IITYVA 02

Chapter 2

It might sound ridiculous, but I was born with an extraordinary affinity for nature.

‘According to what I later heard from Elia, it’s because my soul came from another world…’

But as someone who contributed to destroying nature on Earth as one of 8 billion people, that explanation didn’t even make me laugh.

Look, I know my own sins, thank you very much.

If I, who lived with the air conditioner and heater running all year round, possessed this mighty affinity for nature, then shouldn’t the people here be basically nature itself?

Even if I couldn’t understand it, one thing was clear—my nature affinity was absurdly powerful.

It was baffling and mind-blowing, but what could I do? That’s what they said.

But in this world, I was a complete orphan, all alone.

I was forcibly taken to an orphanage, where I received cheap care with cheap supplies. The teachers there? I wasn’t even sure they cared for the kids enough to earn their salaries. What they did enthusiastically was make sure to pocket whatever bonus they could get their hands on.

In other words, they were quietly embezzling the orphanage budget little by little.

And if those money-hungry teachers ever found out about my powerful natural affinity?

‘Wow… I don’t even need to see it to know they’d squeeze me dry to the last drop…’

That would be my life plunging headfirst into the gutter.

‘I refuse to live like that.’

So I began hiding my powers, biding my time, constantly searching for a chance to escape the orphanage.

Eventually, I learned a few important things.

First, my favorite character, Harne, was the same age as me.

Second, a few years from now, the Atlanta Academy would visit the orphanage on an inspection tour.

The Atlanta Academy—known as the most prestigious institution of learning on the continent—was founded in the Elberk Empire.

Under the ideal of “every talented individual has the right to an education regardless of status,” the Academy conducted inspections of orphanages and slums across the nation every five years.

The reason Harne, who had been reincarnated as an orphan, managed to attend the Academy was all thanks to this very policy.

Once I learned this, I set two goals for myself:

One, get into the Atlanta Academy and live the sweet life using my crazy nature affinity.

Two, get close to Harne and help him carry out his long-awaited revenge, because I absolutely adored him!

‘If the soda’s gone flat, I’ll just add the carbon dioxide myself!’

Clenching my fists, I made a vow.

A revenge tale by Harne, for Harne, and with me! Let’s go!

My plan went smoothly.

When the Academy officials came, I revealed my hidden powers with a bang, completely shaking up the orphanage and securing admission to the Academy.

Once there, I got close to Harne, fueled by the heart of a devoted fan.

After my natural affinity hit its peak, I even made a contract with Elia, the Spirit King of Water.

After graduating, I worked directly under the imperial palace as a court spiritist, making loads of money and helping Harne at every opportunity. I was on a winning streak.

As a bonus, I even raised my favorability with Duke Serenia of Arques—the villain behind the original story and Harne’s boss—bringing him over to our side completely.

‘…I like you. A lot.’

‘S-Sorry!’

…That was before that embarrassing disaster happened.

“Sigh…”

Shaking off the memories, I turned my gaze back to the child in front of me.

The child finally woke up after I’d returned from the market, having bought a bunch of groceries and clothes for him.

He suddenly gasped for breath and shot upright without warning.

I had been wetting a washcloth with cool water and immediately rushed to his side.

“Are you feeling okay now? How’s your body?”

Hearing my voice, the child’s eyes, which had been scanning the wall in confusion, suddenly stopped.

He slowly turned his head toward me.

The moment our eyes met, I let out a quiet gasp without realizing it.

His red eyes were like beautiful drops of clear wine.

I blinked, dumbfounded, but when I saw the child shudder, I quickly snapped out of it.

Smiling as warmly and gently as I could with my silver-gray eyes, I greeted him.

“Ah, my name is Einra.”

“…”

“And you are?”

At that moment, the child’s face twisted unexpectedly.

Startled, I instinctively reached out to him, worried he might be in pain.

“Are you alri—?”

Smack.

The child reflexively slapped my hand away.

My wrist throbbed, and I instinctively grabbed it with my other hand. Seeing that, the child flinched again and turned his head away.

W-Well… I guess he didn’t like a stranger suddenly touching him. Ha, you’re quite shy, huh?

I gave an awkward smile and slowly backed off.

“Alright, I won’t touch you without permission. I’m sorry.”

“…”

“More importantly, do you know that you were really sick this morning? How are you feeling now? Is your body okay?”

The child didn’t reply but gave a small nod, eyes still wary.

The healing magic must’ve worked. I sighed in relief.

“That’s good. I was really worried.”

“…”

Maybe he was shy, or maybe he still wasn’t feeling well.

Since I knew nothing about him, I kept talking to try and draw him out.

“Um, do you know where your home is? It’s okay even if it’s far. If you tell me, I can contact your parents. I could even take you back myself.”

Again, the child didn’t respond, just dropped his gaze.

He looked down at his hands, then at the clothes peeking out from under the blanket.

When I saw him staring at his worn clothes, I quickly pulled out the clothes I had bought.

“Oh right, I totally forgot! Do you want to change into these? I didn’t dress you earlier in case you’d be uncomfortable, so I waited for you to wake up.”

“…”

The child glanced at the clothes, then turned his gaze away, seemingly unimpressed.

Did he just sigh?

Flustered, I rummaged through the shopping bag and pulled out more clothes.

“If you don’t like those, there are other options!”

Pants, skirts, dresses, cardigans, skorts—even a tiny Rococo-style gown.

I was practically swimming in money and didn’t know his preferences, so I just bought one of everything.

But every time I held something up, the child turned his eyes away. Eventually, he even closed them.

“Oh no. D-Don’t like any of them…?”

“You…”

“Hm?”

The child’s lips parted like he was going to say something, then shut again.

After a brief silence, he finally opened his mouth.

“…I’m a boy.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not a girl.”

I stared at him with my jaw dropped, completely blindsided.

I was so shocked I didn’t even notice that the way he called me ‘you’ was oddly formal for a child.

“S-Sorry!”

Panicking, I shoved all the clothes back into the shopping bag.

Even the pants from the girls’ section here had frills or ribbons on them—no wonder he didn’t like them.

“H-Here, maybe wear this for now? I’ll go buy you new clothes later.”

I handed him the simplest top and pants I had, the ones with the fewest frills.

The child stared at them for a moment, then let out a soft sigh and took them.

“…Thank you for your consideration.”

I chuckled awkwardly at his oddly mature response.

Wow, he really talks like an adult.

‘Come to think of it… he did call me “you” earlier, didn’t he?’

Could he be from a noble family?

Nodding to myself, I decided it was a likely guess.

The noble kids I met at the Academy always tried to speak with grace and maturity from a young age.

Besides, while his clothes were now torn and dirty, the fabric itself was clearly high-quality.

‘Children should be allowed to be children…’

Tsk. It was a shame some didn’t understand that. I clicked my tongue inwardly.

The boy came out shortly after, dressed in the clothes I gave him.

He was awkwardly tugging at the frilly pink fabric.

Watching him, I smiled fondly and gently asked,

“So… if you don’t mind, could you tell me your name?”

His fingers stopped fiddling with the ribbon.

Blinking slowly, the child lifted his head.