Grimm: Ch. 10

---Grimm's POV---

Perhaps still filled with frustration from the morning, I watched as Bernhardt chased the thief into an alley.

The narrow passage twisted between weathered stone buildings, barely wide enough for his broad shoulders.

The child clearly knew the terrain well, darting through twists and turns.

The thief was about to climb over a wall when Bernhardt caught his ankle.

"Argh!!!"

Bernhardt yanked him down, grabbed the back of his shirt, and lifted the kid up before slamming him hard onto the cobblestones.

"Damn thief!" Bernhardt roared, spittle flying from his lips.

The thought of almost losing the meal money made him straddle the child and deliver a flurry of punches.

"Please... I'll give it back!" the skinny child cried out as I approached, blood streaming from his nose and split lip. He tried to shield himself with his frail arms, but they were no match for Bernhardt's hulking frame.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Enough, Bernhardt. Let him go," I said.

Looking at the frail and malnourished child, it was clear he was from some slum, barely able to withstand a beating. His clothes were little more than rags, hanging off his bony frame.

"But Boss, he—" Bernhardt started, his fist raised for another strike.

"I said enough."

Hearing my words, he began to calm down. Since the child had been taught a lesson, recovering the money was enough.

"Hand over the money!"

Though he stopped punching, he didn't get off the child. Instead, he rummaged through the boy's pockets with rough, angry movements, grabbed the money pouch, and handed it back to me with a snort.

"Boss, want to count it?"

The child lay sprawled on the ground, his face swollen from the beating, clearly unable to get up for a while.

Blood dripped between the cobblestones.

"No need," I replied. I weighed the pouch in my hand; it felt about the same as before. I shoved the lamb leg we had bought into Bernhardt's arms and approached the child.

Pulling three copper coins from my pocket, I placed them on the boy's chest.

"Take this and buy food next time," I said quietly. "Stealing might cost you more than just coins here."

"W-why...?" he managed through bloody lips.

"I don't know why you'd resort to stealing when you have arms and legs, but take this money and get yourself something to eat." With that, I turned and walked away, slipping the money pouch into my space pouch immediately this time.

"W-wait!" The child picked up the copper coins and propped himself up with his arms, forcing himself to sit upright. "What's your name?!"

"Grimm," I replied, turning back as I exited the alley. Bernhardt followed closely behind me.

---

"Boss, why'd you leave that thief with money?" Bernhardt asked, chewing on the lamb leg with a puzzled expression as we walked through the bustling marketplace.

Letting him off was already lenient, after all.

"Hmm... I guess it's because life is tough for everyone. Besides, we got the money back."

I thought about it. If I were in a situation where I couldn't afford food, who knows what I might have done?

"But—"

"Hahaha! Who would've thought someone as big as you could chase down a thief so quickly, Bernhardt?" I teased, steering the conversation away.

I didn't want to dwell on my feelings—perhaps I was reminded of my own struggles in the past.

"Hahaha, of course!" The simple-minded Bernhardt quickly forgot the previous topic, laughing and chatting enthusiastically. The two of us continued eating and walking, finishing our hearty breakfast in no time.

Burp~

We let out satisfied belches.

To balance our meal, we bought two apples from a fruit stand. Along the way, my eyes roved over a few tailoring shops.

"That'll be two small copper coins in total. Here's your change."

"Let's go check out that tailor shop," I said excitedly, pocketing the eight small copper coins as I dashed towards the shop.

Inside the brick-and-stone house, a woman was weaving fabric at a large wooden loom. The shopkeeper displayed both cloth and ready-made clothes on wooden racks along the walls.

A child sat nearby, carving a wooden toy, their knife making soft scraping sounds against the wood. Judging by their lively and energetic expressions, this family seemed to lead a relatively self-sufficient life.

"Oh? Where did such young kids come from?" The tailor shop owner, having just finished assisting a customer, noticed us.

"We're here to buy clothes," I replied calmly.

"Buying clothes? How much do you have?" The tailor eyed us, looking a bit skeptical.

"Let's look at winter clothing first; the price is negotiable." I took out a silver coin from my pocket.

Initially reluctant, the tailor's attitude changed upon seeing the silver coin, and he began to introduce the items.

"Are you buying for both of you?"

"That's right."

"We only have two styles for kids..."

"True enough. Show us your best."

