Chapter 149: Adam (1)

Chapter 149: Adam (1)

-Clang!!

I was sent flying backward as I blocked Krunds strike.

The vibrations from the sword made my hands ring.

It was a vibration that brought on pain as if the bones in my hand were about to break.

Krund, having delivered a blow to me, was now looking up at the sky.

He stood there for a long while, as if he was sniffing the changed scent in the air, dazed.

I kicked off the ground and charged at Krund once more.

Krund, disturbed from his thoughts by my interference, continued the fight with me.

Our struggle was a fierce exchange, aiming only for each others lives.

I felt as though I had returned to my childhood.

This was the feeling I got every time I fought with other strong races in the slums.

The sensation of an insurmountable difference.

Yet, despite that, I could not retreat.

Krund kicked back, widening the distance between us once again.

In that brief moment, Krunds expression, as he looked up at the sky, began to distort.

....Ah...Ah...

I roughly wiped away the blood streaming down my forehead while observing Krund.

A single drop of red tear fell from Krunds eyes.

....The Demon King....

I too, finally looked up at the sky.

The battle had been so chaotic that I hadnt noticed.

The cry of a Sylphrien hawk filled the air.

...It seemed the Demon King had been successfully vanquished.

I realized that the long war had finally come to an end.

This moment marked a significant change.

Even as a gust of wind passed through my chest, the immediate dire situation made me think.

Baran, prepare to retreat!

Vice-captain I cant see....a way out....

I bit my lip as I heard Barans despair-filled response from behind me.

Find a way, somehow, Baran-

You cant escape.

That was when Krund, with eyes brimming with hatred and murderous intent, whispered.

The atmosphere around Krund, who had been shedding tears, changed.

Ive been conserving my strength all this time to approach the Demon King...but now, theres no need for that anymore.

-Kaboom!

Krunds body began to transform.

His slender body gradually became thicker and larger.

I will kill you, for the Demon King...

-Bang!

Krund charged, exploding off the ground.

I barely managed to draw my sword from its sheath and assume a defensive posture with it.

-Boom!

Yet, despite this, my body was launched into the air again by the shocks recoil.

I ended up roughly rolling on the ground.

It felt as though all the air was being sucked out of my body.

I couldnt breathe.

For a moment, my body couldnt muster any strength.

I forced myself to try and stand up by pushing off the ground.

But Krund didnt wait for me.

Suddenly standing before me, he raised his arm and whispered.

...Give my regards to the Demon King.

-Boom!!

As Krund swung his arm down, a cool breeze swept over my head.

A shadow appeared in front of me with a loud noise.

With the breath that barely made it through my throat, I felt alive.

I tried to identify the shadow that appeared before me.

...Are you alright, Berg?

At the sound of that familiar voice, I looked up.

Adam Hyung stood there, having blocked Krunds strike with his sword.

...Hyung?

-Swish!

Suddenly, Gale appeared, swinging his sword at Krunds side.

Get up, Berg!

Krund, engaged in a fight with Gale, drifted away for a moment.

During this, Adam Hyung reached out his hand and helped me to my feet.

I grabbed his hand and stood up.

My Hyung looked at me and smiled.

I tried to assess the situation by looking around.

...Why here....were we not retreating-

-Hah.

At my words, Adam Hyung began to chuckle softly.

It sounds like you wouldnt have blamed me even if I had left you behind.

....

He patted my shoulder.

...But where would I go without you?

....

...Catch your breath, Berg. Lets escape together.

With that, Adam Hyung turned back towards Krund.

****

From the moment Adam had memories, he was prone to deviating from the norm.

Despite having parents and a home, he lived that way.

In fact, he thought it might be natural for someone of his race.

Being born under the care of virtuous parents was considered a blessing among blessings for his kind.

At least, thats what Adam believed.

Looking around, it was rare to find humans who were kind to their offspring.

However, now responsible for his younger siblings, he couldnt be more worried.

The entire city viewed humans negatively.

Eastrock was a city dominated by werewolves.

Werewolves were the most populous, followed by lizardmen, then dragonians, and humans were among the least.

Being physically weaker was problematic enough, but it was compounded by the physical superiority of the surrounding races.

