After a few seconds of walking, we finally arrived at our destination. I opened the metal door with the key.
I then invited them to enter.
"Woah!"
"So Big!"
"And also Warm!"
The children showed various expressions when they saw the empty room that was very spacious and warm.
It may sound silly but this room is a subspace separated from the outside world. Although I entered this place from Wolfled territory, I can also access the capital or other places that have been marked.
Every place marked so far was all a place in the slums of whoever's territory.
Of course, I didn't discover this place for the first time, but someone I know very well.
"Starting today, you will be staying here 'for a while'."
"Cool!"
One of the youngest boys immediately ran around the room and then was surprised.
"Woah! There's another room!"
"Are you surprised, actually this is not the main room because this place still has various other rooms. How about you look for the place you want to see?"
Instantly the expressions of all the children were happy and ran to various places.
While watching them wander around, Hero came up to me.
"What does 'for a while' mean?"
"Of course it's what I meant...
I smiled at Hero but she seemed to look scared.
"Does that mean if I don't want to work for you, you'll let us go?"
"..... What would you do if a creature that could be dangerous appeared in your room?"
"..."
Cold sweat dripped down Hero's cheeks and even her face looked very pale at the moment.
(Did I tease this boy too much?)
"Just kidding, so take it easy..."
Even though I had tried to clear up the misunderstanding, for some reason it seemed like Hero still looked scared.
"So what do I do?"
Despite looking scared, Hero seemed to be accepting my job.
It seems like my work has become lighter than before. With Hero joining, most of the problems were solved.
"Nothing for now, but I want us to make a contract... No, how about shaking hands?"
I originally wanted to do a binding contract but it seems like a hero is not suitable for something like this, after all a true hero is not bound to a place.
So first of all, I want her to trust me more. Unutu I have to open the heart of this wounded boy.
"I haven't introduced myself yet, right? My name is... Ravendor."
"My name is Johan..."
"Johan huh, nice to meet you Johan..."
"..."
(Looks like Johan still doesn't believe me, it's okay... Time will take care of this...)
...
"..."
(Looks like Johan still doesn't believe me, it's okay... Time will take care of this...)
...
After that I went out to buy some things for the children's needs together with Johan.
"..."
"..."
(Awkward...)
Even though we finished shopping, we haven't even said anything since before.
(Ugh... Whatever it is, let's talk!)
"Johan, what do you think of the Wolfled family's son?"
(What I said!)
"...I don't know, I hate that guy at least."
*Jleb*
"O-oh? Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? Someone who lives a life of luxury like him wouldn't understand how we feel!"
Johan suddenly stopped and started to raise his tone as he spoke his heart out.
"I see..."
Then Johan went back to walking again, and I looked up at the sky.
(If it was the old me, I probably wouldn't have dodged it but the current me at least understands what the people below me feel...)
While thinking some thoughts that didn't sit well with me, Johan suddenly continued.
"After all, a person like him is a person who has no friends at all."
*Jleb jleb jleb*
(It hurts so much...)
"What did you say!"
As I was saddened by the painful fact, suddenly someone's loud voice was heard.
As Johan and I looked in the direction of the sound, there were several people in clothes quite similar to the spider emblem beating up a beggar.
"How dare a beggar be in my sight!"
"You're cool, boss! Just beat that beggar up!"
"Let's burn this disgusting beggar!"
"P-please spare my life..."
(Is there someone from a noble family with a horned spider emblem?)
As far as I remember, I never remember there being a spider emblem this strange.
"Horn Spider people!"
"Do you know them?"
"Yes, they're an organization of ruthless people who have appeared recently in the slums. They kill, loot and do horrible things to people in the slums."
"Oh? But I haven't heard any news about them at all."
"Of course, no one would care about people from the slums."
(But that's a little strange, can't our talented intelligence not know this?)
"When did they appear?"
"If I'm not mistaken about a week ago."
(Ah! I see! As expected from father!)
"Johan, it looks like your first job has come."
"Eh?"
...
Since I had trouble seeing Ravendor's expression, I could only be confused.
Ravendor then took out a strange sword with a blue sheath. Ravendor then whispered as if talking to someone.
