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

===Part I===
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She thought it was a meteorite.

The moment Dee finished speaking, a light flickered in the western sky, and the next moment, Ai was blown away by a shockwave and heatwave.

"…What just, happened …"

She got up after tumbling over, and found the scenery had changed completely.

The graveyard was hot, as though it was set aflame. One could even see heat waves rising. Some dead trees were combusting spontaneously, and the area was filled with smoke and flying sparks.

There was a large, agape crater before her eyes.

"Ack ack ack ack…uuu, what happened?"

Dee, who was probably protected by those two, came running in and asked, coughing.

"It's a meteorite, I think…"

"…But wasn't there some kind of screaming before it landed?"

"Did you hear it too, Miss Dee…?"

"I think it was a man's voice."

"Gho~st~"

The voice came from the bottom of the crater.

"No way…"

"Witch~of~the~West!"

With those words, the smoke engulfing the crater was cast aside, and a man appeared.

At a glance, the man had the appearance of a veteran warrior. His short-cut silver hair was pointing into the sky like a hedgehog, and his scarred jacket wrapped around his equally scarred body. The scars were all old and deep, as if they had been carved into his soul as well. His fists were also wrapped in bandages made of asbestos.

And at this moment, he slowly pulled his fist out of the earth.

It was as though all this destruction was caused by that one fist…

"We got a troublesome guy here…"

Dee sounded as though she had chewed through a hundred bitter bugs.

"Do you know him?"

"Yeah…but I'm sure you know him too, Ai. Don’t you remember? At the bottom of the World Tower…"

"Ah!"

Ai remembered.

Thousands of sand pebbles. Ten thousand petals. Ai did see him at the base of the collapsing ‘World Tower’. No, not just him, the noblewoman behind Dee. They were the group of ‘justice’ led by Dee, ‘those who would save the world’..

"Is he your ally…Miss Dee?"

"Nope, strictly put, he's more of an enemy…he has a grudge against me."

"Eh?"

"The name is Destructive Fist. As you can see, he's a Deformed who dreams of saving the world…"

"Why does he hate you, Miss Dee…?"

"Well…he's going to save the world by 'ending' the Ghost that's going to end the world."

"Eh?"

"What are you whispering about?"

<i>Bang!</i> The man put his hands on the ground. With that, his huge body swooped up, and he hopped to the rim of the crater at once.

Dee's expression changed dramatically to one of indifference, and she began to speak like the ‘Ghost’.

"It's been a while, Destructive Fist. We were talking about you. Ah, what? Are you curious? Are you curious about what I said about you…?"

"Shut up. Shut up or I'll kill that girl."

Dee's speech paused for a moment, as a scarred fist was raised sluggishly towards Ai.

"What are you..."

"I said shut up."

Instantly, a bright red death ray (jab) passed under Ai's ear.

The fist line continued to advance fifty meters, destroying several tombstones before finally stopping.

Ai could not move.

"—!—"

"That’s right, Ghost, don't say anything. Just answer my questions."

The man snatched Dee's weapon away in an instant.

There was no doubt. He knew about the Ghost completely.

"There is only one question. Answer yes or no. No other answer allowed."

"……"

"I ask you...Ghost, is it true that you have lost your invincible body and returned to being just a little girl?"

"…!"

Dee barely kept a poker face. She was still trying to fight at this last moment, with her weapon, her words, practically sealed off.

"Answer me, Ghost… yes or no."

"—As long as I answer—"

"Yes! Or no! Talk!"

<i>Boom!</i> The man slammed both fists into the ground. That alone caused the air to shake, and the shockwave knocked Ai over.

Ai glanced at the two people behind her, hoping that they could save Dee at least. While they had been assisting Dee quietly the entire time, they merely relegated themselves to the sidelines this time..

"If you don't want to answer, fine! But your friend will be burned to crisp!"

A wisp of steam rose from the man's fist. The bandages made of non-combustible cloth heated up and a destructive heat wave filled the space.

[[Image:Kamisama v06 Illustration 05.jpg|thumb]]

"Stop!"

And immediately, Dee stood in front of Ai and spread her arms wide.

"S-sorr,…I'm sorry,… I beg of you, please don't kill Ai,…"

His face was pale with fear, and even her fingertips were trembling.

In the end, Dee did not say yes or no.

But the answer was already conveyed by then.

The way she shivered and stood before her friend.

That was all the answer he needed.

"No way…"

The agitation was slowly drained from the man's face.

With a fizz, there was a knock directed at Dee’s forehead, one that seemed juvenile compared to the previous one. The impact exploded on Dee’s little forehead, and caused a trail of blood to flow from it.

"Haha…hahaha."

The man begins to laugh, slowly gaining conviction.

