Human.
Humanity.
Intelligent beings.
Humanoid species.
And even monsters and creatures.
If there exists intelligence and reason, everyone has their own worries, troubles, and sorrows.
And right now, Yane had a deep and significant concern, more than ever before.
“Kki, ek!” (So bored, damn it!)
And that was precisely it—being bored.
Perched on the roof of the Hunter Train, Yane watched the Hunters fend off the invasion of Minotaurs, her tail wagging.
Well, it was more accurate to say there wasn’t much else for her to do.
She had come outside just in case to protect Yoonjeong, but thankfully, the Hunters had been doing their jobs, and thanks to Teresa directly jumping into the battlefield, not a single one of the 3,000-strong Minotaur army had been lost on the Hunters’ side.
Because of that, Yane didn’t have to step in, but she was still just a child who hadn’t even hit puberty yet, quickly succumbing to feelings of boredom.
Normally, she would’ve planned a dungeon outing with Yoonjeong, guided by Shia, but unfortunately, a situation occurred where S-grade Hunters, including Shia, Menelapie, and Yeonhwa, were teleported somewhere due to a dungeon gimmick. As such, unless there was a special reason, the Hunters decided to focus on protecting the train and securing the surrounding area. Because Yoonjeong couldn’t go on a dungeon outing, Yane naturally found herself with nothing to do.
It wasn’t impossible for Yane to sneak Yoonjeong out without the Hunters or train staff knowing, but given that she was unaware of the whereabouts of the S-grade Hunters, it was deemed best to wait for at least three or more to return before exploring the dungeon.
“Kki-ec…”
A gentle breeze swayed Yane’s antennae as she lay bored on the train car.
The Elder Mandragora slept all day.
Slime Empress Kim Hana seemed busy practicing some green beam that was supposedly mint chocolate.
And Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess stuck close to Yoonjeong.
‘What to do…?’
It hadn’t been long since she ate, so she wasn’t hungry.
Though she could eat more, the only food available on the Hunter Train was tasteless rations and canned goods.
If Shia had been there, she would’ve made unexpectedly delicious meals even amidst the chaos, but unfortunately, there was nothing to her liking right then.
After rolling around on the roof for a while, Yane couldn’t hide her boredom and sagged down.
“Yane~!”
“Kki!”
At that moment, when Yoonjeong and Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess, who had been helping to construct the barricade with other Hunters, spotted Yane, they waved.
Having rolled around with nothing to do, Yane leaped down from the ceiling, approaching Yoonjeong with a boing noise. Yoonjeong patted her chin affectionately.
“Kki-ec~ Yoonjeong, mom!”
“Our Yane must be really bored, huh?”
“Kki-ec, kki-ec~!”
Agreeing that she was bored, Yane rubbed against Yoonjeong, looking up at her with pleading eyes.
This was troublesome.
Even so, she couldn’t let Yane wander outside freely; Yoonjeong, having experience with parenting, understood how much boredom could be a significant enemy for a child like Yane.
Especially for Yane, who was bursting with energy and vitality, that boredom could become even worse if unchecked.
After a moment of contemplation in response to Yane’s desperate gaze, Yoonjeong approached the Hunter Association personnel directing the construction.
“Excuse me, Mr. Officer.”
“Ah, yes? You’re Hunter Yoonjeong.”
“D-grade, though.”
D-grade, yet Yoonjeong still boarded the train as a Hunter.
The officer likely recognized her due to Yeonhwa’s influence in the Hunter Train operating committee.
Shia’s group had all but made themselves VIPs in the eyes of the staff, due to the request of the Yeon family for all officers to remember their faces.
“Is there anything uncomfortable or wrong?”
“Well, it’s just that… my child seems really bored; could I have permission to explore?”
“What?”
“Kki!”
At her words, the officer momentarily looked between Yoonjeong, Yane, and Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess.
‘Child?’
Who?
Yoonjeong looks the youngest here, though…?
But the officer quickly deduced that the term ‘child’ was definitely referring to Yane, seeing her antennae waving eagerly at the mention of exploration.
But did she want to be given permission for exploration?
Who knows when the Minotaur army might strike again? Exploring could be dangerous, and even A-grade Hunters were currently busy with constructing barricades.
Yoonjeong seemed to predict what the officer was going to say, waving her hand to reassure.
“No need to worry, it’s not dangerous. Yane has already brought back all the train cars taken by those luminous dragons… no, uranium dragons. She’s not weak either, so it’d be a shame for her to just waste away here.”
“……”
“Kki-ii~! Kki!”
Yane confidently thrust her chest forward, as if saying, “Just trust me!”
Of course, for safety’s sake, they shouldn’t make exceptions like this.
The S-grade Hunters had all been teleported, and who knows what might happen in a dungeon where the mana concentration is high enough to scramble the radar?
But the officer also knew, as Yoonjeong said, that there was a record of Yane and a group of mysterious four Hunters defeating the uranium dragons and recovering the stolen train cars.
As a personnel member of the Hunter Association, he should be controlling the Hunters.
However, they also received orders to take great care of Shia and her group. It was just reading what was logged in the train history, yet he understood that Yane’s abilities were exceptionally noteworthy.
Yes, they had successfully attacked the uranium dragon’s nest and retrieved train cars; so he could afford to not worry much about their power.
“Hmmm…Then, Hunter Yoonjeong. I can allow exploration, but do you have a Hunter Assistant Drone?”
“A drone? Ah, Shia has one…”
“Are you referring to Hunter Isia? I’ll have to report to the captain, but as long as you operate the mapping and location activities with the administrator’s permissions, I think I can approve it.”
Although S-grade Hunters had been teleported away, someone needed to conduct the exploration.
