Part 1

The magic item in his pocket vibrated, and Climb took it out.
放在内侧口袋里的魔法道具开始了震动，克莱姆将其取了出来。

This was a pocketwatch, just large enough to fit into his palm, with three hands -- the hour, the minute and the second -- which traced a halo of twelve numbers.
这是个正好能纳入手中大小的，有三根指针的——时针、分针，以及秒针——与围绕着它们得十二个数字所组成的怀表。

While large mechanical clocks existed, personal watches only existed within the Kingdom as magic items. As pocket watches were closely linked to everyday life, they were fairly cheap, as far as magic items went. That said, they were still not something a commoner could afford.
虽然大型的钟表的话也有机械式的存在，但个人携带得尺寸在王国里就只有魔法道具存在。因为怀表与日常生活中有密切地的联系，所以就魔法道具的价格来说，是卖得价格相当便宜的。但虽然如此，依然不是平民可以随便购入的价格。

Climb had borrowed the pocketwatch which he now bore, and so it differed from regular magic items in that it possessed a magical ability. The name of the watch was Twelve Magical Power. Once per day, when the watch reached a set time, it would unleash its magic.
克莱姆所持有得怀表是他所借来得，因此和普通地魔法道具有所差异，拥有特别的魔法力量。
怀表的名称为“十二魔法之力”[Twelve·Magic·Power]。每天一回，到了所设定得时间时，响应那个时间点魔法将会被发动。

However, one would need to have carried the pocketwatch for at least a full day in order to enjoy that ability, so Climb -- who had just obtained this watch -- could not make use of its magic.
但想要享有那份恩惠，最少也得拿着怀表一天，对于刚拿到手的克莱姆并不能发动魔法。

“Hm? Is it time already? That was fast…” said the girl who seemed to be spacing out while looking into the blue sky. Naturally, those words were addressed to Climb.
「嗯？已经到时间了？真快呢」

在身旁眺望着青空发呆的女性，向克莱姆这么搭话道。

“It seems that way,” Climb answered the girl -- Tina, a member of the adamantite-ranked adventurer party “Blue Rose”.
「看来是这样啊」

克莱姆向那名女性——精钢级冒险团队“苍蔷薇”的成员缇娜这么回答道。

“Hm~ It’s hard to tell the passage of time when we’re slacking off.”
「呼。像这样悠闲着得话，时间的经过真是不怎么明了呢」

This was a highly exploitable statement.
这是句有许多槽点的发言。

In the first place, Tina was not slacking off. She was guarding the main door of the building behind Climb. While she had said things like “Is it time already” and “That was fast”, the fact was that she ought to have a very acute perception of time.
首先缇娜并不是悠闲着。她正在警戒着位于克莱姆身后的建筑物正门。其次虽然她有说什么「已经到时间？」「真快呢」之类的发言，但她应该也有着相当精准的生物钟才对。

There were some people in the adventuring community whose time perception was preternaturally keen. In particular, many people in the thieving profession had trained that ability up. It was very important to them, given that they often needed to move independently on stealth operations.
在冒险者中，有一部分人有着异常精准的生物钟。特别是从事盗贼类职业的人，这些都是拜训练所赐。因为经常需要进行隐秘的调查而单独行动得时候非常多，因此时感是非常重要的。

“Hm? Were you about to say something?”
「嗯？你有什么想说得么？」

“No, not really.”
「不，并没有什么」

Tina replied with a “Is that so,” when she heard Climb’s answer, and then looked at the sky again.
听了克莱姆的回答后，缇娜回了句「是么」后，就又望起了天空。

She was deliberately concealing something. Yet, there was no way someone like Climb could ask why she was lying.
对方既然都刻意的隐藏起来了。为什么要说谎呢，像这样的问题克莱姆根本就问不出口。

To begin with, they did not have the money to hire Tina and the others; they just happened to be operating in the same area completely by chance. After all, that person would not do anything to hurt the other party’s feelings.
本来就没有有足够雇佣缇娜她们的钱，这次不过是因为双方的目的地一致而恰巧同行罢了。毕竟拿人手短，可不能做出会损害对方心情得举动。

