Chapter 291: The Boy Who Hated Being Alone

Sarin was extremely soft toward Lian and the others, but that did not mean he treated all children the same way.

He would mercilessly hand the boy over to the military police, and at worst... well.

"First, let him talk. Stealing from others is not something good, but there is always a reason behind it, right?"

"There ain’t any reason! I stole because I need to survive!"

He probably did not realize that was already a reason in itself.

"What about your parents?"

"They’re dead."

He understood now that the boy had no parents, but even so, if he truly had nowhere to go, he should have been able to stay at a church or be taken in by relatives.

So why was this child living alone and resorting to theft?

"Are you stupid? Not everyone’s an idiot like you. You think people would just hand over money because someone asked them to take me in?"

His language was rough, but he understood adults all too well.

In other words, either the relatives who should have taken him in had abandoned him, or he had left on his own because they were too poor to support him.

"Are you alone because you chose to be?"

"Hah? Who would stick around some penniless brat like me?"

The boy looked up at him with a mocking snort, but Qiong Xing spoke calmly without getting angry.

"Then let me ask differently. Do you want to be alone?"

"...Shut up, shut up shut up shut up! You don’t know anything! What do you mean, want to be alone!? Like hell I do! Then what am I supposed to do!? Just die because I’m some useless brat? Bow my head to people who look annoyed to see me and beg for scraps like a dog? Screw that!"

"..."

He must have lived a terrible life.

With a body not even ten years old yet, he had struggled desperately to survive on his own.

Unable to ask anyone for help and knowing no other way, he had likely turned to stealing.

As the boy cried and lashed out, Qiong Xing reached out without hesitation and pulled him into a tight embrace.

The boy struck him while struggling to break free, but injuries like that could be healed immediately, so Qiong Xing refused to let go until he calmed down.

"I am sorry. I am sorry for asking painful questions. You worked hard, did you not? You struggled and struggled to survive all this time. I am sorry for asking so carelessly."

"...I hate you. Idiots like you... you don’t know anything."

It was true.

Even in his previous life, and even now, Qiong Xing had never struggled to survive.

He had suffered the grief of losing his parents, but a kind uncle had taken him in.

That was why he could never claim to understand how the boy felt.

"That is alright. Even so, for now, let’s take a little break, okay? It is fine. I am an idiot, so no matter what people say to me, I forget it right away. Since I am an idiot, I will even forget that you said you hate me and still prepare food for you. So let’s rest for a while. Think of it as a reward for all the hard work you have done."

Qiong Xing hugged him the same way he did with Lian and the others, gently patting his back in a steady rhythm.

The boy resisted for a while, but eventually exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep.

"Children who work hard deserve rewards, do they not?"

"Are you planning to add another child to your family?"

"Well... who knows? Sorry, but could I ask a favor of you?"

"If it is a request from you, then of course."

When Qiong Xing explained that there was something he wanted investigated, Sarin accepted with a smile, and Qiong Xing bowed his head in thanks.

Since Cari worried easily, he asked Albe to send word that he might be home a little late.

"Now then, I wonder what this child likes?"

"Anything is probably fine. A kid who barks this loudly probably is not picky about food."

They probably thought Qiong Xing was being too soft.

But even while thinking that, they chose not to say it aloud because they respected his decision.

He did not mind being called a hypocrite.

He would not deny it.

After all, no one could save everyone.

He was not a god, and Qiong Xing himself had his own will, so he only reached out his hand to those he wanted to save.

"Let’s invite Grandma too and all eat together."

Once that was decided, he asked Albe to bring Katarina over.

...

That warmth was something he had not felt in a long time, and he could not let go of the hand he clutched, not wanting to wake up.

The gentle patting on his back, as if telling him it was alright, lulled him back to sleep once more.

Back before his mother had broken down, they used to huddle together to sleep while his drunken father beat and kicked them day after day until they were bruised and battered.

The hand that stroked his head had been his only comfort.

His entire world.

"Ars, you are tired too, aren’t you? Mama is tired too now. So... let’s be free together, alright?"

One day, when he returned from fetching water, the first thing he saw was his mother holding something stained red.

The figure collapsed beside her looked like his father.

But at the time, he did not have the courage to confirm it.

His legs trembled as he slowly stepped backward.

"What is wrong? Ah, it is alright. Mama will follow after you soon, Ars. The scary part only lasts at the beginning. It will hurt a little, but then it will all be over. No one will hit us anymore, and no one will yell at us for being noisy. The two of us can stay together forever."