About the time I was picked up and adopted by Tallulah

Orson asked the timid-looking Liberian boy with short white hair who was hiding behind Sasha.

"Why... Simon didn't resurrect the one he loved?"

"—"

Ino's question made Orson stunned for a moment. After all, even Orson himself couldn't let go of this question.

If a hero who saved the entire universe doesn't even have the right to "act spoiled" a little to save the one he loves, such a world would be too cruel and correct.

But I'm a substitute teacher now. What is a teacher? A teacher is someone who spends half a class deriving a wrong answer and then has to force himself to make it right!

"Ahem, because the love between them is so great. Simon sacrificed Nia for the sake of the world, and Nia understood and accepted this sacrifice. Their feelings are no longer separated by life and death—"

"But what's lost is still lost..."

Ino didn't quite buy Orson's explanation. The skinny boy, who was afraid of everything, still looked melancholy and worried.

"...Okay! We still have some time, so does anyone want to hear the dark, shocking heroic story of Chainsaw Demon and Tairi?"

"Great!"

Orson changed his mindset and tried to liven up the atmosphere among the children, and it seemed to be very effective. Sasha and Ino no longer pondered over their previous confusion, but instead looked forward to Orson telling them new and interesting stories with shining eyes.

——At that time, they were obviously very cute and innocent children.

Orson looked at Sasha and Ino in front of him - that is, Faust Mephistopheles, whose hands were covered with blood in the future, and had an indescribable feeling.

At this moment, Faust Sasha, and Mephistopheles Ino, they were as innocent and naive as a blank sheet of paper, and the only melody Orson could hear was an extremely simple single note.

Maybe... just "maybe"...

Perhaps, my coming into this world is not a "tragedy".

Perhaps there is a god in this world, but it needs to choose an "agent"...

Perhaps, I can change these people's desperate end filled with blood, death, and despair.

In the pure white forest, Orson reached out his hand and gently touched Inona's pure white hair, which was like snowflakes and symbolized purity.

"Yino, I'll give you some extra lessons tonight, starting with the Three Character Classic and the Eight Honors and Eight Shames."

"?"

05. Hot bedtime talk

Night always falls quickly in northern Ursus, and the azure sky is covered by a black curtain, dotted with countless bright stars.

If you don't consider the temperature and difficulty of survival, the North is probably a paradise for star lovers.

Under the Milky Way, accompanied by a wisp of white smoke, a faint flame was born from the wood wool, and then slowly spread, attaching to the firewood that had been piled around it.

The sparks gradually gathered and integrated, turning into a bonfire that could warm the body and dispel the darkness.

"..."

Orson sat aside, staring at the campfire.

"Teacher Orson, what are you daydreaming about?"

Sasha approached Orson curiously and asked.

When Orson first came to "fill in" for Sasha, she was wary and tried to scare him with a bow and arrow. But after all, he was still a child, so it was easy to be wary and trust him. After a while, Sasha had already accepted Orson as a teacher who "could tell all kinds of wonderful stories."

"Oh... nothing, it's just the first time I've seen a real bonfire like this, and it feels quite magical."

"I've never seen a bonfire... Didn't your previous village have one, too?"

Sasha asked curiously, and Ino, who was following behind Sasha, shook his ears with some concern, wanting to hear Orson's answer.

"Well, in the village I live in, everyone only cares about what's necessary for their survival. We don't have the intention of gathering around a campfire to keep warm. After all, the lighting and warmth a campfire provides can be met by a house and a fireplace. But the 'sociality' of a campfire is something we eliminate."

"I see... Then your past must have been pretty boring, Mr. Orson, though—Hmm! Ino?"

Before Sasha could finish her words, she was poked by Ino, who weakly grabbed the corner of Sasha's clothes and shook his head, signaling Sasha not to continue this topic.

It seems that Ino already knows that he is the "last survivor", so he told Sasha not to ask this question.

Alas, she was such an angel when she was little, how come she became like that grandma when she grew up...

Orson sighed and considered adding a few more books on ideological and moral education to the "Yno Good Child Development Plan Book List".

"My past?"

The corpses and distorted faces of countless dead infected people emerged in Orson's mind, and Orson shook his head lightly.

"It was indeed quite boring. What about you guys? Sasha, although you and Ino are of different races, you seem to have a good relationship. Are you friends?"

Orson downplayed those hellish experiences and instead turned the topic over to Sasha.

"Yes...yes! Sasha is, my best friend."

Unlike what was expected, this time it was Ino who took the initiative to answer. Although his tone was still awkward and shy, he was firm.

"What about Sasha? Does she also think that Ino is her good friend?"

"Of course, we won't separate!"

Sasha also announced in a low but serious voice.

"That's great. Since we're friends, Sasha, you must keep a close eye on Ino and don't let him do anything strange."

Orson stretched out his hands and ruffled the hair of both boys at the same time, then gave advice to the future Faust.

"Uh... um, okay?"

Sasha agreed with some confusion. After all, normally, everyone would ask the quieter Ino to take care of the impulsive Sasha.