“Then, I will go report to the Princess.”
「那么我这就去向公主禀报」

“See ya~”
「一路走好—」

Climb turned toward the building he had been protecting all this while.
克莱姆转身走向了直到刚才为止，都一直保护着的建筑物内。

He had seen it during its construction several times, but this was the first time he had laid eyes on it after it was complete. A sense of warmth flowed in the depths of his heart as he beheld the size of this building -- and felt the presence of his mistress within it.
虽然还在修建时有看过几次，但对于竣工后里面的样子今天是第一次见。从这栋建筑的壮大中——感到了这其中寄宿着的自身主人的气息，克莱姆感觉自己的内心深处涌起了一股暖流。

After opening the great doors, the unique scent of recently-completed woodwork reached Climb’s nose.
打开大门后，一股刚竣工完后的独特地木香朝克雷姆的鼻腔袭来。

He continued forward, and after passing through the corridor, he opened the door to a room in the depths of the building.
就这么往前直走，通过走廊后，打开了位于深处的房门。

Within that room was his mistress.
在那里的是自己的主人

She was a princess possessing blinding beauty, Renner.
拥有耀眼美貌的公主、拉娜。

Surrounding her were several children.
以及围在她身旁的几个孩子。

The way she smiled tenderly at the rowdy children and the posture which she took to listen to their words would make anyone who saw her think of a saint.
以温柔地微笑注视着喧闹的小孩子们，倾听他们话语的那份容姿，不由得让人联想到了圣女。

As he beheld this painting-like scene, Climb lost the ability to speak.
面对这仿佛如画一般的景象，克莱姆不禁失去了言语。

He was afraid that he would ruin this sacrosanct vision before him. The same applied to the women who stood by the window, none of whom dared to do anything unnecessary.
这是出于恐惧自己会破坏掉这神圣不可侵犯的光景。而这也适用于站在窗边、在这设施里任职的女性们，任谁都不敢做些什么多余的事。

However, someone within the room did not share their feelings.
但看来在这房间里某个人，却并不是这么想的样子。

“Oi, it’s the brat. About time.”
「喂，小鬼已经来了啊。到时间了啊」

Renner raised her head in response to the cool voice which came from below the mask, and looked directly at Climb.
由于假面下传来的那冷淡的声音，拉娜将头抬起，正面看向了克莱姆。

Climb could see himself reflected into those jade-green eyes.
克莱姆可以清楚地看到，己正映射在那让人联想到翡翠的双瞳中

“...My deepest apologies, Renner-sama. It is time to return to the Palace.”
「……非常抱歉，拉娜大人。已经到了回王宫的时间了」

“Is it~ Then, although it pains me to do so, I need to go.”
「是么——那么虽然很不舍，但我必须得走了呢」

The kids chorused “Ehhhhhh~”, in voices laced with longing and reluctance. They would not have made such a sound if she had not ensnared their hearts so thoroughly.
孩子们纷纷恋恋不舍发出了「诶—」的声音。如果不是完全笼络了孩子们的心，是绝对不会让他们发出这种声音的吧。

In response to the children, the other women stirred into hurried motion. They patted the children soothingly, and pulled away those children who were slower on the uptake from Renner’s side.
而对于孩子们那样的反映，女性们则都慌慌张张的行动了起来。安抚着孩子们，而对于过于不明事理有的孩子，则强行从拉娜身边将其抱走。

“Everyone, can I come to play with you next time?”
「大家，我下次能再来玩吗？」

The kids responded overwhelmingly in the affirmative to Renner’s question.
对于拉娜的疑问，孩子们一齐朝气蓬勃地首肯道。

“Then, we’ll cook next time. --Climb, let’s go, You too, Evileye-san.”
「那么，下次就来做料理吧。——克莱姆，我们走吧。伊维尔哀小姐也是」

