Editing Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi:Volume7 Chapter1 (section)

===Part IV===

&nbsp;

Ai had no idea at all, but it was said that there was lots of ruckus amongst the 30,000 citizens for the past few days. It was not about fighting Madame, but about the survival of the community.

The current citizens of Ostia—with the exception of a few locals—were mostly a group that had been ‘saved by Alice’. Thousands of people saw no value in remaining in this town, and amongst those who wanted to stay, some were naturally unwilling to antagonize Madame and insisted on accepting Alice's proposal to sacrifice himself.

It was impossible to bring them all together.

Therefore, Bendo and other members of the city council decided to divide Ostia in two.

Those who would not and could not fight had evacuated to the towns beyond the lake, and only those who wanted to fight remained on the hillside, building a number of camps.

This camp was one of them.

&nbsp;

Next to a drum that was cackling and burning away, Ai was tending to Alice.

The area was lined with tents of similar specs, littered with burning red drums. They were at the parking lot of the Skagen, a long-established hotel that was always mentioned in the Ostia guidebook.

Ai glanced away and looked up at the building behind her. The century-old building stood tall, unscathed by the wind damage of the past decade or so, and was now supporting the citizens as a frontline base. The shouting that could be heard from time to time came from the meeting that was being held inside. There was an important meeting going on there to decide the fate of the town, and the two of them had to go there after the wounds were treated.

And the treatment was done.

"—Yes, it’s done. Please make your little adjustments yourself."

Ai folded the end of the bandage and patted Alice on the shoulder.

"Thank you."

Alice briefly thanked her, and then quickly practiced a quickdraw to check if the bandage would hinder him.

Seeing her, "Haa…" Ai sighed and packed the first aid items.

"How does it feel?"

[[Image:Kamisama v07 Illustration 04.jpg|thumb]]

"Not bad. But my grip is a little loose."

"I’m not asking about that…"

<i>"?" </i>Alice had a puzzled look. It seemed he really had no idea as to what she was asking about.

<i>Haaa…</i>Sighing again, Ai closed the first aid kit.

"…I’m asking you about your burns."

"Ahh, this?"

Alice nonchalantly waved his right hand in the air.

"It's no big deal—"

"You’re lying."

Ai interrupted before Alice could finish, and Alice gave the look of one who had bitten his tongue,

"W-What do you mean, I’m lying?"

"Exactly what I’m saying. The person who burned his hand and did that is saying this now? If that’s ‘no big deal’, then everything in this world is ‘no big deal’."

"Ugh."

"…Please don’t hide this from me."

Ai cupped her knees and looked at the hills in the distance. She was so disappointed. Alice's attitude gave her the urge to cry.

"…What were those flames?"

Far away, the unquenchable fire did not extinguish, and kept burning the iron bugs.

"Is your ability able to do that?—Please don't lie to me. Tell me."

"Ugh, it’s not like I want to lie about it."

"I guess so. You just won’t tell the truth, right?"

"……"

"Mr. Alice."

"All right, all right, I'll talk…so don't give me that look."

He put his hands up in surrender.

"It’s just using my ability in another way…"

Alice spoke of the other nature of his Buzzer Beater, to manipulate probabilities. In other words, that was hold he managed to control the flames.

"…I see. So that's what it is."

She was convinced at the very least.

"But. Isn't it…dangerous?"

"Actually, it is. It’s always sort of a semi-automatic ability, so when I do something with a wide range like this, I can't predict the outcome. I don't even know when that fire will be extinguished. This ‘metamorphosis’ is really that dangerous, since it’s an ability even the person can’t control. It's like a natural disaster, anything can happen..."

"Ah, no, that’s what what I’m talking about.."

"Ah, no, that's not what I asked."

Ai interrupted Alice.

"Huh? Then what else is it?"

Again, Alice misunderstood Ai's words. Ai did not refer to his ability when she asked if it was ‘dangerous’.

"That’s not it…I’m asking if your body’s okay?"

That was what she wanted to ask.

She understood the theory. However, she could not have but imagine there would be so risk in creating such terrifying flames, such a terrifying hell. That was why Ai wanted to ask, hoping that Alice would tell her that it was fine.

"Ahh, that’s what you’re talking about? "

Alice shook his head, as though implying that it was nothing.

As soon as she saw it, Ai knew what he was going to say next.

&nbsp;

"I'm fine."

