The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

The city of the capital sprawled around Aestrea as he walked through the bustling market streets before he reached a huge shopping center.

Without a second thought, Aestrea reached down and took both children by the hands, catching them by surprise.

They flinched but followed silently.

Ring~

He marched straight into the nearest clothing store, the bell above the door chiming lightly as they entered.

The clerk—a young woman with meticulously styled hair and an apron pristine enough to blind—looked up at the sound of the door.

Her face lit up at the sight of Aestrea, as he looked like some kind of high noble.

Her eyes gleamed slightly, the kind of look reserved for customers of importance.

"Good day, sir," she said with a bright, practiced smile, stepping toward him.

"Welcome to our store. We have the finest silk and cashmere—perfect for someone of your status."

But as her gaze flickered downward to the two children—filthy, gaunt, and in rags—her expression changed with barely concealed disdain.

She straightened her back, her smile faltering as she eyed them, clearly put off by their unkempt appearance.

"I'm looking for clothes... for them," he said, gesturing at the children.

The clerk hesitated, her gaze switching between Aestrea and the children, and her smile faltered into something colder.

"Sir, with all due respect, those children..." she started, trailing off.

Her tone shifted, condescending.

"I'm afraid their current... state would give our store a rather... poor outlook."

She made a subtle but deliberate gesture toward the children, her eyes narrowing slightly, dismissing them.

Aestrea's eyes instantly narrowed.

『 Cleanse 』

A silver light enveloped the children.

Their hair, tangled and dirty moments before, now fell neatly around their shoulders, clean and smooth. Even their skin seemed to glow with vitality, the grime and exhaustion melting away as if it had never been there.

The children blinked, their wide eyes looking up at Aestrea in confusion.

The clerk froze, her mouth hanging open.

Then, Aestrea finally spoke again.

"If you don't want to sell clothes to these children. I'll simply go to your rival down the street," he said simply.

The clerk swallowed hard, a shiver running down her spine.

It wasn't exactly a suggestion—it was a warning.

She hesitated.

But as Aestrea's cold stare bore into her, she remained silent, unwilling to lose a high-paying customer, yet too proud to relent.

Aestrea didn't give her a second glance.

Without another word, he turned and guided the children out of the store. The clerk's face tightened upon seeing them walk away until they arrived at the rival store.

The rival store was a small but upscale boutique, decorated in soft velvet and polished oak. As Aestrea entered, the air felt quite different.

Instead of having an expensive 'air', it had a more comfortable one.

The shopkeeper, an older man with a polite smile, greeted them immediately.

"Good day, sir. How may I assist you?"

Aestrea nodded.

"Clothes. For them," he gestured toward the children.

The shopkeeper nodded immediately, his gaze softer as he saw the children.

"Of course, right away. Let me show you something fitting for the children."

The children, still processing the sudden shift in fortune, were hesitant as the shopkeeper gently guided them toward a series of exquisite tunics.

Aestrea remained silent, observing them as they tried on the garments—an intricate red and yellow jacket for Ruli, and a pale blue tunic for Leaf.

They looked different now—radiant, almost noble.

Their delicate features were now framed by the rich fabrics, and for the first time, they looked like they belonged to the noble society.

Aestrea barely blinked as he watched them, but his lips curled slightly.

"Perfect."

The shopkeeper, sensing the moment of approval, immediately began to gather more clothes.

Aestrea didn't hesitate, purchasing everything—the fine tunics, leather boots, and even ornate cloaks, the deep green velvet nearly matching the children's eyes.

The total cost was staggering.

The clerk's eyes widened at the price, but Aestrea didn't flinch.

"Card," he said flatly, handing over a black, luxurious credit card containing his name.

The clerk's smile was immediate.

"Thank you, sir," he said, bowing.

"Your transaction is complete. A most... generous purchase."

Aestrea turned and walked toward the door without a second glance at the stunned clerk, the children following closely behind, their new clothes now shining under the dim light of the store.

As they exited, Aestrea made sure to pass right in front of the other boutique.

The clerk—the one who had scoffed at them—looked up just in time to see Aestrea, the children now radiant, walking in the finest clothes.

Her jaw dropped.

She blinked, staring in disbelief as they walked past her store.

The image of the children—once dirty, now looked like the children of noble blood.

She swallowed, but her throat felt dry.

Aestrea smiled faintly.

He glanced down at the two children walking quietly beside him.

"You guys must be hungry, right?" he asked casually, not looking at them.

Both children hesitated, eyes darting to the ground, unsure of how to respond.

But then...

Growl~

A low growl echoed aloud.

Leaf's stomach rumbled loudly, an embarrassing reminder of how long it had been since they had eaten.

Her face flushed a deep red as she quickly lowered her head, hands clasping nervously in front of her.

Ruli, noticing the shift in her friend's demeanor, instinctively stepped in to protect her, trying to cover her blushing face with a slight gesture of her hand.

