House of the Hearth.
An orphanage, and a training ground for Arlecchino’s intelligence operatives.
Children raised here typically became Fatui operatives. Being an orphan must be important in the intelligence business. Having no parents meant having no one to protect, and one less card for others to use against you in blackmail.
The Fatui? Their reputation in the game might be awful, but they did have a system in place, and at least I would not have to worry about starving if I joined them.
The problem was that I had to gamble on the odds here.
‘Which Arlecchino is the director right now?’
The current Arlecchino and the former Arlecchino had to be treated as entirely different cases. Crucabena, the previous Arlecchino, held battle royales that pitted the children against one another, then sent any child who dropped out off to Dottore as an experimental rat.
If it was the current Arlecchino, Peruere, it was at least better. That character was not twisted by nature.
If it was the current one, I had hit the jackpot. If it was the former, I would get to experience Spartan training. Earnestly praying that Peruere was the director, I headed toward the House of the Hearth on the back of that little runt Sergei.
"Why isn’t he saying anything? Where did all that foul-mouthed bravado from earlier go?"
"What were you expecting from a little kid in the first place? He looks like he’s only six or seven."
Arguing back and forth like that, we arrived at the place called the House of the Hearth.
And I could not help but sigh at the realization that I was screwed.
‘Hah... This place is...’
I had cleared every last bit of the story and all the Story Quests through Natlan to grind for currency, so I recognized this place for what it was: that battle royale in the depths of hell.
There were two House of the Hearth facilities that appeared in Fontaine. One was the Bouf d’ete Residence in Fontaine City, and the other...
"My, my? Why are children in the middle of an operation here?"
This was the place that Peruere destroyed in the game, leaving behind nothing but ruins...
That was right. This was the House of the Hearth from when Crucabena had been Arlecchino.
"Yes! While carrying out our operation, we found an orphan and brought him here!"
"Hmm? Is that so? You mean that child running over there?"
"Running...? Hey! Where are you going?!"
I ran toward Fontaine City with every ounce of strength I had.
"Huff... huff... I have to... get out of here..."
But there was no overcoming an adult’s strength. Before I knew it, Angelina, a Cicin Mage, was standing in front of me, blocking my way.
"Hmm...? This child is running off on his own without even realizing we’re trying to save him? You should consider it an honor. I mean getting a direct route into the Fatui."
With that, the Cicin Mage roughly seized my wrist and dragged me toward the House of the Hearth. I could not go there. If I went there, my life was over. Knowing that everyone except Peruere was destined to be slaughtered, my death was practically guaranteed.
"I don’t want to die... I don’t want to die... I don’t want to die..."
I kept repeating it. The difference in strength was overwhelming, and as I was dragged along, all I could think was that I did not want to die.
"Why does he keep saying he doesn’t want to die? What, is that place hell or something?"
That was right. It was hell. A hell where everyone but Peruere eventually died. I wanted no part of a hell like that.
‘If only I had power... I wouldn’t be dragged around like this...!’
Desperation filled me. A desperate desire not to die.
Had the Heavenly Principles been moved by that feeling?
"What is with this kid’s hand? Why is it suddenly getting hot..."
Was it because of my burning wish? Or was it a perk for having transmigrated? Or was it because I wished for the world’s story to be twisted?
As I felt my body grow hot, flames began to rise around me.
"Aah?!"
The Cicin Mage cried out in surprise and teleported far away from me.
"My, my? To awaken a Vision at that age? What talent. We can’t let that one slip away."
Watching the scene from the entrance, Crucabena licked her lips.
"Huff... huff..."
Gasping for breath, I watched a Pyro Vision descend from the sky before me.
"This is... a Vision?"
In that dangerously precarious situation, the sight of the Vision left my mind blank. Fine. Let’s say I had obtained a Vision. Then what was I supposed to do with it? The question immediately sprang to mind.
What else could I do?
Run.
I fastened the Vision to the chest of the clothes I was wearing—Sergei had dressed me in them as spare clothes—and started running.
"That brat! He’s running into the city! Sergei! You brought him here, so do something about it!"
"You called me a pig, and now you expect me to catch someone all the way over there?!"
In the middle of their bickering, the two realized that Crucabena had disappeared.
"Huh? Where is Lord Arlecchino?"
"Ah! Lord Arlecchino?! Huh? She’s already gone after the child."
Crucabena closed in on me at a speed worthy of her title as a Harbinger. In an instant, she grabbed me by the nape and slammed me down onto the beach.
"Urgh!"
I struggled, but the difference in strength was so overwhelming that all I could do was writhe.
"You know, I like lively children like you. And now that you’ve even obtained a Vision, I like you all the more~"
"You see, I founded this orphanage to find a child fit to become king. But I was worried because there had not been anyone who truly caught my eye. And yet, just like that, a child with the potential to become such a vessel has appeared right before me?"
Giggling, Crucabena tightened her grip around the back of my neck, and before long, I lost consciousness.
"My, my? What will you do if you collapse already? Is it because you’re still so young? I’ll raise you very, very well, so don’t worry, all right?"
"Welcome to the House of the Hearth, Snezhevich."
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register