Adam observed the group of children scattered across the vast hall.
Despite their young faces, their wary glances toward him and his companions made it evident they were uneasy.
Sensing their discomfort, Adam took a calming breath and raised his hand in a friendly wave, his lips curving into a reassuring smile.
The children exchanged uncertain looks, their work montarily forgotten.
The 14-year-old girl who had led Adam and his group into the hall noticed the growing tension. Stepping forward, she raised her hand to address the children. "Focus on your tasks," she commanded, her voice firm. "We won’t be staying here for long."
Adam is very surprised to see that this 14 year old girl is commanding all those children and there is an authority and control in her voice.
Adam’s brow furrowed at her words. Turning to her, he asked, "What do you an you won’t be staying here for long? And... what exactly is happening here? Where are your parents?"
The girl hesitated, her expression shifting to one of confusion as she processed his question. She scratched her head, her brows knitting together. "Why are you talking as if you’re not from here?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.
Adam exchanged a quick glance with Ani, who stood silently by his side. Turning back to the girl, he replied, "That’s because I’m not from here. I ca from far away."
The girl’s eyes lingered on him, studying his black outfit and mask. A sudden realization dawned on her. "That explains it," she said, nodding slowly. "You’re the one I saw fighting soldiers in those strange clothes near the middle of the city. If you were from here, you’d never do sothing like that."
Adam’s jaw tightened. Her words raised more questions than they answered, but he needed clarity.
He pressed on, his voice steady but insistent. "I asked you sothing earlier. Where are your parents? And what’s happening in this city?"
The girl’s face darkened at the ntion of parents. Her voice took on a resigned tone as she answered, "If you’ve co from far away, you probably don’t know. All Father has either turned all the adults into soldiers or sent them to factories—weapon factories, to be precise. So gather materials for those weapons in facilities far to the east."
Adam’s eyes widened in surprise. Her words painted a grim picture of the city’s condition. "All... Father?" he asked, a flicker of hope crossing his mind. "Is his na Pratham?"
The girl tilted her head, her confusion deepening. "No," she said firmly. "His na is UV1."
Adam’s confusion mirrored hers, but it was heavier. His thoughts raced, struggling to piece together the fragnts of information. Who was UV1, and what role did he play in this city’s apparent oppression?
Before Adam could formulate another question, Ani, standing close by, took a step toward the girl. "What’s your na?" Ani asked gently. "And why are you here with all these children?"
The girl straightened her posture, her expression shifting to one of pride. She thumped her chest with both hands and declared, "My na is Yuki! I’m three years old, and I’m fulfilling my parents’ last wish."
Adam and Ani exchanged startled looks. "Three years old?" Ani asked, disbelief coloring her tone. "You look like you’re fourteen or fifteen."
Yuki frowned, clearly puzzled by Ani’s reaction. "Fourteen or fifteen?" she repeated. "That’s the age of adults. Here, we beco adults by the ti we’re five. I may be three, but don’t underestimate . I still have two years before I reach adulthood, but my actions speak for themselves. I’m already doing what adults do."
Her words left Adam montarily speechless. The weight of her reality, the responsibility thrust upon soone so young, hit him like a wave.
"But why?" Adam finally asked, his voice heavy with sadness. "What is this cultural system you’re part of? What exactly is this... Cultural Center?"
Yuki’s expression hardened. "The Cultural Center," she began, her voice resolute, "is where..."
Adam listened intently as Yuki brought her hands together, her fingers clasped tightly. Her voice carried a weight that no child should bear.
"In the Cultural Center," she began, her words precise and deliberate, "our free will is removed. All Father’s instructions dominate everything. They force us into roles—either as soldiers or for tasks ant to support soldiers, like manufacturing equipnt. They implant these ideas in our minds until we can’t think freely anymore."
