Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

*

"Really! So you were following me here?"

“S-Sorry…”

This is the restaurant located deep inside the church.

I sat at the large round table, being scolded by Miss Seele who was sitting in the chair next to me, and apologized dejectedly.

After being overrun by a large group of children like they were attacking a tower, we arrived at this restaurant.

Although the walls and pillars show some signs of age and paint wear, the long-used magic stone lamps and candlesticks create a sense of life.

Around me and Miss Seele, the children who had just spoken, numbering no fewer than twenty, watched our conversation with great interest.

"Uh, so, in other words, this church..."

"Yes, Mr. Craney, this is an orphanage."

The woman sitting opposite us… Ms. Maria Martell, who had just introduced herself, smiled at me. On either side of her, the half-elf who had just been called Little Path and another child held her arms.

Ms. Maria said that she and the children gathered in the restaurant had been living in this abandoned church building for a long time. The middle-aged woman smiled and told me that she didn't run the place in any particular way; she just lived a lively yet simple life with the children every day.

Her black hair was piled on her head, and her face was somewhat thin but looked gentle and kind. Seeing her tender eyes, it's not hard to understand why the helpless children would call her "Mom" and admire her so much.

She must love these children very much.

"But...you mean the orphanage..."

"There are many places like this on Daedalus Road, Mr. Bell."

Just as I was about to speak about the meaning of the word "orphanage," Miss Seele, who was sitting next to me, explained it to me.

In the labyrinthine city of Orario, it is said that countless children are born between adventurers. These children are not necessarily the fruit of a lifelong love between two people; sometimes they are simply the result of a moment of passion, or the accidental pregnancy of prostitutes... In short, women may become pregnant unintentionally for various reasons.

Adventurers who venture into the dungeons often die young, leaving behind these women and children.

Shockingly, some of those who cannot be supported by the adventurer's "Family" or mothers who abandon their children will leave their babies in this slum, "Daedalus Road".

"At first it was out of compassion, but I couldn't bear to leave the children who had been abandoned by their parents... so I took it upon myself to borrow this church and opened an orphanage in name only."

When I was quite shocked, Ms. Maria touched the child's head and said this to me.

She told me that she was originally an ordinary citizen without a family, whose adventurer partner had passed away. She and her lover had no children, but when she saw an infant being soaked by the cold rain in the dark of night in this slum, she felt a deep empathy for the child and could not bear to see him die.

So she went around protecting abandoned children, which led to the formation of the large family we have today.

"..."

After hearing the story of the church, I looked around at the faces of the children.

Each of these children is an orphan abandoned by their parents... I learned another side of Orario, and I couldn't help but feel saddened.

"What are you doing, [Little Rookie]? We're happy living with Mom, don't look at us like that!"

“S-Sorry!”

With his face covered in scratches, the seemingly mischievous human, Ray's younger brother, raised his eyes.

"You can't do that!" Ms. Maria scolded him, but I quickly apologized.

He's right... I shouldn't pity them anymore. These children admire Ms. Maria like a mother and laugh heartily. They don't feel unfortunate at all.

"Um... but, is it financially okay...?"

"Yes, we are still able to have enough to eat and wear, thanks to the compassionate goddesses who are helping us."

I was worried about how I would raise so many children without enough money. Ms. Maria smiled and answered my question. I then learned that besides her "Maria Orphanage," there seemed to be several other orphanages along Daedalus Road. Some of the Familia's chief deities would donate their faction funds to these facilities.

Ms. Maria said with a wry smile that she, a woman, was already too busy taking care of her children, and that she was only able to make ends meet thanks to the donations from all the goddesses; after hearing her say that, I thought about it for a moment.

Could we ask the gods to help us do something for them?

Yes, although our [family] is definitely not exactly well-off...

Perhaps sensing my distress, Miss Seele beside me chuckled softly and shook her shoulder.

"Ever since I met Miss Seele, she has often come over to play with the children. She has also been very kind in taking care of them, which has been a great help to me."

"Ah, I see..."

"Hehe, has the mystery been solved, Mr. Bell?"

"Uh, yes..." I blushed a little when Miss Seele teased me.

She said that Miss Seele would come to the orphanage whenever she had free time. Or rather, when she wasn't working at the tavern, she would spend time at the orphanage with the children.

"Sometimes Sister Xi'er brings dishes from the shop—"

"I've been coming here every day lately..."

The dog-woman Fina smiled, while the half-elf brother (?) stared blankly at me.

Seeing how happily the children were talking, it was clear they liked Miss Seele very much. Hearing them say that Miss Seele had been coming to work every day lately, the reason for her taking leave from "The Abundant Mistress" became clear.

Miss Seele put a finger to her lips and said to me, who understood what was going on, "You can't tell Ryu and the others, okay?"

According to Miss Seele, she would be scolded if they found out she skipped work to play with children.

Hmm... I think if she just explains the reason, everyone should forgive her...

(but……)

Why does Miss Seele come to this orphanage so often?

To ask a further question, how did she come to know Ms. Maria and the others?

I was very curious about their encounter and what happened, and just as I was about to ask—

"Hey, hey, stop talking about that! Tell us about your adventures in the dungeon!"

With an enthusiastic expression, Lei's younger brother leaned forward from his chair.

The other children were also excited and wanted me to tell them my adventure stories so far.