&nbsp;

Alice said.

"The burns on my right hand are just normal. Don't worry."

It was exactly what Ai wanted to hear,

"And you took care of that too, so it's all good."

But Ai was no longer listening to Alice's words. She just turned her head and buried her head between her kneecaps.

"Don’t worry, I’m not hurt anywhere else…wait, what’s with you? You got a stomach ache? Did you pick up something to eat?"

Alice tried to change the topic by making a poor joke. Ai slowly brought her face into his sight, and left him completely speechless.

The first tear fell from her chin.

"…Mr Alice, you liar…"

"Ho-how is that a lie!?"

Alice was still oblivious as to what he did.

"It’s obviously a lie when you say there’s no danger…"

"……!?"

Alice’s face changed for the first time.

"…Mr Alice, you have no idea why I was so angry and sad just now…"

"Wh-What?"

"I wasn't angry because you did something dangerous, or sad because you got hurt."

"……"

"I was just sad that you tried to hide this from me…"

"N-no! That's not true…."

At this point, Alice finally seemed to realize what he had done.

"No…you're right."

Once he admitted his mistake, he quickly made up his mind. He straightened up and bowed deeply.

"I'm sorry."

"You said there’s no danger, but you’re lying to me after all…"

"No, well, maybe a little…"

"You're always like that."

Ai did not mince her words towards the back of the head before her. She was so unwilling to forgive him.

"I think it's a very noble, very kind thing to decide alone, take action alone, and not let those around you know that there’s danger…but, Mr Alice, how do you think I'm going to feel when everyone around you, or I, finds out about it?"

"……"

"Don’t you know? It's times like this that I get sad.…"

Another tear spilled with the words.

"I’m not happy at all…when you’re in more danger by putting me in less danger…"

"I'm sorry."

Alice still did not raise his head.

"It’s my bad."

His face reeked of bitterness.

"I didn't do it on purpose! It was only after you told me that I realized. Even I’m a little scared of it—"

"That’s worse."

"Of course!"

Uncharacteristically, Alice was in total surrender, and sounded very devastated.

Ai blew her nose and forgave her for the time being.

"Please tell me the truth."

"… Okay."

Shocked at himself for some reason, Alice did not try to deceive Ai.

"The Deformed have downsides too…Dead becomes 'selfish', Gravekeepers do 'malfunction', and Living becomes 'crazy'. …"

In a flash, Alice picked up the trash beneath his feet and threw it into the drum. The trash did not miss its mark and entered the drum, burning brightly.

"—It’s said that the Deformed will experience a ‘metamorphosis’."

"Metamorphosis…?"

"Yeah, we Deformed get our abilities based on our wishes…but those abilities often don't grant wishes properly."

Once more, twice more, Alice continued to throw garbage. All the garbage went into the drum.

"Humans end up led along by their ability. It’s like a lie that becomes true if you chant it a hundred times, twisting the ability to make your original wish come true…when that happens, the otherworldly ability changes more and more, and the person becomes something other than a human being…"

"Then please don't do that anymore."

"…Yes."

"If you do it again, I'm going to be very, very sad, you know?"

"…Yes."

"If you do it again, be honest about it. If you try to hide it from me, I'll cry again, okay?"

"…Yes."

"When you do, make sure you console me. You can buy me tea or sweets later, like today."

"…No, I can’t promise something I can’t do. And I need you to treat me later, you know…"

"Do you understand?"

"…Yes."

"Are you sure?"

<i>Yes.</i> Alice replied without any rebuttal.

"No, but well, I’m really bummed about this one too. I didn’t know I was hiding this from you…"

Then Alice stared into the distance, seemingly at a loss, and let out a sigh,

"I'm sorry, Ai."

"What are you apologizing for out of a sudden?"

"I’ll say this first. I'm sure I'll make you sad and cry again…"

"Wait, please don't do that."

"Of course, I’ll try to avoid it as much as possible…but if push comes to shove, I’ll definitely belittle my life again."

Alice looked at his bandaged right hand.

"For fifteen years, I've been wishing for my own annihilation…I’ve been dreaming that the fake me would disappear."

Ai gasped.

"The old me probably wasn’t like this…but I can’t remember how I used to be…"

It was a void that only he, who had been brought back from the depths of the underworld after disappearing fifteen years ago, knew. It was a despair that only he, who had died, no longer existed and yearned for his own ‘continued death’, knew.