"Really, all of you, hahaha, you really seem to have lost your powers. Huh? Ghost?"

"You’re right…"

"Haha…hahaha, what is this? Hahaha, that Ghost is just a little girl now? The demon who destroyed my country… burned my hometown to the ground…is now just a, little kid?"

The man stumbled unsteadily before Dee and held out his hand tentatively, as if reaching for a star or a rainbow.

"Ohhh…ohhh…"

Dee gently leaned her cheek against his hand. The fingertip that was half charred from scars and burns, slid across her cheek that was as smooth as a lake surface.

"I can touch…I can touch…"

The man stroked his white cheek more carefully than he would touch any jewel or craft.

"How I've longed for this day.…"

At that moment—

"!"

The man's hand grabbed the little head and threw it behind him. The hair tore, the skirt bloomed in a big circle, and the little scream fell to the bottom of the crater.

"Miss Dee!"

Ai saw that the man was trying to get back into the hole, and she, unable to think any further, grabbed a stick and tried to run over. But,

"Don't do that."

"Don't interrupt."

"Aah!"

Ai’s feet left the ground, and her body floated up as she did at the top floor of the World Tower.

"Both of you! Why aren't you helping Miss Dee?"

"…We're not obligated to save her, you know."

"!? You’re prart of his group too?"

"Not exactly…but we won’t let you interfere…"

"! I don't need your help anymore! Hey, you bandage monster! Look here!"

"………… You’re so pitiful, Ghost."

The man completely ignored everything else in the outside world and looked at Dee alone. His appearance slowly changed, and began to display his ability.

At this moment, his fists were the embodiment of his fury. The bandages fluttered in the hot wind, and the similarly colored flames burned in Ai’s eyes.

He mocked.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

He mocked.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

He mocked for a third time.

"Hahahahahahaha! How lucky I am! There are fifty thousand people who want to kill you, and I'm the only one who can do it!"

"Ugh!"

The man grabbed Dee by the chest and lifted her up to his face. Dee’s neck and chest were tightened, her complexion pale, and she was practically frozen.

"Ugh…ack…fu…that hurts, …."

"I see, I see. That's good to know. But—, but the people you killed didn't hurt like this either!"

"Hiii!"

There was the stench of clothes that were ironed and charred

The smell of burning wool, of burning animals. Dee could not determine whether it was the smell of burning clothes or her own burning.

Her back teeth clattered in fear like a malfunctioning lighter.

"Hahahahaha! The time has finally come! You! Evil! Shall pay for this! The time has finally come for justice to be served! The wicked shall be brought to justice! The righteous shall be saved! The time has come!"

"U, uuuu~!"

"Does it hurt? Are you scared, Ghost? Savor every bit of it! All that pain and fear! Everything is retribution for what you've done in the past!"

The man was crying.

Every time he tugged at Dee’s chest and intimidated her, he was crying as though he was the one experiencing the pain.

The crying man could not stop his torment of Dee.

Ai wanted to be there right away. Her pride, her worries, none of those mattered.

She just wanted to defeat the big man and save Dee.

And yet the victim Dee,

(Don't come here!)

Dee's eyes were telling Ai not to.

Dee's eyes were telling Ai to stay out of it.

"Haha…hahahahaha."

The man,

"Hahaha…hahaha…haha …."

Gradually, the man's mockery weakened, there was nowhere for him to vent his anger, and he was increasingly weary as he had lost his means to torture. A born warrior, he had no means of torture.

"Hahaha…this is…what I wanted? My revenge… is just like this…to hurt such a little girl?"

The man no longer kicked Dee, and vaporized his tears with his red-hot hands.

"So this is my…endpoint …"

With a thud, Dee finally fell to the ground. The man said with tears, as though he was dispossessed.

"Hey…why don't you say something? Yeah? Ghost? Here’s a guy who’s been thinking…only about you, about you, just wanting revenge. A man whose everything was taken by you, left only with you, and about to lose you. Can’t you say a few words?"

"…, …."

"Say something!"

Dee complied with the request. In spite of her wobbly body, she managed to stand up and looked the man straight in the eye.

Her eyes were as clear as lake water, and she looked at the distant moon.

The moon was a neatly split half-moon, and half of it was on the ground, looking at the man.

"Wh-What's with your eyes …?"

The man was instantly intimidated.

"What, hey, where are you looking at? Look at me!"

"I'm looking at you. Destructive Fist. No. Machia Electus."

"Y-you."

The man's eyes narrowed in surprise.

"You remember my name—"

"There's only one thing I can say to you. If that's alright with you, I wish for you to hear me out…"

Saying that, Dee collapsed to the ground, and rubbed her forehead against it.

