Arthur and the group approached the small house where Lisa was staying. The moment he opened the door, a tiny blur shot towards him.
"Awuthur..!!" Lisa squealed, her small feet pattering across the wooden floor as she crashed into his legs, wrapping her tiny arms around them.
Arthur smiled, bent down and lifted her up. Lisa buried her face against his chest, gripping his shirt tightly as if afraid he'd disappear again.
Sophia let out a high-pitched squeal, practically bouncing on her feet. "She's so cute!" she gushed, her eyes sparkling as she clasped her hands together.
Leon smirked, raising an eyebrow at Arthur. "Didn't know you were the fatherly type."
Arthur shot him a deadpan look but said nothing.
Natalya stepped closer, her silver eyes soft as she gently patted Lisa's head. "She must have been so lonely…"
Lisa peeked at her, then at Sophia, before quickly hiding her face against Arthur's chest again.
Eva, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed, gave Arthur an appraising look. "So? Mind explaining how you ended up adopting a kid and building an orphanage overnight?"
Arthur glanced down at Lisa, who was still clinging to him, before sighing. "I found her yesterday while I was in the market. She was starving, barely surviving off scraps. So, I took her in."
The group fell silent for a moment. Even Finn, who was usually joking around, looked serious.
Natalya glanced around the house, then back at Arthur. "Is that why you're building this orphanage?"
Arthur nodded. "She's just one of many. There are too many kids on the streets, ignored and forgotten. If no one else is going to help, then I will."
Eva let out a low hum. "There are orphanages run by the Order of the Church, you know."
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly. "Then why are there still so many homeless children in Brightwater?"
Eva shrugged. "Because the Church's orphanages only take in human children."
Arthur frowned. "Why?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. It's just how it is."
Arthur exhaled sharply. He had his suspicions, but there was no point in dwelling on them now. He had his own way of doing things.
Lisa had finally loosened her grip, her wide golden eyes peeking at Sophia and Natalya. Sophia beamed at her, extending her arms. "Come here, sweetie!"
Lisa hesitated, glancing at Arthur. He gave her a small nod, and after a moment, she shyly let Sophia take her.
Natalya chuckled, running her fingers through Lisa's soft golden hair. "She's adorable."
Lisa's cheeks turned pink, and she quickly hid her face against Sophia's shoulder.
Arthur watched for a second before turning away. "Let's get to work."
…
Stepping outside, Arthur pulled out the raw materials and the furnitures he had purchased from the Merchant Guild. Logs of fine-quality wood, stacks of stone, polished tiles, glass panes, and decoration pieces appeared from his dimensional pocket. The others stared as the materials piled up.
But then, Arthur raised his hand.
From his dimensional pocket, a swarm of nanobots emerged, a shimmering mass of tiny metallic particles floating like a silver cloud above them. They shifted and pulsed, like a living entity waiting for his command.
Finn's jaw dropped. "What the hell are those?!"
Leon took a step back, his eyes wide.
Arthur smirked. "These are how I was able to build the orphanage so fast."
Eva narrowed her eyes, arms still crossed. "I assume this is another one of your 'secrets'?"
Finn pointed at the floating swarm. "How do these things even work?"
Arthur didn't bother answering. Instead, he simply gestured with his hand.
The nanobots shot forward like a silver wave, swarming the raw materials and the unfinished buildings. The others watched, mesmerized, as the tiny machines set tiles in flawless alignment, polished glass panes, and reinforced walls with elegant carvings.
Leon let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's... something."
Sophia's mouth was slightly open. "This looks like magic, but it's not, right? I don't feel any mana from them."
Natalya shook her head slowly, watching in awe. "No. It's something else."
Eva sighed. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"
Finn grinned and joked. "I don't know what those things are, but they're pretty damn useful. If you become a builder you will earn a ton of money."
For the next half an hour, the nanobots worked at incredible speed, completing the interiors of the orphanage. Bedrooms were furnished with beds, shelves, and chests. The dining hall was set up with long wooden tables and chairs. The study rooms were stocked with desks and lanterns, while the medical bay was lined with neatly arranged supplies.
