The Story of How I Was Found and Adopted by Talula

"As long as your abilities are sufficient, that's all that matters to me. Protecting the company, the industry, and my family is all that counts. Everything else is irrelevant."

After giving his answer, Rostov left the two of them, presumably to think about their next course of action.

There wasn't much to the conversation, but Orson had gotten a basic understanding of the other person. The head of the Rostov family was a typical capitalist, but as Koschei had said, he wasn't impossible to talk to.

So, the last question...

"Miss Natalia, do you have any impression of the two guards by Duke Baikal's side who look identical?"

"They are from a vassal family under the Baikal family. The two are twins and will likely inherit their family's legacy in a few years."

"So I can't just get rid of them? Then I'll try a different approach..."

"Huh?"

For a moment, Lumen heard Orson muttering something dangerous, but the next second, the young man put on a harmless smile.

"It's nothing, Miss Natalia. More importantly, could I have an hour off this morning?"

Orson asked Lumen for time off. She thought Orson was going to treat his wounds and agreed, adding a reminder for him to "handle it properly."

"Yes, I'll clean it up thoroughly."

"…?"

Although she was a bit curious about what Orson was going to handle, Lumen didn't think much of it—until about a few days later, when she saw a news report stating that the two heirs of the Baikal family's vassal family had both lost their memories. The condition had persisted for some time, and the initial diagnosis pointed to drinking fake vodka. Currently, there seemed to be no possibility of them regaining their memories.

It's fine if they hit me, but they dare to touch Sister Luz? They should just wait for death.

The suspect, Orson, claimed he knew nothing and had nothing to do with Soul Tuning or Staccato. It was simply the fault of bad alcohol.

There's an illustration here, viewable after updating the version.

33. Actually... I've Never Been to School Either

After secretly seizing the opportunity to turn those two sycophantic guards into idiots when no one was looking, Orson returned to the mansion and happened to see Lumen, who was already dressed in her school uniform and holding a school bag, ready to leave.

"Miss Natalia, are you heading out?"

Orson asked her with a frown, and Lumen nodded, confirming his guess.

"Uh, you were chased on the road yesterday, and Duke Baikal gave you explicit personal threats early this morning—am I remembering correctly?"

Facing Orson's questioning, Lumen sighed.

"Of course, I remember, but even so, I am still the student council president. The president cannot take leave without a valid reason. Moreover, if I were to refuse contact with the outside world due to their assassination attempts and marginalize my daily life, that would be a complete reversal of priorities."

Lumen explained calmly with her eyes slightly closed.

"I am not just Natalia, but also the heir to the Rostov family. My every word and action represents the honor of the family. If I choose to evade and give up, I will only be telling others: 'The Rostov family has shown weakness.' This will lead to a decline in the Rostov family's influence, thus fulfilling Duke Baikal's wish."

Although Lumen's words were serious, Orson didn't see them that way. He could clearly feel that Lumen's Melody at that moment was like a stiff, rigid piece of music deliberately played for the praise and approval of others, and within it, there were even misplaced notes.

Sometimes, Orson would overlook a crucial fact due to Lumen's overly mature appearance: she was actually a girl who was younger than him, just starting high school.

"I have no right to persuade your decision, Miss Natalia, but your school bag is not latched, and the ribbon and hair accessory on your shoulder are not tied."

Orson pointed out the details that Lumen had failed to handle properly due to her haste. The young Rostov heir touched her hair accessory and ribbon, then sighed.

"Then please tie them for me, Orson."

"Is it okay for me to do that?"

"Sometimes guards can also act as attendants."

Lumen turned her back to Orson, signaling him to tie her ribbon and hair accessory.

"I understand."

Orson responded with a frown. Lumen's reply, at first glance, seemed fine, but it made Orson realize something.

Lumen was indeed a "noble lady." At least, before the Peterheim incident, she still held honor and pride in her family and her "noble status."

Although Lumen had a kind heart and would stand up for a stranger like Orson, she also naturally exuded that condescending attitude towards ordinary people.

Orson didn't intend to criticize her, as it was unavoidable. The education and environment Lumen had always been in were like this.

Lumen didn't mind Orson touching her or inviting him into her room, essentially because she didn't regard Orson as an "equal."

For example, Talula and FrostNova would absolutely not let Orson fix their hair. If he had tried, he would probably be dead by now... or on fire.

"Alright, so Miss Natalia, are you sure you want to go to school?"

While thinking, Orson had already finished arranging Lumen's hair. The noble lady's hair was even smoother than Orson had expected, feeling cool to the touch, almost like silk.

It was precisely because he was engrossed in petting the white bear that Orson didn't notice a blush briefly appear on Lumen's cheeks after she had asked Orson for help.

"Yes, I've already explained my reasons. This is my choice, and my way of resisting."

Lumen seemed to have made up her mind, and as an observer and employee, Orson couldn't say anything more.

"Wait, Natasha!"

Before Lumen could leave the room, her father came running back, panting heavily, looking like he had just finished a meeting.

"The butler told me you're planning to go to school?"

"Yes, Father."

"No, this is too risky! That bastard Baikal has already started openly hiring assassins. Our security forces are not yet sufficient, we can't let you take this risk!"

The head of the Rostov family spoke with urgency. Connecting this to what the security guards had said earlier, it was estimated that this new noble didn't have any organized private forces before. Now, facing such unscrupulous tactics from the old nobility, he would be extremely passive for a while.

