Chapter 44 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

### Chapter 44: Kanun * * * The shattering sound. The small flicker of trust I held for humanity broke into countless tiny shards, leaving behind not even a trace of dust, like a fragile glass orb. It felt as though sharp fragments were writhing within my chest. They transformed into rapidly flying arrows and unyielding thorns, tearing my heart to shreds. It hurts. The pain is unbearable. The price of betrayal weighed as heavily as the trust I had placed and as burdensome as the blood flowing from the child. I suppress the impulsive desire to lash out madly. There are debts to be repaid with them. They could not be killed easily. "Get away! What is this...? Aaaahhh!!!" "Do you think you can escape?" A man holding a bloodstained staff frantically flailed it, fleeing alone in the direction of the village. The way he cried out pathetically as if he feared the countless eyes fixed on him was reminiscent of a clown. And on the staff of that clown, there were distinct marks of dried, blackened blood. Blood. The blood flowing profusely from the child's head. I see. Was it you who struck the child with that rod? Was it you? That one. "Devour." Of course, the familiars standing by nearby wouldn't miss it, and that rude human was soon engulfed by a horde of crows, wolves, and hyenas. Prolong your suffering as much as possible. Peck and tear it apart. Rip open that filthy heart. Leave no trace of a corpse for the grave, ensuring even the heavens they speak of is unreachable. Oh. And shatter that grotesque mouth and neck first. "The child is asleep." A ghastly, sickening sound, like a fragile shell cracking or something squishing, quickly turned to silence following my command. In the forest, only the faint simmering bubbles and the small dining noises of animals could be heard if one listened intently. Witnessing this, humans, stricken with terror, sank to the ground despondently or fled in utter panic. I gently placed my hands over the precious ears of the child, lest she awaken to the cacophony. Please, don't listen. They are nothing more than trash spoken by foul humans, not words you need to heed. Leave this place to me and sleep peacefully. Even affording it the dignity of considering it a living being was far too generous for such a vile entity, which ultimately expelled its last breath, staining a piece of earth crimson in its wake. Its departure was as revolting and loathsome as itself—something I never wished to encounter again. "Run away!!" "The witch... the witch has summoned her allies—!!" Several humans, distracted by the crows drawn to the earlier man, seized the opportunity to flee in the opposite direction. Honestly. Had they remained still, they might have clung to life for a bit longer. Perhaps it's because their lifespans are short, or maybe it's simple folly. Humans often forget the past, unaware that it brings them toward death. Waving their torches, they hoped desperately that the advancing animals were ordinary beasts, afraid of fire. But hope never reached them. "This can't be!!" "Tch... farewell, Hutein!" Realizing the futility, they began to trip those running beside them, using them as bait to escape in different directions. Yet the fallen retaliated by clutching onto the trousers of the one abandoning them, like leeches clinging to life. A gruesome struggle between the clinging human and the one trying to shove him away unfolded. A palpable disgust emanated from my familiars, imploring for a swift command to be given. They no longer wished to suffer the continued existence of these filthy lives. Was this unsightly scene truly from the same 'humans' as Alice? It invoked doubt. Disgusting. "Demmy, you bastard!? Y-you... you... you!!!" "Damn it, I told you not to cling!! Get lost!!" "Hehehe...! You’re not going alone, you bastard!!!!" The struggle between the two beasts, who had forsaken their humanity, ultimately ended as they were consumed by the crows slicing through the sky. Even amidst being devoured, they spewed hatred towards each other, making me question my own decision. It is said the cries of birds are mournful in death and the parting words of humans are beautiful. Yet the words of those who seemed undeniably human only served to disgust me. "Ha... haha...!!" Utter disdain. To think I trusted such things and left the child in their care. My own face twisted as I held Alice tightly in my arms. From a distance, the humans who had been watching me retreated, shouting in fear as our eyes met briefly. "........." "........." And there, among them, one stood alone, bound by ropes, observing me. Though her eyes held emotions beyond fear, she bore no concern for me, so I ignored her. Curiosity flickered briefly, but that was all. ".........." Once before. It's now a shameful memory, but there was a time I monopolized the child and kept her confined as if imprisoned. Back then, I was a fool who thought the child