19. Beggar Siblings – Settling Down

Leo searched thoroughly around the market.

‘It shouldn’t be that far away, right?’

As he rummaged through the alleys, he was looking for Kasia.

The person who had shown kindness without expecting anything in return in the last scenario. The one who didn’t react much even after seeing Lena’s appearance.

When his younger sister fell ill, she had taken us to some shoe store.

He didn’t know the exact location. He had fainted while being moved.

That night, while seeing off Kasia, he had looked around. It was a place filled with the smell of rancid oil and leather, where scraps of metal rolled around. It seemed like a gathering spot for struggling artisans.

Since it was a back alley, he had to search meticulously. Thankfully, Lena followed without complaining, but they still couldn’t find her easily.

“Hey, who do you think you are wandering around just the two of you?”

The beggars Leo and Lena had avoided in the alley earlier came chasing after them.

Lena got scared and hid behind Leo.

“What do you want?”

Leo entered a narrow alley knowing the beggars were following. He wanted to shake off the persistent tail.

Five beggars stood in front of him.

“I’ve seen you around the market every time; isn’t it a bit much? I don’t know where you sleep, but what are you doing coming early to grab all the food? We all share it together.”

One of the older beggars spoke up.

His shoulder was oddly twisted, as if he couldn’t get a broken bone treated and had left it useless.

A younger beggar nearby interrupted.

“Yeah, you take the good stuff first, right? What are we supposed to eat?”

He looked to be around Leo’s age, but similarly skinny and short.

“Did that harm you? We took what we took, and you guys always cleared out as soon as you showed up.”

“Look at this brat talking back. You hide around the market so you get to eat first, right? Do you think we just sleep in? We should just…”

As the young beggar raised his voice, the older beggar waved his hand, trying to calm him down. His gestures seemed nonchalant but had a strangely vintage quality.

“Don’t get too angry.”

“No. They’re breaking the rules.”

“What rules?”

“Hey. You think we can’t live like you? There have always been places where beggars can gather. If we all lived at the market, we’d all be beaten and chased away. Isn’t that right? They just want to eat and live for themselves, these bastards.”

“Whoa. I told you not to get angry. Looks like they’re new and could make mistakes. Don’t scare them.”

The twisted-shouldered beggar, somewhat acting as the leader, stepped in.

“But as this guy said, to beg and survive, you have to watch the eyes of others, so I hope you’ll cooperate too? There are many benefits to sticking together rather than wandering alone, you know? What do you say?”

He leaned in threateningly.

He was speaking nicely now, but it was clear that if they refused, he wouldn’t let it go easily.

Not interested in this beggars’ standoff, Leo flatly refused.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in that. We’re leaving now.”

“Leaving? Where to?”

“I was looking for someone I know. Do you happen to know this kind of place?”

As Leo described where Kasia’s shoe store was located, a beggar standing behind interjected.

“Isn’t that where Oberg is? It’s around the leather street, right?”

“Where is that?”

“Go straight down from this side street, and when you see the southern city gate, take the right alley. The alley where both oil and leather smells come from is the only one I know of. Other places are too busy.”

“Thank you. Well then, we’ll be on our way.”

“If you’re lying and I see you again, I won’t let you off easy. Next time…”

The young beggar glared, but Leo just scoffed. Even in his current state, he could handle a few beggars.

“That won’t happen.”

He could have taught them a lesson but chose to let it slide.

What would he do with the beggars if he beat them up? He might end up with some achievement like [Ten Beggars].

He was a bit curious, but he didn’t want to test that in front of Lena. He felt pity for those beggars squabbling over such trivial matters…

Leo left the murmuring beggars behind.

*

The place the beggar pointed out was indeed accurate. As expected, it was the street of artisans.

The artisans were busy tinkering away in their shabby shops. Kasia’s shoe store was tucked away in a small alley that branched off the not-so-wide street.

As he peeked inside, he saw Kasia sitting at a table, lazily guarding the shop.

What a peculiar person.

