The man bent down as he stared at me deeply. Through the holes in his helmet, I could see his eyes — eyes full of utter disregard of life, only treating me as only a source of amusement. I couldn’t help but feel uneasy and disgusted. At the same time, a feeling of powerlessness assaulted me from within.

These people! They will… I have to leave this place! And make sure these people don’t get to me. But how…

I tried approaching the problem through various areas, in all sorts of ways possible. However, there was only one answer I ever reached — failure.

Is the only thing I can do is to bite my nails and hope for a miracle? Although the idea itself didn’t seem too bad on the surface, I inwardly felt repulsed by it. Something within me was screaming to do something — anything I could think of besides that.

However, before this line of thought could continue, a powerful impact through my stomach roused my attention. A sour taste immediately filled my mouth. Turning my head down, I saw the man’s fist firmly embedded in my stomach.

My vision melted between black and white several times. But before I could pass out, a cold sensation permeated through my leg before the entire world turned upside down. Looking up, I saw the ground a few inches from my face as my muddled thoughts cleared a bit.

This is… I’m hanging upside down?

The unease in my heart rose by a few extra notches, as well as another feeling filled my heart that I couldn’t help but become more familiar with as time ticked — fear. However, this fear differed from any I had felt before — it felt mine and yet not mine. My inner self cowered at the thought of these people, wanting to run away and hide, yet unable to do it.

The force grabbing my leg intensified slightly before the world seemed to move as the man raised me up while asking, “How do you like the present? Brat?”

Without waiting for an answer, he turned back as he said, “Men, leave the formation aside. It’ll dissolve by itself in a little while. Instead, look at what we have here!”

Over twenty people gathered in front of me as they looked at me before breaking into murmurs.

“What is the captain trying to do this time?”

“What a bother! Just kill him already and be done with it.”

“Who is that kid? Or is it someone who altered their appearance to look like one?”

“Yeah, break his bones! Make sure that his screams are loud!”

“People, people. Enough. Listen closely. Since we managed to come this far, I have decided to reward you all by sharing a story with you all.” While speaking, the man took off his helmet as his long green hair fell down to his shoulders like seaweed. As for his features, I couldn’t see them, obstructed by the height and angle I looked at him.

The man continued, “As you may remember, the attack on the forest a little ahead, and how our lord got his victory over there.” He took a pause before continuing, “However, do you all know how he actually killed that bitch that day? The answer is by using her family — this brat — as bait! That wretch couldn’t abandon this burden and actually ran all that time carrying this thing!”

While speaking, he shook my leg. However, instead of feeling dizzy, more of my focus landed on each of his words. Each of them managed to stab at the one thing that hurt me the most without missing a beat. My throat felt dry and my nose stuffy, yet I could do nothing but to lifelessly listen to his words.

“What’s more, he’s the brat of that bastard from three months ago. Looks like Vorkdarik — ahem, I mean Lord Vordarik failed to kill this brat. How lucky, isn’t it?”

Vor… dar… ik…

My pupils contracted at the sound of this name. My heart skipped a beat eyer so often and my body felt a sharp chill at the sound of this name. That name caused an acute pain filled my head while also making my knees feel weak. It was like something wanting to burst forth from my head yet unable to.

The world spun again as my vision darkened for a moment. Something cold wrapped around my neck a moment later as he lifted me up by the neck, my feet hanging in the air.

Before my eyes was a face with two eyes which seemed to pierce deep within my soul. Black bags and crow’s feet lay beneath those devilish eyes. With his seaweed green hair slowly making its way down his shoulders, he plastered a smirk upon his face.

“Good work, brat,” the man spoke in a sinister manner. “First you let us get a hold of that woman. Now you help us find that relic. Good work. You performed a meritorious deed for our republic. As a compensation for all your efforts, you truly deserve to die a death miserable enough to make even the devils of Ominheim tremble. Unfortunately, since our current situation doesn’t allow that, let this captain cleanse this realm of you with a slow and painful death. Remember the name of the man who will free this world of you, Burt! Hahaha!”

The intangible pressure pressing against me disappeared all of a sudden as it became easier to breathe. Like a fish out of water, I gasped for air. Throughout my skin, I felt a slight itch. And even without it, I could tell that sweat coated my body from head to toe.

Although the heavy pressure from before was long gone, I could not move half a muscle, let alone flail. My limbs didn’t have any strength within them whatsoever.

At the same time, that blurry dream of mine came hitting me back over and over. I could feel my guts twisting as a sweet sensation filled my throat. I clenched my teeth hard as a small whimper escaped from between them.

“What do you mean? Do you… you know me?”

“Huh? What did you just say?” Burt said before laughing out loud. “Hahaha! This is the biggest joke I’ve heard to this day! This brat doesn’t even remember what he did. Kid, let me tell you, thanks to your help, we were able to catch that wretch you called your mother before…”

All the voices became muffled as a buzzing sound within my head swallowed them wordlessly.

It was all true… I… I’m really a… I shouldn’t—

A sudden kick to my stomach snapped me out, causing my eyes to go wide. My back struck onto something hard before going numb as all the feeling in it was gone. Striking onto the ground with my chest, I took in a chilly breath. Yet, before I could let it out, a foot covered in metal armour implanted itself into my left side, turning me over to my back.

“How does it feel?” Burt asked, his voice laced with slyness and elation. The cold metal sole of his boot pressed against my arm. Without waiting for a reply, he shouted, “Men, let me show you a good show. You better learn how to break people down from it. Take this as a lesson from me.”