I see children huddled and trembling in front of me. And around the wagon are many dead bodies and me with my sword still drawn.
I hurriedly sheathed my sword, but it was a complete afterthought. Thereās no way to get away with this.
Is it a blessing in misfortune that they canāt see the corpses outside from inside this carriage? ā¦But what should I say?
āAhā¦ Um, I donāt care what happens to me! Soā¦please donāt touch the other kids!ā
A blue-haired girl who seemed to be the oldest among the children stepped forward to protect the other children.
āNo, Iām just here to helpā¦.ā
āā¦Ehā
Something about the reaction is similar to Aresā¦. And the silence that comes. It was the sound of a childās stomach that broke such an awkward silence.
Here it comes, itās the only place!
I quickly take out an apple from the magic bag for Ratzās treats and present it to the children.
āYou want some?ā
At that time, the image of Ratz, holding out both hands and wanting an apple, came to mind. Ughā¦ Sorry Ratz. Iāll buy a new one before I get homeā¦
A small girl with ash-gray hair approaches fearfully to the apple I offer her.
āā¦ youāll give it to me?ā
āOhā
āAhā¦ Lulueco.ā
I slowly hand the apple to the girl called Lulueco, who tilts her head anxiously, so as not to scare her as much as possible. Lulueco receives the apple.
āā¦thank youā
She said and went back to the other children.
āOh, umā¦ Thank you.ā
As I watched the children all eating a little bit of one apple, the blue-haired girl bowed her head and thanked me.
āYeah. One apple wonāt be enough. There is a carriage parked nearby. Thereās enough food to fill everyone up there.ā
Well, the carriage that Zannis was riding in and the other carriage probably have food, too. We need to leave this place for the time being.
āEh, butā¦ā
A troubled blue-haired girl.
āEven if you stay here like this, you will only be preyed upon by monsters and bandits. I will take you back to Aresā¦ā
āā¦! Ares! Do you know Ares?!ā
The blue-haired girl reacts violently to the name Ares. I reply, a little pressured by her frantic appearance.
āAhā¦yeah. A lot of things happened, and now heās living at home with me.ā
āI see, Ares is safe. Iām really gladā¦ā
The girl in front of me looked deeply relieved at my words. I should have mentioned Aresā name from the beginning.
āAh, thatās right. My name is Mia. I grew up in the same orphanage with Ares for a long timeā¦ well, weāre childhood friends.ā
Miaā¦come to think of it, Ares mentioned that name, but what is it for now.?
āBut you believe it so easily. Donāt you think Iām trying to deceive you guys?ā
āThere is no merit in deceiving us.ā
Mia said this while looking down.
āā¦ā¦ I see.ā
We are nothing. These children were orphans forced into slavery. No wonder they think they are worthless.
Iām annoyed at myself for saying such a stupid thing, but I make the kids wait in the wagon and hide the bodies outside in the bushes nearby. As for the bloodā¦ Well, it canāt be helped.
While looking for another carriage, I found a magic bag. Better than the one I use.
Money, goods and medicine were stored in the magic bag in advance, so I decided to take it instead of the trouble fee for the children. I should give it to Ares when I get back.
I took the kids to the carriage I rode in. The children, except for Mia, were puzzled at first, but when they heard Aresā name, they all followed willingly. I guess that shy and gentle boy hero is like a big brother to these children.
To Nina, he seems like a younger brotherā¦
As we were returning to Bastok by horse-drawn carriage, it was quiet behind us, so I peeked under the canopy and saw the children huddled together in a corner, sleeping.
They must have been sleepy after the meal. After pulling the carriage to a stop, I covered the children with blankets.
ā¦When I saw Mia and Luluecoās sleeping faces, I really wanted to see my children.
As I stood up with that thought, I suddenly heard a vulgar and unpleasant voice from outside.
āHey, get out of the carriage! Heh heh heh, I wonāt kill you if you behave yourself!ā