"You're going to find work?" Raphael asked.

Raphael's eyes narrowed once he heard Arthur's idea. It wasn't going to be easy. Even after searching for a job in the past few days, Raphael had no luck. Every stall he visited rejected him because they couldn't trust a child to watch over their wares.

"They aren't going to hire someone who looks like they've been dragged through the mud," Raphael said.

"You know, if I stand in the rain for a bit and let it wash off the dirt, then that'll solve that problem," Arthur replied.

Raphael gave a simple but short pat on Arthur's shoulder while struggling to hide his grin and said, "No need to be delusional, Arthur, it's okay."

A pure look of confusion flashed across Arthur's face once he heard this. "What-"

"It's okay. Just go and do whatever you want. I'll figure it out." Raphael smirked at Arthur while pointing to himself. "Being the most responsible is hard, but what can I do? After all, it's up to the big brother to provide for the siblings."

"There's no way you're older than me," Arthur said.

When the two's physiques were compared, it was clear that Arthur was more developed than Raphael. Not only was he taller, but his muscles were broader. Arthur's look of doubt surfaced but was met with Raphael's smug, triumphant grin.

Raphael smiled and said, "I'm fourteen."

Witnessing a small cloud of white air exhale from Raphael's mouth, Arthur scratched the back of his neck without uttering another word. The siblings weren't in the best condition, but seeing how Raphael wanted Arthur to rely on him and not worry left some reassurance. Raphael was doing his best with what he was given, and watching how he tenderly wrapped the cloak around Claire made it clear that he cared for those around him.

"Just get going." Raphael swiftly insisted. Soon, he stood up and pulled Arthur to his feet. With both hands, Raphael pushed Arthur and said, "Just get out of here and do whatever you're trying to do."

"Okay, I get it. I'm going. I'll be back before the sunsets." Arthur looked over his shoulders and saw Raphael casually waving at him as his shoes slid down the web cobblestone tiles.

The moisture that lingered in the air as the rain subsided left the town glistening under the waning light. All the magic lanterns were now dimly lit as the sun's warmth bathed the streets in a golden glow. From time to time, small puddles tend to form at street corners. The puddles' reflections mirrored the stalls currently being set up for the early-morning shoppers. Each stall had its unique appearance, ranging from bright colors and simple designs to various elaborate designs that matched the complexity of their products.

Arthur stopped in front of a stall containing an assortment of fruits and looked at the stall owner. It was the first time Arthur had seen someone with a tail and furry ears sticking out from the top of their head.

"What? Have you never seen a demi-human before?" The stall owner barked at Arthur, revealing a pair of sharp fangs from the top of their mouth.

"I was just wondering if you had any-" Arthur stopped speaking as the stall owner slammed his fist onto the wooden table.

"No, go away and stop bothering me," the stall owner coldly replied while continuing his work.

"Okay, have a good day." Arthur bowed and immediately approached the following stall, marking his next destination.

The stall owner stood in disbelief, staring at the fleeting figure, and asked, "You aren't going to ask for anything?"

"I'm just looking for work," Arthur replied.

The stall owner stroked the fur around his chin and asked, "Why would you be looking for work?"

"Well, I don't want to starve, and I also have to take care of my siblings." Arthur stared at the stall owner, who had a conflicting light in his eyes.

A dry cough came from the stall owner; with one hand over his mouth, he cleared his throat before muttering, "I mean, wouldn't asking for food be easier?"

"Well...I want to work for it, not just get it for free." Arthur pulled the insides of his pockets out and said, "See? I have nothing."

"I see…" The stall owner rubbed his chin with one hand before examining Arthur, whose black pants were covered in grass stains and whose white tunic was speckled with dirt marks. "I don't think you'll run into any luck getting a job on this street. If I were you, I would try asking the guards. Those guys may act a little…odd, but they have good hearts."

Arthur pondered momentarily while listening to the stall owner, but seeing how there wasn't much of an option, he nodded and politely said. "Thank you for letting me know."

"No problem, kid. All the best." The stall owner tossed an apple towards Arthur, who swiftly caught it with one hand and placed it in his pocket.

As they waved goodbye, Arthur silently walked through the alleyway and thought to himself about the best options available to him. If asking strangers on the street for a job was unlikely to work, then how highly likely would it even be for the guards to hire him? Would second-guessing himself even be worth it right now? All these questions lingered in Arthur's mind, and before he knew it, a large wooden gate fortified with sturdy iron reinforcements appeared before him. The iron bars added strength and character to their imposing appearance as they wrapped around the refined timber.

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The guards immediately noticed Arthur, who drew closer. After briefly glancing, they each turned away and returned to their previous activities.

David spoke slowly and slurred as the metal flask fell to the side. "Tucker, you deal with this."

Tucker bitterly sighed before taking a deep breath. "I dealt with the last one."

"You lost the bet, so you're on beggar duty for the week," Welt said while flipping over a small rectangular card on a short wooden table.

"Alright, alright." Tucker ran his fingers through his brown hair before grabbing a small brown pouch and walking towards Arthur."Here you go, kid. Get out of here now."

Arthur stared at the pouch held out from the guard and hesitantly shook his head. The pouch's contents were generous, as it was filled to the brim with food, but taking something while giving nothing back didn't sit well with him.

