Carrying a basket, Walm was walking around in the woods while holding a handy stick. This was to maintain a good diet.
After all, it was difficult to completely fill the stomach of a family with just fields alone. While his parents were working hard in the fields, Walm was working hard collecting edible wild plants in the mountains.
It wasnât just 12-year-old Walm. He was with his older brother, who was two years older. He climbed up the slope, squeezed the fallen leaves, and filled the basket.
It was hard work on the childâs body, but strangely Walm didnât feel it.
His brother ran through the forest as if inviting Walm to join him. Walm hesitated a little, but he understood that sometimes he needed to show appropriate behavior to his age.
While running, Walm became absorbed in chasing his brotherâs back. Not long after, Walm struck the back of his brother, who was a slow runner.
âIâve caught upâ
Even though Walm felt a slight embarrassment, he said so with a triumphant look. His lungs screamed and his legs quivered, but a win was still a win.
âFor someone short, you sure fast.â
His brotherâs hand stroked Walmâs head.
âLook. Walmâ
A berry tree full with the fruits at the point where my brother pointed.
âYouâre amazingâ
Walm praised his brother. He had seen small berries several times before, but they had a lot of competitors and were a source of conflict with the stupid brats in the neighborhood.
However, this was the frontier. There were many slopes, and overall, the foothold wasnât good. This place, which was close to the Demon Territory, had always been a sanctuary that didnât allow intruders.
âItâs a secret to the other guys, because youâre just growing up.â
Walm stuffed berries with his brother to his mouth. His hands were dyed red and his nails and mouth smelled sweet and sour.
It was a sanctuary where beasts didnât approach, but birds aiming the berries occasionally gathered. Seeing that, Walm with shiny eyes said.
âThere are even birds. Itâs great that food comes by itself.â
ââŠHuff, really, what a cold guy. Have you never thought that birds were beautiful or cute? Your brother is really worried you know? Even Dad and Mom are worried since youâve never let them spoil you.â
For Walm, worried by a boy far younger than himself seemed so humorous. Still, his brotherâs good intentions felt itchy but warm at the same time.
âWell, but itâs still a treat.â
His brother had a dark smile on his face as he agreed with Walm.
Walm and his brother, who used berries as bait and made traps from ivy plant, twigs, and branches, secured enough protein and vitamins for their families to eat and triumphally returned home.
ăâAa, U, EeeeeuuUU, AA, aaaAAAAA!!??âă
Suddenly, the image of the world solidified. Walm held his head and clenched his teeth in pain that shacking his brain. He couldnât even open his eyes because of the pain.
Walm couldnât swallow the situation.
What am I doing? What am I doing?
Walm, who was asking himself repeatedly, arrived at the answer.
Thatâs it. Iâm done with my work. I need to go home.
Slowly opened the eyes. What was in the vision was, a railway level crossing, with the warning light shining bright red.
The sound of railroad crossings echoed forever. It was a familiar road. The road that Takakura Raizou took over and over thousands of times.
A 10-car train passed by with a loud noise. It was so fast that no one could see the figures inside.
I forgot something. What am I forgetting?
The warning light dimmed, and the barrier slowly rose.
Thatâs it. I have to go home.
Raizou continued on the way to his house.
Curiously, only the streetlights and houses on the way back were shining faintly. Confused by the situation, Raizou looked back, there, was only darkness. And, it was slowly approaching, there was no doubt about that.
I canât be swallowed by that.
Raizou instinctively realized so.
Turned right, went straight at the crossroads to the left, and went through the park for a shortcut.
Something could be heard by Raizou. It was a sound that shouldnât exist.
The swing, which should be empty, was moving slowly. There was a translucent figure there. The sound of running up the slide innocently echoed.
Iâll arrive at the apartment soon.
Raizou saw the exterior that would show its age soon. But then, he stopped his foot. He saw a person, lying down in front of the building. It was Takakura Raizou.
Something is strange. Something is strange.
Walmâs thoughts were knocked down into a chaotic crucible, but a ray of light came down.
Yeah, thatâs right. Takakura Raizou is dead.
The wrinkles disappeared from the hands. Once he put the hand on the head, he felt the richness of the hair.
Walm sighed without trying to hide his tiredness.
There, a black hole appeared in the place where the body was.
The more I look at it, the weirder it gets.
Walm smiled bitterly, looking at the hole.
Before he knew it, all-black midgets surrounded Walm and the black hole.
The world had gone all black except around the apartment.
âDo you want me to go in?â
When Walm asked, one of the black midgets clapped his short hands. The others did the same in a chain.
âAre you seeing me off? Well, I donât hate it.â
When Walm stepped in, he slowly sunk.
The black midgets applauded as if they were complimenting their child. Walm felt like he was being ridiculed, but the stupid sight made him smile.
Now that Walm saw it once again, he thought that the black midgets were somewhat charming.
Leaving himself in a mysterious sensation like in a dream, Walm left himself in the drowsiness.
TN: Personally, I interpret thisăâAa, U, EeeeeuuUU, AA, aaaAAAAA!!??âă , as the scream of Takakura Raizou, even though itâs Walm on the outside.