Life has dealt a heavy hand to a weak demigod like me.

"In that case, you should be thankful that you were in a good mood before. After all, if you are not careful, you might end up like those people who were crushed to death before." Batu smiled.

"You..." Wen Xier's gaze lingered on Batu for a long time, and then he asked seriously, "You weren't really attracted by her words, agreeing with her ideas, and even wanting to join the mutual aid society?"

"Somewhat." Batu's gaze fell on Mernadé who had been lingering on the podium. "Just like you said before, when you were weak, you believed in Taylor's theory, and when you became strong, you opposed his theory."

"We are in a weak state now. Isn't it normal to believe in this doctrine?"

Wen Xier didn't know what to say for a moment.

Although he had accepted some facts, he did not expect Batu to abandon his dignity as a demigod so quickly.

We are somewhat different after all...

Wenxier sighed and stopped looking at Batu, so he didn't notice the complexity in Batu's gaze as he looked towards the podium.

Obviously, they look different, their personalities are different, everything is different.

But why is it that the longer we spend together, the more similar we feel...

Nia...

-

Chapter 343: The Lost God

At night, Batu had a dream, a dream that lasted for a long time.

The end of the Black Fire Age.

The eastern continent, Nosadlin, known as the Kingdom of the Ocean.

This was one of the more prosperous and powerful kingdoms at the end of the Black Fire Age. It was also a paradise for the powerful and wealthy, and a hell for the weak and poor.

There are three classes in the country.

Untouchables, citizens, nobles.

The untouchables were the lowest class in the country, fit only to live in the "Garbage City." Meanwhile, every citizen or noble, by paying a small sum of money to the city's governor, could take the untouchables from the Garbage City or elsewhere as their own slaves.

It sounds humiliating, but for most of the untouchables, becoming citizens and slaves of the nobles above them is what they have always pursued.

Batu was once a lowly pariah of Nosadrin, a pariah who longed to become a slave to a noble lord.

All cities in Nosadlin were divided into two sides by high walls: one side was where the citizens and nobles lived, and the other side was a garbage dump where the untouchables lived. Most of the time, the two sides had no connection.

But under the high walls, there is a passage connecting this area.

In the passage, a small number of untouchables will be allowed to approach.

At the same time, some citizens, nobles or slaves representing them would come here to select new slaves.

For Batu in the past, morning and afternoon were the most important times of the day, as he was allowed to get close to the place and become a slave to great citizens and nobles during these two time periods.

That day, the weather was a little gloomy, and the sun only shone through for a few moments.

He stood straight in the alley as usual, hoping to get a chance to change his fate.

But today, he still didn't get this opportunity.

Batu felt a little disappointed, but he still forced himself to leave before the time he allowed himself to stay here was gone. On his way back, he picked up a wallet.

Looking at the coins placed inside, many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Take the money and find a way to leave the city and go somewhere else, or go to the alley tomorrow and take this opportunity to become a slave to the owner of the wallet.

Batu clearly remembered that a similar thing had happened in the Garbage City.

He hesitated for a moment, then returned to his hut.

"Batu~ Still no results?" A light voice sounded beside his ear, "I don't think becoming a slave is a bright future. You should just settle down here peacefully like me."

"In a few years, we can use the things we have saved to make a small boat and some fishing nets, so that we can fish on the beach. When we make money, we can choose to leave this country and develop in other countries." The girl persuaded Batu for the umpteenth time.

"Don't always call me by my name. Call me brother."

"Also...what you said is simply impossible to do, okay?"

"Going out to sea? Just two kids under thirteen?"

"I think it's better to be a slave. At least this way I can have enough food and clothes." Batu said with some disdain.

"Besides, who said I didn't gain anything today?" Batu proudly took out the wallet from his arms.

"I picked this up on my way back!"

Nia walked over and casually took the wallet from Batu. While looking at the money inside, she asked curiously, "Did you get it from the alley or the garbage dump?"

"Of course it's the alley. How could there be a wallet with coins in the garbage dump? Even if there was, we can't get it." After saying this, Batu saw Niya's conflicted expression. He hesitated for a moment and said through gritted teeth, "I know your personality, but you won't survive here with that kind of personality."

"If we take out the money here, we can build our ship faster. Then you won't have to look for food in the garbage dump."

Nia hesitated for a moment, nodded, and then said seriously, "This wallet is your trophy. I won't try to persuade you. I won't object to anything you do with it."

Batu sat on the ground, wrapped himself in a sheet made of discarded cloth, and thought with his chin in his hand.

Should she use the money to fulfill Nia's dream of leaving the country and city, or become a glorified slave?

