Chapter 48: Aftermath

A few weeks passed quietly since the incident. Nothing deserving of noteworthy occurred throughout the time.

After that day, regarding the incident, the kids and I were all brought in for questioning by the local guards and Village chief about what had happened and transpired that faithful day.

And of course, we informed them of everything, not holding back any details. We recalled for them how we seemingly set out to find a dog and decided to spread the search just a little past the village confinement and walls. But that, on its own, brought its fair share of scolding and punishment from our parents.

Of course, at the same time, I recounted the death of the little girl, and how I couldn't do anything to save her, from the guards and Leon and the others.

Further investigation was later done into the vast underground tunnel network and the corpses of the culprits and mangled bodies of other children's sacrifices, that of the little girl inclusive, were retrieved and recovered.

Scarface was found dead too. As for the detail, I wasn't sure about it, but the sick bastard was deserving of the faith that befell him.

The corpses of the culprits, Scarface, Shorty, and the black sorcerer were shipped out of the village, for some reason, and in some time, vague news about them being some kind of cult, recently terrorizing the Empire began to spread across the village habitants, as the news of the incident quickly spread around like wildfire upon our return.

Of course, the whole village was also aware of what had happened to us regarding that incident. I was curious, so I tried looking into the underlying details of this incident, but unfortunately couldn't find much. The adults made sure to be very tight-lipped about everything.

But the incident being directly, or indirectly related to a cult's activity wasn't a far cry from what I had deduced myself. Their whole operation and base gave it straight away.

Regarding the investigation done about the underground structure, just as expected, the tunnels used to be a part of an abandoned mine structure left behind many years ago. And as for the chapel, just like much of the other information regarding this whole matter, I couldn't find anything tangible about it.

It was almost like they were trying to hide something.

And as for the other kids we brought back, it took considerable time and effort to get them to respond to anything. Their psychs were completely broken and unfortunately, there was no further information we were able to obtain from them. Other than the information received about them being the last few survivors of over fifteen. And this information was only retrieved along with what remained of the corpses of the unlucky kids.

Whatever those bastards had done to them, they had completely psychologically shattered the children's minds. We also had no leads as to where they came from or who their parents were. As a result, the kids have been kept and accommodated safely by some willing villagers who have also been asked to keep an eye on them for any improvements or the like.

After that day, with the apparent state of the other kids with mental crises and in consideration of all we had gone through, Leon, Trise, Kyke, Lia, Don, and I had to get a psych evaluation with hopes of no long-lasting damage done to our mental and emotional health.

In truth, there was nothing too serious a good amount of time couldn't heal, more or less.

It was a day we would all hope to forget. But it was one I was sure I never would.

One I didn't want to.

As much as I hate to admit, that incident changed my life, in more ways than one. Of course, it changed the lives of all those who were directly involved as victims, but it might be selfish of me to say, but even more so for me.

I've adapted traits I never had before... plagued by depression, and mood swings...and even in certain cases, I lately seem to be hearing the hushed whispers of someone, or something in the back of my head, plaguing me with bleak twisted thoughts and grim ideas.

It was only until later I realized just how much long-lasting damage I had taken mentally. I'm constantly afraid, constantly in fear of... something. I can't seem to settle down and I could only ever imagine the worse. Suddenly, my initial outlook on my second life had been drastically changed. For better or worse, I was only going to find out.

The scars had been deeply engrained in me, and it goes far more than sleepless nights and haunting nightmares. The memory of the final moments belonging to the girl ever remained etched vividly in my memories as a haunting reminder of my grim realization that day.

But it was far much more than just that, even I could tell.

With each passing day, it was like I could feel a part of my mind crumble away.

I was careless and naive. I let it all go into my head and made it all pink and rainbows. I died and was reincarnated in a different world, a supernatural world of magic and fantasy. A first look and it'll be a dream as if getting reincarnated and given a second chance wasn't already enough.

But it wasn't all just black and white, and that incident, the very moment I lay there, helplessly on that altar, made it only painfully clear to me.

This world only mirrors earth and its impurities, perhaps even more so. And with things like magic, monsters, beasts, and black cults, being some of its most prominent characteristics, those impurities are only amplified far more than I could imagine. 

This world was far more dangerous than Earth. A dog eat dog world, something that stole from those who let it. An unforgiving world.

Following the day of the incident, we, all of the kids directly involved, specifically the hero's party had all been grounded at home for the weeks that passed. And that was more than enough time to think about what happened and struggle to hold myself back together.

Every day, I made sure to recall the memories and feelings from the very moment I watched the girl die. It was an emotion I was going to live off of from now and for the days to come.

Regardless of how the whole thing wrapped up, I did let one of the kids die. And if things had gone more wrongly, the one who died instead could have been one of Don's friends or even me.

And since that day, I swore. To get strong enough to hold onto what belonged to me.

"Reo! If you're awake yet, you should come down to wash up. The water is ready...or would you prefer I come there and take care of you like I normally should be?" Layla's voice, like a sonorous bell smoothly resounded gently through the corridor walls of the Bellar household from the ground floor 

"Haha..." Standing in a pool of sweat close to the center of my room, I took a few minutes to reply, slightly struggling to catch my breath and control my heavily heaving chest. My topless body glistened almost eerily in sweat, as I stood partially hunched forward, supporting my full body weight against a wall.

Feeling tension and strain, almost akin to the fibers in my muscles and limbs getting ripped apart, from my very burning body, I clenched my fist tightly.

'Never again!' I thought with a burning determination and rage.

Reaching for a piece of towel nearby, I let out a deep sigh before finally replying to Layla's announcement from below.

"Yeah.... I'll be down there in a minute!"