第６５掘：えらい (Part1)
### Dig 65: Important
**Side: Vilia**
"Hey, Aslin, Firia. Is Yuki-sensei... is Big Brother not coming today?"
When I asked about Big Brother Yuki, everyone around us looked over, clearly interested. It was only natural. It was strange for Big Brother not to show up at school. Everyone here loved him so much.
"He said it's self-study today. The big brothers have a meeting from the morning as representatives. They said some important people are coming, remember?"
"Yes, Brother said he would be busy with various meetings today, so we should take it easy," Aslin added.
As soon as they answered, everyone’s faces darkened in unison.
"Hic... why... were we abandoned... waaaah!"
"Eh!? No way... I don't want that... *sniff*..."
Once one person started crying, it spread like wildfire, and nearly half the room was in tears.
"A-awawa!? Please, stop crying! Big Brother would never do something like that!! He’s just busy with work today, that’s all."
"That’s right. He’s just a little occupied today, but he’ll be back tomorrow for sure. So please, stop crying!?"
The two of them panicked, trying to calm everyone down, but it wasn't working. Well, that couldn't be helped. Usually, Big Brother Yuki was the one who calmed everyone down. Other representatives would visit occasionally, but Big Brother was the one who ran this school single-handedly. Though, his wife, Seraria-sama, did show her face every other day.
If I knew for a fact that Big Brother would return, there was no point in me just standing there blankly. I had to help Aslin and Firia.
"Hey!! Everyone, stop crying!! If you keep this up, Yuki-sensei is going to dislike you!!"
When I shouted that, everyone instantly went silent.
"Aslin just told you, didn't she? He has important work today. So, let’s study hard so he can praise us properly tomorrow. If he hears you spent the whole day crying, Yuki-sensei will be troubled."
"...If we work hard, will he praise us?"
"Of course. Sensei is kind, don't you know that?"
"I know!!"
"Then, we have to do our best."
"Yeah!!"
Once one person nodded, everyone simultaneously returned to their desks, opened their textbooks, and began to study.
"Vilia-chan!? Why is everyone suddenly studying!?"
"Eh, is that bad?"
"The 'taking it easy' that Brother mentioned isn't about studying, Vilia! It's about playing!! He says studying is only necessary when he's teaching us."
"I wonder why?"
"I don't really understand what Brother means, but he said, 'There are many things you can only do now. Like playing with friends, or acting like fools...'"
"He said studying alone isn't enough. He said that experiencing many, many different things will surely be for my own good!"
"Hmm. Then, what should we do? Everyone, what do you think we should do?"
I didn't really understand the meaning behind Big Brother's words, so I asked everyone, but...
"I don't know."
"Let's play soccer!!"
"We just did that yesterday... I mean, you play that every single day!!"
"Eh, but soccer is fun."
And so on, everyone’s ideas were all over the place.
"...Vilia-oneechan. Let's use the teleportation circle to go see various places. I don't really know this dungeon yet."
One of the children suggested.
"That's right. That’s a good idea. We still don't know anything about this dungeon. We received maps in our dungeon class the other day, right? Let's take those and go on a field trip!!"
" " "Yeah!!" " "
"Vilia-chan, you're so reliable."
"Yeah, just like Brother."
Aslin and Firia praised me.
"Being told I'm like Big Brother makes me happy. I’ll definitely become a fine lady who can be useful to Big Brother in the future!! Now, can Aslin or Firia contact the representatives?"
"Yeah, I can, but why?"
"Because if they come to check on us and we aren't here, it’ll cause a huge commotion. Plus, we need to discuss things like lunch."
"I see, you're right. Just a second."
Aslin used *Call* to contact someone. Apparently, you gain the ability to use that skill once you become a representative—Big Brother can use it, of course. I was a little envious of Aslin and Firia. They had been together much longer than I had known Big Brother.
Ah, but more importantly, I had to make sure everyone was ready to go.
"Everyone, make sure you put your water bottles, name tags, and IDs into the backpacks you received the other day. Also, we might stop by Super Ratz, so bring some money too."
When I said that, everyone scurried off to their rooms to prepare. Every single one of them had a happy look on their face. It was as if their lives before coming here were just a lie.
"It really is... like a dream."
I am Vilia. A child living in the slums of the Royal Capital of Roschur.
I only faintly remember my parents. But they were kind. Both my father and mother were warm. But before I knew it, I was all alone. I was kicked out of my home, and I ended up living like this, huddled together with the others.
Every day was hungry. I lived my life searching for scraps of food and begging.
There were groups among the slum children. Those who tried to survive by turning to crime like theft, and those who tried to live within the bounds of common sense. But most couldn't endure the hunger, turned to crime, and never returned.
"...Hey. Vilia-oneechan. Big Brother... he's not moving."
Hiiro, who was holding my hand, asked me. She was looking at our "brother" in front of us. Though I called him brother, he was just the leader of this group. We had no actual blood relation. But that was enough. He was a fine brother who would desperately gather food every day and share it with us.
That brother of ours wasn't moving, his arms still tightly clutching a pile of bread that was overflowing from his grasp. No, he was already dead. There was a faint trace of blood on the wall... probably...
"Big Brother is just a little tired, so let's let him sleep. Hiiro, I put the bread in this basket, can you take it to everyone?"
"Yeah, okay."
Hiiro trotted away with the bread. With that vibration, our brother slumped over. There was blood smeared all over the wall.
...Where did he steal that bread from, I wonder?
It couldn't be helped. It was the expected end for a criminal... but it was still sad.
I buried my brother's remains in the place where the other siblings slept, all by myself.
Now, I was the leader of this group. I had to find a way to get food, more than ever, or everyone would starve. At that time, my head was so full of those thoughts that I didn't feel any fear, even when I stood before someone wearing fine clothes and carrying a sword.
For the sake of tomorrow's meal, I reached out my hand.
"Oh? You have quite a lot of guts to try and steal from me, don't you?"
That was my first meeting with Seraria-sama, and the reason I came to this dungeon.
I was taken away by Seraria-sama and asked various questions. I couldn't die in a place like that, so I tried my best to answer honestly to get on her good side. And when the conversation ended, Seraria-sama said:
"Say, Vilia. Would you and those children like to come with us?"
"Eh?"
"I have some work that involves children. If you come, you'll be able to eat proper meals."
"You'll... give us work?"
"Yes. If things go well, you'll have a place where orphans like you can live properly. What do you think?"
"Y-yes!! I'll go tell everyone!!"
"Wait a moment. Someone!!"
"Yes!!"