The Core of Evil
Legend of Heaven
That's... A very distant memory
When I was 8... Maybe...?
I just remember, it was my seventh day of training with Jun
And I remember that day, he asked me to strike as if I were trying to kill him
*No!*
"Come on, you're so slow"
*No!*
"I-i! Still-! Small-! Rather-! You!!"
*No!*
Our wooden swords continued to unite with each other. But not a single tip of mine managed to hit Jun's body. Unlike Jun, who was always on target, he pulled me over with his sword, so I lost my balance and sometimes fell to the ground
Fighting him that day was exhausting, especially when I remembered now that I was not good at swordsmanship or using melee weapons. All I could do was try to hit him as hard as I could, while trying to dodge his attack as well
But no matter how hard I try, I still lose against Jun. And each of our combat training always ends with me crashing backwards, and my sword that I no longer hold
Jun will stand in front of me who fell later, pointing his sword right at my neck, indicating I have {mati}
"Yahaha! You lose again! This is the 7th time!"
"You're not fun! It's better that I go back to Amitha who made me swallow the medicine indistinctly than to be beaten by you again!" I made that complaint that day
"Oh yeah? Just tell me you're not talented in swordsmanship and I'll give you back, take it easy~"
But, I who was a child on that day did not receive ridicule at all
As a child who desperately wanted to be strong, I tried to pursue everything that could make me strong regardless of my talent
Even if I don't like it, even if I don't know how to use it, I always want to be the strongest. And when I practiced fighting with Jun, I realized that I was still far from {kuat}
Forget the word {kuat}. I'm even so weak that I can't say {weak}
All I could do that day was to start grimacing resentfully at him, while spouting out a line full of annoyance like a child
A very childish deed when I remembered it
And the fact that Jun wasn't even angry, so patient in handling myself at the time, always amazed him
He even tried to find myself a solution that day, believing that I didn't want to become an expert in swordsmanship anymore
"Since you're so smart, how about we go meet our main workshop chief?"
"Huh? Who?"
He really took me to meet the head of our main headquarters workshop that day
The way he held my small hand at that time also made me understand, if he never took care of a child at all
I mean, even Amitha used to carry me whenever she took me anywhere, while this guy made me have to walk pretty far to the workshop. Well, even if it wasn't as exhausting or boring as Amitha's one-day experiment on me
And when we got there, I came across one of my favorite Venias besides Jun and Aurora. Venia Loctis, who was also the head of the workshop and mechanical affairs of the main headquarters
"Include me, she's Venia Loctis! The best genius in history!"
"You're exaggerating Jun. And I'm not sure if you said you'd come bring a child"
"He's not my son"
"I get. But he's still a kid, okay?"
"okay"
What kind of interaction is that?
That's what's going through my head
But then, my mind was turned away from their conversation, towards every activity carried out by the mechanics and engineers in that place
They seem very happy with their work. And I'm glad to see what they're doing
Especially when I saw a young man who was about to become Venia too, assembling something inside the workshop, himself at a desk in the corner
The youngster who had purplish red hair was wavy and messy. His green eyes were so focused that I was interested to at least know why he was so
So I unwittingly took Jun's hand off, and approached the young man to see what he was making
Jun and Loctis realized that, but just let me go to satisfy my curiosity
On the other hand, the youngster still remains focused on what he is doing
Every bolt he took from inside a plastic on the side of the table he looked carefully and seriously, measuring whether or not they were suitable for making his equipment
When it fits, he always says, "Yes, it's fitting". Then put it up to complete his creation
And when not for that one time, he immediately shook his head and said, "Unusable", before intending to throw the bolt into the trash
But once he did that, he turned to the left, and immediately found my tiny face curious about what he was doing
I slowly looked towards him who suddenly stopped for some reason. But it just made him suddenly surprised so unconsciously made a switch on his device was lit until it began to vibrate very violently
With a reflex of surprise, I immediately turned the switch to its original position, while watching the device begin to slowly stop vibrating
...
"Wow...! He's shaking!" I wonderfully exclaimed, though I knew not the slightest bit what it was
"I-That's dangerous! Don't-don't touch it so carelessly!" The young man said in a nervous tone to me
"But I can turn it off. So, okay" I said, pointing both thumbs at him who was stunned
The two irresponsible adults finally approached to look at the situation, while I put on a flat face as they had just arrived
Loctis even began to scold the young man, who turned out to be Justin, as Jun simply stared at them with his trademark stupid face as he occasionally nodded in agreement with Loctis
But I certainly don't agree with what Loctis did to Justin
"Son, that's not wrong! He's just shocked!" I said to him, make Loctis stop reprimanding Justin
"*-*-*-but you're close-"
"Then why? I turned it off in the end, didn't I?"
"And if you fail"
"Then it fails. Why did that brother have to be wrong while the other mechanics here might have made the same mistake?"
...
