Rashid Belkalem thought. He believed that there were no gods in this world. If there had been a god, a wretched world like this would never have been created in the first place.
A grotesque world overrun by monsters and lesser monsters. No matter how much one might cry out to the gods in this world, they would never come to save us.
Here, someone might say that in such perilous times, we must unite under the name of God and fight.
In reality, when Rashid was back in his hometown, a man approached him with a similar proposition. He was the leader of a group of child soldiers who had recognized Rashid’s talents.
But Rashid refused outright. There was no god in this world. There was no need to fight for a god. That’s why he left North Africa, wandered across Europe, and eventually ended up in Korea.
There were many events leading up to Rashid’s arrival in Korea. Back in his hometown, he was shunned for not believing in a god. In Europe, he suffered countless humiliations for being a refugee.
It didn’t end there. Even the refugee comrades he had trusted and lived alongside betrayed him. He was unjustly accused of something strange.
He left his homeland to be free from the shackles of a god, but the place he arrived at turned out to be an even worse hell.
It was then that Rashid realized the truth: it wasn’t monsters and lesser monsters that made this world grotesque—it was the people.
Rashid does not believe in gods, nor does he trust others. The only thing he believes in in this world is his only family member: Nelly.
Nelly, who was Rashid’s pillar of strength, always stayed by his side no matter what. Even on the arduous escape routes and through the impoverished life in Europe, the small child never cried or complained. She silently followed her older brother.
Why should a child like her have to endure such hardship? That’s when Rashid swore that he would do anything for Nelly. Not only would he provide food, but if she wanted to go to school or the hospital, he would fulfill any wish.
If Nelly were to be in even the slightest bit of danger, Rashid vowed he would rush to protect her.
This was also the sole reason Rashid chose to live in this world.
KOOOOOOOOONG—!
And now.
Rashid was plunging into hell yet again for the sole purpose of protecting his little sister, but this time, it was not a place of people—it was a place teeming with lesser monsters.
He had to save Nelly from within it.
—Groooarrrr…
Countless lesser monsters blocked Rashid’s path. They bared their sharp teeth, ready to tear him apart at any moment.
BOOM—!
But to Rashid, these were merely common earthworms. With ease, he trampled the lesser monsters underfoot and advanced forward.
CRUNCH—!
If more lesser monsters charged at him, he would punch and crush their heads.
No special weapon was needed to repel the enemy. Rashid’s body alone was more flexible than any sword and more destructive than any blunt weapon.
His body was the weapon itself.
—KUUUUUUUGHHH!
No matter how many dozens or hundreds of lesser monsters swarmed him, it was all futile. With one swing of Rashid’s arm, the monsters were obliterated.
Rashid was like a walking tank.
BOOM—!
BOOM—!
However, the issue was the artillery fire that was now audible. While he might be able to handle the lesser monsters, there was no way Rashid could withstand the barrage of artillery fire.
BOOM—!
No one could predict when, where, or at what point a shell would fly. The next barrage could hit Rashid’s home at any moment.
“…”
There was no time to hesitate. He had to find Nelly before the shelling reached the center of the neighborhood.
Rashid decided to increase his speed.
—GROOOARRRR…
“You. Get out of the way.”
Rashid dispatched the lesser monsters in his path and headed towards the direction of his house.
Fortunately, the fewer the number of monsters got as he approached the center of the neighborhood. Most of the lesser monsters were concentrated on the outskirts of the area.
BOOM—!
HUUDDUUDDUUK—!
Just then, shells flew over nearby buildings. Given their age, the buildings crumbled like sandcastles.
KOOOOOOOOONG—!
It didn’t stop there. The shocks caused nearby buildings to begin collapsing one by one, like dominoes.
Rashid hurried toward his house before things got worse.
CHILCK—!
Thankfully, Rashid’s house was intact. The entrance was still there, and the living room looked just the same as always.
“Nelly. Nelly.”
But the most important person, Nelly, wasn’t there. It wasn’t her day to go to daycare, and it was the time when she should have been at home.
“…”
Could she have evacuated somewhere else upon hearing the sound of the shelling? But it would be dangerous for her to go alone. Moreover, weren’t the lesser monsters lurking nearby? Practically, there was nowhere for Nelly to escape to.
Unless someone had helped her.
“Uh-oh. It’s big brother.”
That’s when it happened.
Behind Rashid came the voice of a child.
“When did you come back? What about school?”
It was right outside. There, he spotted Nelly with a large duffel bag slung over her shoulder. That bag was the same one they had used during their flight in the past.
And…
“Nelly. That is…”
To its side was a large spoon, floating in mid-air near Nelly.