I panicked and looked to the side. Miss Seele smiled at me and said, "Just tell them."

Although things developed naturally, the situation became truly unbelievable. As I thought this, I stammered and embarrassed as I recounted my dungeon explorations up to this day.

Although it's impossible to talk about Goliath, the Black Floor Master who was under a gag order from the guild, the story of the food storage pantry towering above the beautiful quartz and being chased by Goliath on the 17th floor was very well received.

Seeing the joy shining on everyone's faces, I couldn't help but feel happy too. At the children's request, I was about to continue the story... when I suddenly noticed Ms. Maria's expression.

She seemed a little sullen, and as soon as she noticed my gaze, she quickly apologized, saying, "I'm sorry."

"Because the children who grew up in Raba all became adventurers..."

Ms. Maria lowered her eyebrows and smiled sadly.

"Many children joined the [Family], went to the dungeon, donated money to our church for support... and then, they never came back."

"what……"

"I don't want these kids to become adventurers... I just can't help thinking that."

Adventurers are in a high-risk, high-reward profession; it's a gamble with one's life.

There's no better industry for making quick money, but adventurers must constantly risk their lives. The kind-hearted children, raised by Lady Maria, defied her warnings and ventured into the dungeon for the orphanage, only to end up like the adventurers who never returned…

I was so careless. Even when the children begged me, I shouldn't have described the adventurer's life as incredibly fun, which piqued their interest.

As I was feeling apologetic towards Ms. Maria, who was worried about the children's future, my brother Ray suddenly stood up.

"Don't worry, Mom! I'll go to the 'school district'!"

The oldest of the children said this with a smile.

"I'm going to study hard there, get strong and healthy, and then make a lot of money!"

"Hmm... if it's a 'school district,' I won't stop it..."

"Don't worry about tuition either, there are so-called 'scholarships,' right?! The school district will be returning to Orario this year, isn't that perfect!"

"I wonder if Ray is old enough to get into school..."

Younger brother Lai, with his short, brown hair, grinned broadly at Ms. Maria, who was wearing a wry smile. Fina and the others followed suit, raising their hands and shouting, "Me too—!?" "Me too—!" The restaurant suddenly became lively.

Miss Seele smiled and looked around at the children, but I was the only one who tilted my head.

"School district...?"

"Big brother, you don't know—?"

"What?! Rookie? You call yourself an adventurer?!"

Centered around Fina and Lai, the children seized the opportunity to become smug and make fun of me, who knew nothing. Of course, I felt embarrassed and could only force a smile.

"Okay, no more teasing your older brothers and sisters! And you're not a 'rising star,' you have to call him 'Brother Bell,' right?"

At this moment, Miss Seele stood up and reprimanded the children.

After she said that, Lei's brother and the others looked embarrassed and replied with "Okay."

It felt a bit unexpected.

Miss Seele is like an older sister.

I've never seen Miss Seele like this before, including her way of speaking, and I can't help but be a little surprised.

Just as I blinked and looked at her profile... I heard a clanging sound.

From the east of the city, the sound of a large bell announcing the noon hour rang out.

"Ah, it's noon. Well then, let's have lunch."

So Miss Seele placed the rattan cage on the round table, the same large rattan cage she had seen when she arrived.

She took out several dishes from the container, including meat, sandwiches, and various vegetables... everything imaginable.

It seems that the rattan basket Miss Seele brought was for children who often have financial difficulties.

Seeing her happily setting the food on the table for the children, my expression softened considerably.

Although I didn't have time to ask about the "school district," well, I'll ask Miss Eina and the others next time.

As I was thinking this... all the children around me fell silent.

"That's strange, what's wrong?"

"Seele's bento box..."

I asked Fina, who was sitting closer to me, what was wrong. She stared at the food with a bitter expression that even adults found embarrassing. The other children were the same; even little Lu, who always seemed lost in thought, remained silent.

Wait, I remember now, they were saying they were trying to avoid Miss Seele's bento... Huh?

As Ms. Maria smiled wryly, and I was in a panic, Miss Seele commanded the table with a goddess-like smile, "Then let's eat!"

Faced with the bento boxes made by Miss Seele, the children struggled internally for a while, but then, as if for the sake of the greater good, they had no choice but to reach out and take the precious food.

"Waaaaah~"

"Today's was especially, really impressive..."

"I can't not eat it, it would be such a waste...!?"

The children's cries began to emanate from the dining table.

Starting with Fina, Xiaolu, and Lai, the children's faces immediately darkened after taking a bite of the vegetables and meat. Perhaps out of consideration for their mother, Maria, who worked part-time for the orphanage, they reluctantly ate the food that was served, leaving none behind.

...Indeed, the lunches Miss Seele sends me always taste a bit strange.

I glanced sideways at the smiling Miss Seele, thinking, "Those lunches weren't that bad, were they?" and tried to reach for a sandwich—she suddenly reached out her hand.

Miss Seele took the whole bento box away from in front of me.

"Mr. Bell can't eat it."

"Huh! But..."

"Can't."

"Ah, yes."

She was all smiles yet exuded a powerful aura, which made me obediently give up.

Miss Seele, holding the bento box in both hands, said, "This was made for these children, so Mr. Bell can't eat it!" Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She then said she was going to pour tea and ran into the depths of the restaurant with the wicker basket in her hand.

"Seele's expression just now...it was completely like a woman's..."