We returned to the inn once evening came.

The conversations that were had did not result in any changes. Just what can I do to help Paige's family? I don't know.

I was arrogantly mistaken to think I could help just because I once shared the struggle of having low stats. I don't know the first thing about actually making a living with low stats. My daily needs were always met. Poverty isn't something I've ever had to worry or even think about.

After I gave Paige's father money, Claud sullen look warped into anger. I can't understand why. Don't the churches do the same thing, giving away food and water?

Every time I asked Claud something, he glanced away.

Staying quiet is the norm for Claud. Ignoring me and glowering isn't. He's incredibly angry.

I went too far calling the smith evil. I was just frustrated that Claud called him a good person. I know it's not that simple.

And why did he not want to help the peddler? He helped Paige, didn't he? And he knew Paige was a Thief. They both committed crimes to survive. What is the cause of the difference in his decisions?

The Claud today was confusingly difficult to understand. I read the emotions in his subtle expression perfectly, I just didn't know what caused them and why.

His Empathy trait activated multiple times too, but he continuously grew angrier. It doesn't make any sense.

Nevertheless, I should apologize because I did do something selfish. I made him come with me to help even though he clearly told me no. I don't want him to be angry with me...

Gathering courage, I laid down next to Claud who continued to wistfully stare at his hand in a dazed manner. He's sweating despite the cold weather and his face had gone a little pale.

"Are you okay?"

No answer. He laid on his side of the bed, close to the edge as if he didn't want me to talk to him.

"Claud, please don't be angry anymore. I'm sorry for forcing you to..."

He refused to even look at me.

I could feel my eyes become watery. I want Claud to talk to me.

"It doesn't matter what we fought about. Please, let's just be friends again. Please?"

Claud stayed motionless briefly then slowly sat up.

----------------------------------------

I think that's enough of the cold shoulder treatment. She's tearing up, theatrically speaking, it's the right time to forgive her.

-Willpower: 19/44-

"I... I don't want to keep fighting either. Staying silent ignoring you, that wasn't right. I'm sorry."

"Hic... I'm sorry too. For just pushing ahead with my own ideals even though I couldn't help at all. I was a dummy."

Yes, do apologize for being stubborn. That was very annoying of you.

-Willpower: 18/44-

"You're not dumb."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

You're an annoying, dense, sheltered and stubborn crybaby, but you're not dumb.

"No, I was. Claud must have had a reason too. I couldn't understand. I just wanted to be a real Hero so badly. I wanted to help someone."

No, it's not your fault. You didn't do anything abnormal. This fell under predictable circumstances.

I should have known better. You've felt a little down lately, you wanted to accomplish something.

I should have tried coaxing you a little more gently. Talking harshly wouldn't properly convey the message I wanted to get across. I let the blood rush to my head.

-Claud's Willpower: 17/44-

"It's not wrong to want to help people, Sophie. But there are some people you can't help. And even if you could help, sometimes you shouldn't. People need to figure things out by themselves, otherwise they'll suffer in the long term. Sooner or later, the money we gave them will be spent and they still wouldn't have learned a thing."

"So, there's nothing we can do for Paige's family..."

No, there is something we can do. In fact, we already finished the first half of the problem.

-Claud's Willpower: 16/44-

"We've done all we could. We gave Paige the opportunity to gain stats and learn how to be an adventurer. Those are valuable skills he'll carry for the rest of his life. He can handle the rest."

"Paige is just a child. He's younger than us too. It's not fair that he has to earn enough money for his whole family."

"Regardless, don't get involved any more than this. What right do we have to interfere in a family's affair? Are we going to help every problematic family that we come across?"

"I suppose you're right..."

It's alright to help when we feel like it. After all, it's impossible to go through life without a little sprinkling of hypocrisy.

Sophie started nodding off exhausted and relieved, her head leaned into my arm. Hopefully she'll stay asleep for a while.

I'll get it done quickly before she wakes up and suspects anything.

I left the inn and sped towards Paige's house.

The second half of the problem is their father. How did he spend that money in such a short time? I asked Paige where all the money had gone. He told me his father took it however I didn't notice anything newly bought in that shabby place. What could you spend your money on in this town?

I had thought the man was a little strange. Telling us his shit skill, setting up a sad backstory. He wanted to be pitied was the feeling I got from him.

The only conclusion I can come to, is him gambling all that money away.

I waited, hidden up in the rooftops. In the shadows, I spot a figure clumsily slip out of the house.

Going for an evening walk?

He wore a hood, but that couldn't obscure his identity, it was clearly Paige's father. As he kept moving past numerous gambling dens, entering a seedier part of town, a foul feeling spread throughout me.

The lights of the street changed to red creating a gross ambience.

Paige's hard-earned money was going towards this. Unbeknownst to me, deep down inside there was an ever-tiny possibility that maybe Paige's father wasn't complete scum. I couldn't have imagined this.

There is no good to be found here. You wasted money for this.

This world is more disappointing than I'd hoped.

I expected a world with status windows to have people push to be the best versions of themselves. I was wrong.

'I can't hunt monsters; my stats aren't good enough. I can't do this; I lack the skill.'

It sounds exactly the same as what I heard before.

'How can you expect me to do something like that? I'm not talented like you.'

In the old world, they used their lack of 'talent' as a shield to cover up their own lack of effort and failures. And here they can blame their status limits.

Perhaps the reason why I'm agitated is because this place represents everything I despise.

Irresponsible sheep. Why have children when you lack the capability? If you can't lead your own lives, why bring new ones into the mix? I pity the offspring of these fools. You shouldn't have started a family if you couldn't take care of them. Seriously, incompetent people shouldn't be allowed to have a responsibility as important as raising the next generation.

This is sabotage of an entire human being's life. Setting up their own offspring for failure. Why isn't there a law against this? Lesser people should not be allowed to have such privileges. Remove the organs that they're enslaved to. They don't deserve to have children.

No. Deserve is the wrong word. Deserve implies they've done something to be worthy. They've done nothing and they deserve nothing.

By law, they're entitled to have children. But you know who else is entitled? The children themselves.

Children are entitled to have good parents who can take care of them.

You are not a good parent. You're a failure.

You couldn't fill their bowls with food.

But maybe you can fill their hearts with pretense, 'hard work' and the empty comfort that 'father did his best'. I'll even help you keep up that false image. It's easier to glorify the dead.

You've condemned them to live a life of suffering so at least let them live that life without you.