Fate.
It is the most enormous and perfect rule encompassing all things that make up the world.
It is an absolute law that dictates that everything in the world has its purpose determined by the gods from the moment it is born into the world, and it is also the resilience that the world itself possesses.
However, at some point, it has transformed into a negative connotation under the name of ‘freedom.’
This must be because of the foolish mage and the saintess who forsook the gods, who joined forces to turn the world upside down.
Yet, the true meaning of fate lies in protection, not oppression.
Originally, fate is akin to the goddess’s grace meant to protect individuals from the world and from annihilation. It is the very discipline that assigns each creature its role and stage, creating a perfect and waste-free world.
However, those foolish mortals have completely destroyed the most perfect and enduring system in pursuit of a mere illusion called ‘freedom.’
He particularly disliked that story.
Most of the damage from that foolish act was something he had to endure himself.
Afterward, he became unable to succeed at anything.
Every task he attempted, every effort he made, turned to naught due to the rejection of the fates surrounding him.
Even survival became a challenge.
“Another one lost.”
This marks the second time already.
If the first was due to carelessness, then the second?
It seems the difference in skill is undeniable.
“…….”
He slowly opened his eyes.
Soon, a terrible pain pressing down on his head came, but it was a sensation so familiar that there was no thrill.
Oh, is ‘fate’ already beginning to fall away?
This is earlier than expected.
“I must hurry to complete the plan.”
—
Everyone has parts of themselves that others do not know.
Some of those parts only become apparent after living together for a while.
For example, every morning Dayton makes a protein shake for muscle growth right after waking up, or Luke, surprisingly, doesn’t take out the trash from his room in a timely manner.
-Whirr—
Before making breakfast, Luke looks at Dayton, who is noisily operating the blender as usual, and says,
“Is that that strange drink again? I could make you something with better effects, you know.”
“That’s fine. I’m good with this.”
He thought he could eat anything as long as it helped with muscle growth, but seeing bugs being blended right in front of him changes things.
No matter how beneficial it is, there’s absolutely no way he wants to touch something that disgusting.
Just then, Dayton points to the objects Luke is holding with both hands and asks,
“By the way, what are you bringing down from your room?”
“Garbage.”
The various torn boxes Luke brought from his room were indeed filled with trash that clearly could not be reused.
Tissues, crumbling leaves, clumps of fur, what appeared to be broken and disassembled magic devices, and pieces of other torn boxes.
The problem is, there was just so much of it.
Dayton made a slightly distressed expression as he said,
“How much garbage have you accumulated in your room? It’s not that big. Clean it up on time.”
“I can handle it. If it bothers you, I’ll clean it myself. So don’t even think about coming into my room and touching my stuff.”
Luke replied somewhat sharply.
Dayton shook his head and murmured in response.
“Okay, got it. So prickly…”
Really, no matter how you look at it, Luke is going through a rebellious phase.
He misses the pure days when Luke would tear up over skewers.
‘It hasn’t even been a year, and it already feels so distant.’
But why are there so many torn boxes?
Did something annoying happen?
Well, he didn’t want to ask about it.
It would be bothersome if he inadvertently stirred up trouble.
After a while, Luke came back after dumping the collected trash outside, and instead of going into his room, he flopped onto the sofa and propped a cushion against his back.
This was to make it easier for his tail to slip out to the side while lying on the sofa.
As he did so, Luke pulled out the notepad he had brought down with the trash and began to review it.
Just then, Diana seemed to wake up, yawn, and walk down, sticking her mouth to the backrest of the sofa where Luke lay and muttering,
“Sis, are you studying again?”
“Yeah.”
“Sis studies all the time. When will you be done studying?”
“I don’t know. Diana, studying is endless.”
“Ugh, studying is boring. I want to play with you… Can’t we play today?”
Luke had only been studying for a while now, and yesterday he ended up playing only with Pyris.
Playing tag together is fun, but it’s even more fun to play with his sister.
Because sometimes Pyris hides too well and it annoys him.
There was a time he couldn’t find her for almost an hour.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time right now. I’m busy studying. Let’s play next time.”
“Ugh…”
Diana whined in a sad tone.
Yet Luke’s gaze remained fixed on the notepad he had brought.
“By the way, has Yerna already gone out?”
“Well, since she decided to return now, she probably hasn’t come back yet from her duty yesterday.”
“Is that so? I see.”
Dayton was quite surprised internally by Luke’s answer.
It seems he was so distracted that he didn’t even know whether Yerna had returned yesterday.
“Hey, if you’re tired, go lay down. Why are you lying on the sofa uncomfortably?”
“I’m waiting for someone.”
Now that he thought about it, Luke was wearing the usual clothes he often wore outside.
He wasn’t sure if he didn’t change from yesterday or if he changed this morning.
From the way he’s waiting for someone, it seems someone is coming over?
He’d heard he had fun at a friend’s house yesterday; it seems he has plans to go out again today.
Is it another friend?
“Someone is coming over? Who is it?”
“Um, that’s—.”
-Ding-dong—
Before Luke could finish his sentence, the doorbell rang.
“Who is it at this hour?”
At that moment, Luke’s expression began to brighten noticeably.
“They’re here!”
“What? Is it your guest?”
“They’re not a guest.”
“Huh? If they’re not a guest, then who are they?”
“That is—.”
In that instant, a voice flowed from the doorbell he pressed.
-It’s a delivery—
“—It’s a delivery.”
“…You could have just said you were waiting for a delivery from the start.”
Why does he keep omitting the subject?
“Um, it’s just a habit.”
He had been speaking without mentioning the subject for too long that he found it difficult to break the pattern, even if he didn’t particularly want to.
Having heard that, Dayton placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.
“Are you aware that’s quite the inconvenience?”
Using a phrase that could be understood in one go and then going around in circles wastes time.
It sometimes even leads to misunderstandings!
Just a moment ago, didn’t he think a delivery meant a friend was coming over?
“Well, of course, considering the current times, I do think it’s inefficient.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Luke was speaking in difficult terms and continuing to go in circles.
When Dayton pointed that out, Luke shrugged and replied.
“I mean, you would have figured it out after a while, right?”
To that, Dayton placed his hand on his forehead and said,
“I think it’s just your personality…”
Right, he never knew Luke had such a personality until he lived together; there’s this side to him.
He just doesn’t communicate straightforwardly.
Dayton, unfazed by his words, watched as Luke spun a pen in his hand and made his way to the entrance with a light step, curious about what he had bought to be in such a good mood.
“So, what’s the delivery? What did you buy?”
“Oh, it’s that thing you said you needed.”
With Luke’s answer, Dayton pointed at him with a finger as if to chastise him.
“Subject.”
“Ah.”
Did he omit it again unintentionally?
It really doesn’t go as planned.
Luke shrugged awkwardly and replied.
“It’s just a refrigerator.”
“Right, if you just say that all at once, it would be so refreshing and nice—.”
Wait, what did he just say?
Did he mishear that?
“What did you say you bought?”
When Dayton asked again, trying to process what he just heard, Luke tilted his head and answered.
“I said it properly this time, didn’t I? A refrigerator.”
“A refrigerator!?”
He just bought a refrigerator without telling his parents, and he’s only ten years old?
Is that really what they’re discussing?
“Uh—.”
Dayton immediately placed his hand on his forehead.
This side of Luke was something that could only be seen by living together.
“Are you out of your mind? You should have consulted with me, your parent, about something like that first—.”
At that moment, Luke interrupted Dayton with a confused expression, tilting his head.
“It’s my money, so is there a problem?”
“Oh, is that so?”
Dayton’s expression began to soften quickly.
Then it should be fine.
