Published: August 2, 2025
Today, 10 chapters are updated simultaneously.
This is the 10th chapter.
While waiting and trying to fool the three of them, the time came, and the woman who had been taking care of the children took the lead. First, she expressed thanks for participating in the light cleaning work, then proceeded to assign tasks to the children one by one.
I started cleaning together with the other kids, but this time there was no need for magic or the scavengers to step in. Although using them would definitely be faster, since the kids around were working hard on the cleaning, I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate to just rely on the scavengers for efficiency’s sake, so I cleaned the usual way with cleaning tools.
Because of that, cleaning the large church took until early afternoon, and as I adjusted to the pace of those around me—eating the sandwiches handed out for lunch—the snack time had arrived. They seemed really looking forward to it, as Rick was restless.
Are the snacks they get really that delicious?
"Alright. Thank you very much for helping today."
"Thank you as well."
I see... what was handed out was a small bag tied with a ribbon over the mouth. Inside were four cookies each. It seemed the children all ate them on the spot, so I tried one too. The cookies had a fragrant baked aroma, a mild sweetness, and a slight topping that resembled jam with a strong fruit scent. Indeed, it was tasty.
After finishing their sandwiches and cookies, the children formed groups and started playing in the yard or looked toward the church entrance, waiting for something.
...I understand the ones playing, but what are the ones waiting for?
Thor, Rick, and Leni were also in the group waiting for something. I decided to ask.
"What are you three doing?"
"We’re waiting for the old man!"
Rick was the first to answer, but that only told me they were waiting for someone.
"There’s always an old man who comes after cleaning is done, and he teaches swordsmanship and fighting styles."
"Fighting styles?"
According to Thor, a former adventurer man always comes around when the cleaning finishes. Not only does he donate to the church, but he also voluntarily teaches the orphans living in the church how to fight so that when they grow up and have to leave the church, they can be self-reliant... essentially volunteering.
Because it was possible to learn fighting for free, on cleaning days, boys who admired adventurers started joining the training. The training, of course, was age-appropriate and within reasonable limits. To me and others working as adventurers, it probably seemed quite mild, but that was understandable.
"I get that Rick would want to join because he’s a bit wild, but Thor and Leni too?"
Rick wanting to join made sense, but Thor didn’t really seem like that type. Did he admire adventurers just because he was a boy?
"There's no rule that girls can’t fight, right? And there’s a chance they could get harassed by strange men in the future. Plus, I have to look after Rick too."
"My mom told me to work out a bit... I don’t think I’m that lazy, though."
"That’s because you’re too soft! Training will make you more manly!"
"Y-Yeah..."
I see... Wait, Thor, aren’t you being bossed around?
While I was thinking about that, the children around suddenly became noisy.
"Here he comes!"
"The old man!"
"The scary-faced old man is here!"
Looking toward the entrance, indeed, a man with a scary face was walking toward us.
"Hey! Who said I have a scary face just now? That was unnecessary!"
"Ah..."
The man who shouted was Mr. Wogan, the guild master of the Adventurers’ Guild. The children around seemed used to his loud voice and weren’t frightened; some even clung to him. While he was dealing with the children, his eyes suddenly turned toward me.
"Oh, Ryoma! What are you doing here?"
"Since the shop is closed today, I was just wandering around town and heard about the church cleaning day, so I thought I’d join. I figured it’s good to participate in community events like this."