I, Who Came From the Abyss, Will Save Humanity Again Today Chapter 137

Chapter 137: Seeing Elle Again

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Order City, northern district, Holy Street.

I hopped down from the carriage with a little jump, reached down to smooth out the slight wrinkles in my skirt, then lifted my head to look at the slightly rusty iron gate in front of .

"Esteed young miss, through here is the Cataloma Orphanage."

The coachman spoke from behind . I turned and gave him a nod, then took out a silver coin and handed it over.

"Thank you for your generosity!"

Once the horned carriage had driven away, I walked slowly up to the iron gate.

From inside, I could faintly hear the sounds of children playing and ssing around.

I hesitated for a mont, then raised my hand and knocked on the latch of the iron gate. After waiting a bit, there ca a soft rustling from within. A hunched old man pulled the gate open just a crack, his deep-set eyes peering out at whoever was on the other side, and when he made out my face, he was clearly startled.

"Esteed young miss... you— may I ask what brings you here?"

He spoke in a trembling, nervous voice, his hands clasped in front of him, fidgeting nonstop, as though he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself.

Seeing that, I gave him a sweet smile.

"Grandpa, I'm here to find soone."

"F-find soone?" The old man looked a little flustered. "Who are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for the director, Sister Theresa."

"Director Theresa... she's stepped out on so business, she's not in right now."

I blinked, slightly caught off guard. "She's out?"

"Yes... I'm truly sorry to trouble you, but may I be so bold as to ask your na, miss?"

The old man asked carefully, looking as though he was terrified that one wrong move might set off and get him eaten alive.

So I did my best to put on a friendly smile. "My na is Peylo."

The old man's expression lit up with recognition. "Ah, you are Miss Peylo... Please, co right in!"

He opened the gate with so effort, bowing his head ingratiatingly to usher through, his already small and hunched fra seeming to shrink down even further.

I looked at him, a little puzzled. "Grandpa, you know who I am?"

"No no, miss. Please don't call grandpa, I'm just a humble old gatekeeper, and you're soone of great standing..." The old man waved his hands frantically. "Director Theresa specifically told about you, that if you ca by, I should bring you to her office first... she said she would be back shortly, so please wait just a mont."

"Oh, alright then."

Following behind the old man, I made my way into the Cataloma Orphanage.

The courtyard lawn was wide and open, with quite a few lush green trees standing tall throughout, along with so simple, worn-out recreational equipnt that all looked rather beat-up. Children of all ages ran and jumped and played nearby, tossing curious glances my way from ti to ti.

I didn't spot Elle anywhere among them, so I couldn't help but ask: "Grandpa, do you know a girl nad Elle?"

"Elle..." The old man thought for a mont. "Oh, I rember her. That well-behaved and lively little girl... always sensible and hardworking. At this hour, she's probably helping clean up the practice grounds?"

I tilted my head and thought about that for a second.

"Then, could you take there first?"

"...You know her?" the old man asked.

I nodded. "Mm."

"Well then..." The old man hesitated briefly. "That works too, you'd just be sitting and waiting in the director's office anyway... right this way."

The practice grounds were to the left of Cataloma's main building. It wasn't a very large space, and before long, in the distance I could already see children gripping wooden swords with serious expressions on their faces, hacking away at battered straw dummies again and again with movents that were still a little clumsy.

They would probably beco Holy Church knights before too long.

"There she is, miss. Elle's over there."

I followed the direction the old man was pointing.

A small girl, broom in hand, head wrapped in a strip of cloth, was sweeping dust and debris from a corner, while at the sa ti bickering with the boy beside her.

"Lucas, look at what you did! There's straw all over the place!"

"That just ans I'm strong enough!" The boy nad Lucas lifted his head with a smug look. "I'm definitely going to be an amazing knight soday."

"Being a knight isn't just about being strong! A real knight wouldn't cause trouble for others, go over there!"

"Why don't you go over there?"

"Because I need to sweep here!"

The two of them went back and forth without letting up, but you could tell they were close.

I smiled and walked over toward them. The boys who had been practicing with their swords all stopped what they were doing, staring blankly at . Elle sensed that sothing was off in the air and turned around with a puzzled look, her gaze sweeping around before landing on .

"Elle, I'm here."

"Sister Peylo! You actually ca!" Her little face flushed bright red with excitent, and she rushed over and stopped right in front of , all fidgety and not knowing what to do with her hands. "How did you actually show up... I thought you were just saying it... how did you actually co..."

Elle dropped her broom and raised her short little arms, clearly about to throw herself at in a big hug, but then her eyes darted down to my clean, neatly dressed long skirt, and her face wavered for just a mont, the half-started motion froze in place.

I pulled her into a hug right away, drawing in her small, soft fra.

"Big sister, I'm dirty..." Elle murmured softly.

I gave a gentle shake of my head. "Are you doing well here?"

"Super well!" She raised her voice, small hands resting lightly on my waist, hesitating for a long while but never quite daring to hug back. "Sister Theresa treats us so well! Grandpa Pierre is wonderful too! The priest has taught so many things... I've been working really hard! And we get to eat at every day! I really... oh gosh, I'm just so happy! Big sister coming to visit makes so happy!"

Elle was so worked up her words were coming out all jumbled.

I let go of her and reached up to pat her fuzzy little head.

"As long as you're happy."

Heh, I'm happy too.

Patting soone else's head feels really nice.

I looked down, opened the small crossbody bag at my waist, and pulled out 2 stuffed little bags of candy, then handed them to Elle.

"Elle, share these with everyone."

It was my first ti coming to an orphanage, and I had no idea what the kids would like, so I'd copied the cliche move I'd seen so many tis on TV and bought candy on the way over... But looking around now, there were quite a few kids in the 14 to 15 age range, and so who even looked older than ... candy was probably too childish a gift for them to care about...

I did not expect it to go over so well.

"Whoa—"

"So much candy..."

"That's from the shop on Kulor Street... that's really expensive..."

The kids hovered timidly at a distance, eyes glued to the candy in Elle's hands.

Elle clutched them tightly to her chest. "No snatching! After prayers I'll divide it up fairly between everyone, no one gets more, no one gets less!"

The adorably righteous look on her face made want to laugh, and then she turned her gaze back to .

"Big sister, thank you... you're so kind to us..."

I patted her head again.

"As long as you're happy."

Just then, Lucas stepped forward.

His cheeks were a little flushed and his eyes were darting around nervously, and the mont I looked over at him he glanced away in a panic, not daring to et my eyes.

"That... I know you don't rember anymore, but back when we were in the Empire—"

"Lucas." I cut him off, curled my lips up slightly, and made a face at him. "You called ugly. But you're the scaredy-cat!"

"...I am not a scaredy-cat!" Lucas called out indignantly, then his voice dropped back down. "And didn't I already apologize for that... let's just call it even! That's what a real hero would do!"

"Hehe."

I winked at him and laughed.

This guy is still just as adorable as ever...

I lifted my head, gaze drifting across the children standing near and far.

Most of them had plain-looking faces, and their clothes weren't very clean either.

They were all more or less children who had lost their families and had no one to rely on, but perhaps... in this bustling and grand capital city, they were the most pure-hearted people of all... Hmm?

I thought I spotted a familiar face.

"...Abel?"