Concept: World - Chapter 14: Tia's Past (3)

Disguised in plain clothes, Posius walked through the city with a list in his hand.

Only one name remained.

Following the address, he made his way through several narrow alleyways before stopping in front of a run-down building. Light flickered behind the windows, and muffled voices drifted from inside, clear signs that people still lived here.

He knocked on the door.

A few moments later, an elderly woman answered. She opened it cautiously. Relief briefly crossed her face when she realized he wasn't the person she'd expected, but it was quickly replaced by nervousness.

"May I ask who you are...?"

"I'm looking for someone."

Posius held up a photograph.

"Do you recognize this girl?"

The old woman's eyes widened instantly.

He had found the right place.

"Has something happened to Tia?"

"I'd like to ask a few questions about her. Don't worry—I'm from the Central Building."

He showed her an identification card. It actually belonged to Oenone, so it identified him as a member of the Second Squad instead of the First.

"...All right. Come in."

Posius followed her inside.

Several children immediately turned toward him with wary expressions.

The elderly woman led him into what appeared to be an office and invited him to sit across from her.

"Has something happened to Tia?"

There was genuine concern in her voice.

"Did you know she joined the combat unit?"

"I did. Did something happen to her there?"

"Don't worry. We're simply compiling personnel records. I'd like to learn a little about her background."

"Was she born here at this orphanage?"

"No."

The woman shook her head.

"Fifteen years ago, I heard a baby crying in the middle of the night. When I opened the door, I found her abandoned on our doorstep."

"I see."

"What kind of child was she?"

"She grew up just like the others. She was a quiet little girl, and she often helped me take care of the younger children."

"So she could interact with people normally?"

"Yes."

She smiled faintly.

"Until one day she became quieter and quieter. She also started working part-time."

"She was only nine."

"What happened?"

"You've probably noticed the condition of this place."

"Saying it was 'a little run-down' would be an understatement."

The cracked walls, rotting wooden floors, and broken windows barely patched together with newspaper and tape made the building look as though it could collapse at any moment.

"Were you having financial trouble?"

"Yes."

"We were drowning in debt."

"Was there some kind of emergency?"

"I... I can't say."

"Please don't worry."

"I'm directly attached to the Second Squad. Whatever happened, you can tell me."

"Really?"

"I promise this conversation won't leave this room."

The old woman remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"About ten years ago... someone came claiming one of the children had been seriously injured and needed emergency surgery."

"They said we needed a large sum of money immediately."

"I couldn't possibly come up with that much on such short notice."

"In my panic... I accepted a loan."

"By the time I realized it was all a scam... it was already too late."

"That's how we ended up trapped under enormous interest payments."

"A textbook fraud scheme."

Posius forced himself to suppress the anger rising in his chest.

This wasn't technically his responsibility.

But hearing such a despicable story made it impossible for him to stay calm.

"One day they came to collect."

"I begged them not to take the children's food money."

"They didn't care."

"They took everything and warned me they'd be back."

"When I turned around..."

"I saw Tia standing in the doorway."

"She'd witnessed everything."

"After that... she barely spoke anymore."

"Could you tell me who they are?"

"A local crime syndicate."

"They've done the same thing to many nearby shops."

Rats.

There were rats hiding in the very city he had sworn to protect.

Posius silently vowed that once he returned, he'd be having a very serious conversation with the city officials.

"Where is their base?"

"I... I can't say."

"They forbade me from telling anyone."

"Did you ever report them to the authorities?"

"I did."

"It was buried."

"They warned me that if I tried again..."

"...one of the children might disappear someday."

"Does Tia know any of this?"

"No."

"She only knows we're buried in debt."

"...Why didn't she tell us?"

"That child has always carried everything alone."

"Perhaps being abandoned taught her never to trust anyone."

"I understand."

Posius stood up.

"Tell me where they are."

"I... I can't."

Without another word, Posius removed his disguise.

The elderly woman's eyes grew wide.

"Lord Leon!"

"That's right."

He smiled.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly."

"I'm Posius, Captain of the First Squad."

"The man people call Leon."

"Now..."

"Could you please tell me where those rats are?"

"...They're..."

An hour later...

Posius sat outside a building, waiting for the proper authorities to arrive.

Behind him lay a pile of unconscious men.

They had been beaten so thoroughly that even their own mothers probably wouldn't have recognized them.

In his hand was the orphanage's debt contract.

One flick of flame, and decades of crushing debt would disappear forever.

"So much better."

Yawning, Posius watched the papers burn completely to ash.

Two days later...

A knock sounded on the office door.

"Come in."

Tia stepped inside.

"Was it you?"

"Yep."

"How did you find out about my past?"

"I never told anyone."

"You said you'd never met your parents."

"So I figured you were either raised by relatives..."

"...or in an orphanage."

"And your school records always left the guardian section blank."

"But how did you find—"

"I searched them one by one."

He shrugged.

"Fortunately, yours happened to be the last one."

The tension slowly drained from Tia's body.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Her breathing steadied.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"...Wait."

"Why are you crying?"

Posius looked up in surprise.

Tears streamed silently down Tia's face.

Yet she herself seemed completely unaware.

For years, she had lived with only one goal:

Earn enough money to free the orphanage that had raised her from its crushing debt.

To achieve that, she had sealed away every unnecessary emotion and distraction, dedicating everything to combat training.

The higher she climbed...

...the more money she could earn.

That had become the sole purpose of her life.

In the process...

She had forgotten how to cry.

Now, with the burden finally lifted, every suppressed emotion burst forth all at once.

Yet her heart had grown so numb that she no longer understood what tears meant.

She simply stood there blankly, touching the tears on her own face in confusion.

Posius walked over and gently rested a hand on her head.

"You're part of the First Squad now."

"From this day forward..."

"...we're your family."

"If something's wrong, tell us."

"You're only fifteen."

"You don't have to carry everything by yourself."

"Rely on us."

"Cause us trouble if you need to."

"All right?"

Tia still gave no response.

But deep within her golden eyes...

Posius saw a light begin to shine once more.

"It'll get better."

"Trust me."

At that moment...

Posius truly became the hero in Tia's heart.

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