episode_0096

A peaceful village today too. Birds are chirping and flowers are blooming.

As the warm sunlight shines, my heart feels warm, and a yawn comes out naturally.

“Haaam…”

The same thing happened to one cat, Suin. Just like any other time, the joy of life is playing with friends.

However, that is enough. Because my life couldn’t be happier.

“Carly, what are you doing here?”

“Ugh..? It’s just… I suddenly got tired.”

“Ah, what is it? Come with me! Friends are waiting!”

“Ugh. I understand.”

Young Carly smiles at her friend’s laughing voice and runs after her friend.

Boom-boom!!

Today too, a tremendous sound is heard from outside the fence that covers the entire village. The sturdy door shakes as if it will break and dust particles rise up.

“Carly, what are you looking at?”

“Yeah… I’m just… curious about what’s outside the fence.”

“Wow! I told you you couldn’t do that!”

A friend’s look of surprise. Carly knew well that she shouldn’t go outside the fence or pay any attention to it.

This is because my parents gave me a stern talk every night before I went to sleep, and the adults in the village always told me not to think about the outside world.

“…Yes, I understand. Let’s go quickly.”

“Good! Because a good child must listen well…!”

Bang bang bang!!!

Just like that, ignoring the tall fence that was shaking and making noise like crazy. I follow my friend.

what. You won’t have to worry about it. Because it is better to remain in a happy village without worries than to go outside the fearful fence.

wake up.

Although this was the first time young Kali had heard it, a voice so affectionate that it brought tears to her eyes without even realizing it.

“…………?”

I just passed it off as a fleeting strangeness. Follow the happiness before your eyes.

“”……..””

As soon as Carly questions the fence and her voice, she is unaware of the gaze of the residents who are looking at her back with cold expressions.

That’s how time passes.

Until now, Kali has shed her childishness and turned into a full-fledged adult. Carly never left the fence.

Because there was no reason to go out. I could eat whatever I wanted, and all the supreme happiness happened within the village.

“Carly. Let’s go!”

“Ugh…Ugh…”

Although I still haven’t been able to change my timid personality. Still, it was okay.

The village residents and friends took care of him and gave him nothing but love.

Carly was so happy. So much so that I thought that if this happiness could last forever, I wouldn’t need anything else.

This life was such a blessing and I had no worries.

Except for one question.

wake up…

Boom boom boom!!

Ever since the day I vaguely became aware of the voice, it has been constantly echoing in my head every day for several years.

And the fence, which has grown even taller and now blocks out the sky, shakes even more than when I was a child.

Whose voice is that voice that I always hear?

If the sound rang in her head every day, she would get tired and scared, but the voice actually made Carly’s heart feel cozy and warm.

…And, every time I heard the voice, an unknown sadness and longing arose. Carly didn’t hesitate to raise her voice.

What on earth is happening beyond that fence?

Judging by the dull noise and the sound of the crash, it seemed like something was slamming its body into the fence.

why? Why do I constantly challenge myself like this? When I see that fence that won’t budge even after years of trying, I’m tempted to give up.

“…If you head out there…”

What will happen?

“Carly-! Come and try some fruit~”

That’s when Carly’s curiosity arose again. You can hear the voice of a woman quickly running up to you and handing you some fruit.

“…Yes? But now…”

“Don’t worry. Would you like to try some of this fruit first? It was really sweet and well cooked.”

“Yes…”

Crack.

When you take a bite of the bright red flesh, you can feel the sweet taste filling your mouth. I feel happy as if I am floating on clouds.

And the thoughts and questions that filled my head disappear like melting snow.

“…Huh? What was I thinking just now?”

“Carly, what are you doing there? If this continues, I’ll be late!”

“Ah…I understand!”

…I don’t think it was a very important thought. For now, let’s just… focus on this happy moment.

….wake up.

bang-! bang-! bang-!

***

As I was having fun with my friends, time passed quickly and evening came.

Carly promised to spend tomorrow with her friends, and after saying goodbye, she returned to her warm and cozy home.

“Welcome, Carly.”

“Yes… I’m here.”

“Hehe. Our only daughter. You’re pretty today too.”

Kkook-

As soon as I entered the house, my father and mother hugged me with smiles. That warm embrace felt so good that I didn’t want to escape.

