Chapter 16: Agonizing Conscience

Cia continued working under the stare of that unknown being. His movements became more reserved and he even stopped chatting with the system in his mind.

Thunk thunk thunk

He glanced at the source of the sound. Cia saw the old man holding a cane walking back inside the library. Looking at where he came from, Cia realized that there was another passage near the last bookshelf on the southern part.

Maybe because Cia's gaze was too intense, the old man finally acknowledged his presence.

"This library has a basement. You are not allowed to enter the basement without my permission." The old man sat back on the rocking chair. His black cat jumped on his lap and purred.

There was a pause. The old man sank down into the comfort of his chair and gentle nudged his foot on the floor the gently rock his seat.

The old man stared at Cia for a few seconds before coming to a decision, "I changed my mind, you are allowed to enter the basement without my permission IF you hear something underneath."

"That— if that really happened, what do I do?" Cia was feeling frustrated and confused.

"There is a huge door blocking it." The old man seemed to see Cia's concern. "Just tighten the bolt."

Seeing that Cia looked like he just swallowed shit, the old man laughed.

"Hahahahaha, cough cough cough. No need to worry. The chances of the noises coming from the basement to be loud enough for you to hear from here is low. This library is very safe."

Cia didn't believe a single word that came out from the old man's mouth about the safety of this library.

He averted his eyes. The word basement just gave him bad memories.

There was no way he would take the initiative to explore that damn place.

He had no desire to know what the heck was that old man doing in the basement.

After the old man came back, the intensity of the stare lessened but it was still there. Cia now couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from, but it was near him.

Cia kept stealing glances at the old man, hoping that he would notice and do something about the issue, but the old man just sat there, sleeping.

"I feel like sitting on pins and needles." Cia muttered. "System, are you really not sensing anything?"

[There is nothing host. The only living being inside the library are you, the old man and the cat. If there was a demon, I already scanned the area manually using my eyes. Even the blind spot but still, there was no one there] If not for the fact that the system lived at Cia's mind space and knew he wasn't crazy, the system would have thought Cia finally lost it.

At this point, even the system felt a bit creeped out. Could it be that they really encountered a ghost?

Finally, the moment the clock hits 5 PM, Cia was quick to evacuate the damn place.

Cia bid the old man goodbye and ran out of the library after his work time was over. The moment he stepped outside, he felt intense relief as if he just suddenly came back alive.

After breathing in the fresh air, Cia's gaze sunk as he looked back at the library.

There was definitely something inside that place. He had no idea if the old man knew, but Cia still didn't trust the old man enough to tell him what he saw.

[Host, are you sure you're fine?] This time even the system was panicking a bit. It had no idea what's happening but Cia seemed to be seeing something it could not see.

Cia shook his head, "If you can't see it then it's useless even if I tell you." He didn't look back at the library and continued walking at the empty road.

Because this library is located in a remote area in the town, there was rarely anyone taking the road. Only the sound of Cia's steps and the rustling of leaves could be heard.

Pat pat pat pat

The tranquility suddenly shattered the moment a hurried footsteps interrupted the peace. Cia saw a ragged looking man walking on the road.

The man wasn't running, but he was brisk walking as his head was staring down on the road. His body was thin and his back was hunched down. It was as if he was perpetually carrying something heavy on his back.

His shirt was filled with saw dust and wooden splints. Cia guessed that his job involves woodwork, just like Eri's.

Cia asked the system to scan the person and after it was confirmed as human, Cia's interest waned. The man passed by him without any hitch.

...

"Papa! You're back!"

Ugan snapped out of his daze when he saw his daughter running towards him.

His daughter, despite her small and skinny stature had the brightest eyes whenever she looked at her father.

Ugan pressed down his worries and carried his daughter in his arms, "What did Sisi learn from school today?" For him, the only reason why he was still alive is because of his daughter. If not for her, who would be willing to stay in this damned world?

He already knew that this world is filthy, but this time it was different, especially when he saw evil standing right in front of him.

"Sisi was taught to write by the Sisters." Sisi smiled as she hugged her father's neck. Thinking about school, she remembered someone.

