Happy reading ( ◜‿◝ )♡
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Ignoring Dodori and Rasheel, Eruhaben returned to focus on the recording in front of him which was playing again.
"Hoy, Rasheel better put some spice on that side."
"Don't set me up you damn blonde!"
"You dragons, don't forget my humans."
Even at this time the dragons could still whisper about their grills. Uhh, Eruhaben ignored those who were still passionately grilling even though many of them were black.
'Really spoils the dragon's image.'
They returned to silence as the screen continued to display Toonka.
Toonka walked leisurely while he was still eavesdropping on the conversations of the people he passed. Toonka was probably 10 years old at the time, that was the age when Toonka would slay the evil wizards.
Of course, that counts as a child's joke. Toonka returned to walking towards the kids his age and stopped right after hearing them speak his name.
Toonka quickly hid behind a large tree that could cover him and listened. If his grandmother found out that he was eavesdropping again, well, don't think about it.
“I don't understand why we have to bow down to that stupid Toonka!”
"If you don't want to then fight him!"
"He may be stupid, but he is strong."
The children nodded in agreement. Toonka was indeed an idiot but he always kept what he promised. Like killing witches. Because of that Toonka trained, until he became strong for his age.
"He is indeed strong, but he will not be able to fight the magicians!"
"That's right! Witches are too strong, Toonka is nothing to them!"
It was then that Toonka was angry. Of course he's mad! All his efforts are belittled by them. So Toonka came out and beat these kids black and blue.
The next day, the parents of the children knocked loudly. Of course the grandmother gently came out and brought the very resistant Toonka to apologize.
"What's wrong with this kid?, Every day said beat the witch? Grandma, you better take care of your grandson properly!"
One of the mothers said with a curt face. Looks very upset because the child came home with a purple bruised face. The grandmother bowed with an apologetic face.
“Sorry, Toonka was just too enthusiastic about war games, Toonka let's apologize.”
Toonka shook his head violently. He was stupid, but Toonka knew that he wasn't wrong.
"Look! This kid has no manners at all! Better stop dreaming of killing witches! Or he'll grow Wild!"
After many storming sessions, the mothers left, leaving other hurtful comments.
The grandmother took Toonka's hand gently and led him into the house. After that he let her go and sat on the bench where his grandmother used to sit. Toonka knelt down, he looked really guilty.
"Grandma, I—"
Toonka's words stopped when he felt his grandmother gently caressing his head. Toonka looked down, teary eyed.
"Don't listen to them Toonka, do what you want to do."
The grandmother said softly. Toonka raised his head and saw his grandmother who had returned to sewing a scarf.
“But Toonka, you went through whatever. You're not strong if you can't say sorry.”
"You're also weak if you always apologize."
Toonka stared at his grandmother incomprehension.
"You have to be able to tell who is bad and who is good. Killing evil wizards is your goal, isn't it?"
"Then don't kill the good."
"You should also have reliable comrades."
"Even if you are strong, that in itself is unpleasant."
"If you are relied on don't be pressured, all you have to do is be yourself. You are Toonka."
Toonka looked down again, he was crying. Only grandma is all he has. Only his grandmother too had supported Toonka unconditionally. Because of that, Toonka would only be Toonka.
The grandmother chuckled softly when she saw her crying grandson. Toonka was stupid, he was strong but stupid. Besides being stupid, Toonka is also emotional. Because of that, his grandmother will always be his encouragement.
"Also, tomorrow you will have a reliable companion."
Toonka only looked with an uncomprehending face at the grandmother who once again laughed while stroking her cheeks lightly.
The next day.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A knock sounded at the door, Toonka only glanced briefly before letting his grandmother open the door. He only looked back at the wooden sword in his hand.
“Toonka, this is your distant cousin.”
Toonka turned to look at the grandmother who was holding the small hand of a boy her age.
Staring suspiciously, Toonka turned towards the boy. He is quite handsome, with navy blue hair and light brown eyes and a chibi, white face. But Toonka only stared with slight interest at him.
'Very weak.'
that was the first thing that crossed Toonka's mind when he saw that distant cousin. As if seeing Toonka's gaze, the small boy raised his face and smiled brightly at Toonka.
"You must be Toonka right? I often read grandmother's letters about you! Meet me Aren."
Aren stretched out his hand to someone he already considered his cousin.
But Toonka just stared at the person sitting in front of him with a frown on his forehead. Ah, Toonka didn't like his cousin.
"Toonka, shake his hand. He will be a reliable partner in the future."
The grandmother said quietly when she saw that there was no response from Toonka.
"But grandma, she's too weak."
Toonka looked at his grandma sullenly and felt that there was nothing wrong with what she said. Toonka just said what he felt.
