陶醉的妻子

Billy's wide and friendly smile looked very different in the eyes of those two guards.

They stared at Billy as if he was reversing the mocking and insults they had previously uttered.

"G-good afternoon, sir," one of the guards, a lean man with a dark face, returned Billy's greeting. His name is Silas.

Billy snorted then laughed. "How are you? Enjoying your time?"

Billy went on to tease them. Another guard was a man in his forties. He was stocky because he rarely did anything that required him to work hard. His name is Rudy.

Rudy tightened his jaw. He looked at Billy with a very clear hatred.

He even grabbed the butt of the rifle in his lap. A rifle he used to use to scare people and show his power in this place.

The movement was most likely done by reflex. His subconscious ordered him to shoot Billy in the head.

Billy and Erend of course saw the movement. But they weren't as scared as before.

"Has anything interesting happened recently?" Billy asked. Seemed to ignore the look on their faces and eyes.

"Nothing happened," Silas said. Then after trying hard, he managed to get the word out: "Sir."

Suddenly, Erend asked while looking at them. "Are you taking good care of our family?"

In the past, there was an incident where Erend's younger sister was almost sexually harassed by the two of them.

Hearing Erend's voice, and seeing his eyes staring at them over Billy's shoulder, the two guards froze.

A strange chill ran down their spine. Like an invisible terror ready to devour them at any moment.

All of that came from Erend's voice and the look in his eyes.

Rudy and Silas also caught a glimpse of the yellowish glint and vertical pupils in Erend's eyes.

But it lasted for such a split second that they assumed it was just something in their imagination.

After swallowing his saliva, Rudy answered. "O-of course, sir. We're taking good care of everyone here."

Erend leans closer so that his face becomes clearer in their eyes.

"Are you sure?" Erend asked.

"Y-yes!" They both answered at the same time.

Billy chuckled at their behavior which looked scared.

When now they no longer have the same power, the two guards just look like two losers waiting in a shoddy guard post.

Billy drove the car past the fence. And finally, they entered the Slum area.

An area that is in the shadow of a beautiful and clean city.

Like what a shadow is supposed to be, this place fills the picture well.

The city area is an area that is clean, modern, and pleasing to the eye. While Slum is an area where houses almost collapsed because there was no money for renovations.

Children play in shabby clothes that have been worn for days. Scavenging for toys discarded by children in the city area.

The ground is muddy because of the heavy rain. Large puddles of water can be seen at several points.

The puddle looked dirty and was definitely mixed with chicken or dog droppings. Maybe human feces too.

Erend and Billy parked in a corner near a rusty iron fence. That's the only place that still has solid cemented ground.

They both got out of the car and walked deeper into the Slum.

"Erend! Billy!"

"It's Erend and Billy! Our heroes!"

"Heroes!"

Several small children who were playing immediately greeted them with enthusiasm when they saw them coming.

"Yeah, kids! Your heroes have arrived! Hahaha!" Billy laughed and prided himself on the kids.

He looked like a cult leader who was welcoming his followers' praises.

Even now the children were circling Billy laughing and shouting his name.

Erend just watched from a distance and smiled. Those kids' behavior was really cute.

These kids have a long future ahead of them. But that future is already determined.

Either they will be working hard until their bodies disintegrate, or become criminals because they have no other choice.

Erend used to think that his life would also be like that. But who knew that things would turn out like this?

Fate sometimes likes to play with humans and lead them in unexpected directions.

"Erend is a hero too!" one of the small children who saw Erend pointing at him.

But before they swarmed him and made him look like a cult leader like Billy, Erend had already waved and was about to leave.

"A-Ah, I have to hurry home. You guys just play with Billy!"

After saying that Erend ran towards his house. Leaving Billy with the kids.

Erend's house is located on the west end. A house made of wood and plywood installed in such a way.

The house is fragile and provides only minimal protection. Just like all the houses in Slum.

As Erend walked closer, he saw his younger sister who had just come out of the public bathroom.

A gray towel hung around her sister's neck. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail and looked slightly wet.

She was tall and looked thin. His sister was wearing a plain white shirt and jeans that were previously long, but had been cut to the knees. A small bucket of toiletries was in her hand.

Her face is almost similar to Erend's. Thick eyebrows, sharp nose, and firm eyes.

With that facial feature, her sister looks like she has a firm beauty.

His sister's name is Artemisia. But most people call her Arty.

"O-Oh, you're back," his sister said.

She tried to make her face as flat as possible.

It was as if Erend, who came back from the battlefield and everything he had been through and had returned home, was no big deal.

But Erend understands his little sister very well. When she was little, Arty was a spoiled child to Erend and their mother.

But since Erend left and rarely came home, Arty felt that she had to be strong for their mother.

So she didn't let her emotions be too obvious.

"I'm home," Erend said with a smile.

~~~