I briefly examined the options. Since it was the season for warm clothing, the ready-made garments were all fleece-lined. There were simple roughspun belted tunics and breeches for kids, as well as wool-lined coats, a few pairs of wool socks, and boots for adults.

"Of course, I can custom-make them to your sizes, but for boys, they grow quickly, so it's better to buy a size up," the tailor enthusiastically explained, much warmer now than earlier.

I thought it over and decided to try the clothing first. The tailor made a good point, and with the weather getting colder, continuing to sleep outside without proper clothes would almost certainly lead to illness.

"Can we try them on?"

"Of course."

Standing in front of a not-so-large bronze mirror, I saw myself in a roughspun, fleece-lined blue belted tunic with sleeves, paired with drawstring linen shorts, oversized wool socks, and short boots. The outfit gave me a fresh and spirited look.

"Not bad at all! How about this one?" The tailor nodded approvingly. 

I was also pleased. The feeling of wearing new clothes really was different.

"How much for this set?"

"Only 120 copper coins, but since you're young, I'll let it go for 100!" The tailor was straightforward.

I nodded; getting a full outfit for 100 copper coins was a great deal.

"Bernhardt, your turn. Go and try something on."

"Me? I really..." Bernhardt lowered his head, tugging at his clothes in embarrassment. He didn't have any money, and troubling me seemed to further make him feel utterly ashamed.

Noticing his hesitation, I patted him on the shoulder with a nonchalant smile.

After all, with my spatial storage at hand, I wouldn't starve even if I had no money. Clothes, however, were a different matter.

"Don't worry about it. If you catch a cold or get sick sleeping in the stables during the upcoming winter, who'll be my right-hand man? Don't forget, I'm injured right now! I still need help."

"Boss, I'll work hard to become stronger and repay your kindness!"

"Ouch! Damn it, you idiot!" Bernhardt had accidentally grabbed my injured shoulder, causing it to bleed a little again.

"Ah! I'm so sorry, Boss!"

Before I could react further, he quickly grabbed his set of clothes and scurried off to change.

Actually, when Bernhardt dresses up a bit, he doesn't look that bad, but this particular outfit is a bit too tight. I can see it barely containing his massive physique. It looks like if he were to bend over or make any sudden moves, the fabric might tear open, revealing the wool-like lining inside.

Like stuffing ten pounds of meat in a five-pound bag, I thought, trying not to smile.

"Uh… is it supposed to be this... tight?" Bernhardt shifted uncomfortably, trying to maintain his dignity.

The tailor suppressed a laugh, hiding it behind a polite cough. "Well, most customers aren't quite so... robust."

Bernhardt seemed to notice how ill-fitting the clothes were on his body and didn't dare make any big movements after putting them on.

"Better make a custom set for this kid… after all, this is just a one-size-fits-all," the tailor shop owner tactfully suggested to avoid further awkwardness.

"Alright, how long will it take to be ready?" I asked.

"About seven days… Hey, Ellie, how long will it take to finish the fleece-lined robe for this little guy?"

"I've got two customers ahead of him, so at least five days."

"Alright, come back and check with me in five days. Just have this young man be a little patient."

"Today's total is 100 copper coins, but you'll need to pay an extra 20 copper coins for this little guy's custom order," the owner added with a sly merchant's smile.

"Can't it be a bit cheaper?" I tried to bargain. "The fabric barely covers him. That means less material used, right?"

The tailor chuckled. "Clever, but that's not quite how it works."

"We might need to come back and buy some deeper winter clothes too," I mentioned.

"Well, that's just perfect! You'll definitely need leather jackets for that…"

After a series of recommendations from the owner, I found myself particularly impressed by the adult-sized leather jacket.

A thick fur coat like that would definitely be warm, though it looked a bit cumbersome to wear. We had our sizes taken and, thanks to some skillful bargaining, I only had to pay a 40-copper deposit upfront, with 80 copper coins left to pay later.

"You're really good at haggling, boss," Bernhardt said, impressed. "Father always said to keep a third for saving..."

"In this world, you need to think three steps ahead," I replied.

Even Bernhardt, who came from a merchant family, couldn't help but praise me. As for the leather jacket, we would surely use it sooner or later. The overall savings were significant, enough to buy ten lamb chops.

"No big deal. Save whenever you can."

I hadn't realized just how far a single silver coin could stretch—after all the purchases, I still had 33 copper coins and 8 small copper coins left.

I was starting to grasp the currency system of this world.

