♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
[Thud, thud]
Is it an explosion? The ground trembles along with an unknown sound. Has the explosion still not stopped?
No. In an unknown grassy field, EAT lies collapsed. The sound of something massive approaches him.
It is a gigantic insect—Barak, even larger than Meron, the one EAT had previously defeated. The vibration in the ground grows closer and closer.
[Thud, thud]
The giant Barak finds EAT, lifts him easily with one hand, and begins moving toward the dark forest.
[Wobble, wobble]
Three smaller Barak follow behind him. They sway their antennae as they move, scanning their surroundings, even seeming to enjoy the flowers and the small insects in the forest.
Their cheerful movement suggests a reason—perhaps they are pleased that they have captured EAT and can finally return to their nest after a long time.
Among them, one Barak continues to scan its surroundings through its antennae—and suddenly detects something from the sky.
A flying Barak, shaped like a bee, appears.
The bee-like Barak shouts toward the group heading into the forest.
"Hey, that's far enough. From here on, I'll take him."
The largest Barak looks down at EAT in its hand, hesitating.
Large Barak: "Ugu? Uguugu, uguugu?"
A smaller Barak nearby begins persuading it.
Small Barak: "Kirik, kiririk~"
Large Barak: "Ugu! Uguugu!"
After understanding the situation, the large Barak extends its arm and prepares to hand EAT over.
At the same time, the flying Barak descends slowly, wearing a strange expression.
"You guys, where's Mond? Why are you wandering around without him? Where is Mond?"
Just as the ground-type Barak are about to answer, Mond appears in the distance, leaning on a staff.
Injured and disheveled, he slowly approaches.
Mond: "Dod! Looking for me?"
Dod: "Huh? Mond, what happened to you?"
Mond: [heavy breathing] "I'm exhausted... I can't explain it..."
Mond flicks his antennae. Dod immediately understands and extends his own antennae toward him.
[Barak are capable of transmitting vast amounts of information rapidly through their antennae.]
After receiving all the information, Dod looks at Mond with pity.
Dod: "Meron got taken down?"
Mond: "Yeah... not completely gone, though."
Dod: "I see... hmm..." [thinking]
Dod: "Alright. Just this once, do as you wish. I'll hand him over."
Mond: "Thanks. I'll repay you later with a jar of honey."
Immediately, Mond signals his subordinates.
His eyes begin to glow, and with a brief movement of his antennae, the Barak respond instantly.
The large Barak places EAT on the ground, and the smaller ones rush toward him.
EAT barely regains consciousness from the impact. His mind is still hazy, as if covered in fog.
Looking around with unfocused eyes, he suddenly sees the Barak rushing toward him like starving beasts.
"Ghk!"
Mond's subordinates surround the fallen EAT and begin trampling him mercilessly, crushing and violating his body without hesitation.
Watching this brutal scene, Dod and Mond burst into crude, vicious laughter, as if they are completely satisfied.
EAT struggles in pain, but the overwhelming force soon consumes him, and he loses consciousness again.
Only then does Mond signal them to stop.
The Barak step back, catching their breath.
After the storm has passed, EAT lies once again on the cold grass, thrown aside just like before.
...A calm and silent night.
Bright moonlight spreads across the world, painting everything in silver.
Above it, countless stars pour down as if spilling across the sky, no different from the night before.
♢ ♢ ♢ ♢ ♢
One by one, children enter the room.
Soft pink curtains gently filter the sunlight, and a fragrant floral scent fills the air, calming the mind.
On the floor, a yellow mat is covered by a brown-patterned carpet, giving off a sense of warmth just by looking at it.
In the center sits a low, round dining table, suitable for sitting on the floor to eat or read.
A small bookshelf holds a variety of books that children would enjoy, neatly arranged.
Flowers placed in a vase add life and freshness to the space.
Though simple, the room is clean, warm, and filled with a gentle fragrance—
a study room so cozy that anyone would feel like lying down to rest the moment they step inside.
After briefly looking around the room, Rogi watches as the teacher brings out various dishes.
Aromatic, high-quality food—something one might expect from a fine restaurant—is placed before her.
Rogi falls into thought once again...
At that moment, the outside becomes very noisy.
From afar, the voices of boys running toward them can be heard.
The children rush in, greeting the teacher loudly and begging for food, saying they are hungry.
The teacher, seeing the children arrive, looks even more pleased and quickly prepares additional dishes.
A particularly loud child, with red hair, a yellow shirt, and light blue shorts, notices Rogi.
"Rogi! Hi~"
Next, a child with curly hair and black-rimmed glasses speaks to her.
"So you're Rogi? You're already here? When did you arrive?"
Finally, a child with yellow hair, wearing something unusual on his left hand and right foot, walks in slowly and greets her.
He also knows Rogi's name.
At this point, Rogi is no longer surprised.
"Oh, hi. I just got here."
"Hehe."
The children eat together, interacting freely with Rogi, and continue talking with the teacher.
Seeing the children chew with their mouths full, the teacher smiles warmly.
Usually, the boys eat about twice as much as the girls—
but Leo eats as much as four times, astonishing Rogi.
Watching him, Rogi begins to think of Leo as an incredible friend.
Before long, the meal ends.
After everything is cleaned up, the teacher and the children gather together in the room and begin listening to Rogi's story.
As time passes and they learn about her situation, the teacher speaks first.
Teacher: "I see... Rogi, your mother is in the hospital because she's unwell?"
Teacher: "And only you and your father moved here first?"
Rogi: "Yes. When my mother recovers, we're going to live here together."
Teacher: "She'll recover soon. Let's all pray together."
Teacher: "And from now on, let's help each other and live well together."
Children: "Yes, teacher~"
Among the children, Eti speaks up.
Eti: "Rogi, after class, we're all going outside to play 'story play.' You should join us~"
Rogi: "Story play? What's that?"
Pai: "It's fun! Come with us and I'll explain~"
Dabi: "Yeah, join us! That means we get one more member~!"
The teacher seems to understand what the children are talking about, but does not interfere.
Yona: "That works out well. Since we have one more person, we should reassign roles and add more to the story."
Leo: "Since we're at the ending part, maybe we can add more next time?"
Yona: "Yeah! Let's do that~"
Eti: "I'm so happy Rogi came!"
Rogi: "Thanks, Eti~"
The children spend a joyful time together in the study room with the teacher.
Lunch time passes, and the weather becomes pleasantly cool.