ranslated by Appleot
Edited by Appleot
Chapter 15.2:
For some reason, my heart feels so empty, and even if I drink water, food seems to keep getting stuck in my throat. When I first met Serpence, I would have laughed inside, saying it’s ridiculous, but now I can’t.
He is neither the final boss in the novel nor the scapegoat for the continent. He’s only a person. He is just a child, unable to grow mentally. As long as I chose to understand him, it won’t just be about me wanting to live and wanting the world to be peaceful…
‘I want him to be happy too.’
Not acting, seriously. After the meal, Serpence went into the Director’s office to talk, and I was left behind among the children.
“Hey guys, hello?”
Seeing so many children looking at me alone with curious eyes, I was really nervous.
First of all, I greeted them with a smile as bright and kind as possible.
“It’s weird to see you smiling!”
“The old man who came before was scary, but this man is such a fool!”
I almost got hurt a little. However, the children said it’s funny, they smiled, held my hand, and invited me to play together with them, so I thought it didn’t matter. What if it’s weird, the kids like it, it’s fun!
‘But why do I still feel a little sad…’
Serpence came out of the director’s office and joined as we builded towers with blocks, hugged them, and played with them.
Serpence sat a child on his lap and read to him a storybook. Meanwhile, I became a horse, crawling on all fours with a child on my back.
As the children braided Serpence’s long hair with clumsy hands, my hair was ripped apart with rough hands. When the girls grew up, they told Serpence to make them a bride, and the boys said they would make me a subordinate when they grow up.
‘What? What the hell is this difference?!’
Isn’t the treatment too different?
Without realizing it, I was about to burst into tears. Did she notice my sad heart?
The girl who had been watching me since I pretended to talk came up to me and said,
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t cry.”
She comforted me by stroking my hair softly. It feels like all the sorrow is washed away.
“Will you be my dog when I grow up?”
··I think my ears are a little broken.
Did she say I’m cute like a puppy? Yes, that’s definitely what I heard. This child keeps stroking my hair.
Since we had a later schedule, Serpence and I were only with the children until lunchtime. Leaving them behind, we got on the carriage. When we were about to leave, the director told us that the children really liked it and that it would be great if we could come again in the future. It felt like my heart was going to swell, and I was filled with warmth.
“By the way, there were more people than I thought.”
I thought that if it was Serpence, he would be good at things like welfare and pursue a setting that would prevent it in advance.
“When we get to the dukedom, there are many people and the land is wide, so what. Is there anything you can’t do in this matter?”
Serpence shook his head at my question.
“Of course, there are children from the Duchy. However, since they are in the Duchy, they belong to the Order…”
According to his explanation, he said that most of the cases were moved here because of the capacity from orphanages in other branches.
And one more thing. This is the most problematic case.
‘When people living in other areas deliberately come to drop their children.’
He said he first caught them and listened to their stories. They were unanimously, [“Even though the circumstances are unfavorable, I just want my children to live in a good place.”]
It is said what happened…
I thought it’s because the facilities and education are better than other childcare centers in other areas because they donate or support a lot because they think about the external image.
But their words were only excuses to relieve guilt.
‘As evidence…’
At first he had given them a grant and sent them back with the children. However, they were eventually sent to an orphanage in the territory, or in severe cases, they were thrown away on the way home. Because of that, he had no choice but to accept it as if he didn’t know, Serpence said that in a low voice.
Seeing the children abandoned by their parents, what did he think of, with him having to kill his parents with his own hands?
“Why are you looking at me with those eyes…?”
Maybe he felt my gaze…
‘uh?’
After getting off the train, I remembered that the number of his words decreased significantly. Did he keep the words I said and thought about the timing to put them down? Should I ask him about talking now? Well, I can’t be shy, I’ll let it go naturally.
“No, just? It’s because you’re not reading today.”
