SEC Chapter 35: The English Chapter - Fildo
Chapter 35: The English Chapter - Fildo
[Current Timeline: Several months after Ming arrived in the UK, on December 23rd, Christmas Eve and the eve of Christmas Day, during the winter break.]
On a snowy day, Ming walked alone, carrying chestnuts, wearing a scarf, and with his ever-present eye patch over his left eye, on a snowy London street.
Due to some special circumstances, he was unable to personally board the plane back to Japan to visit his parents and Aunt Saori. Despite his deep longing for them, reality forced him to make this decision, and he could only send two letters to let them know he was safe.
"Ha~ Uncle Jin said he recently went on a business trip to the Japanese branch with his family. He had a perfectly good winter break, but because of training since he recently became a full member, he missed his flight back to Japan and has to stay here. It's so boring."
Thinking this, Ming casually smoothed the black fur on Chestnut's body and continued walking down the street, seemingly unsure of what to do, while recalling the events of the past year since he agreed to Möbius's cooperation request.
“That old woman is still a trustworthy one, isn’t she?” Ming said, hoisting the chestnut onto his shoulder and casually swinging his arm, revealing a silver scalpel beneath his black suit. “At least she taught me everything she knew, including the weaknesses of the human body, how to use a scalpel most efficiently, the principles and expansion of the Free Domain, and so on.”
"And right after summer vacation started, the SSS guys turned me into a full member and gave me the rank of corporal. It doesn't feel very good, considering that Origami was already a sergeant at my age when the Date A Live anime started. Oh well, it's not important. Right now, I'm mainly learning the basics that I already know at SSS. I'll focus on Möbius's side."
While Ming was feeling disgusted, he was thinking to himself that at his age, a normal person would still be a private first class and wouldn't even be qualified to join the SSS, a special unit for fighting elves. It was only because Ming had superhuman strength, powerful fighting talent, and a high-level magician scholar as a mentor that he was able to join the military without ever having served before.
As Ming pondered this, he took out the gauze and photos he always carried with him. Looking at his friend, who had also lost her that year, he was filled with emotion. Seeing this, the bird perched on Ming's shoulder couldn't help but call out twice.
The "meow...meow meow..." sounds express his longing for the gentle owner who once cared for him.
Ming would occasionally pat Chestnut's head. "It seems you miss her too... It's a pity... Your lifespan is only an average of 10 to 18 years, otherwise we should be able to meet Sawa again in the future..." Thinking of this, Ming's tone became low.
Just then, a familiar female voice, filled with anxiety and disappointment, came from the entrance of the dessert shop next door.
"Ah! Miss clerk, could you give me a discount? Please! Please!" Her voice was very clear, and Ming recognized her immediately, so he walked over to check out her.
Her beautiful short red hair and tomboyish voice made her very recognizable.
"Senior Fierdo".
Ming's voice, devoid of much emotion, reached Phildo's ears just as she was negotiating the cake price with the shop assistant.
Upon hearing the voice, Fierdo immediately abandoned her plan to negotiate prices with the cake shop clerk and quickly stepped forward to greet her:
"Hey? It's little brother Klein!" Phildo smiled brightly, then her eyes lit up when she noticed the chestnut on Ming's shoulder, and she immediately ran over.
"Wow! Wow! It's an adorable kitten! So cute! Wait! Could this cat be... Klein's pet? Wow, I never thought even Klein, who doesn't usually have much of an expression, could resist the allure of furry things!"
With her eyes sparkling, Fildo chattered on and on in front of Ming, as if she could put her arm around Ming's shoulder and have a long chat at any moment.
"Uh... I like kittens, but is it really necessary to get this excited, senior?" Ming scratched his head, looking at the excited Fildo in front of him with great confusion.
"How could I not be excited! This is a step that will help me and my little brother Klein get to know each other better!" she said, reaching out to pat Chestnut's head, but Ming stopped her with a raised hand.
“Little brother Klein, why are you like this…” Fildo said with a somewhat resentful expression, her face puffed up in anger, but Ming interrupted her.
“No way.” Ming shook his head firmly, then looked at the cake shop behind her, diverting his attention, and said, “And what’s wrong with you, senior? I remember SSS pays its official members around $900 a month, right? That’s about 6400 RMB. Why are you haggling over even a cake?”
As Ming spoke, he analyzed the exchange rate calculation method, looking at Fierdo in front of him with a puzzled expression and meeting her somewhat evasive gaze.
“Um… Little Klein… you don’t need to…” Fildo wanted to stop her immediately, but Ming didn’t say anything, walked past her and headed straight for the cake shop.
"Miss shop assistant, could you tell me what kind of cake Fildo wanted to buy?" Ming asked the shop assistant calmly.
"Oh, this one? Are you a friend of that lady from earlier?" the shop assistant asked first, and Ming nodded.
"Here, she has one of each of our dozen or so cake styles, which cost a total of £89. Would you like to..."
“Let’s go with this price, I’ll pay.” Ming said, and without asking any questions, he directly pulled out a black card with an article from DEM Company printed on it.
