Chapter 73 - Kids

"Three bread please," Alexjin smiled as he placed several silver coins at the counter while the seller re-heated the bread.

"Ah, Jin! You came back again! How's your master?" The seller named Jun swirls his mustache while laughing with his belly jiggled every time he moves. He is the owner of the bread house where Alexjin and Geraldine have been buying their bread all the time. So, they're one of his few loyal customers around.

"She's busy taking care of the plants," Alexjin scratched the back of his head as he talked about his master.

"Uhuh, I've been curious about her since the first time I saw her. I mean, she's not a noble, but she's able to afford to buy you in the auction," Jun laughed again and took out the bread from the oven and put it in the paper bag.

"I don't want to mingle in her personal life or where she came from. As long as I can serve her then I'm satisfied with it," Alexjin gives a small smile as he took the bag and went out of the store after saying his goodbye.

"Eggs, milk, check! Fruits, vegetables… check!" Alexjin read the words written on a piece of paper where Geraldine writes the things he needed to buy.

As he walked along the street, his eyes caught sight of someone familiar to him before. He couldn't help but stop in his tracks and went to the group of kids sitting together in the alleyway.

As soon as the kids spotted him, they instantly recognized him and run for a hug.

"Brother Jin!" The kids called out his name repeatedly, as they have missed him so much.

"Why are you guys staying here in the alley? Where are your owners?" Alexjin looked at them one by one and saw how their cheerful face turned to sad ones.

"They have fired us, brother jin. Our owners got sick of our mistakes and throw us away as they get a new set of servants," One of the kids softly told him what happened. There are five kids in front of him ranging from age 8 to 13 and they used to hang around Alexjin before.

"So, what are you kids doing now? Where are you staying?" He asked, knowing that the kids are orphans.

"We return to the orphanage, brother Jin," The youngest among the five kids said with tears streaming down her cheeks.

This caused Alexjin's heart to ache to see a child as young as her is suffering from poverty.

"Wait, you return to that house!? You know that they will beat you if you don't provide that greedy man money every day," Alexjin couldn't help but feel pissed as his blood rushed through his body.

"We don't have any place to stay, brother."

The five kids started sobbing and crying while holding onto Alexjin's shirt. He pities their situation so much and understands their suffering. After all, he also endures all kinds of hardship he received from his different owners but it all changed when he meets Geraldine and that changed his life forever.

He was thinking of a way to help the kids when a childish voice screamed while running towards them.

"Oyy! I got one!!!" A smiling face of a child could be seen while holding something in his little hands, "Wah! Brother Jin!"

"What is that?" Alexjin pointed at his hands, which he hides it immediately behind his back.

"Brother, don't be mad at us. Where are only doing this so that we don't get beaten when we went home," The kid pouts and looked down then he shows him a pink pouch that contains coins.

Upon seeing it, Alexjin hurriedly closes the kid's hand in an attempt to hide it, "Where did you steal that!?"

"Brother Jin, we have to go back now," All the kids waved at him and run away deep into the alley to go back to the orphanage.

All Alexjin could do is look at them until they are gone insight. He hurriedly went home and put the groceries on the table and was about to head out when Geraldine appeared outside when he opened the door.

"Where are you going this late at night?" Geraldine tilts her head to the side when she saw his angered expression.

Seeing his master, the anger within him subside and was replaced with panic, "Umm, I have something to do, master."

"Okay, but do you need to do your thing this late at night?" She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrow. She knows that something happened to Alexjin while he was gone and wants to know about it.

Alexjin bites his lips as he didn't want his master to mingle with his life, especially that it's his problem but he knows that Geraldine will not stop until she knows the truth.

He sighs loudly and steps back as Geraldine entered the house.

"Now, tell me what's the matter," Geraldine spoke softly while chewing a candy she bought.

"Master, I've met with the kids I used to hang out with. They were fired by their owners so they went back to the orphanage as it's the only place that can give a roof above their heads but…" Alexjin paused and took another deep breath, "The people running the orphanage would beat them if they didn't bring any money every day. So, I'm worried about their situation especially that they are d*mn kids!" 

Alexjin reflexively punches the table in front of him, which surprised Geraldine at his sudden moves.

"If you go there now, what will you do?" Geraldine rested her head to her knuckled and crossed her feet while looking at him with amusement.

"I - I don't know, master, but I'll try to save them," He spoke confidently, knowing that his skills are beyond average.

"Alexjin, from now on, limit your actions and showing your skills in the public as there are people who would notice the changes you do," She spoke the words slowly to make sure that they reached Alexjin's head.

"Yes, master. I'll take note, I do not need to use my skills and expose my identity as Alexjin, the one who won the final competition!" He said with enthusiast, finally knowing what his master meant.

"Good, but for now, don't go there as they might expect you to come to their house today. Let it pass, maybe a day or two before going back there and do whatever you want," Geraldin shrugged and laid her feet on the sofa.

"For now, go to bed and sleep. Don't let your impulse ruin you," She closed her eyes while continued mumbling her words.

"Yes, master," Alexjin muttered and went straight to his room.

Geraldine waited for a while as if he's going to go out after a few minutes. An hour passed by, Geraldine went up and goes to his room and could hear his slow breaths inside.

Feeling satisfied, she went out of the house and instantly felt the cold breeze hitting her skin, "Paru-paru," She called out and a green-colored butterfly appeared and landed on her extended hand.

She let the butterfly linger on the paper bag Alexjin bought from the market, "Follow the scent and find the orphanage."

After saying her piece, the butterfly flew away and vanished. Geraldine already thought of a plan in mind as soon as Alexjin said about his worries.

"It's not bad that I'll take advantage of the situation, right?" She looked up and smirked while looking at the stars twinkling above.

"Almighty one, I wonder what you're thinking right now," A chuckle came out of her mouth as she shakes her head and went inside the house and rest.

The next morning came in and as soon as she opened her eyes, the green butterfly is sitting on her forehead and feeds in her blood. 

"Master, I have found the orphanage," The butterfly relays its words then shows her the path towards the orphanage and once it's finished. The Paru-paru vanished in the air, only living a small sparking dust.

"Hmm, it's not that far from here," She cracked her neck to the side and stands up.

As soon as she opened the door, Geraldine saw Alexjin passed by hastily and was about to open the door.

"Alexjin?" She softly called out his name, making him stop and look back.

"Master, you are awake!"

"Yes, I am. So tell me, where are you going?" Geraldine crossed her arms and waited for him to answer.

"Master, I'll be going to the orphanage and confront the owner about his abuse. Then I'll try to take the kids away from there. Even if I use my savings to give them a roof over their heads then I will," He said with determination.

Geraldine only chuckled and gestured for him to go away, "Just don't let yourself be known, Alexjin."

"I'll remember all you've said to me, master. I'll be going now," Alexjin didn't look back and dashed out of the house.

"Ah, I guess I'll go prepare as well."