The wife of the feudal lord was managing the orphanage. It wasn’t so ridiculous considering how Viscount Vernice was depicted as a benevolent lord who took care of his citizens’ welfare. That was how the children’s needs were taken care of perfectly at the orphanage since the feudal lord’s wife herself was the one managing them.

Of course, nobody knows of this fact. Not the public at least, it was easy for me since I could see the noble-like demeanor in her every action. I’m supposedly a noble too, after all. But I have no intentions of revealing that fact, especially to the children at the orphanage. I could use the information to my advantage, however.

Knock! Knock!

I knocked on the door to Mrs. Dorothy’s office and was invited in. I sat down on the guest’s couch comfortably and got straight to the point.

“I want to bring some of the children to study at the Arcadia Academy so I came here to talk to you about it, Mrs. Dorothy; or should I call you Mrs. Vernice instead?”

Mrs. Dorothy who was working on some paperwork wasn’t fazed by my question. As I expected, she already knew about me.

“The Count’s oldest son is more amazing than the rumors were told.”

I smirked at her statement and just stayed silent. A maid came in at that moment bringing tea and poured in a cup for me. I stupidly took a sip of the scalding cup of tea and frowned from the heat that touched my tongue.

“Ouch,” I said.

Mrs. Dorothy smiled at my silly conduct and stood up from her seat. She sat down on the couch facing me and asked me a question while taking a sip from the cup of tea poured for her.

“Why do you want them to study at such a prestigious place?”

“I think they’re talented, so I don’t think it’s a bad idea to let them study at a good school. Besides, I’m going there too so I would like to have my friends go there too. Not that I would have trouble making new friends there though.”

“Fufu, how peculiar. A noble’s heir making friends with commoners, and orphans too?”

“My parents didn’t raise me to become a prejudiced trash.”

“Trash, is it? Well, it’s not like I disagree with you. I could help with the recommendation to the Academy, but it’s up to them to pass the selective enrollment test.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that. I taught them, after all.”

“I see.”

The discussion with Mrs. Dorothy went well. I returned to the inn to get some rest. Harry wasn’t at the inn, he must have been looking for information about those Black Rose guys. He’s working hard.

Anyways, I slept soundly for the rest of the day.

***

Mrs. Dorothy’s POV:

Flip

I was going through some paperwork in my office and paused my reading to take a break. I looked out the window where the blue moon could be seen in the night sky.

I thought about the incident this evening. Richard Hale, the oldest heir to Andrew Hale, the Guardian Mage of Arcadia. Such a prominent figure as himself would unquestionably give birth to an amazing heir, but none would have guessed for the child to be this much of a monster.

There were already rumors about the child’s brilliance in the noble society but now I realized that even those rumors didn’t do his true capabilities justice. He just turned 11 years old but he’s already an A-ranked adventurer.

As the town where the most reputable adventurers gather, the Cale branch of the Adventurer Guild is notorious for its strict conditions to get into the high ranks but Richard easily passed those requirements. He’s not only the youngest to ever become an adventurer he’s also the youngest A-ranked adventurer. At this rate, it’s not impossible for him to get into the fabled S-rank before he even starts going to school.

I contemplated his request while staring at the moon and didn’t realize my maid came in with dinner. I usually eat dinner with the kids but I was a bit busy today.

“Oh, you’re here.”

“You haven’t eaten yet, madam.”

“I’m fine, thank you for bringing it in.”

“No, you should take care of your hunger.”

Ellie was my personal maid. I took her in after she lost her parents who were my close friends to bandits at a very young age. I doted on her like my own daughter and she grew up to be an excellent maid. She perfectly took care of all my needs and was my greatest support in managing the orphanage.

“Alright then.”

I smiled at her and moved to the couch and ate dinner while conversing with her.

“What do you think of the idea?” I asked Ellie.

“To send some of the children to study at Arcadia Academy?”

“Un.”

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for those children.”

“Why do you think he wants to help those kids.”

“...”

Ellie was silent at my question, and after some moment she opened her mouth.

“If I’m being honest, I don’t think that it’s something as innocent as ‘wanting your friends to go to the same school’.”

