episode_0031

After following the note and walking around with my wet feet, I arrived at Snowpil Village. As I was walking, I came across a path that seemed familiar, so I followed it and, surprisingly, arrived at a village.

“Are you going to Frost Territory again today? Thank you for your hard work.”

“Haha… Yes.”

“Go in quickly. Wait for the kids.”

After giving a vague and awkward greeting to the guard standing at the entrance to the small village, I entered the village.

Snowpil Village was a small, yet beautiful place with pretty buildings gathered together. It was exactly the same as the ideal winter village I had seen on the Internet.

‘…Did you say the children were waiting for you?’

According to Sang Tae-chang’s explanation, I seemed to be the eldest sibling at the orphanage in this town. He must have walked that long distance to the Frost estate to run errands in order to take responsibility for the children and take care of them.

“Then, should we buy some bread?”

It was very late, but I decided to buy at least a small snack for the children who might be waiting for me.

At that moment, a fragrant smell of bread came from the building in front of me, so I approached there.

“….Venice! You came today too! 20 loaves as usual, right?”

“Uh…. Yes. Please give it like that.”

“I thought you would come today, so I prepared it in advance! It’s still warm so take it quickly!”

“Haha…. Thank you. So… it’s 1 silver coin, right?”

I handed a silver coin to the clerk who recognized me as well as the guard. This is because the menu said 5 dongwha per bread.

“Ay! It’s like this again today! I’ll give it to you for 50 fairy tales! Hurry up and get your change!”

The clerk looked at me with a slightly sad expression on his face and handed me a bag containing fairy tales.

Were you always close friends with this clone? Anyway, they cut the price by half…

“Thank you. Sister…”

“Hmm…Hmm! If you’re thankful, maybe buy me some food later!”

“Haha… I will. Then let’s go!”

I expressed my sincere gratitude to the clerk, who was slightly blushing, and walked towards the orphanage. You should take it when they offer you a discount.

The only money I had in my possession right now was two silver coins and the 50 copper coins I had just received.

It’s possible that I have more money in my room, but according to the guards and clerks, it seems like I was so poor that I had to survive from day to day.

I walked towards the orphanage in the corner of the village. It felt like something familiar, yet warm, was welling up inside my chest.

“….It’s an old building.”

The orphanage I looked at up close was an old building that looked like it was about to collapse at any moment. There was rust everywhere and even in this cold winter, some weeds were growing and encroaching on the building.

There were also slight cracks in the building. It must be very dangerous to live in a place like this… It was a building that could collapse at any moment.

Kiyi profit…

Likewise, when I opened the old door, the sound of rusty hinges echoed loudly. It was an unpleasant sound, like something you would hear in a horror movie.

“Collok. Wow… the dust…”

As soon as I opened the door and entered the orphanage, I couldn’t help but cough as the dust hit me. It looked like it hadn’t been properly maintained for a long time.

‘…It’s more serious than I thought.’

The inside of the orphanage was not as good as I expected, as I thought it would be at least a little okay because it was a place where children lived.

There was mold on the walls, and there were still cobwebs on the ceiling that had not been removed.

There were small holes in the old wooden floor, and some of them were large enough for children’s feet to fall through.

Old furniture. And a small lantern that barely illuminates the room. The smell of old furniture and mold…

There was literally only the minimum environment in which people could live. Do small children have to live in a place like this?

If such a tragedy were revealed on Earth in the 21st century, the building was in such terrible condition that it would definitely be featured on the news.

Dadadada-

At that time, several footsteps were heard from somewhere far away. The small, multiple running sounds make the old wooden floor echo.

“Venice bro-!”

“…..Venice Oppa!”

“It’s Venice!!”

In contrast to this gloomy and dark space, bright and innocent children ran and hugged me.

“It’s this late and you’re still not asleep?”

“Yes! I think Venice hyung is coming!”

“I was waiting..!”

Little angels answer my questions with bright, almost pure white eyes. Seeing that there was not even a speck of unhappiness or depression in sight, I automatically smiled.

“I can’t help it. Now, I brought you bread, so let’s all eat it.”

“Wow! It’s delicious bread!!”

“…Venice oppa, the best!”

“Please stand in one line. We will share it equally.”

To my surprise, the children waited patiently in a single line without any children cutting in line or pushing their friends.

I handed out bread to each child.

Yum yum yum yum.

-it’s good! Bread is always delicious!

-Hehe… It’s thanks to Venice.

-I’m so happy!

It’s just a piece of bread. The children hungrily devoured the bread with such purely happy expressions.

Happiness and pride fill my heart with warmth. I think just looking at those smiles of children can become my life goal.