This was Alice's metamorphosis, so to speak.

"Why did I end up like this…"

Of course, it was for the sake of his dream. It was the dream that Alice had to take on with such determination.

However, the dream that he concocted had come true and disappeared, and all that remained was the framework.

That framework could no longer find value in itself, no matter how it try.

"Well, I’ll be glad to remind you of that."

But here was a person who found value in that framework.

Here was a person who grabbed the wreckage that had served its purpose and brought it home.

<i>Pak,</i>

Alice's cheeks were pinched by two small, hot hands, and the burning eyes looked into his own.

"You may try to take risks discreetly, but it’s uselss. I’ll definitely find out, for sure."

"…Ai."

"It’s useless to try and hurt yourself so that no one else gets hurt. I will always hurt you."

"……"

"You will always remember. The value of life, and your past."

Then Ai embraced Alice's icy head in her arms and patted it.

"R-Really…"

"Yes, you will."

"Let’s just hope so…"

The usual Alice would have hated this, but he let Ai hug him without resisting at all.

Her embrace was like a mother, and yet it was like a child, it was like the warmth of a beast that knew nothing but harshness but occasionally drew its fur closer.

So, naturally, it did not last long.

"Ai~, Alice~? Where are you~? "

<i>""!""</i>

The two of them split as quickly as light and shadow.

"Ah, there you are."

Scar walked out of the hotel, and Celica was bouncing on the swaddle

"So you were outside? I have been looking for you for a while…is something the matter??"

"I-it-it-it-it’s nothing at ball! "

"Hmm?"

Scar tilted her head, but Ai could not continue to explain herself as she had bitten her tongue, and was in pain.

<i>Please continue, Alice!</i> She appealed to the latter with her eyes, but in such situations, Alice was so useless. He usually would get carried away and say unnecessary things. At this moment, he had his face turned behind, hiding his embarrassment.

"Well, that is fine."

But fortunately or unfortunately, Scar was the person present, and there was no need for an excuse to begin with.

"More importantly, Julie told me ‘to call for those two’."

"…Is there something on going on during the meeting?"

"No, he said, 'I'm getting a very bad vibe from them’."

"What’s that about…?

Those words caused Ai to sweat. The instincts of this old man had been uselessly precise recently.

"Well, that being said, I think you should be invited to the meeting…"

"I understand."

Since Scar decided so, it was most likely correct. Ai quickly got up and picked up the shovel.

"Shall we go, Mr. Alice?"

"Yes."

They started walking. There was a hotel in front of them, rocked by the conference. There was a new battlefield where allies, not enemies, were fighting each other.

&nbsp;
<p style="text-align: center;">+</p>
&nbsp;

The heat was steamy.

The three of them made their way through the waves of people saying, ‘Excuse me’ and ‘Please let us through’ to the center of the hall. There was a huge table where all the major parties of the town were gathered.

"—I'll let you two talk from here on out."

<i>So you’re here, </i>Julie hinted with his eyes, and invited them to join him at the table.

"Hmm, well, I don’t see anything wrong with that."

Bendo, who was sitting in the middle of the table, quickly acknowledged the arrival, and resumed the meeting.

"Then…I'll ask Alice…was it you who caused the phenomenon of those flames?"

The eyes of the whole hall stared at them.

"Yeah. That's right."

Alice said, standing at the edge of this huge table that was made of a fossilized giant tree.

"Can you do that another two, three times or so?"

"Ah, that’s impossible."

Alice was about to say something, but he was interrupted,

"That attack did damage Miss Madame, but it did no real damage to her actual body. The iron bugs are going to keep coming unless we find a way to deal with Miss Madame's body."

"Hmm, but those bugs can be destroyed, can't it?"

"It's impossible. Even if they turns to ash, Madame should be able to make new bugs, and it’s just buying time…and that attack isn’t good for Mr. Alice either."

"Is that so? I get it."

<i>Well then,</i> Bendo declared, interrupting those who were still trying to ask further.

"…So, young Ai, let me ask you. What about your Gravekeeper technique. Is it possible to bury what you call the actual body?"

Ai did a quick calculation.

"It’s possible, if it takes one by one, over ten years…but that’s only if Miss Madame does not resist and there won’t be any new ones."

"That's if you're the only one, right? If other Gravekeepers come along..."