She was a young woman with an attractive appearance. Of course, “young” was from the perspective of modern society. In her mid-twenties, she had droopy eyes, sleek hair, thin eyebrows, and lips that were alluring.

‘What is she doing like that? Not making shoes nor selling them.’

It was a secluded shop.

The neatly arranged shoes were covered in dust, and it seemed she hadn’t had a customer in ages.

At that moment, Kasia waved at Lena and Leo.

“Come in. Don’t just loiter outside.”

“Excuse us.”

Lena and Leo entered the shoe store wearing mismatched shoes. Kasia glanced over the siblings indifferently and asked.

“What are you here for? You look like you need shoes, but you don’t seem to have money?”

Her tone was flat and emotionless.

“Sorry, but I’m not in a position to offer charity.”

“Excuse me, but could you let us stay for a few days? I can pay.”

Leo took out all his remaining {initial funds}.

The coins clinked as he placed them on the table, but Kasia maintained her indifferent expression.

“I don’t care where you stole those from; I don’t need them.”

Without a care in the world, she began stacking the coins like a tower with her other hand.

“I’m not interested in kids.”

Leo was a little taken aback.

“Um, could I borrow some water to wash my sister’s face?”

“Is this your sister? What’s she gotten all dirty for? There’s water here, and a towel too. Just take one fairytale with you. Use it cleanly.”

Kasia pointed to a water jug that was placed exactly where it had been last time.

As Leo splashed water on his sister’s face, a beautifully fair visage emerged.

Water splashed on the floor and splattered on their shoes, but Kasia didn’t even seem to notice as she stared vacantly at Lena.

Leo pleaded again.

“Um… is it possible for us to stay here? I mean, my sister looks like this…”

Finally, Kasia relaxed her tense jaw.

“Hmmm~ She’s a pretty girl. Can she talk?”

“…Yes.”

“A quiet one, huh? Pretty and seems to be well-behaved.”

She faced Leo while resting her chin on her hand, tilting her head.

“So you’re saying you want to leave her here because it’s hard to take her along?”

Lena suddenly turned her head toward Leo. She looked alarmed, as if she feared being abandoned. Leo shook his head firmly.

“No! It’s just dangerous to wander around without a home so I want to stay here. Lena, I’m not leaving you behind. It’s because Big Brother needs a place to work. I have to wash up.”

He pulled his sister close who looked about to break into tears and pleaded.

“I just need a place to sleep and wash. Please just let Lena stay here.”

“Why should I?”

“…Please help us. I beg you.”

“Help you, huh? Hmm—.”

Kasia twirled her finger as if pondering.

“Okay. After all, there’s an empty bed in the room.”

“Thank you! I won’t forget your kindness.”

“But you’ll have to give me this, huh? I’ll occasionally ask for one, so gather them up.”

She grabbed a coin and placed it in the nearby box, then stood up.

“I’ll put the food over there, so feel free to eat, and about the water, don’t worry since the water cart comes in the morning… What else? Ah, you can use the bed in there. I always sleep here.”

Behind the table, there was a small makeshift bed—the same spot where Leo had woken up from his fainting spell.

Seeing a small bed in the shoe store with an improperly tossed blanket made it clear that customers rarely visited this place.

Kasia quickly introduced the house and then returned to her spot at the table. Even now that she had housemates, her attitude hadn’t changed.

“K-Kasia, right? Um, thank you. But how should we address you?”

“What?”

“Your name.”

“Call me Kasia. That’s my name.”

“Thank you, Kasia.”

Kasia gasped in surprise. It seemed to be a look he hadn’t seen before.

“Just call me Kasia.”

“Yes. Thank you, Kasia.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m Leo, and my sister’s name is Lena.”

“Yeah.”

“…..”

She’s still quite a strange person.

Kasia rested her chin again and stared blankly outside.

In front of the store, a wall blocked the view.

*

“Lena, let’s wash up.”

Leo brought the water jug into the room.

Then, when he turned around, he found Lena had stripped off all her clothes.

