Chapter 417

Chapter 417

Chapter 75 EPILOGUE (4)

At the heart of Pamel stood a national elementary school. I waited in front for Berta to come out. There had been a lot of controversy and issues, but since last year, along with Berta, beastfolk’s children had started attending school. Of course, they weren’t enrolled in all schools. Only schools located within specific administrative areas could admit Demi-human children. Naturally, holy knights who could manage them in case of accidents or excitement were also deployed. Fortunately, the children had yet to cause any major incidents.

“Just a few instances of property damage,”

I recalled, counting the school’s supplies broken by Berta and other Beastfolk children.

“Kee, K!”

A voice came from Velino, who was wriggling in my arms. “What’s that?”

Velino, who would turn four next month, asked a lot of questions. One question led to another, each more insistent than the last. Unable to leave his inquiries unanswered, I calmly faced the never-ending barrage of questions and glanced around.

“What are you referring to?”

“That!”

“The kick scooter?”

“What’s that?”

“… A means of transportation.”

“Transport? What’s that?”

“… It helps you move without using your legs.”

“Hmm? Why not use your legs? I have legs!”

“For speed…”

I hesitated mid-answer. Only humans would use such a vehicle for speed, not Beastfolk.

“Honestly, he’s faster than a kick scooter.”

Velino, only four years old, could leap several meters when he set his mind to it. Ever since he started walking and got used to sprinting, it had been a daily game of tag.

“When I first met Berta, she was around five, quite like young Velino now.”

I decided to modify my explanation for Beastfolk understanding. “Humans can’t jump fast or far like you. They need tools like that to travel faster and farther.”

“Because they are weaker than me?”

“Yes. Remember when I said not to grab ordinary humans too hard?”

“Yeah! They’re weaker than me! I have to touch them gently!”

“That’s right, so they ride that. Look, see someone using it now.”

As if on cue, a child, presumably the owner of the kick scooter, took hold of it and zipped off. Velino’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“I want to try it too!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he sprang from my chest with startling speed. Fortunately, my years of practice helped me catch Velino successfully.

“That’s not yours. I’ll get you one later, so use yours for now.”

“Why?!”

“Beaaak-!”

It was no surprise such a voice came from Berta’s younger sibling.

“I told you not to scream outside. Jumping out like that isn’t allowed either.”

I clicked my tongue inwardly, keeping a tight hold on Velino. Conveying that no amount of screaming would make me release him, I stayed stern. Ideally, he should have learned this from his mother. While I hadn’t fully reconciled with why I was teaching him, I understood the Beastfolk were busy with societal perception improvement efforts, so refusing wasn’t an option.

“I can’t play all the time.”

Helping them adapt to society as a side endeavor wasn’t entirely bad.

“Since they need to adjust to human culture, it might make sense that someone familiar with it, like me, teaches them.”

Even if I hadn’t spent time like this, I’d likely keep a close eye on Berta, velino, and other Beastfolk children. They were inseparable parts of my life.

“They might be the last mana users when my life ends.”

Unless prematurely taken by disease or accidents, the Beastfolk would be the last mana users on Earth. Beastfolk generally live slightly over 150 years, and those born into the Biharin race on Earth would all be ordinary humans who can’t use mana. Beastfolk and the Dwarves would gradually lose their unique features, becoming humanlike too.

“The fairies won’t reproduce at all, they said.”

Recalling the Damned System’s resolute words about how dimensional diversity would lead to unwanted chaos, as if on cue, Berta dashed out of the building. Shaking off my musings, I tucked the wriggling Velino under my arm.

“Fully adapted to human pace.”

Watching Berta synchronize her strides with other children, I nodded with satisfaction. But as if to refute my premature judgment, Berta leaped into the sky as soon as she bid her friends farewell. Clearing not just elementary but even Olympic high jump world records, she landed on my shoulders with ease.

“I’m back!”

I sighed, speaking as Berta perched on my shoulders. “I told you not to jump recklessly outside.”

“I didn’t hurt anyone, though?”

“I say that to prevent possible injuries. What would Velino learn?”

“My perfect jump and marvelous landing, of course?”

“Marvelous… where did you learn that word?”

“School!”

Since starting school, her vocabulary and knowledge seemed to expand rapidly. Watching her grow daily was fascinating.

“Reminds me of when I raised the twins.”

I found myself quite content with the routine of recent days.

“Perhaps it’s because I feel attached to ones I’ll see for a long time.”

Right then, Berta affectionately patted Velino with her tail. That little one stopped his crying instantly and smiled brightly at his big sister.

“Nuna!”

“Oh dear, was Velino crying again? Such a crybaby.”

“…”

She seemed oblivious to her own crying fits just moments ago. Yet, what point was there to belabor details long gone? The commute back home with the kids was always lively. The chatter and antics of these two little ones, destined to become firefighters and police officers saving countless lives in the far-off future, were things of peace in my everyday life.

Days filled with waiting for an unknown story of the future.

* * *

On a day when finals had ended and the vacation began, the twins boarded a taxi to head to the airport.

“Did you send all the books?”

“Yeah, my brother sent a picture. Nothing’s missing from the list.”