It was a setup all too ripe for victimization.

...

...

But Adam couldnt allow his younger sisters, who were looking at him with bright eyes, holding his hands tightly, to sense any of that fear.

It was only after they nearly starved to death that he realized.

That his family was all he had.

That they were the ones he needed to take care of.

So, he reassured them with a smile.

Of course, it wasnt without difficulties.

No...! Dont do it, Oppa!

Eis, let go of it.

Little Oppa, stop big Oppa too! Its dangerous!

...Hanna.

His younger sisters wished for Adam to stop resorting to theft.

Several months into their life together, it was their reaction upon realizing Adam had been sustaining them through thievery.

Bergo, too, looked at Adam with a furrowed brow.

He seemed to want to dissuade Adam, but understanding the harsh realities Adam faced, he couldnt do so as readily as his sisters.

Bergo tried to stand up for Adam.

...Stop it. Hes doing it for you guys.

No! What if the adults catch him? What if something goes wrong and he doesnt come back!

Im not eating anything you steal anymore...! Id rather starve!

Eis!

At Eis declaration that shed rather starve than eat stolen goods, Adam couldnt help but express his anger.

...Ugh...

However, his harsh words only made his younger sister burst into tears.

She, who never cried even when hit by their father, was sobbing uncontrollably.

Waaaah...! Waaaah...!

Adam, ultimately unable to win against his siblings, hugged them, nodding his head.

He didnt know how they would survive...but he had already decided to take responsibility for his siblings.

...Okay.

Sniff...Oppaaaaa...!

Okay, so stop crying, Eis. And you too, Hanna, stop it.

Adam finally spoke to comfort them.

...I wont do anything bad anymore.

But deciding to change wasnt enough to make things actually change, especially with the stigma against their race, and in Eastlock in particular, finding a lawful path was even harder for Adam.

Youre just a thug for some crime syndicate. Get lost, why would I give work to a human? Got scammed by one of your kind last time too!

Now youre involving kids too? Humans really are the worst.

Hey, arent you that thief from before?

No matter whom he asked for work, he faced nothing but negative responses.

It was likely that many of his kin had gone through similar experiences.

Bergo, too, had tried looking for work but found nothing viable.

...Its tough, Hyung.

This was what Bergo said before heading back to the corner of the slum where his sisters were resting.

...Why were we born as humans?

...

...Why are we always suspected first, no matter what we do?

Watching Bergo reveal his vulnerability only to him, Adam steeled his heart further.

Dont talk like that. Its not something we can change.

...Still...

Well be there soon. Act strong for Hanna and Eis.

...

Then Adam turned to his brother and said,

...Bergo. Dont forget.

...Forget what?

If I ever disappear, you have to protect our siblings.

...Youre not planning on going anywhere, are you?

Im not going anywhere. I mean if something happens to me.

...Okay. Got it, Hyung.

Adam ended up entrusting his siblings to Bergo and started attempting more daring endeavors.

He even sneaked into the citys library, thinking he needed to be smarter.

He followed people who looked wealthy, eavesdropping on their conversations, hoping for any crumbs of opportunity that might fall.

He also spread the word in various shops, asking to be notified if they needed help with anything, and earned a few coins by working for those who truly needed assistance.

He worked tirelessly almost every day.

Strangely, he hardly ever felt resentment.

As long as his efforts could fill his siblings stomachs, that was enough for him.

Years passed this way.

Adam gradually built a good reputation in the city, and Bergo also started to bring in some money on his own.

Through their efforts, Eis and Hanna grew up beautifully.

Adam, hoping his siblings wouldnt have to endure hardships, occasionally found teachers who could teach them skills.

Thus, Hanna learned to sing from the village bard, and Eis learned to dance from the village dancer, albeit only occasionally.

This led to the two younger sisters harboring dreams Adam could hardly have imagined.

Oppa, Hanna, and I have been talking.

This was when Eis was 11 and Adam was 16.

And weve come up with a dream.

Bergo and Adam listened intently to their sisters words.

What is it?

Taking over the conversation with a pure smile, Hanna said,

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

The End of The Chapter

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