Chapter 151: Adam (3)
Â
Two years have passed since Adam’s encounter with Gale.
Â
After burying his siblings and receiving training from Gale, Adam managed to significantly soothe his pain.
Â
However, one thing remained unchanged.
Â
His life’s purpose had shifted.
Â
He was now determined to fulfill the dreams his siblings couldn’t achieve.
Â
“...Such a foolish dream,” Gale revealed what was on Adam’s mind, but Adam was already aware of this truth.
Â
“...”
Â
“I know, Adam. There are many beast-like humans, but there are also many sincere ones like you. However, it’s the minority that ends up representing a group.”
Â
“...”
Â
“If a minority continuously presents the same facade, it eventually becomes the perceived identity of the entire species.”
Â
“...I know. That’s why I want to be part of that minority.”
Â
Adam thought about creating an influential group to build a good reputation, hoping it might gradually change the perception of his kind.
Â
He was aware this might not be the right answer.
Â
But it was the only struggle he could undertake.
Â
Thus, to achieve this dream, Adam parted ways with Gale at the onset of the war.
Â
He arrived in the nearest city, Barta, to look for someone who could help him.
Â
He needed money immediately. The idea of earning some in a mercenary group crossed his mind.
Â
If he could start his own mercenary group, he could also form a community of his kind.
Â
An interesting rumor was circulating in Barta.
Â
There was a member of his race causing trouble in the slums.
Â
Having experienced firsthand how hard it was to survive in the slums, Adam became curious about this individual.
Â
He inquired around, digging for information about this person.
Â
“Ah, that trash of the slums. It’s a sad story.”
Â
After asking dozens of people, someone finally mentioned feeling pity for him.
Â
“Really?”
Â
“His name is Berg, recently lost a loved one.”
Â
“................”
Â
At the mention of his name and story, Adam sensed a familiar scent.
Â
It felt as if his younger brother was still alive.
Â
...Of course, it was just a nonsensical tale concocted by Adam’s lingering attachments.
Â
Adam would clear his mind through breathing and then, he asked.
Â
It seemed like a good time to make use of the information.
Â
“Where can I find this Berg?”
Â
That was the beginning of Adam and Berg’s journey.
Â
****
Â
As Adam thought of Barta with Berg by his side, he was caught in a strange sense of peace.
Â
Even as he continued to fight, he kept an eye on Berg.
Â
It was fascinating to watch him.
Â
Being with him felt comfortable.
Â
...It was as if he could return to the self he was before losing his siblings.
Â
Sometimes, Adam knew he was acting foolishly.
Â
Even when sacrificing his comrades for a greater cause.
Â
Even when relentlessly pushing himself.
Â
Even as he thought only of ways to grow his group after the festival, he often felt like something within him was broken.
Â
But with Berg by his side, that strangeness seemed to diminish significantly.
Â
With Berg, he would drink during the day and sometimes just rest.
Â
It felt like he was reclaiming the everyday life he wished to have with his siblings, through Berg.
Â
Having another brother... brought great comfort to his heart.
Â
In fact, it might have been right to stop whipping himself into action, to finally let go of his departed siblings, and to yearn for a peaceful life.
Â
Watching how Berg lived, Adam began to wonder if he too could live a normal life.
Â
But why now, did this peculiar feeling arise?
Â
Why did it feel like he was nearing the finish line?
Â
“Hyung!”
Â
Berg sent a fleeting glance.
Â
Adam could understand his intention just by that look.
Â
Gale launched a swift attack, embedding his sword into Krund’s body, and with that strike, Krund flailed his arms violently, pushing Gale away.
Â
As Krund pointed a finger at Gale, knocked back, monsters that the Head Hunter unit hadn’t dealt with sprang forth to attack Gale.
Â
In that moment, Adam and Berg charged at Krund.
Â
Berg moved towards Krund with reckless abandon.
Â
Watching him, Adam thought that this might be the resilience of his kind his siblings wanted to show the world.
