The first thing seen upon birth was someone’s face.
The soft cheeks with white hair. A hesitant mouth, wavering.
It didn’t take long to understand who it was.
It was a girl who was simultaneously another person and herself. Or perhaps, from the moment she stepped outside, she had become a different existence.
Unlike herself still trapped here.
“Come now, press it.”
The girl’s shoulders shrank.
A man with a fierce expression spoke.
“Come now, hurry up. Haven’t you already done it several times? There’s no difference at this point.”
“…Yes.”
With a swoosh sound, the water in the adjacent aquarium disappeared.
At the sight that followed, the child was greatly astonished.
‘Death…’
Perhaps this was the concept of death. Even a child who had just awakened would understand something so dreadful.
The child trembled with fear.
It was all they could do.
Slowly watching their turn come was the best option.
Eventually, the man stopped in front of them.
“Hmm? Ah, there seems to be one more who has opened their eyes.”
“A…thank goodness…”
Can I survive?
Only then could the child feel relief.
Unlike the other children who had died, they had opened their eyes properly.
Look, we’re making eye contact right now, aren’t we?
I can survive.
Born to meet a miserable death—no—
“Bad luck.”
…What?
“Two is enough. Unfortunately, you’re the third. If only you had opened your eyes a little faster, you might have survived.”
“…”
“Even if you get a bronze medal… well, there’s nothing we can do.”
Sweeep.
The man signaled with his eyes, and the hesitating girl moved her hand.
It was the red button that had been seen countless times before.
No…
“Press it.”
“…Uuuuh…”
“Come on, hurry. Life is about struggle and fighting after all. We can’t care for those who lose.”
Stop—
“…Sorry.”
Tightly.
“Truly sorry…”
Ah…
The sound of water was heard.
It was the sound of a small world disappearing.
It was also the sound signaling the end of a short life.
Within tens of minutes after opening their eyes in this narrow place, the child met death. This was the brief record they left behind upon being born into the world.
…It had to be this way.
“…Uuuh…Eehh…”
Slippery.
“Na…I didn’t…die?”
The child’s body melted and moved.
Unfortunately, the magic core inside the child reacted violently and turned her into a demon.
It was the same for the other children.
“Uuuh…Aaaah…”
“It…hurts…”
They all stood up, emitting strange sounds.
Their joints twisted and bent due to melting, but they felt no pain.
Strange.
It should hurt.
What exactly are we, unable to feel pain?
It hurts.
It’s painful.
I’m lonely.
‘Anyone…please…us-‘
Just then, when they earnestly wished in their hearts, the door burst open.
“What is this commotion-”
“Uuuueee…”
“Tch…? Demons? Hmm, should’ve gotten rid of them sooner? …Never mind. Anyway, it’s an abandoned building, so let those guys use it.”
“Uuuh…Ah…?”
“You’ll live like this forever. Failures.”
The man who made us like this.
“Ah…Ah…”
“Hmm?”
One of the children walked over.
No.
It’s more accurate to say he crawled with his feet melting away.
“Ana…”
“Tch…filthy.”
Punch!
The kid who got hit by the man’s fist tumbled.
“I…too…”
“I tooo…”
“Grrr…No matter how much…there are too many. It’s unfortunate I couldn’t gather my things, but I’ll just leave.”
He wiped his hands with a handkerchief, turned around, and disappeared somewhere.
“Good…bye…?”
The child approached the one lying on the floor who had been hit.
He was…
“Hehe…human hands…are this warm…”
He was smiling.
Speechless.
‘So that’s how it is.’
Ultimately, what we wanted was…
Nothing more than someone’s warmth.
Even if it came in the form of a fleeting act of violence.
That very brief moment of touch was pleasant.
…
…
…
…
…
…
How much time had passed?
Eating moss and occasionally insects as a special treat. How long did those days continue?
The third child who woke up was suffering.
Rather, it would be better if they were unconscious like the others.
But the child couldn’t do that.
They were a half-life.
Neither human nor demon, an ambiguous existence unable to live fully either way.
‘I wish…I could have died instead…’
That day too, they fell asleep.
Terbuk terbuk.
A sound was heard.
Suddenly waking up from sleep, an unfamiliar sound was heard for the first time in a long while.
Not the sticky sound of slime, but cautious footsteps.
Turning their gaze toward the source of the sound.
There was a man and two women who looked somewhat like us.
The man…was not the one seen that day. He was taller and had a sharper appearance.
One of the children approached them.
The one who always craved affection the most.
‘No, they’ll be killed.’
As if reflecting that thought, the pink-haired woman clenched her fists tightly.
Shutting their eyes tightly.
This was their fate.
Monsters that never felt human warmth, only to be exterminated.
It’s the same as that time.
Waiting for death.
‘…No.’
It’s different now.
The world is ultimately about survival competition.
Unless we kill…
“Jugul…puniya…”
Being on the receiving end is tiresome.
I’m tired of living on moss and barely surviving.
I will become a predator.
I’ll eat humans, grow stronger, and someday escape this accursed place—
“Alright! Kids who want to play with dolls gather here!”
…Huh?
“Noah, you play with the kids who want to play with dolls. And Demon King, you play ball with the ones who want to play ball. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
They suddenly started moving busily.
The bigger ones carried dolls and started playing dollhouse with some children.
The smaller ones began throwing and catching balls together.
‘What exactly is this?’
The man watched the children playing happily and took something out carefully.
He started cooking what was in the envelope, and soon the smell of food spread through the musty basement.