“Carly’s favorite fish dish today as well~”

“Come and sit down.”

After Carly finishes taking a shower and grooming herself, her mother and father sit around the table and call for Carly.

Fish dishes. It’s Carly’s favorite food and she never gets tired of eating it all year round. If it were like usual, I would have rushed in and ate the fish…

“…I’m just going to sleep early today.”

I don’t know why, but I had no appetite today.

“…Oh my. I guess I don’t have a good appetite.”

“Then… do you want to try this stew I got from a peddler? Dad and Mom tried it and said it was amazingly delicious.”

“…No… I’m just tired so I’m going to sleep quickly. Sorry.”

After saying sorry to her parents who offered her food, Carly went into her room.

“”……..””

Not knowing that the smile of his parents who were looking at him disappeared, and when the shadow was illuminated by the lantern illuminating the dark living room, the shape of a wolf instead of a human appeared.

Squeak… rattle.

“Haaaam…”

Why am I so tired today? I don’t think it’s ever been like this before…

I didn’t want to eat the fish dish I had rushed to with my eyes lit up, and unlike usual when I was so sad that I didn’t close my eyes until I went to bed, my eyes automatically closed.

….wake up.

Thump! Thump! Thump thump!

I do not know. Just… I think it would be better to sleep early today and wake up early tomorrow.

Quietly~

As soon as Carly closed her eyes, she fell asleep instantly. Carly enjoyed a happy life as usual, even in dreamland.

Just like in real life, you can run around with your friends and eat delicious fruits. Daily life, lying on warm grass and taking a nap while listening to birds singing.

-No, it should have been. Because I’ve never had a dream that wasn’t a happy dream.

However, for the first time in her life, Carly began having terrible nightmares.

One day, monsters suddenly invaded the village and everyone died. Everyone, including friends, residents, and parents.

…And next to Kali was a small child. I’m sure it’s my first time seeing this child, but I miss it so much and I want to hug it so tightly.

In my dream, the child and I went on a trip together. It was a really difficult journey.

He would do anything for me and my child. They even killed people.

“Ugh…Ugh..”

It’s crazy painful. My head is pounding. Carly struggled with pain she had never experienced in her life.

Then one day, I settled in a town that wasn’t perfect, but was full of warmth.

I was extremely happy. Because as long as I had this child, I was fine.

Then suddenly. The child was kidnapped by someone. I hate the situation where I can’t do anything even though I have a child in front of me.

To save a child. I worked day and night. Still, money was ridiculously short.

Then one day. I met someone by chance.

“….bodyguard?”

Someone made entirely of pure white. When I first saw him, he seemed to be either similar to other humans or even stranger.

He suddenly started laughing like crazy and showed a face that made me think he was evil. Strangely, the emotions remained, but the exact face could not be recognized.

A few days passed with that person. What I thought, that person was completely different.

While everyone is busy with their own hard lives. We provide free consultation. They even distribute free food to the lower class.

Was it from then? I think I developed some interest in it. From that moment on, I think I thought of that person as a ‘friend’.

And when that person saved my little brother just because I was his friend. I felt my heart pounding for the first time.

After the dark clouds passed, the days were filled with only warm sunlight. My first night market experience. A meteor shower decorated the very beautiful sky, and you were more beautiful than the meteor shower.

He was suddenly kidnapped, and he single-handedly destroyed the organization that controlled a section of the underground city and rescued him.

After finding out about her feelings for him, she went to him wearing a pretty dress and holding a rose.

Obviously… I have no experience like that. It was as vivid as if I had experienced it myself, and it was such a happy day.

And that moment.

wake up.

“Huh? ”

A voice ringing in my head wakes me up from a nightmare, or rather a happy dream, and I get out of bed, breathing heavily.

What about that dream just now…

wake up.

Kwaang-! bang! bang!!

It’s still dark outside, and the early morning air is cold. As usual, voices are heard and the sound of knocking on the fence echoes.

“……..!”

Obviously… it was no different from usual. But why is my heart pounding so much?

I have to get out.

You have to step outside the fence and face someone out there.

I had never done this before in my life, and thoughts that I should never do began to fill my head.

There was no time to question. Carly’s body, drenched in cold sweat, opened the door to her room and ran out of the house.

