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Chapter 40 - Chapter 39: To Where Things... and People Are Thrown

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Chapter 39 — To Where Things… and People Are Thrown

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Scene 1 — Inside the Basement

Kiyora slowly stood up, as if his body was being rebuilt from scratch.

A faint steam rose from his skin, an unnatural heat radiating from him…

And the wounds that had covered his body just moments ago—

had completely vanished, as if they had never existed.

He lifted his head.

His eyes…

They shimmered with something deeply unsettling.

Something cold. Something profound.

Something that did not resemble the Kiyora they once knew.

He spoke in a steady voice, devoid of hesitation:

Kiyora:

(It's time for the mission…)

He moved toward the exit, his steps calm yet decisive—

but Kazo was standing there, his body blocking the path.

Kazo asked firmly:

Kazo:

(Kiyora, where are you going?)

Kiyora stopped, then replied coldly, without even looking at him:

Kiyora:

(Sorry… but there's something I must do.)

Kazo narrowed his eyes:

Kazo:

(Do you realize you're not allowed to leave until your training is complete?

And also… are you running from your punishment?)

Kiyora gave a faint smile—one that carried neither fear nor provocation—and said:

Kiyora:

(I'm not afraid.

And I know I have to continue…

But I'm working on it.

Becoming stronger.)

Kazo stepped forward, his voice heavier:

Kazo:

(Either way… you cannot leave.)

Kiyora stopped completely.

Then he turned to him.

His eyes locked in place, and his voice deepened…

as if someone else was speaking through him:

Kiyora:

(Master… do you know?

An apple fell, and they discovered gravity.

Millions of people fell… and they never discovered humanity.

Humans are nothing but masses of selfishness and desires.

No one truly thinks of others—

they only think of themselves.

And a rule echoes in their minds:

"My life… my life."

I don't see anyone who truly cares about others…

They only love themselves.)

Kazo lowered his head, silent for a moment.

A bitter thought crossed his mind:

(He's right… about everything.)

Then he raised his head again, his voice less sharp, yet filled with suspicion:

Kazo:

(Kiyora… why has your tone changed?

And why are you saying this now?)

Kiyora answered without hesitation:

Kiyora:

(You are a native of this world.

You know everything about it.

But… didn't you realize that the strong dominate,

and the weak are crushed?

And what makes it worse… is humanity itself.

If I had the power to wipe it out, I would.

But I don't have that ability yet.)

At that moment, Kazo's expression completely changed.

His voice turned dark… dangerous:

Kazo:

(Do not overstep your limits and forget your place.

If I hear you speak like this again…

you will be among the dead.)

Kiyora smiled coldly:

Kiyora:

(Do as you wish…

If you can.)

He stepped forward slowly, passing beside Kazo—

as if he were no longer a real obstacle.

He opened the basement door…

and walked out of the house.

---

Scene 2 — In the City Streets

The sunlight hit him directly.

It struck his eyes harshly, forcing him to raise his hand and shield them slightly—

then he began walking among the crowd.

The city was alive.

Voices. Footsteps. Whispers.

But he was disconnected from all of it.

He started asking people, one after another.

He stopped in front of the first man:

Kiyora:

(Do you know where the dump is located?

And… is there anything strange about it?)

The man replied hesitantly:

Person 1:

(It's underground…

And I've heard rumors that a dragon lives there.)

Kiyora walked away without comment and approached another person.

Kiyora:

(Do you know where the dump is located?

And… is there anything strange about it?)

The second person lowered his voice:

Person 2:

(Yes, it's underground.

And I've heard rumors that a monster guards a treasure there.)

After minutes of questioning, Kiyora stopped—

each person giving him different information.

He turned toward a narrow, dark alley, far from people's eyes.

Kiyora:

(Their information is inconsistent.

The only thing I got is that the dump is underground…

everything else is just rumors.)

He crouched down, grabbed a metal cover, opened it…

and entered the sewer.

And the moment he stepped inside—

he closed it behind him.

---

Scene 3 — Inside the Sewers

Dense darkness.

Filthy black walls.

Stagnant green water.

A muddy floor that swallowed footsteps.

Rats ran in every direction,

and a suffocating stench filled the air.

Kiyora moved through the corridors, covering his mouth, trying to ignore the disgust.

Kiyora:

(This might be an easy mission.)

He walked…

and the camera followed him through the tunnels.

But he returned to the same place.

He tried again…

and once more, he ended up at the same point.

He stopped and carefully looked around.

Kiyora:

(Am I going in circles?

This feels like a maze.)

Suddenly—

the sound of metal echoed…

from within the walls.

He approached, placed his head against the wall, and listened.

Then he stepped back slightly:

Kiyora:

(Seems like something is inside.)

He stepped back, raised his hand beside his chest—

then threw a full-force punch.

At that moment—

a hidden door opened.

A guard wearing uniform stepped out—

but the punch was too fast.

It struck his face directly.

He collapsed… unconscious.

Kiyora:

(So there's a hidden door…

Anyway, sorry about that.)

He entered through it.

He found himself in another corridor—

slightly cleaner,

with dim lights illuminating the place.

Trash.

Metal.

Perfectly intact dolls.

Toys.

Household items.

And beneath the piles of garbage…

mechanisms constantly moving the waste.

Kiyora looked at the scene with frustration.

He bent down, picked up a doll that was still intact, and stared at it briefly.

Kiyora:

(There are people who wish to have this…

while others throw it away even though it's still good.)

He suddenly stood up—

and started running down the long corridor.

He ran…

and ran…

and ran…

Until finally—

a door appeared, light seeping through it.

He stopped in front of it.

Before him… a lake.

Its water was polluted,

filled with waste.

There was nothing unusual…

everything seemed normal.

Except—

the trash was slowly killing the water.

Kiyora whispered:

Kiyora:

(Why are they dumping waste into a lake…?)

---

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To Be Continued…

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