Episode 3
The next day arrived.
Lapia was dressed in a stiff white dress that was a bit rough to the touch.
“Today, the person who will sponsor and care for you is coming. Keep in mind—you must behave.”
The orphanage director, who came to get Lapia, wore a deliberately stern expression and began threatening her without warning.
“Yes, I’ll behave.”
When Lapia nodded obediently, the director looked satisfied, thinking his threat had worked.
Her mature demeanor made it seem like she had resigned herself to reality and was simply complying without resistance.
“Good. Now, let’s go.”
The director personally took Lapia to his office.
Unlike the shabby rooms where the children stayed, his office was clean and even had a pleasant scent.
“Wait here. And if you try anything funny…”
He lowered his voice menacingly to scare her.
But Lapia cut him off before he could finish.
“I’ll behave.”
The director glanced at her suspiciously, then signaled to a guard standing behind her.
“Keep an eye on her.”
“Yes, Director.”
He truly was a man full of suspicion.
Leaving Lapia in the hallway, the director entered the office first. Lapia took a moment to breathe and gather her thoughts.
‘It’s strange, if you think about it even a little.’
Why would someone come at night—an unusual time—just to pick up a sponsored child?
It was too suspicious.
‘But from the director’s perspective, as long as he gets paid, he probably doesn’t care how shady it is.’
While she was lost in thought, the door opened again.
“Come in.”
“Yes, Director.”
Lapia followed him inside, her expression cold and hard.
Seated on the office’s main sofa was a man wearing a deep hood that covered his face.
Lapia recognized him instantly.
“Is this the child you were looking for?”
“…Yes.”
That familiar voice.
Despite mentally preparing herself to remain calm, Lapia’s heart sank the moment she heard it.
‘It’s okay. Stay calm.’
She quietly exhaled and lowered her gaze to appear docile.
If she wanted to escape, it was better to act cautious for now.
“She’s a sharp child. No matter what task you assign her, she’ll handle it well.”
Though he’d barely seen her before, the director acted like he knew Lapia well.
“It’s part of my educational philosophy. I do everything I can to ensure these children can support themselves once they’re out in the world. We give them exposure to various professions from the moment they arrive.”
He dressed it up nicely, but in reality, he was exploiting the children’s labor.
Still, the sponsor gave no reaction.
The director, a bit awkward, cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“By the way, how did you know we had a child with such a unique appearance here?”
Trying to curry favor, the director kept speaking politely.
“Why does that matter?”
The sponsor’s voice was still youthful.
But the cold, commanding tone held an overwhelming pressure. The director immediately backed down.
“Ah… it’s just… the timing was so perfect… I’m sorry if my question offended you. Please forgive my rudeness.”
He bowed quickly.
But the sponsor offered no response—not even a simple “it’s fine” or “be careful.”
Lapia stared at the hooded figure. Of course, she couldn’t see his face.
But in her mind, she said his name:
‘Yuri.’
He had been Lapia’s sponsor in her first life.
‘That must be the real Yuri.’
Though she was certain that wasn’t his real name either.
As her memories of the past returned, her eyes sharpened.
‘What kind of person were you, that so many followed you so blindly?’
While it was Yuri himself who came to take her from the orphanage, countless others came searching for her later.
Sometimes they were old men.
Sometimes young.
Sometimes even women.
Their heights, ages, and genders varied, but all of them shared one thing: they called themselves “Yuri.”
So naturally, Lapia referred to every one of them as “Sir Yuri.”
But she had to distinguish between them and the original Yuri—the one in front of her now, cloaked in black.
It wasn’t until she was older that she realized the truth:
All those people who came to her…
Were devotees of Yuri.
They used her power—Word Magic—freely, as if it belonged to them.
They seemed to know everything about her, but she knew almost nothing about them.
For the nine years that followed after she left the orphanage, all she knew was that they all wore robes and kept their faces hidden.
They went to extreme lengths to ensure Lapia didn’t learn too much.
To them, she was little more than a compliant puppet.
As she grew older and began to resist, they found her bothersome and dulled her mind.
In that fog, she often heard them whisper:
“Lapia, never forget. If not for him, you’d be living in filth and ruin.”
“Etch it into your heart—he saved you from a life in the gutters.”
“You must repay his kindness. If you want to live with dignity, that is.”
Words she’d heard over and over in her first life now echoed again.
Lapia could almost taste the bitterness rising in her mouth.
She had spent her life shackled to the words of countless Yuris.
‘Never again.’
From now on, she would decide what was right and wrong for herself.
Lapia renewed her resolve.
Then, the silent Yuri finally spoke.
“I’ll take the child now.”
“Y-yes. I’ll prepare her right away.”
The director bowed again and again.
Lapia followed the director, her steps heavy with determination.
The excitement in his voice was obvious—he was practically giddy.
“You’re really lucky. Your life is about to change for the better.”
He spoke proudly, as if he’d personally created a great opportunity for her.
“You’ll have a lifelong job now. And thanks to you, the other kids will get meat stew and wheat bread for a few days.”
Lapia silently scoffed.
‘Lies.’
Even if the orphanage received a huge donation, that didn’t mean the children would benefit.
‘He’s obviously going to pocket most of it.’
The director was just that kind of person.
Lapia pressed her lips together and organized her thoughts.
In her first life, she had been too young—and everything had happened so fast that she’d barely had time to think.
But now, reliving the same events a second time, she could see things more objectively.
And that raised a question:
‘How many people can afford to pay such an enormous sponsorship fee?’
She didn’t know who Yuri really was, but two things became clear.
First, he must be someone wealthy and powerful.
Second, he must have known exactly who Lapia was before offering such a sum.
The director’s pace suddenly slowed.
He lowered his voice and gave one last warning.
“There’s your sponsor. Be respectful, and always mind your behavior. Understand?”
He seemed terrified that Lapia might cry or make a fuss and ruin the deal.
Looking up, she saw a dark brown carriage—presumably Yuri’s—waiting ahead.
The carriage had no windows, no ornamentation. Completely closed off.
He clearly didn’t want anyone to know who he was.
Lapia decided to shelve her thoughts about Yuri’s identity for now.
‘What matters is what happens next.’
Taking a deep breath without anyone noticing, she glanced around quickly.
‘The horse’s head is facing to the right.’
That meant the carriage would exit to the right. Which also meant the road on that side was wide.
‘A wide road puts me at a disadvantage.’
No matter how secluded the orphanage was, this area still belonged to the director.
So running toward the main road likely wouldn’t get her help.
‘I need to use my small body to my advantage.’
She had to escape down the narrowest, filthiest path.
That would lower the chances of being caught.
Holding her breath, Lapia closed her eyes.
‘My power hasn’t disappeared, has it?’
After bathing the night before, she had tried to sense how much magic remained within her.
She wasn’t old enough to have officially awakened her powers.
But since her consciousness had traveled back in time, perhaps there had been a crack in the seal—a small “exception” that allowed some power through.
Luckily, her guess was right.
The door to her Word Magic had opened just slightly, and through it shimmered a faint golden light.
But that light was weak—like it could vanish at any moment.
She checked again now. Nothing had changed.
‘Still barely there.’
At most, she could probably cast three short commands. After that, her power would be sealed until the proper awakening age.
Lapia’s heart grew heavier with resolve.
Every time she used Word Magic, it damaged her body. Would her young frame be able to withstand it?
But no matter how hard she thought, there was no other option.
‘I have to run.’
To a place where those adults’ hands could never reach her.
Summary
