The narrow path at night was very quiet.
Although it wasn’t yet the time when people went to sleep, there was no one on this little road.
People preferred the wider main streets where there were more companions, rather than lonely little paths like this one.
Just as Sairi was about to turn at a fork in the road, the sound of a small stone dropping near her foot made her instantly alert.
“Who’s there?!”
Sairi’s nerves immediately tensed. She widened her eyes, staring intently around her, but saw no one nearby.
There was only a large building occupying much of the area, and on her side was a long row of fences.
Through the fence, she could see a small playground with a slide and such, which suggested it was some kind of public facility.
“Sis… over here~”
A faint voice appeared again.
Sairi tilted her head to listen, using her two ears to pinpoint where the voice came from.
Cautiously, she moved step by step closer to the fence. Suddenly, she spotted a figure behind it.
More precisely, it was a very small figure, and the person was continuously waving their right arm.
Getting closer, Sairi recognized the voice—it was tender and familiar, like she had heard it somewhere before.
Could it be… the little boy from this afternoon?
Relaxing slightly, Sairi slowly moved to the fence edge, lowered her head, and observed carefully.
Sure enough, it was the same little boy from earlier that day.
“Sis! You noticed me!”
“Is it… you? The little boy from this afternoon?”
“Yes, yes, this is where I live. And sis, please keep your voice down so you don’t disturb everyone.”
“Where do you live?”
***
Following the boy’s hint, Sairi lowered her voice as well, like whispering between friends.
“It’s the orphanage! There are lots of friends like me there. The aunts and teachers are nice to us. We eat together, do crafts together, that kind of thing.”
Sairi squatted down and brought her face closer to the fence. She noticed the boy was much cleaner than in the afternoon—no longer scruffy and ragged, his face now full of life.
“How’s life there? Is there any bullying?”
“No, we’re all friends. We’re all kids without families, so the orphanage’s Dean Granny and the teachers are our friends.”
“How’s the food? Do you get enough to eat? I noticed you seemed to be working for those bad people just to get food…”
“Well… I’m sorry, sis. I was careless. They said they would reimburse the food expenses for our orphanage, so I thought I could save some money.”
“Save money? Is the orphanage short on funds recently?”
At this, the boy’s voice suddenly choked up.
“Yes… Dean Granny is sick…”
“Sick?”
“Dean Granny is very old now, and her health is failing. But this place is so remote, and the medicine for treatment is expensive and scarce.”
“About how much does it cost?”
“That’s not what I meant… I just wanted to save some money for Dean Granny, so I did bad things for those people. Sis, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry…”
The boy couldn’t hold back his tears any longer. Though young, having grown up with the others at the orphanage, he understood the cost of daily life and also knew that what he did harmed others.
“It’s okay, don’t worry. Sis is very capable. After you left today, I took care of those bad guys all by myself. Look at me now—full of energy, not a bit of trouble with my body.”
Sairi stood up, turned around, and struck a few poses to show off her health.
“But I did something wrong to you. I’m an accomplice to the bad guys.”
“What accomplice? Little brother, you’re kind and thoughtful.”
Sairi squatted down again, reaching through the fence to gently pat the boy’s head and wiped his face. Her finger caught a tear—warm to the touch.
Then she spoke again to comfort him.
“You’re a good kid. Most kids your age are still spoiled by their families, but you’re different. You’re like a little adult—you know how to protect others, how to ease their burdens, how to care for them.”
“You really are a good child. Today, you were just used by bad people. In the future, be more careful around others, okay?”
“Mm! I will, sis.”
“By the way, how much medicine does Dean Granny need?”
“Eh, I already said—no…”
“Tell me, it’s okay.”
Gradually, Sairi’s tone softened, like a kind older sister from next door—or perhaps even more intimate, like a real family member.
“About 2 Silver Coins…”
Hearing this, Sairi felt much more at ease. At least she could afford it, and it seemed like not an incurable illness.
Though 2 Silver Coins weren’t cheap, she hadn’t paid much attention to labor wages in this century since arriving in this world. She had no idea how important those coins were to an ordinary family.
She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out two Silver Coins… she should have asked Hilvia for two earlier.
“Here, be good and take these two Silver Coins. If anyone asks, just say a kind adventurer passing by gave them to you.”
But the boy shook his head, refusing to take them.
“No, I already did bad things, and now I’m accepting help from you… I…”
He couldn’t finish, his head leaning against the fence, his voice growing hoarse and resistant.
“Listen, sis doesn’t need this money, but you do. If you cure Dean Granny, you’ll all be happy again. Other things can wait.”
Still, the boy kept shaking his head like a rattle.
Sairi felt heartbroken. She was lucky—appearing in this world alone and meeting Hilvia, who had always helped and tolerated her.
