Chapter 9

Do not touch Eldemia Ega - Chapter 9 (9/599)

“I didn’t leave you here for any particular reason. Even if you leave this place, it will be the same elsewhere, so I’m just giving you a chance.”

If you can’t go back home, leaving Ogwen will only make you a vagrant or a ruffian in another city. Rather, Ogwen, which is currently booming with plenty of work, is a better environment.

The past three years were not spent just cooped up at home training and studying.

The three years spent, even dividing the rest time, were by no means a short period. When you avoid training to the point of hindering growth, you naturally have some spare time. If you dislike studying, can’t concentrate, or can’t understand, even that spare time disappears, but with a mental age of over thirty and a direction set, and a mind that hasn’t fully matured, that didn’t happen. As if to prove that early education is not just talk, learning was incredibly smooth.

Naturally, the spare time was divided to understand the city. To the point where even some merchants, not just the guards, remember my face.

There are plenty of things you can do if you look for them, even without formal training. It’s just that outsiders aren’t trusted much, so they keep it hush-hush.

“To find jobs that pay 4 copper coins a day, you won’t find as many as there are heads. With 4 copper coins, you can at least sleep in a decent place and have two meals a day. If you occasionally get some extra income, you can even take a bath, and as you get used to it, you can increase your work and earn more money. As your credit builds, your daily wage will rise, and you’ll have some leeway.”

Even if the remaining kids are on average 14 years old, they have spent most of their lives doing household chores in the village. Without compulsory education, most of them have a vague understanding of day labor and economic activities, so when they finally run away, they end up as vagrants and ruffians with no future. It’s a tough age to want to do only what you like and live as you please.

“I won’t force you. If you don’t want to, just remember the name Eldemia Ega and run there. Of course, if I see you again, your legs will be broken. But if you stay, I won’t give you money directly, but I’ll give you jobs where you won’t be cheated. Make your decision.”

Ogwen isn’t just a land of opportunity for ruffians. With a lot of external personnel coming in and rapid development, if you work diligently from a young age, you can quickly become a part of the city. It won’t be easy, but if you run away now, the future you’ll get is, at best, women becoming prostitutes and boys becoming ruffians.

If they were the kind to write heroic epics, they wouldn’t be here with me.

After saying that, I stood still, but no one moved. Maybe they really have nowhere to go, but they seem to have some sense.

“Follow me.”

Searching the dead leader’s body, I found 20 copper coins. For a moment, a crumpled practice sword flashed through my mind, but thanks to the information from the remaining kids, I found the hidden money. Opening the box that was used as a chair, I found a small pouch with 4 silver coins and 40 copper coins, and I could smile happily.

It was far from enough to compensate for Ashlie’s insult, but it wasn’t bad as extra income.

I kept the 4 silver coins and planned to use the rest for the kids. Leaving the body and the warehouse behind, we crawled out of the alley and headed to a clothing store in the market.

It was a second-hand clothing store that sold clothes that families no longer wore, repaired and sold at a very low price.

“Uncle Teks! Long time no see!”

When I was doing odd jobs to understand the market, I delivered cheap clothes from households and became familiar with the owner.

“Eldemia? You seem to grow every time I see you.”

“I’m at the age where I’m growing. Anyway, I want to buy some decent clothes for these kids. Do you have any that fit?”

Pointing to the dirty kids following behind, Uncle Teks, who already had a thick chin, made it even thicker and frowned.

“I do have some, but they’re vagrants, right? What do you need them for?”

“Yeah, vagrants. They look so bad, I want to give them some work.”

“You’re a weird one, aren’t you? Skirts for the girls? Dresses?”

“They need to run around, so pants.”

“Huh. Got it. Wait a moment.”

True to his long experience, Uncle Teks quickly found five sets of clothes, rummaging through the stalls and boxes. It was impressive how he could find matching sets from homemade items.

One set of clothes and shoes cost 6 copper coins. Despite the good quality, I had to think hard to negotiate.

“Uncle, Uncle.”

“What is it, kid? You know the price. 6 copper coins is cheap.”

“Yeah, I know that’s why I’m saying this. Listen, I’m going to take care of these kids and get them odd jobs for a while.”

“So?”

“But I don’t have money right now. I need to buy them clothes, clean them up, and get them to sleep at Alisha’s inn from tomorrow, and the food costs are tight.”

“Alisha’s? Well, it’s the best at that price. But that’s not a reason for me to do charity.”

