GOTF : SB) Chapter 1 Part 2 (Patreon)

“This is coming from a kid who is soaking wet! Nick, did you try to use your fire on one of Rain’s people?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. Nick quickly looked away. He did not seem to dare to look me in the eye. “No wonder he was so pissed! Nick, you can not use your skills on others so easily. If you kill someone, not even I can protect you! Get up, and let’s go. As punishment, you will clean the toilet area for a week when we get back.”

Nick mumbled something under his breath, which I could not hear. Nor did I care since he was probably cursing me. As of late he has been getting more and more out of control. I have no idea why. He keeps challenging me at every turn. Normally, it stops when Hannah steps in. He is more willing to listen to her than me now.

Hannah was the very first person I took in. She had been on the verge of death when I found her. I took her in and nursed her back to health. She was five at the time, and I was seven. It was not easy, but I made enough to feed her every day by killing Dumdum Rats.

Ever since I was young I have always had this knack for fighting. I knew how to use many different weapons as well. Why this was I do not know since I never had any training. I grew up on the streets, but that does not account for my fighting ability. I was abandoned at four years old and have been living on my own since.

Survival was easy for me. I just started killing Dumdum Rats. Normally, they would stay in the sewers, but they do come up above ground almost on a daily basis. I would then find them and kill them, take their mana stone, and sell it.

I lived like this until I turned five. It was then that I began venturing into the sewer after saving enough to buy a small knife. Dumdum Rats were all over the place down there. I quickly gained enough mana stones to not only support myself well, but was even able to buy what I needed to make a shelter for myself.

With a new roof over my head, I continued to work hard every day, hoping to make a better life for myself. I was only five years old and had a better work ethic than half the people in the slums. I prided myself on working hard and realized that there was no need to join any groups that would need to resort to devious methods to get money. I can proudly say I have never fallen so low to go around pickpocketing.

Meeting Hannah, though, changed my outlook on things. Until then, for three years, I only cared about myself, but Hannah changed that. In fact I was the one who named Hannah. She had no name when I met her. She was skin and bones at the time, but with my help, she made a full recovery. My entire savings was gone because of the medicines I had to buy.

Some may ask if I ever regretted things, and I can say for sure that not a single day goes by that makes me regret my decision that day. After Hannah, I took in Nick. And then more and more kids were taken in. I felt the need to help them, knowing how rough life in the slums was, and the need to help them gain the skills to make a proper life for themselves as they got older.

With no stain on their names from committing petty crimes, they could get decent jobs or even become adventurers. While now I was fifteen and able to go out into the world, I stayed to look after the others until I could finally pass down leadership to the next person. This did not mean I would abandon them. By no means would I ever think like that. I would need to be able to leave with peace of mind, knowing they would be okay if I am gone for a long time.

Another reason is because of her. I looked at the puffed-out cheeks of the girl in front of me. Her waist-length black hair swayed as her black eyes stared daggers at Nick. She had one hand on her hip and the other extended out, pointing at Nick. Her anger was ever so visible which made Nick Shrink back. “Nick! How many times have I told you not to cause trouble for Alex!? He does everything he can to make a place for us in the slums, but you are always out, causing trouble! Let me guess, you got into a fight again, and Alex had to save you!? How many times does this make? How many times does Alex need to resort to violence to protect you!?”

“Hannah, that’s good enough. He will be cleaning our toilet this week as punishment. Luckily, it was Rain’s group, or else it could have been worse.” I gently placed my hand on top of Hannah’s head. She grew up from a five-year-old girl to thirteen. She has been by my side since that day. You can say she is like a cat who attacks when someone causes me problems. Once she sinks her claws in, she will never let go. If I had to say to whom I have the strongest attachment to, it would be her. She was my Achilles heel.

She was like the mother of the younger kids. They all listened to her no matter what, and when she got mad, they would all cower in fear. She never hit any of them, but she would lecture them for hours if they did something that caused me problems unless I stopped it like I am now.

“Alex, this is why he does as he pleases! You always let him off. Nick is fourteen. He should be more of a role model for the others, but look at him!” Even Nick stays quiet in her presence when she gets mad.

“I know, but he was beaten pretty badly today, so let’s leave it at that. Cleaning the toilet is his job this next week.” I ruffled Hannah’s hair, causing her to pout. She was quite pretty. If not for me protecting her, I was sure she would have been snatched up and sold off if she had ever survived without me.

“Fine! I am making Tainted Soup all week! Everyone better make a huge mess!” Hannah threw her arms up into the air in anger and stomped off to make Tainted Soup. At these words, Nick’s face went pale. I could only sigh. It was not going to be a fun week for him or any of us for that matter...