Chapter 6: Chapter 5: Encore of the world ends

The morning sun dawned upon the hazy blue sky. The sounds of people walking here and there were heard in the distance. The estate is still bustling with life as usual.

Sounds of heavy machinery resounded from the west wing of the estate. I guess today is the day where they renovated the hospital. No wonder the mansion is oddly more active than usual.

 

I walked down hallways before descending down the stairs leading to the kitchen. Ryan's room, placed on the opposite of mine was empty. He had probably left for the barracks. The rest of the rooms were still closed. Seems like everyone is still asleep.

 

I went into the kitchen and start my usual chores. I start my day by preparing breakfast for everyone. Despite my age, I could call myself an expert in cooking. I pack a breakfast as well as a lunch in a bento style. I looked quite good, I say so myself. Maybe I'm talented at being a chef after all.

 

~ring

 

The footsteps of someone could be heard from outside the kitchen. The figure of big brother Ren could be seen from outside the kitchen.

 

“Ren nii-san. I made breakfast for you.” I called out to him.

 

“Thank you, Ryin”

 

I passed my newly made breakfast to Ren. Making breakfast for everyone is part of my joy after all.

 

“Seems like your cooking skills have improved again.”

 

He continued having his breakfast as usual. I plastered a smug on my face towards Ren's reply.

 

Despite his way of saying things nonchalantly. He is quite a caring person. He just doesn’t show it on his face. Is this what people call a kuudere?

 

“I leaving soon, make sure to wake big sister Lulu and the others as well for breakfast before it gets cold”

 

I finish packing the bento before leaving the house. I usually went out for a jog during this time but I wanna deliver the packed meal to Ryan today.

 

*bang

 

The loud firing sound of guns resounded throughout the barracks. The barracks is full of people of various ages, making it as lively as usual. Ryan was one of the instructors of  the new batch of soldiers. Despite the current peaceful times, monsters have always been a threat. Having new soldiers train would keep the settlement safer for a longer time.

 

I walked into the barracks through the front door, greeted by the gatekeeper. I strolled around the barracks a little before deciding to meet Ryan. 

 

“Ryin, you here.”

His tone was a bit unusual compared to his usual self. His face was slightly different compared to yesterday. I wonder if anything has happened?

 

“I’m here to deliver your breakfast. Are you ok Ry- father?”

 

I hurriedly changed my sentence midway. It was recently that I was adopted, I still couldn’t get used to calling Ryan father yet. Habits die hard afterall. 

 

“Yeah, I’m just stressed after all. It seems that some of the nearby settlements got destroyed recently”

 

Despite his calm looks, his tone is grave. Deep inside, I can’t help but have an ominous feelings. Perhaps this was a sign of what to come soon.

 

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“I still remember the events of the first apocalypse. I couldn’t help but recall such moments again this time.”

 

HIs face was grim yet full of sadness and longing. Perhaps he lost someone dear to him in the past as well.

 

“How did the first apocalypse even happen?”

 

I asked curiously. Despite being taught basic history of the apocalypse, it’s still better to hear from someone who experienced it after all.

 

Ryan stared blankly towards the distance. HIs face was full of countless emotions. Anger, self loathe, hatred, warmness and longing. He let out a short breath before starting his story.

 

“20 years ago, I was a soldier. I was newly enlisted since it was the law requirement that every student had to serve at least 2 years in the army. It was hell to say the least. The drill instructor kept punishing us for the silliest mistake. It was fun though. I joined the navy while the rest of them joined either the air force or the armies. I got sent out into the sea pretty early compared to the rest. Those were some of the best last moments I had with them. ”

 

He let out a short sighted before continuing. His face turned into warmness everytime he recalled his memory.

“Well it was then that the first apocalypse happened. No one knew what or why. For no reason, people on the ship went missing one after another. At first we thought it might be a person overboard but soon too many people went missing, even the commander of the ship. Calling them missing wouldn’t be right, it would be better to say they were disintegrated. One moment they were in front of me, and they were gone the next second. We tried to call for help but the radios weren’t working. We were stuck at sea for 3, no 4 months I think. None of the remaining crews know how to operate the ship. Luckily one of them managed to just roughly guess how to operate it on the basic level.

 

“By the time we got ashore, there was nothing. Not even a soul in sight. Everyone was missing. Monsters as tall as a skyscraper roam far and wide. Countless buildings were ravaged and destroyed, it wasn’t a place I knew anymore. It was just a desolate city that was completely in ruins, devoid of any life. From the distance, you could see something large in the sky. Only using the ship binoculars did we manage to see it clearly.”

He paused one more time before continuing. Perhaps remembering it made him recall some past grief.

 

“A crack as large as the city plastered in the sky. The crack looked as if the sky were pieces of broken mirrors. Cracked and fragmented pieces of mirror shattered by force. The space around the crack seems to be distorted in a weird shape. That size of the crack was truly unfathomable.That crack would spew out monsters every few hours or so. Along with the crack in the sky, countless small cracks similar to space distortion appear everywhere. It reminded me of one of those novels I read before. I saw countless settlements destroyed overnight by a single monster. Maybe we didn’t stand a chance in the first place in the end. We are doing nothing but prolonging our suffering.”

 

“The rest of the crew split up after landing ashore. Some went back to find their home. Others went to look for their families. We battle day and night against the neverending waves of monsters. I lost a lot of great mens back then. I was too weak. I realize that a little too late. If I were stronger, would the outcome be different?”

 

“We escaped with barely anyone left. We ran out of food, fuel and a lot of things. It took us another few months just to encounter another survivor. That's how I met Ryuga, the founder of this settlement. He by some chance managed to rescue us from another horde. I chose to follow him and that was the best decision I ever made in my life.”

 

A long time had passed since Ryan started his story. The food had gone cold by the time he finished. I sat on the ground while listening intently to the story. It sparked more questions than I could ever answer.

 

I stared absentmindedly towards the sky in the far distance. Will I have to fight such monsters as well in the future?I couldn’t help but feel excited after hearing it. His story had ignited a fiery intent in my heart. An intent to fight and protect those dear to me.

 

I stood up from my seat. Standing firm on my two feets  before making a rather abrupt request.

 

“Father… from today onwards please train me!”

 

I shouted my heart's desire towards him. I stared at him with unbending will. Not wanting him to refuse my decision.

 

He pondered a moment before letting out a long sigh. Was he troubled by my selfish request? He stood up before nodding his head in return. He turned his back on me, staring absentmindedly into the far distance.

 

“I won’t go easy on you. Get ready to taste how I felt in military camp, kid!”

 

His voice is full of vigor compared to his previous appearance, as if it was fake previously.

 

“I will be in your care!”

 

That's how my hellish training to survive in this cruel world began.