“I know, I know. But what can these kids do? They’re all about the same age, and even if they’re careful, their clothes will get dirty quickly. They need to make do with one set for now. Of course, they’ll have to share the clothes they’re wearing now, but how can they work in those? It’s impossible. But their average age is 14. They still have a few years to grow.”

“Haha. So, in the end, they’ll be my customers, so can you give me a discount this time?”

Leaning on the stall and smiling, I spread my arms and dramatically said. Since Uncle Teks is smiling, he will give a discount.

“Exactly! An investment in the future! A virtue of a merchant! Anyway, kids’ clothes don’t sell well, right? Besides, who am I? I’m Eldemia Ega, right? I don’t ask for much. Just a 1 copper coin discount per set, and I’ll spread the word that Uncle helped the increasing number of vagrants in the village find proper jobs and settle down. You get the idea, right?”

Just the kids aren’t enough. Whether they die or leave the city, if they disappear in any form, the investment will lose its meaning. But if I can spread a positive image for 5 copper coins, the story changes. Uncle Teks’ clothing store starts with cheap clothes from the village.

If the vagrants really work diligently and settle down, they will have to buy clothes here for a while due to the initial kindness and low prices, so the effect will be clear. At worst, it won’t be a loss.

“You’re a bold kid. Are you planning to start a labor agency? How long will you take care of them?”

“I always say, I’ll go out into the world when I’m 16. I can take care of them for about 5 years, but honestly, they should be able to find their own way after a year, right?”

“What? You’re still 11?”

“I’m sturdy and smart, but I’m still 11. The warranty is impressive, isn’t it?”

“You’re a tough one. Give me 23 copper coins.”

“I don’t know what to do with myself! That’s why I like you, Uncle. See? Uncle Teks gave you 2 more copper coins off for your sake.”

“Thank you!”

“Thank you!”

They weren’t completely rude, as all five of them bowed almost simultaneously, which was quite a sight.

“Really, what a world. What’s with that war?”

While taking the copper coins I handed over, Teks looked at the kids with a sympathetic expression and sighed. He was a father of three and, in my opinion, a very loving man.

Although only one of the kids was a real war victim, I didn’t point it out.

“Still, with someone like you, there’s a chance to save them. When you see that, it’s still a livable world, isn’t it?”

“You’re better than my son just in words. No, that’s not it. I’m just getting old and talking nonsense. Ignore me.”

He probably wanted to say something like, “Just live in the village,” or “I’ll adopt you as my son,” but the story of Eldemia Ega, the only survivor, is well-known in the village. He probably thought it wasn’t a topic to joke about.

I smiled gratefully at his kindness.

With the clothes in hand, we went to the bathhouse and came out by 4 PM. Since those dirty kids would need at least an hour to clean up, I went straight to the inn and flattered the owner, Alisha.

“Sis! I’m here!”

“Who’s your sister, you rude brat!”

Opening the door cheerfully and entering the first floor, Alisha, who was cooking in the kitchen and hall, glared and shouted.

The 50-something-year-old swearing auntie was waving a kitchen knife, seemingly furious.

“Ashlie is my sister, so Alisha is my sister too, right?”

“You’re really out of control. A young brat already thinking about women. The world is coming to an end. Why are you here!”

“Do you have a room?”

“Go home. Is it because Ashlie doesn’t discipline you that you’re already going out?”

That’s right. She’s a consistent swearing auntie. But no matter how loud and profane her voice, it’s filled with deep consideration. This consideration extends from the building to the food, making her inn the best among the 2-copper-coin inns in the village.

“No, not me, but five vagrants. I’m going to give them jobs from tomorrow, and they’re cleaning up now.”

“...Damn. I just had a guest leave, so there’s a room. Do you want to bring them or not? What about food?”

“I’ll buy them food here. I’ll go home to eat.”

“You’re making me busier when I’m already busy!”

Despite her words, her hands were already busy preparing more ingredients. By the time I brought the cleaned kids, the table was already set. The hearty stew, which couldn’t be called a 1-copper-coin stew, made the kids drool as they sat down.

“This is Alisha Madam, the owner and chef of the inn where you’ll be staying. If you have a brain, you’ll easily feel the deep care in her loud voice and curses. Always be grateful.”

“Stop talking and eat quickly! The food is getting cold!”

The hot stew had bits of meat, which would have been impossible to find if they had been boiled together, but they were evenly distributed in the five bowls.