Infinite Returns : The More I Give, The Stronger I Become-Chapter 90: I am poor
Chapter 90 – I am poor
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A young boy ran with all the strength his little legs could muster through the thick canopy of a crimson forest. Above, the sun had already sunk back to sleep, letting the blood moon crawl into the deep dark sky, bathing the world in bleeding luster.
’No... no... no...’ the young boy whimpered and pleaded inside his mind, running faster, his clothes colored by blood. Though it was not his own.
He ran with all his strength, doing his best to avoid any missteps all while heading toward the river deep inside the forest.
Behind him came footsteps crunching the ground covered in weeds mercilessly and hurriedly.
The footsteps sounded far away at the beginning, but with each passing second, they became closer and closer.
The young boy’s face was drained of all color. His teeth chattering as he did his best not to cry into the dark night, afraid of attracting the attention of beasts.
Next, he mustered enough courage to peek behind him, only to see five beings shrouded in dark robes, their faces invisible under the dancing darkness of their hoods. Their weapons were drawn, some dripping blood, others dripping... stranger substances.
The boy noticed the missing sixth member and remembered the cries of his father and mother while telling him to run.
For a moment he imagined the worst, and in that exact moment his little wobbly feet slammed into a thick branch on the ground, making him stretch out a startled and painful yelp before sprawling face-first into the dirt.
Tears fell.
He immediately tried to stagger back up, only for a deep, stabbing sensation to pulse from his left leg. He turned his head, and saw his ankle bent leftward.
His mind froze.
Then he shrieked like a banshee as the pain finally registered inside his mind.
"Arghhhhhhhhhh!" he wailed, unable to think of anything else, letting his five pursuers finally catch up to him.
They stood two steps away from him, watching him silently. The power emitted from them ranged between B and A rank.
An overkill for a child barely ten years old, barely awakened.
"We kill?" one of them asked emotionlessly.
The voice was that of a woman, holding a distinct note of disdain.
She held her dagger tighter, its blade dripping a purple substance. A substance that sizzled and withered the weeds beneath it at the slightest touch.
Her question was left unanswered.
Instead, the one standing slightly ahead of the rest — clearly the leader — lifted his chin. A man, judging from his frame, and the authority he silently exuded.
The assassin looked at the wailing young boy whose face was drenched in snot and tears, his eyes dilating in fear as he stared at them.
"No." The man’s voice was like two stones grating each other. "The order was to slaughter the family and take the boy with us."
"But why?" another asked. It was a thin voice, impossible to tell if male or female.
"Orders are orders, Number Three." The leader growled, "We hear, we obey. We do not question the design of the master."
The thin-voiced one lowered the head.
Meanwhile the boy was still crying, yet able to hear everything these beings were saying.
Killing his whole family and letting him live?
But for what? Why would they want him? Why would they kill his whole family for that?
What did he do?
These questions swirled inside his drained mind like a cursed echo, before suddenly he felt something sliding out of the pocket of his pants.
He looked at it, and saw a coin.
A black and white coin.
Instantly, his mind replayed the words his father told him:
’My son! My son! You will never believe what I have seen in Solaris!’ He had bellowed with insufferable enthusiasm, showing him this coin. ’I have seen an unfathomable being. He called himself The Merchant Beneath The World and he could grant you anything you want, but at a price!’
He didn’t believe him. Not even his mother did. It was, after all, too beautiful to be true.
But at that moment... at that instant where death and ruin clung to him on all sides under the bleeding moon...
The boy decided to be a fool and believe his now dead father.
He decided to pray to an entity he wasn’t even sure existed.
Yes, he did.
For desperation made you cling to the faintest hope dangling in front of you.
’You just need this coin to call out to him! I suffered a great deal to obtain it! Don’t lose it, son! Use it when something happens! Okay? Don’t ever lose it! And remember...’
The young boy opened his bleeding lips, just in time for the group of killers to reach a final decision about him.
’...it’s The Merchant Beneath The World! The Trader of Fate, The Holder of Infinity! He whom the Heavens worship with the Earth in His boundless authority!’
"The Trader of Fate... The Holder of Infinity... He whom the Heavens worship with the Earth in His boundless authority..."