"I’m guessing that no other Gravekeepers will come here because I'm here. Even if they did, it would only be one, because no matter how powerful Miss Madame is as a Dead, she is only one in number."

<i>Hmm…</i>Bendo finished asking everything he wanted to ask and turned his gaze away to his surroundings.

"So, unfortunately, it's impossible to physically get rid of the bandits…"

Bendo waved off the gloom that filled the hall.

"In the end, we'll have to negotiate."

"Negotiate—is it?"

"Hmm? Fortunately, we've beaten the enemy once. We should be able to compromise on reasonable terms—please issue the info to everyone."

Bendo's secretary began to pass printouts to everyone. It contained detailed information and analysis of Coven.

—"Coven is actually an organization composed of one person, Madame Express Legion's Hive (real name unknown). It began more than ten years ago, when a ‘Witch’ modified Madame, who had already become ‘selfish’."

—"Madame, whose sanity was restored to some extent by the Witch, called herself "Coven" and begins to work to destroy large-scale miracles. The method was the witch trials, in which she would apply the laws she created, based on the laws of Silenos, designed to favor the accusers. The win rate was over 99%, with the only confirmed loss being in the case of Alice Color, who was aided by Dee Ensy. There was also another trick to this extraordinary win rate, for they would deem any opponent they could not win against as a ‘super irregular’, and not proceed with the trial. Given these instances Coven is not a fair-minded organization, but a profit-making organization that pursues its own goals. With the knowledge of this fact, it’s not difficult to—"

This is …."

It was an overly detailed document and report about Coven. There were even some ridiculous ‘specifications’ among the documents. Who on earth would have found such a thing?…Ai looked at the girl who was still silent at the end of the table.

"As you can see in this document, Coven is neither an uncommunicative monster nor a law-abiding phenomenon, and is fully capable of negotiation."

<i>Ohhh,</i> a relaxed atmosphere spread through the hall. It would be a tough case, and there would be fighting, but for now, the end was in sight.

However,

&nbsp;

"It’s impossible to negotiate."

&nbsp;

Dee Ensy spoke up for the first time.

"…What do you mean, Lady?"

Crossing her arms and legs in a triangle at one end of the table, forming a triangle with Ai and Bendo, Dee said without opening her eyelids,

"All the material there is useless now, because Madame has fallen and become 'selfish'."

"…What, Lady, do you mean by 'fallen' and 'selfish'? Can you elaborate on it?"

Bendo voiced his irritation, and the others agreed. Many of the people of Ostia had been shut inside this world for at least a decade, and were unfamiliar with the common sense of the outside world. Some of them have never seen a moving Dead before.

This naturally led to the fact that they did not know about the one dubbed ‘Ghost’, and the people present look at her as nothing more than a cocky little girl.

But Dee did not care about those stares.

"—In Living terms, I'd say it’s similar to going crazy…"

She opened her eyes for the first time, and stared at the Living in the crowd.

"You see, all Dead people live with the risk of becoming selfish. The mind rots, their sanity melt away, and they become a monster who can only think about one thing…have you forgotten? The years leading up to the Gravekeepers’ birth, the decade leading up to Ortus' invention of post-mortem treatment, how it was hellish out there? Have you all been living in peace in the Sealed City and forgotten all about it?"

The sound of gasps could be heard everywhere.

"…Dead people like Madame, who can ‘dilute’ themselves, are especially dangerous. It's an ability that comes with ego collapse. I've always been told that it’s a matter of time until she ‘malfunctions’ again. No matter how much the Witch rebuilds her, there’s no way for her to prevent this phenomenon. It so happened to occur at this moment, of all times."

<i>Therefore, negotiation is impossible.</i> Dee concluded.

No one spoke up. They were clearly confused, as though they had taken a sucker punch.

Only Bendo was insistent,

"…I-In that case, why don't we negotiate not with Madame herself, but with the people backing her?  Shouldn’t we ask the Witch you speak of …."

"That statement is proof of your ignorance."

"What?"

"Look behind you."

The old politician looked back and saw that the disconnect between common sense was plainly marked, as if it were color-coded. The people who stayed in Ostia for a longer period looked puzzled and bewildered, while the newcomers looked pale, giving Bendo the ‘are you crazy?’ look

"Well, I guess their reactions should explain everything. Get involved with Her? Enough with the joke."