“I…Venice oppa…”

“Yes? What’s going on?”

“Oppa, you don’t have to eat it..?”

At that time, a timid-looking girl came up to me and asked. I guess I was worried because they gave all the bread to the children and just watched them eat it without me eating it.

….be thankful too.

Pat pat-

“…I’m fine. Because I’m not hungry at all.”

“Hehe… then that’s a relief…”

When I petted the little angel who came up to me, it purred like a cat and then returned to its friends.

I returned to my friends and looked at the angels talking with smiles on their faces, and I just smiled.

Growling-

Of course, it wasn’t that I wasn’t hungry. The sound of the boat horn was loud, as if we had been starving for several days, but it was okay.

‘…Is this what the adults said?’

Adults lie by saying that they feel full just by watching their children eat. I, who had not been able to understand those words since I was a child or until just now, felt like I could finally understand that lie.

If only I could look at that innocent smile by enduring a little hunger. I am willing to accept it.

It is just a small consideration that a plant that has already grown can provide for the growing sprout.

“…Let’s work hard and make money.”

I want to work hard to earn money so that at least those children can grow up without starving.

If only I could keep that smile and its innocence. I will not shy away from any hard task.

‘…I wonder if this body wanted that too, so it went on difficult errands every day.’

Probably so. Just looking at that image made my heart feel full without wanting anything more.

Growling-

Although it was a starving night, the day passed with hearts filled with the warmth created by the children’s happiness.

***

next day. I woke up early in the morning and was looking for something to do to make some money. I ended up going to a forest not far from Snowpil Village, following a merchant’s request for medicinal herbs grown nearby.

“Tsk… Should I dig this far and then go back”

As shown in the picture shown by the merchant, a basket was filled with plants that looked like ferns but had flower petals.

I didn’t know if I was lucky or if this grass was actually common, but either way, I was able to quickly fill up my basket.

Since the forest was not far from the village, it didn’t take long to go back the way we came.

“Haaam… You worked hard today too. Venice.”

“Haha… You’re working hard today too. Mr. Ben.”

“What kind of trouble is… All I have to do is stand here and look around. You suffer more.”

“…Because it’s not difficult for me at all. I’ll go then.”

“Okay. Goodbye.”

-…That’s right. How can he be so sincere and kind at such a young age?

When I left town in the morning, I found out that the guard’s name was Ben. After chatting with Ben, I went straight into town and walked to the building where the merchant was located.

“….Ugh? Have you already collected everything?”

“Ah, yes. I guess I got lucky. Is this the right plant?”

“Umm… let’s see.”

The merchant, who looked surprised to see me return less than a few hours after receiving the request, took out the plants from the basket I handed him and examined them one by one closely.

“Hmm. I think it’s all turidi leaves. How did you collect it so quickly?”

“Haha. I think I was really lucky.”

“Well, that could be true. Now, here are two silver coins.”

“…Wasn’t there originally only 1?”

“Eng! Think of it as a tip from an old man! Take that and take care of the kids!”

“Thank you. Elderly…”

I greeted the old man, who had given me twice the original request amount, at a 90-degree angle and started to get excited because I thought I could at least buy some snacks for the kids.

“….Oh, indeed. I saw this earlier as I was passing by, and there was a guy who looked like a knight at the orphanage.”

“….Yes? Knight?”

“Draw. He was wearing a cool sword and armor. Isn’t he an acquaintance of yours?”

“I’m sorry. Elder… I’ll go first.”

Is there any reason to come to the orphanage wearing a sword and armor? I took on the sudden feeling of anxiety and started running as fast as I could to the orphanage.

“Please… I hope nothing happens…!”

I hope that the terrible imagination I’m thinking of doesn’t come true. I ran to pray to a God I didn’t even believe in.

“Gasp…Huh…”

Perhaps because I lacked a little stamina, I was completely out of breath even though the distance was not far.

Still, perhaps because I ran without stopping, I was able to arrive quickly.

-Ugh…!

“…………!”

At that time, children’s screams and cries could be heard through the open door of the orphanage. It was a cry of fear that was difficult for children who seemed infinitely pure and happy to make.

‘Please… nothing happens… please…!’

Suddenly-

“…..Guys!!”

I kicked down the door, entered the orphanage, and looked inside.

“Ugh…!”

“Venice oppa…. help me…! Hmm…”

As soon as I entered the room, the first thing I saw was children sitting down and wailing.

And a huge body looking down on the children. A knight wearing shiny armor and a sword that looks like it can easily cut through monsters.

“…………”

He looked at me with a cold expression that did not show even the slightest emotion.