“Have you figured something out?”
“…”
Having heard Ian’s question, Riley kept silence for a moment. He slowly shook his head and said,
“No, not exactly, but…”
Riley cringed and said ‘as I thought’ because Riley realized that what was happening in the Alieve Village was very similar to what he experienced in his past life.
‘This is pretty serious. When father gave me the assignment to save a village, I thought it couldn’t be, but now…’
As if Riley was not liking the situation that felt similar to what he experienced in his past life, Riley opened and closed his hand as he asked Malto,
“Five years or older… That means babies who are less than five years old are safe, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Malto nodded and gave an additional explanation about what the village’s men were up to.
“So, half of the village’s men are outside the village to be prepared against orcs that might invade at any time. The other half are standing guard on their own homes to protect the children under five years old.”
Having heard what Malto said, Ian turned his head again and examined the village’s scenery. His gaze met with a man through a window, and Ian narrowed his eyes as if he now understood what they were doing.
“It looks like everyone is on edges."
“That’s right. They couldn’t sleep at all through the night.”
“This means it is a total mystery as to when exactly the children disappeared.”
“The situation is not very good.”
Riley roughly scratched the back of his head.
‘This is trouble.’
Riley was taking it easy because it looked like his father was going to send Riley to a suitable, easy place for him. However, this was like getting struck by a lightning on a sunny day. Now, Riley had to be concerned with not just orcs, but also missing children.
‘In my past life, I chose to abandon the city. The city that I didn’t choose to protect was destroyed, and only the fallen city’s children came back in bizarre forms and indiscriminately slaughtered people.’
Riley took lessons from what he experienced in his past life. As he organized his thoughts, as if he determined he didn’t have enough information, he turned to the village’s leader and said,
“By any chance, can you show me something like the entire village’s map? It would be even better if it was something that shows the forest area outside the village as well.”
“Yes. I happen to have one hanging at my home.”
Ian realized the look on Riley’s face couldn’t be more serious. Without saying any words, Ian just followed Riley.
* * *
Riley liked children.
Actually, instead of saying he liked them, it was probably more accurate to say that he was feeling sorry and guilty toward them.
‘Mister… Mister… Who are you?’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
‘Fool… Cholok… Take a look at the sword I’m holding.’
[Note: Cholok is the sound effect for coughing]
‘Holy… Sword? Then, are you a brave warrior?’
‘… That’s right.’
Riley felt that way toward children because in his past life, because of the choice that he made, the fallen city’s countless children became murderous monsters against their will and shed tears of blood.
‘Hehe. That… is good… Mister… Then you came to… kill us?’
‘… That’s right.’
In his past life, in response to the question, Riley said ‘that’s right’ in cold voice. Riley was thinking about himself from that moment.
‘Yes…’
‘Fool. Why… Cholok… Why are you happy?’
‘I should be happy… Mister… You said you will stop us, so…’
‘Is that so? I guess that is right. You should be happy.’
Being swept up in the ploy by the devil, the children ended up having their hands completely tainted with the blood of people. The children, who were sliced off by Riley’s Holy Sword… Riley looked at them with emotionless eyes.
‘Mister… I have a favor to ask. Can I ask you just one favor?’
‘I am sorry, but I don’t take requests from monsters…’
‘We are not monsters.’
‘Mister, we are not monsters. Really.’
‘Huk… Mommy… I want to see mommy.’
‘…’
The children were crying, telling Riley that they wanted to see their mothers.
Watching the children, at that moment, for the first time, Riley thought that perhaps the real monster was not the children who were transformed but himself.
‘We are like this now because of you.’