"Looks that way…"

Even Bendo had to concede this point, but he did not want to give up.

"What about Ortus and Fellmigora? She’s been using those two countries to back her, hasn't she?"

"I've already made that move."

Dee replied simply and looked behind her.

For the past few days, three Deformed had been standing there, never leaving. At this moment, there was only one shadow left, the warrior Maccia Electus, standing with his arms crossed.

There was no sign of the Red Lady (Dust)or the floating boy (Noellfaen).

"I've already sent them back home."

<i>Oh,</i> everyone else marveled, and Dee lifted up her nose.

"Hmph, so, everyone, you should know how great my influence is now, right? They are my loyal companions."

"Stop lying!"

Maccia, who had been abstaining from the conversation, suddenly spoke up.

"You were just jumping up and down and getting angry when they took off on their own, weren't you?"

"Now, now, what are you talking about?"

Dee looked away in a completely different direction, with sweat trickling down.

"…You really got some good company, Dee…"

Bendo looked at Dee with a rare look of concern,

"By the way, Maccia, are you willing to side with us?"

"No."

It was an instant answer. Bendo furrowed his brows and looked even more worried.

"…Are they really your companions, Dee…?"

"Y-You’re mistaken! They’re all just embarrassed! We're really very close! When the time comes, they’ll really help out! They’re amazing! They’ll help out everyone!"

"<i>I see,</i>" They all smiled gently and nodded their heads.

They smiled gently and nodded. Stop it! Don't be nice!

"By the way, there's no point in trying to negotiate with Ortus or Fellmigora. They don’t have a way to negotiate with the ‘selfish’. The little girl who only has her mouth to rely on is powerless here.."

"You should be a little nicer to me!"

Dee half-screamed and hammered at the big man, while Maccia pushed her forehead away in annoyance, ensuring that she did not hit him.

[[Image:Kamisama v07 Illustration 05.jpg|thumb]]

"…But it seems I’ve a part in driving Madame into madness. I'll at least escort you to the other side of town."

"Oh!"

"But I'm not going to 'battle' with you. If you're going to fight, you're warriors. I have no reason to help."

"Of course not. It is enough that you protect the citizens."

Bendo gave an authoritative smile and raised his fist in the air to stir the crowd.

"Everyone! We have no need to fear for the future! From now on, we can fight to the fullest! Don't be afraid of death! We will win in the end!"

<i>Yes!</i> Half the room agreed, but the other half seemed to disagree.

"…But let's face it, we don't stand a chance."

The bearded security captain standing beside Dee said.

"Oi oi, why is our town hero so humble? I heard about the battle at the main gate. Didn’t you have an overwhelming victory?"

"That's because those iron bugs weren't serious. They only tried to kill us at the very end."

"Hmmm…what would happen if your troops fought those serious iron bugs?"

"There wouldn’t be a 'battle' to speak. It’d just be a one-sided slaughter."

The people in the city who did not participate in the fight were rattled, but those who were there were silent.

<i>It was understandable though,</i> Ai thought. The captain said so not because he was a coward or anything, but that it was just a fact. The Living were no match for Madame, or the iron bugs.

Only the Gravekeepers (Ai), Deformed (Alice), and one other kind of human could do that.

"We’ll all die before we even finish off one of them."

The captain was none of them.

"So the real fight will be starting."

<b>However, it was easy to be the last kind of human.</b>

"…Wait, Captain, are you—"

Bendo was about to say something when the captain interrupted him.

&nbsp;

"We are the fifty-four members of the Third Security Group. Let us give our lives for the future of the town."

&nbsp;

He bowed his head reverently.

The only ones who could fight the iron bugs were Gravekeeper, Deformed—and the Dead.

"Therefore, let us become the Immortal Army and defeat the Immortal Monster."

If Madame was ‘indestructible’, their side simply need to become ‘indestructible’ and fight.

That was what the captain was imply,

The meeting was rattled. Bendo shouted,

"No, no, no! Don’t do this, Captain! No can do!"

"Why not? You just told us not to be afraid of death. Why do you object?"

"I…I don’t mean that! It's a horrible thing to assume you can do this after death!"

"You're old-fashioned too…."

Just as the two men bickered, so did the crowd.

"If we don't do this, we'll all die anyway."

"I'm talking about dignity! Logically, it’s basically saying we’re in the wrong for saving Alice!!"

"That's a leap of logic!"

