Even in a different world, you can't escape food poisoning. No matter how high the Vitality, poison and disease still affect you.

My stomach had felt mildly uncomfortable, so I thought I would be fine in a day.

I wasn't aware of the severity of it until I suddenly threw up. Sophie vomited shortly after.

With the both of us sick, it's hard to get things done.

Dinner is dried biscuit and meat with water. Again...

You know what. I'll put in a little extra effort. Let's have a lavish meal tonight.

-Willpower: 40/52-

I'm just heating up soup in a can. I can't believe a Willpower point got deducted. The Calculative trait is supposed to stop mundane activities and inconveniences from lowering Willpower. Guess I'm too tired...

Sophie sniffed the air and slowly stirred from her afternoon nap. "Claud... doll."

Doll? How sweet. She must have had a good dream.

Her eyes fluttered about, still not completely awake. "You can have... dolls' fingers..."

Why would she give me just the fingers specifically? Are there assembly dolls in her dream? How elaborate. There aren't any such toys in this world. She has quite the creative imagination-

"I'll make your fingers into dolls..."

... Well, that's a frightening image.

If you take what she said literally, it was an extremely horrifying line topped off with an innocent smile.

What sort of morbid dream did she have?

It could mean nothing. But it also might indicate a mental unwellness. I'll monitor her closely. I never gave it a lot of thought but receiving the role of the Hero entails a lot of responsibility. She could be feeling burdened.

"Claud... Do you want doll fingers?"

Umm... not really.

"I've dreamt about it lots. We can put doll fingers on your hand."

She's talking about a prosthetic. That's a good idea. If my control over mana gets even better, I could use a prosthetic like a real limb.

A knock on our door interrupted the pleasant stream of thoughts.

Tsk. Who could it be at this time?

I hear more than one person on the other side of the door. A thudding sound, boots. These heavy footsteps don't belong to the scrawny innkeeper.

I can't imagine many reasons to knock on a stranger's door.

Coming to stir trouble while we're ill... Pests.

I quickly prodded Sophie awake with my stub of a hand while my other hand kept her mouth closed.

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"Mmm..." She was confused at first, but noticing my furrowed expression simply nodded and took up her sword.

Opening the door, I gave it a wide berth in case it swung open.

Two guards alongside a woman were at the door. I couldn't see their facial features clearly as the hallway was lit poorly with candles.

"Sophie! Claud! Where have you been?! Mother has been worried sick, looking for you!"

Hah?

"Madam, that is your child?"

"Yes, yes. She is my daughter, Flora."

The audacity... This woman spews bullshit very easily.

"Come now, you delinquents. Drop those swords immediately!" One of the guards approached.

I held firmly onto the hilt of my sword.

"I-I'm not your daughter!"

"I still love you, my dear! You can return home. I'll forgive you for leaving home."

"Claud! Help!"

Fuck. What do I do? Don't attack. I need to calm down. I'm not sure if these two are actual law enforcement or not. A status orb can prove our identities. I don't need to do anything rash.

The lady grabbed Sophie's arm.

"Don't let them take me!"

Too familiar.

A scene I replayed over and over.

Help!

Something I wished to change.

-Willpower: 39/52-

"Get your filthy hands off her!"

-Empathy Trait: Active-

Stop that.

-Where-

I don't want to recall.

A courtyard with wilting flowers. The orphanage. It was one of the younger girls.

My subconscious mind won't do what I want it to. Endlessly replaying the scene, every single detail. I never forget anything.

-What happened-

A stranger dragged her away.

-What did you do-

I didn't do anything. Otherwise, I would have disappeared too.

-Were you scared-

I was scared. I could have done something, anything, but I was scared.

Since that day, I was always with Keith to protect him.

-To make up for your mistake-

-You were always with him, but why did you separate from him on that fated day-

I would have never willingly left his side. He was glued to me, and I to him.

Our orphanage of over a hundred that slowly dwindled. I was on watch, to make sure nobody else wandered outside. I just wanted us to be safe. Unaware that other monsters had already infiltrated, lurking within our home. How could I have possibly known?

If I hadn't been so distracted and concerned over the others, I could have watched over Keith.

No. It was their fault. There wasn't anything I could have done. It's the stupid children's fault for being taken away, the people that took them and the useless adults that let all that happen.

I trusted you!

It wasn't my fault. Shut up. Don't blame me.

You ruined my life. I hate you...

Why is it my fault when I couldn't do anything? I was just another weak person.

-Trait Active: Entitled-

I was always doing everything. Me! I didn't do anything wrong! You all never did anything for me! At least, you should have been strong enough to protect yourselves!

You're a monster.

I just happened to be the one who saw. It's not my responsibility! Not mine! Yours!

It's your fault! YOUR FAULT! AGHHHHH!

----------------------------------------

The lady grabbed my arm.

I should haven't let her get that close. I can already hear Claud nagging me about this.

-Claud's Willpower: 39/52-

"Get your filthy hands off her!"

I could have stopped what happened next.

-Claud's Calculative Trait Failed to Activate-

A warning, the God's system flashed a bright red.

He swung the cold steel before I realized what was happening.

-Claud's Willpower: 39/52-

-Claud's Willpower: 20/52-

Claud attacks.

The first man is cut down instantly, a slash through the throat. The other man tries to fight back. Claud brutally hacks away till the opponent is disarmed, and continues wildly swinging, utilizing his sword like a club.

The woman screams and tries to escape, Claud throws his sword, impaling her into the wall.

I can't move. I'm scared...

They were bad people but... Such a violent reaction was not normal. Claud, though he is easily angered, he would usually repress and hide it. I'm scared.

Though they were already dead, Claud kept screaming, stomping the body into the ground.

"It's okay. It's okay. Everything's alright."

Don't be angry...

"AGHHHHH!"

"You can stop now..."

People had already gathered, witnessing the brutality on display. They'll have the wrong idea... I can't let Claud get in trouble for this.

I'm the Hero. Claud was just protecting me. He did nothing wrong!

"Claud, please stop! I'm scared...!"

I'm scared that you will change to someone that hates me. Because I can't help you, even though, you've done so much for me. I'm useless when it matters most...