Chapter 181 : Chapter 181

Chapter 181: The Half-wit and the Leader (2)

Though ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍he had never seen them directly, the half-wit knew.

Those ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍small, shabby humans lived inside that place.

There ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been a few who smacked their lips while looking at those hateful beings hiding inside.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍half-wit never imagined that the leader had endured pain and climbed up to look at humans.

Because ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of that, his curiosity grew even stronger.

Could ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there be something special hidden in that box besides humans?

So the half-wit waited.

The sunlight grew stronger and his skin stung more, but his anticipation grew in proportion.

If he’s enduring this much pain, it must be something really, really amazing!

It was when the half-wit’s anticipation was swelling without end.

CREEEEAK---

A small hole opened in the box.

Contrary to the half-wit’s expectations, what emerged from inside was just a human.

A slightly bigger human, and a slightly smaller human.

What? They’re humans.

Though it was rare, there were humans who passed through the forest on the opposite side at night, so the half-wit had also seen humans from far away before.

It was a little strange that a hole had suddenly opened in the box, but that was all.

Deflated, the half-wit turned his gaze back to the leader.

And in that instant, the half-wit’s growing anticipation burst with a pop.

Because he realized that what the leader had been waiting for was those insignificant humans.

The burst anticipation scattered into pieces, impossible to stitch back together.

He could not deny that what the leader had wanted to see while enduring this pain was those two humans.

Because the leader’s two eyes were sparkling as he looked at them.

***

That day, the half-wit could not sleep during the day.

He could not understand exactly what he had seen.

Why had the leader sneaked out like that just to look at something like that?

Just to see two humans.

After his slow head repeated thought after thought, the half-wit came to one conclusion.

He must want to eat those two humans.

Thinking about it, he had never eaten a human before.

He had only eaten animals that grew on the island. He had never eaten a human.

So he’s observing them to hunt those two!

Right. The leader was very good at hunting.

***

In the early morning, the half-wit came out and observed the two humans together with the leader.

The sight of them fishing, cutting wood, fighting, laughing, and each other.

The half-wit noticed that the slightly bigger human limped.

It seemed his leg was uncomfortable.

What, then there’s no need to look any further!

There was nothing easier to catch than injured prey.

If it were the leader, he would definitely hunt the bigger one before the smaller one.

Because the leader was an experienced hunter.

As he observed the prey together with the leader, a few things began entering his eyes.

The small human took care of the big human with the bad leg every time.

What came to mind was his very first memory.

The leader’s rough hand that had pulled him up while he writhed in pain.

For some reason, the half-wit thought it felt strange.

That day, the half-wit lost sleep again.

***

The half-wit realized it that day.

The leader was not watching the two for the sake of hunting.

The leader, that is, my hero...... was envious of those humans.

Now, he felt as if he vaguely understood why the leader had saved him.

Had he wanted to try imitating those two?

With his heart strangely restless, the half-wit lost sleep for several more days and failed to bring back much from the hunt.

Though he had never been very good at hunting in the first place.

Still, remembering the leader’s advice, he barely managed to steal a bird’s nest.

When the half-wit returned to the group holding a nest with eggs inside, he froze at a suffocating tension different from usual.

Something was strange.

A feeling that was like usual, yet not like usual. An atmosphere so sharp it made his skin sting.

Feeling his heart pound uneasily, the half-wit moved toward the center.

As he whined and pushed through the group to get closer to the leader, he saw the leader through the gaps between the orcs, and the orc standing in his way.

He instinctively knew that something frightening was about to happen.

And that if things continued like this, the leader would die at that orc’s hands.

Of course, he also knew that this was an extremely natural phenomenon.

......But the half-wit did not want the leader to die.

The half-wit pushed through the orcs.

The half-wit, who rushed forward blindly, did not think deeply.

He had something in his hand he could throw, and the target had been decided, so there was no need to hesitate.

The fresh bird egg flew in an arc and struck the orc’s head.

The orc, suddenly covered in sticky liquid, burst into anger.

Behind the raging orc, he thought he saw the leader’s faint smile.

***

But no matter how desperately one held on, time passed, and a body that had aged once did not return.

As the days passed, the leader weakened, and more of those who saw him not as a leader to follow, but as a target to defeat and eat, increased as well.

With anxiety like walking on a blade, the half-wit finished hunting first every day and returned to the burrow.

Though the leader grew frustrated every time the half-wit came back carrying shabby prey.

Even if he heard nagging every day, the half-wit still wished that days like this would not end.

Foolishly, he thought it could be that way.

The half-wit’s vain hope and delusion shattered to pieces overnight.

Without even a common warning or sign.

No, perhaps the half-wit had only pretended not to see them, and every situation until now had been sending him a warning.

That what he cherished would be ruined while he looked away because he could not overcome his fear, so he had to choose one of the two.

Run away, or stand and fight.

Before the leader, who was helplessly having his neck torn while unconscious, the half-wit thought that.

The shabby bird he had brought back halfheartedly, as usual, fell from his hand and rolled across the floor.

With his vision turning white, the half-wit charged at the orc who was opening his mouth toward the leader’s neck once again.

The orc, struck by the sudden attack, rolled across the floor.

-Kkwek. Y-you damned bastard......

The enraged gaze turned toward the half-wit, but only for a moment.

As if the half-wit was no longer visible to him, the orc turned his body toward the leader.

