The Author's POV

"What, what has gotten into you?"

Margaret looked at Kevin with a helpless expression. Johnatan, who was standing beside her, also wore a similar expression.

"Kevin, you know that we need to work, right? If we can't work, we won't be able to pay our bills and continue living in this house."

Standing in front of the door of the house and blocking the two of them from leaving was Kevin, who still wore the same expressionless look on his face.

If there was one thing that was different about him, however, was that his eyes weren't as detached from reality like in the past.

Of course, this wasn't a change that Kevin was aware of as he currently stood in front of the door and stopped the two of them from leaving.

"Do not go to work today."

"...Can you tell us why?"

Rather than being angry at Kevin's behavior, the two of them bent down and caressed his head.

Kevin's face didn't change at their touch, and he repeated.

"Do not go outside today."

"Yes, we understand that you don't want us to go outside today. But is there a reason?"

Margaret asked, her face completely calm and devoid of any frustration.

The same was true for Johnatan, who sat on the ground outside the small apartment and curiously looked at Kevin.

Seeing that he had gotten their attention, Kevin didn't say anything and hugged Margaret by the neck, startling her completely.

It wasn't just her that was startled; his father, Jonathan, was also startled and also somewhat jealous.

Both of them looked at each other with bewildered expressions.

Their reactions were understandable. After all, this was the very first time in his life that Kevin showed any glimmer of affection toward the two of them, and they were naturally taken aback.

'They might listen to me if I do this...'

On the other hand, Kevin had different thoughts, as the sole reason for hugging them was to manipulate them into listening to his request.

Since he couldn't reveal to them the exact reason why they couldn't go to work today, he could only try this method, which, in all fairness, seemed to be working quite well as the two of them started hesitating about going to work.

Of course, Kevin knew that this wasn't enough for him to convince them completely.

It was hence why he reached out for his pocket and took out a 50 U banknote.

"...I found this outside."

Contrary to Kevin's expectations, the faces of the couple changed completely the moment he took out the banknote and immediately asked.

"Where did you get that from, Kevin?"

"Don't tell me that you stole it, Kevin? You know that stealing is bad, right? Although our financial situation is not good, we would rather starve than steal."

Under the barrage of questions, Kevin merely cocked his head and answered.

"I didn't steal it."

It was actually a lie. This note was, in fact, the same note from the bald guy from a while back.

When everything was said and done, and his mother handed him the money, Kevin secretly found the man and killed him, taking away all of his possessions.

some strange reason, Kevin felt a weird emotion while

emotion he was familiar with, but he recalled

he was feeling that way, Kevin was still unsure...but if there was one thing he was sure about, it

Kevin did once

horror on the man's face

him, Kevin didn't care at all

the last moments before his death, Kevin looked at him with the same expression

One of utter disgust.

did you get this

sounding a lot calmer than

stare at

picked it up

necessarily a lie. He had indeed

lying

"No."

his head, his face completely

minute, the two stared at each other without saying anything before Jonathan

he is going this far to stop us from leaving, I

left the room and went back into the

a warm smile and

Kevin. We won't go to work

headed for the kitchen. Pulling down her

time, I

"..."

to regret his actions. It was

he didn't want either one of his parents to die. At least, not until he understood the emotions that

and he wanted nothing more than to understand them, for they may be able to,

the wooden door

from here,

he was coming back

was why they chose to bring him there, but the distance

demon attack since it was further away from the inner

least, that was what Kevin

Bang―! Bang―!

somewhere

away from his house, which was rapidly getting engulfed by the flames, Kevin felt the

in here. Make sure you don't make any sound,

Clank―!

but a different

was standing in front of the corpse of his mother and what

for who knew how long,

his cheek, he found that his finger had been stained by

at his finger, Kevin

"Why?"

***

leave the

and once again, he was presented

This time, however, he was able to

already exhausted, and all

Kevin found himself back in the past once

time, he decided to approach

decided to approach things differently...he wanted

had been haunting him for his entire third

decided to go

city, they would easily be able

his age, he was still a lot weaker than the demons.

want to go out of the village? Is there