It was chaos.

Because Bendo, who was in charge of organizing the meeting, went out of control, the meeting devolved into an argument between individuals. Ranting and raving, printouts flying around, the situation quickly developed into a tussling match.

"Ahh goodness! Everyone, let's talk it out!"

Ai tried to calm the emotional crowd, but no one would listen to her, Bendo was losing his temper, and Dee, the one person she could rely on, was stoking the flames instead of calming it down.

Just when Ai was about to give up on the idea that they might have to beat each other up for as long as they wanted.

&nbsp;

"Kuha!"

&nbsp;

A laugh resounded.

"Kukuku, hahaha, ahh—hahahahahaha!"

There was a voice that sounded it was already going crazy.

The confusion subsided immediately.

This tussle was a clash of beliefs, not something that could be calmed by something like that.

However, the emptiness in that laughing voice stopped everything.

"Are you all idiots!?"

As if it were an outsider, the voice ridiculed the entire meeting.

Ai looked for the owner of the voice. There was a man sitting in the corner of the hall by the wall.

"Ahhh, my stomach hurts. Ahh—that’s funny, kukuku. "

"…Who are you?"

Bendo asked bewilderedly.

The man sitting in the corner of the wall was wearing old jeans and a saggy shirt, fumbling with a bottle of alcohol and laughing hysterically. He was surprisingly young, maybe in his mid-twenties. <i>Huh?</i> Ai tilted her head. She had a feeling she had met him somewhere. However, she had no recollection of a man who looked that unhealthy.

"Ahhhh? What the hell. Know who you’re greeting, old man."

The man vomited with a bright red face.

"Ah."

She remembered.

She remember the smell of alcohol on her back, and the nursery I stepped into while wearing her shoes.

[[Image:Kamisama v07 Illustration 06.jpg|thumb]]

&nbsp;

"For I’m the presiding judge of the Coven where even a kid dare not cry upon hearing my name!"

&nbsp;

The man's name was Shaun Sullivan.

He was part of Coven.

&nbsp;
<p style="text-align: center;">+</p>
&nbsp;

"…Yes, I'm really sorry. I really am. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed when everyone was taking it so seriously. That would make you angry. I'm sorry…"

Shaun was beaten up in five seconds, and rolled around in a mat within thirty seconds.

"I’m reflecting on my acitons I'm not going to run away or anything…so Ai, I beg you…Please give me back my drink…"

Ai was dumbfounded.

"I thought you were going to tell me to untie the rope, but now you're giving me alcohol?

Ai, who had no intention of giving him alcohol even if he untied the rope, held the bottle high.

""Ahh, little Ai, you’re a meanie! Argh fine! I’ll drink the beer that’s spilled on the floor! Lick lick lick lick!"

"H-hey! Stop it! You're disgusting!"

Just then, Bendo, who had finally finished pacifying the people, came over while  brushing his messy hair.

"… Let's cut the tomfoolery, both of you."

Ai hoped that she was not included in this..

"Ahh, well, well, Mr. Mayor… hehe, I'm sorry for th… hehe."

"Let’s get straight to the point. Why are you here?"

In response to the high-handed question, Shaun gave a smile that tilted 90 degrees.

"Well, nothing much, you see, the old hag has become 'selfish'. I knew it was going to be bad, so I ran away with you guys."

"……So you were with us?"

"I didn't notice at all."

It was true that there were a lot of people back then, and Shaun was wearing a normal outfit instead of the flashy one he wore at the trial. With a little luck, nobody would have recognized him.

""But why are you running away too? Aren't you one of Madame's people?"

"What are you talking about? Why would she have any people when she became ‘selfish’ and all. Ah, yes, I remember you aren’t familiar with this world? I see, that's why you’re like that just now, kukukukuku…"

"What's so funny?"

Bendo scoffed.

"No, I'm sorry. I won’t laugh anymore…kishishishishishi."

"…Don't worry, just say what you want."

<i>I see?</i> Shaun curled the edges of his lips as if to taunt.

&nbsp;

"Because you're so naïve, it's almost funny!

&nbsp;

Gyahahaha. He laughed.

"No, think about it…hihihi, look at what era you’re in, you’re squabble away because of a mere matter of life and death! What is this! Isn’t this reason to be funny!?"

From a lower position than anyone else, Shaun was laughing at everyone.