After a moment, he came to a conclusion and said to Nia seriously, "Let's go to the alley together tomorrow!"

"What?" Nia, who was sorting out useful items at home, looked at Batu strangely.

"I'll give the wallet back."

"As long as we find the owner, we will become slaves of the inner city master like Dad's friend. Then you won't have to work so hard."

Nia shook her head. "Returning the wallet is the right choice, but becoming a slave... Batu, you should give up the idea."

"Niya! I'm your brother, and I promised father to take good care of you."

"So you have to listen to me!"

Batu grabbed Nia's arm and said, "Come with me to the alley tomorrow."

Nia hesitated, then nodded.

As someone born in the Garbage City, Nia is different from others. She resists becoming a slave, and even in many things she is incompatible with this place.

Whether it is character, ideals or planning for one's life.

Therefore, she was often bullied. If it were not for her own courage and strength and Batu's fearlessness, they would probably not be able to defend their hut or even have the right to find food from the garbage dump.

Just think of it as sending my brother off for the last time.

If he really became a slave and lived the life he liked, they probably would never meet again.

With this thought in mind, Nia did not resist.

It’s just that there is always a difference between reality and dreams.

When Batu returned to the alley with the wallet, he did not become a slave as he wished.

He was greeted by...

Fists, kicks, and sticks.

"Is this the guy who stole my wallet?!"

"What a vile, dirty, disgusting fellow."

"My clothes have been soiled by them. I really should go to a more formal place." A shrill voice lingered in Batu's ears.

"You're just looking for a bargain?"

"So you're blaming me?!"

Along with the noise, the punches and kicks hitting Batu became heavier.

He could only grit his teeth and endure it silently.

"My brother didn't steal the wallet! He just picked it up." The girl stood up and tried to testify, but no one would believe the words of a pariah.

In the end, she failed to save Batu and was beaten up together with them.

However, he was different from Batu who silently endured the beatings.

The girl started her own resistance, and eventually the guards came with swords and guns.

Blood is flowing on the ground...

No matter how the other party insulted her, she helped Batu prove that he was not a thief.

Even if it costs his life.

But facing the dead girl and the blood-stained sword, Batu could do nothing.

He weakly admitted that he had stolen the wallet, and was eventually beaten half to death and expelled. Nia's body was thrown into the garbage dump like garbage.

"I'm dreaming again..." Late at night, Batu was awakened by a nightmare again. Touching the cold sweat on his forehead, a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He reached out and fished out from under the bed, and half a bottle of wine appeared in front of him. He drank it in one gulp, and Batu's face looked a little better.

“Only by living...only by living can there be hope for everything.”

"Just like you...Nia...If you had been as cowardly as I was, you could have survived." He muttered to himself.

"In this way, you can see how I become a superhuman, how I kill those who bully us, and how I destroy that country..." Thinking of the fear on their faces when he saw those cheeks again, and the feeling of satisfaction in his heart when he bit off every inch of their skin.

Batu tried hard to calm himself down and tried not to think about the stubborn girl.

Every time he thought of the other person, he would blame the other person's bravery and persistence.

But deep down, the object of his resentment was himself.

He resented his own cowardice.

If he and Nia had stood up together at that time, refuted loudly together, and resisted together.

Maybe he and Nia would die together.

but...

At least it won't be as painful as it is now.

"Since you have chosen this path, you must walk on it bravely..."

"Since I have chosen cowardice and survival, I must live well." I live not only for myself, but also for Nia...

For some unknown reason, Batu thought of the experience when he lost his power.

I thought of Charles's evaluation of myself.

"A cowardly yet brave person?"

"I'm not a brave person. I just want to survive. I want to live bravely."

Nia probably doesn't like herself now, nor does she like her past self, so she stopped calling herself brother a long time ago.

But what about your future self?

Batu thought of Mernadè.

I thought about her speeches and her perspective on life.

She looks a lot like Nia.

When he was young, Nia told him countless times that everyone was equal to her, whether they were untouchables, citizens or nobles.

There may be classes among human beings, but life itself is indeed equal.

It was precisely because of this idea that should not exist in the garbage city that she chose to raise her fist and resist without hesitation at that time.

It was because of this thought that she died.

"I really want Nia to like my future self, or at least make her call me brother willingly..."

"But, I'll die..."

"But...if it's for faith, for that little girl who looks a bit like Nia, then maybe death isn't so terrifying?"

"No... don't waste your life... compared to your beliefs... living is the most important thing."

Batu murmured softly, but he couldn't fall asleep again.

No one will care about Batu's changes, his inner thoughts, and his voice except himself.

Charles wouldn't care, and that's why he probably wouldn't hear the name that sounded familiar to him.