Aestrea's lips twitched, and a soft chuckle escaped his throat.

"Pfff..." he couldn't help but laugh.

"Let's go to the street market," he added with a faint smile.

It didn't take long to reach it, since it was pretty much connected to the huge shopping center nearby.

And upon reaching it, the children's eyes lit up.

The market was a feast for their eyes.

Colorful stalls lined the streets, each offering a variety of fresh fruits, steaming meats, and sizzling treats.

The air was thick with the scent of spices and cooked food, and the chatter of the crowd filled the atmosphere with energy.

Ruli and Leaf's eyes widened as they took in the endless array of delicious-looking food, almost salivating as they looked at it.

The sight of skewers piled high with grilled meats, fruits dipped in sugary syrup, and golden fried pastries seemed to captivate them both.

Ruli's mouth watered as she peered longingly at a stall laden with skewers, while Leaf nervously walked along with her, her hands still tightly clasped.

Seeing this, Aestre turned to the nearest food stall—a modest little setup run by a young commoner girl, her hands busy as she turned skewers over a sizzling grill.

Immediately, a kind smile appeared on Aestrea's face.

Hearing his steps, he girl looked up, her eyes brightening as she saw him.

She straightened, though her expression was still that of a humble vendor.

"Skewers for the little girls," Aestrea said with a small smile.

"How much?"

The girl blinked in surprise but quickly recovered.

"Five bronze coins for each skewer, sir."

Aestrea's gaze softened briefly as he looked at the children standing behind him, their eyes filled with hunger and hesitation.

He nodded once, reaching into his coin pouch.

Without hesitation, he slid a gold coin across the counter.

The girl's eyes widened in disbelief.

"S-Sir, this is too much..." she stammered, clearly overwhelmed by the generous gesture.

But Aestrea only smiled faintly.

"Keep the change."

The girl was too stunned to argue, and with trembling hands, she passed him the skewers.

"T-Thank you, sir."

Aestrea nodded and turned away, offering the skewers to the children.

He crouched down in front of them as he opened his mouth.

"Here," he said quietly, handing them each a skewer.

"It's okay. You don't need to be shy."

For a moment, the children hesitated, looking at the food as though unsure if it was truly theirs.

'...Ah. This is more troublesome than I thought it would be. What did these two little children pass through to be like this?'

Then, their gazes turned to Aestrea for a moment.

With a small glance at each other, Ruli and Leaf slowly took the skewers, their hands shaking just slightly.

As they bit into the warm, juicy meat, their eyes lit up with surprise and delight.

The food was perfect for them—soft, tender, and bursting with flavor.

It had been so long since they had tasted something like this, their weary bodies and empty stomachs finally being satisfied.

The children ate the skewers eagerly, their eyes lighting up with every bite. Aestrea watched them for a moment, the small smile on his lips slowly fading as he let out a soft sigh.

He reached out and gently patted their heads.

"Eat slowly. No one's going to take the food from you."

The children didn't say anything, but the way they looked up at him—eyes filled with quiet gratitude—spoke louder than words ever could.

After a while, Aestrea led them through the market, letting them stop at the food stalls they'd been eyeing.

He watched as their faces lit up with excitement every time they spotted something new. They wanted to try it all, and he let them.

There was no hurry, no rush—just a peaceful walk as the children slowly began to open up.

They didn't talk much at first, but every now and then, they would glance at him with shy smiles or nod in approval when they found food they liked.

It was small, but Aestrea could tell they were slowly starting to feel at ease.

As the sun began to dip and the sky turned from blue to orange, Aestrea led them to a nearby hotel.

He walked up to the counter and paid for a room with two beds—one for him, and one for the kids.

The clerk gave him a strange look but said nothing.

"Here," he said to them as they stepped into the room.

"You can sleep here tonight."

Ruli and Leaf looked around, eyes wide.

It wasn't fancy, but it was safe and warm, and for the first time in a long while, it felt like they could relax.

Aestrea sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes following them as they settled down.

The children were still adjusting to everything, still a little nervous, but Aestrea could tell they were starting to trust him, just a little more.

"Alright, time for bed," He said calmly.

"I'll tell you a story to help you sleep."

He didn't ask if they wanted one; instead, he simply started telling one from his planet.

It was the little story about Hansel and Gretel.

As he spoke, the children slowly lay down as their eyelids grew heavy.

They didn't need to say anything.

They were already listening to his voice, soothing them into a peaceful sleep.

Aestrea finished the story and, for a moment, just sat there, watching the children.

He made sure they were comfortable before slowly lying down himself.

"Hah..."

He let out a deep sigh.

Then, he closed his eyes for a moment, sending a quick message to Lumi.

I'm fine. Things are going well. Might have added a few children to our group. I'll be back in a day or two.

After that, he lay back and closed his eyes.

He wasn't going to sleep.

He was going to meditate all night to fully recuperate his mana.