"Monster, huh…?""So what did you do? What kind of work was it, for you to be considered a monster?""There are many reasons someone can earn that title."
Beijamim asked calmly.
A cold wind began to blow, lifting the dry leaves from the ground.Jay stared at the earth beneath his feet, his eyes trembling, his expression dark.
His hands rested on his knees, shaking.This was something he clearly didn't want to remember.In truth, he wanted it to disappear.
"You can't escape it," Beijamim said coldly, staring at his disciple."It's your past, and it will pursue you until your grave."
Jay opened his mouth… then closed it again.
Beijamim stood up.
"You can't hide from your past, just as I said before. Sooner or later, my dear disciple, you will face it."
After saying that, Beijamim turned his back and disappeared into the forest.
Alone in the silence of the trees, Jay clenched his teeth.He wanted to cry.
His pride wouldn't allow it.
Slowly, flashes of his past life invaded his mind.
A man knelt on the floor of a dark room, drenched in sweat, begging—
"N-no… p-please…"His eyes trembled with fear."Don't kill my family… please…"
As he spoke, he lowered his head, blood covering his face.
The air was polluted with the stench of sweat.
Gabriel stared at him with a cold, merciless gaze.Pointing his pistol at the man's head, he spoke calmly.
"…Alright. I'll let them live, because I respect you.""…Now say… goodbye."
The gunshot echoed through the dark room.
The body fell.A red liquid slowly spread across the floor.
The smell of gunpowder mixed with blood and sweat.
Then his phone rang.
"Yes, I finished the job."
…
"Alright."
Closing his eyes, Jay exhaled heavily.
'I saw people begging for their lives… and even so, I killed them in cold blood.'
A melancholic laugh escaped him as he ran a hand through his black hair.
He looked up at the blue sky, bathed in pure white clouds.
'Ahhh…'
Laughing inwardly, he thought,
'How am I such a…'
Jay tried to force a smile.
He couldn't.
That smile was far too heavy—like the weight of a stone.
'…Hypocrite.'
Lowering his head, Jay stood up to change his clothes.
On his bed lay a black cloth shirt and a pair of worn black pants.
After getting dressed, he headed toward the trail he always walked.
That was his routine.
Wake up.Eat.Walk the trail to the training field.
From time to time, his master would check on him.
He trained relentlessly—until his muscles screamed in protest.
After returning and resting briefly, Jay practiced swordsmanship with his master.
Then he ate and slept.
That had been his routine for a year.
'…A year, huh?''I wonder how they're doing…''Luis, Kyrai, Noa, Mery, Father… and Santa Clarice.'
Thinking of Santa Clarice made his expression sink even further.
Jay continued along the trail.It was irritating due to the thorny plants, but at least the view was beautiful.
'I think the news must have reached her by now.''She probably felt a little down… but not that much.'
Jay let out a short, bitter laugh.
After all, the people he loved and cared about believed he was dead.
'It hurts a little, knowing that.''And just like my master said… I can't run from the past…'
Jay shook his head.
'No. I'm doing fine, right?''I'm giving it my all.''Focus. Focus on training.'
As Jay prepared for another long and painful training session—
Inside a cathedral, kneeling before a bronze statue bathed in gold, stood a white-haired elf.
As she prayed before the statue, the sound of heavy footsteps approached.
The doors opened forcefully.
The person was out of breath, his expression filled with concern.
"Saint!"
She sighed, then turned to face him.
"What is it?"
A candle illuminated the small room they were in.
"A catastrophe has occurred on the human continent."
"I see. So you want me to go there?"The Saint raised an eyebrow.
"No… not exactly."
"What do you mean?"
"The humans fled to our county, and the city that was affected…"The man paused, turning his head aside before gathering the courage to continue."It was the last one you visited."
The serious, cold expression on her face collapsed as tears welled up in her ruby-red eyes.
"No… th-that can't be true!"Her breathing grew heavy, her chest rising and falling rapidly.Her hands trembled as she moved them toward her head.
"S-Saint, are you alright?"
"OF COURSE I'M NOT!" she screamed,like someone who had lost something precious.
"Saint!"
A female voice echoed through the air.
Turning toward it, a blonde elf appeared—crystal-blue eyes, light armor, a sword sheath at her waist.
She looked directly at the fragile girl before her.
"Do you want to check the list of survivors?" she asked calmly.
Suddenly, despair overtook Santa Clarice.
She stood up and rushed toward the mysterious elf.
"Yes."
"Alright."
Night slowly descended upon the land as the sunlight faded.
Jay cut through the air with a powerful sword strike.
Beijamim dodged the attack and glanced at the ground, noticing drops of sweat falling.
"You're too tense," he said."What's going on with you today, Jay?"
"Nothing… there's nothing."
While speaking, Jay gripped his sword and swung with a sharp slash.
Beijamim dodged easily and counterattacked—flicking Jay on the back of the head.
Jay fell flat on his back, groaning.
Resting his sword on his shoulder, Beijamim looked at him with a strange expression.
"You put too much force into that strike. And it was far too predictable.""Seriously, what's going on with you today?"
"It's nothing."
Beijamim rested his hand on his chin and sat down on a fallen log.
'Seriously, what's wrong with him?''Is it the dream… or that conversation we had?''Well, I should just tell him what's going to happen starting tomorrow.'
Jay stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes.
"Jay, I have some news."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"Huh? What news?"
"We'll be leaving in two days. We're heading to the…"Beijamim paused dramatically, his lips curling into a grin."…place where your training will enter its final phase!"
Jay bared his teeth as a smile escaped his face.
'Finally!'