“Hu~ Well, I’m your bodyguard too, even if you don’t say it -- although, since this isn’t a request, it’s more like we happen to be travelling together. Don’t worry, I’ll be behind you.”
「呼。就算不用你说我也是你的护卫——没有收到委托，所以只能算是同行者吗。不用介意，我会跟在你后面的」

The group exited the building just as a horse-drawn carriage drew up nearby.
而当一行人走出建筑物时，正好停在附近的马车也刚到了。

Tina entered the carriage without introducing herself. Although it seemed like she was being rude, she was ensuring that the carriage was safe. Shortly after that, Renner, Climb and finally Evileye entered one after the other, and then the carriage set off.
没有事前招呼，缇娜直接进了马车里。虽然这看起来像是不懂礼仪，但这也是为了先确认安全。紧接着拉娜，还有克莱姆，最后伊维尔哀也陆续跟了进去，随后马车也开始跑了起来。

Within the bumpy carriage, Evileye could not help but mumble:
在不断晃动地马车里，伊维尔哀不禁意间这么嘟囔了一句。

“...You’re really something, to build an orphanage like that.”
「……你也真是不容易啊，居然建了那样一座孤儿院」

“Really something?”
「不容易么？」

“Yes. A lot of people are saying that too. Where in the world  do you get all that money from to spend on places like these?”
「是啊。不是经常有各种各样的人这样说么。在这世道哪有闲钱用在这种地方啊」

Renner cupped her chin with one hand, tilting her head slightly.
拉娜将一根手指抵住下巴，稍微倾斜了下脑袋。

“I don’t think so, right? Ani-sama was quite happy to listen to my request. Besides, it’s because the world is like this that we need to take good care of the children, right?”
「没有那种事哦？王兄大人很爽快的听从了我的愿望哦。而且正因为是这种世道，所以才更得重视保护孩子啊」

Evileye raised her chin slightly, as though to permit her to continue speaking.
伊维尔哀像是让她继续说下去一般，稍稍地扬起了下颔。

“As we all know, the ruler of the Sorcerous Kingdom has caused many deaths. As a result, I believe there will be many orphans who have lost their parents. Thus, this orphanage was built to protect these orphans. In addition, those women who have lost their husbands will also need a place to work, right?”
「正如大家所了解得那样，由于魔导国的国王，导致了大量死者的出现。因此，我觉得会出现大量的失去了父母的孤儿。所以，为了保护那些孤儿们，才建立起了孤儿院。而且，那些失去了丈夫的妇女们不也需要个能够工作的职场吗。」

“The Sorcerer King, huh… well, we’ll talk about that later. Couldn’t that money be better spent on things besides these orphans? The weak losing their lives is just the way things work in this world, no?”
「魔导王吗……那个等会再说吧。比起给孤儿们出钱，不是更应该把这比钱花在其它地方么？我觉得弱小的家伙即使丧命，也不过是这个世界必然的定律罢了啊？」

“That’s not right.”
「这可不对」

Renner’s statement was clear and succinct. Unlike her tone from just now, those words were filled with tremendous power.
拉娜很清楚的这么断言道。和之前的语气不同，有着很强的气势。

“Saving the weak is what the strong should do. And…”
「拯救弱者才是强者该有的姿态。而且……」

Climb felt Renner’s eyes suddenly turning to him.
克莱姆感觉到拉娜的视线突然瞄了一下自己。

Perhaps--
（或许是——）

The image of himself as a child appeared in Climb’s mind.
克莱姆的脑海中浮现出了儿时的自己。

Perhaps the Princess had built the orphanage because she had remembered him from that time. In a way, it was to prevent children like Climb from appearing again.
是否正是因为知道自己那时的样子，公主才会想要建立孤儿院呢。也算是，为了不让像克莱姆那样的孩子再次出现。

A wave of heat flashed through his chest.
胸口瞬间一阵发热。

Of course, he could not verify the Princess’ actual thoughts. Even so, Climb did not doubt that it was that way.
当然，没办法确认拉娜公主真正的想法。但即便如此，克莱姆也觉得一定是这样没错。

