After cleaning the blood spots on my body, I returned to my base with Johan on my back.
Although we were not that different in age, but thanks to my hard training, I could carry Johan quite easily.
"Big brother!"
As soon as we arrived, all the kids ran up to me after seeing Johan who had fainted.
"Take it easy, Johan just fell asleep from exhaustion."
"Is that so?"
"Yes... By the way, aren't you hungry?"
"N-no..."
One of the eldest children seemed to be trying to act mature but then the sound of someone's stomach was heard.
"But it seems like your stomach can't lie..."
I stroked the blushing child's head, I then took the luggage I bought and gave it to all the children.
"These are the items that will be necessary for you guys while living here."
They then opened the contents and were surprised.
After all the contents were items that were quite expensive even for commoners but to nobles sounded cheap.
Even so I should save as much money as possible, but this kind of expense is worth it if I gain the trust of these children.
After all they are Johan's family, if I get close to them then one day Johan will open up to me as well.
"I-Is it okay for us to receive luxuries like this?"
"It's okay. You've struggled enough, from now on you can depend on me. I won't betray you no matter what..."
I then hugged them, and instantly the atmosphere turned into a tearful one.
"H-hiks...uwaahhh..."
"Waaahh!"
The cries of all the children echoed throughout the room. The cries that they had been holding back all this time had fully come out on this day.
I stroked everyone's head. I felt like I was becoming a parent right now even though I wasn't that different in age from them, at least my soul was still a grown man.
After a while, their crying started to stop and was replaced by the sound of their rumbling.
"If you guys have calmed down, let's go to the kitchen. I'll make you an amazing meal from a former rank A cooking skill master!"
...
I opened my eyes, the first sight I saw wasn't the cold sky anymore.
"Where am I?"
(This is the Ravendor base? I should be...Ah!)
I recalled what happened before I fainted, the instant I saw my body.
"I'm not hurt? I should have died when that big guy hit me..."
"Ah! Everyone! Big brother is awake!"
I saw Fredrick, the second youngest male in our family shouting.
Then the sound of various feet could be heard, then all the children appeared and hugged me.
"Thank goodness big brother is okay!"
"Uwahh! Big brother!"
As I was surrounded by them, I smelled something delicious.
"What is this scent?"
"That's right. Big brother, let's go to the kitchen. Mr. Ravendor is preparing us a meal!"
"Food?"
Hearing that horrible person making food for these children gave me chills of fear. Did that person intend to poison us?
I rushed to the kitchen in question and found a luxurious room and a table filled with food that I would never imagine myself enjoying.
"You're awake. Sit down, you must be hungry, right?"
"What are you planning to do?"
"Eh?"
"I asked what I planned to do from making us food?"
"Nothing?"
"How can there not be! You must have hidden intentions!"
"Oh, then of course there is."
"As I suspected-"
"I want you all to be happy here. That's why I'm giving you food. That's my motive."
"What?"
"Don't just stay there. Kids, quickly tell Johan to sit in his place."
"Okay~"
Fredrick pushed me to sit on one of the seats.
I looked back at Ravendor.
(Did he poison this food?)
As I thought of Ravendor's possible plan, as usual Ravendor answered my thoughts as if he could read my mind.
"Take it easy, I didn't poison it. If you don't believe me then you can ask the kids. After all, they helped me make the food."
"Eh? Is it true?"
"Ehem! Of course! We also want to help big brother and Mr. Ravendor!"
"If your suspicions are over, how about we just eat?"
"What! I won't eat-"
Then at that moment a hungry stomach sounded, very loud.
"Eheh"
Ravendor just smiled, and I couldn't help but blush.
I picked up the spoon and stuffed the porridge in front of me into my mouth.
"..!!"
"Isn't it delicious?"
"It's delicious!"
Ravendor spoke in a tone that sounded a little teasing, then Fredrick replied with great excitement. I irritably ate the food with gusto.
After that, our session of eating delicious food began. Until now I still couldn't believe we deserved this.
"Your face looks dissatisfied at something..."
