Undeniable Reality
This wasn't some game—it was stark, undeniable reality. An utterly ordinary day, just like any other. Of course, it wasn't really ordinary.
After spending the night at the Northern Duke's estate instead of my own home, morning arrived. The bed was plush, and I drifted off savoring the cozy heat from the crackling, swaying flames in the fireplace. Though I didn't get to fall asleep cradled in anyone's arms... Oh well, what can you do? Mom was out conquering a dungeon, and Serdi sis was back at the main house. I couldn't exactly throw a tantrum and beg Adelaide to hold me. She was the stern head of the Northern Duke's house already— I couldn't burden her with something so troublesome. Precious things are meant to be admired from afar, right? She's my favorite, so just looking for now is probably the right call?
"Uggggh...! Phew!"
Anyway. In a fresh, upbeat mood, I stretched long and hard before sitting up in bed. The bedding they'd prepared especially for me was made from monster hide—incredibly soft and supple. The servants, noticing I'd woken, fussed over me as I rose. Their hands treating a VIP were so careful it felt burdensome, like they were handling fragile glass.
...Probably because I'm a boy. They were extra gentle with every touch. Super cautious even around my chest...
"How was your sleep?"
"It was amazing! I fell asleep so easily, the bed was super comfy, and the blankets were all soft and fluffy..."
"Hm. Good to hear it was comfortable."
A simple morning greeting. Adelaide smiled faintly, the corner of her mouth lifting as she stroked my head. She still looked mostly expressionless on the surface, but I'd controlled the Northern Duke character countless times in the game—I knew. That was her feeling deeply pleased and satisfied.
And so, breakfast came with a brief tea time.
Thud... thud... thud...
A faint sound from outside. The kind ordinary people or even monsters wouldn't hear—only someone with sharp ears could pick it up. I glanced at Adelaide, who was perking up her ears and tilting her teacup ever so slightly.
"Your Grace. Don't you hear something outside?"
"Hm? A sound all of a sudden? I don't hear anything."
"...C-Can I get up for a sec? Something feels... really off..."
Something felt terribly wrong. Urgent footsteps rushing this way, but why so chaotic? So sticky... and fishy... My heart pounded unpleasantly at the sensation.
The moment I cautiously started to stand—
"...I'll come with you. If the hero's son is reacting this strongly, something must be wrong."
Adelaide nodded and rose. Her eyes showed complete trust in me, warming my chest.
We reached the door...
"...! M-Mommy...?"
"Cough... ngh... haa..."
Cold, hot, fishy, chilling, sharp—the metallic tang of blood assaulted my nose. A filthy, repulsive sight filled my vision. Mom, supported by a few soldiers as she walked. A sharp blade embedded in her abdomen, bright red blood dripping steadily.
The instant I saw it, my mouth gaped open in shock. My eyes trembled. My body twitched at the lingering, acute sensations.
"...Ah..."
The clarity made it feel unreal.
"Aurelia!!"
Adelaide reacted violently at the sight. The loudest voice I'd ever heard from her. How shocking must it be to scream like that?
She rushed over, taking Mom's weight from the soldiers.
"What happened...? Huh?"
"...Haa... There were hardline monsters nesting in the dungeon... They attacked before I could even try talking, so I had no choice but to fight a bit..."
"And? You took a wound this bad?"
"So you're hurt this badly?"
"...One of them had ill intentions toward me... It came at me with its own blood on the spear tip..."
Monster blood was like deadly poison to humans... Mom laughed hollowly. Her face said it was absurd, but the anger flickering deep in her eyes was vivid.
"...Can I make it to the greenhouse...?"
"You always head there after a fight... Let's go quick. I don't know the details of its effects, but."
Mom's gaze briefly met mine. Then she quickly bowed her head, as if hiding her pale, blood-smeared face from me. Leaning on Adelaide's shoulder, she hurried off.
"Tell me exactly what happened, Prelia."
"Yes. While conquering the dungeon from the report, we were ambushed by a group of monsters lying in wait deep inside. No troop losses, but... some soldiers and the hero were injured."
"Understood. Handle the follow-up thoroughly. And the monsters?"
"...The hero slaughtered them all..."
"......"
Voices drifted to my ears. But they didn't register. No—I didn't want to hear. Monsters? The ones I knew? The peace treaty Mom and the Demon King worked so hard for between humans and monsters.
Rumors of monsters breaking it and attacking humans weren't new. Relations between two fundamentally different races were like a fragile thread—let go and it unravels, pull too hard and it snaps. It had to be maintained perfectly through dialogue, without ripples.
But...
"......"
If one side rejects so fiercely, that thread has to break.
I stared at Mom, sitting quietly in the greenhouse center.