Aren blinked slowly and chuckled softly.
"What do you want to do?"
Toonka blinked with a hint of excitement as he answered.
"I want to kill the evil wizards in the world!"
Aren rolled her eyes and laughed loudly which caused Toonka to frown again.
"What? Are you also going to say this dream is just a dream?!"
Aren stopped laughing as he said.
"No, I just find your dream very interesting."
"Interesting?"
"Right, since this is interesting I'll help you."
"But you are weak."
Aren laughed again at his cousin's direct answer.
"I can't help physically, but I will help with magic."
"You will become a wizard?"
"Right."
Aren nodded casually as her eyes scanned the confused Toonka.
"But I'm going to kill a witch?"
"So what?"
"If you become a witch, I will kill you right?"
Ares laughed at this. Jeez, his cousin is a real muscle brain.
"You killed the evil wizard didn't you?"
Toonka nodded.
"Then I will be a good wizard."
Toonka widened his eyes as if he just understood what they were talking about. Aren laughed again seeing Toonka's stupid face.
"Also, isn't it great? Killing wizards with witches?"
Toonka nodded strongly.
"In that case, I will be your partner. Agree?"
"I agree."
Toonka nodded again as his hand took the hand that was extended in front of him. The grandmother who was listening to all the talk smiled gently.
That day passed, until a year later.
Aren drank the water she took earlier slowly as her eyes scanned Toonka who was excitedly swinging his wooden sword. Right now Toonka really fit the bill as a muscle brain with his huge body.
"Toonka! Take a little rest! You train too much!"
Aren shouted which made Toonka's movements stop. Putting down his wooden sword Toonka walked and took the water that Aren gave him.
"You are too relaxed Aren, I can't wait to kill those witch bastards!"
Toonka said with great passion which made Aren laugh again.
"I don't understand why you're always laughing."
Toonka said slowly when he saw Aren laughing. Toonka really didn't understand, Aren would always laugh whether it was funny or not. Truly the smiling type.
"Hahaha, because my mother always smiles no matter what the situation is. Even my father is like that."
Toonka gave an oh casually and asked again.
"Then where are your father and mother?"
"They died."
silence. Toonka looked at Aren awkwardly.
"...Sorry."
Toonka looked back at Aren who laughed again. Are really really weird.
"Haha, that's okay. I've accepted that anyway."
Aren looked at Toonka and smiled again.
"Then can you tell me why your parents died?"
Aren laughed loudly again at Toonka's free question. Ahh, what a muscle brain.
"Okay, I'll tell you because you're my partner."
Toonka stared excitedly at what Aren had told him.
"I have a good father and mother."
"We don't lack but we don't have too much either, really typical of the common people."
"When my mother was at work my father also worked. I think at that time, my father mentioned a passing wizard."
"I don't really understand what my father did. But he was killed back then. My mother who knew about it demanded justice loudly, but unfortunately that witch is under the auspices of royalty."
"So my mother was also secretly killed."
Toonka fell silent again. Witches, witches again, witches really...!
"They're so bastards, aren't they?"
Toonka looked back at Aren who was still smiling gently.
"I don't understand, why do you smile when you tell me something sad?"
“Hoo, Toonka there are times when we need to hide our emotions and control ourselves.”
Toonka frowned didn't like hearing what Aren said.
"No, I won't be like that. I'll still be Toonka!"
Ares laughed again at that.
"You, what an interesting cousin."
"Aren, because you are weak I will protect you!"
Toonka said with such burning passion in his eyes that made Aren's smile widen.
“Fine, I will entrust my life to you.”
That's how their story begins. Toonka had thought they would kill those bastard wizards easily when he grew up with Aren and protected his grandmother.
And that's the thought.
Why?
Why?
Why?
I don't understand.
Why do you guys look like this?
Why am I crying?
I don't understand.
Why are you hugging me Aren?
And why are you covered in blood?
Why is grandma lying on the ground?
It's raining, so it must be cold right? Why doesn't grandma wake up?
“Toonka, you have to stand your ground okay?”
Why do you say that?
"We both always support you! So never give up."
Why say that?
"Toonka, we didn't die because of you. But it's because we believed in your dream."
Why say such terrible things?
"Sorry, I didn't keep my promise."
Promise? What promise?
"Sorry for not being able to fight witches together."
Aren's hand that was holding Toonka's cheek fell weakly leaving Toonka's cheeks deep red. Before the cold body fell on the ground, Toonka hugged Aren tightly.
Why am I crying? Ah right, grandma and Aren died.
Why? Why are they dead? Ah right, grandma accidentally offends a witch and Aren tries to protect her. Toonka came but he was too late.
