Just like a God of War, he remained standing with his back straight and his hands overlapping on the hilt of the sword that was stabbed into the ground.
His all-mighty gaze swept over the people he had come to cherish more than his life, prompting them to destroy the leftover skeletons to the very last one.
Only after the war ended did the people come to check on Ninam.
They gasped, seeing him not breathing.
He was found to be dead whilst standing.
He was a true hero; none could deny that.
Thereafter, the war 180+ years ago plaguing the Far West came to an end, and peace returned to the five kingdoms that became one under the righteous leadership of the Great Sun.
The story came to an end.
The granny called Karina closed shut the book and exhaled a sigh.
‘Ninam sacrificed himself for the world. But only a hundred and fifty or so years after his death, three of the five kingdoms waged war against the Sun, his homeland. How shameless!’
One of the orphans was a fanboy of Ninam. He liked everything about him and would always spare time to hear stories about him..
“Wow! I want to grow up fast and become a hero like him! Granny, Can I do it?!”
The elderly woman patted his head. “Jacob, you’ll need to train hard for that.”
“Boohoo!” A young girl started crying after hearing the story.
“Lily, why are you crying?” Jacob asked.
“It said death… would come for us and… kill us all.”
The girl pointed at the monster on the book’s cover, who was holding a scythe and looked ghastly with no eyes.
“I don’t want… granny and… papa to die. I don’t want you or my… friends to die. I don’t want… to die. I don’t want to face such a monster.” She sobbed between her words.
Jacob thumped his chest and vowed to her like a knight: “Don’t worry; I will protect you and beat it back to the uncharted lands if it ever dares to invade our realm. Look, I even have the stone of heaven with me!”
The boy picked up his amulet that was awfully similar to the stone of heaven around Ninam’s neck on the book’s cover and showed it to his friend.
Delilah, who was in the shadow, felt surprised because it was similar to the one her lord, Roy, wore around his neck like an amulet.
Dayton, Jacob’s friend, lost his cool and laughed.
“That’s a fake one. You definitely got fooled by a tramp into buying this for more than it is worth.”
“No way.”
“Yes way! 180 years ago, people respected Ninam and held him in high regard. He was like God to some. Anything related to him, even remotely, was well worth a mountain of gold. Seeing this, a group of shameless people created fake replicas of his items and accessories and sold them at a ridiculous price. The surprising thing was that many bought these things, knowing they were fake. Anyway, there are many fakes like this in the empire. And yours is too. Or are you seriously stupid enough to believe that a stone of heaven, Ninam’s personal item, can end up in your hand just like that?” Dayton stuck his tongue out at Jacob.
Jacob felt like crying.
He felt bullied, not only by his best friend but also by the old beggar who sold him the stone of heaven for 20 coppers.
His life savings were twenty coppers.
He was officially penniless!
Clapping sounds could be heard.
“Alright, it’s bedtime for you kids. You need to wake up early tomorrow to attend classes. No tardiness will be allowed in this house.”
Delilah, who was dressed as a male and looked like one too, walked into the room where the granny and children could be seen.
The orphan’s eyes lit up when they got a clear look at the person that stepped out of the shadows of the corridor.
They stood up and rushed up to her.
Delilah was hugged by them.
Some were so small that they could only reach her thighs.
Delilah raised her hand, and while feeling reluctant to touch them with her bloodied hands, she patted their heads, ruffling their hair lovingly.
While hugging Delilah, Lily raised her head and looked at her. “Father, when did you return?”
The orphans knew her as a man and had no inkling of her being a woman and a maid to boot, who served a noble called Roy.
“Just now.”
What she had earned so far working for Roy was used to hire several competent nannies for the orphans. She enrolled them in a school where they would be trained to be a mage or a knight or just a humble businessman. She went high and low to save them. Not to mention that taking care of them was her sister’s last wish. It was quite normal for her to want the best for them.
As long as they do well in school, then their future will be secured.
They couldn’t depend on her forever.
They needed to grow.
Only then would they become capable men and women and start a family of their own.
For the young orphans, this opportunity was the best gift the handsome female disguised as a man could give them.
The maids came down the stairs, and their eyes lit up when they saw Delilah.
“Master, you’ve returned!”
“Mm-hmm.”
“We will put the kids to sleep.”
“Please do.”
After the kids were taken into the room, Delilah went into the master bed, rummaged through her stuff, and packed a bag with clothes. What she considered the basic necessities of life were put in her inter-spatial ring. This was looted from Master Gray, who was stabbed to death in jail. His son was also killed overnight.
She was planning to sneak out of this orphanage. It was actually just a big, peaceful house full of vibrant kids, nannies, and servants. She only came out of her room when she was caught by Karina. She was holding a briefcase that Delilah had purposely left in her room.
Karina looked at Delilah respectfully. “Are you planning to go out on a journey, sir?”
Delilah gave her a nod and said, “I will be accompanying a friend to a faraway land. It will be a month or so before I return.”
“Should I notify the children of this? They would miss you a lot if you went away for a month without a word.”
Delilah bitterly smiled and stopped her, “I don’t like sad partings. It’s not my thing. It’s also time that they learn to live without me around. It will be a good experience for them. Maybe it will help them grow more independent. And it’s not like I am never going to return. I will surely be back by next month to attend Lily’s birthday. I promise!”
“Please take this with you. To safeguard it is too big a responsibility for this old servant.”
Karen tried to give the briefcase with gold back to Delilah.
But it was gently pushed back her way.
“It’s not meant to be safeguarded. It’s meant to be used. Please spend it carefully. It will last you for a while.” Delilah patted her shoulder and then turned to leave.
It wouldn’t last them a while. It would be enough for them to live their entire lives in peace if they spent it like commoners.
“I will pray for your safety. May the Great Sun keep you from harm. Please return home safely.”
Karen’s concerned gaze didn’t leave Delilah’s back until she walked out of the orphanage and entered a carriage.
‘Home? A ruthless assassin like me, who has killed and ruined the lives of plenty, evil or not, doesn’t deserve to have a home, a family, a good life.’ Delilah sat inside it and closed the door.