Earth: The Second

To Live is to Work

For the next three days, Adma has to familiarize himself with the lifestyle of people of the outskirts. He started to make sure of his strength and helping the orphanage tending a small patch of the field beside the building. Over there, Sister Mia and Anne have a small farm of vegetables and chicken where they acquire additional food sources such as cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, and eggs. His job is pretty easy, mainly just to dig a hole, and then placed the seeds into the soil. 

After that, he is tasked to fill up the water storage tank behind the building. The water storage itself is fairly big, with a height as tall as an adult. The task is usually done once a month, and to be honest, no child in the orphanages is happy when it is their turn to do so.

The problem is that the water has to be taken out manually, from the fountain near the village. The person in charge usually bought two buckets of water that connected by two ropes, and a plank between them, so that they can carry it on their shoulder. Nevertheless, Adma accepts the task and went to the fountain, some meters away from the orphanage. 

He arrived at the fountain, which appeared also purposed as a plaza for the villagers. There, he can see various people, working on their daily life. The women are chatting while selling vegetables and wares, the males are holding a hoe and on their way to the fields, and the children are running around, playing. He also noticed one thing though, that is many people in the plaza seem to gaze their attention right to Adma. 

Can’t be helped because I am the stranger after all. he told to himself. The fountain in the middle of the plaza is the biggest structure, surrounded by a way paved by cobblestone. It has one big pillar in the middle of it with minimal artistic design. On top of the pillar, is something of a stone that emitting a bright blue glow, and from it, the waters are pouring down to the fountain. 

Adma is not alone, as another group of children and adults are bringing the same buckets to the fountain. They scoop out a huge amount of water and then go their own way. Adma quickly noticed it and did the same.

The task of carrying heavy luggage, by all means, is not difficult for Adma’s body. As his body is made out machine that hides a super strength, He easily carrying both of the buckets without breaking a sweat. The problem, on the other hand, is when he does not realize that strength to carrying, is not the same as strength to keep the bucket in balance. With all the strength and speed, his body had, Adma just easily walking all the way into the orphanage, not noticing that his walking speed swaying the bucket and pouring the content altogether.

When he arrived at the orphanage, both of the buckets on his shoulder are almost half empty.

“Well, this is a problem,” commented Sister Mia. “You do have the strength Adma. Even Father Risto needs at least fifteen minutes back with all of those waters, and you just break our records! Just be careful next time, ok?” Sister Mia then returned to her work in the field.

“Navigator,” asked Adma as he is going to take some water again.

“I’m on it. Calibrating the speed and cycle of walking with the task: hauling water,” said the Navigator.

For the second time, Adma returned to the fountain, scoop out water with buckets, and placing the plank on his shoulder to carry them at the same time. This time though, he successfully to bring almost all of its content to the water reservoir at the orphanage.

“Job well done,” said Adma to himself, and probably, for Navigator which helped him a lot.

“Besides the calibration profile, I have set for combat and non-combat situation. You can also make custom settings for additional tasks such as hauling water etcetera,” said Navigator.

“I get it. Thank you very much, I will do just that,” replied Adma.

Finally, the whole water storage has been filled to the brim when the afternoon comes. Adma realized that he himself, have to spend three hours to get it all done, then what about the adults of the orphanage? They must be taking much longer than this. He kind of feels bad actually, but he does not say that openly.

“Ah! Adma!” Kiki shouting while waving their hand. She is together with Jerry and Pina, has just return together from the city.

“Hey, Kiki!” Adma waving back. “You just returned?” 

“Yes, I just finished saving some of my golds to be given to Izanagi’s, Yulia’s, Mila’s, and Chap’s family. After that, I’m looking for a new job, together with Jerry and Pina.” 

Jerry is right behind her, with his arm folded on his chest. “And I hope you are also working diligently, stranger!” he said fiercely. Although annoyed, Adma tried his best to put up a normal face.

“Well, you should not be worried since I already filled up the water storage for everyone in the orphanage. Just ask me again anytime, and I will quickly fill it until it full,” said Adma.

