the green writer

The Sunset Monster

Chapter 5: We All Lost

Hans woke up gasping for air, as if his breaths had turned into a tree trunk weighing down on his chest. His blurry vision caught sight of Mirai's face, who took a step back when she saw him struggling to breathe and muttered hesitantly,

"Sorry… I didn't mean to wake you."

Hans coughed violently, the girl's screams still echoing in his head. He sat up slowly and reached for the waterskin beside him, drinking what little remained. He stayed silent under Mirai's watchful gaze until she finally spoke after he swallowed his last sip,

"You're Hans… the adventurer, aren't you?"

His expression darkened instantly, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"How do you know that?"

That was when he realized his notebook was missing. He glanced at her hand and snatched it from her grip, his eyes darting frantically across the pages as he stared at her.

"You read it… You know what happened to me."

He locked eyes with her, then raised his dagger, pointing it at her.

"You have no idea what I've been through."

But she didn't flinch. Instead, she stepped closer, her eyes drowning in sorrow as she spoke with a choked voice,

"Yes, I do… My family was slaughtered for no reason. They did nothing wrong. I left my older brother behind, even though he wanted to help me…"

A hot tear rolled down her cheek as she continued, her voice trembling,

"I abandoned him to survive. I ran away, and now I'm raising my younger brother alone… I feel like breaking down every day, but I hold on for him. He's all I have… and I won't lose him."

Her tears fell freely. Hans silently reached for a green silk handkerchief and wiped them away. She looked at him, then took the handkerchief from his hand while he watched her in quiet contemplation. An unfamiliar sense of ease washed over him, and he reached out, patting her back gently. But suddenly, she lunged forward and embraced him, sobbing bitterly as she whispered between her sobs,

"My family… I lost my family."

He froze, unsure of what to say. He wasn't used to moments like these, so he remained still, letting her cry on his shoulder. She stayed like that for a while, until she became aware of the situation and quickly pulled away, her face flushing with embarrassment.

"Sorry… I just needed to let it out… ever since that damned Merith started cursing our town."

Hans adjusted his posture and looked at her seriously.

"Merith? The daughter of that witch who tried to kill you all?"

But Mirai immediately cut him off.

"That's a lie! Azalea, Merith's mother, was the kindest soul in the village—purer than Almana itself. She helped everyone, healed the sick, and tried to save us from this backwards place, where magic can't enter because of the empty Almana mines. We've been dragged back to the era before the Racial Wars!"

Hans furrowed his brows, then asked in surprise,

"How did she heal people? With ointments? Medical scrolls?"

Mirai gave him a confused look.

"No… she would just whisper a spell, and the patient would be cured instantly."

Hans' eyes widened in shock.

"That… That's advanced healing magic! No one can master it unless they're born with an extremely rare talent or have trained for years! She must have been an incredible sorceress…"

Mirai smiled faintly as she recalled her memories with Azalea, then spoke sadly,

"Yes… she was extraordinary. She was the one who delivered my younger brother. But a year ago, Serin, the noble's lackey, ordered her to heal his son, Seros, after he drowned due to his own stupidity. And when she failed to bring him back to life… Do you know what they did to her?"

Hans held his breath as Mirai's voice trembled.

"They imprisoned her… then killed her. And I don't even know what they did to her before that, especially that old bastard, Colt."

Hans' expression darkened, and he muttered in disbelief,

"That one-eyed old man? He lied to me!"

Mirai nodded bitterly.

"Colt was the one who killed her… He's the most despicable person in the village. I don't blame Merith for what she did, but unfortunately, most of the villagers died, while Colt and Serin are still alive."

Hans clenched his fist in anger and spoke with frustration,

"If she wanted revenge, why hasn't she killed them? Why does she send the Arcmore after you every day?"

But Mirai remained silent. They exchanged looks for a moment before she finally whispered,

"My name is Mirai… and I came to you for help. If you don't want to fight, that's fine… but at least talk to her, tell her about our situation. Please, Hans, I'm begging you!"

Hans hesitated deeply. The girl's screams in the carriage replayed in his mind—the moment he failed to save her. He lowered his gaze and spoke weakly,

"I can't… I'm a failure… I can't save you."

But Mirai grabbed his hand firmly, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I don't care about anything else… Save my brother, Hans. I don't want him to die here!"

He stared at her for a long moment, then took a deep breath and stood up. He put on his coat and headed toward the door. Just before leaving, he turned back and said calmly,

"I'll talk to her… I'll try. But don't expect miracles."

Then he left. But moments later, he returned. He smiled softly and asked,

"Mirai… where can I find Merith?"

She looked up at him in shock, then whispered,

"She's… the girl who fed you."

Hans' eyes widened as a shiver ran down his spine. He hadn't expected it to be her…

As Hans departed, the weakness in Mirai's demeanor vanished. Strength returned to her suddenly, and she wiped away the last of her tears. She walked toward her home, fear gripping her heart for what was to come, knowing they had no proper plan. She approached the house where Hans had been staying—a small, two-story house with red doors and distinctive brown stone walls. Entering, she found her younger brother, Raine, missing from the basement, which filled her with anger.

Raine grinned mischievously and said, "Why? Uncle Colt said I could stay a little longer."

Just then, the door creaked open, and in stepped Colt, the old man, carrying some bread. He looked at Mirai with a twisted smile.

"Oh, the pretty one has arrived."

He tossed a piece of bread to Raine and ordered him to go to the basement. Raine left, looking dejected. Mirai stepped forward angrily and said,

"How dare you come here?"

She tried to slap him, but he caught her hand, stopping her before slapping her back.

"What are you doing with that stranger? Do you think he'll stay with you? Why not come to someone who will never leave you?"

He removed his coat and added, "No mother, no brothers, no one to oppose me… because I'm the one who feeds you. So, why don't we get married?"

Mirai didn't answer. Instead, she spat in his face.

Colt wiped it off, licked it, and grinned even wider.

"You taste delightful. I've wanted you since birth. I never married because I didn't want to betray you."

He stepped closer, his expression turning disturbingly tender, as he started unbuttoning his shirt.

"Why don't you be obedient? I can't bear spying on you anymore."

Fear gripped Mirai, and she tried to punch him, but he only laughed at her weakness. He grabbed her, kissing her repeatedly while she sobbed helplessly, unable to push him away.

Just as he bit her cheek and began tearing at her clothes, a loud crash sounded outside. It was terrifyingly close.

Colt froze in shock. "That's… too early."

At that moment, a wall shattered, revealing Hans—wounded, barely standing, desperately trying to escape whatever was in front of him.