Pseudo-Villaines

Saint Georgia City's

Jean is a smart kid. No one denies that. He is a humble, cheerful, jolly child, and enjoys helping others. In essence, he was a good boy.

As a father, I am happy to have a child like him. Apart from that he is not my biological son. Of course, it was thanks to the education and affection of her mother and sister, Jeanne.

However, this was just a hunch, or perhaps an instinct? I don't know. Clearly, I sensed that deep inside Jean, there was a monstrous monster residing within her. It's just a figure of speech, but I'm sure when the monster rises, nothing will stop it.

Therefore, I will educate Jean in my own way. In order that when the monster inside of him was awakened, he would remain clear-minded and rational.

At least that's what I can do as a father. The rest, let's leave it to Jean and the era that will take her.

(Nicholai daily records. 20 Earth moons of 1453 Akkadian continental calendar)

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Saint Georgia City is the capital of a small principality called Dublin. Yes, this is the kingdom that became the 'home' for Jean and her family.

It is a place for 200,000 people to live. All of Dublin's economic, political, and royal government activities take place in the city. In other words, it is the densest and busiest place in the Dublin kingdom.

Jean is in St George's City right now. Just as his father promised. And this is the first time Jean has set foot here. The atmosphere is very far from the countryside. Much more cramped, claustrophobic, and dirty.

Nicholai took Jean in his arms, making sure that the boy did not separate from her. In fact, even for Nicholai, it was too young to bring Jean into town. But for the reason of the lesson, Nicholai brought Jean to this place.

They set out from the village in groups with other residents. Each of them had a subscription place to sell their harvest. No exception Nicholai.

"Yooo Nicholai! You have come!! Oi y'all, bring me a snack and him. Nicholai, go inside. Let's talk about the price inside."

Nicholai was immediately greeted by a large-bodied man once he arrived in front of a house that was quite large in size. The occupants immediately told him Nicholai to come in. He invited Jean to come in with him.

Jean initially wonders what her father and the man are going to do. But Jean was finally shown how her father negotiated with the big man.

"No, you cannot buy my crops at the same price as the rest of Hul. You know for yourself that from the seedlings to the fertilizer I use, everything is something of high quality.

"If you buy them at that price, I won't be able to plant them with the same quality as before."

The big-bodied man whose father called Hul shook his head. He remained firm in his stance.

"The price you're asking is too expensive. If I buy all the crops at the price you ask, no customer will buy the fruits. So I'll buy them at the standard price!"

The two continue to argue with Alot about this issue. In the end, they both agreed when they found a middle ground. Hul was willing to buy the crops his father had brought at his father's price on the condition that in the next three seasons Nicholai would have to sell all his crops to Hul.

Nicholai agreed with that. This is not a bad deal for his father. That's what Jean caught during their argument.

"Ah, right Hul. He is my boy. Name's Jean. Jean, let's say hello to Uncle Hul."

"Good afternoon uncle Hul. I am Jean, son of my father. Nice to meet you and meet you."

Hul laughs when she sees little Jean and ruffles Jean's black hair. Maybe he felt anxious when he saw this little boy trying to act as polite as possible.

"Huhahah! Hello Jean. I'm Hul! You can call me uncle Hul. You know, your father and I are close friends! We spend a lot of time together! So don't hesitate to talk to me okay?"

Nicholai. We're not that close, okay? So, don't say no to my son! That's what he said with the expression on his face. But letting Hul share his experience in business with Jean was not a bad thing in Nicholai's eyes.

"Jean, we should be right back. Svetlana and Jeanne are waiting for us at home. Hul, I'm sorry but I have to bring Jean back or her mother will be mad at me. I'll take this kid if there's time."

With little resort, Nicholai had to say that when the afternoon had come. Hul casually said there was no problem with it and drove them to his front home. He gave Nicholai three bags of money and asked Nicholai to come here again in the off-season.

Before returning, Nicholai took Jean around for a while. St. Georgia City was not very big so it did not take long to circle the entire city.

"How about Jean, what do you think about the people who are in town?"

Hearing her father's question, Jean thought for a moment. He then answered a question from his father.

"The city is very crowded. There are many people with different kinds of jobs. There are shopkeepers, candy sellers, and others. I like this kind of atmosphere.

"But somehow I felt something inside them. I don't know what that feeling is. Maybe boredom? They do interact with each other but they look bored. Stagnant. Different from the atmosphere in the village."

Nicholai gulped when he heard his son's answer. 'is he really an eight-year-old?' such thoughts were floating in his head. Nicholai exhaled and began to speak.

"That's Jean. When man lives aimlessly, he will be lost. They will get bored, and their lives will stagnate. People say our lives flow like water. It flows from high to low. And no matter where they pass through, the water will still boil in the ocean.

"But Jean, we're not water. We are human. Water has no will of its own. They could not ask to flow into a clear river. Nor can they get angry or protest when they flow through a river filled with filth."

"So in other words, the people who live in this city have no purpose and just carry out their daily routine?"

"Not all, but most are like that."

Nicholai clasped Jean's hand even tighter. He decided to end the tough talk right there. They then walked towards the cart they were riding in and set off towards their village.

But before they could leave, suddenly shouts were heard everywhere. But the most dominant of them all is the sound of crying children. Nicholai wanted to tell his coachman to leave immediately. But the coachman was no longer alive. His head was pierced by an arrow.

Realizing the danger approaching them, Nicholai pulled Jean's hand out of his carriage but suddenly, some people pointed spears at them.

"Don't move and hand over your boy!"

From the clothes they wore, it was clear that they were knights who came from the nobility and the Dublin Royal family. Nicholai tries to protect Jean but the knights immediately push and gang up on her father.

"No!! AYAHHH!! RELEASE MY DAD!!"

For the first time, Jean shouted. Her small body was trying to pull the Knight's clothes. And what shocked the knights was the fact that Jean managed to pull them all over and slammed some of the knights until their necks were broken.

Jean who saw her father lying with a very severe wound came straight to her. Tears came out and wet his cheeks. His father's wounds were severe. Especially in the head.

"D-dad!! Be aware!! Let's go home!! Mom and sister are waiting for us, right!??"

Nicholai is still awake. But the pain he felt made him not respond to the whining of his son. The only response he could give was to raise his hand and touch the cheek of his only son.

"La-run, J-jean."

Jean could not understand what her father meant. Why did he have to run away from his father? But before Jean could understand that, his vision went dark.