Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: The Bread Thief from District 7
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“Haha, well, by chance… I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
The man waved his hands as if to prove his innocence.
Well, I hadn’t really suspected him on that front.
There was no reason for a guy who hadn’t even grasped the full situation yet to follow us here and listen in.
Still, what bothered me was his dejected voice and gloomy expression.
He must have overheard more than he let on— he looked absolutely wrecked.
I led the man into the barracks lounge and casually asked,
“You okay?”
“Oh, yes. I’m fine.”
“Hmm.”
Fine, my foot. His face said otherwise.
As I stared at him, he must have felt the pressure, because he spoke up again.
“…Looks like we were just a burden to the commander.”
“From the commander’s perspective, that’s probably how it felt. We were in the middle of a war, after all.”
“Haha, yeah, figured as much.”
“Does that hurt?”
“Oh, no, not at all. I’m just grateful to be alive. It’s a bit bittersweet, sure.”
“I see.”
The man suddenly turned to me and asked,
“Was it you, Mage? The one who saved us?”
“Pardon?”
“I, uh, heard from the soldiers on the way over. They said our lives were basically forfeit from the start…”
“Oh.”
Whoever it was had apparently filled him in on all the details.
No point hiding it, so I nodded.
“When the people from District 7 came out of the rift, the order was to execute them. Took some effort to stop that.”
“Oh… I see. Thank you so much. We owe you our lives, Mage.”
The man bowed politely and took a seat.
Silence followed.
Seizing the moment, I decided to ask what had been on my mind.
“You lived in District 7, right?”
“Oh, yes. That’s correct.”
“Mind if I ask how you ended up there?”
“Uh…”
He trailed off.
Had I hit a nerve? Fortunately, he didn’t look troubled.
Just like he was pondering how to put it.
Finally, he spoke.
“I was exiled for theft.”
“Theft? What on earth did you steal to get sent there…?”
“Nothing big. Just some bread from a street vendor in District 6.”
“What?”
I couldn’t keep the shock off my face.
Exiled to District 7 for stealing bread?
What was he, Jean Valjean or something?
“Isn’t exile a bit harsh for a single loaf of bread?”
“Yeah, way too harsh. I argued about it plenty of times, but that’s exactly why they exiled me. Said I showed no remorse or whatever… Guess I dug my own grave.”
“Huh.”
The more I heard, the more absurd it got.
I’d never heard the backstories of District 7 residents even when playing the game, so this was a total shock.
Who’d have thought someone ended up there over something like this?
‘Weren’t most of them hardened criminals?’
Or born there, like Kayla.
But my surprise didn’t end there.
“So, I had no choice but to live in District 7 with my child.”
“Your child?”
“Yeah, my seven-year-old daughter.”
He looked so young, I hadn’t expected him to have kids.
And a seven-year-old, no less.
“How old are you, if you don’t mind?”
“Thirty this year.”
“Ah, got it.”
I’d pegged him as my age or a bit older.
He had an insanely youthful face.
Anyway.
“Oh, so where’s the child now?”
Listening to him, I started worrying about the kid.
All of District 7’s residents had been brainwashed, after all.
No way a child made it out unscathed.
If anything, kids probably fell victim faster.
From what he’d said earlier, symptoms hit in this order: kids, women, elderly, men.
But.
“She’s gone now. Passed away a few years back.”
“Oh…”
He delivered the tragedy in a flat tone.
I had no idea how to respond—talk about awkward.
As I fumbled for words of comfort, he continued.
“Cause was malnutrition. Couldn’t scrounge up food to save your life in District 7.”
Yeah, figures.
No wonder they called it the Trash Heap.
“Was that why you stole the bread?”
“Yeah. We were starving for days, no money. Just wanted to save my kid, you know? Even if it backfired big time.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Haha, I’m over it now. Cried it all out back when it hurt the most.”
“I see.”
He really knew how to bury his emotions.
Lost a child and brushed it off as a few good cries? Yeah, right.
Anyway, no point dragging this out—I was about to change the subject.
“Mind if I ask you something too?”
He suddenly threw a question my way.
Seemed he had something on his mind.
“Of course.”
I nodded readily, and he jumped right in, like he’d been waiting.
“What’s gonna happen to the other residents now?”
“Oh, the residents.”