“Huh? What so special about that? I also can do that easily!” upset, Jerry started to bark at Adma, while Adma himself putting on a smug face.

“Let’s see if you can do that under three hours!” Adma boasting his achievement. Jerry just replied with a single ‘Humph!’ and then walked past him to the orphanage. 

Pina, on the other hand, just being quiet all the time. She does pay attention to Adma, Jerry, and Kiki. She feels that she have something important to be asked to Adma.

“Jeez, Adma, you’re much older than Jerry, why can’t you yield a little?” asked Kiki. The three of them then return together to the orphanage.

***

When night comes, the children are taking bath together in a huge shower room, with the Sisters, helping them to wash themselves. After the little ones finished their bath, then Jerry, Kiki, Pina, and the adults are allowed to take turns bathing. 

Pina and Kiki have just finished bathing together, and now they are in their beds. Kiki is brushing down Pina’s long black hair, which is beautiful naturally. The girls have such hair, although she never used some kind of beauty product herself before.

“Oh, Pina, how much did I miss your hair before,” said Kiki as she brushing her hair.

“Hehe, thanks Kiki. I missed you too,” replied her. “Hey, it makes me curious but… What do you think about adventurers?” asked Pina. She tries to hide it, but actually, she is kinda interested in Adma.

“Hmmh? Something is on your mind, Pina?” 

“It’s just… aren’t all of this time, we all had some kind of prejudice towards them? Like they are scary, hungry for money, and barbaric. But I don’t see any of that with the man you bought here before.” asked Pina. Kiki is kind of surprised because Pina is not usually showing some kind of interest in something.

“You know, when the first time arrived at Kuliana, I was terrified. The city is much smaller than Horundah, but it was very crowded and full of adventurers. I tried to ask many places if they need employees, but as I said before, such ‘cities of adventurers’ are always full of people who also looking for jobs.” Kiki paused for a moment, she remembers the first time she met Izanagi and his crews. “The only way left is to become an adventurer, and taking on various quests. But no one willing to accept me, since I just a child. Luckily, I found a group of nice adventurers who would let me join their team.”

“Nice… Adventurers?” Pina said that as if the concept of adventurer being nice is very weird for her. 

“Yes! They let me join their team as a healer! You remember that Sister Anne taught us about herbs and healing magics right? Turns out, they are very useful for adventurers!” Kiki told her happily.

“Are you... being ordered around, Kiki?” 

“No! Not at all! Actually, it’s the other way around. They knew that I’m doing this job because I need money, so they also help me in many ways, such as protect me when taking difficult jobs, and sharing their food with me, so I can have more money to send to the orphanage.” 

“They are sound like good people.” hearing that, Pina can’t help but smiled as well, in her heart, she is glad that Kiki found good people on her side.

“That is why… I think not all adventurers are bad. Many of them are good and nice people, but sometimes, they are pushed by their conditions to do bad things. Here you go! I have finished brushing your hair!” Pina uses her finger to tend her hair forward. She feels that her hair is much softer after Kiki taking care of it.

“But, what do you think of Adma?” Pina asked for the last time. Kiki has moved to her bed and preparing to snuggle herself in the blanket.

“Honestly. There are still many things that I did not know about Adma, he is kind of different you know. But I believe that he is not a bad guy!” told Kiki.

“I see, do you like him, Kiki?” 

“Well, he is very strong and dependable, so yes!” Kiki replied, full of confidence. The two of them then bid goodnight for each other, turning off the lamp, and went to sleep. 

The moon outside of their windows is shining brightly, as Pina still stays awake. She looked at that moon, with her mind racing about something that she hid from Kiki and the others. At one point, she came across what Kiki is saying. Does a nice adventurer really exist? She said to herself. As she looking down outside the window, she realized that man, Adma, is also outside of the orphanage at the hour where everyone else already sleeping. Her curious and mischievous mind then emerges as she quietly sneaking outside of the room.