6kv Chapter 321: Let's share....
Chapter 321: Let's share....
?????'s POV
"Hey, little guy, how is your day?"
"It's a wonderful day, big brother!!" I exclaimed happily to the person who consistently shared some leftover food with me.
I strolled back to the orphanage, the place I called home. The details of my parentage and the life I had led before were mysteries, but I cherished living with my brothers and sisters in the orphanage.... except for one shadow that loomed over our days,
'Slap.'
"Hey, brat!" A stunning pink-haired woman, our caretaker, delivered a resounding slap to my cheek.
"S-Sorry, b-big sister!!" I immediately apologized, dropping to my knees before her.
Without mercy, she stomped on my head with her heels.
"Tsk, tsk. I told you to come before sunset, right?" She questioned, exerting pressure on my head.
"Y-Yes, I am sorry, big sister. I-I won't do it again!!" I pleaded desperately, feeling the weight of her disapproval.
After enduring a barrage of continuous pleas, she finally released me, not before confiscating our meagre food.
"This will be your punishment. Now starve until morning. Hmph!" She declared, disappearing into her room, leaving us hungry and helpless.
Soon, my brothers and sisters rushed to my aid, offering small comforts and stolen morsels of food.
"Leon, come here!"
"I stole some food. Let's share, Leon!"
"B-Big brother!!"
Like me, they resorted to stealing food while others contributed by obtaining a few copper coins.
Though it was meant to be a haven for children, the orphanage felt more like hell to us.
The woman, our caretaker, was indifferent to our struggles, focusing solely on preserving her beauty. While she provided a meagre breakfast of bread and milk.... the rest of the day left us starving until the next sunrise.
Attempts to voice our grievances to the orphanage director..... only led to more suffering.
The beatings escalated each time we dared to complain, turning our plea for mercy into a painful cycle of abuse. The hopelessness of our situation weighed on us like a constant burden... we felt we wanted to die at some times.
"THANK YOU, BIG BROTHER!!" I shouted in elation.
With newfound riches in hand, I sprinted back towards my orphanage to share this happiness with my other brothers and sisters..... However, upon arriving, the elation on my face quickly transformed into a grim expression.
"LET ME GO!!" Charlotte's distressed voice reverberated through the air as she struggled against the iron grip of the caretakers.
"Come with us, brat! It's just a single silver coin for the night!"
"NOO!!!" Charlotte pleaded with a terrified and despair face, the harsh reality of our situation unfolding once again.
"Tsk." The caretaker delivered a harsh slap to Charlotte, causing her to collide with the wall and crumple to the ground, unconscious.
My brothers and sisters, though terrified, bravely positioned themselves in front of Charlotte and pleaded,
"P-Please stop this!!"
"D-Dont' take away our sister!!"
Their voices trembled with fear, their courageous facade betrayed by quivering legs.
"Hey, give her when I ask softly," the caretaker demanded, her face twisted with fury.
However, my siblings hesitated.... Instead, they pulled out the copper coins they had been saving.
"T-Take this!!" they offered, desperation evident in their eyes.
"Do you really think those coins are worth anything?" Disdain laced the caretaker's words as she ruthlessly slapped the other children aside before seizing the unconscious Charlotte.
Before she could drag Charlotte away, I impulsively threw something.
'Ting, Ting...'
"H-Huh? Where did you—doesn't matter!!" The caretaker's attention shifted when her eyes landed on the gold-shining coin. In an unexpected turn, she tossed Charlotte aside and snatched the gold coin from the ground, her demeanour shifting as she gloated,
"Hahahaah.... I am really happy to know at least you are useful...hahahaha"
With her new gold coin, she left, leaving us in a mixed state of relief and dread.
We carefully carried Charlotte inside, where the weight of the ordeal prompted tears of pain and fear from everyone.
On that day, I clung to the belief that the weird big brother was a form of divine help bestowed upon us by God... However, that perception was soon shattered when I encountered a mysterious black-haired man.