What to say?
After a moment’s thought, I replied.
“They’ll all be fine soon enough. Just like you.”
The words felt heavy on my shoulders the instant they left my mouth.
Like I was carrying the lives of hundreds on my back.
Well, that’s exactly what I was aiming for.
I was dead set on saving them, no matter what.
This sense of responsibility would keep my resolve firm.
“Was that thanks to you too, Mage?”
“You could say that. My efforts are gonna be key here.”
“Aah.”
What was he thinking?
He stayed quiet for a long stretch after hearing me out, then murmured softly.
“…I’ll repay this debt someday.”
His eyes burned with determination.
I didn’t pry and let the conversation end there.
Over thirty minutes had passed already.
Time was tight as it was.
Now it was time to free the District 7 residents from that endless torment.
***
“I’ll help too.”
When I announced we were heading out to break the brainwashing, he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.
“You won’t be able to do much.”
“I’ll find something. It involves me too, so please, let me.”
“Uh, alright…”
His resolve was ironclad. I reluctantly agreed, exchanged quick introductions, and headed straight for the holding cells.
Just like last time, the place erupted the moment we entered.
“Die! Die! Die, die, die!”
“Kekeke, human… hu-maaan!”
“Young man! Blood! Give me blood!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Deranged shrieks and rattling bars echoed from every direction.
I was used to it by now, but the man—no, Ios—froze in confusion at the sight.
“What the hell…?”
“That’s what brainwashing looks like. When they came out of the rift en masse, they tore into the soldiers’ necks.”
“So I was like that too?”
“Worse, if anything. You were crazy strong.”
“Man, I keep piling up apologies.”
I chuckled, then pointed to the cell closest to the front.
“Let’s start from here, one by one. Bring them to me in order. Careful not to get hurt.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ios replied briskly and boldly unlocked the cell.
The residents charged like they’d been waiting.
“Blood! Blooood!”
“Dieeee!”
I tensed, ready to intervene if things got dicey.
But.
Thwack!
Pointless.
Ios’s shove sent the charging residents flying back.
‘What kinda strength is that?’
Freakish power for an ordinary guy.
‘Come to think of it, his build rivals Uncle Thompson’s.’
Even more shocking: he was from District 7.
Barely any food, no energy for workouts—how’d he get that strong?
The thought didn’t last.
“Let go! Let me go!!”
“Brought the first one.”
Ios had already grabbed one resident by the scruff and dragged him over.
‘Right, focus.’
No time for distractions.
I perched on a chair and told Ios,
“Wait a sec. This’ll take a bit.”
Then I summoned my mana.
Mana brimming with light attribute and holy power.
Shrrrk!
I channeled it into the old man Ios had brought.
Demon energy hit me instantly.
I ignored it, zeroing in on the mark’s location.
Having done it once before, it went much faster this time.
How long passed?
Thud.
“Phew… done.”
The old man finally stopped convulsing and collapsed.
He’d come to his senses and be fine soon enough.
The key was time.
“How long was that?”
“About an hour.”
“An hour…”
Way faster than when I did Ios.
But hundreds of residents remained.
Not nearly enough.
“Next one, please.”
“Yes!”
“K-Kill… youuu!”
The next was in front of me in no time.
Limbs pinned by Ios’s iron grip, couldn’t budge.
Good thing he was here—would’ve been trouble otherwise.
Shrrrk!
“Gaaah! Gyaaaah!”
The resident screamed as mana flowed in.
I tuned it out, focusing solely on the mana’s flow.
Fsssh!
Another mark shattered into fragments and vanished.
“How long?”
“About forty minutes.”
“Nice.”
Still not enough, but progress.
At this rate, we’d purge them all soon.
“Next, please.”
“Yessir!”
Ios and I picked up the pace bit by bit.
“Th-Thank you. Thank you…”
One by one, the recovered residents grew in number, and under Ios’s lead, they started helping out.
Not that they could do much compared to him, but it was fine.
“How’s there such a saint in this world…?”
“Shh, Grandpa. Quiet down. You’ll distract the mage.”
“You little punk, the nerve!”
Just seeing them chat normally nearby gave me a boost.
I forced down my smile and scanned the room.
‘About… two hundred left?’
Sweat beading, hands shaking, but somehow.
I’d finish this today.