Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended [Part Two]

CHAPTER 242: Names for the Nameless

The children immediately shook their heads.

"N-No, mistress," the eldest boy murmured. "Please don't mind us. We... we're completely fine."

"I-I'm sorry you had to hear such an unpleasant sound," the other twin began. "Please spare my brother."

"We don't deserve food, not from someone like you," whispered the little girl, eyes cast to the ground as she gripped the hem of her ragged dress.

The twin who had clutched his belly now stood rigid, fists clenched tightly at his sides, his small body tense with the sheer will to endure. Silent tears welled in the eyes of the youngest girl, but even those were blinked away quickly, as if crying too was a punishable offense.

Then, without a word, the second twin reached into his tunic and pulled out something small—half of a cracked, dark biscuit that was round and hardened like stone. He held it out, hesitating for a second before gently offering it to his brother.

"This'll help quiet the hunger," he said softly as though he were passing on treasure.

The boy blinked at the gesture, surprised, then bowed his head and accepted the piece with both hands. He took a bite. There was no change in his expression as he chewed.

Daisuke narrowed his eyes. "What is that?"

The children fell silent.

A long moment passed. Then, the eldest boy stepped forward and answered in a careful, even voice. "It's a mud biscuit, mistress. Just baked mud. It... it fills the belly."

He said it like it was normal. Like that was what children were meant to eat when their circumstances became dire.

Daisuke's heart dropped.

Without a word, he snatched the unsanitary and unnutritious abomination from the boy's hand and crushed it beneath his heel.

The children flinched in unison. But instead of rebuking their savior, they bowed their heads and apologized profusely for daring to eat in her presence.

"I-I'm sorry," the twin who offered it stammered. "I didn't mean to—"

"P-Please forgive us!" the eldest exclaimed.

The little girl trembled. Her eyes brimmed, but the tears didn't fall. She wouldn't let them. Neither would the other girl who clutched her tightly and buried her face in the folds of her dress.

Daisuke dropped to one knee.

They stiffened instantly—preparing, it seemed, for punishment. But he only extended his palm. In it lay five glossy, marble-like candies.

"Instead of that mud biscuit," he said warmly, "why don't you try these instead?"

The children froze.

Their eyes widened, darting between his face and the candy like they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"We... we couldn't," the eldest whispered, a sense of unworthiness in his voice.

"M-Mistress... we can't possibly accept something so precious," another added, already stepping back in refusal.

With a straight face, Daisuke gave them no chance to protest further. One by one, he popped the sweets into their mouths and their reaction was instant. Their eyes lit up. Their hands flew to their cheeks, and they beamed with wide, innocent delight.

"It's so sweet!"

"I-I've never tasted anything like this!"

"It's... it's heaven..."