“Well, I’d thought along those lines myself, And it seems wrong to force my own views on others. Still, was there a need to make it so large?”
「嘛、也是有这种的思考方式吧。而且将我的想法强加于他人也是不对的吧。但是，有必要建的那么大吗？」

“Yes. After all, we have to consider that we will take in many children in the future, and there will be others from those regions directly administered by the Crown. With that in mind, even a building of that size can be considered small. Children are our treasure, and we need to take care of them to make sure they don’t go on the wrong path.”
「是的，因为有考虑到将来会收容很多孩子，也有从王家直辖的领地聚集过来的预定。这样想的话连那种程度都还算是小的呢。孩子们是我的宝物，为了不让他们走向至错误的道路，我们有好好照看他们的必要」

“Hmmm. Princess-sama, that’s a good head on your shoulders.”
「哼—嗯。公主大人，头脑真好」

“What are you trying to say, Tina?”
「你想说什么？缇娜」

“I was thinking about how children without their parents would live, Evileye.”
「我在想失去父母的小孩该如何过活呢、伊维尔哀」

“That is… I see… since we can’t spare precious manpower to replenish the depleted number of troops, you’re using alternate means to maintain public order… I see.”
「那个是……原来如此……没有余裕将重要的劳动力用来填补减少的士兵数量，所以用别的方式来阻止治安的恶化？……原来如此啊」

“One can live a good and righteous life under supervision. But people will end up following their desires if they are not careful. And then, when they commit those crimes, they will fall further into wickedness. Thus do small sins grow larger, like the rolling of a snowball, so we should not let such chances appear. However, since it is difficult, we use these methods to reduce the number of those chances.”
「『有人关注着的话，就能清正廉洁的活着。但一旦没人注意时，便也会忠于自己的欲望。然后当那犯罪成功的时候，即会更加地堕入恶道。小小的犯罪就会有如雪球一般滚动变大，所以应当不让那个可乘之机出现。但因为很困难，所以才用这样的方法来减少机会的出现』」

“Hm. So you’re saying, ‘--Not everyone has such a strong will’, then?”
「呼嗯。『——不是每个人的意志都很坚定』吗」

“Well, people have said that about you before, Evileye -- could it be it’s bothering you?”
「伊维尔哀也有被这么说过吗——你其实是挺中意的吧？」

“I think that fellow’s said something like that about three times already.”
「我听那家伙，说过类似这样的话足有三回了哦」

While the latter half was something that nobody but Evileye and Tina could understand, the first half was simple enough that even Climb could understand.
虽然后半是除了伊维尔哀和缇娜以外都不理解的会话，但前半部分已经说的连克莱姆也都懂了的地步。

Those children who had lost their parents often turned to crime in order to survive. If that happened, even the weakened Eight Fingers would soon return to full strength, which would worsen the security of the Royal Capital.
失去父母的孩子中，将有多数为了过活而染指犯罪吧。这样一来就连势力本应已削减的八本指也将会恢复原状，王都的治安也会更加恶化。

In other words, his beloved lady had undertaken this countermeasure for the future.
也就是自己敬爱的主君，为了将来的打算而事先做出了对策。

However -- Renner asked Evileye in a curious tone:
可是——拉娜却彷佛不可思议般的向伊维尔哀问道。

“--What doe that mean?”
「——这说的是什么呢？」

“Oi… did we read too deeply into it? Or is this just an act?”
「喂……是我们过度解读了吗？还是说也是演技？」

“Hm~ it looked genuine enough at a glance.”
「恩—，就看上去的话、是当真的」

“Well, if you say so, then it must be true. I feel like I was moved for nothing.”
「如果是你这么说的话，那就是如此了吧。总觉得白感动了啊」