‘I’m hungry…’
Now that I think about it, it’s been a week since I last ate moss.
The man said,
“Huh? Want to try?”
To the child who had been given a doll earlier.
That child nodded and opened their mouth wide.
“Here, it’s hot…oh, it’s fine. First-ever dumpling incoming!”
“…Mmm mmm…Uh…Yeah!”
“Is it good? Here’s more!”
“Uh…Yeah!”
One, two…
The dumplings disappeared into the child’s mouth.
Around the fifth one…
Plop.
A purple bead fell to the ground.
It had been embedded in the child’s forehead.
Then the child started melting…
“…Hehe…”
With a blush, the child smiled and completely disappeared.
The third child who woke up was inevitably confused.
A friend disappeared.
A child who cried alone every day.
The loneliest child disappeared the happiest, hugging the doll they had received moments ago.
What exactly was that?
Was it tastier than the snails we occasionally ate as a special treat?
“Uuuh…Aah…”
“Why? Do you want to eat too?”
Nodding.
“Here, go ahead~”
“…Ah…”
Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have eaten it.
However, unfortunately, with an underdeveloped brain, they succumbed to instinct.
“…!”
“Is it good?”
“Uh…Yeah!”
Nodded enthusiastically.
“Great! Have as many as you want!”
“Uuuh yeah!”
After eating the dumplings diligently…
“What are you doing! There are fewer children, so we’re short on numbers!”
“Uuuh…?”
“Do you like basketball?”
Playing an unusual ball game…
“This is the mom role, and this is the younger sibling role.”
“Ehmmma…? Dongsa…Dong…sibling!”
“Younger sibling. That’s right, good job. So here’s a present.”
“Uuuh…thank…you…”
A cute bunny doll was gifted as well.
And after wandering around for a while longer…
“Hey, what are you doing all alone!”
“Uuuh ah!?”
“There’s still plenty left. This time it’s sausage. Try it.”
Riding on the man’s back, eating delicious food.
“…It’s warm.”
The first warm food ever tasted.
The first warm doll ever hugged upon birth.
Everything felt so unreal.
‘…Maybe I can die now…’
Such thoughts even crossed their mind.
Looking around, there was no one.
Only the purple beads rolling on the floor remained.
“You greedy thing. Is there anything else you want to do?”
“…”
“Tell me.”
The man approached with a smile.
It seemed like he would do anything.
The third child thought deeply and remembered.
The wish the child who flew away after being hit once desired.
What that child wanted.
“Ana…”
“Hmm?”
The third child spread their arms wide.
“Ana…jusu…iseoyo…?”
“Hug…you want a hug?”
Nod.
“…As much as you want.”
The man came closer and bent down.
His blue eyes met the child’s melting purple eyes.
And then…
“Kid.”
“Uuuh…”
“I’m sorry. Sorry for not stopping this world from becoming what it is.”
He hugged the child tightly.
Honestly, they didn’t understand what he was saying, but one thing was certain.
The man was sincere and warm.
“I’ll pray sincerely. That you’ll be happy someday.”
“…Thank yooou…”
“…What?”
“Warm…it’s warm.”
“…”
Well then, goodbye.
Thank you.
“…Hehe…”
People who warmed up their cold lives until the very end.
+++++
“Ah…bye…thank you…”
The monster looks at me and smiles.
“Thank…you…”
Smiling repeatedly, saying thank you.
The tightly embraced body was slowly melting.
The volume of the child in my arms gradually decreases.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
And finally, there was nothing left in my arms.
“…”
Perhaps this child could have become Noah.
Perhaps they could have become Demon King.
It’s just a coincidence.
Just destiny.
It’s simply a cruel world.
And I probably won’t forgive the guy who created this cruel world.
“…Uncle?”
“…Hmm, they’re gone.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, maybe…”
Though actually not at all.
“…Tch, what. Annoying.”
An indescribable sense of guilt wraps around my heart.
There was no way to save these children.
The children who had already turned into demons were merely demons. And what I just did was merely eliminating them.
Yet.
“…Hmm.”
My stomach churns.
All because of that damn rabbit brat.
Damn brat.
“Uncle, are you really okay?”
But I’m an adult.
As an adult, I even have to think before getting angry.
Ah, being an adult is tough.
“…Yeah. Noah, can you help clean up? Uncle will be back after checking around.”
“Okay. Take your time.”
“Be back soon.”
Standing up and moving.
The destination is his lab.
Where he pointed before dying.
Bang!
Kicking the door open.
Everywhere is covered with rusted computers and books.
I fixed my gaze on one spot.
“Kkomkmu.”
“Yes?”
“Can you fit in there?”
“Hmm…I think so.”
The Kkomkmu who had been resting until now was pointed towards the crack of the safe.
“Of course it’s here.”
In the game, this place was mysterious.
A safe so sturdy that Iris’ iron fist couldn’t break it.
However, there’s no need to break it now.
Since Kkomkmu can melt his body.
“Let’s go.”
“Thanks.”
“Yes.”
Kkomkmu crawling into the safe. He soon starts throwing out papers.
“Kkomkmu, what is this?”
“Looks like a diary! They’re in order, so please organize them.”
“Got it.”
Flip.
Apparently, it’s the diary he wrote.
Why did he leave this behind?
Did he not manage to take it when the monsters suddenly attacked?
“…Not my concern.”
When all the papers were thrown out, a fairly thick notebook appeared.
“Let’s see what this bastard was thinking.”
Collecting them in order, I slowly started reading and stopped breathing.
“You…this bastard…”
Because content that was unforgivable was written inside.
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