Adam’s fists clenched involuntarily. His jaw tightened as an overwhelming anger surged through him. The idea of such a system, stripping children of their freedom and individuality, was infuriating. Yet he kept his emotions in check, his expression neutral.
Yuki, however, noticed the subtle tension in his body. Her curiosity was piqued.
She tilted her head, her wide eyes studying him. "My father used to say," she began, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and skepticism,
"that one day, soone would co from far away and save us. Can you tell ... what kind of world do you co from? Are there Cultural Centers there too?"
Adam t her gaze, his expression softening. A faint smile played on his lips as he replied, "No, there’s nothing like this where I co from." He paused, letting the truth of his words sink in. "And I believe your father was right."
For a mont, Yuki’s confidence wavered. Her brow furrowed as she tried to process his response. "My mother always said the sa thing," she admitted, a faint tremor in her voice. "But I never gave it much thought. I decided long ago that I would save as many children as I could. That’s what matters now."
Adam’s gaze lingered on her, admiration and sadness mingling in his eyes. This child—this warrior—had shouldered the responsibility of saving others in a broken world.
He spoke again, his voice steady. "So, all the adults... they’re either soldiers or working in factories far away, creating equipnt for soldiers?"
Yuki nodded solemnly.
"And all of this," Adam continued, "these instructions—this system—ca from your All Father?"
Another nod from Yuki, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
Adam leaned forward slightly, his tone sharpening. "Have you ever seen him? UV1?"
The question made Yuki freeze. A shiver ran through her small fra, and her voice lowered, almost to a whisper. "No," she admitted. "If I had seen him... I wouldn’t be alive to tell you about it."
Seeing Yuki’s reaction, Ani and Sona present there get very surprised and they think "Who is this UV1?"
Adam’s eyes widened in surprise. "Why do you say that?"
Her gaze darted around the room, as if she feared the walls themselves might hear her words. "Because he’s incredibly powerful," she said, her voice trembling. "I’ve heard stories. He’s killed people—rebels—just by looking at them."
Adam’s curiosity deepened. He pondered the figure of UV1, the ominous specter ruling over this city. Was he an ordinary man with extraordinary power? Or sothing else entirely?
His thoughts turned inward, to the system embedded within him. Could such a system allow his own creations to turn against him? He closed his eyes, focusing on the ntal interface. "System," he asked silently, can my creations rebel against ?
A faint glow flickered in his mind, and a purple window materialized in his vision.
_____________________________
User’s creations cannot rebel against the user. However, rebellion is possible in subsequent generations of the creations.
_____________________________
The clarity of the ssage both reassured and unsettled him. The potential for future conflict was real, and he needed to prepare for it.
Adam’s mind raced as pieces of a puzzle began to fall into place. Either UV1 had overthrown Pratham and Mikasa to seize control, or sothing even more sinister was at play.
Resolving these questions beca his priority. He resolved to find Pratham and Mikasa, no matter what it took.
Straightening, Adam turned away from Yuki and began walking toward the far end of the chamber.
Yuki is very surprised to see that Adam is going in the other direction.
His group followed, their steps echoing softly in the cavernous space.
The room opened into a vast chamber lit dimly by flickering lights. Shadows danced across the walls as children toiled silently, their small hands busy with tasks far beyond their years.
Adam stopped a short distance away, his eyes scanning the room.
Slowly, he crouched, lowering himself to the ground. Pressing his hand to the cold, rough floor, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, focusing his energy.
Yuki, curious about his actions, took a hesitant step forward.
Before she could approach, a tiny figure zipped through the air, positioning itself between her and Adam. It was Sona, her diminutive stature illuminated faintly in the dim light.
"You must not disturb Lord Adam right now," Sona said firmly, her voice carrying a surprising authority for soone so small.
Yuki stopped in her tracks, her eyes flicking between Sona and Adam. The scene held her in quiet awe as she waited, her questions held tightly within her.
The Chapter ends here with the suspension of Adam and his unnatural action.
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