“Well, although it feels like your opinions of me have dropped like a rock… but, it’s true. I think about a lot of things, you know? Right now, these orphanages are giving these kids a certain degree of education, and once we start identifying talented individuals among them, the other nobles will surely follow suit. Because of that, we need a certain amount of kids… Although that’s not really something to be proud of.”
「那个，虽然你们好像擅自对我的评价狂涨暴跌……但是、也是呢。我也是考虑相当多的哟？这次开始做的孤儿院顺利进，一边对孩子们进行一定程度的教育。而只要能从中产生优秀的人才的话，其它贵族们也一顶会开始仿效的吧。正因如此，孩子的数量才必须保证一定程度。……虽然这并不是值得褒奖的理由」

“No, I can understand gathering those brats for that reason, and it’s pretty admirable too. If you can actually produce results, it would be praiseworthy. It’s just that people are going to be suspicious if you do something without expecting anything in return.”
「不、以这个理由聚集小鬼的话倒是能够理解，也挺让人佩服的。如果将来真的能得出结果的话，也是值得赞赏的吧。只是无偿服务的话，反而只会让人起疑啊」

“Evileye’s heart is twisted because she worries too much.”
「伊维尔哀因为太过操劳内心都扭曲了」

“Oi! You’re the same type as me, aren’t you?”
「喂！你这家伙不也是和我一样类型的吗！」

“Certainly not. I am very pure. It’s only you who has been stained.”
「没有这回事。我很纯洁。被弄脏的只有你」

Cheh! The sound of an explosive scoff came from beneath the mask.
啧！从假面的下方传来了强烈的咋舌声。

“Right, right. The impetus to build the orphanage was all thanks to Brain-san’s idea.”
「对了对了。我会建立孤儿院的契机，也是多亏了是布莱恩先生给的主意哟」

“Brain Unglaus, huh. What happened to him. How come he isn’t around today?”
「布莱恩•安格劳斯吗。那家伙怎么了？今天怎么没见到吗」

“Brain-san is busy with something else. He’s running around the Capital now.”
「布莱恩先生现在正为了别件事，而在王都四处奔走着啊」

“Hoh? Could there be something more important than protecting the Princess?”
「嚯喔？有比起公主的护卫更加重要的事？」

“Yes. He’s doing something in order to fulfil the wishes of the late Warrior-Captain. And, about the Warrior-Captain… well, thank you for your help.”
「是的。他正为了实现已故的战士长的遗愿，而在展开行动。那个、关于战士长的事，那时候真是麻烦你们了」

Tina narrowed her eyes, as though to conceal her feelings.
缇娜彷佛想隐藏住感情似得些许眯起眼。

“Well, I’m pretty mad about our devil leader’s pretty face getting hurt.”
「弄伤了我家的魔鬼领队的漂亮脸蛋，我可很火」

“I am very sorry about that time. Please allow me to apologize on Father’s behalf.”
「真是非常抱歉，请让我代替父王谢罪」

“I know you’ve already apologized to the boss, which is why I forgive you.”
「我知道你已经直接向老大道歉了，所以原谅你」

“Thank you.”
「谢谢你」

“...It seems that sometimes, the words of the dead are more powerful than those of the living.”
「……有时死者的话语，要来的比生者的更为有力啊」

For a moment, Evileye glanced out of the carriage as she was deep in thought. Of course, that was just for a moment.
沉思的伊维尔哀的视线虽然只有少许、从马车的窗户向外投射。但是，那也只是一瞬间的事。

“Speaking of which, what is Brain Unglaus doing?”
「话说回来，布莱恩•安格劳斯到底在做什么呢？」

“Well, the Warrior-Captain told Brain that he hoped for Brain to succeed him as Warrior-Captain, but he felt that he was not up to the task. Therefore, he’s looking for someone suitable to become the next Warrior-Captain and then he’s going to train him up.”
「虽然布莱恩从战士长那里得到『希望接任战士长』这样的话，但他认为自己没有办法做得到的。所以正在寻找适合接任战士长的人选，再由自己将其锻炼起来的样子」

