Chapter 150: Adam (2)

“...To create a world where humans are not looked down upon.”

“.........”

Adam couldn’t help but let out a sardonic laugh at that absurd statement.

For someone constantly clashing with reality, there couldn’t be a more preposterous notion.

There was a reason their kind had such a reputation.

Even Adam himself had started to doubt his own people.

Were the people of Eastrock inherently more vile?

It seemed there were countless among their kind who were beyond redemption.

“Why are you laughing?”

Eis frowned at Adam’s mockery.

Adam wondered where to even begin explaining.

But then, why should he shatter what seemed like the innocent dreams of a child? It was as if they were proudly declaring they wanted to be princesses.

Hanna, being slightly older, added her own explanation.

“We always get looked down upon because we’re from the human race.”

“...”

“I’ll sing and Eis will dance to show that our kind can be wonderful too.”

Watching Hanna speak, Adam felt a lump in his throat.

It felt like a reward, just to be acknowledged for their efforts.

But in truth, Adam was content with this life.

Despite the daily hardships, having his family was all he could wish for.

He dreamed of growing up, marrying a beautiful woman, and having children of his own.

“I think it’s a good dream.”

Bergo commented from beside him.

Adam glanced sideways at Bergo.

Having tasted the bitterness of the city himself, Bergo could have been expected to be cynical, but he showed no such signs.

Was he protecting his siblings’ innocence... or did he truly believe in them?

It was unclear, but as always, Adam thought Bergo was being the better brother to their siblings.

And just like that, Adam turned 17.

...That day came without warning.

Returning to confront his siblings in the slums, he was met with an eerie silence.

Usually, his sisters would have greeted him by now, but they were nowhere to be seen.

“…?”

It didn’t take long for Adam’s confusion to turn into sheer horror.

For he found his siblings lying on the ground.

“Hanna!!! Eis!!!”

Adam rushed towards them in panic.

Their makeshift home was in ruins.

Hanna and Eis lay sprawled, covered in dirt and bruises.

Adam, with trembling hands, reached to lift Hanna first.

“Hanna...! Wake up!!”

Struggling, Hanna opened her eyes at Adam’s touch.

With a bloodstained face, she managed a smile.

“....Ah...big oppa...”

“.......”

Adam cradled Hanna, overwhelmed.

Her entire body was in a bad state.

It felt like bones were broken all over.

Adam, struggling to hold back tears, asked Hanna, “What happened? Tell me, Hanna...”

“…A group of different races…”

“…”

“…they came and took everything... I’m sorry... oppa”

“What?”

“…All the money you had saved was stolen…”

Seeing Hanna apologize even in such dire circumstances, tears began to flow from Adam’s eyes.

A rage, fueled by stories he had only heard in passing, began to rise within him.

Seeing Adam trying to hold back his tears, Hanna asked, “…What about Eis…?”

Adam glanced at Eis and then, clenching his teeth, forced a smile for Hanna.

“Just lie down for a bit, Hanna. Everything will be alright. I’m going to check on Eis.”

“…Okay… Eis must be… hurting a lot too…”

Adam, suppressing his burgeoning rage, carefully laid Hanna down.

How badly had they been beaten for Hanna to say such things?

Adam then pulled Eis into his arms and called out to her, “…Eis… wake up…”

“…”

“…Please, wake up…”

Eis, too, managed to open her eyes at Adam’s pleading.

Blinking with difficulty, Eis said, “…Ah.”

“Yes, Eis. It’s me.”

“…I missed you… Oppa…”

Adam, pressing his forehead against Eis’, whispered, “I’m here now…”

“…Oppa… Go stop Bergo…”

“What?”

“…He went to get revenge… That’s what he said… You have to stop him…”

Only then did Adam realize why Bergo was nowhere to be seen.

He had been about to resent Bergo for leaving them behind, wondering where he had gone.

Despite this, Adam held Eis tightly and pleaded, “Once you both are better, I’ll go. So, hang in there a bit longer. Stay with me.”

Eis smiled at his words.

Her eyelids became too heavy to keep open, slowly closing.

“…Oppa…”

Eis’ words came out in a whisper, barely audible from the effort.

“…The others kept hitting us... kept saying because we’re from human race… because we’re from human race, they kept saying…”

“Stop, Eis. Focus on resting for now. I’ll… I’ll find a doctor. We’ll get help.”

But Eis continued as if she hadn’t heard, “But… I feel so wronged… Oppa. I… I lived a good life, didn’t I?”

-Drip-drop.

Tears fell from Adam’s eyes, the fading hope becoming more palpable.

