Even Though the Gender Ratio Has Changed, My Attempts at Flirting With Women Are Unsuccessful

Chapter 7: I’ve Been Reincarnated as a Villain, but I’ll Use Money and Power

“Ark, are you ready?”

“Yeah… I’m ready, but…”

I thought I was ready from the start.

Today was the day I’d go to the orphanage with Mom.

I tried to go out in my usual white shirt, vest, and black pants, but… Mom’s face looked like she was thinking about something.

Now, on her orders, I was wearing a simple cloak and a hat pulled down low.

“Yes, this is good.”

Mom nodded with satisfaction.

But I was confused.

This outfit… it was like I was hiding.

Was it because, as a duke’s son, I had to avoid standing out?

No, but Mom wasn’t wearing a cloak or disguising herself.

She was just as she was.

What was going on??

“Ark, you need to dress like this. Otherwise, the whole orphanage would make a big fuss.”

I didn’t really get the reason, but it seemed like I wouldn’t be allowed to go if I didn’t listen, so I decided to obey quietly.

◆◆

After a while, the carriage stopped.

What I saw when I got out was… a white building.

This must be the orphanage.

The grounds were wider than I expected, and the building looked clean.

Nearby flowerbeds were full of colorful flowers, well taken care of.

Suddenly, the front door opened, and an older maid appeared.

“We’ve been expecting you, Madam. Is the person next to you…?”

“Yes. This is my proud son, Ark.”

Mom answered cheerfully.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ark.”

I took off my hat and spoke clearly.

I had to greet properly!

Seeing me, the older maid’s cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.

“I’d heard about you… but my, you’ve grown splendidly…”

“Hehe, Ark is a good boy. If he was still like before, I thought about having you educate him. Your work is wonderful.”

“Such praise… I’m honored. But it seems that’s not necessary.”

“Yes.”

Both of them smiled at me.

Hmm, they seemed pleased to see I’d changed for the better!

“Now, Ark. This is the orphanage run by the Nott family. I wasn’t trying to hide it from you… but the old Ark might’ve hated it.”

“Huh? Mom?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let me explain again.”

Mom continued.

This orphanage took in kids with no family or those with tough situations.

They didn’t just give them food, clothes, and shelter—they also taught them.

In about two years, they learned skills to survive in society.

And most of the maids in the Nott family… came from this orphanage.

“I planned to take in kids who had nowhere to go after leaving the orphanage as maids, but… somehow, becoming a maid for us became their top choice. Hehe.”

Mom looked happy saying that.

The maids nearby nodded strongly.

Of course, they’d want to work hard for the person who protected and cared for them.

I understood that Mom and the maids had a strong bond… no, a deep trust.

Man, Mom… she was doing amazing work!

This was probably just part of it…

With such a great mom, how did Ark end up a villain?

After that, I quietly looked around inside.

The kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms… everything was clean and nice.

I could tell Mom spent a lot of money, and the kids took good care of it.

The kids were gathered in one place now, having a manners class.

There were about twenty kids.

The oldest seemed around my age.

I was working hard to avoid dying and to have fun with girls…

But these kids were working hard just to live.

Thinking that, I felt I had to try harder and help them somehow.

I wanted to know more about this orphanage.

I was about to ask Mom for details… when it happened.

“Finally, you’re gone, and I feel relieved!”

“What!?”

A woman’s shrill voice came from the entrance.

Wait, what did she just say…?

“…She’s here.”

“…Mom?”

Mom’s smiling face changed.

Her expression… was like the tired and sad one I saw last night.

Mom headed to the entrance to deal with it.

I watched from behind something with the older maid…

“…!”

I was… speechless.

Even though I’d just heard about the orphanage kids, seeing it in person was different…

Next to the woman… was a child.

Her long hair made me think she was a girl.

I couldn’t be sure… because she looked so awful.

Her long hair was messy and tangled.

She probably hadn’t bathed in days.

Her thin body looked weak, her arms and legs sticking out from her clothes were skinny, with countless scars…

But the woman next to her had healthy skin, wore perfume, and was covered in fancy jewelry.

These two… weren’t they family?

What was this…?

“Why is she…?”

At my sad murmur, the older maid seemed to understand and, with a grim face, explained.

The girl’s father died of illness, and her mother took her own life soon after.

She was taken in by her mother’s sister but treated like a burden… then the maid stopped.

She probably knew more.

But she held back… no, she couldn’t say it.

Looking at the girl… I understood.

There was no sign of love, happiness, or light in her eyes…

“As we discussed yesterday, we’ll take this child into our orphanage.”

Mom said calmly.

So, Mom met this woman yesterday too?

Maybe that’s why she looked tired and sad…

“Alright. So, how much money do I get?”

“…What?”

…Huh?

Mom’s confused voice matched my own confusion.

But the woman kept talking, not caring.

“Ugh, doing a home investigation is such a hassle… Why do I get scolded just for not taking care of someone else’s kid? Her parents are dead, so she’s worthless, right? No one would care if she died.”

The girl’s dark face twitched.

Her hands were trembling…

Seeing that… something in me snapped.

“Anyway, you’re the ones who offered to take her in, right? So, hand over the money already. When you sell a slave, you pay, don’t you? It’s the same thing. Plus, I’ve been stuck with her for two years, so add extra for that…”

Enough. I wanted her to shut up.

“There’s a hundred gold coins here.”

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of the woman, holding out a leather bag full of gold coins.

The woman looked confused by my sudden appearance… but her eyes were glued to the bag.

The first thing she should’ve looked at was the girl next to her…

“Hey, don’t mess around!”

I threw the bag of gold coins hard at her chest.

I didn’t throw it on the ground, at least keeping some calm.

“What!? What are you doing!?”

The woman hurriedly caught it, hugging it tightly with both arms.

There was someone closer she should’ve been hugging!

“If you want money, take it.”