MORITARIN 1
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The universe, full of starlight. From somewhere, an unknown red-glowing object is moving toward a nearby planet, leaving a long trail of light behind.
At the same time, an unidentified being with the horns of a yellow deer and a black robe covering its entire body is staring intently into something that looks like a mirror, desperately searching for someone. And after a long while, it finally finds him.
Its front and hind legs, exposed from beneath the black hooded robe, are covered in green scales, and its hands and feet resemble animal hooves. Staring at the red light through the small mirror, it shouts.
"It's him! I found him!"
"Oh… how did he end up like that? How could this happen… sob…"
It cries, unable to continue speaking.
Worry, regret, and a sense of apology torment him. An unbearable, deep guilt weighs him down.
"I... I ignored your desperation. I turned away. I regret it so much now…"
"Even though we knew your judgment was right, we were stubborn. You were right."
"It's only natural that we can't be forgiven. We'll never be forgiven…"
"Trapped in a wall we built ourselves, we only resented the world… Sigh... sobbing..."
As it sighed deeply and shed tears of regret and lament, a sudden, intense fear enveloped him.
"You idiot! This isn't the time! This isn't the time to be like this!"
It was in a hurry. The red-light entity was plummeting toward the planet, and it was the only one who could save him. It had wasted too much time on meaningless lamentations.
The horned being dashed out of the cave in a frenzy, not knowing where the red light was headed.
"Gah... damn it!"
"Where is it? Which way?"
"Should I go back and check?"
"No, there's no time… What should I do?"
"What should I do… what should I do…"
Extremely flustered, it fell into a swamp of self-questioning. Just then, an unknown power told it the location of the red light.
"Hmm…? There! That direction!"
"Who is it? Who is helping me at this moment…?"
But there was no time to ponder.
It sensed the light's trajectory and hurriedly ran in that direction. But it was too late.
In a fleeting moment, the red light pierced through the clouds and was rapidly falling to the ground before its very eyes. It wanted to use all its strength to grab him at the last moment, but he vanished from sight before it had time to use its power.
"Aaaah… It's over…"
Complete despair. It couldn't move. Just as a dark sense of hopelessness was about to swallow it, as if someone was helping it again, it was able to act quickly with a calm judgment.
"I don't know who you are… but thank you."
It began to wave its front hoof in a large circle. Slowly, red and yellow clouds and green clouds began to appear, and as it brought its two hooves together, the two small clouds gradually started to merge into one.
It knelt on all fours, taking on the posture of a beast. Like a plump deer preparing to charge. As its mysterious power was concentrated, the combined cloud turned into a round, shining orb, and it shifted its posture to sit down, pulling the orb into its embrace with both hands.
The yellow-horned being took a deep breath and commanded the shining orb.
"Show me the location of the Red Rooster."
At the same time, its eyes shone brightly. And before long, it found the Red Rooster's location.
The yellow-horned being looked around for any life forms it could control or have help it. It found a wild beast grazing in a suitable location.
It began to mumble. A moment later, a shining orb, identical to the one it had created, slowly descended toward the beast's head. The orb seemed to settle on the beast's snout and soon permeated into the beast.
The beast moved according to the will of the yellow-horned being and quickly ran toward the Red Rooster. The Red Rooster, having fallen from space and through the clouds, was floating on the surface of the sea. He must have sunk deep into the water and then resurfaced. And then, the Red Rooster began to slowly sink back into the water.
Seeing the situation, the yellow-horned being, in a rush, made the beast run to the Red Rooster's location and then jump almost as if flying from a cliff into the sea.
The beast plunged into the water with a great splash and found the unconscious Red Rooster sinking. It went to him, pushed him up with its nose, and put him on its horns to bring him to the surface. As they reached the surface, it lifted him onto its back and rescued him.
The limp Red Rooster appeared on the beast's back. He seemed unconscious, with no reaction.
The yellow-horned being licked his hooves from a great distance, and a mysterious power slowly began to restore the Red Rooster.
"Thank goodness… it's not too late. I'm sorry, so sorry."
It breathed a sigh of relief, its body drenched in sweat. But it was very happy.
"I'm sorry, Red Rooster… I'm so sorry… Guardian…"
After a long silence, it murmured quietly.
"But you know… don't worry too much. It wasn't a complete destruction."
"A while ago… a seed of hope came to me."
"This time, I will protect them."
It gripped its hooves so tightly that its hands bled.
-----
Many eons passed after that. The Red Rooster, wearing a single tattered cloth, was walking weakly alone on a desolate planet, relying on a faint lantern light to navigate a dark, unfamiliar path.
He didn't even know if the path he was on was the right one. Half-crazed, he panted heavily and muttered.
"This time… I must reach Tarin Forest. I will make it no matter what."
As he approached the deeper darkness, a familiar fear subtly raised its head.
"The bugs… they'll come soon."
"Yes… that time is approaching again. They are definitely coming."
He took off the lantern and the tattered cloth that had been protecting him from the cold and slowly walked into the endless darkness.
MORITARIN 2
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Meanwhile, on a distant planet—Earth—a blue truck loaded with boxes speeds down a quiet, empty road.