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"I'm sorry."

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It seemed the man was momentarily unable to comprehend, and did not seem to understand what was being said.

"W-What?"

"I'm sorry, Maccia Electus…"

"What are you say—"

"I'm sorry, Maccia, I'm sorry for destroying your country and killing your family."

"Y-You!"

Maccia's face turned fiery red the moment understanding dawned on him.

"How long are you going to keep fooling me! Of all times! At your last moments!? An-and you dare!"

Maccia did not move immediately, perhaps because he was too angry.

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"I apologize!!"

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"Retract that filthy lie right now!"

The lowered head was stomped on. But the words did not stop.

"I'm not lying, Marcia, I'm really sorry."

"You…you!"

Maccia backed away as if he was afraid to touch her.

"You got to be joking! What do you mean, "I'm sorry"? You think that's going to absolve you of your sins? Do you think that will make my anger go away? Do you think my family will come back to me?"

The man scorched the sky with his fists and turned his words into actual destruction.

"……"

"Answer me, Ghost!"

Dee slowly raised her head and threw her face and body into the flames of righteousness.

"You're right…no matter how much I apologize or how sorry I am, the Dead won’t come back. It’s as you say…"

But still, Dee turned her jet-black eyes forward.

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"But even so, I'm sorry!"

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Tears spilled from her eyes as she was torn apart by her own sin. Nevertheless, Dee apologized profusely.

"All I can do is apologize! I'm sorry for killing your family! I'm sorry for ruining your life! I'm sorry for hurting you!"

"Stop!"

Maccia had turned pale and was shaking.

"Not now…you! After all this time!"

Maccia shouted. He punched his chest like a child exposed to the unreasonableness of the world and reached his hands forward to appeal.

"What’s wrong with you? You gotta be joking! Why are you apologizing now? Why now?"

The burly arms swung to the ground, forming a pothole.

"At this time!? You’re saying you've repented? You, Ghost, Witch of the West!?"

"…Yes."

"You wished to destroy the world with whispers! You're a demon who could do it with a smile on your face. The Ghost that laughs at the ravages of war! You’re saying that you’re sorry for what you've done!?"

"Yes."

"You've lost all your power! Are you really just a little girl now?"

"Yes!"

"Stop messing around!"

Kaan! A fist slammed into the air. That action alone caused the space to be shaken..

"I don't accept it. I don't accept it…you should be evil to the end…evil should be rewarded with evil. I'm…I’m here to fight evil! I'm here to save the world! Like a warrior! And yet! And yet~!"

<i>Kaan! Kaan!</i> The fists tore through the space again, and the flames conjured up a gale. But none of that destruction reached Dee.

"Does this mean I’m the one who turned ‘evil’!!?"

<i>Kaakaan! </i> Two fists were swung at Dee, but that justice did not reach Dee. The fists only grazed her white cheek, hitting the air.

"What did… you reflect for…you wouldn’t let me be a warrior… you turn my 'dream of saving the world'… into rotten revenge…"

The smell of burning flesh and blood began to waft out between the overly clenched fists . Maccia’s fists began to lose control, and even he was starting to burn up.

"And I want to say sorry for that too."

"…………Enough, with the apologies…"

After a few seconds of silence, Maccia slowly raised his upper body.

"…Die."

The shimmering fingertips touched Dee.

"…That’s enough. I don't have to be righteous…I'll kill you, and then myself…"

Maccia's body bursts into flames. He walked forward like a flaming demon.

"Ahh… no, I was never righteous to begin with…I would have congratulated you if I were …"

Maccia trudged along like a lost child.

""It's okay…I’m content as long as you disappear…it doesn’t matterfine with that."

Even the non-combustible bandages were burned away. Maccia extended his fist slowly, as if to touch the treasure.

Dee wiped the tears on his fist. The tears made a small sizzling sound and quickly disappeared.

""I'm sorry…Maccia…"

"No more…apologies…"

"No,… that's not what I mean,… sorry Maccia. I can't disappear with you,…"

The flaming fists stopped abruptly.

"What?"

"I was willing to let you kill me…but now I can’t give you any more…"

Dee spoke like a mother telling a child it was impossible to reach for the stars.

"……"

"" I still have a purpose. I still have a reason not to die."

For the first time, Dee's gaze left Maccia, which caused him to falter greatly. Dee was not looking at Maccia, she was looking in the direction of the school.

"And if I disappear, some will cry…"

Dee said, finally looked at Ai, the noblewoman, and the boy, and gave an earnest smile.

"So. I can't die."

"……"

There were no words other than 'despair' to describe his expression.

"…ku…ah…a, ah…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh～!!!"

