Chapter 37: The Man from the City
A Peaceful, Quiet Orphanage
“Die, you cursed witch!”
“Die! Die!”
A group of five or six children surrounded a girl crouched beneath a tree.
“Die, witch!”
A boy picked up a stone and hurled it at her with force.
The stone flew swiftly, seemingly destined to strike her head and draw blood.
But—
Crack
A hand emerged from the girl’s shadow, snatching the stone mid-air.
Rumble
The hand rose, revealing a massive, pitch-black shadowy figure, larger than an adult man.
“Eek! A demon!”
“The witch summoned a demon!”
“Run!”
The children screamed and scattered in terror.
“…I don’t want this.”
Crack
The shadowy figure twisted its neck once before sinking back into her shadow.
“I’m tired of this…!”
The girl clutched her head and curled up tighter.
Creak
Late at night, when everyone was asleep, the girl tiptoed into the dormitory building, careful not to make a sound.
“Are you sure about this?”
The orphanage director’s voice echoed through the dark hallway.
“That child is truly cursed.”
My story…!
The girl crept closer to the door, peering through the crack.
Inside, the director was speaking with a man in a fedora.
“A cursed child, you say?”
“Yes… You may not believe it, but an entire village was wiped out because of her!”
“A village?”
“The tragedy of Haidel Village. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?”
My hometown…
The girl bit her lip as she eavesdropped.
Despite her young age, she was strikingly beautiful.
Many sponsors visiting the orphanage had offered to support or adopt her based on her appearance alone.
But after hearing the director’s story, they all abandoned her, some even refusing to meet her or fleeing after being attacked by her shadow.
This man will probably be the same.
It was only natural.
She was cursed, after all.
“That’s not all. Countless people have been injured by that monstrous thing just for approaching her!”
“It’s all your fault!”
“If you hadn’t been born as my daughter!”
“I’m sick of this!”
Memories of her parents and villagers flooded her mind.
“I’m… sick of it too…”
She hung her head limply.
Abandoned again.
Here.
Like this.
Cursed as I am, I’ll be discarded.
Is there even a reason to keep living?
Maybe I should just die…
“Doesn’t matter.”
!!!!!
Her eyes widened at the man’s response from inside.
“…Pardon?”
“I said it doesn’t matter. I’d like to start sponsoring her.”
“Are you serious? You might regret it!”
“Haha, me? Regret? Just process it quickly.”
He… didn’t abandon me?
Unlike every other visitor, this mysterious man showed a different attitude.
The girl felt a spark of curiosity about him.
He’s probably not that different from the others.
The next morning…
“Hey there.”
The man approached the girl, who was hiding in a corner of the orphanage, admiring flowers.
“You’re Alice, right?”
“…”
His tone was soft, unlike the stiff formality he’d used with the director the previous night.
For a moment, she wondered if he was someone else.
“Hmm… Did I startle you by talking out of nowhere? I’m just a guy who runs a shop in that city over there.”
He pointed to a distant city.
“I manage a little store there.”
“…So?”
“Haha, well, I took a liking to our Alice. I’m thinking of sponsoring you.”
“…You’re just after my body, aren’t you?”
Every male sponsor was like that. They always looked at me with those creepy eyes. They claimed they weren’t interested in a child’s body, but it was always the same. You’re no different.
“Your body?”
The man scratched his head.
“Sounds like some real trash came through here.”
Tap
He placed his hand on Alice’s head.
“No need to worry. I’m not interested in your body at all.”
Pat, pat
He gently stroked her head.
The shadow didn’t react…!
Her curse, the shadow, always acted on its own, attacking men with ill intentions who approached her.
She’d assumed this man would meet the same fate the moment he touched her, but…
Does he really have no interest in my body?
If the shadow deemed him safe, his intentions might truly be pure.
And this feeling…
Alice closed her eyes, savoring the touch of his hand.
It’s not bad…
For a girl abandoned by her parents, craving affection, this gentle pat was an irresistible act of love.
“Ta-da! Your old man’s here! Doing alright, my little cutie?”
The man popped out from the bushes in front of Alice.
“Hmph. I knew you were coming.”
“Haha, you did? Too bad, I wanted to see our Alice’s surprised face.”
As if I wouldn’t notice you coming to the orphanage.
Since meeting him, Alice’s daily routine had changed.
No longer did she cower in corners, enduring bullying from other orphans.
Now, she climbed trees, eagerly awaiting the man’s arrival.
Spotting him approaching the orphanage, she’d been thrilled but climbed down to sit casually, pretending indifference.
“Ta-da! I brought a gift for our little cutie Alice!”
He pulled a large gift box from his coat.
“A gift?”
“Heh, bet you’ll be shocked when you see this!”
Alice took the box from him.
“Open it.”
Rustle, rustle
She carefully opened it.
Inside were cute dolls, pretty ribbons, and a headband.
Dolls… ribbons… headbands…
Things she’d always wanted but could never have.
Things she’d envied when other orphans received them as gifts.
These things…
“…Thank you.”
“Hm? What’d you say?”
“I said thank you… you dumb old man.”
“Hahaha! Our little cutie’s thanking me? Guess I’ll have to bring more gifts next time!”
Alice picked up the items from the box.
“I’ll treasure them.”
“Hahaha, seeing my cutie happy makes this old man happy too!”
Rustle
“Ta-da, my little cutie!”
The man burst out from the bushes.
“…Huh?”
He looked puzzled, seeing no one there.
“Gotcha!”
Alice pounced from behind.
“Whoa!”
“Got you!”
The man stumbled forward.
“What’re you doing?”
“Ultimate old man fake-out!”
“Hahaha, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Alice grinned brightly at his question.
“But sneaking up on me like that!”
“Hmph, it’s your fault for getting startled!”
“Time for my tickle-tickle revenge! Come here!”
He wiggled his fingers and chased her.
“Eek! Gotta escape!”
Squealing, Alice ran, and the two laughed and chased each other for a while.
A child who longed for her parents.
A child who craved love more than anyone.
She gradually opened her heart to this man who kept coming to her.
He’s okay.
He’s…!
Someday, when the time came, she’d confess her feelings to him.
Or so she thought.
Pierce
“Cutie…”
“No… No, no, NO, old man!”
Until that day arrived.