Selv felt an impact through his body. He had fallen from quite a distance. Several parts of his body cried in pain, mainly his chest. His breathing was ragged and vision was not the best. Dragging his sluggish body, he moved from his ‘cushion’.

Moving away from the man who he had used as a cushion, he finally realized the man’s identity.

“Nau- No. Merk. Why did he…”

A taste of bitterness went through his mouth to his inside.

He was someone Selv knew. Two days ago, he had met the man and bought some apples for him and Nely. He was, without mistake, the food vendor, Merk.

“You idiot. Why are you doing this stupid thing? Think about your wife,” Selv said, giving his lifeless body a sad look.

The man would no longer call out to him by calling mate. He would no longer sell the town’s specialty. Despite kept saying his name wrong, Selv thought of the man as one of his closest people. It was rare for people here to call him mate. But, he was no more.

Furthermore, the people I had cut today, could it be that they were... Such thoughts ran through his mind for a second, causing him to bit his lips.

Now is not the time. Selv moved it to the corner of his mind and switched his gears.

The hole he fell to was big enough to do exercise and so deep it was impossible to get out without a rope. To add its difficulty, the wall was made out of metal with no visible gap.

Selv was about to calm his breathing when someone shot something at him. The ground where he was become black and let out a smoke.

From above, a familiar voice came.

“Nice job dodging a high-speed lead. Even when it’s considered to be a failure because it could not hurt Deaths due to their black fog, it’s still effective against a fellow human.”

Several people gathered around the hole.

“Why... Why are you doing this?” He asked with a sad, unbelieving tone. He doubted his ears.

No, it must be a mistake. He repeated to himself.

But, the man uncovered his hood, showing the definite proof of his identity.

“It has been a while, Father. I have come to grant your wish.”

“Edmund.”

Edmund. That was the name of Selv’s son who had lost contact with him a few years ago. Among other sons, he was the one he treated like one the most. His favorite, you might say.

Another shot was fired.

“!!”

Yet, now, he bared his fang at him. What had happened while he was not looking? Where did he do wrong?

Selv was having time seeing but barely managed to dodge the bullet. He held his pained chest and fell to his knee.

“Our sacrifice was not in vain. We were able to successfully make you take one step into that grave,” Edmund said, a smile of satisfaction on his face. “All I have to do is making you take another step.

He shot another.

Selv relied on his hearing and parried it. It hadn’t been more than ten minutes since he entered the warehouse. But, he was already at his limit. Never mind speaking, he had a hard time catching his breath.

“What’s wrong? Have you finally reached your ten minutes? That’s good. There’s no need to keep suffering. For both of our sake.”

He shot yet another. This time, it hit Selv on the shoulder. He let out a groan together with a hot liquid from his shoulder.

The people around Edmund just observed with a crossbow on their hands. They did not assist even with range weapon in their hand. It was a precaution if Selv was about to get out.

“I’ve heard you took another request from the scum in Capital. Why do you keep forcing yourself?”

“It’s… the agreement.”

With a hoarse voice that could disappear at any moment, Selv replied. As he answered back, the previous oxygen he had collected gone again from his body.

If it was Edmund’s intention behind this conversation, he had succeeded.

“With who? The scum of capital that wrings you dry for decades? The long lost someone you could not remember anymore? Or, to yourself that had failed to protect your town?”

Selv did not reply. He did not and could not reply it. His body and mind grew weaker any heavier by second. In contrasted, his heart and emotion were raging inside.

Selv was slowly sinking inside a thick swamp. Something pierced his stomach, but he felt nothing. His whole body touched the ground, painting it red while it painted him with dirt.

“You’re no longer the strongest human or the trump card against Deaths. Not since you received that injury in your lung. Breathing normally should be hard for you and yet…”

Another shot. Yet, perhaps because he became too emotional, the shot this time hit the ground.

“Why,” Edmund asked, releasing everything from his chest. If it was not now, he would lose the chance forever. “Why did you keep taking everything yourself? Are we not that reliable because in your eyes we are nothing but children? I wished you to understand how we feel when we look at you.”

Clear sadness was plastered on his face. The feeling he had kept rushed out like a broken dam. He had many to say. Too many to count. However, the person he directed it to could no longer hear or reply.

Is this how I going to die? Selv silently thought in a quiet place, away from conflict and trouble. He felt he was in the right place, finally. It was a place where he should have gone to ages ago.

Maybe, this is for the best. At peace, he closed his eyes and let everything bygone. The world no longer needs an old-fashioned sword user like him. It had already passed him and entered into a new era.

They, the new generation, should be able to solve the world’s problem, Deaths, without him.

“Unable to cut your own life due to a curse. So, we, instead, will do the job for you. Yes. We’re granting your wish to return ‘home’.”

Edmund finished his speech and pointed the barrel for the deciding action.

“Farewell, Father.”

With that final words, Edmund unleashed the lead that was aimed to Selv’s vital.