But there were unlucky kids like this boy in the world. She couldn’t help everyone.
Yet imagining Dean Granny’s collapse and these children losing their guardian, crying and scattering, she couldn’t bear it.
These kids were all lonely souls with no blood relatives by their side. To them, Dean Granny and the teachers were their family.
This was one big family, and the loss of any member would be a huge blow—one that might cause cracks in the family and eventually lead to its dissolution.
Sairi looked up at the sky—so clean and blue.
Moonlight was already spilling over the horizon, but this inconspicuous little path received very little of it.
A gentle breeze brushed past Sairi’s ear, like a tender hand softly stroking her earlobe, bringing a clear sensation.
After a long pause, Sairi spoke again.
“Little brother.”
Suddenly, Sairi reached out, pinching the boy’s chin and lifting his head.
Though it was night, she could still see tears in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks onto her hand.
“Listen, this isn’t charity or a handout. This is a transaction.”
“A transaction?”
“Yes. It’s an equal trade. And what I’m trading for is your future—I’m going to ask something of it.”
“Anything you want!”
“No matter if Dean Granny gets better or not, she will pass away one day. By then, you’ll grow up, and new orphans just like you will join this place. And you will have long since left.”
Silence followed. Sairi didn’t know exactly how the boy took her words.
“I want you to strive hard, improve yourself, become a strong and kind person. In the future, protect the orphanage and everyone in it with your friends. Be someone useful, okay?”
Maybe—even a naive little boy could understand—this wasn’t really an equal transaction, but a help filled with hope and expectation.
“Listen carefully. Years from now, Sis will come back to see you. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“Eh… Sis, are you leaving?”
The boy suddenly lifted his head anxiously, unable to imagine that the person helping him would soon go away.
“Yes, Sis has to go elsewhere. But I’ll come to see you all often. Now take this.”
After much coaxing, the boy finally accepted the two Silver Coins. Though still reluctant, he couldn’t refuse Sairi’s insistence.
Seeing him accept it, Sairi felt much more reassured.
“All right, it’s late. Your friends are all inside now. You’ve been outside for too long—it might raise suspicion. Go back quickly.”
Sairi stood up, ready to leave.
Of course, the promise of often coming back was a comforting lie. Whether she could really come again was uncertain. She couldn’t support the orphanage forever—the future was up to them now.
“Sis, wait!”
“What is it?” Sairi stopped just as she was about to leave, surprised by the boy’s call. Could there be more questions?
“Um, Sis, can I know your name? So I can recognize you when I grow up.”
“Ah… hehe…”
Grow up… develop… would the orphanage kids have that chance? Well, let’s just give this boy hope.
“My name is ‘Sairi.’ You can remember me in your heart. Years from now, when you meet me, you have to recognize me, okay~”
Sairi stood close to the fence and met the boy’s gaze, flashing a bright smile.
That smile was so innocent and lovely, leaving a deep impression in the boy’s heart.
Sairi might not know that at this moment, the boy clearly saw her smile and buried a promise deep inside—to keep the vow made to Sairi.
Of course, Sairi didn’t think so.
The boy was still too young, and years later, he probably wouldn’t remember her—just like most of us forget our childhood memories, eventually shattered by time into vague questions about the past.
That was also why Sairi didn’t ask his name. Time always wins.
Time smooths everything away… whether happiness or sorrow… in the face of time, we are all equal…
“All right, I should go now. Little brother, you must keep your promise and protect everyone. And remember me in the future, okay?”
“Mm! I will protect everyone, and I’ll always remember Sis!”
“Go on, go back.”
The boy wiped his tears. In the night, it was hard to tell if his eyes were swollen.
Maybe once back inside the orphanage, others would notice—but then he could cover it up by saying a kind adventurer had donated the money. She would already be gone, and that was good enough.
The boy turned and left, glancing back from time to time, but he still went inside.
With the closing door, the warm yellow lights of the orphanage disappeared. Now it was time for Sairi to move on.
Sigh, she had donated two out of three Silver Coins and wasn’t sure if the last one would be enough.
Silver Coins were valuable, but were cakes expensive here?
This was the Borderlands, a place with scarce resources—things should be costly, at least from what Hilvia had told her.
Oh well, she’d just have to try her luck. At least this trip hadn’t been wasted.
Under the cover of night, Sairi stepped forward again, heading toward Snack Street.
This time, however, the road wasn’t deserted. Someone remembered her, and someone followed her.
And the one following her watched from the shadows, witnessing everything.
In the distance, amidst the darkness, Hilvia’s eyes curved into a beautiful crescent moon.
Unbeknownst to her, Sairi had already brought Hilvia an unexpected surprise.