Editing Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi:Volume6 Chapter2 (section)

===Part XI===
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The sun is setting. slowly approaching the Ostia’s lake surface, and the evening stars slowly showed themselves brightly. The open-ceiling hall was filled with the yellow light that came before dusk, lamps and lights began to be switched on everywhere.

"This is not going to end. "

<i>Clank, </i>the shackles rang, and Alice stood up at the accused table unhappily.

"Let's get the facts straight."

All eyes were on Alice's every move, and all ears were focused on what he was going to say, as he had been silent since the beginning of the trial.

Ai did the same. She leaned forward from the counsel's seat and looked at Alice.

Alice was not looking anywhere. All eyes were on him, but he did not look anywhere but his own feet.

"We got too many factions involved here, Ortus, Coven, Dee, Ostia, and a whole bunch of others, it’s easy to get confused here. Let’s split them all into two great factions. One of them affirms the black surface—that’s the Living, in other words, and the other denies the black surface—the Dead, and those who are going to be Dead."

"Wait a minute,"

Dee said, as if she couldn't take it anymore.

"I don't see the point of simplifying the factions that much now. I think you're overgeneralizing the Living and the Dead. The ones debating now are just us and Madame’s side."

"That’s wrong."

"Ugh. Why not?"

"It's true that we're the ones fighting this case, but the whole world is watching from the shadows, and it’s pointless to ignore their existence here—look Dee, I know you're trying to talk Madame into a victory here, and you’re capable of it, but it’s meaningless here. Even if you win now, if the factions behind them can’t accept it, they’ll just send a second and third Coven.

"That's—"

"It’s just one quagmire after another. The conflict you start to minimize the damage will end up increasing the damage. You see what I mean? What we need now is a solution that will satisfy the entire world. That's why I've divided the forces into just two."

That would be the Living and the Dead.

There was no better way to divide people than this. The Living and the Dead would mark a distinction beyond Male and female, old and young, rich and poor.

The black surface was the salvation of the Living, and also the destruction of the Dead.

Alice argued that the conflict would never end unless they chose a solution here that satisfied both of them.

"—That's true, but."

Dee admitted with a pouty look on her face. Like before, she had not thought about what would happen after she had won, and her face was filled with awkwardness.

"—But what are you going to do then?

"It's easy, just reconcile the two sides and do what they say."

A dark chill crept into Ai's heart.

"First, we need to seal off the black surface. From the Dead’s viewpoint, this is something they can’t compromise. The Living probably can’t come to a consensus here, so they probably won’t reject this too harshly."

Oh no.

"Then punish those responsible."

No. No.

"It's a necessary step. No one's going to be happy if there's no one to blame for why there’s a hole in the world—so that's me, isn't it?"

He, Alice Color, continued to insist on doing so.

"So I would argue that sealing the black surface and Alice Color is the best way to resolve this…speaking of which, that was the initial decision."

"That’s!"

Ai shouted before anyone else could.

"You can't do that! You can't just find someone to sacrifice!"

Alice did not even look at Ai. He responded in a dull manner, as though he was facing a face that was blotted by the sunset shadow, unable to be distinguished.

"…… Did you even listen to me? If we don't do this, we’ll just end up doing more damage than that. That's what I was talking about."

"Then!…Then we'll figure out a better way! Without sacrificing anyone! We just have to come up with a way that works for everyone!"

"I agree."

His eyes were suddenly tinted with kindness.

"You're that kind of person, aren't you—I feel the same, that it’ll be great if we can do it."

"Then!"

"Then tell me. How can we do that?"

That was,

"…….I don't know about that right now! But we'll figure it out together with ‘everyone’!"

"Then think about it right now. The trial will be over by today. That’s what was agreed. We don’t have time."

As if to prove his words, the sun was slowly setting.

Ai thought impatiently. Her usual self would have come up with an answer immediately, a way to ‘save everyone’.

However, her mind wavered, and she could not come up with anything.

"—Then, Then!"

"That's enough, Ai."

The voice was full of tenderness and compassion.

"No matter what you say, no matter what you try, it’s not going to touch anyone's heart anymore."

"W-why—why would you say that!?"

"—Why? Because you don't believe in your own words anymore."

Ai almost covered her ears instinctively. She did not want to hear those horrible words.

"You already know, don't you? You know you didn't save ‘everyone’. You know that you failed, didn’t you?"

"Uu, uuuu~!"