“…Carly! Where are you going! Come back home!!”

“Nothing else is allowed-!!”

I hear my parents’ screams. A voice that was always warm and beautiful. But right now, that voice is so foreign.

“…I told you I couldn’t do anything else, Carly!!”

“Come back quickly!!!”

I hear the voices of my friends behind me. The once clear voice feels so disgusting.

“Gasp…Huh!!”

I ran like crazy. I thought my heart had exploded, and I was out of breath.

But Kali had finally reached a place she had never been before in her life: right in front of the huge fence.

“Don’t open that door, Carly!!”

“You will never come back again-!”

The voices of the village residents can be heard mixed together. The sound of their running footsteps can still be heard loudly.

….I know. Once you walk out this door, you’ll never get this happy moment again. You’ll never come back…

“…I have to go.”

I don’t know why. It’s just that Carly was filled with the feeling that she had to open the door even if it meant giving up all these moments of happiness.

Wow!

A huge door that has been closed for most of one’s life opens so easily and lightly with small movements of the hand.

I definitely thought that the world beyond the fence would be beautiful and colorful.

“…..What the hell is this…”

But, what on earth is this?

The world outside the fence was endless darkness. After taking a step forward, I look back at the village.

In an endless world, only one village shines with color and form.

In a world filled with darkness, there is only one white line. Other than that there was only darkness.

…What on earth is going on? It’s so foreign that it makes my head pound. It seemed like the whole world was moving for just my village.

“……!”

Carly looks closely at the white lines spread out in the darkness before her eyes, and is startled.

The reason is that. This is because the white line was a mountain of corpses created by infinite accumulation of ‘something’.

I look at the tall and sturdy fence. The fence was broken several times and was tattered as if it had been destroyed.

…They built a fence like that with just that small body? How many times had it been repeated?

Tadadadadak-!

From the mountain of white corpses, something white started running towards Kali. Carly felt a faint sense of fear.

Hurry… I have to go back…!

The moment when Carly turned around and was about to go back to the village. A very familiar, sorrowful voice was heard.

“…I finally reached it. Kali.”

“…Huh? Why am I…”

A very familiar voice. As soon as I heard the heavenly voice in my dream that I never got tired of hearing every day.

Tears began to flow from Carly’s eyes. Without stopping, endlessly.

“”Dol…ah…wow…!””

Strange voices, a mixture of the voices of her friends, parents, and residents, began to come from behind Carly.

Kali couldn’t even look back because of the distant fear, and could only tremble on the spot.

And then. Someone in white passed by Carly and headed behind her.

“…I’m okay now.”

“”No… no…!!!”

There was no sound. I didn’t even know what that person did.

However, a light so bright that she felt it rising from behind Kali’s back.

That moment. The darkness that had encroached on the whole world begins to clear. Warm sunlight begins to illuminate the dark world.

And then. All of Carly’s memories came back.

All the days I traveled with Calea. The day I came across Venice, and all the happy moments after that.

The voice that told me I was trapped in this false space was from Venice.

That he repeated countless deaths to wake me up and that he never gave up and took on the challenge.

“…Owner…?”

Tears are flowing. At the same time, something covered in white is revealed. Black hair, narrow eyes hiding red pupils.

“…Okay. It’s me, Venice.”

“Owner…”

“It’s time to wake up, Carly.”

Venice approaches Carly, who is shedding tears. His trembling hand touched Kali’s forehead.

And that moment.

“….Huh!”

As if Kali was waking up from a long nightmare. I came to my senses. When we look around, what we see is a wide open space.

In the clearing where it is still raining, Ronan Ale, the beastmen, and even Calea can be seen.

“Carly….”

And then. The voice he had longed for came right in front of him.

master. The voice of my one and only master, to whom I have devoted my whole life.

You have saved my life many times… and you saved me this time too.

“Owner….!”

I was grateful that he was still alive, and I felt honored that he had been saved once again.

Now… it’s my turn to give it back. Even if I give my all, you…

Carly looked forward. And that moment.

“….Huh?”

“Cough… are you… okay… now?”

Sigh-

A handful of blood came out of Venice’s mouth. His hand, which has not yet changed, can be seen piercing Venice’s heart.