Woah... I'm... at a loss for words.

I looked down, scratching my cheek awkwardly. "Sorry... I didn't know your past was like that, and I ended up reopening old wounds."

"It's nothing, just an old story. Although it's a shame that I still haven't been able to meet my father. And now I can't bother Lavenia anymore. But at least, a monster like me can survive until now with some use," he said, sounding nonchalant while drinking tea.

I don't understand... How can he not show it and act like it's nothing?

Out of habit, I stood up and approached him, then hugged him.

"What are you doing?" Damarius looked up at me.

"Let me hug you for a moment. Maybe it will help, even just a little. Usually, I hug my brother when he feels down or sad in my world."

Damarius stared at me for a moment, then broke eye contact. He looked down and rested his head.

"It's not your fault, and I'm certain that your father wouldn't blame you either. You are not a monster, so stop calling yourself that. That's just really sad."

Sigh... I'm not really sure if what I'm thinking is right. But it's pretty clear from the story and the way he tells it that none of this is his fault, and it's definitely not because he's a monster.

Hearing the story of when his mother was dying, he did everything he could to help her, showing how much he loved her and feared losing her.

After she passed away, he lost his voice, which I heard can be a form of trauma.

Then when he separated from his father, he still thought about and obeyed his father's words. He doesn't know if his father is still alive or not, but he is still looking for his father and also thinking about how his father feels about him.

He was even verbally and physically bullied just because of a coincidence that could happen at any time. But he did not retaliate or hold grudges against the children but was understanding with the children.

Those things are not things that monsters can do. Monsters have no feelings, only anger.

"Ugh... How can you call yourself a monster so casually? It's not cool. You should blame the fate that got you into this mess instead of blaming yourself."

Damarius didn't say anything and stayed still.

Not long after, he raised his arms and hugged me slowly.

He showed no expression, but I could sense his hands, which were hugging my waist, trembling.

Ah... I see... Now I understand. It turns out he just had difficulty expressing the feelings inside him.

"Ugh! What should I do with you..."

He was silent for a moment, then let go of his hug, making me do the same.

"What?" He looked at me questioningly.

"This memory will make me even more attached to you. And this has the potential to become one of my obstacles."

He looked at me with an expression as if I was strange. "What obstacle?"

"Sigh... If I had the chance to return to my world, it seems I would hesitate to leave you before you solve your problems." I pulled my chair next to Damarius, then sat down, putting my head on the table.

I noticed Damarius had this kind of glazed look in his eyes while he was staring at me. "Your name..."

"Huh?"

"Your real name..."

I was silent, digesting his question.

"Ah! My real name?"

He nodded.

"My name is Melina."

"Melina..." He pondered for a moment. "Do you... Miss your family?"

"Of course. I spent many years with them. My family consists of 4 people, father, mother, older brother, and me. My house is always full of laughter. And it's because my father and older brother always fight over trivial things. I mean, fighting in a joking aspect. Meanwhile, my mother always monitors so that our jokes don't go too far."

"Sounds harmonious."

"Yup! I'm always grateful to have a family like them, especially my brother. Even though we often fight, he's the first to step forward if I get into trouble."

Damarius tilted his head, looking at me with interest. "What's your brother like?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Why do you want to know?"

"Just want."

...what kind of answer is that?

"Well, I could say my brother is the best sibling and best friend that I've ever had."

"I see... You don't have any friends." Damarius's remark irked me.

I straightened my body while snorting in annoyance. "I have! I said my brother was my best friend, not my only friend and best friend!"

He smirked slightly. "yes, I'm sure you have," he said mockingly.

"Ugh! The main thing is, that he is the best brother I have ever had. Even though he looks like a punk and is annoyingly very popular, he is humorous, patient, understanding, and can be relied on. Well... If I were given the chance to talk to one person before dying, I would choose him. But ha... let alone talk, I didn't even greet him the last time we met." I sighed and thought about what kind of reaction he would give when he found out I died.

Hm... Maybe laughing while being sad? I guess? That's likely tho.

"I'm not sure..."

"Huh?"

"Even though I want to help you, I'm not sure I can. Connecting to a world unknown and far from human knowledge is not an easy thing. The research and experiments could take years or even hundreds of years."

"Huh?" I'm laughing. "Of course, I'm not talking like that to ask you to make it happen. I'm not so obnoxious as to expect a kid your age to do the impossible. I also have common sense, you know?"

He rubbed the crook of his neck. "Sorry. But if I find a way or a clue from my father after we meet, I'll do what I can. I mean... if there is a chance, I will try to get you back to your world." he said with determination.

I was a little touched and reflexively patted his head gently. "I got it. Thank you for having such intentions."

I noticed the lost look in his eyes. He said, "I'm older."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Lavenia is the younger one. I'm in my 20s. Anyways, it's very late. I want to sleep."

Damarius raised his hand and was about to snap his fingers. But before it happened, I held his hand. "Do you want to use teleportation to a location less than 500 meters away?"

He looked at me as if I was the odd one out there.

"Sigh... You have legs to walk with. Stop wasting your magic energy." I stood up and walked ahead to enter the mansion.

But my steps stopped when a voice entered my hearing.

I looked at Damarius with a tense expression. "Darius... Did you hear that?" I whispered.

He paused, then glanced to the right, precisely at a bush.

With slow steps, I approached the origin of the sound. But in the middle, I stopped and chose to hide behind Damarius.

"What are you doing?"

I smiled awkwardly. "The truth is... I don't like ghosts. Ghosts aren't real here, right?"

He laughed. "You're technically dead. So you're a ghost. Are you afraid of yourself?"

"T-that's different! I-I just... don't like being surprised."

Damarius chuckled, then approached the origin of the sound, while I followed from behind.

"Eh?" I was surprised to find someone familiar sitting with his head buried in the folds of his hands.

Damarius patted the top of the guy's head, making him look up. Tears could be seen pooling in the corners of his eyes, making his crystal blue eyes shiny. His nose and cheeks looked red.

I came out from behind Damarius and crouched down to align myself with Vasilius, who was crying profusely. "Brother Valius? What are you doing here? Uh, I mean, why are you crying?"

He hugged me without warning, inevitably making me fall on my butt.

Ouch, my butt... Looks like you like interacting with the ground today.

Ignoring my pain, I hugged Vasilius while patting his back to calm him up.

"What happened, brother?" I asked in as gentle a voice as possible.

He hid his head in the crook of my neck, making me feel his tears dripping freely.

"I- am not." He said with difficulty amidst his sobs.

"Yes, you're not what?"

"Melina..." He raised his head and looked straight into my eyes. "This- is me."

"...huh?" I looked at him, confused.

Of course, he is himself. If not him, who else? Wait... Melina?

"Don't you ge-t it?"

"Yes, I don't. Try explaining slowly." I looked at Damarius. "Da- Brother Darius, can you get a glass of water for Brother Valius?"

He opened his palm, and a glass of water appeared. He handed it to Vasilius, who accepted it and gulped it down slowly.

Vasilius put his glass down. He took a deep breath and looked back at me. "Me. Ellio. Don't you recognize me?"

I widened my eyes. Hesitantly, I opened my mouth. "Brother... Lio?"

He smiled wistfully. "Yes. That's me. Your one and only brother, Eli. "