"Sister… sister…"
In the haze, it seemed as if someone was calling out to her.
Akame struggled to open her eyes. What entered her vision was an unfamiliar ceiling, but beside her was her familiar younger sister, Kurome.
"Kurome, where is this?"
Akame's last memory was only of that warm embrace, just like being in her mother's arms once before, but she had no recollection of anything after that…
"This is the place sister mentioned before—the Northern Empire's Golden Orphanage!"
The fact that her elder sister had woken up safe and sound was the greatest news for the younger sister, Kurome. Even though tears were already flowing from the corners of her eyes, she still held Akame's hand tightly, having no intention of letting go.
"It's just like sister said. Now that we've come here, we won't go hungry, nor do we have to sleep on the streets every day. We can live together happily!"
Even though Kurome's body was very weak and she had not yet recovered from their previous life of wandering, a happy smile appeared on her face at this moment. Clearly, she had found new hope for her future life.
"Is that so? That is truly wonderful!"
The figure of the person who claimed to be the whale woman gradually surfaced in her mind. Akame offered a quiet thanks to her in her heart.
Though she didn't know who the woman was, since she was able to make her sister smile like this, Akame felt she had to be grateful.
If there were a chance to meet again in the future, she would have to thank her in person!
"The porridge is here… what, so you're already awake!"
Just as the bond between the two sisters, Akame and Kurome, was warming up, the door to the room was gently pushed open. A petite pink figure walked in from outside carrying a bowl of porridge, spotting Akame sitting up in bed at a glance.
"Since you're awake, hurry up and drink some porridge. Your body is very weak right now. If you don't eat something soon, you'll starve yourself into trouble."
The expression on the pink-haired girl's face was very serious, but the sisters could hear an unprecedented level of concern in her tone.
"Thank you, Mine!"
"But, can I be the one to feed sister the porridge?"
Kurome had slept for a long time on the way here, so she had woken up earlier than her sister and had already gotten to know everyone in the Golden Orphanage.
The pink-haired girl in front of them was named Mine. According to the Director Sister, she seemed to be an untalented little thing when it came to being honest?
"Of course not!"
Mine casually placed the hot porridge on the bedside table and put her hands on her hips, acting like a little adult. Her expression as she looked at Kurome was quite serious.
"Your condition is also terrible, not much better than your sister's. So, to make sure you both get well as quickly as possible, I, Lord Mine, will personally feed you the porridge!"
But after saying this, as if remembering something, Mine's face suddenly turned red.
"Don't… don't get the wrong idea! The Director Sister asked me to help, it's not like I wanted to help you!"
Ah!
A textbook tsundere!
"It's just like the Director Sister said, Mine isn't honest with herself… then sister and I will thank you together!"
Kurome stood up from the chair by the bed and gave Mine a deep bow, while Akame, sitting on the bed, also lowered her head to express her gratitude.
"Fine, fine! Stop saying such mushy things. Are you going to drink the porridge or not?"
"If Mine is the one feeding us, it's not impossible!"
"Eh? What… what are you saying? If you keep talking, I'm leaving!"
Although she spoke blunt words, Mine still obediently brought a chair from outside the door, meticulously looking after the health of the two sisters.
After all, to Mine, the Golden Orphanage was already her home. So, wasn't it only natural to take care of new companions who had joined them?
In fact, it wasn't just Akame, Kurome, and Mine; even the other children in the orphanage lived by helping one another. Every face was filled with hope for tomorrow, something completely unseen in the Empire.
Though that time might not last forever, it at least allowed them to have a decent childhood…
—
Meanwhile, in the director's office of the Golden Orphanage.
"It seems the children who joined here are indeed living happily. You have done well."
"Thank you for your praise, Lord Dux Gladiorum. However, this is only what I should do. Seeing the children grow up healthy makes me happy enough!"
The children of the orphanage likely never would have guessed that their respected Director Sister was currently facing a major figure.
The Dux Gladiorum of the Northern Empire, Hysilens.
"Mm, I think so too," Hysilens nodded slightly. "Are things still manageable lately? Imperator's original purpose for establishing the orphanage was not just limited to this."
"Of course. Whether in the classroom or in daily life, I am teaching the children useful knowledge. Even if they leave this place in the future, they will be able to survive in the Northern Country."
"That is good then…"
Hysilens knew that in the Akame ga Kill World, many strong individuals were orphans when they were young… although it was a bit rude to say it like that, it seemed to be the truth.
Therefore, establishing a place that could take in children would naturally allow for the cultivation of decent powerhouses. There were many similar places in games…
Cocolia Orphanage.
House of the Hearth.
House of Shiora.
Plus some settlements related to "Golden," such as…
Golden Courtyard.
Golden Grand Hotel.
After various considerations, Cerydra had chosen the name "Golden Orphanage" to take in those homeless children.
The children could eat their fill and dress warmly here, learning much useful knowledge, and even more importantly, gaining a skill to ensure their future survival.
Although at the beginning there had been thoughts of using the Golden Orphanage as a training facility for Northern Country soldiers, the idea was eventually abandoned…
Because Cerydra thought of her own "setting."
An orphan wandering abroad, pushed onto the throne by nobles, accumulating strength as a puppet until overturning everything to achieve victory.
Though the final ending was beautiful, the process was no less harrowing… as the Actor of Cerydra, such thoughts gradually flashed through their mind.
If it were Cerydra, she certainly would not want a second version of herself to appear in the world! Because that would mean children the same age as her would have to endure pain no less than her own!
"So, the future of the children should be left for them to decide!"
Once the children had grown to a certain point, the Director Sister would have individual talks with them, asking about their plans for the future.
If they wanted a peaceful life, they would go to a specialized academy to learn a skill so they could live safely in the Northern Country in the future.
If they wanted to protect this hard-won peace and guard everyone's dreams, then they would dedicate their youth to the Northern Empire, and to Empress Cerydra!