Inside the newly assigned rooms in Palma Street.

Abby barked orders while the brats pieced together a makeshift bed from scraps they’d dragged in. Old signboards. Driftwood from the riverbank. Whatever they could scavenge.

On the frame, they spread grass, kneading it as soft as they could, then threw a sheet over it. That was to be my bed.

“You’re not going to the dungeon today?”

For daily money, the healing business had been enough.

“If Muscle-head sends a request, I’ll go. But right now, she hasn’t. And this place needs to be made livable first. We don’t have much, but with today’s payment already in hand, there’s no problem taking a break.”

We had a new shelter—a new life. Abby had a mountain of tasks. The healing business could wait.

“Di, I’m giving you permission—rest and recover.”

“Got it. I’ll do that.”

I lay down on the makeshift bed.

The grass prickled beneath the sheet. It was uncomfortable, but a hundred times better than the sewers.

For a slum lodging, the rooms were spacious. Four, maybe five people could live in one without trouble.

Abby was already racking her head about how best to use the space. To us, it felt too big.

More than we deserved.

After a brief rest, Abby shook me awake, already fuming.

“It’s too big! There’s gotta be a better way to use it, don’t you think?”

“…Abby. You’re the leader. Do whatever you like.”

“There it is again! You always say that! Always dumping the hard parts on me!”

She twisted her brain as far as it would go, and when no answer came, she just snapped louder.

“You’re just pretending to defer to me, while shoving all the trouble my way!”

“Is that… bad?”

“Of course it is, you idiot!”

“Alright, alright. Stop shouting. Your voice is splitting my head…”

“What did you just say!?”

They were all orphans here—including Abby. None of them was sharp. Hand them something valuable, and they’d waste it.

My view was simple: let Abby stumble through mistakes. That’s how she’d grow.

Stil…

“…We should open up my room since it has a bath. The drainage channel runs behind it, so the water is clear. Laundry, cooking—you could do it all there,” I said at last.

To me, a logical solution. But Abby scowled.

“This is the best room we’ve got. You trying to throw my consideration back in my face?”

“…Abby.” I sighed and explained slowly. “I appreciate the thought. But we’re still just a small, weak group.”

“Hah! Weak? I’m not weak! Remember, I fought Frankie the other day—”

Frankie was irrelevant right now.

“Just listen, Abby.”

She had guts, muscle, and a slick tongue—

For an orphan.

“I refuse. I’ll do things my way.”

I shook my head. She wasn’t thinking, just lashing out.

Then she faltered.

“W-why are you going quiet, Di?”

“…If you’re done, leave. I need time to think.”

I only wanted to end this pointless back-and-forth. But, strangely, Abby backed down.

“W-wait, Di! Fine, I’ll listen! So, please!”

From the corner, Oni-girl and Zoë were watching. If I crushed Abby’s pride here, it wouldn’t just break her—it would fracture the entire group.

With that in mind, I spoke.

“Us fighting like this, it’s exactly what Alex wants.”

“What?”

“Alex probably thinks we're just dumb kids that'll never manage a cheap house.”

Her foxlike eyes widened, then narrowed into a sharp glare.

“That bastard…”

“And she’s right. You’re overwhelmed. This place is too big for us. You can’t divide it properly yet.”

Even irritated, Abby still listened. That was her one saving grace. She failed often, but she didn’t stop trying.

When our eyes met again, her glare had softened.

“If I got driven out because of infighting, Alex would be thrilled to offer me her hand.”

The rest was obvious.

Another gang of disposable orphan kids will be erased. That was all it would take.

Abby fell silent, chewing the thought.

“…I’ve been a fool. Di, tell me what I should do.”

I gave a small nod. She wasn’t stupid. She moved fast once she understood.

First things first.

“Abby. What’s your greatest weapon?”

“Eh? That’s…”

Her hand went to the knife on her belt. I shook my head.

“Idiot. What’s a cheap little knife like that?”

“What—!”

She bristled, but I cut her off with a priest-like glare. If she wouldn’t listen, I’d force her to.

“You’ve got strength, guts—and you can talk your way through things. But compared to a skilled person like Alex, you’re nothing yet.”

Admitting that now wasn’t shameful.

She pressed her lips together, furious but silent. Good. Finally listening.

“Our strength is in our numbers, Abby. That’s the only thing we’ve got. We’re a group. That’s our greatest weapon.”

“…A group.”

“That’s right. Oni-girl, Cat-girl, Zoë, the rest… even me—we all are your strength. You really think that little knife’s worth more than all of us together?”

“…”

“We’ve got a great base now. That’s an opportunity. You know what you need to do. From here on—”

Abby stood up, cutting me off.

“From here on, it’s my job.”

Her smile was fearless, her foxlike eyes gleaming with dangerous resolve.

Finally.

This group was going to grow.