Albert was put to sleep by a drug injected by the doctor. A new day was born, and Albert woke up again—
but not in a room, not in a bed, but…
Outside the village.
In the middle plaza.
Where the statue of the village hero stood—the man who had built the village and protected it from a wielder's rage.
Albert was tied to that statue.
He was in shock and unable to move.
Thick ropes bound his body and feet.
He shouted loudly to the villagers surrounding him below, their hands gripping sharp weapons.
Their faces twisted with anger and hatred.
Their eyes held deadly gazes fixed upon him.
"Explain this crime!" he cried, his voice breaking from days of nonstop tears.
His words only stoked their rage. One man pulled a throwing knife from his jacket, hurled it at Albert, and shouted words that pierced deeper than the blade itself:
"Shut up… murderer!"
The blade buried itself in his shoulder.
Albert screamed in pain, his voice cracking.
Tears welled in his eyes as he looked at their faces. He could see their grief—raw, human, and unrelenting.
And he thought:
"This is it…
Lessa, I hope I will see you again.
I want to tell you everything I feel.
I want to see your smile… the one that heals my wounds."
He smiled faintly, even as more knives flew toward him.
The villagers threw with all their strength, fueled by rage—
men and women, old and young alike.
Blades struck different parts of his body.
Blood streamed down his skin.
He accepted it all.
The pain.
Even though his body screamed to escape.
And then… they stopped.
They saw he was dead.
The doctor—who was also acting chief—stepped forward from the crowd, carrying a long scroll. He began to read:
> Albert, the librarian, is the suspect in the murder of the Chief and his only daughter.
First: Since childhood, he was always alone, considered a "special" child, and diagnosed with symptoms of psychopathic mental illness—diagnosed by me, the doctor.
Second: He was found at the crime scene with the body of Lady Lessa, the last and only person to enter the manor.
Third: During treatment, I personally witnessed him in a state of panic, and above him, I found an artifact that made him a wielder. If another wielder had killed our Chief, they would have taken the Chief's position. But since Albert was not ambitious—only a psychopathic child—he must have enjoyed playing with Lady Lessa's trust and feelings until he had the chance to meet the Chief.
Fourth: Lessa's blood was found on the blade, along with his fingerprints.
These four pieces of evidence prove he is the culprit of the deaths of our late Chief and his daughter. This record will be kept in the village archives and signed by all villagers.
We have no reason to feel guilt.
The current position of Chief is given to the Chief's half-brother, Dr. Rey Bet. I am honored, and I will prove my worth as a responsible leader who walks for the safety of all under me.
While the new chief spoke, the blades lodged in Albert's body began to fall.
Something unseen was pushing them out.
The wounds vanished before their eyes.
The villagers gasped—claiming it was the power of Albert's artifact.
Then, as if summoned, the artifact appeared above Albert, glowing brightly.
He remembered the dream.
The one where he had spoken to that unknown being.
"I promised…
to revive her…
Why give up now?
I must collect all its parts.
It will fulfill its promise.
It will bring Lessa back."
The "murderer" they had killed raised his head, alive as if nothing had happened.
They grabbed their blades again and threw them.
But every time they pierced him, his wounds healed within minutes.
"Please!
Believe me!
I didn't kill the Chief!
Lessa… that was an accident!
I could never… never kill her!"
He begged, enduring each stab.
The pain always vanished as the wounds closed.
But no one listened.
The new chief had already gone inside the manor, leaving only the villagers.
What should I do now? They won't listen. I can't get out of here.
Then he noticed—one of the ropes binding him was fraying, cut by a stray blade.
"I must endure… and escape.
Wait for me, Lessa.
I will—"
"Aaahhh!"
The pain of being stabbed over and over was unbearable—like every inch of his flesh was being torn and sewn back together.
The villagers threw relentlessly.
Even the children joined in, tossing knives as if he were not human at all.
"The kids… why are they throwing too?
The adults should stop them.
Now I see—this world is cruel.
Ignorance turns even children into devils.
Ignorance blinds them."
He stared at the children with pity.
Finally, one last knife cut through the rope's final strand.
Albert fell to the ground.
Some villagers screamed and ran, while others drew swords, circling him.
"Ouch… that hurts…" he muttered, standing slowly.
His shirt was torn and bloodstained.
Men surrounded him, pointing their blades.
"Die, murderer!
Go back to the world of devils!"
"Murderer?
Huh… heh. Yes, I am.
That's why… let me leave this village.
I don't want any more lives on my hands.
One is enough.
Please."
His voice was low, almost gentle.
But they didn't listen.
They charged.
Albert was not only a skilled librarian—he had also been trained by the second-best fighter in the village.
These guys are nothing compared to Madam Merry, he thought.
As their blades swung toward him, he dropped flat to the ground and swept his right leg under them, knocking their feet from under them.
They stumbled and fell, weapons clattering to the ground.
Albert leapt high and bolted while they scrambled for their blades.
Some even stabbed themselves in the chaos.
He ran with all his strength, his only goal: to live and do what he must.
"Mom, Dad… I'm sorry I couldn't protect the library… I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."
The villagers gave chase, but soon he vanished from sight—entering the Sacred Forest, a place no one dared to go.
When he finally stopped and looked back, there was no sign of pursuers.
The forest was vast, its trees towering like giants.
Thick grass covered the ground, unfamiliar to him.
Birds sang loudly in the canopy.
Then, deeper inside, he saw it—
a massive tree, its leaves as large as a person, glowing gold like the sun itself.