The next morning, Speed Symbol, who rose early, was strolling in the garden when she discovered that the Little Horse Girl she had rescued yesterday was already awake. She was sitting in a wheelchair, staring at the sky, on the corridor near the garden not far away.
Speed Symbol turned and walked towards the sitting Little Horse Girl, then gently stroked her head. She felt the Little Horse Girl flinch as if startled, and her two ears immediately perked up.
"Ah!... Good morning, old woman."
"You're up so early? Your injuries aren't light. Shouldn't you rest more?"
"It's not that big of an impact... I told the young lady who was taking care of me that I wanted to come out and see, so she carried me into the wheelchair and pushed me out... Thank you very much for your help yesterday, old woman."
Because she was injured and in a wheelchair, unable to make large movements, Kagura could only bow slightly to the kind old woman to express her gratitude.
"Don't worry about it, child. The important thing is that you are safe and sound. The doctor said your body is very good and you're recovering quickly. You should be fully recovered in a few days. Where is the person who pushed you out?"
"I said I wanted to stop here and look around, and then she went to get my breakfast."
"Good... good..."
Seeing that the Little Horse Girl was in good spirits, Speed Symbol breathed a sigh of relief and gently patted her shoulder.
"Child, can you remember anything? About your family."
"I'm sorry, old woman, I really can't remember anything..."
Kagura shook her head. Without a doubt, she definitely had no family. Kagura couldn't find a single memory related to family. It seemed she was indeed one of those undocumented individuals who just appeared out of nowhere.
"Were you alone in the shrine when the fire started?"
"It was just me. It was just me the whole way."
"Hmm..."
Speed Symbol frowned. Inari Kagura didn't seem to be lying. No useful information could be found at the scene; the fire was too severe, and the shrine was burned down to only stone structures. No human traces could be found at all. If anyone had truly been inside, survival would have been impossible under such intense fire. And for a child as young as Kagura, it was absolutely impossible, by common sense, for her to have lived alone in that shrine all this time.
After yesterday's investigation, Kagura's photo could not be matched with anyone in the identity system. Being undocumented was not uncommon; some Uma Musume born without registration would cause this situation. Some orphanages had such Uma Musume, which was not very rare. However, this was very troublesome for those trying to find her family. Without identity records, coupled with her amnesia, the clues were completely severed, causing great difficulty for Speed Symbol's efforts to help Kagura find her family.
"Um... old woman, thank you very much for your help. Once my injuries heal in a few days, I will leave on my own... I won't cause you any trouble."
Seeing Speed Symbol frown, Kagura, thinking she was a bother, quickly spoke up.
"Leave? Where do you want to go?"
"Uh..."
When Speed Symbol asked her that, Kagura, who had blurted it out instinctively, suddenly realized that she had nowhere to go.
Not only was she an unregistered resident, but the shrine-like place where she used to live had likely not escaped the fire.
In this unfamiliar place, where else could she go?
Go to an orphanage? She really didn't want to take that path.
"Though still young, you are very clever and sensitive, child.
Perhaps my expression just now made you misunderstand something.
I don't mean to imply you are a bother; I was just thinking about how to help you."
Speed Symbol naturally guessed the reason why Kagura suddenly spoke that way.
She also knew this was an old habit of hers; her granddaughter often startled other Uma Musume like this.
She adjusted her facial expression to look as gentle as possible, then stroked Kagura's head.
"...Help me?"
"Yes, it's clear you don't want to go to an orphanage, right?
Until we find your family, why not stay here?"
"No, no! That would be too much trouble for you! You've already helped me so much; I can't trouble you anymore!"
Kagura quickly shook her head, and a sharp pain surged with the movement, making her stop and hiss in pain again.
"Don't move so much; be careful not to injure yourself again."
Holding Kagura's head to prevent her from moving, Speed Symbol finally understood the meaning of the phrase, "A child who is too sensible is also a bother."
With the power of the Symboli Family, it might not be possible to help every Uma Musume as the Symboli Family ideally wished, but helping such a Little Horse Girls was certainly not a problem.
'Why is this child as stubborn as Old Mejiro?'
Speed Symbol, who was pondering how to make this Little Horse Girls accept her help with peace of mind, heard footsteps.
She saw a Head Maid pushing a dining cart towards them from a distance and suddenly had an idea.
"Listen to me, child.
I'm not saying you'd do nothing in my home.
My household is short-staffed, child.
Would you be willing to stay and be a Head Maid?"
"Ah...? A Head Maid?"
"Such a large courtyard and residence must be maintained, right?
Do you think I have enough people right now?"
Feeling Kagura's movements lessen considerably, Speed Symbol knew this idea was effective.
This child indeed didn't want to accept favors for free, but finding such an excuse to keep her seemed acceptable to her.
'I really don't understand what this child is afraid of.
Afraid of owing me a favor and not being able to repay it?
This child looks to be only around ten years old, right?
Such a young child already thinks about these things?'
Speed Symbol wondered inwardly.
Although she could understand this mindset, every time she helped Old Mejiro, she would say not to worry about it, but then after a while, she would receive a pile of things from Old Mejiro.
She herself just considered it helping an old friend and didn't expect any repayment.
"Outside, perhaps no one would dare to hire a child like you, but the Symboli Family can give you such an opportunity.
You stay here and manage the Symboli Family's household chores, and we will provide you with food and lodging.
How does that sound?"
Since she had decided to do so, Speed Symbol hardened her heart and genuinely acted as if she were hiring a Head Maid.
Later, she would just inform the Head Maid to assign less work to Kagura.
"Uh... Do you... really need me for this job?"
"Of course, how do you feel about it?"
After a very long hesitation, the Head Maid who was delivering the meal had already pushed the cart over and greeted Speed Symbol.
Only then did Speed Symbol feel Kagura nod slightly, seemingly agreeing.
"Good... After your injuries heal, I'll have the Head Maid teach you what to do."
"Thank you... Old Woman."
Kagura was not an ignorant child.
She naturally knew that Speed Symbol had most likely concocted a temporary excuse to make her feel at ease accepting help.
So, she still thanked her.
She didn't like owing others anything, especially favors, but in her current situation, she had no choice but to be indebted.
After all, she was in an unfamiliar place, had no identity, and no family to rely on.
Even if she went out to look for work, probably nowhere would hire a child like her.
While it would be comfortable to be supported without doing anything, psychologically, she couldn't accept such help with a clear conscience.
In such circumstances, the opportunity Speed Symbol offered her was the most acceptable choice.
She wasn't worried about not being able to do a Head Maid's job well.
She had asked the kind Head Maid that morning what they usually did, and it was simply some housework.
For her, who had lived independently for a long time, this was not a problem at all.
'Alas... Anyway, there's no way to go back, so I'll take it one step at a time...'
Since she was here, she would make the best of it.
Inari Kagura knew she currently had no means to return to her original world, so she could only try to establish herself in this unfamiliar place first.