The situation in the building was really not conducive. Zorka hugged the children who were crying hysterically."Azurks, please teleport me to Uncle Burt's place! You can find out where it is, right?" Azurks said."Of course, your energy trace can be a guide for me."Without waiting any longer, Azurks teleported Zorka and the five foster children of Inigo to Uncle Burt's backyard. Uncle Burt, who was gardening after Zorka left, was surprised.A dazzling blue light formed a rune. Then six figures appeared in the light. Slowly the light disappeared, and Uncle Burt fell when he realized that Zorka was among those who appeared in the blue light."Z-Zorka, how could you appear out of nowhere in that blue light?"Zorka approached Uncle Burt. Meanwhile, the five small children, their eyes swollen, all hid behind Zorka."Those kids...""These are the children I told you about, Uncle. They are Inigo's foster children," Zorka explained."My goodness, they really are still so young, they are sti
The man who had been torturing Inigo crawled, attempting to escape when Zorka's magic disappeared. However, his actions did not escape Zorka's sight.Zorka used ice magic to freeze the man's hands and feet, rendering him unable to move in a crawling position. When the man realized he had been ensnared by Zorka's magic, he cried out, begging to be released."Let me go! I beg you, I don't know what I did wrong to deserve this torture..."Zorka stared coldly at the man. It was pathetic how adults could resort to violence against children but couldn't stand up when faced with someone stronger."Shameful! You dragged Inigo into your mess, yet you blame him instead of protecting him as an adult," Zorka said.Approaching Inigo's prone body on the floor, Zorka checked his pulse and examined the wounds caused by the lashings.Inigo's clothes were torn, and the lash marks crisscrossed, drawing blood. Zorka clenched his teeth to contain his anger."You tortured this child simply because you were
Before answering Zorka's question, Inigo, lying on the soft bed, stared at the ceiling of the room. The comforting feeling of lying on the clean and comfortable mattress made him feel sad."I'm tired," Inigo began to speak."I'm tired of living on the streets. Especially having to raise those kids alone. I'm overwhelmed, Zorka. Especially when there's danger like yesterday, I couldn't protect them at all.And with your earlier statement, I'm even more stressed. I want them to live a normal life under the care of adults. They deserve to live well."Zorka listened. He didn't want to interrupt Inigo's words before the child finished his story."I also feel the burden growing heavier when we don't have money to buy food. What's worse is they need new clothes. So far, they've been wearing the same clothes without changing. They rarely even get to bathe.”Inigo paused for a moment to take a breath. The weight on his heart lingered."I used to live alone without thinking about the burdens I
Zorka glanced at Inigo's foster children. Initially, he offered them to be cared for by Uncle Burt. However, he needed to discuss his intentions with Inigo again to get permission. Besides, Uncle Burt seemed willing to take care of the five children without any objection."I've mentioned it, Uncle. That's why I need to get Inigo's approval first," said Zorka.Uncle Burt nodded in agreement. He even agreed if Inigo also wanted to live with him as his adopted son. He had no objections at all; in fact, Uncle Burt would be happy to have a companion in his home. Uncle Burt had been very lonely since his wife passed away."If Inigo agrees, he can also stay with me here. I don't mind. Let's be a family here. Since my wife passed away, I've been really lonely."Zorka looked at Inigo's foster children one by one. They were eating quietly, listening to his conversation with Uncle Burt."What about you kids? Would you like to become Uncle Burt's adopted children if Inigo agrees? Besides, Uncle B
The surge of energy from the face-changing rune was powerful. Even Inigo's eye covered by the bandage felt the waves of its strength. The rune glowed, enveloping Inigo's entire body."Watch closely how the face-changing magic rune works!" Azurks commanded Zorka.Zorka stood behind Azurks, observing how Azurks' magic worked.The burst of magical light shot up into the sky, gathering in the middle directly above Inigo standing on the face-changing magic rune.Then, the magical light descended like rain, falling onto Inigo's body. The light spread, covering his entire body. In a short time, the light seemed to seep into Inigo's body.Inigo's face changed. The shape of his jaw, nose bone, eyebrows, lips, and even his eyes changed.The bandage covering one of his eyes opened. Inigo reflexively closed his eyes. His reddish hair changed color to golden.Inigo still kept both of his eyes closed as the magical light disappeared entirely. Zorka immediately approached Inigo, as did Azurks."Open
For Zorka, Néos's problem was already resolved. The child just needed to obey what Uncle Burt said. Now, Zorka only needed to think about his financial issues. He had to gather money as quickly as possible and buy the clothes he needed.While Zorka was sitting comfortably on the living room sofa of Uncle Burt's house, suddenly there was a rumbling noise outside. Zorka, Néos, and Uncle Burt were startled.They heard the cries of the children who woke up in the room. Néos was about to rush into the room, but Uncle Burt beat him to it. Uncle Burt hugged the five children while comforting them."Shh. Calm down, children. Uncle is here, don't be afraid. You are safe in this house. Those monsters can't enter the house."Azurks, hearing the flapping of wings from the scavenger bird monsters, grumbled in annoyance."Inferior creatures. Gathering and making noise. Just destroy them, Zorka! Besides, their energy crystals could fetch a good price!"Hearing that, Zorka had an idea. Zorka got up f
Zorka returned to Uncle Burt's house. In just a few hours, he managed to collect 50 life energy crystals from the carrion-eating bird monsters. One of them, the largest, belonged to the leader of the monster group.The crystals were neatly arranged on the large dining table. Uncle Burt stared at one of the largest crystals, murmuring in amazement at Zorka's catch.Meanwhile, Néos looked on in disbelief at what Zorka had accomplished."How strong are you, Zorka?" Néos asked casually.Zorka sighed, rolling his eyes."You already know how strong I am. No need to ask about it!"Néos chuckled. Despite Zorka's changed appearance and the color of his right eye, Néos's god-like vision remained the same as before."You're amazing, taking down 50 monsters all by yourself. While the guards with magical abilities in this city struggle to defeat just one monster.”"I just took advantage of the time. I really needed it. Once I get enough money and can buy new clothes to replace these torn ones, I'l
Néos looked astonished as he received so many gold coins. The pouches, each the size of a ball, jingled as Néos and Uncle Burt carried them.Back at home, Zorka allowed Néos to pour out the contents of his pouch. With a gleaming face, Néos counted the gold coins one by one until he reached a total of ten thousand gold coins."Wow, you could buy a mansion with this much money!" exclaimed Néos."Amazing indeed. Up to ten thousand gold coins," Uncle Burt chimed in.Meanwhile, the toddlers joined in the excitement, watching Néos and Uncle Burt count Zorka's gold coins. (The toddlers already knew that Néos was Inigo after Uncle Burt explained it to them.)"I will use it to buy the necessary items to continue my journey," Zorka stated.Upon hearing Zorka's words, Uncle Burt and Néos fell silent. Only the children were noisy, staring at the gold coins stacked like towers by Néos."That means you'll be leaving soon, Zorka," Néos said sadly."Can't you stay for just a year in this house, Zorka