Upon seeing the black card, the shop assistant's eyes lit up, and she looked at Ming with a hint of respect. "Okay...okay, sir, it will take a while to pack the food. Would you like someone to help you carry it?"
Upon hearing this question, Ming turned his head slightly, looked at Fei Erduo standing behind him, and then gestured to her with his eyes.
Fierdo watched Ming's actions, a hint of hesitation and unease appearing on her face. She knew what Ming meant, but deep down, she felt an indescribable sense of guilt. However, facing Ming's gaze, she finally gritted her teeth, took a firm step forward, and responded:
"No need, the place I'm going to isn't far from here, I can carry it by myself."
"Oh, I understand." The shop assistant nodded, and for some reason, there was a hint of jealousy in her eyes towards Fierdo, but Ming noticed it and didn't care.
Soon after, the small cake boxes, which had been packaged into three large boxes, were brought to Ming and Fildo.
"Hehe, sorry little Klein, I'll definitely pay you back once SSS sends the money," Fildo said, scratching her head a little embarrassedly.
"No need, I don't need this money. You should figure out how to take these three big boxes with you first." After Ming said he didn't need it, he gestured to her how to take the three big boxes with him.
Then she saw that Fildo first stacked the three boxes, then lifted the bottom one, raised it above her head with one hand, turned her head and smiled at her, which surprised her a little.
He muttered to himself, 'Hmm... I thought I was already an exception among magicians, but so this is what's considered normal?'
Ming followed behind Fierdo, watching her effortlessly carry three boxes of cakes, which was quite astonishing.
Soon after, Ming was led by Phildot to the gate of a huge orphanage in a relatively remote corner of London.
"This is..." Ming asked Fei Erduo in confusion as they approached the door.
“Sildorfrey Orphanage,” Fildo looked up and said, “It’s also… my former home. Hehehe, don’t be fooled by how big it is now, it used to be just a small place. But recently, our Second Princess of England, Anslila, generously provided funding, which made this place so wonderful. This week should be the last time I provide funding here, and I’m really a little reluctant to leave.”
"Is this why you can use so much of SSS's salary all at once?" Ming asked, holding Chestnut and looking up at the huge orphanage.
Fildo nodded, then gently pushed open the courtyard gate and walked into the orphanage.
The children cheered as soon as they saw Fildo. She placed the cake on the table in the center of the yard, and the children gathered around, their faces beaming with happiness.
"Sister Fierdo!" A little girl ran over excitedly, followed by a large number of young boys and girls.
Fildo looked around at the children, scanned the room and noticed one child was missing, so she asked, "Where's Sfina?"
"Oh, that's a real shame... She just mentioned wanting to eat cake recently." A hint of disappointment flashed in Fildo's eyes, but she quickly perked up.
She bent down and patted the children's heads, her eyes filled with gentle tenderness.
At this moment, a child noticed Ming standing behind Fierdo and asked curiously, "Sister Fierdo, who is this brother?" The other children also looked at Ming.
"Could it be that he's my sister's boyfriend?!" exclaimed a child who seemed rather precocious. "I think it's possible. After all, such a handsome older brother is such a good match for my sister," another little girl chimed in.
Ming quickly waved his hand and explained, "No, no, no, don't misunderstand. Fei Erduo and I are just colleagues. I've had girlfriends before." Hearing Ming's words, the children looked disappointed.
Fildo, however, remained calm and smiled as she said to the children, "Alright, everyone, let's eat our cake."
Hearing the shouts, the children put down their cakes, feeling disappointed, and immediately went to unwrap them.
The children happily ate their cake, while Ming and Fildo chatted idly on the side.
"These kids are so cute. Their innocent and naive looks are much cuter than adults'," Ming commented expressionlessly, stroking the chestnut on his thigh.
“Yes, whenever I see their innocent and naive faces, I think of my childhood…” Fildo’s eyes showed a hint of sadness as she spoke, but it was quickly covered by a smile: “I was like that back then, innocent and naive, full of curiosity and hope for the world… Thinking about it now, time really flies!” She sighed softly, as if recalling the little things from the past.
Then, she smiled brightly again, looking tenderly at the children playing, and said, "How wonderful. Tomorrow, the Second Princess will take full control of this orphanage. Then, these children won't go hungry because the orphanage is poor. I won't have to worry about them every day anymore."
Her tone conveyed a sense of relief, as if she looked forward to a better life for the children tomorrow. She also expressed her hopes for the Second Princess's takeover, wishing the children would receive more love and care.
Soon after, the children finished their cake, and Ming and Fildo said goodbye. Just as they were about to leave, a child ran over and tugged at Fildo's sleeve.
"Sister, will you come to see us again in the future?" The child looked up, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Fierdo crouched down, gently patted the child's head, and said with a smile, "Of course, I'll come whenever you need me."
Ming was deeply moved by what he saw, and then left first.
"She's a complete stranger, yet she managed to do this. She's truly remarkable," Ming muttered before leaving.