The uniformed man from the Public Security Bureau was lying. He was not busy at all. Because Grisha himself had seen how relaxed he and the tall, thin man, Kruger, were.
But more than that, Grisha cursed his own ignorance and stupidity.
It was he who had caused Fay's death.
"1820 years ago, the ancestor of the Eldian people, Ymir Fritz, made a pact with a demon to acquire the power of the Titans. After her death, Ymir's soul split into nine Titans, who founded the ancient Eldian Empire."
"Eldia was a mighty empire that destroyed the Marley Kingdom and became the ruler of the continent. That was when the Dark Ages began. Those who called themselves the Subjects of Ymir, holding the Titan power, considered all other races inferior and began to oppress them."
"They stole land, property, and annihilated many lineages. The Eldian people forced other races to breed with them, hoping to create more Subjects of Ymir. All of this lasted 1,700 years."
"Until Eldia's arrogance peaked. The descendants of the once-prosperous Marley Kingdom began to conspire to overthrow them. A civil war broke out, weakening Eldia."
"The rebel faction succeeded in subduing seven of the nine Founding Titans. They finally became the winning side in the Great Titan War 80 years ago. King Fritz was only left with Paradise Island, where he built three Walls to escape with his Subjects."
"However, not all of us. There are still us, the Eldians left behind on this continent. It would be no surprise if the Marleyans decided to wipe us out, but that would only further prove us to be the descendants of the devil. Therefore, Marley showed us tolerance, allowing us to live, giving us land to exist..."
Mr. Yeager talked a lot, especially for a father who had just lost a child.
Ever since the two Marleyan officers left, he kept holding the history book, ceaselessly lecturing Grisha as thoroughly as possible. The boy, however, remained silent.
It wasn't the first time his father had lectured him from the "primer" book for every Eldian living in the Internment Zone. But this was the first time he found every word and phrase in it so jarring.
And his father, too. Seeing him like that—defending his Marleyan masters while cursing his own ancestors—made him seem no different than a dog wagging its tail.
It was disgusting.
"That man lied."
Grisha spoke, immediately causing both his parents to stop.
"He lied because the truth was not convenient for him. He knows something."
"Don't talk about it. The walls are thin here."
"I think he led Fay away to—"
"Quiet!!!"
Mr. Yeager snapped, standing up from his chair and glaring at Grisha. The boy's face remained cold.
"Didn't I tell you? Our ancestors were demons, believing they were superior, so they committed genocide without mercy. The blood of the devil flows in our veins."
"But I didn't! And Fay didn't either! All we did was take a walk!"
His emotions could no longer be contained. Grisha slammed his hand down on the table, his eyes wet with tears. Mr. Yeager froze, accompanied by his mother's stifled sobs.
"What's wrong with you? Do you want our whole family to be sent to Paradise Island?"
"The Yeager family hates and protests the decision of the security bureau. Just one rumor like that, and we'll be done for."
Mr. Yeager clutched Grisha with both hands as if begging. It was only then that the boy looked straight into his father's eyes, realizing that his father didn't want this either.
Isn't a father who lost a child suffering? Yes. Isn't it hateful to flatter an official even though he doesn't care about his child's death? Yes.
But so what?
They were Eldians. Here, they were merely slaves raised in an internment camp, on par with vermin and trash. The reason the Marleyans allowed them to survive for subsequent generations was because they needed "tools," not out of any benevolence or nobility.
Didn't Mr. Yeager know this truth clearly?
He did, very clearly. That's why he could only swallow his pain and humbly appease others, because he didn't want anyone else in his family to lose their lives. Anguish and hatred were ultimately crushed by fear.
In that moment, the boy understood his father.
He was just a human unable to escape. And so was Grisha.
"Do you understand, Grisha? Maybe we didn't do anything, but they don't care. All we can do is stay in this Internment Zone, live a simple and quiet life, that's all..."
"Please, Grisha. Don't let... your parents suffer the same fate as Fay."
"Y-yes... alright... sir..."
The boy replied numbly.
Was this world wrong? Or was he wrong? Perhaps both. One person too ignorant and stupid, and one world too unfair and cruel.
Grisha accepted Mr. Yeager's advice. He did what he had to do, living quietly as time passed. Even the matter of Fay's death slowly faded, slowly sinking away.
In a flash, Grisha was eighteen years old, having mastered medical knowledge to become a doctor's apprentice, preparing to inherit the clinic from his father and live out the rest of his life that way. Until one day, a special patient came to see him.
"That cross-shaped scar... what is that?"
"It's proof that I am a countryman."
"Is that so..."
Grisha merely heard him and paid no further attention. But as soon as the man's next sentence was spoken, his action stopped.
"Your sister was murdered by a Marleyan official. We have a spy in the Marleyan government; that's what he said."
"I will tell you more if you join us, becoming a fighter for the Eldian Restoration Movement."
The Eldian Restoration Movement. The name alone made the organization's focus clear. They were an underground group opposing Marley, who had noticed Grisha earlier and came to recruit him.
He agreed. Because the resentment that had been silent for years surged back to life. For Fay.
At the organization's underground base, Grisha heard the truth about his sister's death.
It wasn't an accident, of course. It was done by a person—the very officer in uniform who had acted kindly and led Fay away.
That bastard led the little girl to the riverside and had people bring vicious dogs to tear her apart until she bled out and died. A truly agonizing and cruel death.
Grisha wept, clenching his jaw in utter rage. He swore he would overthrow Marley, carving a cross shape on his chest like the others in the organization as a solemn oath.
In a short time, the young man Grisha became immersed in the Eldian Restoration Movement, even becoming the spiritual leader of the entire organization. He spent days and nights studying the documents sent by the spy in the Marleyan government, codenamed "The Owl."
The Owl led the resistance movement without revealing his identity, providing the organization with information, weapons, and money. Most notably, the true historical facts that current Eldians were completely unaware of.
"Look at this, this is the exact truth!"
"Our ancestor Ymir received the Titan power and built this world, bringing prosperity to humanity! It was she who enlightened and developed this continent!"
Grisha pointed to the pile of documents on the table and said. Immediately after, dozens of echoing responses from surrounding members rang out.
"So the history the Marleyans teach in school is just something they fantasized up to make themselves look better. I knew it!"
"That's right! They can fool each other, but they can't fool us, the true Eldians!"
"Grisha, I'm surprised you can read the ancient language on here."
"No, I can only translate a little bit of it."
"Then how do you know it's the truth?"
"Because I believe in our ancestor Ymir! Those chosen by God! The Subjects of Ymir!"
That was a new beginning, a beginning full of promise and bright future. However, this was not paradise; this was hell. All stories here begin in different ways but end the same way.
Tragedy.