#1125 The Citizens’ Reaction 1 – A Young Boy’s Dream 

My name’s Dimlottas. 
I’m eight years old. 

Everyone says I’m a fool. 
All because I believe in something they think isn’t real.  

I’m no fool.  
I really saw him. 
It happened on a winter night when I was six, right in my own room: a man in red clothes who brought me a present. 

That man was the Saint. 
 

Mom and Dad told me about him.  
They said the Saint visits good children at night and delivers presents. 

So does that mean I was a good kid that year? Because he showed up in my room? 
Honestly, I couldn’t sleep that night no matter how hard I tried.  

That's why I noticed him sneaking into my room with a gift. 
My friends, Inselmanju and Devilscore, fell asleep early that night, so they missed him.  

Then they started saying I made the whole thing up. 

“Dimlottas is lying again!” 
“There’s no such thing as the Saint! He doesn’t exist!” 

They tease me non-stop.  

But I know the Saint is real! He really is! 

I mean, even the grown-ups talk about him. They’ll say stuff like, “That earthquake the other day was the Saint’s anger!” or “That lightning strike was his mighty sneeze!”  

If adults believe it, how can it be fake?! 

“You’re such an idiot, Dimlottas! Sometimes adults just say ridiculous stuff!” 
“Yeah, everyone knows earthquakes come from stress in the earth’s crust releasing all at once. Stop believing superstitions!” 
“My mom keeps saying, ‘If you don’t behave, the Saint will eat you,’ but that’s obviously a scare tactic. As if some man-eating weirdo really exists!” 
“They’re just empty threats!” 

They love using those moments to laugh at me.  
Eventually, I got so mad, I stopped playing with them.  

It’s lonely, but I’d rather be alone than pretend I never saw the Saint. 
I can’t lie to myself! I know what I saw! 

“Heh, that’s the spirit, kid!” 

Who was that? 

I turn around toward the voice and see an older boy I’ve never seen before.  
He doesn’t seem like anyone from around here. 

“The name’s Diablo! I’m the big boss of the Thirteenth Residential District in the Demon Capital!” 

The Thirteenth District? 
That’s… a few districts over from my Seventeenth District. Actually, it’s four districts away. 

“Sometimes a man just feels like roaming far from home. But my mom said I gotta be back by dinner. Looks like this is as far as I can go…this time!” 

I-I see. 
Well, I should be heading home for snack time, too. 

“Hah! You still run home just for snack time? You’ve got a lot of growing up to do, pip-squeak.” 

Huh? 
You mean you’re okay without snacks?! 
That’s amazing! 

“Of course. Today I brought my snacks along: I’ve got two biscuits in my pocket, so I can eat them anywhere, anytime!!!” 

Wow!!! 
Your mom trusts you enough to let you carry your own snacks? I can’t imagine my mom letting me do that… 

“Heh, looks like traveling all this way really paid off. Who would’ve guessed I’d run into someone so intriguing? Hey, kid, I’ve already introduced myself, now it’s your turn to speak up!” 

Ah! 
Oh, sorry! I was so caught up in my own thoughts I didn’t realize you’d introduced yourself so politely… 
I’m Dimlottas! I’m eight years old! 

“Eight, huh…? That’s right in the sweet spot between being a kid and being a grown-up.” 

You think so? 
Anyway, Diablo, why’d you come talk to me? 
You said this you met someone intriguing; were you actually talking about me? 

“Bingo. Never thought I’d meet a cheerful little goof who believes in the Saint so wholeheartedly. Looks like I’ll have something fun to share with Mom and Dad at dinner tonight.” 

You’re not making fun of me, too, are you? 
Calling me an idiot for believing in some Saint that doesn’t even exist, you say?! 

“Who cares if the Saint exists or not? That’s hardly the point.” 

Huh? 
But adults and kids everywhere are fighting like crazy over it. 
They’re calling each other clueless dreamers or stubborn killjoys… 

“What’s really important is sticking to what you believe. If you say the Saint is real, then he’s real! I like people who stay true to themselves, no matter how many people mock them for it.” 

All of a sudden, Diablo points his finger at me and went ‘Pew-pew!’ 
Huh? 

“Listen up, Dimlottas. If you genuinely believe in your heart that the Saint exists, then don’t ever back down. Anyone who flips their opinion the second someone disagrees is worthless when it’s crunch time.” 

Diablo…! 

“Right, I should head home. My stew’s calling, and I’ve got homework too. …But before I go, Dimlottas, let me share one little tip with you.” 

A tip? 
Like…how to live the coolest life ever? 

“Word on the street is, the Demon King’s holding a grand ceremony soon. I’ve got my antenna up for all the latest news.” 

Oh, I heard something like that too. 
Mom and Dad mentioned it might be a festival, so maybe we’ll go check it out. 

“Huh. I see... But here’s the juicy part: rumor says the Saint’s gonna be there.” 

Huh? What do you mean? 
Why would the Saint show up at the Demon King's ceremony? 

“No idea. That’s all I’ve heard. But if you’re dead set on believing in the Saint, maybe you should see for yourself.” 

Yeah! 
I’ll ask my parents to take me. 
They’re already planning to go, so that’ll be easy! 

Thank you, Diablo! 
I’ll never forget you! We’ll meet again somewhere, I’m sure! 

*** 

And then... 
On the day of the ceremony. 

I went with Mom and Dad, and I actually saw the Saint. 

The second I laid eyes on him, I knew he was the real deal.  
His outfit was different from the one I remembered, but he radiated this pure, mystical aura. 

People said he was like “the reincarnation of a god,” and I couldn’t agree more. 

The Saint exists! 
He really exists!!! 

Not only is he real, but he’s apparently joining forces with the Demon King to help make the world a better place! 
That’s incredible! 
Both he and the Demon King are so amazing!!! 

He’s no figment of my imagination! 
He’s here, flesh and blood! 

And he’s every bit as magnificent as I dreamed he’d be.  
They say he descended from the sky like a falling star, making the grandest entrance you could imagine.  

If he gets angry, I bet the earth shakes, and if he sneezes, lightning bolts probably fly! 

When I waved at him, the Saint smiled and waved back. 
He seemed so kind. 

The next day, Inselmanju and Devilscore came up to me, looking really sorry. 

“Dimlottas, we’re sorry we called you a liar…” 
“Yeah, the Saint’s real. We were so stuck on what we thought we knew that we ignored what you saw. We feel awful.” 

It’s okay. We all understand each other now, right? 
So let’s be friends again. 

Thanks to Diablo, and of course the Saint, I can finally move forward with my head held high. 

Thank you so much!!!