The young boy muttered, clenching the coin inside his small hand.
"...I call upon You, O Merchant Beneath The World! Aid me! Help me! I trade everything of me! EVERYTHING!" He bellowed under the bleeding moon, tears streaming faster.
At that moment, the leader sensed something absolutely abnormal permeating the whole forest, making him snap his head toward the young boy, his heart skipping a dangerous beat.
His bulky hand immediately lashed toward the boy’s throat.
But at that exact moment...
"Your call is answered."
A deep, genderless voice rumbled through the forest.
And all assassins dropped to their knees.
Next, the boy vanished from the forest. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
The assassins remained kneeling, eyes wide with a shock impossible to hide.
"W–What?"
...
Meanwhile, moments before the disappearance of the boy, Ethan was walking leisurely toward the Castria Kingdom.
Well, walking? Not at all.
He was inside a carriage made of gold and pristine gemstones glowing in purple under the searing sun above.
The carriage was led by a deep black tiger with red eyes, each of its steps making the ground beneath quiver in dread. The surrounding area was deserted, with only a field of weeds and scarce trees here and there.
Still, soon Ethan would arrive at his destination, and soon he would be C rank.
He was weirdly eager, for he had been at D rank for far too long.
Inside the carriage, the space was big enough for dozens to sleep and rest. There was anything one could need. A bathroom, a TV, and even some snacks.
Ethan could be seen laying down on Airi’s lap, with Dari floating above while sipping apple juice, and Seravax on the far side learning the cultures of humans.
Ethan had planned to bring them to Castria Kingdom and leave them there to create his church. He hoped for the help of the King of Swords. if that man was indeed the one he helped in one of his trials.
"Sigh..." Ethan suddenly sighed.
His sigh was loud and weary, gathering the attention of his guests.
"Is there anything the matter, Ethan, my friend?" Seravax inquired, raising an eyebrow while looking at him.
Dari and Airi also focused on him, wondering what could bother their good lord this much.
Ethan sighed once more, "It’s just... I am poor again, guys. It’s hurting my heart more than anything." He whispered, his voice like one swallowing back cries.
The others looked at him blankly, wondering if their ears were failing them, for they had heard the most absurd thing ever in their lives.
"Repeat for me, please, my friend?" Seravax said with twitching lips, "Did you just say you are poor?" He asked, looking at the interior of the carriage.
Ethan nodded, hiding his face with his hands as if embarrassed, "Please, don’t repeat it. I can sense my heart shattering in pieces. Ah... it’s all because of you two goddamn it! Seravax and Dari!" He threw a tantrum like a child.
His Karmic Points were exhausted by helping Seravax. And the amount he obtained after helping Seravax were only enough to refill his collection of bragging tools and to buy this carriage and black tiger for the trip.
Ah, he was too poor. Since when did buying expensive things make him poor?
He needed to act benevolent again.
[You are anything but benevolent, Host. Who corrupted you?]
Ethan snickered, ’I help people without expecting them to do anything for me. Is that not benevolence?’
[But you expect me to give you Karmic Points?]
’Naturally. Didn’t the wise say that gods reward the good-hearted? Let’s say you are my god, System, okay? Be proud of it!’
[...] The system decided to remain silent.
Meanwhile, Seravax and the others were still staring at him, utterly lost. Then,
"May I ask, dear friend, how many gold coins or even platinum coins do you have left in your possession?" Seravax asked.
Ethan raised an eyebrow then waved his hand dismissively, "Too many to count. Enough to buy a whole floor from the Tower, I guess? Oh, should I do that? That’s a—!"
Ethan immediately stopped mid-sentence and stood tall. His eyes lost their playfulness as something — or someone — began to call upon him.
A desperate call.
One that he felt compelled to answer, as if the one doing it was... worthy?
He suddenly smiled, allowing the prayer to reach him.
’...I call upon You, O Merchant Beneath The World! Aid me! Help me! I trade everything of me! EVERYTHING!’
Registering all this in his mind, Ethan raised his head toward the ceiling of the carriage, then slowly,
"I have somewhere to go, good friends. Wait for me."
He vanished a heartbeat later, answering the call of the desperate voice.
"Your call is answered."
—End of Chapter 90—
