Chapter 329
Orphanage 2
The sample dance and song were finished.
As far as I was concerned, this was an abrupt exhibition of an example before they had even had a chance to greet or introduce themselves, but I guess it made it easier for the children to talk to each other.
That's right, instead of "orphaned children and noble young ladies", their relationship is now "orphaned children and the seniors who will teach them singing and dancing".
A once-in-a-lifetime chance that could greatly improve their food situation.
In order to take advantage of this opportunity, they cannot afford to be intimidated, no matter how aristocratic the other party may be.
The sample performance... acting? As soon as it's over, the children in the juvenile group have free time. They had a chat with the children from the orphanage.
The main group quietly snuggled up to them and encouraged the children who had not dared to speak to each other and remained downcast in silence. They never intervene and take the initiative in the conversation.
This was just a social event for the juvenile group and the orphanage children though...
After leaving the assistance of the exchange to everyone in the main group, Micchan and I went with the Headmaster into the Headmaster's office inside the building.
...Yeah, we'll have to discuss the details of the arrangement.
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"I've read the gist of it in your letter. Generally, there's no problem." (Michelle)
"S- so, then..." (Headmaster)
"Yes, we will cooperate with you. Orphans are also important citizens of our country, and they are treasures that will be carrying the future of our country." (Michelle)
"......Oh, thank you!" (Headmaster)
No, there's no way we'd come visit and say "we won't take it" while dragging along all of the members...
Well, if she's an adult who operates on profit and loss, it wouldn't be surprising if she were the daughter of a haughty aristocrat steeped in an electorate mentality, she would look disgusted at the request from an orphanage and kick them to the curb.
Considering the Headmaster's age, it's only natural that she's been through that many times.
So I guess it's only natural that she couldn't fully believe it, even when the reality was in front of her.
We showed off the performance of the juvenile group, but she's probably expecting us to say, "Ho~hohohoho! It's 100 years too early for an orphan to imitate us!" and go home...
...No! What kind of villainess do you think we are?!
"The details will be explained by Mitsuha-san, the vice president." (Michelle)
You're throwing it all at me?!
Well, I'm the one paying for it, and I don't think the daughter of the Marquis will talk about troublesome things.
I wonder if it's only natural for the entourage and attendants to explain things like that instead.
But even then, Micchan is only a member of the nobility because her father is a Marquis, and not herself.
On the other hand, I, the head of the Viscount family, am a noblewoman myself.
...So which one of us is greater?
No, of course, normally a person from a Viscount household can't be rude to a person from a Marquis house~, just use common sense...
But I'm considered royalty from another country in this country, so...
However, people think that my country is a small one and this is a bigger country...
Besides, when it comes to the nobility of one's own country and the nobility of another country, commoners usually give priority to the nobility of their own country.
Hmm, I don't know...
Well, that kind of thing, it doesn't matter. Next time, I will ask Marquis Bozes or the King.
Even though we are in different countries, we probably have those things in common.
And, well, that's why we're meeting on the practical side.
"As for musical instruments, we'll solicit donations of second-hand items that have been replaced by nobles and wealthy people and are no longer needed.
Also, we would like to ask musical instrument stores to cooperate and donate items that they have taken back as trade-ins or inexpensive musical instruments.
I think that the advertising effect of cooperating with the orphanage and the advantage of being able to connect with a large number of noble girls are quite attractive for musical instrument stores.
Also, it is possible that musicians from commoner backgrounds will patronize such establishments." (Mitsuha)
In response to my explanation, the Headmaster nodded with a happy face.
Yes, while castanets and triangles are expensive, most percussion instruments, stringed instruments, wind instruments, and so on are even more expensive. Even if it's for the Society, it's not so easy to donate new instruments. Even a pseudo-xylophone is not something that an aristocratic girl can easily buy with her pocket money.
So we have no choice but to solicit donations and contributions.
But I'm not that worried about it.
It may be difficult to collect donations and contributions with no benefit.
But if you add merit to it, it'll be part of the sales effort. Nobles and merchants would certainly catch on.
What I'm worried about is...
"...So, collecting musical instruments aside, does anyone have a talent for playing?
Today, we, the main group, will do it, but we can't be doing it all the time.
As daughters of nobles, we are busy in many ways, and we cannot allocate all of Society's time to the orphanage.
We're collecting instruments so that we won't be in charge of the music.
If we're the ones playing, there's no need to go out of your way to acquire second-hand instruments." (Mitsuha)
...Yeah, this.
Our juvenile group has a support crew called the main group.
But what about the little children in the orphanage?
No matter how many instruments are available, they'd be meaningless without someone to play them.
The juvenile group also used only simple instruments such as pseudo-castanets and pseudo-triangles.
However, it only became possible because of the main group's performance.
If records, recorded tapes, or something exists in this world and they can play them, then there'd be no problem.
But here, where such things don't exist, all performances must be live, and the performers must be there.
An orphanage with no money would not be able to afford to hire a musician.
It's impossible for Society to volunteer for every event.
And for the children of the orphanage to perform, there are problems like proficiency.
...Low lung capacity.
Small hands and short fingers.
Percussion instruments are still a challenge, but to freely manipulate stringed and brass instruments is something that cannot be managed by enthusiasm and effort alone.
In Japan, they sell musical instruments for small children.
But most of those are just toys or educational toys, only a few are serious ones.
Stringed and wind instruments that can be made with the technology of this world, that are easy for even small children to handle, and can produce authentic sounds would be... ocarina, recorder... and maybe a ukulele?
It seems that the most important thing in wind instruments is the breath control technique, not lung capacity, but that's probably the story of someone who has reached a certain level of proficiency. It's also based on the premise that a minimum lung capacity is needed.
For a young amateur child, lung capacity will still be a barrier.
So, either remove the wind instrument or limit it to ones that do not require much lung capacity...
No, to begin with, how can you expect a decent performance from children, even the oldest ones are around 10 years old, and most are much younger. A fake performance?
It is said that children of noble families are given a certain amount of musical education even at a young age.
...But these are not children of nobility though.
What are we going to do now?
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