"There are many noble children in the school. Even Duke Baikal wouldn't choose to act there. I'll ask for increased security on the way, and then there will be no problem, Father. Besides, after the grand assassination attempt yesterday, I don't think Duke Baikal will take any further action for the time being."

Lumen explained with a serious expression. The head of the Rostov family frowned slightly after hearing this, seeming to find some logic in her words.

"No... if it were anyone else, it would be fine, but that's W! Her combat power might only be 60 points, but if you add explosives, ambushes, sneak attacks, grenade launchers, creepy laughter, and provocations, her presence would be no less than W with 1000 points!"

Orson said with a serious face. He knew all too well what kind of eccentric personality W, that Theresa loyalist, had. If it were W, she could completely blow up the entire school.

After all, that was... W!

"W?"

Rostov and Lumen looked curious.

"Yes, I know that Sarkaz mercenary. She is my old... cough cough, she is a very dangerous person, hiding meticulously planned traps behind a crazy exterior."

"So the school isn't safe either..."

Rostov frowned in thought, then his gaze fell on Orson.

"—Right, how old are you, Olygarch?"

"It's Orson... Also, my age?"

Orson hesitated. He was 17 when he first arrived in this world, and now, two years later, he was 19.

"19, I guess."

"Eh? You're already 19? I thought you were only 15 or 16."

Rostov looked surprised, while Orson inwardly complained about why he would hire someone who was only 15 or 16.

However, when he thought about how the leader of the Rhodes Island next door was still a 14-year-old girl with a bunch of operators in their early teens under her, he felt somewhat at ease.

"In short, because Otto, you look very young, you are now 16, just like Natasha, at the age of entering high school."

Rostov pointed at Orson with an "it's settled" attitude.

"?"

Orson tilted his head, not understanding what this new noble was thinking.

Reunion Command Center:

"Orson! You better... Is that Mr. Isaac? Is there something going on with Orson?"

"Contact cannot be made due to a sudden situation? Wait... Huh? Uh, I understand. Please take care of yourself as well. Okay."

Talula put down the receiver of the intercom and then turned to FrostNova Alina behind her.

"Orson has gone to school."

"……?"

The three looked at each other in bewilderment.

34. First Meeting with the Fiery Group

Peterheim Middle School—

This was one of the most well-known schools in Kazimierz City. Its distinguishing feature was that noble students and ordinary civilian students were in the same campus.

Although noble children usually had their own exclusive floors, and some facilities had independent spaces and equipment for them, overall, it was a campus that accommodated both nobles and civilians.

For those civilians, the selling points were "the opportunity to interact with nobles" and "enjoying the same educational resources as nobles." Although everyone was quite dissatisfied with the noble class in Kazimierz City, they all had some desire to associate with nobles.

As for those nobles, the selling point was "learning to interact with the civilian class early and understanding the way society operates more quickly."

With such a unique marketing strategy, Peterheim Middle School quickly became the most famous academy in Kazimierz City.

"Good morning, Student Council President."

"Good morning, Classmate Rica."

"Good morning, Classmate Natalia!"

"You're as energetic as ever today, Classmate Yelena."

On the fourth floor of Peterheim, the exclusive floor for noble children, Lumen walked down the corridor, smiling and responding to the students who greeted her.

"The Student Council President is as flawless as ever today! Just as expected of the heir of Rostov!" "Of course, Classmate Natalia will be a leader of Kazimierz City in the future!"

"Hahaha, I'm just like everyone else, merely a student stepping into the next phase. Please don't tease me anymore."

Lumen replied with a smile. None of the noble second-generation rich kids and upstarts surrounding her noticed the tremor hidden beneath her tone.

Despite saying all those flattering words, Lumen still felt fear. She had to act as if nothing was happening; only then could she consolidate the support of those who depended on the Rostov family.

—But Orson is here now, isn't he? He's somewhere he can reach me.

The thought that she wasn't alone, that she had that "knight" in the school, made Lumen slightly less panicked.

The knight Lumen mentioned was currently in a classroom one floor below him:

"Um, my name is Alan, I'm 16 years old. My hobbies are pulling rabbit tails and taking saunas. Due to family changes, I'll be studying with everyone for a while, so please take care of me."

Orson stood beside the podium, stammering through his fake, shoddy self-introduction in front of over 30 bears.

He recalled his last self-introduction was 4 or 5 years ago.

...No, wasn't it about a year and a half ago? When Talula tied him to a pillar and interrogated him about who he was and why he called her his wife.

So embarrassing, I should just throw myself in the trash.

After forcing himself to blurt out his introduction, Orson was assigned to an empty seat in the back row of the classroom.

—Can I apply for travel expenses for this...?

Orson grumbled inwardly.

After being asked his age by the head of the Rostov family, Orson was half-fooled, half-forced into the same school as Lumen, Peterheim Middle School.

"I'm almost 20, is this really appropriate...?"

"Don't worry, no one can tell."

Lumen's father didn't give Orson much chance to object or question. After a few phone calls, Orson's identity was immediately changed from "Senior Security Officer of Rostov Enterprises" to "Active Peterheim Middle School Freshman."

If you consider "unemployed" as the starting point, this is a bit of a mis-evolution.

Because it would be too conspicuous to suddenly have a transfer student in the noble class, and the subsequent handling would be super troublesome, Orson was ultimately thrown into Peterheim's regular grade, as a 16-year-old freshman.

Perhaps it's because people in Terra generally look young, but Orson, who arrived at 17, hadn't changed at all in appearance or height over two years. Compared to the people around him, he looked even younger.