Adam forced a smile for Eis, as if that would somehow restore her strength, “…I know, Eis. I know how good you are… how much…”

“…Why… Why did we have to be beaten like this… just because we’re from human race…”

Trembling, Eis extended her pinky finger.

Her voice grew fainter.

Her breathing weakened.

Her body was gradually becoming colder.

“...A... promise...”

“What?”

“...A dream...”

-Thud.

Soon, Eis fell silent.

Strength left her body.

Even though Adam knew what she was trying to say, he kept asking, longing to hear her voice again.

“Eis, you have to finish what you’re saying. What is it?”

But Eis would not open her mouth again.

With her beautiful eyes closed, she lay limp in Adam’s arms.

-Thud... thud...

Adam’s tears continued to fall onto Eis’ face.

Holding onto Eis, whose life had slipped away, Adam could do nothing but cry.

Adam then approached Hanna.

After letting go of Eis with difficulty, he called out to Hanna.

“...Hanna. Eis is...”

But then, Adam froze.

Hanna, too, had already embraced death.

Something shifted in Adam’s mind.

Had he ever experienced anything more painful?

He felt himself losing to an insane mix of rage and sorrow.

In a daze, Adam left his sisters and stood up.

After covering them with a warm blanket, he moved on.

Bergo had left to seek revenge.

That was all Adam could think about.

Before long, he was running wildly.

Looking around the slums, he searched for the direction in which his brother might have gone.

Soon, he heard the sounds of a loud commotion.

The sound of someone being severely beaten reached his ears.

Adam followed these sounds as markers.

Then, he found his brother.

-Thwack!

A sharp, spear-like splinter of wood was deeply embedded in Bergo’s abdomen.

Blood burst forth, the scene slowly imprinting itself in Adam’s eyes.

...He couldn’t remember what happened next.

When he came to his senses, four corpses lay around him.

Two werewolves, one dwarf, and one dragonian.

Adam approached Bergo and looked down at him.

Bergo, gasping harshly, asked, “…The kids?”

“…”

Tears of blood streamed down Adam’s blood-soaked face.

“...They’re safe.”

Adam lied.

Bergo nodded and let out a sigh.

“Thank goodness... thank goodness...”

“...”

“...Hyung... I’m sorry...”

Bergo then offered an apology.

“...I should have protected them when you weren’t here...”

Adam shook his head.

“You did protect them. So hang in there. The kids will be sad without you.”

“...Eis... her leg was injured... will she be able to dance...?”

“She will. So...”

“...Hyung...”

Adam attempted to lift Bergo, but paused at his call.

A single tear then streamed down Bergo’s face.

It was a tear of frustration and suppressed anger.

“...Why... were we born so weak...”

“...”

“If only I had a bit more strength...”

The light faded from Bergo’s eyes.

His head drooped down as his strength left him.

Adam stared blankly at Bergo.

An endless stream of tears fell from his eyes.

It was a moment that changed the reason Adam lived.

.

.

.

After laying his siblings to rest in the same space, Adam, holding a small dagger he had found in the slums, headed toward the city.

Why did their kind have such a bad reputation?

Adam felt he now understood.

It was unclear who started it, but the cycle of hatred was already in motion.

Everyone hated their kind, so their kind hated everyone in return.

It was unjust, but he had no thoughts of resisting anymore.

If it was unjust, then it was simple to make a reason for the hatred.

-Click!

But that resolution was easily halted.

Suddenly, a dragonian man standing behind Adam asked, holding the dagger Adam had.

“What were you planning to do with this?”

Adam lunged at the dragonkin man to retrieve the dagger.

However, the dragonian man easily kicked Adam’s legs out from under him, causing him to fall.

As Adam tried to stand, the man delivered a kick to his torso.

Adam collapsed, unable to breathe.

“I know that look.”

The dragonian man said.

“...You’ve had a tough time, huh? Maybe it’s fate that we met like this.”

After catching his breath, Adam immediately stood up and charged at the man.

The dragonian man, watching Adam, whispered.

“...Looks like I need to lay you down to talk.”

Adam was endlessly beaten by his opponent, falling to the ground.

Fighting until he was too exhausted to move, until his body wouldn’t listen, the pain of losing his siblings returned.

Adam, crying endless tears, looked at the dragonian man pointing the scabbard at his neck.

“...What’s your name?”

The man asked, but Adam spat out blood-stained saliva in response.

“I’m just trying to help.”

Still, the man maintained his composure and said,

“My name is Gale. I serve as a guide to those who are lost.”

“...”

“You seem like you could use some help.”

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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