Granny has died, now Aren too.
'I don't really understand what my father did. But he was killed then. My mother who knew him demanded justice loudly, but unfortunately the witch is under the auspices of the nobility.'
...Ah Toonka understood now. It wasn't that Aren didn't understand what his father was doing. But Aren just doesn't want to understand. If you understand, then maybe Aren can't help but have a strong desire to kill witches.
Toonka was stupid, that's why he didn't understand. True, Toonka didn't understand at all.
That night, it rained heavily. Wet Toonka and rinsed the blood off his cheek.
Silence fell on those watching the recording. The witches fell silent, it would be a lie if they said they weren't angry at Toonka's actions. But they understood, if they became Toonka then they would also do the same.
The dragons that were grilling fell silent at the miserable footage in front of them. Toonka was an idiotic bastard, but his life was even more idiotic.
The stopped recording resumed and showed Choi Han's face which was identical to the current Choi Han's, as if he couldn't age at all.
At that time Choi Han held the hand of an old grandmother who looked sick. The pain was probably severe, because the grandmother's face was very pale.
Staring briefly at the grandmother, Choi Han turned his gaze towards the healer who had just finished carrying out an examination.
"How is the condition?"
The mayor asked in a worried tone. Choi Han also turned his eyes towards the healer with an expectant face.
"It's a rare disease, I don't know how he got it, but maybe I know a cure."
The healer said with a face full of doubt. And Choi Han lost the bright twinkle in his eyes, leaving only worry.
"Grandmother Chersa, you don't need to worry. I will definitely look for a cure!"
Even though Choi Han had not heard of the medicine, Choi Han was sure he could find it.
Grandmother Chersa smiled gently at Choi Han and reminisced about how she met Choi Han. Choi Han at that time was very shabby, full of dust and crying with his head down.
But look now, even though he still wears the same clothes, Choi Han looks brighter and handsomer. Children do grow fast.
Grandma Chersa closed her eyes when she felt sleepy, she couldn't even hear Choi Han's conversation with the healer.
"What medicine is that?"
Choi Han asked in an anxious and depressed voice. Seeing the first person who stretched out his hand to help himself was sick, very painful.
The healer smiled gently as he sensed Choi Han's anxiety and replied,
"I have all the ingredients for making medicine except the Tianus herb."
The healer said in a clear voice.
"Then, where should I find the plant?"
"No Choi Han, you can't go there!"
The healer said in a voice that was quite loud and made several people turn their heads with curiosity. But even Choi Han didn't care about that.
"I'll be right there! Just tell me where to look for him!"
Choi Han was a stubborn person but healers weren't easy people either.
They stared at each other for a few minutes until the doctor finally relented. This kid is really stubborn!
"Forest of darkness. Search there, remember! Don't get lost."
Choi Han stiffened a little hearing those words, from the words of the villagers of Harris Choi Han knew that the forest that confined him was a forest of darkness.
It was undeniable that at that time Choi Han was afraid, afraid of being locked up again, afraid of not being able to see Harris Village again, afraid of everything that could be feared.
Unlucky!
Even though Choi Han had promised.
Promised that he would protect them. And because of that Choi Han knew that he had to go.
A few days later.
Choi Han walked quickly into the forest of darkness. He had to be fast or grandma Chersa's life would be lost. Choi Han had already gotten the Flower's description and even recorded it in fear of forgetting Him.
Now it remains only to look for flowers. Since then a day passed in silence. Until there was the sound of scraping feet and grass rushing past.
Choi Han held the Tianus vine tightly as he ran quickly. For some reason Choi Han felt like he had a really bad feeling.
Increasing his running speed, Choi Han was only one step away from seeing Harris village.
Tuk.
The Tianus Plant fell from Choi Han's hands when he saw the state of affairs seen in Harris Village.
Untidy.
Destroyed.
The thick smell of blood.
Taste of death.
That familiar aura of despair.
Upon seeing the body in front of him and seeing the face of the owner of the body, Choi Han exploded. He released his black aura and killed the uniformed people that Choi Han immediately concluded were suspects.
'Choi Han is sad'
Slash!
'Even though Choi Han just felt a warmth'
Slash!
'How long has he been cooped up in the forest of darkness?'
Slash!
'Is this what he got out of all the suffering?'
Slash!
'If he had listened to the healer back then, wouldn't all of this have happened?'
Slash!
Choi Han just stared blankly as everyone in uniform screamed that he was a monster. It hurts.
Choi Han was an innocent person, even when he came out of the forest of darkness he was still the same Choi Han. For the first time, Choi Han killed someone.
'Why are they dead? Why not just me?'
***
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