Loctis was stunned with a finger raised as if she was trying to retaliate but did not know what to say. Until he had to admit one thing while pointing at me
"You're smart and empathic"
Then added by a nod from Justin who immediately made Loctis want to scold him again
Loctis played her mustache as she thought, facing me and Jun who then looked at each other confused by her behavior
But not long after, he finally spoke
"So... This why you want to come to the workshop? Showing Lloyd's kid's talent?" Loctis asked
"Ah... Such is. Even though I'm sure he'll be"
"So, can I come to this workshop again??" I cut off Jun who immediately kept him quiet
"... Then I agree. Give access to this kid under your guidance or at least Justin" Jun suddenly turns into a businessman
"certain. For a fee, you have to bring a meat-sate barbecue from a suburban store in the Beryl shopping mall" Loctis also suddenly so, making me and Justin so confused
"Ughs. I don't like that guy, but fine. I'll go there so that this kid can at least be happy"
"You're really acting like his father-"
"He's not my son"
"I get. But you still look like a father"
"Is that so? Though he was only a week under my stewardship" Jun said, rubbing his head in embarrassment
Their agreement was approved, and I was allowed to begin experimenting in the workshop. Also, my presence made Justin start to be very brave to experiment
My first invention, the Malefic anti-bomb, which I filled with automatic explosives and anti-Malefic serum, was even used as ammunition for the cannon he created the first time I met him
And we did a test of the subject right inside the workshop
"But you made Loctis hang, son..."
Jun laughed heartily as he grimaced at the story, while I looked proud to have discovered my first discovery
"The cannon will also need modification. With the right blueprints, I'm sure brother Justin and I will be able to form...
Anti Malefic Cannon That Will Not Miss!! MAMTAM for its abbreviation"
"Ooh~" Jun replied to me who was acting proud with a small applause as if he was amazed
"The naming is good too?" He also said
"Brother Justin gave the name. Even though I know that naming is so bad"
Jun instantly turned into a rock that cracked as it missed making an estimate
"Y-yes... Then... How about we go back to your story...?" He then limply offered
"Why? My story is up" I said, before I started looking for ideas
"Oh yeah!"
I had never heard one thing from him after 2 more months under his guidance and Venia Loctis
"I want to hear your story now!" I also asked as if I ruled
Jun even played in my little world
"The servant will begin to tell it to the noblest..." He said in a very neat and polite tone, making me clap enthusiastically while sitting down
"You know what, Eden?" He started by asking a question
"Eden?"
I've heard that name from a fairy tale, but I forgot about it because I thought it was boring at the time
"Eden is the name of a paradise in legend. The place where all human beings and living beings live after their final resting place"
I began to be interested in the story somehow, so with enthusiastic eyes, I also tried to listen closer while occasionally asking
"Last rest?"
"When you're old and not someday"
"heeh? I'll never die"
"Everyone will die, my son. But, in Eden, you will not die. You will always be decorated by your body when young. You will be presented with everything you want and will definitely get there"
"Heh?! Like a workshop that can't be destroyed?"
"Yes... Maybe it could be...
Because everything there is, is a world that God has described for you"
"Oh~ Sort of a private world..."
"really so. Everyone has it, and everyone else can visit to see it at any time by riding a special horse carriage reserved for their respective worlds"
"God is good too...?"
"certain. He is the one who will always protect you wherever you go, just by praying"
"So, if I want to go to Eden, I have to pray too?"
"Yes. And you also have to work hard to stay alive in this world. For what God loves most is not prayer alone, but hard work and the beauty of your life"
"In that case, I will also work hard"
"Good"
"But when can I go to Eden? Dying of old age might be a long time, right?"
"so. Most importantly, you can't give up on life..."
"Heeh, boring. I want to go to Eden now"
...
That last sentence left Jun speechless. Shut up with a smile on his lips, to divert his face at that moment looks very sad as if he is remembering something
Then, one sentence from her that I never forgot was always that, she said
"If so, then you have to work hard. Not just to live, but to make sure that you can also make your own Eden"
...----------------...
"June-!"
...
...
...
Haaah...
{{{ Back to present }}}
L'm... Apparently dreaming huh...?
Dreaming in sleep is exhausting...
...
But why should it be about him...
...
...
...
Oh yea... I am currently in-
"Yes! Good morning!"
!!!
Outraged by her surprise, I threw a pillow at her face, but she was able to avoid it without difficulty until it hit the wall behind her
"Don't surprise me!" I called out to him later
"Wah wah~? See this little cat get angry, ufufufu~"
Oh, he's mocking me now huh?
A-
...
I have no power to joke right now after that dream...
"Huh...!! Why do I have to start the day badly like this...!!!" I said with a huff while planting my head back on the pillow
While Noah who was silent saw me was busy putting odol on his toothbrush to brush his teeth in that place as well. I certainly immediately raised my head when caught wet he BRUSHED HIS TEETH INSIDE THE BEDROOM
"GO TO THE BATHROOM! THAT TRACE OF YOUR MOUTH WOULD FALL TO THE FLOOR IF SO!!" I shouted to him
"But I'm a regular-"
"YES!! Stop talking and just do it before-!"
*plop!*
...
There's a droplet of odol falling...
...
...
I felt something explode inside me, but it was not heard...
"I'm going to kill you now..."
"Okay, sorry. Don't hurt me this early..."