Â
The courage to risk one’s life for comrades, even in the face of death.
Â
The dedication to love one’s family, despite hardships.
Â
The tenacity to stand up again, despite pain.
Â
The purity of keeping promises to one’s spouse, despite suffering.
Â
Berg was strong, even without physical strength.
Â
Berg swung his sword towards Krund’s left arm.
Â
Adam took on Krund’s right arm, up close.
Â
It was an attack honed from facing the boss monster multiple times.
Â
-Swish!
Â
Berg was the first to slice through Krund’s left hand.
Â
Krund’s left wrist was severed, and blood began to spurt out.
Â
Adam plunged his sword into Krund’s right arm, pinning him down.
Â
But Krund’s eyes were fixed on Berg.
Â
Adam realized that Krund was preparing for something.
Â
-Swish!
Â
True to his suspicion, something sharp burst forth from the demon’s abdomen.
Â
The attack headed straight for Berg’s chest.
Â
Adam watched it all and smirked.
Â
Now he understood the strange feeling he had been experiencing.
Â
“...Not twice.”
Â
Adam whispered to himself.
Â
-Clack!
Â
Adam forcefully pushed Berg away,
Â
-Thud!
Â
And took the strike himself.
Â
*****
Â
I was frozen, seeing Adam Hyung pierced through the abdomen.
Â
Krund too paused, glaring at Adam Hyung.
Â
Krund attempted to retrieve his attack from Hyung, but Hyung, with resilient grip, wouldn’t let him go.
Â
“...Berg.”
Â
After Adam Hyung strained to whisper, I snapped back to reality and aimed for Krund’s throat.
Â
-Swish!
Â
Blood spurted from Krund’s throat.
Â
Krund staggered back, clutching at his neck.
Â
His panicked eyes darted between his hand and neck...then fixed on me.
Â
-Hissss...
Â
Krund said something to me, but with his throat punctured, only air escaped, and his words were inaudible.
Â
-Whoosh!!
Â
Then, Krund was suddenly sucked into a space that appeared behind him and disappeared.
Â
Though it’s normal for life-and-death battles to end abruptly, I couldn’t accept Krund’s disappearance and looked around bewildered for a while.
Â
The surrounding horde of monsters also began to scatter, as is common when their leader was killed.
Â
I struggled to comprehend the situation that had just unfolded.
Â
-Thud...
Â
It was only after hearing that sound that I had to face a reality I didn’t want to accept.
Â
Turning my head, I saw Adam Hyung, collapsed and bleeding out.
Â
“.....Hyung?”
Â
Adam Hyung managed a weak smile at that.
Â
“...It’s over now, Berg.”
Â
I hurried over to him.
Â
Kneeling by his side, I grasped his shoulder.
Â
It was unbelievable how much blood he was losing.
Â
Especially since it was in an effort to save me.
Â
It was a moment hard to accept.
Â
Adam Hyung looked down at his hands and the wound.
Â
Each time he chuckled, more blood spurted out.
Â
“...It’s the punishment I deserve...after all, I’m not the only comrade who’s died because of me...”
Â
I clenched my teeth.
Â
And as I pressed down on his wound in his stead, I shouted.
Â
“Baran!! Hurry over!!”
Â
But Adam Hyung ignored my plea and continued.
Â
“Berg, have I ever asked you this question?”
Â
His face looked relieved, yet his complexion grew paler.
Â
The more he spoke, the more anxious I became.
Â
“Tell me later. Now is not the-”
Â
“-What’s your dream?”
Â
“.....Hyung....save it for later...!”
Â
“There’s no other time but now, Berg.”
Â
Yet, Hyung said so calmly.
Â
“.......”
Â
I was left speechless.
Â
I, too, found myself looking down at my hands, pressing on Adam Hyung’s wound.
Â
His blood was flowing between my fingers.
Â
“...I guess not. We were careful with each other’s pasts...”
Â
I felt nothing but a pressing urgency, disbelief that this was reality.
Â
I wasn’t sad, nor did I feel like crying.