Tucker raised a brow and turned to the other guards who were watching before looking back at Arthur. "Alright, kid…what do you want?"

"I want to work." Arthur lowered his head in respect for the guards who were watching him. It was a long shot, and there was no guarantee of winning their favor, but it was the only thing he could do.

Tucker didn't know what to say and looked to the other guards for an answer, but they were also speechless. They were short-handed, but having a young child work for them was difficult and not a decision they could make.

In a feeble attempt to send Arthur away, Tucker coldly replied, "We don't hire children; go back to your parents."

"I can't...they're not with us anymore." Arthur's sudden plea caught everyone off guard. He kept his head lowered, his voice unwavering and confident. "Please give me a chance. I can clean and don't need to be given much, just enough for my siblings to survive."

The guards looked at each other with troubled gazes and then back at Arthur. "That's… it's a bit complicated for us to give you work. You can't guard the gates, and having you patrol the city would be dangerous, especially around this time. There's really not much we can give you regarding work."

"What about moving things? Or maybe some chores that you guys don't want to do?" Arthur looked up and stared directly into Tucker's almond-colored eyes, giving suggestions one after another.

"We can't give you anything to do…" Tucker averted his gaze from Arthur and stared at the guards seated to the side. They shook their heads, unsure what to do.

All the guards kept glancing at each other with complicated looks as they watched the young boy knelt on the ground and then press his head on the ground. In a desperate cry, Arthur begged, "Please! There has to be something!"

"Come on, get up…let us speak to the Captain. Maybe he can find something for you to do." Tucker carefully grabbed Arthur's shoulders and lifted him to his feet.

Seeing a child go to such lengths left a bad taste in his mouth, and it wasn't something Tucker enjoyed watching, as it weighed heavily on his conscience. If it weren't for Arthur's determination, he would have turned him away like all the other children.

As Arthur and Tucker approached, one of the guards approached the wooden doors at the gate entrance and firmly held the metal handles. He slowly pulled the door open and gestured for the two to enter. Once Arthur and Tucker walked past him, the guard shut the door before stepping to the side.

The wooden planks creaked with each step Arthur and Tucker took. Arthur's eyes wandered around the interior of the walls. Everything was well maintained, and it was clear that the area was cleaned occasionally, as there was little dust on the windowsills.

"So…are you working for yourself, or are there more children you need to care for?" Tucker asked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence that filled the air.

"There's two more besides me," Arthur replied.

Following closely behind Tucker while thinking about what to say to their Captain. A sense of nervousness grew within him as it was the first time he had ever met someone of great importance.

"Hm… it'll be hard to have three jobs for each of you." Tucker thought about the possible jobs but was unsure what they could do. If they were a bit older, he could pass on his responsibilities to them. This way, he could kill two birds with one stone.

"It's fine if it's me who works. I can skip a few meals, but Claire can't; she has to eat since she's still growing." The determination in Arthur's eyes stood out as Tucker looked over his shoulder. Besides the dirty clothes he wore, it didn't seem like the child was malnourished, so they had to have been doing moderately well until now.

These days, the citizens can still provide for themselves, so the situation has stayed stable. However, as casualties continued to climb on the frontlines against the monster stampede, it was hard to say how long things would remain the same. They were currently on their second draft of soldiers as numerous guards from other towns were called upon as reinforcements.

Tucker looked troubled and asked, "What would you do if you can't find work?"

"I'll just have to keep looking." Arthur's firm answer nearly left Tucker speechless since it was the opposite of the typical attitudes he'd seen at the western gates. Even most adults who were homeless would be depressed about their current situation. "I mean, eventually, I'll find something. It's only hopeless if I give up."

“That’s…difficult…” Forcing out a bitter response, Tucker looked away from Arthur and thought about what to do. The Captain wasn't so heartless as to turn away children, but that didn't mean he would have to take on additional burdens.

"Yeah, but it's better to work than to steal." Arthur's straightforward attitude made Tucker chuckle. It was a unique thought process that Tucker couldn't help but praise.

Tucker waited for Arthur to catch up and said, "If only more kids thought like you, things would be better."

"Maybe I'm just trying to do my best with what I have." A persistent voice came out of Arthur.

In truth, he would be lying if he said there wasn't anything to be worried about, but he figured that at least one person in the city would give them a chance. It's not like all the workplaces in the town would say no. At least, that's what he hoped for.

"It's okay if the Captain doesn't have work for you. Feel free to stop by. I'll find something for you to do and give you food in exchange." Tucker revealed a soft smile and stopped in front of a wooden door. He raised his hand and tapped several times with his knuckles on the center of the door and said, "Captain, it's me, Tucker. You have a visitor. Can I bring him in?"

"Come in." A rough voice filled with vitality came from the other side of the door.

Once Arthur and Tucker entered the office, the first thing they noticed was a tall, muscular man standing before them. His well-defined muscles and broad shoulders reflected the discipline built throughout his life. As the man turned around, his perfectly combed gray hair and full beard revealed themselves, followed by a sharp glare directed at Tucker.

"Tucker, who is this?" The man frowned at the child before him and then at Tucker. "Don't tell me you can't deal with some kid."