"Really?". Jade was not convinced with his obviously unconfident answer.
Even the other girls were suspicious. But there's no way they'd think he fed them to beasts, the best they could think of was that he beat them up a bit more and let them go with a warning or locked them up somewhere for a while. Not that they were naive, it's just the impression that Muku had given them to that point that clouded their judgement.
But if Layla was here, she might have sniffed out the truth. Maybe not accurately what he did with them but at least that he didn't leave them alive. And she would have supported his decision too. These weren't the times to be lenient and forgiving, especially to such scum that would obviously hold a grudge and come back for revenge the very first chance they got.
Although Muku said it was for the girls. Deep down he knew he did it for himself as much as them. In fact, even if the girls weren't around, he probably would have still done it.
"Yeah really, anyway, lets go back, Layla should have calmed her down by now and it's not fun seeing emaciated people laying around with stomachs growling all over the place due to hunger. And Hope, better not say we should give them some of our food or I will spank you right here and now". Muku replied to her, quickly changing topics. He didn't want the kids to change the way they looked at him by knowing what he did, so for as long as he could, he would preserve the image of a kind teacher they had in their minds.
It just so happened that he noticed Hope wanting to say something when she was looking all the people around them. The people were not that thing yet since it hadn't been that long yet since the apocalypse began but one could tell that they were definitely losing weight and were extremely hungry. And so Hope thought of asking Muku if she could give them some of their food since they could always get more if they wanted to. But Muku told her off even before she could say anything, hearing his threat she quickly grabbed her butt and gave him a fearful look. Emily and Chloe who were also thinking of asking the same also couldn't help but grabbing theirs as well, their faces reddening a bit from thinking of something they probably shouldn't be.
"Can we go now?". Jade said, she also didn't like seeing these people like this. She didn't even think of helping them, not because she was cruel or anything, but just knew that she couldn't. In fact even the other girls, other than Hope understood why Muku said they couldn't help.
Firstly, they were too many people, by the time they provide a meal to all of them, the ones they fed would have already gotten hungry again. And who's to say that there won't be a riot when some see others receiving food when they aren't?. And for how long could they possibly do it even if by some miracle they can satisfy the whole crowd?. Then lastly these people would start expecting to be fed by them from then on, and if they aren't, they would likely turn on them, forgetting all they had been given for free before. Such is human nature, ungrateful trash that's ever greedy for more.
Of course there are some good ones who can be so good that one can confuse them for saints. But if they don't get corrupted by the world, or exploited, they will definitely be killed off. "The good die young" isn't just a saying, it has been proven correct in many cases. After all, in every dozen or so people, only one or two are truly good, the rest I eaither straight up evil or only appear to be good while waiting for a chance to strike.
(A/N: This is Muku's view on the world after experiencing some situations that forced such a thought process on him as he grew up..... though Author-san doesn't particularly diagree with it^_^)
.....
"Oh, is that so..."
As they stepped back into the room they had Audrey's voice trailing off. (Jade didn't knock and just opened the door)
Seeing them come in, both Audrey and Layla stopped talking. Audrey now looking at Muku with some embarrassment after being told about his personality by Layla. So remembering her overreaction was really embarrassing, not to mention so late in the game.
"Umm, Mr Chisen, for my less than proper actions and words before or like to apologise. And also thank you for looking after Layla even after the apocalypse began when your duty as a teacher basically didn't tie you down and you could have left on your own." Audrey spoke after collecting herself, she was a mature lady so could get her emotions under control in a lot less time than the little girls.
"Oh no Ms Knight, you didn't have to apologise, I totally understand where you were coming from. And you can just call me Muku, no need to show so much formality with little old me. As for taking care of Layla and the rest, and again, no need to apologise, I was only doing what I should have, they say "Once a teacher, always a teacher" after all. Not to mention that it wasn't only I who helped them, they helped me to, it can even be said that without them, I might have died already." Muku spoke in such a proper way as an adult is supposed to speak like, to the point that the girls wondered if he was the same carefree teacher from before who basically never cared about formalities.
