After hearing about these martial potions and supplements, I decided that when I go with them to buy some clothes tomorrow, I should also look for these potions; since Yuki has already reached pro level in basic kick and boxing technique, giving them to her will cause me to become a first-grade martial artist.
This strength can, in fact, alleviate many of my weaknesses, and I'll also need the potion after two days, since that is when I'll have to grind to reach the next level.
Cognizant of this, I carried on with my practice this time in a more concentrated manner, after which I once again collapsed from tiredness and decided to return to the hut since it was already late at night. Once again both Yuki and I went to sleep as we had done the day before, the only difference being that we now had new blankets and bedding. Before closing my eyes, I looked one final time at my status.
Name: Ryuk Ashborn,{Rajeev}
Age: 11 years
Talent: Immortal Pupils(sealed), Law of Life stone fragment(sealed)
Possession: Beacon of Truth(level-1), Fragment of fallen kingdom
Bloodline: None
Martial arts: Basic kick and boxing technique{pro} (137/400)
Realm: 0
System Level: Zero(upgrade to unlock full abilities)
System Quest: One quest available
Title: Is the Emperor of Humanity??? – Martial Pill
The following morning I awoke as I always do, had my breakfast with the rest of them, and then went to the bakery since I had to let Grandma Rose know that I was taking the day off. Later on, I would return and take them to buy some clothes.
I got to the bakery soon, and there Grandma Rose was already there waiting for me. When I greeted her, I said, "Grandma Rose, I'm sorry, but I have to take a leave today."
On hearing this, she asked, "What was the reason for your needing a leave?"
I just said to her, "Grandma, you do remember that I told you about having some brothers and sisters at home? Yes, they'll have to buy some clothes, and since they're unfamiliar with this area, I'll have to go with them to the market."
Grandma frowned and looked at me as though she was checking whether I had been telling her a lie, but when she saw how sincere I was she nodded and at the same time said, "There's a cloth shop just one street away from here; the owner is a friend of mine so you can take them there and if you have the time you can also introduce me to your brothers and sisters since I do love seeing them."
Having obtained her consent, I returned to the hut and asked Yuki and all the others to come with me since we were now going to buy clothes for them. They soon came with me while I was looking at the door of the hut and took out two silver coins at the same time, as those were more than enough to buy clothes for all of them. I also took some copper coins for change.
When I left the slum, I caught a bus because the children would get tired if they walked with me. Soon we reached the market, at which Grandma Rose's bakery is located. As soon as I got off the bus, I went directly to the clothes shop that Grandma Rose had mentioned.
It was a small shop containing mannequins, one male and one female, the wedding dresses being used for decoration. We entered the shop and, at the counter, noticed a man in his middle age who greeted us, but when he saw that all of us were just children aged between 6 and 11 years old, he asked me where our parents were.
When the question was put to them, a few of the children showed some emotion, but Yuki promptly dealt with the situation by telling the shopkeeper that we had been sent by Grandma Rose to buy some clothes; on hearing her name, he smiled and then asked me what kind of clothes we wanted.
I told him that I would like to buy some clothes in bulk for all of us, specifying that we should buy four items for ordinary use and two for training, and on hearing this he got the idea and produced a large assortment of clothes; when they saw this big collection all the children became excited and, with my permission, each one began to choose the clothes they wanted, there being in the shop a changing room where Yuki helped the children to put them on and to find the right fit.
It took almost one and a half hours for everybody to choose their clothes; the girls took longer than the boys, as one would expect. Then we left the shop. The total cost of all the clothes, including mine, was only 60 copper coins, and I paid that amount with one silver coin since I didn't have much copper, and after receiving my change, I went out, leaving the shop at the same time as everyone else. I had the feeling that someone was watching us.
Yuki too had the feeling that someone was following us as we were walking. Although we could sense it, we weren't able to work out where exactly it was coming from, particularly in a place as crowded as this market, so I decided that the best thing to do next was to take each person I came across to the bakery, since it is only one street away.
When I met Grandma Rose, I asked all of them to greet her. She was puzzled to see so many children and said to me, "Ryuk, you said you had brothers and sisters, but all I see is a whole football team of children."
I laughed when she teased me and replied that all of them are my cousins from the village. She looked at me in a scowling manner as though to say, 'You're lying.' But since I didn't have time to explain, I told everybody to behave, and then we all left the bakery. Yuki would have liked to come with me, but I asked her to stay and look after the children.
I then left the bakery, and as I was outside I once more had the feeling that someone was following me, but I ignored it and allowed them to keep doing so. Shortly afterwards, I came to a side alley which had its end closed off, and I turned around to look at the person or people who had been following me since I had left the cloth shop.
Three thugs, having rough faces and beards, are staring at me in a threatening manner in an attempt to intimidate me. One of them then displays a cruel smile and says, "Oh, boy, we saw that you had some money, so you and that group of children must be lost; why don't you hand over that money? As a reward, we'll send you on your way to your home. We're nice people."
I am able to detect the smell of alcohol on his mouth even though I am some metres away from him; those people are nothing more than vultures in human shape who are trying to steal my money by pretending that I am a helpless child. However, it is a mistake on their part; if they want money, then they should work, but these low-down people are simply going about stealing from children.
When I remained silent, the man became impatient and was then replaced by another man who started to speak. He produced a small knife and said as he pointed at me, "Hey, you kid, just hand over the money or you'll experience pain. I don't want to have another case brought against me, so don't make me do something wrong, have you understood?"
I didn't reply to them, but I removed the lid from the garbage can—the lid was made of metal and therefore suitable to use as a weapon—so I used the circular lid as a weapon and threw it at the three of them; it wasn't until one of them was hit in the head by the lid that they realized what had happened and fell unconscious.
The other two reacted upon seeing the condition of their companion, so I quickly decided to kick one of them in the chest of the left side and then at once delivered an upper cut to the remaining one; in just one minute an 11-year-old had defeated three adult men, and anyone who heard this would certainly say it was a lie although thanks to my progress in martial arts I was able to do it.
Then I went back to the bakery, where I saw Grandma Rose distributing cookies and cakes to Yuki and the other children, Kevin in particular being helpful by assisting Grandma with the cookies, and when I appeared again, all the children looked at me.
Having said that, I had to have a conversation with Grandma Rose, so I went to the kitchen with her since there were many things I needed to explain to her and also some things I wanted to ask her.
When she asked me about the children, all I did was tell her that they too were orphans, after which she didn't ask any more questions. Then I turned to her and asked her about the doubt I had, and also asked her about the first-rank martial potion.
At first she looked at me with suspicion and asked Why do you need it? All I said was that I am carrying out martial arts training and will soon attain the first rank, but she regarded my words as a lie and replied that no children of eleven years can reach it.
But I told her that I did and showed my strength to her by bending an iron rod I found in the kitchen.
She looked baffled but soon composed herself and did not tell me anything about the marital potion. She told me to hide my strength from now on, and tomorrow she would talk with me about the first-rank martial potion and my strength, but until then, I needed to hide my strength. She told me that people like me are martial geniuses who need to be careful in public. I did not understand why she was so concerned, but nonetheless, I followed her advice and took everyone back, and after doing my usual training session at night with Yuki, I went to sleep.