The Hunter Train committee had originally planned to assign this role to Teresa Kaitlyn, who helped greatly in driving away the Minotaurs, but it was also the judgment of the officer that Yane was not a subpar candidate in terms of her combat capabilities.
“If you’re willing to operate the mapping and tracking in return, we will also provide an emergency kit and supplies on the drone.”
“Oh, so you’re saying you’ll approve it?”
“Kki-ec!” (Yay, sex!)
As Yane gleefully rejoiced, Yoonjeong smiled contentedly.
Then Yane promptly clung to Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess.
She probably meant “Please come with me.”
“…Mother.”
“Um, I apologize, but could the Mermaid Princess join us too? It’d also serve to look for Shia…”
“Kki-ec~”
“…Haa.”
“Is it alright, Mr. Officer?”
“The person there also belongs to the group that retrieved the train cars, right? If they come along, it would be even better.”
The Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess, who had no particular inclination to go outside, sighed deeply.
“I don’t want to go out…”
“Ppueeng!!!”
“Ah… haa…”
If she refused here, it was obvious Yane would cling to her like a cicada until she expressed her intent to go along.
In the end, the Hyung-An’s Mermaid Princess nodded, and the officer briefly contacted someone over the radio before equipping the drone Yane would take with several kits.
Two portions of camping kits, supply kits, and emergency kits.
“It’s nominally an exploration, but please don’t go into areas that are too deep and dangerous.”
“Understood…”
“Kki~eeek~!”
Yane looked overjoyed as if she could comprehend the officer’s words anyway, embracing the drone in delight.
She seemed so happy it was being pressed tightly against her chest.
“Well then, we’ll be off, Mother.”
“Okay, be safe~”
And so, Yane and the Mermaid Princess set off on another adventure.
–Beep!
[?]
[Oh, what is it?]
[Not visible]
[????]
[What’s even going on?]
[Whoa, it’s broadcasting]
[Mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom, I’m cold, mom]
[What now???]
[Is this the streamer???]
I thought it would be okay.
I always thought so.
I had won the war against the Demon King, which seemed eternal.
We saved the world in its entirety. We defeated everything that stood in our path.
We defeated the Demon King and all his evil minions,
and I believed that since we met again, everything would always be alright…
Even if we were to drift apart briefly, I thought it would still be okay.
For in this world, we already existed.
Because we met again.
Shia is here.
I’m here.
And even Teresa has returned to you, so I believed the bond between the three of us would not break again.
I thought so.
But it wasn’t.
[Disappointing!]
It’s cold.
No, it hurts.
“Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia… Shia…”
Like a dagger stabbing into my heart, I felt contempt and discomfort mixed with the obvious rejection from Shia.
In truth, it was the beginning of my paranoia, but now my world had completely collapsed.
I embodied the glorious golden aura and performed the roles of Emperor and Hero perfectly.
But that was only because Shia was by my side.
It’s a different story, but in the world of Lirisia, Menelapie’s mental state was shattered when Lirisia and Menelapie met too late, leading to Menelapie’s demise alongside the Demon King.
And now, Menelapie had been spiraling down into delusion and torment, rolling a snowball of misery all on her own, and eventually resorted to stealing the beef that Lirisia had tried hard to butcher.
The fact that the Hero Menelapie stole beef might shock some, but it was an instinctive act executed without thought or reasoning—she must have sensed what Shia would like.
It could be said she acted on reflex without engaging her brain, indicating that the state of Menelapie, who had heard “I’m disappointed!” from Shia, was far from normal.
While it might seem trivial on the outside, it was indeed something very serious and tragic for Menelapie.
Shia, my Shia.
Please listen to me.
I…
I will not steal your heart.
I merely came here to meet you.
For you were everything to me.
Yes, that was everything to me.
Though humans are foolish beings… you bestowed salvation and hope upon those who wish for tomorrow. And I too, am no exception.
Many find salvation in various things, but for me, you alone are my salvation.
You are the only one.
I cannot do without you.
Only you are needed.
So, Shia…
Please hear me.
I stand here to meet you.
Though you may think you appeared on this earth for all living beings, you alone are everything to me.
Without you, I cannot live.
Without you, I cannot even be here.
I thought so.
And then we parted ways.
In the darkness of that bottomless pit, mindlessly swallowing my tears, I endlessly sought for you.
Longing to meet you once more, wishing for my desire to come true; even if this ending… this conclusion is the worst choice for me, I leaped into the darkness willingly to find you.
Shia, you do not know.
The moment I found you in that darkness was when I reclaimed the lost life and light.
I dare say that my joy in finding you again is greater than your joy.
So please, Shia.
You came into my heart uninvited, held me, cradled me, and made me feel warmth, then tried to leave again and vanish somewhere—why?
It hurts, Shia.
I am in so much pain.
If only we had never met; if only you hadn’t come to me from the very beginning, I would not have known this pain.
The moment you pushed me away… I feel suffocated.
I feel pain and suffocation.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t hear a sound.
Where am I now?
Is this a dream, or is this reality?
All that continues to echo in my head is the dagger you mercilessly plunged into my heart.
I have received salvation from you.
And again, I fell into despair because of you.
I cannot endure this.
However, I cannot do anything.
I am in so much pain.
So much pain, Shia.
I am so sorry.
So please, do not be disappointed in me.
So please, do not abandon me.
Please, just this once, do not…
–Crack!
What is this?
Don’t stop me.
I must… I must…
“…L, pee…!”
Don’t stop me.
Don’t stop me.
I must apologize to Shia.
I must plead to Shia.
I must pray to Shia.
So please don’t stop me.
Who are you?
[…Found it…!]
