Tarma the guy, Melsier risked his life to save is now telling us to go away. "Melsier. Was yesterday not enough? Disappear while I am being nice. Grandma Leina does not like you."
Melsier is just silent. Not even uttering a word single word.
"You and those filthy kids have leeched off us enough. When Ryhard was around, we kept quiet but not anymore. Grandma Lenia has the right to whatever Ryhard has left behind. Not even a single penny will go to you or those orphans."
"Hey! You remember me?" I call him out.
Tarma turns his eyes to me. "And who gave you permission speak you dirty orphan!" He raises his voice against me. Thinking I would get scared.
"Shut up. Have decency, you shameless bastard."
"What?"
"This man right here, saved your life and how dare you speak to him like that."
Tarma looks at me with absolute hate. "So what? I am the biological son of Ryhard. It should be an honour for this adopted bastard to even be able breath as the same air as me. Melsier. This is my last warning-"
"There is no need to do such things." A female voice comes from the inside of house. "My grandson. You are still recovering, step inside. I deal with them." An old woman wearing an expensive silk robe comes outside. Even though her face is covered in wrinkles, her eyes have an unpleasant look to them.
"But grandma-"
"No excuses. Inside! Now." T
arma slightly lowers his head and gives me a strange look before going inside.
"Now, Melsier. Getting beat by my guards in front of whole town wasn't enough for you? Or was it so humiliating that you have brought one of the orphans to do the talking for you?" Grandpa Leina talks in low and calm voice but the way she speak is like a snake spitting venom.
"Hey! I am not an orphan-"
"I am sorry, lady Leina." Mel cuts me. "But as you know we have too many mouths to feed. W-We only seek the amount which grandpa promised to us. Nothing more."
I turn to Melsier with a surprised expression.
"The promised amount… That mean you have come here beg money from me?"
My blood boils at Lenia's words. I was just few seconds away from unsheathing my sword. But something happened which I forever want to erase from my memory.
Melsier dropped to his knees and bows his head till it touched the ground. "Lady Lenia Silvertusks of Cathia. Please. Give me money to feed my family."
Grandma Lenia started laughing at Melsier's action. "To think that stupid husband of mine dreamed you to make his successor. Not my Tarma. What can you do? Other than blindly swing your swords. Haah!"
"Melsier! What are you doing? Stand up! This isn't what we decided." My words literally go over Melsier's head as he responds to nothing.
"Hehehe! I would love to give you money. But according to imperial law, only direct blood descendants have any property rights and you are not even his documented son. You are just trash that he picked up from the road. I told him many times to throw you away but that man refused. But now what? That same son is on his knees in front of me! Hahaha! Scram before I call the guards to beat you up." With this Lenia slammed the door on us.
"What are you doing? Melsier!" I finally snap. "You are a warrior, right? Let's bust in and kick that old hag's ass. Then we can get our money and free Helen too."
"You don't understand. You don't understand. They have the papers. The money too. We can't do anything." Melsier starts to mumble.
"Then we go in and teach them a lesson!"
"They kill her! Altaris! They will kill Helen!" Melsier grabs me and shakes my body violently. "They will kill her!"
CREAK!
The door opens, only to throw a small pouch outside. "Take it! The house of Silvertusks is known for being generous. Even to beggars!" The door closes with Lenia's laughter.
Melsier leaps to pick the pouch. Seeing him acting like this, make me feels disgusted but I don't say anything. "Not enough." He mumbles.
"IT IS NOT ENOUGH!!!"
Clouds are gathering above my head and small droplets have began falling as well. We have been sitting at the side of the road for past hour and a half. Melsier has gone completely mad, he has been counting the same ten bronze coins over and over again. Mumbling the same phrase "Not enough. Not enough."
Tired, I finally decide to speak. "Melsier. Even if you count it a thousand time, the coins are not going to increase."
"But these are not enough, w-what am I going to tell to Helen? Tell me!"
"Calm down. First tell me, how much money do we need to free Helen?"
"10 gold. "
'Alright, this is worrisome. For example, a farmer during a good year earns at most 10 coppers. A merchant with good connection earns around 1000 copper which is just 1 silver. Even a top tier adventure team only earns about 2-5 gold on a good run which further gets divided into the team members. To find 10 gold is just not possible, not within a year or so.'
I take a deep breath and carefully arrange my next word. "Melsier. Why don't you take that city guard job?"
"It doesn't pay enough. 100 copper coins a year."
"No! Listen to me, go to city guard. Learn new techniques, possibly get stronger."
"Then what?"
"You come back, after a month and we will form an adventure team to go inside the unexplored area. I know a hidden treasure in that area which is worth about hundreds of gold coins."
Melsier's expression takes a 180 turn after hearing my words. He gets up and grabs my face. "Really? Hidden treasure? Are you sure?"
"Yes! But obtaining it is hard. We need you in peak condition." I glance at his missing arm. "Just go for one month. Take Jerald's offer. I talk to Helen and Alexia."
"You will? But how can you possibly take of the kids?"
I chuckle. "Don't worry. They love me already. I am sure we will manage somehow."
"But what about Helen? I should have a talk with her atleast once-"
I quickly raise my voice. "Melsier! This is a golden opportunity. Go and find Jerald before he changes his mind." Melsier hesitantly looks at me. "GO! NOW!"
After a long time Melsier smiles as he runs off to find Jerald. I watch him go away. Large amount mana enters my body. I turn to take a look at Lenia's house.
Sun has completely hidden behind a herd of clouds, lighting flashes across town every now and then. I leap from one building from another, moving towards that old hag's house. My thoughts running wild.
'Hidden treasure? I don't know such thing.'
'How will Melsier become stronger in just a month I don't know.'
'Can I take of the kids properly for a month? Of course not.'
'But one thing is certain, I am going take the all the money which rightfully belong to Melsier and Helen right here and right now!'
I take the last jump and broke through the glass window. Inside, there is only darkness. I carefully assess my surrounding and detect a presence. I quickly drew Melsier's blade.
"Good. You came." Infront of me stood Tarma. He was expecting me.