Chapter: 28
Devastation inherently carries the meaning of decline.
Amid the debris of collapsed buildings and various odds and ends suggesting someone’s presence, monsters roamed over the earth that had buried an ancient civilization. Above them, the stars were obscured by a sandstorm.
It was an era where once-brilliant things died one by one. Clutching what little remained with both hands, trying desperately not to lose it, yet ultimately everything slipped away like ashes in the wind.
In a time where the sweetness of cherished hope had long faded, leaving only a bitter aftertaste, a young boy crossed the desolate land.
The boy’s name was Espero, though everyone called him Pero.
In this age, movement meant one of three things: either you were a monster, moving unintentionally due to residual inertia, or—rarely—you were filled with hope.
The boy possessed that hope.
By chance, he had obtained a compass from an elderly black market dealer. She claimed this compass pointed to paradise, a place free from hunger, where not just he but also the next generation—and the one after that—could lead peaceful lives.
It might have just been a cruel prank by an old woman facing death. Maybe someone had already claimed this paradise. Still, the boy believed and held on to that hope.
After all, one cannot live without hope.
===============================================================
The boy walked across the vast plains.
Sometimes he received help from others. At other times, he was chased away by looters or hid in sandy pits to avoid monsters. It was a life brimming with hardship, but it was not pointless—after all, the distance indicated on the compass was steadily decreasing.
However, it appeared that this journey was nearing its conclusion.
Grrrrrrrr…
Grrr…
A Variant Wolf. A large wolf, awkwardly walking on two legs, was drooling all over the place.
The nasty thing about Variant Wolves was their superb tracking ability and speed. The boy’s chances of escape were virtually nonexistent. It was like receiving a death sentence.
Being a small boy with no combat skills or artifacts, merely surviving until now felt like luck. He was well aware of that.
He also knew that luck does not last forever. When luck arrives, bad fortune is sure to follow. Just like two sides of a coin, luck and misfortune alternate.
Thus, he felt no sense of injustice.
“I guess my luck has run out. Dad. Mom.”
The boy sighed, grumbling once, before preparing for the next lucky soul.
He removed the compass, twisted into a makeshift necklace. Continuing to wear it like this would likely get him gobbled up by the Variant Wolf. It would be hard for anyone to find it, and it might even get damaged.
So, he decided to take it off and throw it as far away as possible.
Hoping that some lucky survivor would discover the compass and reach Paradise. Wishing that whoever found it would enjoy a happy life on behalf of those who had been lost.
With that hope in mind, he tossed it away.
The compass flew in a short parabola.
Then, it was caught by a scarred hand.
“…Huh?”
“Do you need help, Small Gentleman?”
A gentle voice echoed.
A beautiful woman with faded blonde hair. She was distinguished by the shawl wrapped around her neck and a red dress with a deep neckline. Nothing about her attire screamed combat—yet.
The very fact that she was alive in such clothing proved her strength.
The boy stared blankly for a moment before frantically nodding.
“Please save me!”
“Hoohoo, it’s not a difficult task at all.”
KEUAAAAAAAAGH-!!
The Variant Wolf opened its mouth wide enough to easily swallow a child, its ferocious teeth snapping together like a guillotine. The woman in the dress stepped forward, evading the wolf’s attack, before
Thump-!
Lightly slapping the wolf’s chin with the back of her hand. The wolf staggered and collapsed. Then, a pulsating purple heart—its weakness—was revealed on its chest.
“Seems like they all have a core somewhere in their bodies, right? It appears to be exposed when they get temporarily disabled.”
The woman plunged her hand into the wolf’s chest, grasping its heart. Pop! With a flicker of residual mana, the wolf simply died.
She looked down at the crouched boy and said, “My name is Elaine. What about you, Small Gentleman?”
“Espero… Please call me Pero!”
“Alright, Pero. I don’t know much about this place. I came from somewhere far away, you see… I need information, and you, as a gentleman, wouldn’t ignore a lady’s plight, would you?”
Wink.
Pero nodded as if enchanted.
It looked like the boy’s luck might last just a little longer…
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Behind the shadow of a rock, the two sat by a campfire.
The boy, Pero, was tingling with excitement from the crimson warmth. Lighting a fire attracted Variants, making it tough for a lone traveler. Thus, for him, this was the first light of fire in months.
The sizzling wolf meat was genuinely thrilling, making his heart race. For Pero, who had been surviving on beetles under rocks, well-cooked meat was an unbearable temptation.
“Hoohoo…”
“….”
