Akatsuki Translations

Proudia, boasting the largest area on this continent thanks to the power of the 【Barrier of the Sun】, naturally used horse-drawn carriages for transportation within the city. Large-capacity carriages also ran regularly.

Ur and his companions were doing the same. In the carriage drawn by Dāru and Sūru, which barely swayed, Ur stretched.

“…It took quite a long time,” he said.

Several hours after visiting the Adventurers’ Guild, Ur’s group was finally able to head towards their next destination. They hadn’t expected a simple progress report to take so long.

《It was tough, wasn’t it, Nii-tan?》 Akane commented.

“Yeah, it really was. Our homecoming got delayed quite a bit,” Ur replied.

Ur’s purpose today wasn’t just to report to the Adventurers’ Guild, but also to return to his roots. Shizuku, who had been listening to the conversation between Ur and Akane, tilted her head.

“Were you born here, Ur-sama?” she asked.

“No, I don’t know where I was born. But when we were little, Akane and I were taken care of at the orphanage here the most,” Ur explained.

《It’s been so long!》 Akane exclaimed.

Considering that his earliest memories were of Proudia, it might not be an exaggeration to call it his hometown. However, they hadn’t stayed at the orphanage continuously, often leaving and returning to the city when they couldn’t afford the lodging fees.

“Well, they took good care of us. It’s been a while since I’ve been to Proudia, so I thought I’d at least say hello. You two didn’t have to come along, you know?” Ur said.

In other words, this was completely personal business, unrelated to adventurer duties, and accompanying him wouldn’t be particularly interesting. Yet for some reason, both Shizuku and Diz were coming along. Shizuku shook her head and smiled.

“I’m interested in seeing where Ur-sama grew up,” she said.

“Same here,” Diz added.

Looking at Diz, she too smiled and shrugged.

“Don’t mind me. I just happen to have business in the same place,” she explained.

“Hmm…?” Ur mused.

That statement piqued Ur’s curiosity, but he didn’t pursue it further. They’d find out soon enough anyway.

“We’re heading quite far to the ‘outside,’ aren’t we?” Shizuku observed.

《Right on the edge》 Akane confirmed.

“It’s an orphanage for adventurers’ orphans, meaning Nameless children. Because there’s a priest, the children’s lodging fees are waived, but it’s on the outskirts because it’s not well-regarded in the city center,” Ur elaborated.

As with any city-state, demand was higher in the central areas. Monsters came from outside the barrier walls. It was common to think that the closer you got to the walls, the more dangerous it became.

In Proudia’s case, thanks to the 【Barrier of the Sun】, the danger was significantly reduced even near the walls. However, the center of this country was still the towering 【True Babel】, and areas near the barrier walls, far from there, were indeed not very popular.

“Well, I think it also aligned with the orphanage manager’s intentions. He disliked the Temple,” Diz added.

《That’s right. He always frowned at the visiting priests》 Akane agreed.

Diz added more context, and Akane agreed. From their comments, it seemed that Diz also knew where they were heading. As they were discussing this, the barrier walls began to loom closer.

“We’re almost there,” Jenna, who was driving the carriage, called out.

True to her words, the scenery from Ur’s memories began to appear in the carriage window.

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The carriage was parked in a nearby public stable.

Though still within Proudia, this stable was the farthest from the 【True Babel】 where the Wise Heavenly King resided. It was run-down and poorly maintained. Leaving the carriage unattended could lead to trouble. So Jenna volunteered to stay behind.

“This is my role, after all. Please be careful and have a good time,” she said.

And so, the four of them – Ur, Akane, Shizuku, and Diz – headed towards the orphanage, soon catching sight of it.

“…Wow, this brings back memories,” Ur said.

Ur felt a sense of dizziness from the intense déjà vu.

Proudia was the center of the world. True to this fact, various things and places had undergone fresh changes. As Ur looked around Proudia on the way to the Adventurers’ Guild, he had been slightly confused internally. After all, he couldn’t find any familiar places. At best, he vaguely recognized the shape of some roads, but even those had disappeared or increased, leaving him with no sense of direction.

However, that dilapidated orphanage alone hadn’t changed at all, not even a bit.

The dirty, cracked stone walls had partially collapsed, revealing the interior. Perhaps to save space, like other buildings, it was built tall, but the third floor seemed to have been added later. It clearly had a different construction, with the wooden third floor appearing squashed under its own weight, looking like large timber discarded on top of the stone orphanage.

What appeared to be a sign with the orphanage’s name was deteriorated and faded, with graffiti scrawled over it. Failed attempts to wipe it clean had only made it dirtier, leaving it as a neglected mass of mixed colors.

Beyond that, a communal cemetery was visible. The cemetery in this area also served as a public grave for adventurers, and it was poorly maintained. The sunlight from the Sun God was hidden by the shadow of the nearby barrier, giving it an eerily gloomy atmosphere.

Even a thief with ill intentions would likely avoid this place. There was no hint of valuables, let alone human presence.

“――――Wait, I said it brings back memories, but was it this much of a ruin? Is anyone even living here?” Ur wondered aloud.

《Did the old man die~?》 Akane asked.

“Ur-sama, the crows are cawing with incredible intensity,” Shizuku observed.

“The graves seem to have increased too. Huh? Did he die? Is he dead?” Diz pondered.

“What are you lot doing?” a gruff voice interrupted.

Ur startled and turned around.

There stood a black old man. Whether it was dirt or his natural appearance, he wore a pitch-black robe. His physique was still tree-like as before, giving the impression that he might snap if any force was applied. This impression was strengthened by the tattered staff he now carried, which he hadn’t used before. Ur couldn’t tell if the old man looked much smaller than he remembered because Ur had grown or because the old man had hunched over more.

However, his gaze alone remained as unusually sharp and direct as ever.

The old man, Zain, the head of the orphanage, stood there.

“Um, you might not remember me, but…” Ur began, choosing his words carefully. After all, it had been about ten years. His height and appearance were completely different. He couldn’t complain if he was mistaken for a suspicious person.

“I asked what you’re doing,” Zain interrupted, ignoring Ur’s attempt at explanation. He headed towards the orphanage, leaning on his staff. Despite his appearance of needing the staff, his steps were light, and in no time, Zain had his hand on the dilapidated orphanage door. He turned back and glared at them.

“Don’t just stand there, come in. Ur, Akane, Diz, and the silver girl. I’ll at least serve you some tea,” he grumbled.

With that, he entered the orphanage.

“…He hasn’t changed at all, Gramps. Even less than I predicted,” Ur muttered.

《Really hasn’t》 Akane agreed.

Ur’s tone was a mix of admiration and exasperation as he completed his homecoming to this nostalgic temporary lodging.