“Great, perfect! I’ll set this last premed break ablaze……! I’ll head to Half Moon Bay right when we get there! I’ll watch that sunset till it’s boring!”

“… But there’s still winter break.”

“Ah, winter break is for prep work for medical school.”

A tale of the near future they would spend in Bihar.

As they cheerfully chatted about closer futures and the far-off ones, a sudden voice came from the driver.

“Oh no, oh!”

Suddenly the driver’s voice echoed from the front.

“What’s wrong with the car?!”

The driver struggled frantically to steer the taxi. Yet the steering wheel turned the opposite way, disobeying his intentions. On top of that, the hazard lights blinked, though the driver hadn’t turned them on.

While the panicked driver floundered, the twins in the back seat mirrored their surprise.

“What’s wrong, sir?”

“What’s going on?”

Both checked their seatbelts, trying to grasp the situation.

“The steering wheel won’t respond, it’s moving on its own!”

The driver strained as he tried to regain control of the wheel, grunting with effort. At that moment, the word that flashed through the twins’ minds was similar.

‘Is it unintended acceleration?’

‘Could it be an unintended acceleration accident?’

Their hearts plummeted at the thought of the increasingly common unintended acceleration incidents. Thankfully, the taxi they were in had already pulled over, hazard lights blinking. The driver swiftly turned off the engine entirely, taking the key out of the ignition. He seemed insistent as he turned to the twins, urging them to get out.

The twins saw no reason to argue. It was a relief to exit the taxi, given the discomfort remaining inside.

The moment the driver and passengers, the twins, stepped out of the vehicle, a loud, abrasive exhaust sound roared.

Buaaaang!

It grew nearer until, with a crash! A car sped crazily from behind, colliding with four vehicles that were waiting at the signal. It didn’t stop there, smashing through and beyond the intersection.

It happened in the blink of an eye, right on the same road where the twins had been driving moments before. Frozen by the sudden accident, Jinwoo and Yeonwoo shivered as something enormous seemed to graze over their heads.

Pat pat.

Surprised by the unfamiliar sensation, Jinwoo looked around in bewilderment. Yeonwoo, on the other hand, looked up, rubbing at her head, remembering past experience. This wasn’t her first encounter.

“Was it not a trick of the mind?”

“What?”

“Had the same experience last year during that rockfall accident at school.”

Something seemed to block her path, holding her back, only for a building’s debris to fall seconds later, injuring students ahead. At that time, too, she sensed something touching her head, which she assumed was a figment of her imagination when none of her friends felt it.

“What is this…?”

As if snapped back to reality by the flashbacks, the twins briefly exchanged glances. A loud explosion echoed close by.

The twins regained composure, glancing upon the chaotic-churned main street. Smoke trailed from overturned vehicles earlier hit by what appeared to be an unintended acceleration car. Many citizens were already rushing to the scene to aid trapped passengers. The twins promptly joined the effort, successfully pulling out two drivers with the help of others.

Just then, sirens wailed from a distance, signaling the arrival of police and rescue squads. Almost simultaneously, a call from Hyunwoo came through.

“Last time, you also got a call from big brother…”

Could it be that wasn’t just a coincidence either?

Yeonwoo shakily connected the call.

“H-hello? Big brother?”

『Are you hurt anywhere?』

Indeed, he seemed aware of something happening to them, speaking with a knowing tone. Yeonwoo quickly assured Hyunwoo of their safety, easing his worry.

“Yeah, we’re okay.”

『No need to worry about any catastrophic occurrences for you guys then.』

His murmur was audibly clear. Yeonwoo, recalling the earlier sensation of being touched, asked hesitantly.

“B-big brother, do you know what just happened to us? It… felt very strange…”

『What happened is that you won’t meet your end in accidents or disasters anymore.』

No matter what happened, events ensuring the twins’ safety would recur like before. Receiving such assurance struck Yeonwoo dumb.

Yeonwoo momentarily hesitated, at a loss for words, as Hyunwoo’s firm voice filled the silence.

『By all means, don’t start talking about saving or not saving others.』

Extracting you two from naturally occurring events alone required significant costs. They grasped the phenomenon wasn’t something they could demand or alter.

Yeonwoo was able to sense that whatever this entailed, they were in no position to request specifics. That previous irrational event experienced by them and the taxi driver seemed undeniably a personal favor borne from Hyunwoo’s sacrifices.

If anyone could ask for anything, it would be Hyunwoo.

『Glad no one’s hurt. Have the rescue teams arrived?』

“Yes…”

『Then leave the aftermath to the rescue and police. Go on to the airport; you staying there will only get in the way.』

A rational yet distant word of advice nonetheless held truth. In the chaotic whirl, Yeonwoo nodded, speaking amidst the confusion.

“Yes…”

『I’ll pick you up at the airport on time, see you soon.』

After ending the call, Jinwoo inquired, standing beside her.

“What did brother say?”

“Told us to head to the airport…”

“… Well, there really isn’t much more we can do here.”

Handing over their contact information in case testimony was needed, the unharmed twins quickly left the chaotic scene behind.

New elements and characters:

– 벨타, Berta (she)

– 벨레노, velino (he)

– 진우, Jinwoo (he)

– 연우, Yeonwoo (she)

– 형, brother (he)