The Harsh Reality

The man's actions cast a heavy silence over the crowd. The citizens all stared at him, confused and bewildered by his sudden submission. They couldn't understand why he was groveling so willingly.

Justin crouched in front of the man who was bowing and begging.

"I don't get it. Why are you acting like this? Just because you refuse the hierarchy doesn't mean I'm going to torture you."

"But you're going to abandon us, aren't you? If we don't accept the hierarchy, you'll just leave us behind."

"..."

Justin stayed silent. The man wasn't wrong, so he had nothing to deny. Interpreting the silence as confirmation, the man's eyes trembled with desperation.

"P-Please, take me with you. The others might hate the hierarchy, but I don't."

"So why? You weren't like this before. What changed?" Justin asked.

The man lowered his head with a regretful expression, looking like he wished he could erase his past self.