"No, I've made a mistake and I should properly apologise, and if you have truly forgiven me. Like you requested I call you Muku, I hope you can call me Audrey". Audrey replied to him with a smile on her pretty but still sickly pale face. She had been getting paler each day that passed by since she hadn't been taking her pills for a while.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly be so rude to my student's mother". Muku quickly said, refusing to call her by her name.
"Well then I'll take it as you refusing to forgive me". Audrey said while displaying a sad face.
"Sigh, if it's like that, and you don't mind my rudeness, I'll address you as Ms Audrey from now on". Muku relented seeing her expression, he was really weak to women showing sad expressions...as long as there was no animosity between them that is.
"Good then Mr Muku, I hope we can get along from now on". Audrey's expression quickly changed as soon as he agreed to call her by her name, now her face displayed a beautiful smile. And Muku quickly realised that he had been tricked by it was too late. Seeing their exchangez the girls couldn't help but giggle among themselves.
"Okay, now that we have gotten that out of the way, why do you think about my proposal?". Muku got down to business again. He didn't want it delay it since none of them knew when Audrey's condition would suddenly turn serious and unsalvageable even if his theory was proven true.
"Ah, that.....I will try my best to cooperation and do whatever you ask of me. I just hope that you continue to take care of Layla if it does work and I....". Audrey trailed off at the end of her statement but everyone understood what she left unsaid. Because of which, the air in the room got a bit gloomy and everyone remained silent.
"I promise you, as long as I'm alive, as long as I have the power, no matter what happens, whether it fails or not. I will protect her with everything I have got until the end." After a minute of complete silence in the room, Muku's serious voice rang out again.
Hearing it, Audrey smiled beautifully and... approvingly?. Seeing her expression, Layla's face reddened and she layed down then covered her face in embarrassment. Seeing this, the other girls couldn't help but feel jealous even if they already knew that he would look after them too. They just wanted to here him say it like he did for Layla as well.
"What are you brats getting jealous for?, I'll take care of all of you too". Muku saw thelr expressions and quickly said with a roll of his eyes and a mocking smile to their obvious jealousy.
Hearing this, Chloe and Emily copied Layla's actions from a few seconds before. While Jade "Hmphed" and looked away, but one could easily see she was pleased from the small smile on her face and her slightly reddened ears.
(A/N: These girls blush way too much!)
"Then can I call you big brother from now on!". Hope shouted with excitement visible on her face.
"S-sure". Hearing her shout Muku almost fell off his chair. But seeing her blindingly excited face he couldn't help couldn't bring himself to turn the little girl down, so could only nervously agree.
Hearing this, the other girls were surprised, but then their eyes lit up a bit. They all thought the same thing.....{One less rival!}
Seeing the group's interactions, Audrey couldn't help but put on a helpless smile. How could she not see what was going on?. These four girls all liked their teacher. It was like there was a ticking time bomb in the group that would be set off the moment Muku chose one. Luckily Hope, the naive little girl only wanted him as a big brother, but who knows how long that will last before she wants more too?.
"Thank you big brother!". Hope excitedly called out as she jumped towards Muku aiming to hug her new older brother she always wanted. Especially now when she likely doesn't have any family left.
"Okay everyone, time to sleep, tomorrow we have to go hunting. By lunchtime tomorrow I want Ms Audrey to already be a Rank One". Muku said as his hand was grabbing Hope's face, pushing it away, preventing her from hugging him. Though she still kept on trying to push forward, clearly not wanting to give up. It was quite comical actually.
"Yes sir". After everyone else agreed to sleep, Hope could only reluctantly give up on the hug for now and also go back to bed...or more precisely the blanket on the floor.
Muku took the big couch as his resting place and slept there after pushing it in front of the door. They were in the safe zone so didn't need to be as on guard as before but still Muku made sure that if anyone tried to open the door, he'd immediately be woken up.
And like that, their eventful day ended...