Reverse of the Rain

At Hope Chest Town, located near Sun Rock to the east, the town was of medium size, with ten thousand households. It has a church as a center. Now, this city has become a destination for refugees. People come here to prepare for the winter after receiving the first warning. There are many people gathered around the gate.

“This town is so warm and has so many people, mother,” the girl said, her voice clear.

“Yes, daughter. You will make a lot of friends here,” the mother replied, hugging her daughter tightly, wary of the people currently scrambling.

“Stand in line! We still have plenty of space to set up camp inside.”

“Mother, where is father?” the daughter asked, hugging her mother and looking up at her.

“Your father will join us after he finishes work at home. We have to stay strong here,” the mother said, patting her daughter’s head.

“Are we not going home?” the daughter said.

“No, we are staying here, just like last year. Remember when you played snowball with your friends here?” the mother reminded her.

People moved forward, and the mother and daughter pressed on a little further.

“I also want to play with father. Last year, he went outside every day and didn’t play with me at all,” the daughter said.

“Father has to do his job. That’s why we can stay in this warm place,” the mother explained, hugging her daughter tightly. “We gotta hope and pray dad stays safe at work, alright?”

“Um, okay, I will,” the daughter agreed.

“Madam, your daughter is really strong,” the sound of a youngster nearby said to her.

“Um,” the mother looked back at the sound and saw a boy dressed like a beggar, but with a clean and clear face and a smile. “Are you alone? Where are your parents?”

“Hehe, I’ll tell you a secret, Madam. I’m already eighteen years old. I’m a big guy now,” he said, striking a pose and smiling widely.

“Haha, such a healthy boy,” the mother chuckled.

“Wow, brother is eighteen years old! I’m only seven,” the daughter exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Pointing a thumb at himself, the boy said, “I’m cool, right?”

“Yes, brother is very cool!” she said.

Mother shrugged her own shoulder. “Kids nowadays like to show off how old they are.” But her mood brightened, and she reached into her bag and pulled out an apple, handing it to him. “What is your name?”

He took the apple and replied, “Thank you, pretty madam. My name is Rockman.” Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out something. “Because of your kindness, I will give you this as a reward,” he said, handing her a rock.

She played along, taking the stone with a smile. “Thank you,” she said.

“Me too, I want a reward too,” the girl said.

“Because of your beauty, I grant you a reward too,” then he handing another rock to her.

She giggled and received it. “Thank you, brother Rockman. Wow, rock is so warm!” she exclaimed.

“HaHa, good girl, call my name Rockman!” He laughed and do akimbo a pose. Causing people around to laugh as well.

As they continued walking, they reached the gate where a knight from the church stood, holding a book that everyone had to press their hand on before entering.

“Evaluate complete, no sin,” a monotonous voice echoed.

“let go to the green point, Next!” Knight at gate said.

The next person approached the gate, his face filled with worry. He placed his hand on the book.

“Evaluate complete, guilty sin, reported as violent.” monotonous sound out of the book.

The man’s face turned pale as blood drained from it. “No, No Give—”

Slash! not await knight kill him on the spot. body fell down, blood seep out. but knight nearby use water magic cleaned the blood away. “Take him to the bury zone,” the knight commanded. Cling! slamming his sword into the floor. “Next in line!”

However, not a single person had the courage to step forward. feared at what insanely happen at front. Guilty or Not, He should not die like that. even some people tried to stepped back out of the line.

“If you’re not willing to take part, then go home and prioritize your own safety. Only those who have faith can join us. Remember, everything is fair. What you give is what you’ll receive. Next in line!” he repeated.

The process slowly began again.

One out of a hundred are being executed. Some cried, unaware that their families had committed wrongdoings in the past, but the knight pushed them towards the correct zone. People continued walking, and the line moved forward..

“Next, next, next,” they repeated until it was finally the turn of the Madam and her daughter.

The Madam was sweating, her hands trembling. She was unsure if she had done enough good or if her argument with her neighbor. Is that count?

“Don’t worry, I already gave you a reward, right? Just take it out and think positive thoughts,” Rain reassured her.

She didn’t know why, but she believed the child's words and reached into her pocket. The warmth of the sun rock brightened her mind, and she thought of her daughter’s laughter. With confidence, she pressed her hand on the book.

“Evaluate complete, no sin,” the monotonous voice confirmed.

Like a lift mountain out of her heart, she easily passed the evaluation. However, there was something important she needed to address. “I have a daughter too!” she exclaimed

Knight looked at her. “Who?”

“This girl,” hugged her child tightly.

Knight glanced at the girl and nodded. “Okay, let’s go to the green point. Next!”

The mother hurriedly led her daughter, but the girl suddenly exclaimed, “Mother! Brother Rockman is still there!” Concerned, Where is his parent? How can come to this town alone? I have to help him, “I also have so—” but when she turned back, he had already disappeared.

“What do you want, madam?” the staff member asked.

“Never mind,” she replied, grabbing the stone, which was still warm. Is he a child's fairy? looked at her daughter. “Do not worry, Brother Rockman has to give rewards to another good child, too.”

“Oh, like me, I’m a good child,” the girl giggled.

“Yes, like you,” the soft voice replied. “Thank you.”

Rain returned to the end of the line again, searching for someone who needed help, be it a man, woman, or family. He did this for several days, with many people in the camp talking about the boy named Rockman. Some called him Trunkman, others called him Appleman. He would come in various types of dress, with weird fashion choices, like an apple with an arrow on his head or a trunk with a wooden plate. He would give and trade items in front of the city, making it easier for those who met him to pass through the gate. Especially for groups with children, they referred to him as the ‘Child fairy’.

