have survived this long.
At the very least, I could do a little something so that the building itself was more livable and would last a while longer.
I touched the walls and passed my mana through them, feeling out the structure. Anywhere I could feel cracks and weaknesses, I fixed and reinforced using [Terranian Magic]. The damaged shutters as well I quickly repaired and realigned, and the ones that were missing I made from scratch using some of the wood I had left in my magic bag.
In only a handful of minutes, I finished my little tour. The building itself was in a much better condition than before. Structurally speaking, it should have been almost as good as new, though I didn't go as far as to alter it's surface appearance beyond fixing the visible cracks.
Next up, I looked at the bedrooms. The beds themselves were rickety and were unpadded. I made some simple adjustments to improve the beds' stability, but the lack of padding I couldn't do much about. I simply didn't have enough materials to make mattresses for all the kids.
Rummaging through my bag, I did find I did have enough for something else though.
I pulled out dozens of large animal pelts I had accumulated from all my hunting in the dungeon, and placed them on the beds. I think the monster I got them from were called frost leopards? They were a big white cats with a black pattern similar to leopards; I hunted on an icy canyon floor. They were pretty strong and aggressive, but their fur was incredibly soft and thick along with being very pretty.
There wasn't much more I could do for now, so I went back to the dining hall.
What greeted me was a room filled with kids with satisfied looks on their faces as they were putting away their dishes.
”Ah, Miss Scarlet!”
The first to notice me return was the orphanage's director.
”Thank you Miss Scarlet!”
”The food was really good!”
”Thanks for the food!”
”Ah, no problem. Was it enough?”
”We're so full!”
”I haven't had that much ever!”
”I ate three whole bowls!”
The kids' responses put a smile on my face.
”There is still a little bit left if you are hungry as well”
I made my way to short woman and peeked into the pot. There was probably enough for two or three servings left. I originally intended to have made enough so the kids could have it for breakfast as well, but I severely underestimated how many there were.
”No, I'm fine. Rather than that, are you fine for breakfast tomorrow?”
”Ah, yes. We have enough in stock, thanks to your generous donation today. I can't thank you enough for what you have done”
”It's fine. I said it before, but it's the duty of people like me to donate what people like you need to keep the orphanage running”
”In that case, it's also my duty to properly give thanks for the donations people like you give”
Philia gave me a bright, but slightly cocky smile.
(She's got me there)
”Ah, I suppose”
I scratched my cheek, unsure as to what more to say.
”Hey Miss”
There was a slight tugging on my sleeve. I turned to see a group of kids standing behind me.
”Are you a beastkin?”
The little kid's question made me freeze for a second.