11 Chapter11: Alice And The Tenacious Yuki-san

I followed the girl who stole my pouch with the three copper coins still inside it. She was still running away from me as she passes through the crowds of people. She's really good at running away, It's a good thing I noticed she stole from me fast or I wouldn't be able to follow her like this.

she ran inside a small alley, I followed her inside. I thought I was finally able to corner her inside, but I lose sight of her instead. Inside the alley was another two separate ways, only left and right. While still running, I decided to go right, right is always the right decision. I continued to run as I followed my instincts.

[ there you are.] I whispered to myself as I was finally able to see the girl. She was only standing there, maybe she thought I was done following her. I sneak quietly behind her.

Should I surprise her or something?

[ umm... can you please give me back my money?] I don't know what I should say, I might scare her if I was too forceful.

[ !!! wha-what!?] she tried to run away again as soon she saw me, but I hold her wrist to prevent her from doing so.

[ I don't want any trouble, just give me back what you stole from me and we're okay. ] Those coins are the only coins I have, they're precious, and they are also a gift from Jacked jack so it might be a shame for them to just get stolen.

[ N-no! yo-you're lying! ] wow... she's trembling, I guess she's really scared.

[ i-it hurts.] what hurts? I looked at my hands still gripping her wrist. ohh... so that's it?

I immediately remove my hands.

[ so-sorry... I didn't mean to... ] doing that in my previous life would surely be enough for me to be called by the police. I still can't properly control my strength so I guess that really hurt.

[ Well anyway, can you just please give it back? stealing is bad. I won't tell anyone about this, so can you just give it back? ]

[ you're lying! you will tell the bad guards and they will capture me and pu-punish me and make me a slave.] wow... is that what will happen if you caught a thief? make someone a slave? that's the first time I heard that word in this world? does that mean slavery exist in this world?

[ No, I won't do that. But if you keep stealing, someone might do, and you'll be turned into a slave. Do you want that to happen?] I said that as I knelt down in front of her.

[where are your parents? aren't they supposed to be taking care of you? ] The girl then suddenly went quiet.

I will really sue them if they're making this little girl do this kind of job.

[ ... they're gone... ] she suddenly started to cry, tears are now flowing from her cheeks. Did I touched the wrong subject? oh no.

[ he-hey, don't cry... ] now I'm feeling bad for following her for almost 30 minutes just for 3 pieces of copper coins.

[ don't you have anyone to take care of you?]

[ no.] what? does she live all by herself?

[ I'll give you this back if you promise you won't report me to the guards.] She said while still suppressing her tears.

[ I already said I won't right?]

she holds her hands out and gave me the pouch. I looked inside, yes, the coins are still inside. I was cautious that she might give me the pouch back but steal the coins inside.

"grooowwlllll...."

[ haahh.... ] I looked at the little girl again. She is really thin and her clothes are all tattered and there are even holes in it. Her eyes are big and a bit red, maybe because she just cried earlier. Her silver hair is also messed up, Her age might be around 6 or 7. Now that I look at her more clearly like this, all I can feel towards her is pity.

I put my hand on top of her head.

[ Why don't you follow me for a minute? I'll treat you a meal. ]

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I walk on the middle of the streets while still holding the little girl's hand.

[ are you really not going to bring me to the guards? ] wow, she's still asking me that.

[ how many times do I have to tell you I won't?] she's really persistent at asking me that question. Do I look like someone as cold as that? I'm not bad enough to make a little girl a slave, in fact, I'm not bad at all.

As I was thinking to myself, I found a little store that sells bread. I walk towards it.

[ How much does this one cost?]

[ all of them are 3 for 1 copper coin, they are also about to get a little bit old since we cooked them early this morning, that's why we're lowering the price. But I can guarantee that they still taste good.] oh? I think it's still a pretty good deal, I can get nine pieces of bread with three different kinds.

[ okay then, I'll get three pieces of this, three pieces of that, and another three pieces of this.]

[ that'll be a total of three copper coins.] I took out my pouch and took three copper coins out of it.

[ here.]

he handed me a small bag with the loaves of bread inside of it.

[ Thank you, I hope you come again] I left the store and walked towards the little girl.

[ you okay?] I asked because she started trembling the moment she saw me walking towards her.

[ ye-yes!] what's with her? even her words started to stutter.

[ hmm... let's go find a sit to eat.] I looked around and saw what's looks like a public bench just around the opposite side of the bread store.

[ there, let's go.] I walk towards it. I sat down and looked at the little girl, she was not there. Where is she? I looked around again and saw her still standing where we were earlier while looking at me.

[ haah...] I sigh as I walked towards her again.

[ I said let's go right?] I pulled her from the wrist. She was still trembling in fear, am I really look like someone that can't be trusted?

we sat down at the bench, I pick up a piece of bread from the bag. I then handed over the bag to the little girl.

[ what is it?]

[ hmm? it's food, pick anything you like.] Will she really not do anything without telling her to do so?

[ i-is that so? is it really okay?]

[ yes, so just go and pick anything you like, you can even take them all if you want. ] I can still eat at the inn for dinner.

[ N-no taking them all will be rude, but... can I take one?] really?

[ just like I said, pick anything you like. I don't like repeating myself too much.]

[ ye-ye-yes.] her words are stuttering too much.

She picked one inside, took a bite out of it... and started to cry again.

[ He-hey! why are you crying so suddenly?]

[ I-it's just because I haven't eaten for three days now, and this is the first proper food I've eaten after a while now. I often just eat anything that can be eaten, I sometimes look for leftover foods at the garbages I find.] man... listening to this girl makes me wanna cry too. I wonder what I can do for her.

[ Yes, just eat all you want. fill yourself up.] This is all I can do for her, for now.

[ what is your name by the way?] I called her "little girl" all this time without knowing her real name.

[ I don't have a name.]

[ what? no name? didn't your parents gave you one?] her parents must have surely given her a name.

[ no, my mother died while giving birth to me, while my father never came back while doing his job as an adventurer out of town. My grandmother died just recently and I was left alone. that's when I started to eat from piles of garbages, but It was still not enough, that's why I decided to steal from people.] Just how sad does this kid's life can be?

[ my grandmother just called me by my mother's name, but I don't want to be called by my dead mother's name so I don't consider it my own, but I still allowed my grandmother to call me with that name, just her.] wow, it really does sound creepy. but a name...

[ how about I give you a one? I don't want to call you "little girl" all the time.] I'll give her a name only if she wants to.

[ a name? I don't mind.] sounds like it's not that of a big deal for her.

[ hmm...what name would be a good name?]

oh!

[ Alice! I'll call you Alice then.] It's the name of the first Isekai'd movie character that I know.