"I'm really sorry. At first I thought it was those unfriendly people."
In the dark passage, a staggering doll girl with short cyan hair led Art and others, slowly walking upstairs with a candlestick in hand.
"My name is Apple Blossom, and I am in charge of managing this orphanage."
This doll named Apple Blossom has many wounds on her body caused by the passage of time and lack of maintenance. Although most of them are covered by clothes, the defects on the exposed wrists and ankles have already made
Art's scalp felt numb when he saw it - those defects had deeply touched some key transmission lines. Although he was wearing shoes, Art could tell that the foot was forcibly fixed with cloth.
This was probably the reason why she staggered when walking.
"Where is your master?" Art frowned and said somewhat unhappily: "Doesn't he care at all about the injuries on your body?"
"Yes, it looks like it hurts..." Mamo also nodded. Like Art, she also noticed the defects all over the body of the doll. If it were placed on a normal person, that person would have been damaged long ago.
Already bedridden.
"My master, he died during the riots ten years ago." Apple Blossom shook her head, perhaps because too much time had passed. She seemed very calm and natural when she said this, facing Ya
Te showed a slightly embarrassed smile.
"So I'm the only one managing this place, and these wounds... I don't know how to deal with them."
Looking at Apple Blossom's awkward smile, Art was slightly shocked... As a doll, this reaction is a bit too calm, right?
"Isn't there... no master's doll?" Till muttered in a low voice. Although Art, who had sharp ears, heard it, she did not say anything else and remained silent.
However, the riots ten years ago? There are still riots in this place... No, if you think about it another way, the conditions for triggering riots in this place are simply natural.
The emergence of slums, the exploitation of capitalists, the low decay of the West Side and the extreme luxury of the South Side. Under this background, if we light up the fire a little bit, a rebellion is almost inevitable... but maybe there may be other events.
After all, the development of this world is completely different from reality, and what will happen in reality may not necessarily happen here.
"Here we are, right here."
After going up to the second floor, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Clean and beautiful colored floors, good lighting, white walls with pieces of children's graffiti paper, and bursts of noise coming from the corridor and another room.
The cheerful sounds of children playing make you feel like you are in a kindergarten on earth.
"Children, come and assemble~" Apple Blossom clapped her hands, took down the copper bell from the wall, and shook it to make a loud tinkling sound.
"Yeah! It's coming!"
"Coming, coming!"
With a burst of noise, a group of children of different ages ran out of various rooms and stood neatly in front of Apple Blossom. However, their attention was focused on Art and others beside Apple Blossom.
On people.
There were fifteen children running over, the oldest of whom was eleven or twelve years old, and the youngest, who was only five or six years old, was half a body shorter than Mamo.
"Mother Apple Blossom! Are these three new friends?" The eldest boy grabbed Apple Blossom's hand and pointed at the three children, Art, Lansa and Mamo, and asked.
He was wary of Till, who looked like an adult.
"No, they are adventurer friends who came to help me." Apple Blossom rubbed the little boy's head lovingly, and then motioned for him to return to the team.
Because this commission was placed in the Adventurer's Guild, she may have misunderstood Art and others as adventurers... After all, she is a doll, so she may not have much understanding of this kind of thing.
After hearing Apple Blossom's explanation, the little boy nodded with some hesitation, turned around and lined up neatly in the queue, but still looked at Art and others with piercing eyes.
"Well, everyone is here..." Apple Blossom quickly counted the number of people. After confirming that it was correct, she cleared her throat, making the slightly distorted voice much clearer, and said: "Children, these friends
They are here to help with repairs, everyone should treat them well~"
"I know~" the children agreed loudly. They all looked energetic, and no one was malnourished at all.
"Then, just follow the children, they will take you to find the broken tables and chairs." After saying that, Apple Blossom saluted Art and others, and said, "I'm going to prepare lunch for the children.
Now, do you want to stay too? My craftsmanship is still good."
"Well, of course." Lanza agreed to everyone without hesitation or worry. Although it might be a little rude, Art thought about it. After this busy meal, he would at least have to go back.
It's afternoon, and it's really not good to be hungry. And this way, we can also see how the children's food is.
"It's over, brothers and sisters! Here~" A short little girl held the door open and waved, calling for Art and others to come over.
"There's one here too! The stool here is broken!" Another little boy ran out holding a broken chair.
"I am here too!"
"I have it too, I have it too..."
Seeing so many things waiting to be repaired... Art suddenly felt lucky to have brought Till here.
…
"Eh!? It turns out that Aunt Till and Mother Apple Blossom are both dolls!"
At the long lunch table, because there were no extra tables and chairs available, Art, Lansa and Mamo also sat with the children, waiting for Apple Blossom to distribute the food.
While waiting, these children who were not afraid of life at all...or maybe because Art was a little younger than him, he didn't feel any barrier to Art at all, and naturally started chatting with him.
The topic of conversation was naturally about Thiel, who was wielding a hammer and repairing tables and chairs in the next room.
"Yeah, she's a doll, she doesn't need to eat." Art didn't mind chatting with these children. As long as he wasn't a stubborn brat, chatting with them was very relaxing.
At least you don't need to worry about whether the other person is trying to trick you.
"Is that so?" The little boy looked at Apple Blossom, who was trying to keep steady even though her steps were not very steady, and was handing out food to others. He was silent for a moment, and then asked Art: "Um, can you take the apple?"
Can Mommy Hua have her feet fixed? I.I will give you all the money I saved!"