All I Wanted Was Affection and Donations from the Beautiful Girls Who Left the Orphanage... sobs - 04 [Saintess Eris's Perspective]

Chapter 04 [Saintess Eris’ Perspective]

I was speechless at the sight of the great sage, Leon-sama, pressing his forehead to the floor, desperately pleading.

My brain had stopped functioning due to the gap between sweet fantasy and harsh reality.

Needless to say, I was dumbfounded, but in the next moment, I felt my blood run cold. 

It was because Leon-sama was prostrating himself before me—someone like me. 

This “prostration” is a unique method of apology and request by Leon-sama. 

Since childhood, whenever Rebecca (now the Sword Saint), who was always mischievous, caused trouble and affected those around her, the great sage would apologize to each affected person in this manner.

We, who are closest to Leon-sama, have witnessed his greatness firsthand.

We, who are presumptuously orphans of this orphanage, his daughters, and his disciples, take pride in knowing him best.

Yet, I made such a person kneel and bow his head.

What an audacious act I have committed.

I felt regret and despair for my blunder, and my earlier wicked thoughts now embarrassed me.

What was I thinking, claiming that our bodies were his objective?

Had Leon-sama ever sought anything in return?

Even at the celebration for the first batch of graduates, he sent off each one with encouraging words and a carefree smile. 

Yet here I was, getting carried away by being summoned late at night, thinking I was finally being sought after… Shame on you, Saint Eris! 

This is not becoming of a saint. 

“Spilt water will not return to the tray.”

These are Leon-sama’s words. I don’t intend to overlook my own mistakes, but what’s done is done. 

More importantly, I must do something about the current situation where he continues to bow to someone like me. 

I immediately rush to Leon-sama’s side and ask him to rise.

“L-L-Leon-sama⁉︎ Please, stop this!”

“No, I will not stop! Until you make a donation—I’ll remain like this!”

“…A donation?”

I tilted my head at Leon-sama’s words.

Among the Divine Seven, there’s Shion, the great merchant; Kuu, the inventor and alchemist; and Speare, the bestselling author. 

I may not be knowledgeable about economic matters, but even I understand that they earn a considerable amount.

Needless to say, our current situation exists thanks to Leon-sama.

Everyone probably thinks they want to offer him their earnings. 

They want him to use it, without needing to take the form of a donation. We have enough funds to manage the orphanage without it…

Then, I remembered something.

At the celebration of the graduates, Leon-sama, while saying he was giving them farewell gifts, presented each of them with presents. 

These gifts are probably something everyone will cherish for life, never parting from them. I too felt immense joy from what I received from Leon-sama.

“Could it be… Leon-sama, you kept all the money we had earned? And now you’re penniless because you gave it all back to us? Is that what you mean?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Upon hearing his words, I reflected deeply once again. That’s right. It was indeed so. He is that kind of gentleman.

He showers us with warm love like the sun, watches over our growth with a smile as bright as sunflowers, and scolds us sternly when necessary. 

He always put our growth first, considering himself secondary.

“Why… why did you return the money? Everyone is grateful to you, Leon-sama. You could have kept it without anyone complaining…”

“―That money is precious, earned through everyone’s hard work, effort, and talent. It wouldn’t be right for me, who did nothing, to quietly pocket it. Moreover, though it feels odd to say it myself, they are my proud disciples, geniuses. They’ll need resources to showcase their unparalleled talents in the future. I don’t want to crush their talents for a momentary desire.”

Leon-sama closed his eyes tightly and spoke with a serious tone.

With every word he speaks, a warm feeling of bliss wells up inside me.

Ah, I can’t suppress the throbbing desire in my womb to bear his child.

If Leon-sama had even a slight inclination in that direction, I would have thrown myself at him here and now, pressing him down, perhaps forcefully.

Presumptuously, I was prepared to receive the seed to be passed on to the next generation.

However, seeing his selflessness, gentlemanliness, and especially his earnest consideration for the future of the orphanage, even bowing his head and showing sincerity to someone like me, his daughter and disciple, who should be respecting him, fills me with admiration.

