15 – I really am not good with kids, but let’s try to help
It was 2 years ago. While returning home from school I was absorbed by a book. I was waiting at a crosswalk for the green light. And as soon as the light turned green I stepped forward still reading the book. It was then when a truck came speeding. It was most likely in a rush and forced the yellow color.
Suddenly I felt a force pulling me backwards. I fell on my butt but I avoided getting squashed at the last minute. After I got back on my feet what I saw was…
"Are you ok, onii-chan?"
An 8 year old girl wearing sunglasses and a dog. Yeah. This kid was most likely blind.
"Yes. I'm fine, but how did you…?"
"Riku here acted stiff, so I knew something was wrong. I pulled you out of instinct, hehe."
"Thanks. You saved my life."
"Don't say thanks. In return, I want you to lend a hand to someone in need. Blind kids like me have it rough, so if you can show some kindness to one when you have the chance, the world will be a better place."
"... Alright. I promise if I ever see a blind kid that needs help, I will help them."
"It's a promise, onii-chan."
------
I always pay my debts. The promise I made back I intend to repay it. Beating up muscle head was easy. So I leaned down and helped the tiger girl back on her feet.
"This is yours, right? Take it."
I handed over the coin she dropped.
"Umu! Thank you miss… oh. Cold."
"I guess. My hands tend to be like this."
"Fufu, you know what they say. People with cold hands have warm hearts."
That's the first time I'm hearing this one. She then started to feel my face. I let her do as she pleased. She was probably trying to paint a picture of me in her mind. But soon after…
"Oi! What do you think you're doing to my sister!"
Another Tiger girl popped up. Identical to the blind one, except for the hair color. The blind girl had white hair with black stripes and the one that just popped up had orange hair with black stripes. She was prepared to charge at me but the blind one stepped in between.
"No, Sasha. You mustn't. Miss is kind and is actually helping me."
"Eeh?"
The girl named Sasha stopped in her tracks and was brought to speed by the blind girl, who apparently is called Stella. Sasha and Stella. Interesting name choices. I should mention that Sasha was wearing similar rags and an iron collar. Sasha constantly bowed before me apologizing. Apparently she had to run an errand and left Stella by herself.
This comical scenario that seemed something out of a manga didn't stop as both their stomachs…
*Gurgle**Gurgle*
"Sasha, did you manage to…"
"Sorry. I couldn't… make any more money."
Both of them were dejected. Yare yare. Just how much help can it be considered until I repay my debt? Leaving them as is, will leave a bad taste in my mouth, though. So I turned around:
"Hey, shopkeep. Gimme two more portions of stew."
"What, you can still eat?'
"It's not for me. It's for these two."
"But…"
"Do we have a problem?"
"Eeh… no problem at all. Coming right up!"
Since I handled muscle head with ease, the shopkeep didn't dare go against me. Soon. Two dishes of hot stew were laid on the table.
"You two, go on. Eat."
"Eeh? Can we really? But we can't pay…"
"It's on me. Hurry up already now. You're hungry, right?"
"Yeah… then…"
"Don't mind if we do! Thanks, miss!"
These girls ate to their hearts content. Seeing them go “Yum” or “It’s delicious” makes me wonder when was the last time they had a proper meal. I mean sure, the food isn’t bad, but it’s not something spectacular either. In less than 10 minutes, their plates were empty.
“PHUAAA! It feels great to be alive! Thank you, miss… come to think about it, what’s your name?”
“Edelweiss.”
“Edel-waisu?”
“Just Edel will do.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much. I wish there was a way to repay your kindness.”
“There’s no need. Anyway, where are your parents?”
“That is… AAAA *Cough*!”
Before any of them could reply both of them fell on the ground and were gasping for air. What the hell? Is that iron collar doing something to them?
“There you are, brats. I swear if you keep me waiting one more time I’m going to kill you for real.”
An armored figured man was expressing a gentle smile as he approached me. He carried several swords. The chains attached to the pommels made metallic sounds that were a pain to the ears.
Since this was an area with lots of magical beasts lurking, platemail wasn’t anything unusual but……
That man looked this way and smiled. Behind him, about four human knights with similar looking appearances accompanied him. They each carried one sword like normal, and they were
turning their vigilant looking eyes towards the surroundings.
“I’m sorry for any trouble these 2 have caused.”
“Hmph. There wasn’t any trouble. Are you their guardian or something?”
“Oh? Do you perhaps not know who I am? Then allow me to introduce myself. I’m Phobos Bidia, a Holy Knight belonging to the Royal Capital church.”
“And is that supposed to mean anything to me?”
Phobos became rather confused. But Stella quickly got back on her feet.
“Edel-sama, a Holy Knight has not only the abilities of a knight, but also has the miraculous works of God on their bodies.”
“That’s it? Even so, it means nothing to me.”
"Ahahaha! As expected, there are a lot of interesting people among the Adventurers out in the countryside. Well now, you’ve got me with that one.”
“Sorry, but I don’t exactly have a sense of humor. If you’re a Holy Knight and the guardian of these girls, you should take better care of them.”
“I don’t think you understand the scenario, my countryside maiden. Those girls are my slaves. We aren't doing anything illegal, you know? The late father of these girls borrowed a lot of money from the church and since he couldn’t pay it back, his daughters are mine now. However they’re just spoiled brats, hardly worth any effort. I might end up selling them to a brothel soon.”
“Tsk. So bothersome. For a Holy Knight you don’t act like one.”
“Oi, I can take a joke, but people that talk to me like that to me eventually might get tortured. Regardless if you have a nice body, you won't get away.”
"Wait, master. Edel-sama just tried to help us. There is no reason to punish her.” (Stella)
Phobos’s eyes became frenzied.
"A slave……should not talk to me!”
The metal collar made a cracking sound.
"Kehoh! Kehoh!”
She coughed violently, sounding anguished.
Sasha hurriedly rushed over to Stella, and supported her shoulders.
"Sis!?”
"Ugh……Guh……Kehoh! Uuu……!?”
“Alright. That’s enough. Normally I don’t get mixed up in other people’s business, but that attitude of yours is ticking me off, small fry.”
“Small fry!? You say this towards a Holy Knight!?”
"The foolish Church that bestowed such a position to a questionable fellow such as you is the bigger idiot here.”
"Guh, kuh……A lowly bumpkin dares to insult a Holy Knight!?”
"Since a mere Holy Knight is using a collar on little girls just to feel high and mighty… I’m merely stating facts. You aren’t even worth insulting.”
He sneered. I see, so he was angry.
"You fool that does not believe in the power of God! I will…”
“How about you just shut up? I really am not in the mood to deal with you, so just become an ice cube. [Ice Lock]!”
*Baki baki baki* (Crack, crack, crack)……He froze inside an ice block. The Subordinate Knights that could be seen at the back had gone into unrest and were looking at each other. They probably had no doubts of Phobos’s victory. Certainly, a guy like that had a high level.
“You, nameless background characters. If you don’t want to share the same fate, take him away. The ice will eventually melt so be sure not to break him until then.”
Scared, they quickly picked up their boss and ran away.
“Edel-sama, that was…” (Stella)
“Stupid! Are you stupid? He’ll definitely kill us when he breaks free!!” (Sasha)
Yare yare. This is more trouble than I bargained for. Do these girls still not realize who they’re talking to? Let’s end this good deed already before it bites me in the ass.