“Then what do you think his purpose was?”

I sent a curious look at Ellie before she continued.

“We’ve seen what he’s capable of. His excellent insight led to him being able to figure out the madam’s identity; he’s not just a simple child.”

“I think he’s just planting the seeds to gather talented people under him. That’s why he has been training some of the children this past week. Although he might have done it on a whim it makes sense for him to be ambitious when he recognizes their talents. In other words-”

“He’s training his future subordinates.”

I finished Ellie’s sentence. Ellie nodded slightly and reaffirmed.

“Yes.”

“Fufu. What a scary child.”

“Do you want me to follow him?”

“No need, we shouldn’t make an enemy out of him. Even if he’s not a threat now, his father is reason enough for us to maintain our friendliness. Send a message to my husband, I need to discuss with him about the recommendation letter for the academy.”

“Yes, madam.”

Ellie bowed slightly and exited the room bringing the leftover food with her.

I sipped the tea alone in my room and muttered.

“Perhaps the Vernice should move out of our neutral stance.”

I foresaw how the child will grow up to be a figure more prominent than his father in the kingdom’s - no - it might even be the continent’s future.

***

Richard’s POV:

“9,999... 10,000”

I did my last handstand push-up of the day and dropped the boulder I was balancing on my feet. I came to the forest right after waking up every day to do my workout routine, I can’t be comfortable if I didn’t train this much. The intensity increased dramatically after I successfully tempered my body with qi; it used to be a simple workout routine I copied from my previous life but now it’s ridiculous just hearing about it. 10,000 handstand push-ups with a heavy boulder on your feet? Even Daitama[1] didn’t train that much.

I washed off the sweats on my body at a nearby waterfall. I didn’t have to worry about monsters here since I marked this area as my territory using mana. The beasts that roam this part of the forest aren’t powerful enough to go against their fearful instinct towards a more powerful existence. Anyways, this place is like my backyard now.

Don’t worry about this place being a monster's habitat though; the area I took over was just a minuscule portion compared to the size of Zarek Forest. Also, there were still some aquatic animals that were living in the small lake staying there after I took over. They were tame so I let them play around. They recognized me too so they weren’t scared of me.

While I was busy washing myself in the waterfall I noticed something entered my territory so I quickly dried myself and wore my clothes while hiding my presence. I hid on top of a tree branch while peeking at the person wandering in my secret hideout.

‘A girl?’

It was a woman in white armor with beautiful silver hair and a pretty face, unlike any woman I’ve ever seen before. She reminded me of someone I heard about.

Ah, it was the Ice Cold Princess, one of the S-ranked adventurers based in Cale. She got that nickname from her cold expression that seemed like she had never smiled her whole life. I could see where they were coming from now.

What is she doing here? I silently got down and snuck behind her to make a stylish entrance.

“What are you doing here?”

She turned around and saw me standing with a strong and cool expression. Moon was sheathed in its scabbard on my waist; despite my small stature from my young age, I gave off a strong first impression.

She tilted her head in confusion seeing me that way.

“Who are you?”

“Richard, this is my turf so I need to ask you to not intrude.”

I said politely but with an assertive tone. She suddenly giggled while covering her mouth at my silly attempt to look cool.

Of course, this would happen, what kind of person would be intimidated by a child. The very first day I came to the Adventurer Guild I already had to bash an idiot’s head to the ground.

“You must be Richard.”

She knew me already. Well, I doubt a child rising the Adventurer Guild’s rank as quickly as I did wouldn’t garner any attention.

“Indeed, and you must be the Ice Cold Princess. Although you weren’t as cold as the rumors told.”

She had a cute smile on her face while meeting me for the first time today, I don’t see any coldness in her expression. Those people must be blind to not see this.

“Then why are you here, big sis?”

I gave up on trying to look cool and just act as I normally would by calling her a name I call every other girl older than me. Which was Rebecca and only Rebecca.

“Big sis? Fufu, such a cute child is calling me big sis. I think I could die happy now.”

She started talking nonsense. She was nothing like the rumors.