Chapter 3 — Livestock and Labor First

Part 1 — Exile, Then Saving the Nation

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/asmotoon

I trailed the pair at a slight distance, pretending to browse the stalls.

So far nothing suspicious. Guess the buyer really is calmly waiting at the rendezvous. Works for me.

We left town without incident. When the abandoned cottage Bill had mentioned came into view, I peeled off and circled around.

Peering from the grass, I saw a man sway out of the ruin. Bill thrust the basket toward him. No other presences. Looks like he's acting alone. After exchanging a few words with Bill, the man suddenly drew a knife.

"That wasn't the deal!"

Bill shouted—the signal. I burst from the brush and leveled my right hand.

"Don't move."

Flame flickered at the tip of my extended finger. A basic fire spell, Fire Bolt, gathered there as I closed the distance.

The man froze, startled. When he spun to run, I fired at the ground ahead of him. He yelped and jumped back.

"I said don't move."

I charged the next shot and took aim. He must have realized it was over; the knife clattered from his hand as he crumpled.

◆◆◆

"Sorry, kid." The farmer scrubbed Bill's hair while the culprit lay hogtied at my feet. Bill, on the other hand, looked furious. Understandably. I sympathized, but...

"You brought this on yourself by sneaking into someone's field and taking their crops. You need to reflect too."

"Okay, okay! I get it, mister!"

"Mister? Do I look that old? It's 'sir.'"

"What? That's what you're mad about?"

While they bickered, the girl—silent ever since—edged closer.

"Th-thank you for saving us."

"Sure. Don't fall for something like that again."

When I smiled, she squeaked and ducked behind Bill. Ouch.

Turns out the thief came from the next village. He’d planned a bigger heist and first paid random kids a few coins to lift small amounts so he could check patrol patterns. Idiotic scheme.

The watch captain figured other kids probably got nabbed the same way, so he hauled the man off after saying he'd inquire in nearby towns.

The farmer thrust the celery basket at me as thanks and even returned my money. Rescue two brats, walk away with a basket of celery and the basket itself. Alchemy, apparently.

That left me alone with the kids. I’d gotten dragged into this, after all. What now? Drop them at a church, like in every stock scenario? Eh...

"Hey, you two—"

"Excuse me!"

Surprisingly, the girl spoke first.

"Are you a mage? Please teach me magic! I'll cook, clean, and work the fields in return! Bill can handle the heavy lifting!"

"Whoa, that’s sudden. And I'm not a mage. I'm a magic swordsman."

Bill jumped in.

"Seriously?! Then teach me swordsmanship! Heavy lifting's my job. Meg can handle cooking and laundry."

Hmm. Extra hands would help. Judging from their state, they left home for some reason and are now scraping rock bottom.

"Why are you so desperate to learn skills?"

"Because we have to survive together," the girl said. "We're going to be adventurers."

Tough girl, despite her slight build.

"Yeah. She's hopeless with heavy lifting, but she's smart, so she should be a mage. I'm Bill. That's my little sister, Meg."

"What? I'm the older one! ...Sorry. He's an idiot who can only swing a sword. Please, we'll be useful."

"Call me an idiot again and you'll catch it too. Anyway, I'm begging you." Bill bowed his head.

Brother and sister? Hard to tell which is which. I'd rather they squabble elsewhere. I mentally ran through the risks, betrayal, a setup, and realized I'd go mad trying to anticipate everything.

Besides, I've seen more than enough of what happens to kids dumped in churches or orphanages. ...To hell with it. Overthinking won't help. Whatever happens, happens.

"Fine. Come over. I'm starving anyway. Somehow I ended up feeding mouths before I even bought livestock."

I brought the cheering pair home, made them wash up, they reeked, and fed them until they were stuffed. They've been sleeping like rocks ever since. Must have been exhausted. Their shoes had once been fine leather, but the soles were chewed to nothing. I don't know where they came from or what happened, but we'll have to talk eventually.

Watching them sleep, curled together, warmed something inside me. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to share a meal with someone.

All I wanted was a quiet life...

Still, I can't say it's unpleasant.

----- End of chapter -----