When Haruto awoke, he was met by the familiar cave ceiling he had grown accustomed to seeing. Standing from the bed, Haruto almost fell back down. His bones felt brittle, and a mind-crushing hunger pang was emanating not from his stomach but almost like a mental hunger. This mental pain obstructed his thoughts and memory. Hobbling from the room, Haruto wandered around aimlessly. What happened. 

In his study, Thomas was relieved to see Haruto was up. So he hurried to Haruto’s side, “Young master, you are awake. This is good. Very very good.”

Haruto yawned as he scratched his head, “What happened? Where’s the old man? Fumiko? Kentaro?”

Thomas shook his head as he mumbled, “Gone… I don’t know if they survived.”

Haruto stopped yawning, “Survived?”

Catching his blunder, Thomas’s eyes began to avoid Haruto’s gaze.

Haruto tilted his head in confusion. What would they need to survive? And why is two-face here being so... What's the word caring? “Thomas. What happened.” 

Thomas tried to whistle, but his currently decayed face was incapable of such a feat.

Haruto grabbed the suspicious Thomas roughly, “We both know it's not good to keep secrets. So. What. Happened.”

Thomas allowed himself to be pulled in but hesitated to speak. Oh, I hate to admit it. But I know you are just a child. Not some all-knowing eccentric being. I know even with your unbelievable strength. You are ignorant of the world and her misery. Most of all, I hate to admit that I don’t want to be the one who unveils it. This is why being mortal is not worth the pain. “Let us discuss this another time…”

Haruto, confused, became filled with dread. Why would Thomas not know? He must know something or is hiding something. “Did you... Did you kill them?”

Thomas rolled his decrepit eyes. Yet neither confirmed nor denied, “Those mortals are too weak for my concern. Whether they are in their prime or injured. It makes no difference to me. I only kill those who get in my way.”

“Liar.” Haruto knew Thomas was not one to hold back. If he did, he simply did it so Haruto wouldn’t intervene. After I lost to the old man, something must have happened. He must have killed them.

Thomas tried to focus Haruto on the current issue, “As I have said, I have brought no injury upon them. Let us discuss this another time. Danger is afoot.” 

Haruto chuckled, seeing that Thomas was trying to change the subject. Ah, they must have chased him out. “Oh, now that makes sense. You just want me to protect you. Still, I want to return to the village first.”

Thomas, hearing this, sighed and cryptically dissuaded, “That would be unnecessary.”

Haruto smacked his lips in frustration, “What do you mean? Come on. You might not like those three, but Leonard is under your protection.”

Thomas went silent. After some deliberation, he continued, “Leonard is not in the village.”

“What? Where’d he go,” Haruto was growing more and more confused by Thomas’s beat around the bush tactics.

Thomas immediately calmed him down, “Do not worry about Leonard. He is safe with us in the cave.” 

“Good. But why is he here? What about his bar? Did that stupid pigman evict him?” Haruto stared at Thomas as he got himself riled up. How dare the lard king disrespect a proud follower of Rem. I shall roast him over an open fire. Apple and all. Subconsciously Haruto licked his lips, thinking of consuming the lard man.

Thomas cut Haruto off, no longer wishing to keep lying and lying only for more questions to come. So he spoke the truth, “It’s gone. It’s all gone.” 

“Gone?” Haruto got a bad feeling in his gut. Sharp pain in his head started to clear up the disorder.

After some silence, Thomas complimented Haruto, “Your. Uhm. Your battle with the mortal was truly epic, young master. I have not seen such sword work in my entire life.” 

Haruto smirked, but the bad feeling was still present. “Yes, I had a lot of fun. Almost as much fun as when I fought the final boss in HOD on hell mode." Though I don't remember using a sword...

Thomas nodded though he didn't know what HOD was, “I’m glad you had fun…”

Haruto stopped smiling, “Why is the village gone, Thomas?”

In a rare instance, Thomas placed his hand on Haruto’s shoulder, “ You come from a world of peace. For that, I am envious yet fortunate. In this world, Haruto. Not everyone is equal. Death is the only equality that binds all mortals. The gods, for all their hubris, created weak mortals unable to survive simple changes.”

“No!” Haruto grabbed his head as blurry memories arose that pieced together a tragedy of his own creation. Remembering, he stuttered in dismay, "This... this is all my fault."

Thomas refuted, "Why should you be at fault? Does a dragon feel pity when a mountain crumbles from its roar? Does a lion shed a tear when killing its prey? If those mortals want to blame anyone. They should blame their gods. They prayed to them, worshiped them, and feared them. For what? In their time of need, no rescue or protection came."

Haruto slapped Thomas’s hand away in anger, “The gods? It was not them who killed those people. It was me and my stupidity. How could I not know better? This isn’t a video game. Why did I not think to battle elsewhere? Fuck! Why didn't the old man put a stop to it?”

Tears ran down Haruto’s face, “What of the villagers? The children?”

Thomas merely remained silent.

Haruto became hysterical as a maelstrom of emotions flooded him, “No! No! No! I wanted to start over. I wanted to become a true man. Not a mass murderer. AH fuck fuck fuck” 

Thomas tried reaching for him again, “Taking a life, even one as insignificant theirs, may feel like a burden. But those lowly mortals should feel honored dying to one such as yourself.”

The volatile Haruto glared at Thomas, “You know. I almost forgot. I almost forgot you were a monster. You have long lost your humanity, but I’m still human. I can't just shrug my shoulders and carry on. That’s one of many differences between us.”

Thomas couldn’t argue with Haruto's harsh yet precise statement. He cared little for the lives of mortals nor their wellbeing. He couldn't afford to. This was a necessity. Once Haruto understood that he would be free of his shackles, he would be dragged down if not. At least for Thomas, such reasoning was sound. “We are more alike than you can imagine. We both have long since transcended such things as mortal or human. The only difference is that I have accepted my new position. Right now, you must accept that those mortals are as similar to you as lizards to a dragon. Your roots may be the same, but your values are unequal. The more you lower yourself to their level. The lower they will take you, trust me. I'm saying this as a friend.”

Haruto spat in disgust, “No, you are wrong. I’m human. As a monster, I don't expect you to understand. You are unable to have such feelings, but do not rob me of mine. You are uncaring. Conniving. Wicked. Heartless. You are incapable of compassion, so you try to bring others down with you.” 

For a second, Thomas lost his composure, “Human? What human heals overnight? I have never seen any mortal heal such extensive wounds in one night without the use of magic or potions. What human traverses the cosmos using only their body? Me a monster? At least I’m from here. I have lived here. I have died here. But, you. You are more of a monster. Having an unnatural body, an unknown origin, and strange powers. Those villagers saw you as a demon. The nobles saw you as a subhuman. I’m the only one who has treated you otherwise.” Quickly Thomas calmed himself down, “Now let us discuss this another time. More dire matters need our attention.”

Haruto, however, was done talking and cared not for whatever trouble this monster found himself in. “You have finally shown your true colors. Well, I don’t care whatever mess you’ve gotten yourself into, I’m leaving…”

“Wait...” Thomas tried to walk towards Haruto, but a fist blasted him back into a wall. 

“I’m leaving.” With a myriad of emotions, primarily self-loathing, Haruto left the cave, disappearing into the forest.

Watching Haruto leave, Thomas could only sigh in resignation. He will understand eventually. It took me 100 years to accept my change. Looking back into his study, an orb showed a worrying image. Slowly his face hardened. Now was not the time for this. He had to worry about the survival of his creations and home first.