She had a throbbing headache. The ringing in my ears caused her cochlea to creak. Her body felt like it was falling apart. Her mind was listless.

"Uuu, uuuuuu~!"

An animal-like moan echoed from the back of her throat. Dee had been watching their conversation fearfully, and finally had enough as she reached out to tap Ai’s shoulder.

That gestured triggered Ai to shout like a launched spring.

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'Then I’ll do it! I'll take that role!"

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Her vision was spinning in circles. She had no idea what she was thinking.

"………Ai."

"I-It doesn’t matter who the sacrifice is, right? In that case, I should be the one to take responsibility for bringing back Mr. Alice!

"……Ai."

Ai felt that the world was spinning, and could practically hear it. She could hear wha sounded like a broken mechanical doll that was being destroyed. Her body involuntarily moved, laughing.

"Ha, hahaha, hahahaha! Th-that’s right, everyone! It’s me! I was the one who brought Mr. Alice back to life! So I'll take his place!"

"That's…wrong, Ai…."

Alice shook his head sadly.

"It's…self-sacrifice, which is…a path you're supposed to deny…didn’t you say you’re going to save ‘everyone’?"

"N-no. Don't you remember, Mr. Alice, that I'm not included in the ‘everyone’ I'm talking about?"

Ai laughed. She laughed in a daze. Her cheeks were contorted as though she was forced to contort her already snapped limbs.

"I’m fine with it. I don’t mind. I’m not included in ‘everyone’ after all."

"You’re lying."

"I-I’m not!"

"No, you’re lying. You're already part of everyone, and you want to save yourself too."

"That’s not true! I’m not trying to save my own life! It’s nothing compared to my dream! If you want, I can dig my heart out right now and show it to you!"

Her heart was cold.

Her body too was cold and dull, and her senses were heavy and weakened. Her words were the only aspect that were passionate. She clung desperately to that heat, letting it devour her mind and body. She said what she should not, and thought of what she should not.

One would think that surely, this was what it meant to be a monster.

Then Ai was about to say the fatal words…

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"If it's for the sake of my dream! No matter what happens to me—"

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"Ai!!"

Dee hugged her, with increasing tightness.

[[Image:Kamisama v06 Illustration 09.jpg|thumb]]

"Let go of me, Miss Dee!

Ai grabbed Dee’s arms and shoved the latter away, yet Dee quickly returned and held Ai.

"No! You can’t, Ai! You can’t say that!"

"Miss, Dee—"

"Don't you dare say that you give up on yourself!"

It was as if the fire had embraced Ai.

The Ghost (Dee) had a body that was supposedly devoid of heat, yet it was so hot that it nearly scalded her. The tears that fell on her face were as painful as meteorites.

"You idiot! You idiot! Ai you idiot! You…you’re already a part of ‘everyone’, Ai!"

"Miss Dee…"

"We don't want you to disappear, Ai!"

Ai tried to reject the heat. She tried not to let it get in the way of her dreams.

And yet,

Ai's body slowly heated up, and warmth slowly filled her heart.

"Ah…"

Still, Ai protested. She tried to argue fervently with all the words she could muster.

"Ah……"

And yet, the words finally trailed off.

Dee's warmth had taken away all resistance.

She felt a hint of tears from within her eyes. A feeling she had long forgotten was about to be released.

Just before that,

"Ai."

A silver bullet shot Ai.

"I'm sorry that I relied on you."

The scenery of the world was distorted.

"But that's over now. The distortion will be corrected, and you can go back to where you came from. You can forget about me."

Alice was smiling through the distortion.

He looked as though he was someone who had lived for a hundred years.

It was as if he was nearing the end of his life.

"Dee."

"…What?"

"Thanks for all your defense…but that's enough. Please stop."

"!"

The next bullet struck Dee.

"I'm going to die here. … That's what I want."

Dee was sweating profusely as she stared at the bullet that struck her chest. The bullet pierced Dee's heart with precision.

If Alice wanted it, the members of Class 3-4 would accept it.

That was Dee's rule.

"Now then, Madame."

"—Yes."

"I'm sorry it took so long, but now that we're all on the same page, about Ostia after that—"

"Of course. Nothing will change. We shall assist you as we originally planned."

"Is that so? Thanks then."

"No—you really live with dignity, Alice."

<i>That’s not the case at all,</i> Alice smiled wryly.

"Well, shall we get this over with?"

Kan~kan~kan~

The high-pitched clanging of the gavel brought the court to its final phase.

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