SWY 101

Why would Parel’s name come up here…?’

Hadn’t that man gone to the capital? Sharhan stood frozen, startled by hearing a name he had never expected in a place far from the capital. In that brief moment of surprise, the door opened slightly. Through the narrow opening, barely two finger-widths wide, a small face peeked out, a young girl. With jet-black hair tied into two ponytails, similar to Sharhan’s own, she looked no older than five or six.

“Uncle Parel?”

From the girl’s perspective, neither Sharhan’s nor Lestel’s faces were visible. Even tilting her head back fully, she could only see Sharhan’s chest. Recognizing only that he was an adult male, she opened the door wide in excitement. Inside, the room was dark, curtains drawn over every window, and a damp, musty stench filled the air.

“Is it Uncle Parel? …Ah, it’s not!”

A boy about ten years old popped his head out from behind the girl, standing on tiptoe and craning his neck to see Sharhan’s face. Realizing his mistake, he shouted in surprise and immediately pulled the girl back into the room.

“Robby!”

Ardelle and Peter, having regained their senses, rushed up the stairs.

“My Lady! Brother Peter!”

The boy called Robby and the girl ran out sobbing and embraced Ardelle. Several other children followed behind them, spilling out like a flood. Sharhan and Lestel instinctively stepped back a few paces to avoid hindering the children, who crowded around Ardelle and Peter, competing for hugs.

They had been told there were around twenty children, but at a quick glance, barely more than ten had appeared. Sharhan quietly counted, only twelve. The fate of the others was obvious.

Derry, who had come up last, must have also noticed the reduced numbers, as he looked at Sharhan with eyes brimming with tears.

“Wh-what happened? Why are there only you?”

Ardelle, who had been embracing each child, asked in dismay upon realizing their diminished number. She anxiously checked the room to see if any sick child had remained inside, her face filling with despair.

“Th-they died,” Robby burst into tears, prompting the other children to cry as well. They repeatedly apologized, “We’re sorry, My Lady,” their sorrow heartbreaking. Ardelle quickly comforted them, and Robby, calming slightly, explained through sobs.

“We were starving, so we went up the mountain. Raon said he knew how to set traps, so we all went together. But while setting them, moving c-corpses appeared. They charged at us, and Raon pushed Miriam towards them. The corpses tore into Miriam, and we were so scared we ran away. I’m sorry.”

Robby broke down again. Peter cursed, “Raon, that bastard,” clenching his fists in anguish. Sharhan gently rubbed Peter’s back, whose eyes were reddened from holding back tears.

“We barely made it back to the villa, but some of us were missing.”

The children had cleverly locked the doors to prevent the pursuing corpses from entering but failed to check if anyone had been bitten.

Apparently, Sonny had hidden a bite sustained while fleeing. As they all wept together, exhausted from grief at losing their friends and families, Sonny turned and bit Johnson’s leg during a seizure. Johnson’s screams threw the children into panic. Robby quickly led them upstairs. While fleeing, Kerry fell down the stairs. Robby rushed to help her, but Kerry, injured from the fall, couldn’t stand.

“Sonny, who had been biting Johnson, rushed at us, and I-I had no choice but to leave her behind. I’m sorry. Peter said that without him, Raon and I had to protect the younger ones. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Driven by a sense of duty to explain, Robby tried multiple times to speak through sobs, unable to stop crying. Only around ten years old himself, he must have felt enormous fear and responsibility.

Ardelle tightly embraced Robby, who seemed about to collapse.

“It’s okay. You were really scared, weren’t you?”

“Kerry and Johnson screamed in pain. Later, everything went silent. W-we were terrified and huddled together in a room. I’m sorry.”

“You did well. You have nothing to apologize for.”

“Many of our siblings died…”

“At least you’re alive. Don’t apologize. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“No, it’s my fault. You told me to take good care of them. It’s my fault for going out looking for food.”

This time, it was Peter who finally broke down, tears welling up in his eyes. Just as Robby, Peter, and Ardelle began to blame themselves,

“My Lady, I’m hungry. Brother, Yenny is hungry,” said the young girl with two ponytails, collapsing from hunger. The other children echoed her sentiment, starting to cry again.

“We brought food. Wait a bit; I’ll get it ready quickly,” Derry hurriedly volunteered. Ardelle reassured the children, who were cautiously eyeing Sharhan’s group.

“These are my friends. You can relax.”

Knowing the children had been starving for too long, they decided to start with thin soup. Sharhan, Lestel, and Derry went out to gather branches, avoiding using an axe to prevent noise.

Despite the smoke from damp branches, the children gathered near the fireplace, delighted by the warmth despite coughing from irritation. When Derry conjured water for the corn soup, the children were amazed, causing Ardelle to hush them gently, though she herself seemed equally fascinated.

“Wow, water! My Lady, water is coming out of Uncle Derry’s hands!”

“This uncle is a magician,” Ardelle whispered to Yenny, her eyes shining brightly. Embarrassed but pleased, Derry continued creating water. Sharhan and Lestel prepared the soup.

“Line up,” Ardelle said, handing out bowls. The children ate carefully, blowing on the hot soup.

“You should eat too,” Sharhan urged Ardelle.

“I’m fine.”

“Fine? Your stomach is growling like thunder.”

“Couldn’t you pretend not to hear that?” Ardelle punched Sharhan’s shoulder, embarrassed, glancing nervously at Lestel. Sharhan handed her a bowl, annoyed by her reaction.

Lestel, distant from the children, stood apart, familiar with their wary looks. Sharhan approached him.

“We’ll have to stay here tonight,” Sharhan said.

Lestel nodded, eyes following Ardelle. Sharhan’s jaw tightened.

‘Is this bastard looking at Ardelle now? He looks about ready to cry.’

Feeling irritated, Sharhan asked sharply, “Does Ardelle look that pitiful to you?”