Â
I just resented Adam Hyung for saying such things.
Â
“....Somehow...not being able to fulfill my dream...feels relieving...or is it regret?”
Â
Hyung wore a complex expression, groaning.
Â
The arm supporting him grew heavier.
Â
I couldn’t come to my senses with this change.
Â
Time passed without me saying a word.
Â
“...I had siblings, Berg.”
Â
Adam Hyung suddenly shared with me.
Â
I could tell it was a story from his past.
Â
In his voice, as he shared, was a pain I had never heard before, making me feel a soreness I hadn’t been aware of until now.
Â
“...One named Hanna with a beautiful voice, and another, Eis, who was adorable...”
Â
I had always wanted to hear about his past, but I was just waiting for the right moment.
Â
Yet, as he revealed his past like this, I continued to feel a sense of unease.
Â
“...And then, there was Bergo, a brother too. The name’s similar, and he was the same age as you.”
Â
My throat tightened, leaving me unable to speak.
Â
I shook my head in denial of reality.
Â
Yet, I couldn’t dare take my eyes off Adam Hyung.
Â
“Actually...cough...I lived to fulfill my sisters’ dreams. It was a futile...dream, but it was all that was left for me...But recently, I started to think.”
Â
“...”
Â
“...What could have been Bergo’s dream? To have been a good brother to his sisters, to have been a good sibling to me...what did Bergo want to do?”
Â
His eyes captured me.
Â
“...What’s your dream...Berg.”
Â
“............”
Â
Should I answer? It feels like saying anything would signify a farewell, so I can’t bring myself to speak.
Â
I didn’t even know what to say.
Â
I had forgotten what my dream was a long time ago.
Â
So, instead, I said,
Â
Forcing my usual, everyday tone, as I always do.
Â
“....Someone might think you’re dying, Hyung.”
Â
But a quivering voice leaks through the smile.
Â
Hyung, in turn, gives back the kind of response he always does.
Â
“....Die....Why would...I...die.”
Â
But why did that sound like a lie?
Â
Hyung avoided my gaze with a smile in his eyes.
Â
His speech was slowing down.
Â
Many comrades crowded around us.
Â
The head hunter unit, Gale, Theodore, Krian...and other soldiers as well.
Â
Baran kneeled beside me, shedding tears.
Â
“...Captain.”
Â
Adam Hyung had become much paler.
Â
I, who hadn’t taken my eyes off him, realized this difference all too late.
Â
Adam Hyung struggled to move his eyes.
Â
Even that seemed difficult now.
Â
“...This...isn’t so bad.”
Â
“........”
Â
“...Feels like...dying like a hero.”
Â
I found myself begging him.
Â
“...Hyung...don’t do this.”
Â
I whispered tightly holding onto him.
Â
“.....Please.”
Â
Hyung let out a faint smile.
Â
His blood-covered hand, struggling to rise, touched my face.
Â
“...My... younger brother...”
Â
My face became soaked with Adam Hyung’s blood.
Â
He weakly looked up at me.
Â
“...........Hyung...I....”
Â
His breathing appeared laborious.
Â
These short words seemed like the last ones he could muster.
Â
The rest of his message was entirely in his eyes, Adam Hyung holding it all.
Â
We had spent so much time together that a mere look was enough to understand each other’s intentions.
Â
But this time, it was excruciatingly difficult. I couldn’t decipher what Adam Hyung wanted to convey.
Â
Perhaps it was because of my wavering heart, or maybe because this was a first for both of us.
Â
As his vision blurred, Adam Hyung couldn’t even look straight at me.
Â
The strength gradually left the hand touching my cheek.
Â
“.........I...believe.”
Â
With those words, still not fully understood by me, Adam Hyung closed his eyes.
Â
-Thud.....
Â
Soon, his hand also fell lifelessly from my face.
Â
A long breath left him.
– – – The End of The Chapter – – –
Â
[TL:Â Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release:Â https://www.patreon.com/readingpia