She hesitated to say it at first. But envy prevailed, she whispered, "Papa, I have a classmate at school. Her name is Rena and she always have pretty bows on her head. Can papa buy me one when he gets his salary?"

Ugan looked at Sisi. He wasn't angry at her asking him to buy things. He just felt heartache.

Sisi is his princess. He was an incompetent father who couldn't provide what she wants. It's not her fault.

He remembered that Rena kid. She seemed to be Eri's younger sister? She's a very lively and straightforward child.

The difference was very clear when you compare her to normal town's children. She's still a young child but children of her age are already helping their parents in their work.

Just like Sisi. She would get a few copper coins by helping the old neighbor weave some baskets. Her tiny hands were filled with calluses.

Rena on the other hand, aside from going to school never really needed to work. Even when their grandmother was still alive, Rena was the most beloved child.

Her hair was black and fluffy, different from Sisi's straw-like hair. Her skin was milky and soft different from Sisi's skin that was darkened by the sun.

Sometimes Ugan couldn't help but think, what sins did Sisi do in her past life to be reincarnated as his daughter?

Carefree, confident, and self-assured. Whenever Ugan saw Eri carrying Rena around, he couldn't help but envy.

I also want to raise my Sisi that way.

I also want to give Sisi beautiful bows and dresses.

Sisi saw that her father was silent. She panicked a bit before giving her dad a kiss on the cheek, "Papa! It's okay! Sisi is good at craftsmanship! Sisi can make bows from discarded clothes! Rena can't do that. Sisi is more talented than Rena!"

After saying that, Sisi seemed to have become even more confident. She clasped her hands together and said excitedly, "I'll also make papa some pretty bracelets. Granny Eula gave me some wooden beads. I'm sure papa will suit the bracelet."

Ugan smiled and carried Sisi inside. After feeding Sisi and letting her play around. He sat there on the side, his eyes hollow as he thought about what he heard a while ago from the shop.

Human trafficker. Little girls.

Ugan felt sick and wanted to vomit. The entire situation was disgusting. Even he was disgusting.

As a father, the right thing to do was to report this incident to the police. But Ugan knew it was useless.

Argon had been in and out of jail many times. There had been gossips that the town head was his backer. After Argon was released, those people who reported him went missing.

It was obvious what happened.

Human traffickers are not new in this town. Ugan knows that those people typically target children of widows or anyone on the weaker side.

To be honest, the Ikaris siblings are the best example of this. Probably because Sisi mentioned that little girl Rena, Ugan also thought of them.

A child like Rena is not on their list. Rena has four brothers and each one of them are difficult to mess with.

If Rena went missing, one could imagine how much mess her brothers would make just to get her back.

He sighed.

Ugan couldn't bear the consequences as well as his conscience. If he reported Argon and he was released, Sisi will lose a father.

If he doesn't, those parent will lose a child.

If he just reported Ron, it's the same. It happened before and those who yapped at the police would go missing.

Ugan clenched his fist. He was just an ordinary laborer. He is not smart enough to study nor is he the strongest when it comes to carpentry.

All he wanted to do was protect Sisi.

He leaned on the chair and closed his eyes.

Ugan hypnotized himself.

He didn't hear a thing... When he went to go looking for Ron, he didn't see him. There was no one in the supply area...

"Papa, what are you doing?" Sisi looked at her father and tilted her head.

Ugan opened his eyes and saw Sisi's innocent gaze. He smiled and said, "Nothing. What are you playing? Come, papa had nothing to do now. Papa's time is all yours."

...

Cia first went to the church to pick Rena up but he was told that Sam hurriedly carried Rena home after the class finished.

He seemed to be in a rush. Cia felt anxious as he made his way home.

At first he thought that Sam might have dreamt of something, but when he arrived home, the door was pushed open—

BANG!

Ain was tossed on the ground.

"What's going on?" Cia quickly rushed towards him to help Ain up. But Ain, seeing Cia's hands was about to touch him smacked Cia's hands away.

Cia didn't react much, but before he could process what's going on, the door opened again and came out an angry Eri.

"Go the fuck out! This is not your home right? Leave! No one will stop you!"

"Since you are so resistant to being a member of this family, then you're free to go. Don't run your mouth like everyone owes you something."