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Ka-chunk!

I had amassed a great fortune through my side hustle with Potternuggets.

Ten platinum coins—about ten thousand greenbacks.

I was already heads and shoulders above some in the working class when it came to wealth. To cover up this forbidden treasure, I cleverly used the chest in Rysef's bedroom.

Given none would dare intrude into the Ashen Thief's sleeping quarters and the man himself never touched the trunk, it was the perfect hiding spot for my pouch of riches.

As I fastened this pouch containing ten grand to my belt, I heard footfalls on the stairs outside.

Slam!

「Zozo, what are you doing up here?」

I quickly shut the wooden chest and turned to the thief girl, who stood by the door donning her black leather uniform.

「O-oh... it's you Mel...」

「We're gonna be late! Virvir and the rest woke up early to see us off remember? Let's not keep them waiting.」

「But of course. I'll be right there.」

As I glided my fingers down the box's hinged lid, I rose from the ground and readied myself.

Today's the day I make slum dweller history. Depending on how this plays out... I might have to leave the Lakua District and live off my savings in the city.

This emergency meeting was a critical juncture in our survival.

Equipped with Ysolva's story and an "interesting" proposition I conjured up with the remainder of my time yesterday, I marched on to the training chamber where Thonvir and Co would see us off.

Walking through the stone corridor and past the dorms, I committed every brick to memory. My pessimism was not unfounded—what I was attempting was the very definition of high-risk.

And I wasn't a high-risk high-reward kind of guy.

Creeeaaak..!

Upon opening the old wooden doors to our training chamber, we were met with thunderous cheers from a large crowd of kids. All the orphans were awake and present.

Melyn and I were both surprised, and unsurprised. Our reputation as heroes had not subsided at all. These children were every bit as grateful as they were two years ago.

It warmed my heart to see.

「Guys... we're just popping in to convene with the District Masters, you seriously didn't have to force yourselves to see us off.」

I chuckled as they surrounded us and said their farewells.

「Good luck out there, Big Sis Mel, Lorenzo!」

「Don't get into trouble while ye're out there Lorenzo, heh...」

「Bye Big Sis Mel! We'll be waitin' right 'ere!」

Amidst the mass, I spotted a familiar gang standing by the exit.

Melyn and I worked our way through the throng of children and approached these friendly figures.

Thonvir, Ysolva, and Oleena. The dearest of my cohorts.

Parallel to them, I immediately set my sights on the curly-haired troublemaker who undoubtedly wagged her tongue about our departure.

「A shot in the dark, but I'm confident you're the one who told everyone about the meeting... right Oleena..?」

「Who knows?」

The impish girl averted her eyes and whistled, feigning ignorance. Thonvir stepped in to defend his crush's big mouth.

「Now, now, Lorenzo. Aren't ya happy everyone's here t' see ya off?」

「Happy? If anything... now the pressure's really on...」

The boy was clueless as to what my words truly meant, so was Oleena. But the little girl between the two withheld a smile as I uttered my retort.

She was a godsend to the formulation of my speech. The address I had in store could not have possibly come into existence without her aid.

As such, I whipped out her handkerchief from my pocket and waved it at her.

「I haven't forgotten about our promise, Ysolva. I'll wash this as soon as I come back.」

She too brought out my handkerchief and clutched it against her chest. The beam that lined her cute face melted away all anxieties I may have harbored within me.

Afterward though, the room turned dead quiet. Melyn, Oleena, and Thonvir all had their gazes fixed on the handkerchiefs in our hands.

The boy in particular had turned whiter than snow.

「O-o-o-oi... W-why does Ysolva have that accursed handkerchief and.... why do ya have 'er handkerchief ya ninny..?」

Oleena on the other hand, wore an impressed smirk as she crossed her arms.

「Oho..? Not bad Ysolva. Didn't think you had it in you...」

Melyn was less dramatic, opting to ignore our handkerchiefs altogether and instead saunter through the exit hole.

I was none the wiser for their reactions.

「R-right... well... I'm gonna sort everything out when I come back... M-Mel! Wait up!」

Unwilling to deal with another headache, I sprinted out of the training chamber and into the Warrens where I caught up with Melyn.

From the overlapping collection of valedictions behind us, one voice upstaged the rest.

「I'M WAITIN' FER YA, LORENZO! G-GOOD LUCK OUT THERE!」

Ysolva can be loud when she wants to huh..?

「Oi! Ninny! Ya better explain yerself when ya get back!」

「Yeah Lorenzo! Who do you prefer?! Me or Ysolva?!」

Oleena and Thonvir were noisy as usual. To me, they were meant for each other.

The children's outpourings of love and support filled me with a new energy. Truly, my cup had runneth over.

I had naught to fear. They were waiting for me.

I wanted to return bearing glad tidings. I wanted to assure them that their futures were not in jeopardy. I wanted to save the Lakua District from its enemies, especially itself.

These hopes and desires coursed through my veins. I couldn't let the District Masters intimidate me any longer.

Once the children's voices faded, I was left in complete silence walking alongside Melyn.

Without a vestige of hesitance, the thief girl asked the question she was champing at the bit to get off her chest.

「Say, Zozo... back when you exchanged handkerchiefs with Ysolva... did you understand the implications of your gesture?」

She stopped and looked at me.

「Um... a friendly promise? I used her handkerchief so...」

Melyn sighed before continuing her trek to the meeting room.

「Some things never change. You're as socially inept as you were two years ago. Come on Zozo, let's get going.」

Mystified by her response, I settled on this being another one of this world's "common senses" I hadn't come to fully fathom yet.

I clenched the pouch by my side and strode the Warren tunnels.

Hopefully, I don't flub my speech as badly as my understanding of this realm's social etiquettes...

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