The Musafir

Mr. Philanthropist

[UNEDITED]

“Two rooms?”

CHITRA Anggini scrunched his forehead. The woman seemed to be astonished. The mantle standing before him only nodded back.

“Why not one?” Again Chitra Anggini asked, now with eyebrows slightly squeezed down, a sign that he was quite disappointed with the decision of this Mantingan.

“As long as it can be two, why should one?” Now there was a astonished Mantan. “Don't tell me you're afraid to sleep alone?”

“A mighty woman like Chitra Anggini never feels fear.” The woman shook her head strongly. Refuted. “Only, wouldn't it be easier and safer to make plans if we stayed in one room only? You said this to me first.”

“You said that the royal warriors were never again sent to this settlement?” Mantingan threw a question, before then answering, “thus, I concluded that we can sleep in separate rooms safely.”

“But ...” Chitra Anggini wanted to continue his words, but he really found nothing to say.

Then that was how it was then Mantingan immediately took over. “It would be very uncomfortable for me to sleep alone with you, Chitra. It violates the custom taught by my teachers and parents.”

After a moment of flinching, Chitra Anggini let out a long breath and finally nodded his head. Instead, he asked for more important things, “When can we start putting together a plan?”

“I don't think now.” Mantingan shook his head slowly before turning his head towards the window of his room. “I feel I should know this settlement more deeply.”

“You're going out?”

“Yes. I'll drive around for a while,” reply Mantingan. “You want to come with me?”

“No need. I've known enough of this horrible neighborhood. After all, it would be safer if I didn't come with you, wouldn't it?”

“Not always like that. On several occasions, you have been very helpful.” The mantan smiled and shook his head slowly, refuting Chitra Anggini's words subtly.

“I will still not come with you. It is better for me to train myself in this place, so that in the future I will not be too troublesome for you.”

“You can read all the books of science in my bundle. I leave everything,” said Mantingan welcome. “But especially the Lotus Book, you must take good care of it. Don't get damaged, don't get lost.”

“Lotus Book? Do you really have that book?” Chitra Anggini seemed to be in disbelief.

“For what if I lie to you, Chitra?”

Instantly also the eyes of Chitra Anggini sparkling with hope and enthusiasm “Can I read it? Can, yes?”

“I wouldn't say that if I didn't intend to lend it to you.” The mantan said as he draped the rope binding the cloth scroll that wrapped around the Savrinadeya Sword. Just like before, he intended to only carry a sword.

“I'll take care of myself.” Warm smiling coat. “You should also take good care of yourself here.”

“If I die, then that's not a problem for you. But if you die, it will be a big deal for me. There's no way you left me after this far, is there?”

“I cannot guarantee, but I will try my best. Now, let go of your hand and let me go.”

Chitra Anggini immediately released his grip on Mantingan's arm. His face was red all at once.

“Go there.”

Manten laughed briefly before flicking through the curtain door and stepping out. Of course he can understand why Chitra Anggini's face became red like that. And also he clearly understood the purpose of all the worries of the woman. He can no longer pretend not to know.

“Hopefully it does not happen again.” The mantan muttered softly while shaking his head.

Walking down the hollow staircase, he could encounter some terrible insects like cockroaches and centipedes milling about under the darkness. Even after becoming a trained swordsman, Mantingan could not give up his horrors on the insects. Aren't they really that horrible?

So then the mantle flashed quickly, until not even a blink of an eye had arrived on the lower floor. There, he found a skinny young man who was now eating greedily. That was the food from the top two rooms Mantingan rented, although really he gave far more than he should have paid.

With five gold pieces, about fifty catties of food were obtained. Chitra Anggini is smart enough to buy cheap food that is filling, so he can get so much food with five pieces of gold.

For the inn, Mantingan gave ten catties of food, six catties more than the price that should be only four catties.

As for the frail youth of the innkeeper who had been friendly without making it up, Mantingan gifted him five catties of food. In fact, Mantingan can provide more food than that. Twenty kati for example. However, these foods will not last more than two days. There was no way the young man could spend twenty catties of food alone within two days.

Thirty kati left would have been distributed to the people around. Mantingan would not be foolish to share it directly, he asked the innkeeper who distributed it, although there was no guarantee that the food would not be distributed to relatives of the innkeeper.

At least, Mantingan has helped some people fill their stomachs. Delaying death. He has indeed predicted that not all residents of Kotaraja Slum Settlement can be helped by him, at least for now.

“Master Generous! Where are you going?” The skinny young man stopped eating just to say hello to Mantingan.

“I'd like to take a short walk around.” The mantel smiled awkwardly. “And do not call myself by that designation again ...”

“How could self-danger not call such a Master if the Master had been truly generous to me?” The young man stiffened his countenance, as if willing to obey all Mantingan requests as long as it was not that one request. “Sahaya really doesn't suggest Mr. Phil goes out when the day has gone on like this. It would be dangerous, sir! They are so heartless, killing people is like killing ants alone!”

“I can protect myself,” answered Mantingan with great confidence before returning to the outside door.

Seeing that Mantingan would still leave no matter how it was, the young man immediately said goodbye.

“Then that is the case, then be careful on the road, Mr Philanthropist!”