Arthur also made electrical appliances for the orphanage. The entire orphanage was run on a small cold fusion reactor situated underground, which would provide electricity for all the appliances like fridges, heaters for the rooms and water heaters for the baths etc.
Just as Arthur was inspecting the final touches, a group of mercenaries approached the gate.
There were over sixty children with them.
Some were hesitant, others looked around curiously, their wide eyes taking in the large orphanage. Arthur had already checked beforehand, none of them had been forced to come. The older street kids, those past ten or eleven, had refused to come, likely suspicious of a stranger offering free shelter and food.
Arthur understood. Trust wasn't built in a day.
One of the mercenaries stepped forward, a burly man with a scar on his cheek. "Brought the kids as requested. The others were too wary, but these little ones came willingly."
Arthur nodded, pulling out several bags of gold. "Good work. Finn, Leon, distribute these among them."
Finn took the bags, whistling. "Now this is what I call easy money."
The mercenaries eagerly accepted their payment before leaving. Arthur turned to the children, their small, uncertain faces looking up at him.
After a brief moment, he handed a small pouch and his spatial bag to Leon and Finn. "You guys go buy vegetables and meat. We'll need them to prepare food for tonight and tomorrow morning."
Leon grinned, slinging the bag over his shoulder. "On it."
With that, he and Finn left for the market. Meanwhile, Arthur turned back to the children.
He then pulled out fine silk, cotton, and other fabrics he had bought from the clothing shop yesterday. He scanned each child, taking their measurements in an instant. Within moments, simple but comfortable clothes were being crafted before their eyes with the help of the nanobots.
The children watched in awe, their gazes shifting from Arthur to the floating pieces of fabric.
Once the clothes were finished, Arthur handed them to the three girls. "Can you guys take them to the bathhouse and get them cleaned up?"
Sophia clapped her hands together. "Alright, kids! Bath time!"
Natalya smiled. "Come on, we'll help you."
The children hesitated at first, but after some encouragement, they accepted the clothes and followed the girls toward the bathhouse.
Arthur watched them go before exhaling softly.
The orphanage was finally coming together.
…
As the day stretched on, Arthur and the group worked tirelessly to help the children settle into their new home. The orphanage had two large dormitories, one for the boys and one for the girls.
Each room was spacious, designed to accommodate six children comfortably, with sturdy bunk beds that had soft mattresses and warm blankets. Lanterns hung from the walls, casting a gentle glow that made the place feel welcoming rather than cold and unfamiliar.
Arthur walked through the halls, ensuring that everything was in order. The children, though initially hesitant, gradually warmed up to their new surroundings. Some were still wary, stealing uncertain glances at the unfamiliar faces around them, while others had already begun to chat with each other, forming small bonds.
Sophia knelt beside a little girl with short, curly brown hair, who was clutching the hem of her oversized shirt. "What's your name, sweetheart?" she asked gently.
The girl hesitated before mumbling, "Maya…"
Sophia smiled warmly. "Well, Maya, this is your bed now. See? It's all yours. You can put your things here, and if you ever need anything, just let us know, okay?"
Maya nodded slowly, her tiny fingers gripping the edge of the blanket as she sat down.
Finn, who was helping a group of boys in the other dormitory, placed his hands on his hips. "Alright, little guys, listen up! You see these beds? They are top-tier and made for champions. You'll be sleeping like kings!"
One of the boys, a lanky seven-year-old with messy blond hair, eyed the bed skeptically. "I never had my own bed before…"
Finn blinked before ruffling the kid's hair. "Well, now you do. And let me tell you, once you lie down on it, you're never gonna want to get up."
The boy hesitated before crawling onto the mattress, pressing his small hands into the soft surface. His eyes widened in surprise, as if he couldn't quite believe how comfortable it was.
Meanwhile, Natalya helped some of the younger girls unpack the fresh clothes Arthur had provided. A five-year-old with large, round green eyes tugged at her sleeve. "Sister, do we really get to stay here?"
