[ I... I will pay triple to whatever things this kid stole! Just stop! ] I shouted in the middle of the crowd.
[ Huh...!? Paying triple wouldn't be enough! This kid has been bothering us this past week for far too much now! ] shouted the guy who was just about to kick the kid behind me earlier.
[ ...But beating her up like this... ] I muttered as I looked at the weak body of the kid that is laying on the ground.
I still remember her from last week. She was the hungry kid I had given some meat stick to at an alleyway.
[ Just who are you by the way? Are you perhaps this kid's brother or something? If not, you stay away from this! ]
[ That's not it... ]
[ As I said! You stay away from this! - ]
[ Hey! Hey! What is going on here!? ]
Just when he was about to close the gap between us, a loud shout interrupted.
[ [ The guards! They're here! ] ] the people who are watching shouted.
[ The guards...? ] the guy in front of me muttered, trembling.
The crowd turned silent and they then made a path for the guards to enter to.
After a few seconds, the guards finally arrived inside the crowd where I and the other gang who are beating up the kid is at.
[ ...Ha-Haruto!? ] a surprised shout from one of the guards.
[ Gu-Guard-san...? ]
The guy who immediately recognized me was none other than one of the underlings of Jack-san.
[ Guard-san... who's that? At least call me by my name... ] he angrily muttered.
I could if know but I don't even have the slightest clue what his name is... - I thought.
[ Anyway, what is going here...? ] he asked as he looked both I, and the gang who's beating up the kid.
Everyone became silent the moment he asked the question.
The particular group in my opposite direction made bitter faces and then they just suddenly walked away, ignoring the gazes of the group of guards towards them.
[ Tsk! Let's get out of here... ] muttered the leader of the group.
[ Running away just like that... ]
[ Let them be... Haruto, can you please take a look at that kid there. ]
[ Ri-Right! ]
I then immediately sat down in front of the little kid to check her up.
She's lying the side of her body to the ground. I checked her head first and immediately noticed that it's full of blood.
I tore a piece of fabric from my clothes and wrap it around her tiny head to stop the blood that's coming out of her head. I then turned her body up so that I could wrap the piece of my clothes on her head, and then a small piece of apple with a bite on it fell from her hands.
[ This is...? ]
[ ...Tsk! It looks like my guess was right... This is just very upsetting... ] Guard-san muttered.
[ It's most likely that this kid got caught stealing that food he's holding and he was blamed for all the current stealings in this market... Really, Kids like this from the slums will always be treated like this, even if they're not the ones who made the crime, they will still be blamed for it... ]
[ Isn't that a little too evil...? ]
To beat up a kid to the death like this in public is just cruel.
[ I know... But this is how things work here in this city, Haruto-kun. You're not in your village anymore. You're very lucky that Boss was the first person you have met here... ] he said as he tapped my shoulder.
[ Anyway, thank you for protecting this kid, Haruto-kun. You're actually the very first person who I saw interfering with something like this. You're a very good person. ]
[ That's... What I did was only normal... ]
That's right... I'm sure everyone I know will do the same thing as I did if they saw any kid who is being beaten up by a bunch of thugs.
What I did was just normal.
[ ...Maybe for you, Haruto-kun... But not for us... Anyway, can I ask you Haruto to take care of this girl for now? ]
[ Huh...!? Can't you take care of this kid yourselves...!? Aren't you guys this city's guards? ]
[ Umm... This is a bit of a shame but... We actually have something important to do... ] he whispered in a tiny voice while scratching his head.
[ But there's a kid here who's about to die! ] I shouted to the guards who are just continuing to scratch their heads.
[ ...We know that but... We've been summoned by the Earl's house and we just can't possibly abondon it... We can't also bring with us an injured kid from the slums in there... ]
[ Tha-That's! ]
[ A-Anyway! Since you're here, Haruto-kun, we have someone we can trust this girl to without getting worried. ] he said with confidence as he crossed both his arms to his chest.
[ But I have something to do too! ]
[ Sure... Sure... But I'm sure it's not as important as getting summoned by the Earl, right...? ]
[ You guys... ]
Just when I thought that these guys are good people...
[ A-Anyway, Haruto-kun! Please take this kid with you! ]
[ ...Haah... ] I sighed.
I then looked at the girl beside me again.
...
...
[ Huh...? ]
Before me even noticing it, the girl is now awake and is currently tugging my clothes with a small amount of force.
She's looking straight at me, and even though she just got beaten up, her eyes doesn't have any signs of tearing up but instead, it's just looking at me with joy, as if she just found something she was looking for.
[ This kid... ] I muttered.
Maybe she still recognizes me...?
***
After the large commotion at the market, everything became peaceful again.
And now, I'm currently sitting in front of the injured girl earlier, putting bandages on her bruises while also cleaning the dirt on her body with a clean piece of cloth.
And since we're in a market, I also decided to buy her a new piece of clothing she can wear since her previous one is dirty and has a lot of holes in it.
[ You still remember me, huh? ]
[ ...Un... ] she nodded, smiling.
[ Is that so...? ]
I can't believe this girl...
She just got beaten up but she's still smiling at me.
The look on her face is totally different from when the first time I met her.
Back then, it felt like there was no chance that she will ever smile, but now...
...
Having all this stuff running through my head, I decided to look at her again.
She looks like she's around the age of 6 or 7. Her most recognizable feature is her very short silver hair that hides her eyes.
Her appearance is very displeasing as her clothes are covered in dirt and other stains, and her petite and small body is covered in scars and bruises too.
All I can feel when I look at her is sympathy.
[ ...A...Ano... Name...? ] she muttered in a quiet and stuttering voice while staring and pointing at me.
[ Me...? My name...? ]
[ ...Un... ] she nodded again while tugging the edge of her clothes.
[ ...My name's Haruto Yuki... ] I introduced my self, the way I always do.
[ Ha...Ha...luto... Uki... ] she said while trying to rightly promounce the words the best she can.
It seems like she still can't speak properly, but I think she can still understand fine.
[ How about you? ]
[ ...No name... ]
[ No name...? You don't have a name...? How is that possible...? ]
I'm sure she was given one by her guardian or something...
[ umm... Kid...? ] she muttered while pointing at her self.
[ "Kid" is not a name... ]
Is that the only way people call her...?
[ Where're your parents...? ]
[ Pa... rents...? ]
[ Don't tell me... ]
She was able to live until now without the help of anyone...?
[ Haah... anyway... I need to find someone to take care of you for the moment. ]
[ ...? ]
[ Do you have someone you're living with...? ]
[ Living with...? No... Always alone... ]
[ Haah... this would be very hard...! Hmm... how about the inn... or maybe at the guild... ] I muttered to myself as I stroke my chin and stood up.
I need to ask someone to take care of her as I need to go to my destination as quickly as possible.
[ Ano... don't...leave... ] she muttered while tugging my clothes again.
[ Huh...? ]