His murderous eyes would not leave the leader.

At that chilling sight, the half-wit squeezed his eyes shut and pushed him down the cliff with all his strength.

But the half-wit, who had never even properly hunted in his life, did not have enough strength to drop the enemy into the abyss.

The moment he confirmed the orc, who had been falling along the cliff wall, grabbing onto the wall, the half-wit realized it.

That was not an opponent he could defeat.

He had to run.

The half-wit rose while supporting the leader, but there was nowhere to run with the limp leader.

Even in the short time he hesitated, the bastard aiming for the leader grew closer and closer.

In the moment when he could neither do this nor that, what entered the half-wit’s eyes was the waterfall.

Having experienced falling once before, the half-wit knew there was a space below where one could hide.

But they could not hide inside forever.

The opponent was strong, clever, and above all, persistent.

He had to turn the opponent’s attention away from the leader.

To do that......

After barely pushing the leader into the cave, the leader’s sword entered the half-wit’s eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, the half-wit lifted the sword.

His arm would grow back anyway.

If he ate well and rested well, since the leader was strong, it would definitely grow back.

The half-wit squeezed his eyes shut and swung the sword.

The familiar smell of blood was strangely nauseating.

But a more difficult task remained for the half-wit.

The best way to lure the bastard, and the way to turn that frightening orc’s anger toward himself in case something happened. To carry out the most disgusting method.

Calming his trembling body, the half-wit opened his mouth before the leader’s neck.

The half-wit chewed and swallowed the nauseating smell and flesh.

Then, holding the leader’s arm, he left the cave as he was.

The half-wit, who rushed out of the cave, ran and ran toward the entrance.

When I come back, I’ll take the leader and run away.

When I come back, then I’ll live while pretending to be human like the leader wants.

***

The moment Ria regained consciousness, we all decided to gather under the shade of a tree and discuss what came next.

Ria looked a little exhausted, but other than that, her physical condition seemed quite fine.

At least compared to me, who was being carried on Jing’s back like luggage again.

“Ran. Never, never do something that risks your life alone again. If you’re going to do it, tell us in advance, or at least send a signal. If you do it again, I’ll bend your joints outward so you can never do something like that again.”

Ria, leaning against a tree trunk, greeted me with a bloody warning.

Jing cleared his throat and glanced back at me.

“It is somewhat frightening, but I agree with Ria’s opinion.”

“That isn’t something Jing should be saying. You nearly died this time too, didn’t you?”

Ratel, who was following behind me, scolded him.

“That’s right! Jing, you’re the same! If this happens again, Ratel should break Jing’s joints!”

“Considering Jing’s age, injuring his joints is too cruel a punishment.”

Ratel spoke as if showing mercy.

“We should cleanly snap his bones instead. That way, sturdier new bones will grow.”

“I was wrong, so both of you should stop thinking about what to do with our bones. Besides, breaking bones so sturdier bones grow? Where did you learn such a strange folk remedy?”

Jing set me down while stopping the two, but Ratel was persistent.

“I know because I tried it myself. Bones grow harder the more they heal back together.”

“That is because it is you. Originally, bones become weaker the more they break.”

“How does Jing know that?”

“Of course I know better. I have lived several times longer than you, so as for breaking people’s bones, I must have broken several times more than you.”

“It must be so nice being old.”

“Wait, why did Jing have so many occasions to break perfectly fine people’s bones?”

While a discussion unfolded on whether people’s bones truly became stronger the more they broke, I walked on my knees, settled under the shade of the tree, and looked around.

Seeing the peaceful three sharing such pointless conversation made it feel real all over again.

That no one had died, and everyone had returned alive.

And that from now on, I had no choice but to share the journey with them.

And for that, there were things I still had to confess to them.

Before that, I had to end this nutrient-free conversation first.

“Bones don’t become sturdier even if they break dozens of times, so stop. And don’t even think about testing it.”

As someone who had tasted the essence of modern medicine, I prevented a possible future disaster.

“If you know that so well, then you’d better not act however you please from now on. Unless you want your leg bones experimented on.”

Then this time, Ratel changed the target of the curse to me.

What experiment? He just meant breaking my legs.

“That’s what I should be saying. Until all the holy objects are destroyed, if you just stop suddenly interfering, the probability of me having to take risks will drop much lower.”

When I shot back, wrinkles began forming between Ratel’s brows.

“Um, well...... I still don’t really understand this situation. Someone please explain.”

Before Ratel could speak, Ria carefully raised her hand and said that.

Well, if one looked at it that way, the most confused one among us was probably Ria.

Because she had followed us without knowing anything from the beginning, and had gone through far too much.

“First, I’m sorry. The reason I didn’t explain in advance was because I couldn’t trust Ria.”

At my honest answer, Ria’s shoulders visibly flinched.

“No. It would be more accurate to say I couldn’t trust anyone in this world.”

“Are you really gathered to destroy the Emperor’s...... holy objects?”

Ria, who had been looking over us with a complicated face, asked while slightly stammering.

There was no point in hiding the truth any further.

Ria had become too deeply involved with us to pull her foot out now.

If she was going to learn the truth anyway, it was better to end it short and heavy.

“Destroying the holy objects is only a process. The real goal is separate.”

I met Ria’s shaking eyes and continued speaking.

“We intend to exterminate the Imperial Family.”