BXBX NOVEL Chapter 44 - Is It Finished?
"Come on, it's just a call."
"Do it yourself, why me?"
"Because you are my kind and sweet Lil' bro-"
"No."
Kairen leaned against the back of the seat with his arms folded.
"She is your wife, call her yourself."
"No, look."
Kain pointed at his arm held in an arm sling and wrapped in bandages with his eyes.
"She will kill me if I tell her that I'm hurt and in the hospital. Not to mention Ariyan's birthday that was 3 days ago and I missed it... They will kill me for sure. I survived the mission but my life will end today if I call them."
"...."
"Please."
Kairen turned his head and stared at the ceiling with a serious face.
"I don't really want to meddle in people's family problems."
Kain moved a little bit on the hospital bed and leaned closer to Kairen.
"It is not meddling. You are protecting me from the wrath of two angry individuals. Join me in this battle, let it be two vs two at least."
"Still, my answer is no."
Kairen ignored Kain's pleading eyes and looked out of the window this time.
"Seriously? You don't want to help me?"
"I don't."
It has been a few hours since they came back from the mission. Team leader Dains called healers and some staff to help the members of unit 6 as soon as they teleported back. He then said he had to discuss some matters with the team leader of unit 6 and left the building. The cadets were respectfully and kindly kicked out of SMF's buildings after that. Their mission was over so there was no reason for them to stay around any longer.
Kairen accompanied Kain to the hospital. Serria was literally begging him to take her to talk to "that cool guy" again, but he could run away when she was in an argument with Reyan.
Kain closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and opened them. He looked at Kairen with a meaningful smile and started talking with regret.
"I didn't really want to use this method. I wanted to solve the issue with a friendly negotiation, but... if that doesn't work then... I have no other choice."
"Huh?"
Kain's lips curled in a ridiculing smirk.
"Little boy, do you have any money?"
"...."
"Do you have a house?"
"...."
Kairen turned to the man in front of him. Of course, he didn't have any. He was poor and homeless. Why are you asking the obvious?
As if understanding the meaning behind his gaze, Kain proudly closed his eyes and resumed talking.
"Who in this world do you think would help you? Hmm?"
"...You want to buy me with money? That's cheap!"
Kain shook his head at those words.
"I am not insane enough to give you money for such a small favor. You are my family but sorry, money isn't an issue to joke about."
"...."
'That was... logical but it still kinda hurt...'
"Think a little bit more."
"Tell it already."
Was Serria's madness infectious? Why are you suddenly acting like this?
Kairen felt like he would get another 'Your GREAT master' show if he didn't stop Kain right now.
Kain shook his head at Kairen's cold answer as if he was disappointed at him.
"Your exams' results will come in a week, right?"
Kairen nodded his head.The cadets' overall ranks which were based on their grades and their performance in their missions would be announced in a week.
"You won't be a cadet after that. You will have to participate in SMF's last entrance exam, and if you pass the exam you should participate in their training course. And if you are good enough to pass the training course as well, you will be offered a position in SMF. In the first few months of working there, you still won't get a decent salary or position. You will have to meet the needed requirements to get the position you want. You have to work at least half a year to earn a decent amount of money to buy or rent a small house."
"....."
"But, have you thought about where you are going to live after you are kicked out of the dorm?"
"....Can't I get a loan or something?"
"You don't have the requirements for getting a loan from a bank as much as I know. And you have been using a scholarship to study in the academy, which makes it a little bit hard and near to impossible to use the special loans that the academy gives to its top students."
"...."
Kairen suddenly felt miserable. Was he really that poor?
The cadets studying in the academy weren't allowed to have any part-time jobs. The academy would give them a dorm, food, and most of the other requirements of life almost for free and it would also pay them the least amount of money needed to live. They would also pay them for every mission they were assigned to.
Kairen had some money on his bank account, it was only enough for living...no... 'staying alive' for a few months. He was actually planning on getting a loan from the academy, but he didn't know that it wasn't possible to get the loan if you have gotten a scholarship before.
He turned to the one who suddenly brought up the issue.
"So what should I do?"
"Call my wife."
"...."
"Don't look at me like that, I am serious. You help me today, and I will let you stay in my house for a while."
"What?"
"That's a deal. I can't lend you money, but you can stay at my place till you make enough money to go independent."
Kairen stared at the man on the hospital bed with an open mouth.
'Are you crazy? You want to let me live in your house just for calming down your wife and son's anger?'
It didn't seem reasonable no matter how you looked at it.
"Are you serious? Isn't it... too much?"
"You seem to not understand the situation clearly. Missing Ariyan's birthday is a deadly sin! It is enough for him to kill me like... 5 times in a row. And there is Alessia after that."
"But still..."
"You staying there also helps me and Alessia to do our jobs without worrying about Ariyan. You know, we have to take turns staying home and doing missions so that he won't be left alone in the house."
"What about Alessia? Will she be ok with that?"
"She will probably be more than ok."
"...."
Kairen scratched his cheek and looked around. He felt hesitant. Was it really alright for him to accept such an offer? Even if he was poor, he felt uneasy to receive such help from others. He lowered his head without saying anything.
"What is it? You don't like to live with us?"
"That's not it."
"Then what? I won't let you stay there if you reject me now. Even if you come begging, I will not let you in."
Wasn't there really any way for him to get his hands on some money? He could probably borrow some money from Reyan if he asked for it, but he didn't really want to do such a thing. He could also find a temporary job for himself, but that would also take some time.
"T-then... I will do what you want..."
"Then, take out your phone and call her."
Kairen hesitantly took out his phone and searched for Alessia's number.
Kain had a deep smile on his face while looking at Kairen. He intended to talk about this issue with him before, but didn't have the opportunity to.
He and Alessia had long wanted to invite Kairen to their house as they both knew how his financial situation was. However, they couldn't say that to Kairen. They didn't want him to feel like a burden, to hurt his pride, or make him feel in dept to them.
Kairen had always tried his best to solve his problems alone. He never asked them for any help and would refuse their aid most of the time. They both knew Kairen's personality. He wouldn't accept to stay in their house even if he didn't have a place to go.
That was why Kain brought up the issue this way. After losing his memories, his brother had changed a lot. He seemed somewhat naive and really innocent these days. He used to act older than his age before, but now he was just a young man with little experience in life. That's why Kain thought he was easier to persuade now if he had a proper excuse.
It wasn't like he didn't fear his wife and son's anger, he was really worried af about how they would react if he called them now and said he was back, but he added some exaggerations to it to make Kairen feel like his help was really essential.
Some people may call him an idiot and some might see him as a stupidly kind person, but he never regretted helping Kairen.
"Hello Alessia, this is Kairen."
Kain turned his attention to his brother who had finally called Alessia with a satisfied face.