After we were done with the food, the kids took the initiative to want to help with the dishes. So Ravendor let them, so now it was just me and Ravendor.
"Of course, we who lived like trash until now suddenly got a decent life from someone we don't know!"
"I understand, so first calm down first. If you keep getting carried away, you won't be able to finish your work."
Hearing the word work, I immediately recalled the time I killed the people of the Horn Spider. Suddenly a strong feeling of nausea arose.
"Is it that scary to kill someone?"
"Of course it's scary! A person's life can't be exchanged for money!"
"Huh...hahahaha!!!"
Suddenly Ravendor laughed in a very frightening manner.
"I can't believe I'd hear such naive words from someone who lives in the slums. Maybe that's why he got the nickname hero..."
Ravendor mumbled something when he heard what I just said.
"I like the way you think. But in the work you're about to do, that kind of thinking is not suitable. You must discard those thoughts, for the sake of the children."
"Tsk, you're using the children as an excuse. You trash..."
"Heh, I'm used to being called trash."
"Then is my job to kill the people you want to kill?"
"No, we're not going to do barbaric things like guild bandits or hired assassins. We're going to do something more revolutionary."
"Revolutionary?"
"We will create a new paradise in the slums. We're going to make this slum a livable place."
"Huh?"
Hearing Ravendor's words only made me confused, what nonsense was this guy talking about.
"You must think this is impossible, right?"
"..."
"It's not impossible, as long as you lend me your power. I will promise you that heaven."
Many times many people have tried to turn the slums of each territory into livable areas but no matter how many times, they have always failed.
I don't know since when, slums have turned into something impossible to change.
But the person in front of me saying he would change such a place was just another nonsense.
Although those words should have been just nonsense, but when Ravendor said it, it didn't feel impossible anymore.
"Even if you can do it, what's in it for you?"
No matter which human, humans always have the desire to gain an advantage even the person in front of me is the same.
"Advantage for me huh? Of course seeing someone happy is what I want."
"What? Don't joke with me-"
As I tried to argue, I saw the eyes of the person in front of me. Although I can't be sure what his face looks like but I feel that the eyes of the person in front of me are honest.
(How could there be someone that kind of heartfelt...)
Ever since I was little, I always thought that someone like a hero would come to save us but no matter how many times we waited, there was never anyone to help us.
That's why I wanted to be a hero who helps the weak but in the end I'm also a human.
But right now in front of me is a person who is really like a hero that we are waiting for to appear in front of us.
When I realized that, my legs unconsciously knelt down.
"I, Johan am willing to be your sword, Mr. Ravendor."
"Eh? Ah, okay?"
...
For some reason Johan suddenly became polite and even looked up to me.
(Is my acting too great? No, my acting skill rank is not that high.)
Everything happened so fast, at first it all started when my eyes were suddenly hit by the light from the dishes the children were washing, then Johan fell silent then suddenly Johan kowtowed and made an oath like a knight.
(What exactly happened?)
Although it's confusing but at least it's not a bad thing, after all Johan seems to have started trusting me.
It's time for us to talk about the second topic.
"Get on with your second task. I want you to find a member you think you can trust."
"Member? Are we doing this in a group?"
"What are you talking about, didn't I tell you. I'm recruiting you into my organization."
"Organization?"
"Yes, the organization that will turn this slum into a paradise. For that, we need to get members who are trustworthy and have great skills. For that I want you to find someone suitable."
"Then why is Mr. Ravendor doing it?"
"I can't always be here, so I want you as my trustee to do the job."
"...Trustee..."
"That's all your work right now. I have to leave soon, I'll leave this place to you. I've prepared a book in your room, it contains some advice for you on improving your fighting power."
"Okay. Thank you very much!"
"Ah, that's right. I haven't introduced the name of our organization yet, have I?"
"Ah, right."
"The name of our organization is Umbra Vitae...",
Umbra Vitae means the shadow of life. It's very suitable for the organization I'm going to create.
In the future, this name will become a very large organization.