Mob MC 149.1

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Chapter 149.1. Gifts And Schemes

-Sarutoshi's POV-

Looking at the interior of the commoner's orphanage, Aguni Masatoshi couldn't help but think that it was a shabby place. 

The broken windows get covered with cardboard, and the walls hadn't only cracks but even holes, making it seem like rats would pop their heads out any moment. 

The fluorescent lights installed on the ceiling were mostly flickering, and there was minimal lighting in the dining hall, making it dimly lit. 

The tables were sturdy woodens. But they seemed to have been used for a long time. They were stained, and no matter how much you wiped them, the stains wouldn't come off. 

The residents were also wearing worn-out clothes.

It was just as Masatoshi had imagined, a life of poverty.

However, the existence of such a blatantly impoverished orphanage might be because it was a world of novels. 

The Night of Magic was a society with disparities. The author must have thought it would be easier for readers to understand that it was a fantasy world.

In the central area, the imperial castle towered, surrounded by large estates where nobles built their luxurious mansions. There were sections for commoners. It turned into a dark slum area without any light at night.

It was a cityscape unique to a fantasy world.

And among that, there were also many impoverished commoner orphanages. 

The orphanage I was currently visiting was one of them.

"Hehe, what's with that weird face you made when you entered the dining hall? It doesn't suit you!"

"You're so annoying. I was pondering about the injustices of the world! My cool and shadowed side profile is supposed to be cool, you know!"

"You had such a strange expression. Buhyaah~! Like this face~!"

The girl in front of him squeezed her cheeks with both hands and made a silly face, to which I glared and said, "That's not like a pig, you know!"

"Well, it's rare to see you lost in thought like that. What were you thinking about?"

The girl in front of him, Akechi Mion, spoke in her cheerfully. Despite it being December 20th, she was wearing a thin long-sleeved shirt that seemed too light for the cold. 

I shrugged, thinking she could wear it even in summer.

"I didn't think this place would look so poor. What's with that outfit?"

"Eh~! This is my best clothes, you know. Right, everyone?"

Mion called out to her friends in the dining hall with puffed-up cheeks.

"Yeah, that's right. We chose the best ones without patches."

"Look, it's a skirt!"

"It's warm!"

The orphanage children nodded, claiming that these were their best clothes. They say these are still good clothes.

But their faces were red from the cold, and their breath turned white.

"It's cold, isn't it? It's not much different from being outside."

"The air conditioning in the dining hall is broken. There's nothing we can do."

"Fix it soon!"

"Since I came here, everyone has been saying the same thing."

"How many years has it been broken like this? Geez, there's no helping it."

It was like torture for Masatoshi, who lived in a constantly warm room. I sighed and covered his hands with his breath.

[Cold Protection Space]

As Masatodhi's palm glowed red, the air rippled, and mana particles spread like ripples.

The dining hall, which had been as cold as the outside in mid-winter, suddenly warmed up as the power of magic raised the room temperature instantly.

"Wow, it's warm!"

"Amazing! This is magic, huh?"

"It feels so cozy!"

The children were surprised by the warmth in the room, and their shivering bodies from the cold began to warm up. They expressed their joy with voices of delight.

"Oh, you're a magician!"

"Haven't I shown you before?"

"Well... I thought this kind of magic is more like what a magician should do!"

"What's that supposed to mean? Attack magic is cooler, you know."

Masatoshi shrugged at Mion, who had her index finger against her chin and was smiling mischievously. He couldn't understand someone who didn't appreciate the romance of living magic and thought that attack magic was cooler.

"Oh, but this is not the time for that. We have to go pick up Sena-san!"

Ignoring Mion, who pouted with puffed-up cheeks, Masatoshi hurriedly made his way to the entrance of the orphanage.

Seina-san uses [Disguise], who was waiting in front of the entrance. Masatoshi smiled with a refreshing smile, at an angle he considered cool, showing his best side.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sena-san. It's quite a dirty place, but are you okay? It's filthy here, so I thought we should find another place."

"No, I asked Victory-san to bring me here today. It's perfectly fine."

Seina smiled cheerfully and sincerely. Her shining silver hair, ruby-like eyes, and a pure white fluffy coat with a hat and gloves suited her petite figure, making her look adorable.

Indeed, she was the heroine. Masatoshi couldn't help but get enchanted by her cuteness.

"Monkey monkey, Ukkii-monkey."

"You're so noisy. Oh, get me something warm to eat or something."

I pushed my wallet onto Mion, who mumbles something incomprehensible behind me.

"Oh, thanks! Alright, everyone, let's go shopping! We'll also get some Christmas shopping done!"

Mion laughed brightly, and the children who followed her in a line raised both hands and applauded.

"Yeah! How about a cake?"

"And some meat?"

"Can we buy juice too?"

"Of course, can we spend it all? Oh, kind young master?"

Mion laughed mischievously, shaking the wallet she was waving. The wallet was filled to the brim with bills. She must anticipate Masatoshi's panicked reaction when she spends everything.

"Fine, spend it however you like. It's just spare change. Don't use the card, or you'll getting caught by the police."

However, it's not that simple. The previous me and the current me, Matsutoshi, are different. I'm not a man who would be flustered by such a small amount of money.

I even have a calculated plan that by giving my entire wallet, Sena-san will fall in love with me all over again.

"Thank you. Here we go! Shopping squad, move out!"

A few people run off with excitement.

"Hey, make sure you buy our snacks quickly!"

"Roger that! I'll get them!"

Without turning back, Mion leaves. I'm slightly concerned, but I quickly put on a sharp and dignified expression.

Of course, a dignified expression is the standard for judging my success.

"Now, Sena-san, please take my hand."

"Hehe, thank you, Masatoshi-san."

Sena smiles softly at Masatoshi's noble gesture as we intertwine our hands. Though I want to jump joyously, my face turns bright red, and I breathe heavily. However, the saintly girl only responds with a gentle smile.

There are still many children waiting in the dining hall. When Masatoshi tries to seat Seina in the special birthday seat, she declines and turns to the children.

"I apologize for imposing on you today. However, I have a favor to ask all of you. Please help me. Thank you."

She tilts her head slightly and gives a gentle smile. The children are captivated by her smile and raise their hands in excitement.

There are numerous high-quality handkerchiefs and threads of gold and silver on the table.