“So he’s looking for someone who’s not from a noble family… I see -- after all, both Gazef and Brain were commoners. So that’s why they thought the same way. And the sign you got from him was--”
「要寻找没有贵族的门路的家伙的话……原来如此葛杰夫和布莱恩一样都是从平民崛起的。所以才会有一样的思考方式吗。而你则从中得到了启示——」

“--That’s right. The indication was to build the orphanage. Next time, I will go visit the children with Brain-san. For all we know, there might be a talented child among them.”
「——没错。那便是建立孤儿院。下次我打算找个机会，和布莱恩先生一起去见孩子们。说不定在他们之中会出现拥有才能的孩子也说不定呢」

“Well, I’m hardly that perceptive,” Tina said. “How about you, Evileye?”
「我可没法看透到那种地步吶——」缇娜如此说着。「伊维尔哀怎么样？」

“You can’t discern magical talent at a glance. At the very least, you need a lot of magical training before you can roughly understand whether or not someone can use magic, and that in turn is limited to arcane magic. If those brats are talented at spiritualism or divine magic instead, all I’ll see is nothing.”
「魔法的才能光是看可是判断不出来的。至少也得等经过数次的魔法训练后，才会多少理解此人能不能够使用魔法，而且那也仅限于魔力系的魔法。如果那个小鬼就算拥有精神系、信仰系的才能的话，在我眼里能看到的，也只是等同于零的才能」

Renner went “Hmmmm~” in a bothered tone, and then a smile blossomed on her face.
拉娜发出「唔—恩」的苦恼般的声音，然后露出了如同花开般的笑容。

“Well, I think we ought to invite all sorts of people to the orphanage and have them look over the children for talents.”
「将来会请来各种方面的人士来孤儿，让他们看看孩子们是否有才能呢、我是这么想的」

Renner was looking at the two of them, apparently trying to convey something with her gaze. To some extent, it was more persuasive than actual speech.
拉娜的视线朝向两人，其视线之中所蕴含的想要传达的东西、比起言语在某种意义上更具有说服力。

“...That’s pretty naive. But if it was that fellow, ah--”
「……太过天真的想法吶。但那家伙的话，啊—」

“I’m sorry, Evileye, if it was our devil leader--”
「很遗憾、伊维尔哀，如果是那个魔鬼领队的话——」

“--Yes. Still, I won’t agree so easily, even if it’s for that fellow’s words, no? After all, we need a certain amount of remuneration for this -- since we’ve been hired, we’ll need a minimum payment. Besides, if we don’t collect anything, it’ll be bad for the others too. It’ll also violate the adventurers’ rules. In addition, a price has to be paid for transmitting techniques.”
「——也是。但是我可不会这么简单的就点头的哦，即使是因为那家伙的话也一样？再怎么说也得有一定额度的报酬——即使被雇佣了，那我至少也得拿到最低限度的报酬。再怎么说每一次都接近无报酬的话，对其它人来说也很抱歉。也违反冒险者的规则。而且传授技术的话也必须支付相应的代价」

“Well, I do agree with everything you’ve said, but I’m very sorry. The truth is, I don’t have any money…”
「虽然正如你所说一般我也完全表示同意，但是非常抱歉。事实上我，没有钱……」

Renner hung her head in dejection as she said that.
拉娜垂头丧气的这么说道。

The Third Princess was a spare among spares, and nobody had any expectations of Renner besides her ability to form a bond to the royal bloodline through marriage. Because of that, she was not backed by any nobles, and thus lacked any money of her own to spend as she wished. Of course, this was not much of a hardship for Renner, who lived a simple lifestyle. However, there was no way that the First or Second Princesses would be able to tolerate this sort of thing.
第三公主是候补中的候补，对于与之结婚除了能够引入王族的血统之外，就没有对拉娜抱有过任何期待。为此也没有能够成为其后盾的贵族，所以她至今都没有能够自由运用的金钱。虽然这对于生活简朴拉娜来说，到算不上什么大问题。但如果换做是第一公主或是第二公主的话，是绝对没有办法忍受的了吧。