Chapter 374 – Protecting the Orphans

First we went to a house where Damian said he saw some sleeping.

Cruz looked over the abandoned house and said,

「Looks more beaten down than even I thought. There must be a lot of houses like this.」

「They’re using ones that don’t stand out.」

「Even though kids shouldn’t be put through this…」

The other empty houses in better condition probably had people looking over them.

You’d get chased out if you tried to sleep in there.

And it might be that because of that they decided on this old, beaten up house.

「Femm, anyone inside?」

『I can hear something moving around, so SOMETHING is there.』

「I see, thanks. Moofy, Cruz, go around to the back. It would suck if they ran away.」

「Got it.」

「Moo moo!」

While letting Cruz ride, Moofy ran around to the back.

I got closer to the entrance.

Femm came closer as well, Femm’s tail straight out.

「Hello, anyone there?」

I said as positively as I could sound. At the same time I magically strengthened my hearing.

I could hear voices inside.

「S…someone’s out there. Who do you think it is?」

「Someone angry that we’re in here?」

「We gotta go out the back quit so we don’t get caught.」

「No! We gotta apologize.」

So the door opened slowly. Some kids came out in tattered clothing.

They were kids about the same age as Tom.

I smiled so they wouldn’t be scared. Then they apologized.

「We’re sorry!」

「No…no, I’m not angry. We’re the Wolf Wholesalers…」

「Wolf Wholesalers?」

Seems the one kid out in front, the same age as Tom, maybe 10, was the leader.

Behind the kid was a four and six year old.

The six year old stuck his head out at us.

「A…I know him. He has the wolf and lion face store, right?」

The kid was smiling, obviously not threatened now.

「Yes, the Wolf Wholesalers.」

I responded with a polite response.

However, the older kid brushed the younger kid back behind him.

Then, the kid looked at me with a doubtful eye.

「What does the Wolf whatever have to do with us?」

「We have something we need help with.」

「Help?」

「Well…」

I tried to explain what I needed help with…maybe just to help Millia with odds and ends at the store.

We didn’t need their help, but if I didn’t say so then they wouldn’t believe us.

So I asked them for their help.

「You’ll get food and and a place to sleep.」

「We’re thankful, but…」

「Is there a problem?」

「I can help you, but this little one here…」

「Ah, I see.」

The kid was worried that the littlest wouldn’t be much help.

「I can do the little one’s work for you, so maybe that’s goo enough?」

「Of course, that’s what I wanted from the beginning.」

With that said, the oldest kid’s face lit up.

「Then we will help you!」

「That’s great.」

So it seemed that everything was decided.

Cruz came around from the back, not needing to be there anymore.

「Femm」

「Wuff!」

Femm came along with her.

The kids all saw Femm and said,「That doggies so big!」.

They walked up to Femm and Moofy and started petting them.

「Hello everyone! I’m the lion mask of Wolf Wholesalers!」

「Moo moo」

「Wow a lion mask!」「Awesome!」「A cow!」

「Moo moo!」

So the kids surrounded Moofy and Cruz.

They all petted the beast and Moofy sounded happy about it.

The lion mask was popular with children.

On the other hand, they had left the wolf behind, and Femm looked a bit sad.

So I rubbed Femm’s head in exchange.

So all the kids headed to Tom’s house.

They happily rode on Moofy’s back.

「Let’s take them back to Mulg and get them decent clothes.」

「Even if you ask for that, I don’t have any on me.」

「I have plenty of cloth with me, it shouldn’t be too hard to make.」

We went to Tom’s place and the five kids, Tant, and I went back to Mulg.

Vi-Vi, Yureena, Luka, and Cruz came along to help, and everyone got in the bath.

The horrible smells changed to nice ones, and we gave all of them new clothes.

Millia returned about that time and said to the kids,

「I need a lot of help from all of you.」

「We’ll do our best.」

「Good answer! Don’t worry, it’s not hard work. Just a little help.」

So for three days, the orphans stayed at Tom’s house.

During that time, Steff read with them, had them write, and did simple math.

On the other hand, Vi-Vi and I did some magical circles over the store Millia had bought.