Chapter 1: [Volume 1: The Children of the Orphanage]
Yarillo Six, Giant City of Beloborg, in the lower levels beneath the surface, the Orphanage of Rivet Town.
"Many years ago, our planet was not like this. There were no endless snows, no terrifying cracks in the world. People could walk freely on the earth, wander through the green forests, and bask in the warmth of the sunlight."
In the orphanage classroom, the young teacher read aloud the contents of a children's picture book with a full and bright tone.
The book, worn and slightly tattered, still held illustrations of the warm yellow sun, the green forests... No matter how many times she had seen them, they still filled her with deep longing.
"Back then, the air people breathed was warm and satisfying... It carried the scent of the earth, the fragrance of grass, a smell that came from the forest..."
At this point, she couldn't help but inhale deeply, trying to imagine the scent.
Unfortunately, in the lower levels, the air was filled with the unpleasant smell of rust.
The orphanage's heating system was aging, and the air they breathed was cold, causing her lungs to ache slightly.
Reports had been submitted long ago for repairs, but there were simply too many things in need of fixing in the lower levels. After all, for the powerful figures above, mining facilities were far more important than an orphanage.
The marrow extracted from the mining fields in the lower levels was a natural heat source. In this snow-covered world, it powered the entire city!
For Beloborg, this marrow was the lifeblood of the city.
Although children were the future of Beloborg, without the present, what could there be to talk about for the future?
The young teacher couldn't help but sigh as she thought about this.
"Teacher, do forests still exist?" asked a timid silver-haired girl.
"Forests... of course," the young teacher said, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes. "But now, the forests are trapped in winter."
As soon as she realized her tone, she quickly adjusted and smiled warmly, sayin