"What era of common sense are you using now? In this day and age, if you're going to fight a ‘war’, <b>you have to die first! </b>Isn’t Life just a small price to pay for participation! And that old guy with the beard...bfff,  he's talking like he's a hero! That's right! You're the one who said, "I'm going to give my precious, precious life to the country! How much do you think your ‘life’ is worth!?"

Shaun laughed. He laughed at the security captain's determination and everyone's indignation.

"Nowadays, even the gentle armies of Fellmigora die before attacking!! Ahh, it hurts! "

The faces of the citizens, which had initially turned red with rage, gradually turned pale.

"Why, it's amazing. It's been a long time since I've heard such a funny joke. I just have to laugh after hearing this, but I’ll burp if I laugh, and everyone will know I’ve been drinking right!? I thought of holding back until everyone started laughing! And yet...and yet...and yet..."

Bendo and the rest of the people of Ostia finally began to understand, how they had been hiding in a safe place, and how the outside world has changed.

"But why!! You actually heard him make such a ridiculous joke!! What are you, cavemen? Kukuku, kakaka, ahahahahaha!!!"

Kishishishishi, ahahahahaha, kukakakakaka.

"…How is this possible."

The old politician's fists trembled.

"The world has changed that much already…"

"No, well, I’m not going to blame the commoners. It’s fine that they aren’t prepared for it.But what, of all people, the head of the city and the soldiers shouldn’t be so naïve, right?—Say, right!?"

Suddenly, Shaun, which had been crawling on the floor like a snake, lifted his face, glared at everyone, and said,

In the corner of the room, there was a girl with her arms crossed, her eyes closed and her back against the wall.

"Say…that’s what you think too, right, ‘Ghost’?"

Shaun cackled like a witch offering a poisoned apple.

Dee opened her eyelids, looking troubled.

"Well, you're right, but,"

She simply bit into the poisoned apple.

That nonchalant answer too caused people to be rattled.

"Shaun, given our context of common sense today, what you say is much more correct than the."

All the older citizens immediately exchanged chatter.

Dee looked at them sadly and kindly. It was the expression of a transcendent being looking at a stupid but lovely beast.

"…But could you be a little more considerate? I wanted to tell everyone in a more gentle manner."

"Your 'gentleness' is to dare them to play hero, isn't it?"

"What!? What’s he saying, lady?"

"Kukuku, be careful, Mr. Mayor. This gotten was a Witch, and can revive as a Ghost. If you're not careful, she can control you along with your hearts."

Shaun smirked. It was the smile of a trickster mocking a sucker.

"So basically, she intended to get those who are saying ‘I don’t want to continue fighting while dead!’ to say ‘we’re willing to be dead soldiers!’"

"How is that possible!?"

"She’s capable of that. I just saw the Ghost’s skills for the first time, and it’s really amazing. Taught me a lesson. I dare say, Mayor, you’ll be willing to continue living while as a Dead, and willingly so. You almost did so, I might say. Everyone is already neck deep into the trap of the Ghost. "

"That’s nonsense!"

"Is that so? The captain's already down."

The drunken eyes caught sight of the guard Captain.

"Well, Dee Ensy was so beautiful when she was the first to say 'I'm staying' on the hill. She held a a weapon that didn't suit her at all, and she certainly looked painfully ready to die. It's no wonder the captain was moved by her. But alas, there’s more to it than that. The ghost was waiting for you to say so, licking her lips. After that, it's pretty simple. Let them reenact the self-sacrificing heroics that were popular a decade ago. Little by little… rewrite your common sense. With a single ‘whisper’… you see…you used to think of the afterlife as something that should be taboo, and now you’re discussing about it…"

"De-Dee!"

Bendo let out a scream-like voice.

"Is what he said true!?"

"Uh, yeah, pretty much."

"Wha!t?"

Bendo shouted angrily.

<i>"You’re noisy"</i> But Dee merely made such a look.

"Well, whatever, it’s a good opportunity to tell you what I think. First of all, <b>I don't see your situation as a crisis or anything like that.</b>"

"This is ridiculous! What do you call this if not a crisis? Ostia, the town we worked so hard to rebuild, has been destroyed! A monster from who knows where is occupying the area directly above it! Even Reconstruction will be delayed for a long time, and we might have Dead this Winter!"

"Isn’t it just dying?"

Bendo cracked open his mouth like a fish lacking oxygen.

