Ropal had wondered if it was really safe.
But when he saw them speaking with the children, they looked no different from ordinary people.
"Time to eat. Is it good? Wash your hands. Go to bed already."
They spoke to the children like mothers or older sisters.
The children also smiled, replied, and nodded happily.
Only after seeing that did he finally understand.
They were people.
"Since they started living here, they have slowly stopped being treated as objects and have become people. So, please."
He did not say what exactly he was asking for.
He did not explicitly say "do not mistreat them" or "do not use violence."
Just that single word, "please," carried more weight than anything else.
It seemed to contain many meanings.
It felt like a test, a warning, and also a plea all at once.
"They are..."
"What does it take to be called a person? Whose permission do you need to say you are human? Then are those called devil-like people not human at all?"