A thick cluster of enormous leaves. Mom leaned against them, breathing steadily. Her breaths quivered. The gaping, bleeding wound was already healing.
Watching from afar, I hesitantly approached.
"...Mommy... are you okay...?"
"...Kael, haa... I'm... I'm fine... so... cough..."
Blood sprayed. Sticky red smeared across her cheek, choking me. Mom's blood. A scene I'd seen endlessly in the game. Now real...
My stomach churned. I hate this. Mommy hurts. Mommy can't hurt. Why does she have to...?
In the game, it was no issue. I'd push through injuries to save potions until HP hit 10, only retreating near death. Seeing her like this now, I felt disgusting.
Not Mom. Not the blood. Me—utterly repulsive... Did I toy with her until she was mangled like that, only saving her at death's door?
...No? That was the hero... Not Mom...? Just Hero Aurelia, the game protagonist and player character...?
"Ugh..."
My gut roiled. My mind tangled in chaos. What am I doing? I'm Na Seon-ho... Not Kael Elion... Who... who am I...?
Stroke...
"Kael... my son... are you okay...?"
"...Ah, ahh... M-Mommy...? Mommy... sob... hic...! Hic-sob...!!"
Vision blurred. Tears burst first. Gentle, warm hands stroked my hair as always. As the touch seeped in, tears flowed. Breath hitched. Sobbing, I reached out.
"S-Sorry...! Mommy...! I-I'm so, so sorry, Kael's super duper sorryyy...! Hic...!"
"Wha—? Why are you apologizing to me all of a sudden...?"
"You must've been in so much pain...! I didn't know...! Hic... sniff... Sorry...!"
"...I don't know what's going on, but calm down... Wait, just a bit... It's, it's dirty! Blood..."
"Hic... waaahhh...!"
"..."
Tears wouldn't stop. I don't know... I just wanna hug Mommy... I'm so sorry... This is real life, not a game—what was I even thinking?
As I burrowed into her arms, Mom stiffened in surprise, then silently stroked my head without a word.
In that embrace, I sobbed repeatedly, begging forgiveness.
'Why is the kid like this...'
Aurelia sighed softly, gazing down at Kael wailing in her arms.
She hadn't wanted him to see wounds like this. Especially not ones from monsters—the very beings he feared most—who'd ambushed her for revenge.
"...Kael. I won't die. Don't worry. I've been through this countless times. I always recover this quickly."
"...Hic... Sorry...! Waaahhh!!"
She'd meant to reassure him, but he wailed even harder. His small body clung tighter, arms squeezing her waist fiercely, face buried in her chest, apologizing nonstop. Even as blood smeared and dirtied him, he refused to let go.
"I don't know what you're sorry for, but I'm fine. You have nothing to apologize to me for. If anyone's sorry, it should be me."
"N-No... I should apologize..."
"I'm the one who bore a weak mother, the one who couldn't cure your illness. You have nothing to be sorry for."
"Hic... hic..."
Trembling breaths. Aurelia tilted her head with a sigh-like murmur.
"...This'll take a few hours..."
"Sniff... hic... Mommy..."
"Stop crying. What kind of sight is this for an Elion heir?"
"S-Sorry... sniff... hng..."
"Lucky no one's watching. If they saw you like this outside, who knows what rumors would fly."
"Sniff... Y-Yes..."
After much soothing, Kael finally calmed. Still sniffling, tears tracing his cheeks, but not the broken mess from before. Not fully settled, but passable.
"...Monsters did this, right...?"
"Yes. Even with the peace treaty, we can't bury all the past."
"You killed them all...?"
"...No choice. Otherwise, casualties would've been worse."
No—they had to die. They targeted you from the start. Aimed precisely, with you as the goal. The Demon King's sole blood heir. They saw your value, planned to use you to spark war again. That's why they went after you, the only powerless one among my children.
The moment I heard... I slaughtered them without mercy.
...She couldn't voice that. No need to say it aloud.
"I don't blame you, Mommy... The monsters were bad..."
Kael sniffled, shaking his head as he looked up at her.
"...B-But... I... I just can't like monsters... They hurt you like this..."
"...My son."
His eyes widened at the words. Not "Kael," not "you"—son.
"I won't force you. I don't want you hating them either."
"..."
"But please, remember whose child you are—and that half your blood is theirs. So at least... with monsters who love and treat you kindly, set aside those feelings."
"...Yes..."
Kael nodded. A brief silence. Reluctant, but accepting.
"...But y'know."
"Hm?"
"...I still hate skeletons...!"
"......"
Aurelia was at a loss for words.
"Clack!"
"Eek! Why does a skeleton sneeze with a clack?"
"Ahem... Lady Serdi. Please focus on your duties."
"Yessir, yessir. So strict. And that sense of responsibility is way over the top."