The weather is perfect. The sky is a rich shade of blue, and fluffy clouds drift peacefully overhead.
Inside the truck, bouncing along a road that looks long forgotten, sit a father and his young daughter. They're in the middle of a move.
The girl's face, reflected in the window, doesn't look happy. She stares silently at the vast land and endless sky outside. Her expression is full of worry.
After a while, she stops looking out the window, turns to face forward, and bows her head. Her father watches her closely, noticing every little movement. After a moment of hesitation, he gently calls her name.
Dad: Rogi.
Rogi: ...Yeah?
Dad: I'm sorry. I made the decision to move without asking you. I can tell you're upset just by looking at your face. I'm really sorry.
Rogi: Upset?
Dad: Huh?
Rogi: Dad, what does "upset" mean?
Rogi had just turned seven. She didn't know what "upset" meant.
Her father explained it carefully.
After listening, Rogi quietly lowered her head even more. Then suddenly, she remembered the promise she made with her mom. She lifted her head and spoke with a burst of energy.
Rogi: No, Dad! We promised Mom we'd be strong! You, me, and Mom—we're going to live together again, right? So we have to stay strong! We can't just sit around worrying. Remember? I promised Mom I'd help you! You remember that, don't you?
Dad: I do, Rogi. I really need your help. My girl... hmm...
His voice trembled. He paused, overwhelmed by emotion.
Then, holding back tears, he spoke again.
Dad: I need your help more than anything.
Rogi: Don't worry, Dad! I'll help with everything! For Mom, for you!
Dad: Okay. I'll stay strong too. You're amazing, Rogi.
Rogi: Haha! Stay strong, Dad!
Dad: I will. Thank you, sweetheart...
He couldn't hold back his emotions any longer.
He kept driving, quietly.
The blue truck, once just carrying boxes, now carried hope and love.
♦︎ ♦︎ ♦︎ ♦︎ ♦︎
The red chicken was still wandering through the vast ruins.
The only living things here were bugs.
He moved carefully, avoiding them as he headed toward his destination.
When he first came through this place, memories of its former glory were painful. But now, after so much time, his emotions had dried up.
"Where am I? Am I even going the right way?"
"Please... let me reach the Tarin Forest this time..."
He was constantly worried about the bugs.
He couldn't light a fire in the dark—he was afraid they'd find him.
In this shattered land of broken buildings and roads, he used the debris as cover, sneaking through the shadows.
But he didn't know: the bugs had already spotted him. They were following him silently, almost mockingly...
Crack!
A sudden noise startled him.
He screamed and ran.
[Eyes watching him flee in the darkness]
"Tch..."
As he ran, a small, rundown warehouse appeared in the distance.
"A house! It's a house!"
"Thank goodness..."
Exhausted and starving, he rushed toward it.
He searched for an entrance and finally slipped inside.
"Hello...? Is anyone here?"
No answer. Of course not.
There were no people—only bugs.
He shut the door and sighed in relief.
Curled up in the dark, he whispered to himself:
"Ah... it was so cold. I'm starving..."
The warehouse was pitch black.
He stretched his hands forward, inching along carefully.
As time passed, shapes slowly began to emerge in the dim light.
"A lantern! Please, please..."
He spotted a bottle-shaped lantern on a table and prayed it had fuel.
He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up.
"Please... let there be fuel!"
He turned the knob gently.
Creak... click!
He was lucky. There was fuel. A small flame flickered to life.
The darkness faded.
He stared at the lantern, then turned to explore.
"Wow! Yes! Hooray!"
It was a food storage room.
Emergency rations were everywhere.
He tore through the supplies—dried food, honey, and more.
A smile spread across his face.
"Hehehe... I can't believe this! What is all this?"
"Thank you! Haha!"
He gathered the food and checked each box.
Then, by chance, he found something special: a Strawberry Nose Ball—Ina's favorite treat.
"Oh... this?"
"This rare snack... here?"
"Strawberry Nose Ball!"
He hugged it to his chest, thinking of Ina.
"Those beautiful memories with Nia..."
"She loved this so much..."
Coming home to her smile.
Her scent, her warmth... everything he missed. Nia.
[He called Ina "Nia" as a nickname.]
He opened the box to check the condition.
"Hmm... is it safe to eat? Should be okay..."
[The expiration date had long passed—it no longer mattered.]
The sweet scent filled the air.
He took a bite.
"Mmm... amazing! It's fine! So good!"
He devoured the snack, then paused.
"This is too precious. I shouldn't eat it all at once."
He stopped and hugged the box, tears in his eyes.
"Save it... only one when I miss Nia too much. Just one. There's not much left... sob..."
Then he heard it.
Rustling through the ventilation shaft.
Startled, he screamed and flung the snack into the air.
It rained down, landing in the dust.
Now it was dirty—no longer edible.
"I was trying to save it... What is this!!!"
[He trembled, staring at the fallen Strawberry Nose Balls.]
"Hmm... maybe I can still eat it...?"
He was lost in thought.
Only the snack mattered.
While distracted, a shadow crept through the moonlit crack in the door.
