Chapter 21: The Dream of the World Government Is Shattered
Roy tied all the children together with rope, gripping it tightly with both hands as he dragged them away from the burning remains of the Lamb's House.
He had no idea how long that pirate—Streusen—could distract Linlin, so every second counted. With all his strength, Roy hauled the line of children toward the shore.
"Hey! Over here! Bring them to me!"
A familiar voice thundered from behind a massive boulder.
Roy looked up sharply. A towering giant stepped out from behind the rock, waving for him to come over.
"!"
For a brief moment, Roy froze—his mind finally catching up to what he'd forgotten.
Yes… there was another witness to Linlin's rampage. Aside from Streusen, this hidden giant was the second person who had seen everything unfold.
"Quickly, come with me! We'll return to Elbaf and leave that monster behind!" the giant shouted, running over and carefully scooping up the tied children.
He then lowered his massive palm for Roy to step onto.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Each of the giant's steps made the ground quake as he sprinted toward the shore. Pandora flew close beside them, his small fiery form flickering with worry.
"I came to check on the Sheep's House after hearing strange reports," the giant said between breaths, "but what I found… was that monster. Damn it all!"
He gritted his teeth, face pale at the memory of Linlin devouring the nun.
The horror of that sight—the bloodless, mindless consumption—had shaken even a warrior of Elbaf.
He no longer cared that Roy had once been Linlin's friend. His voice trembled as he cursed under his breath, "That monster should never have been born."
Roy stayed silent, pulling Pandora close and rubbing his round body gently.
If he'd remembered earlier that the giant was here, he wouldn't have needed to waste time tying the children together like a line of grasshoppers.
Damn it, he thought, sighing.
Pandora stayed quiet in his arms, no longer resisting his touch. Strangely enough, the tragedy had brought them closer.
The little fire spirit just let him hold and pat him freely.
Was this… the feeling of a successfully tamed companion?
Roy smirked faintly. On the surface, he kept his composure, but deep down, his thoughts were dark and calculating as ever.
He knew that when he returned to Elbaf, there was an eighty percent chance Jarul would kick him out the moment he arrived.
---
The giant reached the shore and set Roy and the children down on the deck of a massive ship. He pulled up the anchor and began steering away from the island.
"We'll never come back here. From now on, Elbaf will still be your home, but this island—we'll never set foot on it again!" he muttered repeatedly, as if trying to convince himself.
The memory of Linlin's rampage had burned itself into his soul, leaving a wound no battle could compare to.
"She ate… raw," he whispered. "Not a single drop of blood left behind."
Roy could see the fear in the giant's eyes. He knew the elders of Elbaf were right—Linlin truly was a child born under the shadow of an evil god.
"Yeah," Roy said quietly, nodding. He guided the rescued children below deck and then sat by the railing, feeling the sea breeze brush against his face.
There were crates of food and supplies scattered across the deck. The giant had genuinely come to deliver aid to the orphanage—only to find hell waiting instead.
Roy opened the nun's package and took out the record pointer and several permanent pointers.
Since I'm already aboard a ship bound for Elbaf… might as well go home first.
He couldn't help but let out a small, weary chuckle.
Who would've thought he'd see Hajrudin and the others again so soon?
Turning back, Roy gazed at the distant island—now nothing more than a silhouette against the sea.
Goodbye, Linlin, he thought silently. Our short time together was chaotic but happy. I hope that when we meet again, we can still call each other friends.
As for being anything more?
He shook his head. Forget it.
He didn't like Linlin that way, and he refused to be bound by the whims of the system that brought him here.
The abilities he'd gained so far were already a great start. His path from now on would be his own—to live freely, and to love who he chose, not who fate assigned.
"Get some rest," the giant said gently. "You've been through a lot, little one."
"Yeah."
Roy patted Pandora, who obediently curled up into a pillow shape. Resting his head on the warm little Homie, Roy closed his eyes.
Fear of death? He had none left. He'd seen too much of it already.
Eight hundred years ago—before his reincarnation—the world had been a battlefield. The war that erased a century from history had left corpses piled high across every shore.
Back then, Roy was just a nameless figure lost among the dead. He had seen enough bodies to grow numb.
Perhaps that was when his heart had turned black. Not by choice—just by survival.
---
Back on the island…
"Phew… I thought I was dead for sure."
Streusem collapsed onto the grass, trembling from head to toe. He stared up at the blue sky, his face pale.
The image of Linlin's crazed, drooling face haunted him. The way she had chased him—her massive hands reaching, her laughter echoing—left scars no wound could match.
"Where did everyone go?"
A soft, trembling voice echoed through the jungle.
Streusen froze, turning slowly toward the sound.
Then came the crying.
"Ahhh… where did everyone go? Sister… everyone…"
"That damned monster," he muttered, shivering.
He started to back away—then stopped. Something in her voice sounded different.
Carefully, he crept through the tall grass and peered through the leaves.
Linlin stood there, crying, tears streaming down her face.
"She's… regained consciousness?" he whispered.
His gut twisted in fear.
He didn't want to see her ever again, but… there was another child.
That clever, calm boy named Roy.
If I can find him, he thought, I could make him my apprentice. With his brains, I could form the greatest pirate crew alive.
He turned toward the ruins of the Sheep's House, finding it completely empty. The other children were gone.
Just as he was about to leave, a shadow fell over him.
"Hey… who are you? Do you know where Sister and everyone went?"
Streusen turned stiffly.
Linlin stood there, her eyes red and swollen, her expression lost.
History truly had a twisted sense of humor.
Even after vowing never to see her again, fate had brought them together once more.
"…"
Streusen stood speechless, cold sweat running down his face.
How could he possibly explain this to the girl who had unknowingly devoured her family?
---
Meanwhile, far out at sea—
A World Government ship was slowly approaching the island.
On board were agents carrying sacks of money, ready to "purchase" the nun's orphans. Their plan was simple:
Roy would be trained as a future Marine officer—an Admiral loyal only to the World Government.
Linlin would become the strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons.
Two children. Two perfect weapons. An investment guaranteed to pay off.
Or so they thought.
Because now—
Roy had escaped, taking the money with him.
Linlin had gone mad, destined to become a pirate.
And the nun—their loyal broker—was dead.
The dream of the World Government had shattered before it even began.
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