Half-step Purgatory

For a long time, Malin always felt that Fate had been quite generous to him. Although he had to face that life-threatening job every day, as long as he had the lovely Leopard Girl cooking delicious food for him daily, and as long as there was meat to eat and cats to stroke, life wasn't too unbearable. Working a bit harder and facing some difficulties on the job weren't really an issue for a man.
Moreover, being able to live two lives meant one shouldn't have too high demands, right, Mr. Different-Kind?
Having said that, and without waiting for an answer, the young man snapped his fingers, and the white flame on his fingertip lit the tobacco in his other hand, then he flicked it towards the non-human entity on the stake.
Welcome to Abield, to witness the last splendor of the steampunk era.
And the madness.

Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

"Malin, what do you want to do when you grow up?"


I still remember the matron of the orphanage asking Malin about his future path. At that time, Malin had absolutely no idea.


What was the future, what was tomorrow? These questions were far too remote for Malin, more distant even than pondering what he would eat that evening.


"Malin, remember what Granny says, this country needs us. I'm old, you will grow up, so the future is yours."


She could have never imagined that her Malin, in a far distant future, would be struggling to survive for this calamity-ridden planet under their feet.


All that once was had vanished, leaving behind only an unrecorded history, so trivial and pitiable compared to the vastness of the planet beneath their feet.


Section 518: The Shape of Voice (Part 3)