"Can’t everyone just die right now. If we all die now, reconstruction will be easy."

"That makes no sense!"

"Why?—wait, I shouldn’t be mean and all here…I mean, yeah, I get it. I know what you're thinking. In the past, this would have been unacceptable…That's why I wanted to break it to you a little more gently…"

It was then that Ai realized that Dee had been taking action for her goal a since a long time ago. She was the first one to ready herself for death on that hill, declaring that they would defeat Madame, and then what she said, everything was for,

"My goal is to take the black surface."

Dee simply said what everyone in the room had been paying attention to.

The black surface, the miraculous remnant of the sealed city, now swallowed by Madame. A portal to another world, said to have been created by Isola, the only girl out of 30,000 citizens who never returned.

That was why Dee whispered. She broke the common sense of those who reviled death, and the afterlife.

No. <b>She did not destroy it</b>. They were the ones who broke it. She merely spoke and had them decide, so that they would personally destroy it..

"L-lady. You are …."

Bendo, or rather everyone in the room, looked at Dee.

They finally realized that the girl before them was not just a little girl, but a witch with the name of the ‘West’.

"—Hmph, that’s crude."

Shaun said, describing Dee Ensy bluntly.

"Aha, you’re right. I admit, I’m crude.

Without seeming particularly offended, the Ghost admitted.

"But let me correct you on one thing, Shaun."

"Huh? What is it?"

"They’re not 'playing hero'."

Dee looked at Shaun squarely.

"No matter how crude I am, no matter how old-fashioned their ideas are, the story here isn’t about ‘playing hero’."

Her words were too strong to be a ‘whisper’, her eyes too lively to be a ‘Ghost’.

"I recognize their actions. I, Dee Ensy, have seen all the tragedies and comedies of this world, and I vouch for them. It’s a cliché of a common tragedy, but, "

Dee was speaking in the words she believed in.

"Their stories are real…and I, for one, have to admit so…"

Suddenly, Dee shed tears.

The meeting was filled with unprecedented shock. Men of great literary and military prowess were upset by a mere drop of water, and they could not help but wonder why. Why was she crying? What did she see?

"You’re willing to cry for us, Dee?"

The captain smiled, looking troubled..

"Haha…I didn't think you'd be the first one to cry for us. I thought you would rather laugh like the man there…"

"Of course I’ll cry. That’s..."

The tears continued to spill like fresh water from a spring.

"Because something tragic did happen after all…"

The captain tickled his head in embarrassment and bowed to Dee with his men beside him.

His expression was,

Completely cold.

"No way—"

How did she not notice? Ai turned and looked at Scar, who silently shook her head.

Everyone else started to notice. The Captain’s face was too cold..

"… I see, that's how it is?"

It was Shaun who crossed the line after all..

"That’s one way to put the cart before the horse. <b>You're already dead, aren't you</b>?"

Ai jumped off the chair and ceiling, instantly stood in front of the captain and took his hand without question.

There was no pulse.

The Captain felt as cold as the outside air blowing in from the window. The other people stood far away from the Captain and the others, as though shunning death, and some even screamed.

"Why …?"

Ai did not let go of the hand and mumbled in a daze.

"I thought, I saved everyone …"

"Please don't worry about it, Miss Ai...I was already dead when you escaped…"

The captain looked at Ai, somewhat in a daze.

" I'm embarrassed to say, but there’s another two who didn’t die in combat. In a fire explosion and a car accident…"

"No way…"

"… Miss Ai, this is War, and there are 30,000 citizens, that's the kind of number…people will die whether you help them or not."

The words that were meant to comfort Ai were more like a blow to her heart.

Without noticing the wound, the captain suddenly whispered as if he were leaving a will he had forgotten to say.

"…Miss Ai. When this battle is over, I have a favor to ask of you."

Ai knew his face, but not his name. This Captain whom she only knew of in this manner bowed to a child like her in a ridiculously polite manner.

"When this battle is over, please bury us."

Ai had no answer.

"That will be my honor."

The world never stopped revolving for a moment, just as a millstone grinded at people’s lives.

&nbsp;

At that moment, the iron bugs in flames shrieked as they barged in.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Kami-sama_no_Inai_Nichiyoubi:Volume7_Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Kami-sama_no_Inai_Nichiyoubi|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kami-sama_no_Inai_Nichiyoubi:Volume7_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>