Even though she was terribly skinny, her physique was exceptional… Wait! Why is she just throwing off her clothes in front of me?

“Lena! How can you take off your clothes like that?”

Leo turned his head in panic.

“Why? Ah!”

His sister neatly folded the discarded clothes and placed them back on the floor.

“Not that…”

“Why?”

“I’ll just wait outside while you wash.”

“???”

He quickly closed the door behind him.

Perhaps having lived together for so long, they had been used to washing around each other. They couldn’t have been living in poverty without being able to wash themselves.

‘Now I need to teach her quickly, but do teachers really cover that too?’

It seemed Lena needed someone more like a parent than a teacher.

He glanced at Kasia… but she didn’t seem reliable either.

“Brother, I’m done washing.”

When he entered, Lena was finally picking up the clothes she had placed on the floor. Leo was too embarrassed and covered his eyes behind the door.

“Lena.”

“Yeah. You wash up too.”

“Not that, but from now on, you shouldn’t just take off your clothes in front of me.”

“Why?”

“Showing your naked body to others is something to be embarrassed about.”

“Are you someone else?”

“No, not really, but there’s no need to show it, right? Now that we have a room, you should only undress when no one else is around. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“…Then, can you step out for a moment since I have to wash up too?”

“…Okay.”

Lena pouted and stepped outside.

It was hard to guess how long they had been living together.

He had asked Lena about her age before, and she said she would be an adult in two years. Surprisingly, she was only a year younger than the Lena from the childhood friend scenario. This made him acutely aware of the importance of the environment.

Leo washed himself and came out.

Having left his sister with Kasia, he roamed the streets for half a day but couldn’t find a job.

This Leo resembled the other Leos (the one from Demos village and Leo Dexter) but was much more handsome.

Could it be due to lineage?

His nose was high enough to enter his line of sight and had a prominent shape. Thick eyebrows and luscious hair gave a rugged appearance, but his sharp jawline and deep dimples when he smiled left a gentle impression.

Despite such a charming appearance, this Leo had no muscles and no handy skills.

Thanks to his good looks, he could easily find work in attracting customers or receiving guests, but those positions didn’t pay well.

He tried bargaining for wages, but the merchants had a mindset that providing food and shelter was plenty. Here, a man’s looks didn’t matter much for earning money.

To educate Lena, he needed to earn a lot of money to hire a tutor.

Even if he decided to be satisfied with just seeing a happy ending in this scenario, wasting years just leaving his sister at the shoe store wasn’t right.

Once he had some basic knowledge, he thought he could introduce her to a well-off family or noble son.

That didn’t seem too hard.

Meeting a prince would be difficult and marrying one nearly impossible, but a noble’s son… with Lena’s looks, she’d surely catch someone’s eye at first glance.

Leo felt relieved.

He just needed to earn money.

No need to think too hard.

Surely lowering the goal made life feel more worthwhile.

‘But how do I earn money?’

That’s the issue.

Without his good looks, he didn’t have any skills.

In the previous childhood friend scenario, his crafting skills had helped him get a job at the tool shop quickly.

He tried asking the artisans like before, but they coldly rejected him at the sight of him attempting to work.

He was all thumbs.

Without any muscles, he couldn’t do any labor-intensive work right now.

The only skills he had were {Hunting} and {Swordsmanship}, but there were no mountains near Orville, rendering {Hunting} useless.

‘Becoming a mercenary through swordsmanship isn’t an option either.’

Even with a boyish body, he could use {Swordsmanship} to become a mercenary. The test for becoming a mercenary was a one-on-one fight, and he was confident in that.

No matter how weak he was, he could still find an opening to stab with {Swordsmanship}. A person could die from just one well-placed thrust of a sword.

However, mercenaries were supposed to follow merchant groups far away, which excluded that option.

He couldn’t just leave Lena alone. Some mercenary tasks involved guarding large mansions, but those required a verified identity.

That was something Leo couldn’t manage, being a stranger.

‘Is that all I have? That’s a bit…’

Ultimately, his options had narrowed down to just one.