episode_0131

The sky was painted in the hues of dusk as people gradually made their way back home or leaned over glasses in restaurants, ready to raise a toast.

“I’ll be ‘it’ this time!”

“Alright!”

“Don’t sing the song too quickly! Got it?”

Like children, the village kids and the Nest organization’s youngsters quickly bonded and played until sunset.

Some older children were absent, helping their parents, making the average age of the kids around 8 years old.

The child who became “it” covered their eyes with both hands and crouched down before starting to sing a song.

“In the mountains, a rabbit met a goblin.”

Not knowing numbers, they sang to buy time to catch their breath. Some impatient kids sang the song quickly to incite cheers from others, so this child sang slowly.

Blushing with excitement, the kids dashed towards hiding spots. Those who hadn’t thought of a spot spun around aimlessly.

Thud.

“Oops!”

A 7-year-old running to hide behind a large orc barrel tripped on a rock, tilting forward. Just as their soft face was about to hit the ground without mercy…

“Ouch!”

A firm hand caught the falling child. Wide-eyed, the child looked up at the person who saved them. Upon seeing the familiar attire, a bright smile formed on their lips.

“Grandpa Hal!”

“Haha, you’ve grown a lot since then!”

The caretaker of the village’s only temple chuckled warmly, setting the child down. He then pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket.

Upon unfolding it, several candies were revealed. The old man took one out and handed it to the child.

“Here, this is a gift from grandpa. Enjoy it.”

“Wow! Thank you!”

The child clenched the candy in their fist, beaming brightly.

“What?! Petey’s eating candy!”

“Really?! Me too! Give me some, Grandpa!”

The kids, like ghosts sensing sweet treats, gave up hiding and rushed over excitedly. Even the tagger joined in.

“Haha, you rascals. There’s plenty of candy, so line up to get some. Here, take one. You too.”

With a gentle smile akin to Santa Claus visiting on December 25th, the old man distributed candies to the kids. It didn’t take long to realize he had only a few left.

As the kids who didn’t receive candies frowned at him, the old man chuckled awkwardly and said, “Seems like I’m short on candies. I have a few more at my place… Would you like those?”

“Sure!”

“Okay!”

Following him like he was their own grandpa, the village kids nodded eagerly.

“Those who got candies, head home now. The sun is setting.”

“Yes!”

After energetically bidding farewell with a smile, the kids with candies left. Five kids remained—two from the Nest organization and three village kids.

The old man smirked inwardly.

“Five should be enough.”

He glanced at the Nest organization kids hesitatingly.

“Heh, these chubby outsiders must taste delicious.”

Despite his dreadful thoughts, his expression remained kind, and the kids were oblivious to the impending danger.

“Let’s go before sunset.”

“Yes!”

“Hehe, candies! Candies!”

The children of the Nest organization erased from their minds the warning not to follow strangers with half-covered faces, all because they were enticed by the candies.

As the old man and the children walked diligently, the villagers on their way home greeted the old man with smiles.

The effort to keep the front clean as much as possible, despite the dirt at the back, shone in this situation.

“Oh, if you keep spoiling them like that, the kids will develop bad habits!”

“Haha… I discipline them strictly at home, so it’s okay for them to be a bit spoiled here and there.”

The kind words of the old man melted the faces of the villagers. Without any interruptions, they could lead the children to the grand temple.

“Wow…”

“Woah…”

To the children who had only lived in the Demon King’s Land, the slightly sacred temple exuded an aura no different from another world. Enthralled by the sacred atmosphere, the children of the Nest organization followed the old man without a trace of doubt or suspicion.

Creaking open the door at the back of the temple, a long corridor welcomed the old man and the children. The old man headed straight to his room. Upon opening the door, a musty smell emanated from the old man.

“Just wait a moment.”

Entering the room, the old man opened a drawer attached to the wall and took out a round glass jar. The jar, with a hefty lid, was filled with candies of various colors.

Pop.

After opening the lid, he handed two candies to each child. The old man gently closed his wrinkled eyes and smiled, patting the head of a child whose eyes sparkled.

“You’ve come all this way, so I’ll give you two extra candies each.”

Pointing his index finger to his lips, the old man said, “But keep it a secret from the other kids, understood?”

“Yes!”

“Yes, yes…”

The children’s eyes gleamed as they popped the candies into their mouths.

“Now, go back before the sun sets completely.”

Drip, drip.

Somewhere, the sound of insects buzzing could be heard, and a dark shadow loomed over the old man’s face as he leaned against the window sill. Amidst the eerie atmosphere, the children’s cheerful voices echoed.

“Yes!”

Without leaving anyone behind, the children hurriedly left the temple.

That night, several children went missing.

***

Clang, clack, clang.

The sharp sounds pierced through her ears, resonating loudly in her mind.

Clack, clang.

“What is this sound?”

In a daze, Pia tried to make sense of the unfamiliar noise.

Clang, clack, scrape.

Her foggy mind gradually cleared as the reverberating sound grew louder.

“Oh, this sound… the sound of sharpening a knife.”

Struggling, Pia lifted her heavy eyelids.

Clack, clang.

Through her blurred vision, she saw a narrow back, white hair, and a pungent, repulsive smell.

Thud.

“Ah.”

As a cold droplet fell on her cheek, Pia snapped fully awake. Her eyes, wide with fear, began to take in her surroundings clearly.

The old man sat on the ground, sharpening a knife on a large whetstone. Beside him, four candles stood, emitting a chilly light as they melted halfway down.

“Am I… in a cave?”

The damp air, uneven floor and ceiling, and the night sky visible at the end of the long passage next to the old man left her bound and collapsed in this unfamiliar cave.

“Why am I… here?”

She quickly started to search her memories.

“Surely, I must have fallen asleep after praying as usual.”

Piya, feeling dizzy with confusion, calmed her mind and continued to think calmly.

“Come to think of it, something was strange when I fell asleep.”

Recalling the memory of drifting off to sleep as if fainting, Piya furrowed her brow.

“Such a reaction… It’s a response that can only happen after taking medicine. Then, when?”

As she delved deep into her memories.

“Ugh…”

“…!”

From behind her, the whimper of a child could be heard. Quickly turning around, she saw a child whose hands and feet were restrained by handcuffs and shackles. Seeing the child triggered a fleeting memory.

“Candy…”

Receiving two sweet candies, the child, wanting to share what they loved with someone special, had put one in their mouth and returned to the inn. They then shared the candy with Piya.

Upon hearing that the candy was from the temple, Piya, without any suspicion, accepted and ate it, remembering how she had petted the child.

As she recalled her memories, Piya realized a new fact.

…The sound of sharpening knives had suddenly stopped.

“Oh no, you’re already awake.”

“…! You…!”

Piya swiftly turned her head at the leisurely voice of an old man beside her. The old man, holding a large Chinese sword in one hand, squinted at Piya.

“I was going to let you pass without pain, but it seems you’ve committed many sins.”

Piya did not respond to the strange words uttered by the old man. Such beings were common in the Demon King’s land.

“Oh… Even in this paradise-like land, impure individuals abound.”

Feeling complacent in a place almost indistinguishable from paradise compared to the Demon King’s land, Piya bit her lip until blood seeped out.

Thud, thud.

As the old man passed by, Piya stared at him without a word, and he headed towards where the children had fallen.

“Where, hmm… they seem to be slowly waking up. Although preparations are not yet complete, it will be painful once they wake up from their slumber. Mercy must be shown.”

The old man raised his Chinese sword high while speaking as if singing a song.

Whoosh!

The sound of flesh being pierced echoed ominously.