"Take this."
I then received the sword, then suddenly the blue sword suddenly shrank to the size of my hand.
I was very surprised to see the blue sword suddenly shrink. But what was surprising was Ravendor's next order.
"Kill those people..."
"What?"
I felt like my ears were mishearing. Even now I felt my heart beating very fast.
"You didn't hear wrong, I'm asking you to kill them..."
Ravendor's index finger pointed at the Horn Spider members.
"Don't worry, that sword will help you fight them. You should know how to use a sword, right?"
Hearing that, I was instantly reminded of an event in the past. The day I killed someone for the first time.
(Does this person know my past?)
Even so, there was no way I could kill several adults like them...
"Take it easy, you just need to trust your body according to your instincts. You're special..."
(Special?)
Throughout my life I've always gotten curses, hatred and negative views from everyone, so I've never once heard someone praise me. Hearing his praise left me empty.
"..."
Even so, I still hesitated to commit murder.
"If you want to help those children, kill them. If you want to let them die, then you can give up."
Hearing those words, I glared angrily at Ravendor.
(If you had said that, wouldn't it have been obvious which option I would choose...)
"Huuu..."
I sighed and calmed my heart that kept pounding.
I held the sword tightly and approached those people. The closer I got, the stronger they smelled of alcohol.
"Hehe, what are we going to do with this beggar~ hicp..."
(Are they drunk?)
I felt very lucky, if I attacked at this time then they would definitely...
I approached one of the men and directly stabbed the man's body. The sword I plunged straight through the man's body.
"Gakh!!! W-what?"
The man's scream drew the attention of everyone. Seeing their friend being stabbed in the back, everyone was instantly on guard.
"How dare you!"
One of the men lunged forward, but because the man was also drunk, it was difficult to distinguish between me and his ally.
I took cover behind the man I stabbed, instantly the sword of the lunging man cut into the body of the man I stabbed.
Using that moment, I immediately moved forward and thrust my sword into the abdomen of the man who lunged just now.
When it had pierced deeply, I cut it off immediately.
I then moved backwards, and then a hammer struck where I was before.
The biggest person and the one who was called boss by the other members. The man was carrying a large, heavy hammer.
"How dare you kill my men!"
The man swung the hammer but I was able to move to avoid the hammer which felt slow.
I saw a small opening and tried to strike towards the man's chest but then the man let go of the hammer and used his fist to my face.
The man's fist flew straight into my face and I bounced off the building.
"Guakh!"
My body felt crushed, then I coughed up blood. This excruciating pain made my hand holding the sword Ravendor gave me fall.
"I'm going to kill you, brat..."
The man approached me, and as my vision began to fade. A shadow of a person appeared and I fainted instantly.
...
(Looks like I pushed that kid too hard, he still doesn't have enough experience and strength.)
I approached Johan and then faced the big man. Thanks to this mask in anyone's eyes I look like an adult or a child at the same time. But to a person of this size, even with this mask on it still feels small.
"Who are you? Scram if you don't want to die, I have business with that damn kid behind you."
"You can't, because this boy is a valuable member of my organization."
"Organization? So you're this damn boy's senior! Then I'll kill you first!"
The man approached very quickly and tried to strike me with his fist.
"Am I too underestimated?"
I picked up the Soul Weapon Ice, Nifl.
"Nifl!"
"Yes, master!"
I immediately cut off the area in front of me, the man had stopped in confusion but since nothing happened he continued to approach me.
And when the man was right in the area of my previous slash. The man's neck and head froze.
"If this guy wasn't drunk it would be a bit fun."
I then approached the man, even if left like this, the man would die from lack of oxygen.
But while father prepared them for me, I'll enjoy a little longer.
After all, you and your organization were made to increase my willpower.
(But you misunderstood...)
I then cut off the head of one of the men stabbed by Johan who was trying to sneak up behind me ready to stab me.
Looking at the rolling head, my heart skipped a beat and my hands shook incessantly. Even so, my heart was very calm.
(I'm not a kid who's afraid of killing someone like in episode 1. I'm a villain after all...)