Serpence, who seemed to stare at me for a moment, turned his head again and looked out his window. He seemed to be thinking complicatedly.
ranslated by Appleot
Edited by Appleot
Chapter 15.2:
For some reason, my heart feels so empty, and even if I drink water, food seems to keep getting stuck in my throat. When I first met Serpence, I would have laughed inside, saying it’s ridiculous, but now I can’t.
He is neither the final boss in the novel nor the scapegoat for the continent. He’s only a person. He is just a child, unable to grow mentally. As long as I chose to understand him, it won’t just be about me wanting to live and wanting the world to be peaceful…
‘I want him to be happy too.’
Not acting, seriously. After the meal, Serpence went into the Director’s office to talk, and I was left behind among the children.
“Hey guys, hello?”
Seeing so many children looking at me alone with curious eyes, I was really nervous.
First of all, I greeted them with a smile as bright and kind as possible.
“It’s weird to see you smiling!”
“The old man who came before was scary, but this man is such a fool!”
I almost got hurt a little. However, the children said it’s funny, they smiled, held my hand, and invited me to play together with them, so I thought it didn’t matter. What if it’s weird, the kids like it, it’s fun!
‘But why do I still feel a little sad…’
Serpence came out of the director’s office and joined as we builded towers with blocks, hugged them, and played with them.
Serpence sat a child on his lap and read to him a storybook. Meanwhile, I became a horse, crawling on all fours with a child on my back.
As the children braided Serpence’s long hair with clumsy hands, my hair was ripped apart with rough hands. When the girls grew up, they told Serpence to make them a bride, and the boys said they would make me a subordinate when they grow up.
‘What? What the hell is this difference?!’
Isn’t the treatment too different?
Without realizing it, I was about to burst into tears. Did she notice my sad heart?
The girl who had been watching me since I pretended to talk came up to me and said,
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t cry.”
She comforted me by stroking my hair softly. It feels like all the sorrow is washed away.
“Will you be my dog when I grow up?”
··I think my ears are a little broken.
Did she say I’m cute like a puppy? Yes, that’s definitely what I heard. This child keeps stroking my hair.
Since we had a later schedule, Serpence and I were only with the children until lunchtime. Leaving them behind, we got on the carriage. When we were about to leave, the director told us that the children really liked it and that it would be great if we could come again in the future. It felt like my heart was going to swell, and I was filled with warmth.
“By the way, there were more people than I thought.”
I thought that if it was Serpence, he would be good at things like welfare and pursue a setting that would prevent it in advance.
“When we get to the dukedom, there are many people and the land is wide, so what. Is there anything you can’t do in this matter?”
Serpence shook his head at my question.
“Of course, there are children from the Duchy. However, since they are in the Duchy, they belong to the Order…”
According to his explanation, he said that most of the cases were moved here because of the capacity from orphanages in other branches.
And one more thing. This is the most problematic case.
‘When people living in other areas deliberately come to drop their children.’
He said he first caught them and listened to their stories. They were unanimously, [“Even though the circumstances are unfavorable, I just want my children to live in a good place.”]
It is said what happened…
I thought it’s because the facilities and education are better than other childcare centers in other areas because they donate or support a lot because they think about the external image.
But their words were only excuses to relieve guilt.
‘As evidence…’
At first he had given them a grant and sent them back with the children. However, they were eventually sent to an orphanage in the territory, or in severe cases, they were thrown away on the way home. Because of that, he had no choice but to accept it as if he didn’t know, Serpence said that in a low voice.
Seeing the children abandoned by their parents, what did he think of, with him having to kill his parents with his own hands?
“Why are you looking at me with those eyes…?”
Maybe he felt my gaze…
‘uh?’
After getting off the train, I remembered that the number of his words decreased significantly. Did he keep the words I said and thought about the timing to put them down? Should I ask him about talking now? Well, I can’t be shy, I’ll let it go naturally.
“No, just? It’s because you’re not reading today.”
Serpence, who seemed to stare at me for a moment, turned his head again and looked out his window. He seemed to be thinking complicatedly.
