I glance at the door once before answering. "I never told my name to Tarma. Yet he knew."
Jerald raises his eyebrows in surprise, clearly impressed. With a smirk, he leans back and rudely puts his dirty shoes on the bed. "Well, I take my words back. You are better than Melsier. He is too kind for this world. Helen too. But you are not which makes things bit easier. The thing-"
"Are you done?" I purposely interrupt him.
My interruption clearly hurt him as Jerald unsheathes his longsword and points at me lazily. "Didn't Helen teach you basic manners? Heh. How could she? After all, she is in that shithole with those nasty animals. Hahaha!" He laughs for few seconds before abruptly stopping. "Tch. You got good mental kid, that one I can give you. Here you go."
Jerald tosses a large metal coin at me. "Take this to the guild in the dungeon city. Master Tarma has already made arrangement for your accommodation. As for the work he assigned to you, Master will expect a weekly report from you. Also-"
My mind stopped registering after I heard a specific word out of Jerald's mouth. 'Accommodation? Wait. If it's decent enough, maybe I could move everyone there and we won't have to deal with that heretic Father. That could solve most of my problems.'
"Lastly, don't worry about the kids or anything. I will keep a very close eye on them."
I stand in silence as I make up my mind.
On the contrary, Jerald looks absolutely relaxed. "Just be a good dog to my master and you will be rewarded." He looks at me with a mocking smile and blinks.
THUD!
I smash Jerald's face into the wall. "Listen here, you piece of shit. You are just a pawn in this game. Just deliver the message and disappear quietly. If you weren't Melsier's friend, I would have crushed your skull right here and right now." The knight struggles under my hand, he tries to hit me with his longsword. I quickly put my foot on the sword's tip and watch him struggle miserably to even lift it. "Take this as a warning, if I ever see you around here, I hunt you and your family like a dog."
I further tighten my grip and dig my fingernails into his skin. "Know your place. Shit."
To end it, I swing my arm and throw Jerald into the door, right outside.
BAM!
Outside, the kids were shocked to see the knight on the ground. Sudden big noise made Kela cry nonstop. Alexia sees me walking outside with big longsword. "W-We heard a loud s-sound and c-came to see."
Ignoring her, I toss the longsword on Jerald's body. The sword was certainly heavy as he winced in pain, when the handle hit his back. "Now get the fuck out of here."
Jerald gets up on his knees and looks at me, his all bloodied and nose broken. I could sense lust for revenge in his mana. 'You are too weak.' I shrug it off and gesture everyone to come inside.
Once everyone is inside, I gently put the door in it's place. A temporally solution. Behind me, the kids are dead silent. Besides Kela who is crying in Rushian's hands. "Did everyone take a good look at the knight's face?" I ask.
Everyone nods in a hurry.
"Good. If any of you spot that knight again, inform immediately. Okay?"
Once again, everyone nods.
I silently observe everyone's faces for few seconds. "Good. Jerald's probably gone. So can anyone help me to clean the dirt and wash the bedsheet?"
Few of the kids nods at my words. "And Alexia."
"Y-Yes?"
"Find something to fill this hole." I point at the wall, just above the bed.
The kids quickly began to work, picking any big chunks of dirt while 3 kids stripped the bed. 'Hmm. I still don't know everyone's names. Maybe we should do a self-introduction lecture?'
In the corner of my eye, I see Alexia walking upto me. She has Kela in her hands as Rushian is busy changing the sheets. "Altaris. Can you come outside for a second? I need to check if the mud wet enough to be stuffed at in the hole." She winks at me.
Noticing the sign, I don't ask questions and step outside. I put the door aside, making the entrance wide open. 'There is no way, I am leaving these brats alone after the last incident.'
Alexia and I take seat in the front yard, right in front of the entrance. "Altaris. Can I ask you something?"
I take a note of her low tone but nod anyway. 'Is she scared of me?'
"Are you here to help us?"
"What?"
"I-I don't understand you anymore. Big brother Melsier told me that you are a good person. B-But I don't see it."
I touch my forehead as I think of ways to calm Alexia. "Look… First of all, I am not a good person, okay?"
Alexia's face turns from worried to actually scared. "Don't be afraid. I am not evil… not entirely. I am just… trying to make everyone's life better, okay?"
Alexia stays for a second silent before opening her mouth. "H-How does beating a knight to the pulp make our life better?"
I sigh loudly and decide to give up. "Listen, I am going to bring a shit ton of money. Like a lot. That will make everyone's life better. I will also get Helen out and possibly bring Melsier back as well. That's all I need you to know."
"But Altaris-"
Suddenly I hear noise of whimpering and crying. My eyes turned to Kela but she was fast asleep. I turn to my side and see Rushian, along with few other kids crying. "A-Altaris. P-Please don't say that. Big sis also u-used to s-say that a-and now she is g-gone. B-Big brother also left us to make m-money. P-Please. Y-You can't leave too."
I quickly stand and pull everyone into a huge hug. "Don't cry. I am not going anywhere. I will not leave… Never."
Alexia also comes to my side. "Altaris is right. He is not going anywhere." I smile at her.