would be happy just with delicious meals, songs, and a clean environment. But no matter how large the cage, if a bird can't spread its wings and soar, it will only wither. Even when I read her fascinating books, presented beautiful flowers, or showed dazzling jewels, the bird's song grew ever more sorrowful. Alice was a child who longed for affection. But I was a creature unable to understand human emotions, a monster to the core. And so, I pondered. What should I do? ### What Can I Do for the Child? Through countless sleepless nights, I wrestled with the problem, determined to find a solution. Yet embarrassingly, my abilities fell short, and ultimately, I could not resolve it. Time passed, and on a day when morning dew gathered on leaves and frost began to form, I made a decision. After much deliberation, I allowed Alice to venture beyond the mountain. Because people must live among people. I hoped she would find someone to ease her loneliness. Truthfully, I was skeptical, but witnessing Alice meet a black-haired girl on the first day, sharing their hearts and becoming friends by the next, I was astonished. Yet, understanding that this miracle was due to Alice’s pure heart and kindness moving others, I had no time for jealousy and simply praised her brave action. Alice, who regained her vitality by making friends, eagerly shared stories of her day by the fireplace, and I took joy in listening to her chatter. When I left for hunting to suppress my instincts, I firmly believed that the crow I had left by her side would handle any incidents. I was, in those moments, content. I grew complacent in reality. And therein lay the problem. "You... you are..." "I have no interest in conversing with corpses." A bearded old man attempted to speak with me, but I had no intention of engaging in conversation. Communication is meant to be an exchange between sentient beings, is it not? To me, they were only worthy of that distinction. They would drape their self-serving survival tactics under the grandiose titles of negotiation and apology, seeking to preserve their lives that they so valued. I had no reason, not even the smallest, to spare their lives. Step by step, I began to gently lick the blood-stained face of the girl, being careful not to aggravate her wounds. With each swipe of my tongue, the thick, dark blood clung more persistently. The taste of Alice’s blood was, regrettably, unbearably bitter. As I worked, a wound slowly revealed itself—a long, jagged tear. The previously white and soft skin was marred with sharp thorns and stone fragments embedded deeply, making it impossible to imagine the agony she must have endured. Underneath horrid wounds were countless blue bruises, so numerous they could not be counted. "....Ah... aaah..." "It’s me, Alice." Was it because she had been exposed to human malice? Or was it the pain of deceit and betrayal? Even after the pain should no longer find her, the child trembled violently as if racked by an unknown torment. Gently, I stroked her back to avoid irritating her wounds, whispering into her ear. Her unfocused eyes slowly struggled to open. Her lips parted ever so slightly. "Ah... Ah... Sis...?" "...Yes, it's Saeli. I’m sorry for being late." "Heh... heehee... hehe... ack..." "...I truly apologize." Realizing I had arrived, Alice, oblivious to her grave condition, smiled brightly even as she coughed up blood. The sight of her smile amidst the streams of blood made me forget even to wipe it away, leaving it as it was. Her smile was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a vision worthy of being called a work of art, yet it struck me painfully. Because it was blinding through its sheer beauty. There was no anger towards being deceived and dragged into an experience intended to take her life. There was no betrayal, not even a hint, of being labeled a witch by those who were meant to be similar to her kind, based only on a mere assumption. In Alice, there was none of that negativity. However, to me, her demeanor appeared to be suppressing pain and sorrow, as if she's forcibly bottling it up. Like someone hesitant to harm others, unable even to express rightful anger. "Eradicate them." Thus, the cold command rolled off my lips inevitably. I had thought inciting fear through justice, devouring those who fled by sacrificing others, would serve as retribution, but now none of it mattered. I thrust my hand toward the sky. And in response, the once pitch-black sky bore innumerable blood-red eyes. I wished nothing more than to swiftly clean up the filthy situation, to deal with the humans quickly. Yet— "No... don’t..." "........" "Don’t... do it...!!" But I was not permitted to lower my hand. Gently, a tiny hand came up, wrapping around the one I had raised. It was a hand so fragile that it would crumble with but a little force, a hand to which I could offer no resistance. "Because of... me... I don’t want people... to die...!!" "........." And I— ** * * *