Chapter 40
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”””I’m sorry…”””
Three girls apologize.
It seems they tried to eavesdrop on my conversation with Ms. Monoka, but they were leaning against the door, and when she opened it, they tumbled in.
This means… they probably didn’t hear our conversation since they were too close to the door to catch any sounds.
So, I suggest to Ms. Monoka that we keep it light and just give them a gentle warning.
”Well, since eavesdropping can lead to dangerous situations, please be more careful in the future. Ms. Monoka, skipping meals might affect the work you’ve been assigned, so let’s find another way to handle it.”
I said this because I figured all the girls in this orphanage, who aren’t too much younger than me, are involved in the sorting work.
”Ah, that’s true. Then let’s reduce the reward.”
”””What!?”””
The 3 girls react the same way to Ms. Monoka’s suggestion as they did before.
”That’s not fair! As Mr. Mose said, depending on the situation and the person, it could be dangerous!”
At those words, a quiet-looking girl who I met at the gate speaks up.
”Are we really talking about this here?”
It seems that it’s more accurate to say she has a flat expression rather than being quiet, as she boldly challenges the situation even though she’s the one being scolded.
Indeed… Frederica, the daughter of a powerful figure in the city, might come here sometimes, but even she wouldn’t spill life-threatening secrets in this place.
However, Ms. Monoka sighed softly at her.
”It’s not just about doing it here. If you get used to eavesdropping, you might end up doing it elsewhere, right?”
”Oh… I see.”
Apparently, she wasn’t arguing emotionally, as she seemed to easily accept Ms. Monoka’s words.
She nodded, but then… she suddenly came closer to me.
”?”
What’s going on? I wondered. The girl suddenly bowed her head.
Is she going to apologize again? I thought.
But,
She raised her head vigorously, and at the same time, lifted her skirt.
Apparently, thong panties are standard around here, and due to the orphanage’s financial situation, they seemed to be of a simple make.
”Waah!”
”W-What are you doing?!”
Amidst the voices of the two who had intended to eavesdrop together, the girl asked with her pants fully exposed.
”S-So, what do you think?”
”What do you mean, what do I think…? What are you trying to do?”
”Apology pants. Abbreviated as ‘apolo-pants’.”
”What’s that supposed to mean…”
”S-So, what do you think?”
”What do you mean, what do I think…”
How should I respond?
Although her expression was sparse, her face was reddening, and she didn’t seem completely shameless.
If it’s an apology, it must be her intention to apologize, and it wouldn’t be right to hurt her dignity while she endures the shame.
Well, the girl, who is probably around my age, is a beauty, so if you ask me if it’s an apology, I guess it is.
As I thought about this while looking at the exposed pants, the curtain was suddenly lowered.
Slap!
”Ouch!”
”What are you doing?!”
Ms. Monoka slapped the back of the girl’s head, causing her to let go of the hem of her skirt.
She, who had been hit, explained her reasons for acting while holding her aching head.
”An apology and a sales pitch.”
”I understand the apology, but… a sales pitch?”
At my words, the girl looked at me and asked.
”From what you said earlier, did you bring the job of sorting magic stones here?”
”Yeah, that’s right.”
”I heard that the amount of magic stones is enough for a day’s earnings. Did you earn them?”
”Well… I guess it was me. I had one companion, but I mainly left the collection of the magic stones to them.”
”Are you part of some company?”
”No, I’m not.”
After answering that much, she suddenly hugged me.
”!”
”Whoa!”
”Hey, what are you doing?!”
Ms. Monoka shouted, but the girl kept hugging me and turned her face toward her.
”The magic stones brought here will be enough money even after deducting the share for your companions and the sorting fee. If that’s the case and you aren’t part of any company, then all that earning is yours to do with as you please.”
”That may be true, but…”
”Then, you should be able to hire us as your servants or something.”
Saying that, the girl turned her face back to me and resumed her explanation and sales pitch.
”Those 2 over there too, but considering our age, we can only stay here until the next winter. However, there aren’t many jobs that don’t require… you know.”
Well, it seems that jobs like ‘that’ require connections.
But…
”So you want me to hire you? I can’t guarantee I won’t ask for something in return, you know?”
”From Monoka’s attitude, I can tell you’re not that ‘kind of person’. It wouldn’t have been surprising if you used your position to do something inappropriate, but… your clothes are neat, and you haven’t been here that long. Most likely, you hardly ever make requests yourself.”
”Well, it’s true I didn’t mean it that way… Huh? Wait, were you trying to eavesdrop because you were worried about Ms. Monoka?”