Natalya knelt down, brushing the girl's tangled black hair behind her ear. "Of course. This is your home now. No one's going to take it away from you."
The little girl's lips trembled slightly before she quickly wiped her eyes and nodded.
Arthur, watching all of this unfold, remained silent, but he felt a small sense of satisfaction. These children had spent their lives surviving in the streets, never knowing what it meant to truly belong somewhere. He couldn't erase their past, but he could give them a future.
…
As the evening settled in, Arthur and the others prepared a large meal. With the supplies Leon and Finn had brought from the market, they made a hearty stew filled with meat and vegetables, accompanied by warm, freshly baked bread. The dining hall, which had been empty just hours ago, was now bustling with life.
The children sat at the long wooden tables, their eyes wide as steaming bowls of food were placed in front of them.
One of the younger boys, no older than five, stared at the stew, clutching his spoon but not moving.
Arthur noticed and walked over. "What's wrong?"
The boy flinched slightly at being addressed but didn't meet his eyes. "I... I can really eat this?" he asked hesitantly.
Arthur crouched down beside him, his voice steady. "Yes. It's yours. Now start eating."
The boy's small hands trembled as he scooped up a spoonful of stew and hesitantly took a bite. His eyes widened in pure astonishment as the warm, rich flavor filled his mouth. He swallowed quickly, then took another bite, and another, his hunger finally overpowering his uncertainty.
Across the room, similar scenes played out. Some of the children hesitated, as if afraid this was all a trick, but as soon as they took their first bite, their faces lit up. The room, once filled with hesitant silence, soon buzzed with laughter and chatter as the children ate together.
Sophia clapped her hands together, grinning. "Now this is what I like to see! Happy faces with full bellies!"
Finn smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I gotta admit, this turned out way better than I expected."
Leon chuckled, taking a bite of his own meal. "Yeah, but I think Arthur's just showing off his cooking skills."
Arthur, who was sipping from his bowl, raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
After dinner, Arthur gathered the children and stood at the front of the room. His voice was calm but firm as he addressed them.
"I know that for some of you, this might feel strange. You might not trust this place yet, and that's okay. But this orphanage is now your home. No one here will hurt you. No one here will take anything from you. You don't have to fight to survive anymore. You're safe."
The room fell silent. The children, who had lived their lives expecting the worst from the world, listened intently.
Arthur continued, "There are rules here. Treat each other with kindness. Help each other. Respect this place. As long as you do that, this will always be your home."
A few of the children exchanged glances before nodding hesitantly.
With the meal finished and the children growing drowsy, Arthur and the others helped them to their rooms. The younger ones clung to their blankets, yawning as they crawled into their beds. Some of the older kids stayed up a little longer, whispering to each other, but exhaustion soon caught up to them.
Arthur carried Lisa, who had fallen asleep against Sophia's shoulder, and gently laid her onto her small bed. Her tiny hands twitched slightly as she mumbled in her sleep, clutching the blanket.
He turned to the two synthezoids standing silently in the corner. "Take care of her."
The humanoid constructs, disguised as simple caretakers, bowed. "Understood."
With one final glance at the sleeping girl, Arthur stepped out of the room.
Before returning to the academy he secretly took out twenty combat bots from the Spear of Heaven to act as security for the orphanage. As there were childrens, there needed to be some security measures.
The robots were quite powerful, with strength equaling early peak realm martial artists nearly as half as strong as him. The robots turned invisible and spread around to cover the orphanage.
Arthur left the dormitory after that, the others were already waiting for him near the entrance. And the girls were talking among themselves.
Eva crossed her arms. "Well, I have to admit, this turned out… better than I expected."
Sophia stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Me too. This place actually feels like a home now."
Natalya nodded, her silver eyes thoughtful. "The kids will still need time to adjust, but I think they'll be okay."
With that, they left the orphanage, stepping into the cool night air, as they made their way back to the academy.
***
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