IWS Chapter 07

Chapter 07

 

The worst disaster.

‘Michael…’

It wasn’t an exaggeration to call him the worst. Michael was truly the most dangerous of all disasters.

Unlike other disasters who only had the power to destroy a single nation, Michael alone possessed enough strength to bring about the end of the entire world. And in fact, when the world was destroyed in the end, it was mostly Michael’s power that was used.

Despite being the youngest and even a slave by status, Michael would eventually make his name known as the future Tower Master.

‘A prodigy when it comes to magic…’

I had known he was in the same room all along, but to be honest, he was someone I preferred not to approach.

Unlike Abel, who became cruel due to trauma, Michael was inherently and profoundly vicious by nature. He was the type who, if he thought something interfered with his plans, could rip out even the heart of a lifelong friend and absorb it for magical power.

And in the future, it was Michael who would kill Lizzie.

“Mary. Aren’t you coming? Let’s go quickly. Everyone’s already inside.”

Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed that all the other children had already returned. Lizzie’s small hand tugged at mine, her rabbit doll clutched tightly in her other arm.

Every time I saw the worry flickering in her eyes, I couldn’t shake the thought that I had to do something about Michael.

If I kept avoiding him just because he unsettled me, Lizzie might end up dying at his hands in the future.

‘I guess I have no choice.’

I smiled at Lizzie as if nothing was wrong and clasped her hand.

“Yeah, let’s go inside.”

“Send the rest of the goods back to their rooms. As for this one… move him to solitary confinement. He’ll be punished there.”

I also made sure to remember the caretaker’s voice from behind me.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Even though one person was missing from our room, it didn’t feel empty at all.

Maybe because Michael had never really felt present in the first place, neither Lizzie nor Cecil paid any attention to his absence. They simply stuck to my side as usual, doodling on scraps of paper.

As for Abel…

“…..”

He was still sitting not too far from us, constantly sneaking glances in our direction.

Every time our eyes met, Abel would startle, his expression flustered, and quickly drop his gaze to the floor. Then, as if troubled, he would fidget with his fingertips.

‘What’s this…? Why is he acting cute all of a sudden?’

I wasn’t sure what was going on with him, but there was no way an eight-year-old could keep glancing over here like that and not be adorable.

Oh dear. Why is he looking so cautious? It makes me want just to go over there and hug him.

‘Ah, could it be he wants to join us?’

It seemed like he might want to be part of our group…

I had been trying to give him space, thinking he needed time to heal, but if Abel now wanted to be included, there was no reason to hesitate.

I had worried about him being alone for so long…

‘Perfect. I’ll hug him first.’

Just as I steeled myself and started to get up—

Clank—

The quiet room was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the door unlocking.

“M-Mary…”

Lizzie, who had been lying on the floor drawing pictures until just now, quickly pressed herself against me with a startled expression at the suddenly opened door. 

I turned toward the door, puzzled, as the caretakers scanned the room before striding straight toward Lizzie and me.

What was going on?

“Looks like these are the only girls in this room.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter which girl, as long as it’s a girl, so let’s just go with the yellow-haired one there.”

Without hesitation, one of them reached out and roughly grabbed Lizzie’s wrist.

Shocked, she was pulled away from me in an instant, and tears spilled down her face.

“N-No! I don’t want to!”

“You brat! How dare you talk back? Just come quietly!”

The caretaker, annoyed by Lizzie’s resistance, scowled and roughly threw her to the ground. As he raised his foot in a threatening manner, I quickly stepped in front of him, pulling Lizzie into my arms to protect her.

“Um, excuse me! It’s just… Lizzie seems really scared since it’s her first time… So… could I go instead this time as well?”

“Ha, what?”

The caretaker, momentarily taken aback by my interruption, glanced between Lizzie and me, seemingly deep in thought.

“Hey, we don’t have time for this. Just take the brown-haired one instead. If Madam starts complaining about how poorly trained the slaves are again, what are we gonna do?”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

The caretaker, who had been considering between Lizzie and me, seemed to think I would be better than the terrified, crying Lizzie after his colleague’s pointed remark. He nodded and instructed me to follow.

“Alright. You, come with me.”

“Yes. Just a moment, please. Lizzie, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I… I… I’m scared… M-Mary… Hic…”

“It’s okay, Lizzie. It’s going to be alright now.”

Holding her trembling shoulders, I gently patted her back in an attempt to calm her down. As her shaking gradually subsided, I turned to see the caretaker impatiently motioning for me to hurry up. I had no choice but to slowly pull away from Lizzie.

“Lizzie, it’ll be okay. You can be brave and stay here without crying, right?”

“N-No! Can’t you stay too, Mary? Please… Mary, don’t go! Just stay here with me! Let’s just—”

The moment I moved to stand up, Lizzie panicked, clinging desperately to my clothes. Seeing the tears streaming down her face, I hesitated.

‘Lizzie’s first educator is someone quite influential in this slave shop. They might even allow me to meet Michael, who’s in solitary confinement…’

But how could I tell a crying child that I had to go?

What should I do?

“D-don’t go… hic… M-Mary… please, I’m begging you… s-stay with me…”

Lizzie clung to me with such desperation that even as I gently patted her shoulders, trying to loosen her grip, she refused to let go.

“Damn it! How long are you going to keep me waiting? Enough of this! Get up and come with me already!”

At that moment, just as the caretaker lost his patience and moved to forcibly pry Lizzie off me, Abel, who had been sitting in the corner, suddenly stepped forward and blocked his path.

“…I’ll go.”

“What?”

“I-I said I’ll go instead this time.”

The caretaker, who had been walking toward us, looked at Abel in disbelief at his sudden action. Honestly, I was just as dumbfounded.

‘Wait… is he trying to copy me right now?’

“No. This time, it has to be a girl.”

“T-That’s ridiculous! I said I’ll go!”

“Are you kidding me? Move aside right now! Unless you all want to be punished together, step back! And you—brown hair! Get over here immediately!”

Completely losing his patience, the caretaker shoved Abel aside and forcibly pulled Lizzie away from me. She screamed and sobbed, gripping my clothes so tightly that the fabric stretched and nearly tore. But the caretaker’s strength was too much. In the end, Lizzie’s small hands slipped away, and she collapsed onto the floor.

“Waaah! No! Mary, don’t go! Please, don’t go…!”

Oh dear. This is a problem.

“Lizzie! I’ll be okay! Don’t cry! Just wait a little while—I’ll be back soon, so don’t worry too much, okay?”

I desperately wanted to run back to Lizzie and help her up, but there was no way a child’s strength could break free from the caretaker’s grip. All I could do was call out to her as I was dragged away.

Of course, judging by the way she was wailing and begging me not to leave, my words probably didn’t reach her at all…

…She’ll be okay, right?

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Thank you for reading! ♡