Blooming Blue Spider Lily

"Oh? Wasn't that child stealing for the first time?" Although Rota knew these matters perfectly well, since this was his first time here, he tried not to act too strangely.

As the saying went, ignorance was no crime. Seeing that Rota was an old man unfamiliar with Hakuji's history, the stolen-from man's anger subsided somewhat.

The man explained to Rota with some helplessness, "Sir, you don't know this, but this child hasn't stolen money just once or twice. He's a repeat offender. If he isn't strictly disciplined, he'll probably become a menace when he grows up."

Rota shook his head in denial and slowly looked in the direction Hakuji had fled. "You can't judge everything by appearances. Why do you think a child would choose the path of theft?"

"Uh, well... it must be because he lacks proper upbringing!" the man answered without much conviction. In truth, he had never thought deeply about the matter. Theft was no good deed, after all, so naturally there was no reason to forgive it.

"Mm, that makes sense. But why do you think he lacks proper upbringing?"

The man was left speechless. Who had the spare time to think about so many questions? He was obviously the victim here, so how had he somehow become the perpetrator instead?

"Stealing is certainly wrong, but for such a young child to choose theft, there must be circumstances beyond his control. It's understandable. Have you ever tried to understand the situation that child is in?"

Rota's words rendered the man speechless. All he could do was raise both hands and look at Rota helplessly. "Fine, fine. I won't hold him accountable, but not everyone is as easy to talk to as I am."

"Mm, this old man understands. By the way, how much did that child