One gold coin had the purchasing power of 20 silver coins, while one silver coin was worth 160 copper coins. A single copper coin could be further divided into 10 small copper coins, often called "small Florins" in various regions.

Who would've thought Gunther was actually quite generous?

Humming a little tune, I prepared to buy some food for the afternoon.

It was already late in the day after running around so much. Maybe it was the slow digestion of the meat I'd eaten earlier, but I wasn't feeling very hungry yet.

Living in this era, I was already accustomed to eating only two meals a day. Buying some snacks seemed like a good idea. Even though it was autumn, the midday sun was still unbearably.

Following the scent, I arrived in front of a winery and a bakery.

Freshly baked white bread looked much finer and softer than the ordinary bread with no warmth in my storage. It was a luxury not often enjoyed by commoners or even poorer nobility.

They also sold some butter.

As long as you had money, you could live quite well, but along the way, I had seen many impoverished peasants and serfs who couldn't even afford hard, black bread. The smell of fresh bread probably seemed like torture to them.

Compared to the abject poverty in most parts of Midor, Weimar stood out as particularly prosperous.

Having gone so long without tasting wine, I couldn't resist the urge to try it. It would be a shame not to indulge in the unique medieval-style cuisine while I was here.

Draining the last bit of water in my canteen, I refilled it with sweet wine for four copper coins and eight small Florins. Upon closer inspection, the white bread turned out to be quite small—about half the size of regular bread—and yet one loaf cost a whopping 10 copper coins.

I bought two, and after adding a small portion of butter, about 20-30 grams, for another copper coin, my coin pouch was visibly deflated.

Though I felt a bit heartbroken over my dwindling funds, it seemed more important to eat something nice for now. After all, health comes first, and I hadn't had anything decent in years since arriving in this world.

My modern-era palate was feeling quite deprived.

---Third POV---

"Hehehe."

"Hahaha."

Children on the street were laughing and playing, some sharing their new toys, while others sat by themselves.

The contrast between their clothes told stories of their different backgrounds—some wore clothes covered in dust and dirt, while others were dressed more neatly.

But without exception, there was no sense of superiority or inferiority among these children. They only saw one another as equals, happily chasing and playing together in the narrow streets of Weimar.

A white-haired child walked into the alley. He wore a clean, fitted woolen shirt paired with gray linen pants and short boots, looking like he came from a well-off family.

The child was about 1.2 meters tall, with fair skin, silver-white hair, pale blue eyes, and a delicate, high nose. Below it was a soft, cherry-like mouth that was as endearing as it was lovely—a picture-perfect little beauty.

As he walked toward the group of children, he immediately stood out. Soon, many of the kids enthusiastically gathered around him.

"Hehe, Gerald, why do you look so down today? Where's your doll?"

Surrounded by his little friends, the gloomy Gerald was visibly upset. He had been unable to sleep since yesterday.

To him, that doll wasn't just his favorite toy—it was something very important. He had only just shown it off to his friends the day before.

"I bumped into someone and got it taken from me…"

He found a familiar stone step, sat down, and propped his face on his hands, looking miserable.

"What? Who?! Who dared to take something from you? That's outrageous!"

"Yeah, it's so unfair!"

The surrounding kids started chattering indignantly.

"What's his name?" they asked.

Gerald, however, noticed a blond-haired boy nearby whose face was a bit swollen. He must have been caught stealing again to provide for his sick mother.

Today, though, he seemed different from his usual quiet demeanor, as if something was on his mind.

With the kids pressing him for answers, Gerald decided to give it a try.

"He said his name was… Grimm?" Gerald responded hesitantly.

Grimm? The blond boy's pupils shrank slightly. Could it really be such a coincidence?

The boy suddenly perked up, staring at Gerald with an intense gaze. His thin hand gripped Gerald's shoulder.

"Do you know him, boss?"

Gerald was startled by the boy's sudden movement.

"If I knew him, I wouldn't be asking you. Have you seen him, Jan?" he asked, growing excited.

"If it's really the same person, then maybe I have!" Jan, the blond boy, winced as Gerald accidentally pressed on his injury. Thankfully, Gerald quickly released him, and Jan began recounting the events of the day.

The more Gerald listened, the more he felt it must be the same person. Without wasting any time, he gave his friends a description of the person's appearance and clothing and then set out with the group of kids to search the alleys.

Their mission: find Grimm and recover his doll.