1 -1- [Human]
There are various ways people live their lives.
Some are carefree and enjoying the spring breeze.
Some are cautious and fearful.
Some seem to have a bright future ahead.
Some face hardships and sufferings.
But for a mere two-year-old child, none of these can be realized.
So, how can we describe the way this child lives?
Treading on thin ice?
Fearful and terrified?
At least, in the eyes of others, this is probably how the child should be living.
Of course, a mere two-year-old child can't comprehend the helplessness and hardships of life, even if fate is being incredibly unfair and making them live in such a way.
However, at this moment, this child truly "understands" everything.
The disarray of breath is not due to physical exhaustion.
The blurred consciousness is not because of a withered spirit.
Everything inside is gradually falling apart.
All means are insufficient to sustain this fading existence, and they can't even provide the slightest bit of comfort.
This is everything this child can feel.
Therefore, the child knows.
They are preparing for true "termination."
However, the child doesn't have any feelings about it.
There's no other way.
Long before this, the boy knew that one day he would face this.
It's just that this day has arrived a bit too quickly.
According to the results displayed by the most advanced calculation device, he shouldn't have reached this "stop" for about ten more years.
In other words, this day of facing his fate is not part of the "plan."
But what difference does it make?
"After all, there's no difference between being early or late."
Perhaps, if it were an ordinary person, having an extra ten years of time would undoubtedly create many beautiful memories.
Humans are like that, even knowing they will eventually enter the grave, they still strive to live desperately, just to leave more footprints and meaning in this world.
If I were an ordinary person, I might complain about the unfairness of fate, raging against God, and cursing the divine for taking away these precious ten years.
But even that would be a luxury.
"Even with ten more years, there's nothing I can leave behind."
It's not because of any overly complicated reasons, but simply the pure fact that "I can't take any action."
Like an elderly person running out of life, the boy's body can't support him to do the ordinary things others can do.
Considering this, it's safe to say that even with ten more years, the boy would still be confined to his bed, unable to take a step towards the outside world.
Even if it were just a small step, it wouldn't change anything.
So, why continue to waste time?
This is not self-pity or self-abandonment; the boy has simply come to the conclusion that "I don't want to go on like this."
Therefore, at this moment, the boy is welcoming the ending that should belong to him, without any distractions.
The world keeps turning.
Time keeps passing.
Confusion.
Anxiety.
Fear.
None of it matters to the boy anymore.
He can only feel himself and his deteriorating body.
Gradually, even this awareness begins to fade away.
If measured in time, in a few seconds, the boy's bodily functions will stop.
In other words, he will die.
No, it should be called "passing away prematurely."
This is the boy's fate.
In principle, it shouldn't be something a two-year-old child should be aware of.
There are no means to save this fate in modern times.
Unless... a "miracle."
Could something like that exist in modern times?
The boy thought this way.
In one moment, the boy hadn't even considered it.
In the next instant, he got what he wanted.
"If this is what you lack, and since the gods won't give it to you, then let me give it to you."
When such a voice rang out, the boy's fading spirit couldn't help but freeze.
Because this voice not only directly entered the boy's gradually vanishing consciousness but seemed to reach the depths of his soul and be recognized by it.
It was a voice devoid of any human emotions, calm, detached, and utterly emotionless.
Hearing this voice, the boy could only stare blankly, with no energy left to understand what was happening.
Although the boy, at the age of just two, unbelievably understood everything he was facing, he had at most "knowledge" but not "experience."
Thus, the boy's weakening awareness, unable to recognize even himself, could only voice a question.
"Who are you?"
This was the only thought that occurred to the boy.
And the other party responded.
However, it was no longer the calm, detached voice without any human emotions.
"Me?"
After a short pause, the other party answered in a highly complex tone.
"I am just a 'human'."
For the boy, who regarded the other as a godlike existence, it was surprising to hear them refer to themselves as a mere "human."
And they gave the boy another sentence.
"I hope you can continue to live as an ordinary human being."
This was the last sentence left by the other party for the boy.
At the same time, it was a heartfelt and sincere statement.
This sentence would accompany the boy throughout his life.
Naturally, the voice of the one who spoke these words would greatly influence the boy's future fate.
The boy didn't know any of this, nor did he have the right to refuse any of it.
Now, the boy only knew one thing.
That is...
"Can I... continue to live...?"
This question received a silent answer.
"――――"
A brilliant and dazzling radiance suddenly illuminated the boy's entire world.
"Ah...!"
As he gazed at that radiance, the boy let out a cry.
It was a sound born out of being deeply moved.
His instincts had already understood beforehand.
That light would save him.
With this thought in mind, the boy immersed his consciousness as if he wanted to reach out to that radiance.
And in the end, what the boy saw was one thing.
A ring floating within the light, equally radiant and dazzling as the light itself, yet possessing an ancient, mysterious, and alluring charm.
Finally, the boy could continue to live as a human, obtaining a new life.
Unfortunately, this life would not be as ordinary as the voice's owner had said - it would be anything but ordinary.