It was dangerous—but he didn't notice.
Then he realized: the lantern's light was revealing his location.
"The light! I have to turn it off!"
Just as he rushed toward the lantern, a knock echoed from the door.
Thump, thump
His breath caught in fear.
"It's over... the bugs found me..."
Another knock.
Thump
He trembled.
The latch began to turn. The door creaked open.
He braced himself.
"If it's come to this... I'll face it head-on!"
Creeeak—
The door opened.
A giant bug stood there, blocking the entrance.
It muttered:
"Hmm... Found the red chicken."
"And it smells... delicious."
MORITARIN 3
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The truck that Rogi and her father were in had now reached its destination. It was a shabby village located in an abandoned city.
At the entrance, there was a large wooden sign hanging between two tall stone pillars, with the words "Dotori Village" written in large letters.(Dotori means acorn in Korean, so the village is called Acorn Village.)
Rogi's heart pounded.
"Dotori…? Is this where I'm going to live…?"
She was afraid and worried. She wanted to cry but held back. She couldn't cry when she thought of her mother.
The truck slowly entered the village, and many people were out to greet them at their destination. It was as if everyone in the village had come out.
"Huh? Dad, look…"
The father explained the situation to a startled Rogi.
Dad: Rogi, isn't this amazing?
Rogi: Um… why are all the people out here?
Dad: Well. When Dad was a kid, this was a common sight. Hmm… a long time ago, people in villages lived by helping each other like this. As if everyone was one family.
Rogi: Oh… that's interesting.
Dad: Right?
Rogi: Yeah… but I still don't get it.
Dad: It's a sight you couldn't see in our old neighborhood, right?
Rogi: Yeah.
Dad: Hahaha, this is what a true world of people living together is like.
Rogi: Hmm… I see…
Rogi's mind became even more complicated. The villagers' overly friendly behavior suddenly scared her. The little girl no longer knew what to do.
When the truck came to a complete stop and the engine was turned off, the father quickly got out of the car. He exchanged warm greetings and conversations with the unfamiliar villagers.
Rogi felt as if her thoughts were paralyzed. 'Should I get out or not…'
With a deep sigh, Rogi slowly decided to get out of the car. But an even more surprising sight unfolded before her eyes.
The villagers voluntarily gathered around the truck, orderly taking down the luggage and sharing the load to move it to the house where Rogi would live.
Rogi was wondering what was happening. A few people made eye contact with Rogi but didn't give her much attention. [It was the adults' consideration, knowing the young child would be surprised.]
A flustered Rogi constantly looked at her father, but he also seemed too busy to notice.
Rogi, who felt alienated in the endless swamp of her thoughts, decided to give up on everything. She leaned against a nearby wall and thought to herself.
"Sigh... Mom… I wonder if I can do well…"
Thinking about her mother made her feel like crying. Just then, a girl her age, walking confidently, approached Rogi with a smaller child who looked like her younger sibling.
The girl approached Rogi without hesitation, took her arm, and greeted her warmly.
Pie: Hi, Rogi! Nice to meet you. I'm Pie. And this is Eti.
Eti: Hi, Big Sis Rogi! I'm Eti.
Rogi: Huh? How do you know my name…? Hehe.
[She gave an awkward laugh.]
Pie held Rogi's hand and went up to Rogi's father, greeting him loudly. [The village was very messy and noisy at the moment.]
Pie: Hi, Mister!
Dad: Oh! Hi? I'm Rogi's dad. Rogi and I moved here today. Nice to meet you. Who are you two?
Rogi's dad and the village kids had their first greeting. Rogi had many thoughts at that moment too.
Dad: Nice to meet you. Please be good friends with our Rogi from now on.
Pie: Yes, Mister!
After talking to Rogi's father for a moment, Pie said they would go to the study room with Rogi. The father picked up another box and said.
Dad: Then, I'll leave her to you.
With that, Pie took Rogi's hand and started walking toward the study room. Rogi, as if being led, followed her and said goodbye to her dad.
"Dad, I'm leaving~"
But her dad was already busy.
Rogi, Pie, and Eti walked toward the study room. They started talking, asking each other various things.
Suddenly, a big boy their age walked out of a small alley. His name was Leo. He was a friend of Pie's.
Leo: Hi, Rogi~ I'm Leo.
Rogi: Hehe… you know my name too… This place is weird~
Leo: Haha… but where's Dabi?
Rogi: Huh? Dabi? What is that? Who is that?
Pie answered.
Pie: That idiot, he must be watching cartoons, so we came instead. And sure enough, he didn't come out. Of course.
Eti: She called him an idiot, hehehe.
Leo: Oh, I see. But… I'm so hungry. Have you guys eaten yet?
Pie: No, we're going to eat at the study room too.
Eti: Yeah!
Rogi: Huh? You eat at the study room?
Pie: Yeah! When we go to the study room, the teacher makes us delicious food~
Leo: It's the most delicious in the world~
Pie: Haha, you're right.
Eti: I want to eat at the study room every day.
Leo: Me too!
Rogi thought to herself, 'What is this place…?'