As usual, Rain talked with a group of children waiting in line, their parents closely watching over them. Today, he wore a trunk mask, a body suit with a wooden plate, and tied it with green vine.

“Yes, we fight with Lord Black Fur of the Mushroom Island!” Raid said.

“Wow! Is he strong?” One kid asked.

Rain used his hand to draw a tusk in the air. “He’s very strong! He has a big tusk, a big body. Every step he takes, the land cracks. Every time he rams, he turns rock into pebbles!” He widened his ten fingers to show an explosion.

“Is he stronger than you, Woodman?” a kid asked.

Rain hugged his own chest. “Yes, even if there were ten of me, I couldn’t fight him at all.”

Kids amazed, “How you can fight it?” another kid asked.

Rain turned his head and looked at all the children. “We combined our forces, me, Saint Aria, and Rocky. With my cleverness and Rocky’s ability to distract Lord Black Fur, I dodged his deadly attacks by stepping left and right. And when Lord Black Fur thought he had won and wanted to eat me, that’s when Saint Aria came and swiftly slashed at him. We won the fight beautifully.”

“Who are Saint Aria and Rocky?” a girl nearby asked, her interest piqued when she heard the woman’s name.

Rain’s eyes softened, and he replied, “She is a holy saint of the church, with beautiful, long hair and a kind heart. But she is also strong when it comes to fighting. She can use water magic, and her movements are as graceful as a waterfall in summer. In every movement of her like wind breeze.” The girl's eye glittered when listened story about Aria.

“And Rocky, he is by best friend” Rain took out a Sun Rock from his bag and handed it to a child at the front. The child received it, feeling a warm sensation in his hand.

“How can a tiny pebble help you?” the child asked.

He fell silent for a moment, taking out more stones. “Not a single one! We can help each other, just like you all. If we combine our strength, even a big log can be lifted, right?”

Some of them nodded, reached their hands closer so that they could take the rocks. One by one, the kids took the rocks from Rain’s hand, feeling a warmth within. Father and mother watched with smiles, knowing that Rain’s story was good for their children. It was their way of teaching them before the Winter arrived.

Suddenly, someone called out, “Oui~ Rockman!”

“Who’s call my greatest name” Rain turned his head towards the sound, seeing a group of men and women dressed plainly. Some had knives, others had bows on their backs. “Oh! Who are these gentlemen and gentlewomen?”

The group laughed at him, “HaHaHa, what a weird one.” then suddenly eyebrows furrowed, and they stared at him with a threatening gaze. A youngster with red hair and leather dress approached Rain and said, “I saw you walking around this road and trading with people, right?”

“So?” Rain stared back at him defiantly, showing no fear.

The surrounding people started stepping back, not wanting to involve themselves in any trouble. Especially not in front of the gates of Hope Chest city. It wouldn’t be worth it if this incident led to executions.

Red hair thug observed the atmosphere and realized that causing trouble here was not a wise choice. “We want to trade with you. This place is not suitable for business. Let’s talk over there,” he pointed to the back of their group.

“Sorry, but I’m not a business-man. I don’t want to go,” Rain replied.

“Oui~ I am asking you nicely. Do you need the hard way?” Red hair thug moved closer to Rain’s face.

Rain glanced over his shoulder, noticing his gang laughing and some of them gripping their weapons, unafraid of any knights who might witness their actions at the front gate.

“I would like to see the hard way,” Rain said calmly as he slowly reached into his bag.

The gang members had dark expressions, and even a young man with red hair raised his weapon. People around them started stepping out, and some even ran away, seeking safety.

“But let’s see what you’re offering first,” Rain said, took the Sunstone out. “You want this, right, friend?”

There was a moment of silence, and then the Red hair thug burst into laughter. “Haha, good, good,” he said, keeping his weapon and gently placing his arm around Rain’s shoulder. Slowly, they walked out of the group. “Let’s talk like friends,” he said, and his acquaintances followed suit, keeping their weapons with them.

Some boys in the group shouted, “Brother Woodman!”

Rain stopped walking and turned his head back to one boy. He threw a bag at him and said, “Do not worry! Help this brother do good, give it to another child, okay?” Then knocked his own chest and fist out forward.

The boy nodded, tears brimming in his eyes. “I will, Woodman!” he said, knocked his chest.

The group of thugs just laughed, and then the Red hair thug dragged Rain into the forest.

They walked for a while, with the group surrounding them on all sides. They moved left and right, sometimes climbing over the terrain, their movements seeming somewhat confused.

“Where are we going?” Rain asked, looking around at the forest and grass fields. No one spoke, except for the woman with the bow on Rain’s left side. “We’re almost at the camp—”

Red hair thug exclaimed, “do not speak to him, Iva! you! Rockman just keep walking... The business deal is not far.” then he tugged on Rain’s shoulder. The giggle from the black start again.

After walking for about ten minutes, they finally reached their destination.

A barren camp with many tents made of old leather and broken poles, some patched with fabric. The dirt looked dry, which was strange considering the lush forest surrounding it.

Red hair thug just waved his hand towards the front gate, allowing the group to enter the camp. They made their way to the main tent in the center, which was decorated with some monster fur.

“Boss, we’ve brought the man,” Red hair thug said.

The boss, a big muscular guy with braids on his head and dressed in cotton and fur. “Good job” then he threw a bag of money to red hair man. Boss approached Rain and stared at him. The group stepped aside, laughing at Rain.

But suddenly, Rain spoke up. “Huh~ Stop pretending to be a thug. Tell me, how many people do you want to save?”