As time went by, the children had already gone to rest in their tents because they were tired, and the flames of the campfire in the center of the camp gradually dimmed.

As darkness gathered again, Orson suddenly thought of a question: Where should he sleep?

Orson glanced at the tents around him. Naturally, they were all occupied, and it was impossible for him to stick his head in to see if there were any vacancies.

But sleeping outside is not a problem at all. With the temperature in northern Ursus, if you sleep outside for a night, Orson would probably be able to break rocks the next day.

"Brother Orson? You're here. It's so inconspicuous. If it weren't for that chain, it would be really hard to find. Ahahaha!"

Just when Orson was struggling, an infected warrior found Orson.

"what happened?"

"Tallulah asked me to let you know where you'll be sleeping tonight."

"Ohhh! I knew Tachiko-san wouldn't be so heartless...!!"

For a moment, Orson did think that after witnessing Tallulah coming out (physically), he would be thrown outside and frozen to death by her, but it seems that Sister Tallulah was still imagining things.

"Because it's too late and there's no time to set up a new tent, Tallulah arranged for you to share a tent."

"Sharing... the same bed? You mean, two people sleeping together?"

Orson swallowed.

"Yeah, I don't know why Tallulah doesn't seem to have a favorable impression of you, but it wasn't easy for her to make this move. And Frost Star probably wouldn't be happy about it either... Well, anyway, Orson, you're really impressive to encounter something we haven't seen in a long time on your first day here."

The infected guy was talking to himself, while Orson on the other side started jumping around like a deer.

——Should I sleep under the same roof with Froststar or with Tallulah?

----

----

The answer is patriots...

Orson turned over gently, and out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a huge guy sitting on a chair not far away. He looked like a ghost statue, with a terrifying antler helmet on his head. He swallowed silently and turned over to the other side.

"..."

——I can’t sleep at all!!

Next to him is the big boss of the Integration Movement in the game, the living legend, the Shield of Ursus, whose true face no one has ever seen. No matter how brave Orson is, he can't sleep peacefully at this time.

It was not only because of the physical pressure from the opponent, but also because Orson could feel the deep, deafening melody from the Patriot, like a cello.

It’s that feeling again… Is my brain going haywire?

Orson still didn't know what these [melodies] represented, and just wondered if he was stupid.

——Anyway, it’s Eyjafjalla’s turn now!

Just as Orson was about to force himself to sleep, a low voice came out.

"What is your goal, survivor?"

The voice was so low that Orson even thought it was the howling wind and snow. It took him a few seconds to realize that it was the Patriot asking him a question.

"Uh, um...does it count as living?"

Although he didn't know the other party's purpose, Orson could only respond reluctantly.

If I pretend to sleep at this time, I will probably be tied to Daddy's spear and turned into a satellite.

"Yes, but you are different from those who seek survival."

"So, protecting others?"

Orson noticed that the Patriot's speech was still fragmented at this point.

"It's too general to be sustainable. Who should we protect? How should we protect them? Have you answered these questions?"

Orson, who thought it was just a "bedtime chat", was speechless after being asked these questions by the Patriot.

And after all, where do you get the ability and position to protect others?

"Stay alive, survivor. That thing around your neck is not for show."

"……Ok, I know."

This chain and the collar around his neck were proof that Talulah and Froststar could kill him at any time and were on guard.

Target?

I have been in a daze since I came to this world, but now I have to start thinking about this matter.

I always feel that in the haze, a girl once told me to find something worth protecting.

Girl... Dandelion...

A feeling of loss emerged.

"There is one more thing, keep it in mind."

The Patriot's voice interrupted Orson.

"Please guide me, Mr. Patriot!"

Orson was looking forward to seeing what kind of life philosophy this living history of Ursus would provide to a young man like him.

"Don't touch my daughter."

"……Eh?"

06. Go on a mission with Sister Ta

early morning--

People living in the northern part of Ursus are usually not awakened by the sun or the alarm clock during the day, but simply by the cold that can penetrate the bedding.

"Well……"

Orson crawled out of his sleeping bag, letting the familiar tingling sensation wake up every cell in his body that had not yet woken up, while looking around in confusion.

His brain slowly started to heat up, and after a while, Orson came back to his senses. This was no longer the village where he had lived for half a year, but the base of Tallulah and the Gatherers. No wonder he didn't see the bathroom.

That terrifying roommate, the Patriot, had vanished. Perhaps he was worried about Frost Star's actions today and had secretly followed her? However, there was a brand new set of toiletries on the table, which surprised Orson.

It seems that this settlement still trades goods with other surrounding villages, so it is impossible that they have stolen the goods.

After wandering around yesterday, Orson had a general understanding of the settlement. Everyone was infected, gathered here to make a living or to identify with Tallulah's ideals. Unlike the later Reunion period, these infected, while angry, were not frantic.

After washing up, Orson recalled the conversation with the Patriot last night.

The goal of [protecting others] is indeed too empty and unrealistic. If there is no existence that is truly related to oneself, protecting others is just a foolish act without any opinion.