Elaine laughed subtly while watching Pero swallow his saliva. Strangely enough, Pero felt shy under her gaze. He didn’t quite know why, but—
He fumbled and offered Elaine a skewer of wolf meat. While doing this, he awkwardly lowered his gaze, quickly spun away after noticing her deep neckline, then turned back, thinking it polite to look while conversing—and then…
Eventually, he ended up holding out the skewer with his eyes tightly shut.
“Aha-hah…!”
Elaine burst into laughter. Pero became even more bashful, lowering his head even further. The cycle of endless embarrassment continued. A tear formed in the corner of Pero’s eye.
Elaine spoke softly, “I’m sorry, Pero. I’ve caught a strange ailment where I can’t help but laugh when I see a handsome gentleman.”
Pero started looking around for another handsome gentleman. Naturally, there was no one else; just their shadows flickered in the campfire’s glow.
“Is there someone else besides me? Are you talking about me?”
“Yes, Small and Handsome Gentleman.”
“I-I’m not though.”
“You are though.”
Just as the saying goes, “Still waters run deep,” Pero’s face turned redder as he sunk his head even lower. Elaine appeared quite satisfied with the sight.
And at the same time, she wished that the Second or Third Prince had even a fraction of this boy’s cuteness. If only they had.
Rather than indulge in her dark desire to make the boy cry, Elaine decided to switch to a more productive topic. After all, there was much to uncover.
After wandering about for a day, Elaine recognized that this world was in ruins. All around her were monsters, and the scant human traces were merely remnants.
But whether this local area was particularly dangerous or if the whole world was in such ruins remained a mystery. The monsters encountered so far had been easy to deal with, yet perhaps there were others that posed greater threats.
One minor concern was that the meanings of words and gestures might differ here. How could she extract information from this little boy… After a brief contemplation, Elaine decided to employ her trump card.
“Pero, would you mind thinking that I’ve lost my memory?”
“Y-You’ve lost your m-memory?!”
Amnesia cosplay.
A tactic often employed by agents of the Imperial Defense Bureau when they needed to conceal their identities from civilians. As a tried and true method, it seemed to work wonders on the boy as well.
“Yes. I remember my name, but… Almost nothing else.”
“I’ll help! So, um… where should I start?”
Pero began to explain, stammering. Though his words were a jumbled mess, the sincerity of his desire to help shone through.
Elaine organized the information in her mind, piece by piece.
1) Humanity is on the decline due to monsters called Variants.
2) Nations have long since crumbled; the largest groups resemble mere tribes now.
3) The few surviving humans mainly hide in forests or caves.
After hearing such a brief overview, Elaine focused her attention back on the boy, Pero.
“You’re the first person I’ve met after wandering for a day. Pero, is it always this deserted around here?”
“Ah, yes. This place is often frequented by Variants. Only hunters searching for food might venture here; otherwise, vast plains like these are mostly avoided.”
“Then what were you doing here, Pero? You don’t look much like a hunter…”
“I’m searching for Paradise.”
“Paradise?”
“Yes! It’s said to be a safe place with plenty of food. I heard I could find it if I just followed where the compass pointed!”
Elaine examined the compass he had been fiddling with. A red arrow pointed in a direction, with the remaining distance numerically displayed below.
It seemed like a well-crafted artifact. Too sophisticated to be merely a trick, the tale of Paradise appeared to hold a significant degree of credibility.
In a world where the survival and sustenance of humanity were precarious, a safe haven abundant with food was indeed a sweet story. If that was the case, a question arose.
“If that’s truly the case… it’s undoubtedly a precious item. But why did you toss it away at the last moment?”
“Because if I got eaten by a Variant, it would be hard for someone else to find the compass.”
“…Upon dying, why concern yourself with what happens to others? Even if you’re that thoughtful. No one will recognize your kindness.”
Ultimately, if you don’t survive, it all becomes meaningless.
In response to that question, Pero smiled.
“Some lucky person will find happiness! I’m certain they’ll be more than happy on my behalf!”
“Well then, may I intrude on your happiness?”
“Of course! You saved me, after all! Plus, they say Paradise has enough food to last several generations, so even if two people live there, there would be plenty left!”
“There may not be enough, depending on the circumstances, you know?”
“…?”
Elaine glanced at the watch tattoo on her wrist and set a temporary goal. Regardless of whether this world was a mirage or reality, reaching Paradise to secure safety seemed an excellent option. It could also be a pleasantly entertaining journey.
Additionally, just in case encounters turned dangerous…
Having someone to play the role of bait was essential.
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Distance remaining to Paradise:
Approximately 400 km.
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