Chapter 22: The Pirate System
Looking at the locket lying in his palms seemed to invoke a few memories.
But the surrounding noises forced him to come back to the present.
Sigh, what's with these people? Why are they causing such a ruckus?
He sluggishly looked up, spotting people that had surrounded them.
"You are a prodigy!"
"Such an amazing young man!"
A glint flashed through Shiro's eyes as he stood up. A glint that gave the woman in front of him shivers.
"S-sir?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Don't fret about it. Didn't have enough sleep last night. Well, take this medicine. It'll heal you up in ten days."
"Thank you, sir, thank you." The woman in front of Shiro gave a deep bow full of gratitude.
'Sigh, the sun already sank... Should I just close up for the day?'
He paused momentarily when his eyes fell on the next person in line. A woman wearing rags, hugging two small kids in her arms.
His gaze softened as Shiro radiated a warm smile. "Come in mam."
Sigh, one more customer won't hurt...
"What's the problem?"
"Well... Sir, my child just fainted."
Eh? A seven-year-old? Hmm, it's quite rare for a seven-year-old to not have any kind of disease or illness, especially for a boy from such an area.
Skinny... Hmm, it's hunger.
Slowly Shiro took out a pouch and slid it over the desk.
"Here's the medicine mam."
"Medicine?" As the woman grabbed the pouch, she instantly understood what was within.
"What he requires right now, is a nice piece of bread."
One more person turned into ten more which slowly turned into 30.
"Such a young man... Is he the son of some official?"
"Son of some official? If he was, then wouldn't he be living in luxury right now?"
"Well, he doesn't take any money..."
After handing medicine over to the final person, who was an old man in his seventies Shiro finally pulled the shutter down sitting on his chair, letting the darkness engulf him.
[Ding!]
[ Skill: (Medician) - +0.05% EXP ]
Solitude. Silence. He loved this. But the silence was soon broken by the sound of dull knocking.
"Who is it? We're closed for the day."
"It's me, Brat! Open the door."
"Oh, it's you old thing? Sleep outside today."
"Eh? What did you say brat, couldn't hear properly."
"Let your lazy ass rest on the ground outside."
"Sob, Sob. Is this how you treat me, young lad?
"Stop acting you old thing, you might as well sleep outside for real. It's your gluttonous stomach that's forcing you to come here ain't it?"
"Hehe, you know me too well, cough cough, I mean no that's far from the truth!"
"Nah old man, Nah, I can smell a lie from a kilometer away."
"Well, today you did have a cold so your nose might be blocked."
"Sigh..."
"Sigh..."
"Sigh..."
"Sigh..."
What is this, a sighing competition? Shiro complained inwardly as he finally gave a last Sigh, before standing up and opening the shutter.
"Sniff, Sniff, mmm! Smells so nice! What did you make for dinner?"
Ahh, look at this shameless thing...
Shiro shook his head ignoring Mornil as he lit up the lamps and set up the chairs, before arranging the plates.
Finally, he placed the bread on plates while pouring all kinds of soups on the bowls.
Shiro sat on one end, while Mornil sat on the other. Staying silent, he picked up the spoon dipping it in the vegetable soup.
Slurp...
Sigh, no matter how much my cooking skill improves, I can't bring that taste... That taste in vegetable soup...
Both Mornil and Shiro didn't speak throughout the dinner. However, the sound of them chewing on the bread and slurping on the soups disturbed the silence.
"Hey, Shiro." As Shiro was munching on his last piece of bread, Mornil suddenly called out.
"Here."
"A mawp? (Map)" Shiro questioned while he continued chewing.
"Yeah," Mornil said as he finally handed Shiro the map.
"The red-marked directions are the ones you are to follow and you'll reach our new client."
"Sigh, another patient? It's night you old thing."
"Night? For us, the ones with knowledge that can save other people's lives, there's no difference between night and day. You understand?"
"Stop acting so noble, stop, it gives me chills." Shiro waved his hand as he finally stood up, taking both his and Mornil's plates and bowls.
With a grumpy look on his face, he washed them.
"Alright, off I go."
"Mmm." Mornil nodded, as Shiro exited. However, he didn't go to sleep.
'Looks like things are going according to the plan.'
He quickly whipped out another map and exited from the back door.
.
.
.
'Hmp, is something wrong with that old fart's brain? Sending me out at night, as usual.'
'Well, this is my last job. So I can f*ck off to where ever I wish,'
'I can only imagine the look on his face when he realizes that tomorrow's my birthday'
'How did he even forget?'
'He did promise me, I could fuck off to where ever I want on my sixteenth birthday.'
'But...'
Shiro paused, stooping on his track.
'Who will take care of that old thing? Who'll feed him? What if he really becomes too lazy and sleeps on the streets?'
'Haa, I'll figure it out. Have time till the sun rises.'
Giving out a helpless smile he continued to walk while looking at the map.
Darkness... Shiro loved the night. It gave him a sense of solitude.
Darkness. He could only walk properly and carefully during darkness.
5 hours passed by in a blink of an eye, as Shiro finally appeared in the neighborhood.
Hmm, it appears to be a well-maintained area. A place for the rich ones? Whatever...
Following the map, he took right turns finally appearing in front of the door.
Knock! Knock!
"I'm a doctor. I heard that a few of you are sick."
Knock! Knock!
Mnm? The door's open?
I sense some presence within...
Creafully tensing his muscles, he opened the door.
Huh?
What the Fuck?
"Happy Birthday, My dear desciple!"
What in the actual fuck?