They were running fast.
And the Pagedactyl was lurking behind them.
Well… not my problem.
All I had to do was stay still, and it wouldn't see me.
They were getting closer and closer, while I remained motionless.
That huge guy noticed me and started yelling:
"Hey kid, run!!!"
I ignored him and stayed put.
They drew nearer and nearer, and as soon as they reached me… he grabbed me, threw me on his shoulder, and kept running.
I started shouting:
"Put me down! Let me go right now!"
He looked at me and said foolishly:
"I know this world is gloomy, my friend, but life is beautiful.
Don't give up—live."
I realized I was dealing with an idiot.
And he was going to get me killed.
Suddenly, the girl with him began to scream:
"It's getting closer… it's getting closer!!!"
Without hesitation, he picked her up and placed her on his other shoulder, running even faster as he shouted:
"Don't worry, little one, your great uncle will save you!"
I started wishing I had died with my grandfather instead of meeting these two.
I told them:
"Just stop moving and it won't be able to see you."
He looked at me foolishly again and said:
"Kid, I told you life is beautiful. If you want to die, don't drag us with you."
I looked at the bird and saw it was even closer.
I told that idiot:
"I'm serious—if we don't move, it won't be able to see us."
He looked at me with sudden seriousness and said:
"Can I trust you? Can I put my life in your hands, kid?"
I replied:
"Do I look like I care about your life? I'm only trying to save myself."
Suddenly, he stopped moving and said to the girl:
"Flet, close your eyes for a while and don't move."
I looked at the bird and saw it land on the ground.
It started walking near us.
It got closer and closer.
It circled around us; its breath smelled disgusting.
I felt like I was going to vomit.
Its beak looked like a saw.
Its size was enormous—maybe over seven meters tall.
With only one eye—its eye was blood-red.
Just as the book described.
It was terrifying, but I wasn't afraid.
Maybe because it wasn't as terrifying as my dreams.
Or like… that demon.
Suddenly, it stopped moving, spread its wings, and returned to the sky.
It worked—we were invisible to it now.
I told the man:
"Alright, you can put me down now."
He didn't answer. I looked at him and saw his eyes shut, tears streaming down his face.
"Oh God, please, I'm still young, I don't want to die because I trusted a short, foolish-looking kid li—"
I smacked his head to shut him up.
"Open your eyes, it's gone."
He looked at me, surprised, and said:
"Well done, kid. I knew I could trust you."
"…Just put me down already."
The girl spoke up:
"Valex-sama, can I open my eyes now?"
He quickly wiped his tears and said:
"Yes, little one. The monster is gone."
Then, at last, he set me and the girl down.
He approached the girl and said:
"There's no need to fear anymore. The moment that beast saw me, it fled in terror."
I looked at him in disbelief—there's no way anyone would believe something like that.
The girl said:
"Really? You're amazing, Valex-sama. I knew you would save us!"
…Are these two really human?
Maybe they're just creatures of this world.
I took a better look at them.
The man was tall, muscular, and looked strong, but obviously naïve.
The girl was about my age, maybe younger.
A little shorter than me, with… blonde hair.
I kept staring at it—it had been a long time since I'd seen colors other than black and gray.
I'd have to check the book later… maybe I'll find out.
I started walking back to where I had slept.
I had left my bag and belongings there.
As I walked, the man called out:
"Hey kid, where are you going?"
I ignored him and kept moving.
Suddenly, the girl ran ahead and blocked my path:
"Hey, Valex-sama spoke to you. Turn around and answer him."
I told her to get out of my way.
But she refused.
That man said to her:
"Stop, Flet. Let me talk to him."
He came closer and said:
"Kid, forgive me for not introducing myself.
I am the great, the mighty, one of the survivors of the catastrophe, the man who roams this gloomy world with his little assistant. My name is…
Valex-sama!! And this girl is my assistant, Flet!!"
…
I kept ignoring him and walked toward my belongings.
He started walking after me:
"Hey kid, wait!"
Looks like I'll be stuck with these two for a while.
---
Next chapter: The Journey Toward the Tree.