Chapter 3: The Orphanage
POV Milly
Hi, my name is Milly Aliendas. I live in an orphanage near the Pulkan Fortress. I work here as one of the caretakers for the children. Today, I went to the riverside to wash clothes but—guess what I found.
I found a baby floating in the river!
I had no idea how such a thing could happen. I was humming while carrying the laundry when I noticed a large straw basket drifting down the river before getting stuck by the rocks.
I walked over to check it… and there he was. A baby.
He had such striking features—his crystal-blue eyes sparkled under the sunlight with tiny star-like specks inside them.
And his hair, whiter than snow, reflected the light like fine silk.
In short… he was beautiful.
I stood there, completely unsure of what to do. The baby didn't even cry—he only stared at me with those starry blue eyes.
"Hey… you're such a cute one," I whispered as I lifted him from the straw basket. His skin was soft and warm, as if he had just been born.
I looked around, hoping someone might be searching for him. But all I heard was the flowing river and the birds singing.
"No one…?" I murmured.
I hugged him gently. "Alright… I don't know who your parents are, but I can't leave you here."
Carefully, I wrapped him with one of my clean laundry cloths—he looked cold—and then brought him back to the orphanage.
---
At the Orphanage
The orphanage was simple, with stone walls and an old wooden roof. The children were playing in the yard when I arrived, and they immediately stared at me in shock.
"Milly! Where did you get that baby?" one of the boys shouted, eyes wide.
"Uh… I found him in the river…" I answered honestly.
They rushed over in excitement.
"The river!? Don't tell me he's a spirit baby!" a little girl said, trembling a little.
I laughed. "Relax, he's human."
"I want to see! Let me see!" the girl insisted, raising both arms.
I smiled and bent down slightly so she could peek. She giggled and moved closer with the others.
When they finally saw the baby, they exclaimed in unison:
"He's so cute!!"
"Right~!? He's super cute!" I hugged the baby tighter, then stuck out my tongue at the girl and the other kids teasingly.
"Hehehe~ I'm taking him to Sister first~!"
The little girl puffed her cheeks like a hamster and crossed her arms. "Hmph! Milly's mean!"
I rolled my eyes and hurried inside. I went straight to the room of our caretaker—Sister Liora, an elderly woman with a strict but gentle heart.
She looked shocked when I showed her the baby.
"Milly… where did you find him?"
"In the river, Sister. He was drifting in a basket."
Sister Liora fell silent for a long moment, then gently stroked the baby's head.
"His eyes and hair… they're unusual," she whispered.
"Are we allowed to take care of him, Sister?" I asked hesitantly.
She smiled softly. "Of course. The gods must have guided you today, Milly. This child… his fate is far from ordinary."
I sighed in relief. "Then from today on… I'll be his big sister!"
I looked at the baby, and for some reason, right as I said that, he smiled faintly. I didn't know why, but I felt it… my life was going to change from this moment on.
---
POV Zaky Ikito
One hour later…
I stared blankly at the ceiling while drinking from the bottle the brown-eyed woman gave me. I was currently in an orphanage, lying in a small bed beside the woman named Milly.
"You must've been so thirsty—you're drinking so happily. And seriously, who would be stupid enough to abandon such a cute baby like you?" Milly muttered. She stood up. "I'm going to cook for the kids, okay sweetheart? Don't cry."
She left the room, but I wasn't listening. Everything had happened so fast my brain still couldn't process it. From drifting in a river (which I only learned because Milly said it), being found by a woman, and being brought here…
'This is so cliché isekai…' I sighed—well, attempted to sigh. My baby lungs could only make a soft "hmmph~" sound that embarrassed me even more.
'So this is what it feels like to be a baby? Humiliating!'
I raised my tiny hand—so small that it looked more like a pale sausage than a hand.
I stared at the ceiling beams of the orphanage. Sunset light streamed through the gaps like golden lines. Oddly enough… it was calming.
'The dream of every fantasy reader has finally happened to me,' I thought.
Even though I didn't fully know this world's language, I somehow understood everything Milly said.
'So it's an auto-translation system? Or part of reincarnation?
Classic isekai logic: the baby's brain gets patched automatically.'
I chuckled internally, but then—
> [Processing beginner package…]
'Huh? Beginner package?'
'Don't tell me this is—my cheat!?'
Ding!
> [Beginner Package Delivered]
[Welcome to the World of Victoria]
[Starter Rewards: Random Box]
Open now?
[Yes] [No]
'Is this… a game?'
I stared at the floating box. My tiny fingers twitched, trying to press "Yes," but obviously—I was a baby. No pressing holograms for me.
But the moment I thought about choosing it, the box reacted.
> [Starter Box Opened]
You Received:
– Skill Book: Universal Language Lv.MAX
– World Coins ×100
– Mysterious Item (Locked)
'Hmm… not bad. But a skill book? I can't even read!'
Suddenly, the box shone brightly, wrapping my head in warm light. My head throbbed for a moment.
> [Universal Language Skill Activated]
Allows user to understand any language.
'Short explanation, but incredibly useful.'
I snickered internally, though the sound that came out was just, "Ehee~".
Before I could enjoy my new advantage, the door creaked open. Milly entered with a small bowl.
"My little one~ Big sis brought special baby porridge~," she chirped.
She set it on the nearby table and stared at me, confused, because I kept looking upward.
"What are you staring at? Is something there?" She followed my gaze but saw nothing.
I blinked slowly.
'Just as I thought… she can't see the system.'
Milly leaned closer and patted my head. "You're strange, but cute~."
I sighed internally. This world was full of mysteries, but one thing was clear—I wasn't alone.
> [Daily Mission: Survive – 1/∞]
'A mission to survive?' I thought, then grinned inwardly. 'I'm not just going to survive—
I'm going to become a legend.'
'I refuse to be one of those isekai protagonists who hide their powers, live quietly, or act humble.
I'm going to dominate.'