Scene — In a random village of Shin Kingdom, everyone has gathered at one place.At the center, three people sit on the ground—a father, a mother, and their son.All three are heavily injured, trembling, and terrified.The villagers stare at them with pure hatred.
A little distance away, on higher ground, one man stands watching and laughing.
Yuki: My name is Yuki… and this is my mom Cherry, and this is my dad Rake.I don't know why this is happening to us…But everyone in this village suddenly started hating us.They want to kill us.
Scene — The three are shaking. Their bodies are bleeding from injuries.
Villager 1: Beat them!! Kill them!!
Scene — Everyone picks up stones from the ground and throws them at the family.Blood splashes.
"AGH…" "A…" "AH.. AH.. AH..!"
Villager 2: Kill these monsters! Kill them!!
Rake: Agh..! W-why are you doing this to us…! Hah… hah… hah…! (crying)What did we do…!?
Villager 3: You are monsters!Your whole family is a monster family!We will never allow monsters to live in our village! Kill them!!
Rake: Aaaagh…!!!
Yuki: Agh..! M-mommy..! Mommy!!!
Cherry: Please..! Please spare my child…!Let him go…I… I beg you… I'll kneel, I'll bow, I'll do anything…Please let my son go…!!
Scene — A stone hits Cherry's head.
Cherry: Aaaa…!!
Yuki: M-mom..! Mommy!! MOMMY!!
Scene — Focus on the man standing far away, laughing.
That Man: Hehehe…They have that rare power.A power they should never have…If they unlock it… they will become extremely powerful… like real monsters. (whisper)
Scene — Rake gathers strength and shouts:
Rake: Y-Yuki… RUN!I'll come behind you with your mother!
Yuki: B-but papa…!
Rake: No questions!!J-Just run…!! sob sob sobAh.. ah.. ah…!
Scene — Yuki stands and runs.Stones hit him—his head, legs, face—everywhere.
Meanwhile Rake picks Cherry up, shields her with his body, and runs.More stones strike him, and the uncovered parts of Cherry also get hit.Cherry becomes unconscious from the stone that hit her head.
Rake: Aaah..! Hahh…! Hahh..!H-Help..! Someone help…!
Scene — With courage and sheer will, despite being hit again and again, Rake protects Cherry and keeps running.
After a while, the three finally escape far from the village.All three are brutally injured.Rake drops under a tree and gently lays Cherry down.After a few seconds, he collapses from blood loss.Yuki sits nearby crying.
Yuki: W-why…?!Why did this happen?!My… my family didn't do anything!!Why! Why! Why! Why! WHY?!That village was our home!Then WHY?!!!
Scene —Yuki age: 11Rake age: 34Cherry age: 32
Some time passes. All three slowly drift into unconsciousness.
Hours later, Rake wakes up first and sees himself lying on Cherry's lap.He stands up and sees Yuki also sleeping on Cherry's lap.Cherry has already regained consciousness.
Rake: A… are you okay, Cherry?
Cherry: Yes… (sad tone) I'm fine.Just some pain in my head and chest… but it'll go away.What about you?
Rake: I'm fine too.
Cherry: Liar…You got hit the most while protecting us.You need more rest.
Rake: This is not the time to rest. (serious tone)It'll be night soon…
Scene — Evening is turning into night, the sky darkening.
Rake: Once night falls, beasts and monsters will start appearing.We need to find a safe place before that.
Cherry: Yeah…And Yuki is exhausted…He experienced too much at such a young age… (crying softly)
Scene — Rake hugs Cherry, comforting her.
Rake: Happiness and sadness never last forever…They come and go.This sad time will pass too.Just hold on.Don't shatter… because if you break…What will happen to Yuki?What will happen to me…?
Cherry: sob sob Y-yeah…
Scene — After some minutes, all three stand and begin traveling.Darkness settles over the silent plains.Cold wind blows from the direction of the moon crack created during the fight between bili and Alien Y.
Suddenly—
"GROUR…"
It's Yuki's stomach.
Yuki: !
Cherry: Yuki, are you hungry?
Yuki:! N-no mom… I'm fine.
Rake (in his mind):Yuki… has really grown up… (sad & gentle)
Rake: Just a little more.We'll reach Agram City soon.Then you can eat as much as you want.
Yuki: Hmm…Papa… why did this happen to us?What did we do?
Rake: I don't know, son.
Yuki: Even our friends turned against us…Like we did something horrible…But I didn't do anything…
Cherry: I know…
Yuki: Then why?! Why did they do this?!… W-will we ever be able to go back there?
Rake: Yuki. (calm tone)Forget everything.Forget the people of that village.Start a new life.Take your first step toward your future.
Cherry: Rake… a little gently, please…
Rake: S-sorry…
Scene —They finally reach the border of Agram City and enter it.There, they start a new life.
Rake works as a cleaner at first—cleaning roads and saving money.With those savings, he opens a small restaurant.It's not very popular—only around 10–13 customers a day.Their monthly income is 1 silver coin and around 12–15 bronze coins.Life isn't great…But compared to before, it is better.
(WRITER NOTE)
With this chapter, 100 chapters are complete.I will take a small break.Because of this story, I wasn't able to continue my other novels.After a short rest, I'll continue this.The next chapter will be the School Tournament—You can also call it the National School Tournament.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT..!