”Eh?”
Ms. Monoka gasps in surprise at my guess.
In response, the girl confirms my assumption.
”Well, yeah.”
”You guys…”
At that reply, Ms. Monoka, who had scolded the eavesdropping, looks apologetic, but… the girl’s next words make her show anger again.
”…About half of it.”
”Half? So the other half is really not out of interest!”
”Well, I’m at that age. I’m curious about how much Monoka’s chest bounces.”
”Ah, you…”
I’m curious about that too…
Ignoring the angry and exasperated Ms. Monoka, the girl presses me for a job again.
”So, what do you think? I don’t know about those 2 over there, but if you ask, I’m willing to respond.”
”Then it’s no different from other workplaces…”
”Since you brought it up, it’s completely different. And I thought it would be fine since you were the one who said it.”
Did she think my response was gentlemanly?
I don’t want to be seen as a good person; I just want to avoid unnecessary hate.
Besides…
”You say that without even seeing my face. I could have a really creepy face, you know?”
”Ah… well, I’ve heard that you can do it without seeing the face. What I heard was that if you hide a woman’s face, you can do it.”
”Um…”
It’s probably a story about someone having a good body but not liking the face.
I can’t say much since I don’t understand the situation… but I’m curious whether she couldn’t check beforehand or if she did check and still went for it.
As I think about this, the girl reaches out to my face.
She probably wants to lift my helmet to see my face… but I grab her hand to stop her.
She tilts her head and asks,
”…Is it so weird that you can’t show it?”
”There are various reasons. Whether it’s weird or not depends on the person looking.”
”From the way you say that, the reason you can’t show it isn’t the face itself. I promise to keep your secret, so please show me.”
She said she could go along without seeing my face, but it seems she’s still curious.
However, considering the risk of moving as “Koji,” I can’t agree.
”No way. In this world, there are times when people get hurt to extract information, and besides, I don’t plan on hiring anyone.”
Well, this is a facility supported by Frederica, so I think they won’t do anything too rough.
”Ugh.”
”Pouting won’t help. Well, since I’ve decided to continue requesting the sorting of magic stones here, you can accept that.”
”…Got it.”
The girl said that and reluctantly moved away from me, but then…
”I’m Nero. I’m not giving up, so if there’s a chance, please take care of me.”
She said that and winked at me with a serious face.
* * *
”I’m really sorry…”
Ms. Monoka sent Nero and the others to pick up the sorted magic stones, then bowed deeply in front of me.
It seems she feels responsible due to her position.
”Well, part of it is because they’re worried about Ms. Monoka, so it’s not like I’m upset or anything.”
”Th-That can’t be! I’m already going to be in your debt for the work you’re giving me…”
”Even if you say that…”
”I-I should apologize… ah!”
While bowing her head, Ms. Monoka seemed to notice something… a few seconds later, she suddenly lifted her head.
With the hem of her skirt.
*Rustle!*
”Whoa!”
She blushed and lifted her skirt, showing off the beige-colored panties she was wearing underneath.
This is… the “apolo-panties” that Nero did earlier.
When Nero did it, Ms. Monoka was surprised too, so it doesn’t seem like this is something common.
As I was shocked, she asked for my opinion.
”W-What do you think? Um, it wasn’t planned, so it’s not that great…”
Looking at the panties she revealed, they seemed to be plain and casual wear.
However, since a beautiful girl is shyly showing this, as long as they aren’t too shabby, it’s more than enough to be a treat for the eyes.
Well… I can’t help but think about wanting her to wear beautiful, well-crafted underwear made with techniques from my past life.
While thinking about that, I answered her question.
”No, I think it’s good enough.”
”R-Really? They’re just ordinary, or rather, cheaper ones…”
”Hmm… as long as they aren’t too weird, it really depends on the person wearing them.”
”Eh? So, because I’m wearing them, they look good?”
”Well, yes. So as an apology, this is more than enough.”
”I-I see. Then…”
I thought it would be embarrassing, so I said that, and she pulled down the hem of her skirt… but the redness on her face stayed for a while.
”Hm? What happened?”
Because of that, Ms. Monoka noticed the bag filled with magic stones that Nero and the others were carrying back, and she shook her head and chest side to side, trying her best to cover it up.
It seemed like she was trying to hide that she apologized the same way as Nero.
She’s the one who was hitting and scolding Nero for that.
”Ah, no… it’s nothing! Nothing at all!”
”…?”
Nero and the others were watching that scene with suspicious eyes.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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