As night fell, Rogen's figure soon disappeared into the darkness.
The boy stared in the direction he had left for a long time, his expression complicated. In the end, he didn't leave.
Instead, he sat down with his arms wrapped around his knees, looking toward Upper Yard, hidden in the shadows. Listening to the pleasant chirping of insects, he gradually drifted off to sleep.
In his dream, he walked through crowded streets, but everyone who saw him reacted as though they had encountered a terrifying monster.
They backed away in fear. Some bolder people even threw things at him and drove him away. No one liked him. No one dared approach him. The disgust and hatred in their eyes shattered his heart again and again, trampling it until all that remained was loneliness and despair.
"I'm... really so alone." A faint murmur escaped into the quiet night.
---
The next morning, the boy slowly opened his sleepy eyes. Ahead of him stood lush green trees, while birds chirped among the branches. The peaceful, warm scenery made him feel unexpectedly comfortable.
"I like this place," looking toward Upper Yard, he spoke softly.
Deep in his heart was a longing. He wanted to one day possess this land and make it his alone, a place where no one else would be allowed to set foot.
'...No. If that day comes, that person can come in.' Rogen's face flashed through his mind. Imagining himself ruling this land in all his glory, the boy couldn't help smiling.
"Was everything he said true? Upper Yard is everywhere in the Blue Sea... And will he come back?"
Alone with his thoughts, the boy became increasingly anxious. He was too lonely. After finally meeting someone willing to approach him and talk to him, he desperately wanted to become friends with that person.
The man with the gentle voice and warm smile felt almost like an older brother. There was a sense of closeness he couldn't explain.
The boy spent the entire day waiting there. He was afraid that if he left, the man would return and never find him again. Losing a friend like that would be a terrible waste.
By afternoon, sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, scattering mottled shadows across the ground and over the boy's body.
"Why isn't he here yet?" The boy grew restless. He had completely forgotten that Rogen had told him to come at dusk. There was still a long time before then.
Yet only half an hour later, footsteps approached through the forest. The boy quickly turned around. The person who appeared was Rogen.
"You've been here the whole time?" A hint of surprise flashed through Rogen's eyes. Truthfully, he hadn't been sure the boy would return. He certainly hadn't expected him to look as though he'd been waiting all day.
"N-No. I just got here," the boy replied awkwardly, his face turning red. Thinking about it, he couldn't remember the last time he had felt this embarrassed. Part of him felt annoyed and ashamed.
Yet when he was with this big-brother-like man, the warmth and acceptance he felt made him comfortable. He didn't want to argue with him. He didn't even want to reveal the godlike power he possessed.
"I brought some food. Let's eat," Rogen smiled slightly, having easily seen through the boy's emotions, and set down the bag he was carrying before sitting cross-legged beside him. "I was planning to have a picnic by myself, but now that you're here, having company isn't bad at all."
The boy looked at the food with obvious longing. He hadn't eaten properly in days. The people around him only feared him. Who would be willing to give him food?
"I can eat too?"
Rogen looked surprised, then laughed. "Of course. Eating alone isn't as fun as eating together."
"Eating alone isn't as fun as eating together..." The boy blinked.
"Haha, it means being happy by yourself isn't as good as being happy with someone else. If I eat alone instead of with you, wouldn't that be less enjoyable?" Rogen laughed.
"Is that so?" The boy looked confused.
"Of course it is," Rogen stopped explaining and unpacked the bag.
Inside were fresh vegetables, raw meat, seasonings, cooking utensils, and all sorts of supplies. The boy couldn't understand how such a small bag had held so much. Soon, Rogen began arranging everything.
Noticing the boy staring blankly, he laughed and scolded lightly, "Why are you just standing there? Are you really going to make me handle all this myself?"
"Huh? Right away!" The boy hurriedly got to his feet and joined in. Clearly unfamiliar with this sort of thing, he fumbled around awkwardly. Not only did he fail to help, he actually created more work for Rogen, leaving the latter torn between laughter and tears.
"S-Sorry," the boy apologized, his face red as he stood there helplessly.
"It's fine. We're almost done anyway," Rogen smiled, not bored in the slightest.
About half an hour later, the first batch of grilled skewers was finished. Rogen picked up one and handed it to the boy, who immediately accepted it with both hands. After glancing at Rogen, the boy could no longer resist the temptation and took a huge bite.
The next second...
"It's hot! Hot! Hot!"
"Hahahahaha!" Rogen burst into laughter, thoroughly amused by the sight. He tossed over a bottle of rum. "That'll cool you down!"
The boy didn't even have time to glare at him. He grabbed the bottle and gulped down half of it in one go. Instantly, his face turned bright red.
"It's spicy!" His mouth flew open, and a shout echoed through the forest, startling flocks of birds into flight.
For a brief moment, tiny blue arcs of electricity crackled around his body.
"What is this stuff?!" Tears and snot streamed down his face as he angrily shouted at Rogen.
"It's alcohol. Rum. So? Good, isn't it?" Rogen laughed and pulled out a bottle for himself. Taking a large swig, he felt the familiar burning sensation slide down his throat and let out a satisfied groan.
"It tastes awful!" the boy cursed. Yet seeing Rogen enjoy it so much made him curious. Quietly, he took another small sip.
Immediately, a burning warmth spread down his throat, and he let out a similar groan. At the same time, a strange feeling spread throughout his body. It was as though his soul had suddenly relaxed. All his worries, frustrations, and loneliness seemed to disappear.
"I'm hungry!" After drinking, the boy stopped being polite altogether. He grabbed skewer after skewer and devoured them enthusiastically.
Ten minutes later, with food in one hand and rum in the other, the two had already started chatting nonsense and bragging about random things.
"So? How are my skewers, kid?"
"They're great. The rum's good too," the boy's face was bright red. His eyes wandered unfocused as he hiccupped and grinned foolishly.
(End Of This Chapter)
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