Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Slum District (2)
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A few people who had received bread came up to me to offer their thanks.
"Thank you...."
I didn't say a word in response, just committed their faces to memory before moving on.
The slum district was vast, which meant there were plenty of starving people.
Nameless and I had to keep wandering around, repeating the same routine several more times.
Responding to each one would take forever.
"This slum district is so huge...."
Could we really finish by the end of the day?
I muttered under my breath with a grimace, and Nameless approached me.
"Master."
I didn't even have the energy to reply, so I just turned to look at him.
"What should we do about the ones following us?"
Nameless nodded toward the back.
I naturally rolled my eyes that way and glanced behind us to see people from the slums trailing after me.
Hmm, probably those who didn't get any bread earlier.
I wanted to give them enough bread to fill their bellies, but I hadn't brought that much—and besides, people like them were necessary for screening others.
On top of that, there were surely some among them who had eaten bread already but were still hungry enough to chase after me.
I couldn't exactly blame them.
How often do you see someone scattering normal food on the ground? It'd be weirder not to follow.
If Nameless weren't here with me, they might've rushed me and snatched the bread outright.
"Tch."
If I were a guy, I wouldn't have to deal with this kind of hassle—being a girl just makes me look like easy prey.
Of course, even as a guy, I'd been short....
Not the point.
I casually kicked Nameless in the calf.
"...Master?"
"Just take it!"
Anyway.
What to do about them? I rubbed my chin, pondering deeply.
They needed to learn that excessive greed could turn into poison....
'Which is why they wouldn't be here in the first place.'
I didn't want to get rough if I could avoid it, but they'd just get in the way if they kept following.
Hmm, maybe chase them off after all.
I let out a heavy sigh, shaking my head, then tugged at Nameless's sleeve.
"Nameless, scare them off just enough to send them running."
"Yes, Master."
With that, Nameless turned around and glared at them.
"Get lost."
He looked like a puppy growling to protect its owner—adorable, really. But if I said that, he'd sulk, so I clamped my mouth shut and barely stifled the laugh bubbling up.
To them, though, he must've looked plenty intimidating; they paled and scurried away from us.
I sidled up to Nameless, who had done well, and poked his side.
"Ack! Thanks?"
Even as he thanked me, his face flushed bright red for some reason.
"...Why are you laughing?"
"Ahem. Wasn't laughing."
"..."
Wait, is he actually sulking?
As his master, I knew I shouldn't tease him like this, but it had been a while since I'd gotten him to pout, and it felt satisfying.
The corners of my mouth lifted.
I didn't bother hiding my expression. Standing in front of him, I cleared my throat and mimicked the face he'd made earlier as best I could.
"Get lost. Heh, ahem. That was cool."
"..."
Nameless clamped his mouth shut and whipped his head away.
His neck and ears were still beet red.
Hmm, did I go too far? He seems really sulky now.
"You pouting?"
"..."
"Nameless? Your master is asking you a question."
This guy?
His refusal to answer irked me, so I spun him around and jabbed his side repeatedly.
"Hey! Hey."
"..."
"Hey! Hey."
After spinning him around three full times, I finally got a response.
"...No, I'm not pouting."
His ears were still red, and his voice sounded strained, like he was holding something back. Clearly, he was sulking hard.
"Come on, it's okay to admit if you are."
I poked his side once more.
Nameless trembled slightly as he replied.
"I'm not...."
After repeating the street bread-scattering routine about five times, the sun began to set.
"Nameless, time to head back to the inn soon."
"Yes, Master."
I'd seen the bread run out with my own eyes, so there shouldn't be any fights over scraps I'd tossed.
Still, it nagged at me a bit.
Some of those people might one day rally around me as a core group.
I turned to look at Nameless, who had slung his bag over his shoulder.
Hmm, he looks happy.
Despite the grime on his clothes, Nameless wore a faint smile.
"Nameless, remember all their faces?"
"Yes, Master."
"Good. Let's go."
Once we were fully out of the slum district, I finally pinched my nose and wrinkled my brow.
"Ugh...."
Even that short time there had my clothes reeking, it felt like.
"What's wrong?"
"Feels like the smell's soaked into me...."
Nameless came close and sniffed at me.
Hmm, what's with this guy?
I was a little surprised but didn't push him away or show disgust.
"Seems fine. All I smell on you is strawberries, Master."
"Straw...berries?"
How could anyone smell like strawberries?
I lifted my sleeve to my nose and sniffed.
Hmm, definitely no strawberry scent.
"What nonsense are you spouting...."
I gave him a flat look, and he put on an utterly aggrieved expression, sighing deeply.
Sigh, is it true?
Seeing him so indignant made me wonder if it really was.
They say you can't smell your own scent, right?
I tilted my head.
Even so, I hadn't eaten enough strawberries for my body to smell like them....
Maybe cut back a little? As I pondered, Nameless held out his hand to me.
"What?"
He opened his palm, and a plump strawberry appeared there.
"Master, now that I think about it, I heard strawberries are a local specialty here."
"Oh?"
Strawberries as a specialty product!
It would be rude not to eat them.
"Mmm, they're sweet."
Guess the strawberry-cutting decision could wait.
The next day, before the sun had fully risen, I left the inn to seek out the people I'd noted yesterday.
"Master, you're sure we don't need to bring anything today?"
"Yeah, just make sure you have your wooden sword."
Nameless chewed his lip reluctantly before nodding.
Hmm, should I explain?
"Nameless, today we're approaching people differently than yesterday."
"A different approach...?"
"Exactly."
I explained my thinking to him.
Coming at this early hour served as a second filter, in a way.
Mornings in the slums started brutally early.
Like the early bird gets the worm, they had to rise before the other slum dwellers to beg effectively or rummage through trash for scraps.
Yesterday, I'd noted those who showed consideration for others. Today, it was time to check their diligence.
Kindness and diligence aren't directly linked, but they're not entirely unrelated either.
Anyone too lazy to make that basic effort, just waiting for luck to strike? I'd cut them without hesitation.
To make this meaningful, I needed people with at least some drive to escape the slums.
Excessive greed drags life to ruin, but the right amount fuels it forward.
Of course, I didn't expect many such gems in the slums.
Hmm, finding even one would be lucky.
A sigh escaped me.
At this rate, who knew how long it'd take to build a proper organization? But no choice.
With my standards, taking in any old riffraff would spell trouble down the line.
Sure, it might bulk up numbers short-term, but long-term, that bloated mass would poison me.
Sacrificing their souls for my goals wouldn't be the worst, but I'm not evil enough to kill for it. Better to gather folks who can actually help.
Some might call me frustratingly picky.
I'm a coward at heart.
Unless I design everything safely enough for this scaredy-cat to relax, I'd be too terrified of the future to sleep.
Embarrassed to share my master's flaws with my disciple, I only explained up to the plan itself.
Nameless's eyes sparkled as he nodded vigorously.
"As expected of Master."
His over-the-top reaction made me scratch my cheek awkwardly.
Hmm, all that hype and nothing comes of it.
"Anyway, this morning, we'll just observe the slums' movements."
"Yes, understood."