All I Wanted Was Affection and Donations from the Beautiful Girls Who Left the Orphanage... sobs - 09 [Great Merchant Shion’s Perspective]

Chapter 09 [Great Merchant Shion’s Perspective]

[Great Merchant Shion’s Perspective]

The proposal of Letifa was enchanting, to sum it up in a word.

Skilled in controlling people and even called a magician of words, she certainly lives up to her reputation.

―Making the Great Sage our king.

It’s frustrating, but I had never even considered such a thing. 

Raising a cheeky and troublesome young girl without abandoning her, nurturing her into someone remarkable, and never seeking any financial or sexual rewards in return. Leon-sama, who could have kept such a naturally gifted child by his side, chose to let her go, limiting our possibilities.

He encouraged her to live freely and enjoy a delightful life.

A man of deep insight, grandeur, enlightenment, sincerity, deep affection, and a true gentleman.

A wonderful man who accepts even the ugly aspects of humanity.

It’s only natural for a woman to desire to bear the child of such a person. 

That’s why Letifa’s greatness stands out even more.

Wealth, fame, status—Leon-sama has no interest in any of these, yet we plan to make him our king with our own hands.

To make him king and have all of us become his consorts.

Perfect. Absolutely perfect. The best possible plan we could conceive. 

But there are several major challenges to making this strategy successful. 

First, we must ensure that Leon-sama does not find out.

If he realizes that we are plotting to make him king, he might choose to retire.

We must proceed with caution.

And then there’s the matter of status.

Leon-sama is a commoner. 

No matter how indispensable he is as a mentor in the royal capital, it won’t be easy.

Well, manipulating people―being a magician of words like Letifa―she could skillfully sway public opinion in her favor with ease.

A commoner and a princess united. They would undoubtedly overcome even the highest hurdles.

Of course, the kingdom is a den of intrigue. 

The nobles are desperate to protect the privileges that have been exclusively enjoyed by men until now. 

The reason Letifa can push for transformation and reform based on Leon-sama’s teachings is because the Divine Seven are providing for the indispensable talents now integral to daily life. 

That’s why Letifa can sometimes look terrifying.

“A future without being united with Leon-sama has no meaning at all.”

“If I cannot be with Leon-sama, then I think this country—no, the world might as well perish.”

“Nobles who do not fulfill their duties and only assert their rights should be destroyed—fufufu.”

…Destroyed?

From the moment forensic magic was introduced to the general class, the people have been supporting Saintess Eris. 

Furthermore, Eris frequently mentions Leon-sama’s name. 

There’s no one in this country who doesn’t know about Leon-sama. 

Well, he dislikes being the center of attention, so while people know his name, his true identity remains a mystery. 

By the way, my calling the Great Sage with a casual suffix(-chan) is nothing but a bluff. 

I’m just imitating Rebecca’s audacity.

I’m so envious of Rebecca, who can call him by his name so boldly.

That’s why I aspire to be a woman with allure.

After all, Leon-sama, as the dormitory head—his way of looking at Hibiki-san was clearly that of seeing her as a woman.

We who were young at that time often felt frustrated by this.

Letifa’s cunning strategies as a merchant would undoubtedly come into play.

Compared to the past, I can somehow keep my heart calm, but still, there’s this dark emotion that wells up from the depths of my heart―jealousy.

The thing is, I was especially powerless among the Divine Seven. 

While the other children were displaying their talents one after the other and moving forward earnestly, the talents of the Sword Saint Rebecca and I, the Great Merchant Shion, us two, were slow to awaken.

The anxiety of being left behind, the disappointment in myself, wondering why I alone remained incompetent. 

Anger, dissatisfaction, jealousy. I even cursed the gods at times.

And then, the thing I feared the most happened.

Rebecca, whom I saw as a rival, her talent in swordsmanship was discovered, and she awakened in an instant. 

Her skill made even Leon-sama exclaim, “She can split a large rock in two without drawing her sword. Amazing.”

Eventually, I was the only one among the Divine Seven who couldn’t demonstrate any talent, as time just passed by.

Leon-sama, though he doesn’t proclaim it, has the insight to see through talents. 

But he never forced what he saw onto others. 

Rather, it was more like he subtly guided us to realize it ourselves. 

I believe he disliked limiting the infinite possibilities of life.

After all, it’s not guaranteed that the things you like or dream of align with your talents, right?

Therefore, even though Leon-sama recognized the potential to become a “Sword Saint,” “Great Merchant,” “Bestselling Author,” “Archmage,” “Creation Alchemist,” “Saintess,” and “Princess,” he never imposed a life path on us.

It felt like he was teaching us through his attitude, saying, “It’s your only life. Live it for yourself, not for others.”

―And this educational policy has been passed on to the second and third generations of orphans.

Even I, who runs the largest trading company in the capital, can’t always understand what the Great Sage is thinking.

But I can assert that he truly loved us. 

With Letifa becoming a princess, the shift from male superiority to gender equality began. 

However, deeply ingrained norms, perceptions, and beliefs due to long history aren’t easily changed.

I believe there’s a reason why Leon-sama continued to take in only young girls. 

Perhaps he’s trying to overturn the male-dominated society. 

He often said, “What should be given is equal opportunity.”

As he looked up at the sky, his words continued, “Men for work. Women for home. This world’s consciousness is too rigid.” 

As he shouted this with unnecessary emphasis, I pondered a lot.

There must be some unacceptable concepts, thoughts, or consciousness in Leon-sama’s mind.

So, I asked him what exactly he couldn’t forgive.

“Talent―those who have achieved noteworthy accomplishments, whether male or female, should work. Why can’t men support women by taking care of the home? Why can’t they be the ones to be provided for? It wasn’t me who was wrong! It’s the world! Hmm. There’s no bright future this way. I want everyone in the Divine Seven to change this stagnant society. That’s my wish. Don’t you think, Shion, that someone as incompetent as me should just stay indoors and be supported?”

“Fufufu, you must be joking.”

A gentleman who continues to nurture the second generation, who are as capable, if not more so, than us, making such a joke?

That’s why I remember saying this, chuckling as I spoke, 

“If Leon-sama agrees, shall I become your patron?”

“Really, Shion⁉︎”

―His response was incredibly eager. 

Ah, to be stared at from such close range…