Rashid had seen this spoon a few times before. There was no way anyone from Han-yul Military Academy’s Combat Division would fail to recognize that spoon.
It belonged to Shin Yoon-seong.
“Spoon. Why is it. Here?”
It was exactly what Rashid was wondering. Why was the spoon here? This wasn’t the school—it was the neighborhood where Rashid lived.
There was no reason for Shin Yoon-seong to appear here.
KABOOOOOM—!
While he was lost in thought, another artillery blast sounded, louder than before. The ceiling shook from the explosion.
“Big brother!”
Nelly cried out urgently.
“We don’t have time for this! We need to get out of here quickly! Another shell is coming this way soon!”
“What…?”
Rashid blinked, startled. Artillery fire was about to hit this place? How did Nelly know that?
“Look at this!”
To answer his question, Nelly pointed to the spoon.
“It showed me!”
Specifically, the tip of the spoon. A holographic image made of blue particles was being projected, a map showing their neighborhood.
And more than that, it detailed the exact shelling coordinates and locations where the lesser monsters were concentrated.
It was like an advanced navigation system.
“…”
That’s why Nelly hadn’t panicked during the attack. The spoon had been her guide, allowing her to stay safe.
The spoon had led her to safety.
“Why.”
Rashid couldn’t comprehend. Shin Yoon-seong seemed to be continuously circling around his life. Was all of this really just because of a training evaluation? To be in the same team with Rashid?
Or was there something else entirely behind all this?
KABOOOOOOM—!
“AAAAH…!”
But now was not the time for such thoughts. Just as forewarned, a shell was about to hit this area soon.
To protect Nelly, they had to move quickly.
“Use. This.”
Rashid took off the helmet he was wearing and placed it on Nelly’s head.
Nelly wrinkled her nose.
“Ew. It smells strange. And it’s too loose. It doesn’t fit me.”
“Still. Use it.”
Just as Rashid was about to step out with Nelly in his arms.
ZOOOOOOSH—!
Unexpectedly, the spoon flew in front of Rashid and then zoomed ahead, wriggling in the air.
It was a signal—a sign for them to follow.
“…”
It was true. The spoon knew the way. If they followed its direction, they could likely escape safely.
But,
Could he really trust it?
Could Rashid trust Shin Yoon-seong enough to risk his life?
He was still uncertain. After all, Rashid was a man who didn’t trust either people or gods.
He couldn’t blindly follow someone. And he couldn’t risk being betrayed again.
KABOOOOOM—!
“Nelly! Hurry!”
“…”
Nevertheless, there was Nelly in his arms. He couldn’t let her be put in danger because of his stubbornness.
This was all for Nelly. Rashid ultimately decided to follow the spoon.
THUMP—!
“EEEEK…!”
Rashid took off at a powerful pace. Nelly let out a scream from the enormous speed, like a child on a roller coaster.
ZOOOOOSH—!
The spoon began to lead the way as well, keeping pace with Rashid’s speed.
KABOOOOOM—!
Soon enough, they could see a shell fall right on top of Rashid’s house.
At least the only thing lost was the house—there were no valuables inside to miss. Rashid didn’t feel particularly regretful about it.
Right now, survival was the priority.
BOOM—!
BOOM—!
It seemed like the artillery attack on the area had begun in earnest. The massive sounds of artillery fire rang out multiple times. Between them, the cries of lesser monsters could also be heard.
THUMP! THUMP!
But the path Rashid was taking was different. There were no artillery strikes or lesser monsters here. They only had to follow the spoon’s direction.
“This spoon is so cool! It’s like a magic broomstick, right?”
“…”
Rashid thought the same. It was indeed a fascinating object no matter how many times he saw it.
Not only did it stretch and contract like rubber, but it could also fly in the air. It even projected images. The spoon performed all sorts of strange tricks despite being, well, a spoon.
It was an unpredictable weapon, much like its owner.
—Team Leader! There’s someone coming! That giant we saw earlier!
While mindlessly following the spoon, Rashid started noticing people around him. They had already escaped the neighborhood.
And then,
THUD—!
In the distance, Rashid spotted the spoon’s owner.
Just as expected, it was indeed Shin Yoon-seong. He pulled the spoon, hovering in the air, back into his hand.
“…”
If that had been an ordinary weapon, it might have been a magnificent scene. But alas, it was a spoon, which ruined the effect.
Honestly, the sight was somewhat ridiculous—at least to Rashid.
“Wow! It’s the big brother who bought me pork belly! That’s the guy controlling the spoon?”
Nelly, however, saw it differently. Her eyes sparkled as though she’d encountered a magical girl from a kids’ cartoon as she gazed at Shin Yoon-seong.
“He’s so cool!”
Seemed like Nelly was just an ordinary child after all.
