Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Giving Them Work
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The kids came rushing over in a swarm.
For a moment, it felt like a pack of giant puppies was charging at me, but the musty smell immediately clued me in that these were kids who didn't bathe properly.
"S-Sis..."
The kid I'd sent to buy snacks hesitated, looking troubled.
He seemed like he had something to say but was scared to spit it out.
"What is it? If you've got something to say, out with it."
I had no idea what he was going to say, but I could at least hear him out.
What I did with that information afterward was another matter.
"...C-Can these guys have some snacks too?"
"......You want me to buy some?"
I bought for one kid, and now he'd dragged his friends along for the same treatment?
This wasn't some wild animal bringing its pack after getting hand-fed.
It was a problem all around, so I scratched my head vigorously.
"N-No! That's not it! I meant... can we share the snacks you bought with them...?"
"Oh? If that's all, sure, go ahead."
He wasn't asking me for anything extra—he just wanted to share his portion. What was I supposed to say to that?
That must've been the answer he wanted.
The boy who'd sheepishly asked me, along with the five kids who'd followed him, all lit up with bright smiles as he tore off pieces of the bread he'd bought and passed them around.
The loaves were bigger than I'd expected, so while it wasn't enough to fill them up, everyone got a good taste.
"...But it's not even that expensive. Why'd you all huddle up and ask so cautiously if you could share?"
I'd given him six copper coins.
Not exact, but roughly around 6,000 won.
It was a decent chunk of change—not pocket lint, but not enough to break the bank either.
"...Sis."
At my reaction, the boy handed out the remaining bread to the others, then came close and whispered in my ear.
"Their parents all died fighting ogres... No one's looking after them...."
His words started nagging at me.
He went on to explain the whole situation.
Before the saint arrived, the city had launched its own attack to drive off the ogres.
But it had ended in catastrophic failure, with massive casualties.
And these kids? They were the children of the soldiers who'd joined that doomed assault.
Their grubby clothes and gaunt, malnourished bodies suddenly looked different to me.
"Hey, don't the nobles take care of them?"
"...They do. That's why they haven't starved to death yet. But it's not enough. They said they have to prioritize repairing the walls first, so they can't spare much."
Adult circumstances—unavoidable, really.
It made sense, too.
In a world crawling with monsters, those high walls were what kept humans safe.
Even kids could understand prioritizing wall repairs.
"You."
"...Y-Yes?"
"If that was your play to tug at my heartstrings... it worked. Everyone, gather 'round!"
Even knowing their story, I couldn't just walk away.
I lightly smacked the boy's head with my palm and called the kids over.
They looked about seven or eight years old.
They clearly needed food more than most—the way they eyed the apple in my hand gave away their hunger, no hiding it.
"I could buy you all proper meals, no problem! But that's not how it works."
Nothing in life is free.
I'd never gotten a free ride myself.
Even living with Grandpa, I'd helped out where I could.
The food from Shan? That was payment for letting him observe my abilities.
So.
"If you want something from me, work for it. Help me out, and I'll pay you what it's worth."
Their problem? They were too young.
They wanted to work but couldn't find any.
So they scraped by on the nobles' meager handouts. That had to be it.
"Of course, I won't make you do anything tough."
"...What do we have to do?"
The girl who seemed the most mature stepped forward, glancing around nervously as she asked.
"How about cleaning?"
"Cle... Cleaning?"
I looked down at the kid, who pulled a face like he'd expected something else entirely.
"As you can see, this place is filthy. But cleaning it alone? No way I could manage. Help me out, and we'll tackle it together."
I didn't want feces scattered everywhere in my workplace, no matter what.
It was disgusting, unsanitary, and the stench was overpowering.
I knew this was medieval average, but it was too much.
"What do you say?"
I had zero intention of handing out free food and snacks.
I felt bad for them, sure, but I wasn't rich either.
If they wanted my help, they'd have to do something in return—at minimum.
"...H-How much per day?"
"Can't pay much. As you see, I'm just an apprentice."
I'd started getting full pay by tagging along on Shan's requests, but still.
My daily wage was one silver coin plus sixty coppers.
Thinking ahead, what I could spend daily was around fifty coppers max.
"Ten coppers a day?"
Not too much, not too little.
Kids usually couldn't handle a full adult workload, so they earned less.
Ten coppers was the average for child labor.
"...A-Alright! You guys cool with that?!"
"Yeah!"
"We'll work hard!"
"Yay—!"
Kids and their endless energy—it was exhausting just keeping up.
I shook my head and pulled a silver coin from my inner pocket.
"...Hey."
"Yes?"
I handed the silver to the boy clutching my clothes.
"Before you start, get them cleaned up... I'm cleaning because of the smell, but if they stink, it's pointless. Buy cleaning supplies with what's left."
"...Huh?"
"If you pocket that silver, I won't pay you kids no matter what."
"I-I wouldn't!"
The boy yelped in protest, flustered.
I was about to tease that it made him look even more suspicious, but I could tell he was just shocked, so I let it slide.
"Anyway, what's your name?"
Calling him "the boy" over and over was getting confusing.
"You only ask now...? It's Tori."
"Cute name."
His face flushed at that—clearly embarrassed for some reason.
"Looks like the cuteness isn't just in the name."
I tapped his head lightly, and Tori bolted off with the kids, promising to get them bathed.
"Stuff like this happens."
I stared at the spot where they'd vanished and chuckled softly.
It felt annoying having them cling, but pity mixed with a strange sense of kinship.
It reminded me of my past self.
Back when I was abandoned in this world—wasn't I just like them?
Maybe a bit worse off?
Hard to say, but that was months ago already.
Months later, helping kids like my old self?
I still had a long way to go, but I definitely felt like I'd grown.
Dusk fell.
Tori returned with the freshly scrubbed kids, and right on cue, an auntie who'd heard the news came looking for him.
She apologized profusely, but with her son as collateral, I couldn't bring myself to punish her.
Tori waved goodbye with a "See you tomorrow!" as he left with his mom.
That left me with the five remaining kids.
We killed time blankly until my relief arrived, then headed straight to the inner castle with them.
I found where Shan was on guard and waited.
Unlike me, his relief hadn't shown up yet.
"Stay quiet. I'll get you yummy food."
I pressed a finger to my lips—shh—and they all nodded, clamping hands over their mouths.
They listened so well.
About five minutes later.
Shan's relief arrived, and he headed to the dining area.
We tailed him, and when he glanced back, my grinning face was right there.
"...No sound at all. Hard to react."
"Shan!"
"Here for food again?"
"Yep! And can you cover theirs too?"
I beckoned, and the five edged closer, clinging to me.
They seemed scared of Shan.
More than me, with my gloomy vibe.
"Where'd you pick these up?"
"Hey, I'm not that bad."
"...Sigh. Fine... Call it punishment for jumping to conclusions."
Shan sighed—rare for him—and led the way.
Food was on him, so I grinned, ruffled the kids' hair, and followed.
"Don't be like that. Hate buying cute kids dinner?"
With thirty silvers a day?
He could afford meals.
"You're not cute, so just them?"
"...Harsh. Really."
I didn't crave being called cute, but hearing it outright stung a little.
"Especially after all the weird stuff you make me do with my body."
"Watch the misleading comments."
He pinched his temples like he had a headache and tossed me the menu.
Shut up and order.
I chuckled.
Shan's sigh and the kids' uneasy glances were hilarious.