Day 171-180/Day 178/Sidestory: Kid Boss's POV

Just until recently, I had nothing like future dreams. After all just that day’s ration poses trouble, it only gets more difficult as the capital chills by the day.

Finding someone who was still talking yesterday dead by the morning is nothing unusual, that’s why there’s nothing I didn’t do to live. But that unreasonable way of living hits the limit soon, I found out the hard way.

To live we stole, get caught, and dragged to a back alley we get beaten by several adults. Kicks without restraint struck my whole body. I had no choice but to wait for it all to wrap up. I thought that, I would die before it ended. However, perhaps I stink because I was washed with gutter water the day before, I lucked out when it ended sooner than usual. I didn’t die from the beatings. Even though my whole body hurts, I didn’t die yet. But, it won’t be far off, before I die like the others.

But, on that day, my destiny did an 180 turn.

There’s tasty food. There’s a safe place to sleep. There’s nice clothing that had been washed. There’s tools to defend ourselves with. And more than anything, there’s someone who offered us protection.

It was like a dream, although of course nothing came without a price. What was needed, was us ourselves. Doing what we are told, with our given roles was requested.

The daily training we were assigned was hard. For us who hadn’t had enough to eat, the training was almost unbearable. But, we endured it. Endured and endured and endured, we clenched our teeth and continued training. And the day we see the results came.

At the forest an hour’s walk from the capital. Today we headed for it. This time the Commander's with us too, everyone was fired up. The Commander was our saviour. Without the Commander, half of us would have died.

The first time we met the Commander was scary, but we found out this place was warm, we couldn’t imagine anywhere else. I don’t know what the others think, but at least, I want to protect this warm place. That’s why I wanted to become power for the Commander who taught us how to live, who gave us a place to belong to. Even as little as it is, something that is as good as nothing, I thought I wanted to be of help. I thought I wanted to be useful.

As I reconfirmed those feelings, we formed parties of 4 under the Commander’s instructions, and dived into the forest.

Even though we were taught in our trainings, walking in the unaccustomed forest was difficult. On top of that the monsters that appeared went after our lives without mercy, it was very scary. I thought I’d start shaking if I let down my guard. But, I brought up my courage and thrust out my short spear. The monster that attacked — the Blade Rabbit’s fur split, pierced muscles, and torn organs gave a unique feel. And I felt when the spear had luckily pierced through the heart, the feeling of life slipping through.

As I looked down to the dying Blade Rabbit what I felt was not the guilt of stealing a life, but rather a strong sense of accomplishment. It was the certain feeling of me who was weak and only to be used, getting stronger.

Little by little, but steadily, becoming stronger. Still a far away dream, but I want to become power to the Commander someday. That's my goal. That's why for now, I focused on killing one monster at a time.

It's not an exceptional result, but the road's still long. I found a dream I didn't have before, there's many thing I want to do now as well.

The despair from back then, it feels like a memory already. Right now, I only need to single mindedly walk forward.