How could I possibly lose my reason here and unleash my desires?

That would be a blasphemy against Leon-sama—a godly figure. 

Leon-sama alone could easily earn a fortune enough to live extravagantly for ten, no, a hundred generations.

Yet, he uses that talent for the sake of us orphans—for girls who seemed destined only for a life of servitude, to offer them a different path, channeling his skills into running the orphanage.

To be honest, it feels like a tremendous waste. 

Leon-sama could make this world much more enjoyable, brighter, and happier. 

Yet, here I am, presumptuously thinking it’s a waste to use his abilities for something like orphanage management. Nonetheless, I can’t help but feel it’s an extravagant use of his wisdom.

His wisdom is not something on our level, something beyond our full comprehension, but surely, he wants to entrust the role of bettering the world to us, his disciples who have graduated from the orphanage.

He gives another choice to young girls who, without any other option, might have ended up as mere comforters—girls who are powerless, ignorant, shameless, and have known nothing but disappointment and despair in this world. 

Perhaps the reason he’s opting for donations is to ensure that even after he’s gone, the tree of gratitude and remembrance keeps spreading infinitely. 

Graduated orphans donate back to the orphanage that raised them. Then, those who leave the orphanage next respect the intentions and history of their predecessors and contribute donations for the next generation.

Ah, what a wonderful cycle it is.

I truly love this man—I adore him. While all of the Divine Seven probably feel the same, I am confident that I admire Leon-sama the most. 

That’s why I voiced the words, the decision he must be seeking.

“Please raise your head, Leon-sama. Though we are to leave tomorrow, we will never forget the kindness we received from you and this orphanage. Fortunately, the Eris Church that we established has been receiving donations from the general public who hadn’t benefited from forensic magic before. Please use these donations for the management of the orphanage.”

“…Eris!!!”

Finally, Leon-sama lifts his face, tears in his eyes and his nose running.

Please don’t look at me with such an expression. It makes me want to embrace you with affection.

Unaware of such undercurrents, Leon-sama suddenly grasps both of my hands tightly.

“Heh. ⁉︎.”

I let out an unexpectedly strange sound, overwhelmed by the honor.

Oh, oh no…! L-L-Leon-sama’s hand… his hand is holding mine… I shouldn’t.

If he keeps holding it like this, I’ll never be able to wash this hand again.

Leon-sama is only thinking of the future and the benevolence of the orphanage, yet here I am, feeling so delighted—surely, it’s because I’m an improper woman.

I desperately try to suppress a grin that threatens to spread across my face at this sudden happiness, savoring the feel of Leon-sama’s hand… No, that’s not right.

Ah, if this hand were to caress this Eris’s body… Oh, Instinct-san, could you please go away? Reason-san isn’t functioning at all. 

Even though I am having my hands held by the man I love, I must think of the time and place!

Ah, such beautiful hands. The visible veins are so attractive, and the rugged feel is pleasant—no, stop it, me! Don’t get aroused!

I admonish myself. I must say something to avoid being thought of as improper or indecent.

I wish for a word that would increase Leon-sama’s favor towards me.

“T-The orphanage is not only precious to me. This is the collective will of all the girls of the Divine Seven. I know it’s presumptuous, but… should I ask the others to donate as well?”

“Really⁉︎ Thank you! Truly, thank you!!!! I’m so happy to have a cute angel like Eris as my disciple! I’ll do anything within my power for you.”

Saying so, he let go of my hands (ah, Leon-sama’s hands… gone) and hugged me.

Ehh, wa-wa-what, he’s hugging me⁉︎

Fueeeeee―

I almost let out an involuntary squeal but manage to suppress it, which I honestly find praiseworthy.

Leon-sama’s body heat, his heartbeat, and the slightly sweaty scent envelop me.

I must fully savor this fortune, this overwhelming happiness.

The next moment, however, my memory fades.

There are no more regrets in my life!