Maccia was despairing like a devil confronted by this angelic smile. Thousands of thoughts seemed to explode in his chest and cause his words to remain stuck in his throat.

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"That's not fair!"

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Maccia yelled like a child. He spilled tears and cursed the unreasonable state of it all, as if he had forgotten a decade of his life.

"That’s despicable! Why, why! Why do I have to feel this way! You, you’re unfair! Despicable! What are you saying now! What! What! What!"

His fist lifts again, inching toward Dee.

"Why don't! You at least finish! What you started! You dare say you want to live, even now! You say you have a reason to live! What about me? What am I going to do? I've lost my justice! I’ve become evil! I can only die! I've lost everything! And you're begging for your life! "Because there's more to me than you’!!"

With a thump, his fist touched Dee's heart.

"Can't you at least disappear with me…?"

"I'm sorry…"

Dee took his hand, letting a single tear spill.

"I can't…be…with you, you know."

The scorching fist had already lost its heat and did not hurt Dee's body.

"You are…the worst. You can't even…be a proper antagonist…you’re the worst kind of evil …."

"I'm sorry. … I'm sorry. …"

Dee gently laid her cheek against his burnt and scarred knuckles.

Ten years. The murderous relationship ended at that moment.

Maccia softly looked at the bird-like girl perched in his fist and muttered.

"… Oh, so the Ghost I wanted to kill was long gone…"

"Yes…."

Dee then gently kissed Maccia's fist, and Maccia responded by gently stroking Dee's cheek.

No one, not even them, knew what these gestures meant.

"Goodbye Ghost… you are indeed gone… my revenge is over…"

And with that, Maccia wandered away.

He was about to leave the crater and back to the west side of the cemetery.

"…Maccia, where are you going now?"

"It's obvious…my purpose is over. There's no reason for me to be here anymore. …"

"Then!"

Dee ran over and stopped in front of Maccia.

"Then you'll have to help me!"

"Help you?"

"Yeah—we're witnessing the birth of a new world."

Dee confidently extended her hand.

"But we're still weak. So help us, Maccia Electus."

"You…."

Maccia looked so dumbfounded that he could not even speak.

"You're…really…inscrutable, Dee Ensy…even though you're back to being a little girl, you seem more arrogant than before…."

"Ehehe."

Dee smiles in the cutest way possible in the world.

"…I'm not going to fall for that."

He said, sounding as if he had no regrets.

"……But I'll be watching you. I’ll always be watching you from the edge of the wilderness. When you become the Ghost again, know that my fist will return as well."

"That's fine."

Dee clenched her right hand and gently raised it forward. and Maccia did the same and did a little fistbump.

Dee then returned to Ai.

"Hehe…I'm back."

Ai welcomed Dee head-on.

"Miss Dee!

"Oops."

Dee, Dee Ensy, was definitely there. With an ordinary body, she had overcome death and returned. The significance of it was completely different from when she was the invincible Ghost. At this point, Dee had no unique ability. The only weapon she had was her ‘whisper’, and with that little power, she stopped a single "evil".

But...

"You idiot, Miss Dee you idiot! That’s so dangerous!"

"No, erm—Ai, are you mad at me?"

"Of course I am!"

For every moment till then, Ai's heart had been frozen like an ice cube. Every time the man's fist fizzled by Dee, Ai had the urge to charge over to save Dee. However, Dee kept glaring at her, "Don't come!". She told Ai it was her own issue..

Ai knew what Dee was trying to do, and she was aware of Dee’s thoughts. This was not the first time it happened. She understood that the apology was necessary for Dee to be able to live.

But it At this moment, it did not matter to Ai.

"?"

Dee was bewildered, and tilted her head in wonder.

"Miss Dee…don’t you know…how I felt looking at you…like, don’t you understand how I felt…when you were about to die …?

"…You’re saying such words to me?"

Dee sounded really really incredulous.

"I’m sorry for making youYou're the one who always pushed Julie and Scar to achieve their dreams, and now you're saying … that?"

"!"

The words pierced Ai's heart.

"I'm sorry for making you worry. But this is my dream. No matter how much you worry about me, no matter how much you tell me to stop. I'm not going to."

Ai was dazzled by Dee's apology. She felt Dee was walking on the right path, that she herself was on the wrong path, being obtuse, and she wanted to dig a hole and hide in it.

But the situation was no longer stopping, leaving Ai behind.

"Oh, yeah, Dee Ensy, I'm sure the guys behind will tell you this."

"…What?"

Maccia suddenly started talking as if he remembered.

"I saw the Coven on the way here."

"!"

Dee's face changed.

"The Witch Independent Justice Troupe (Coven)!? You saw those miracle-crushing hyenas?"

"Y-yeah."

"That's ridiculous… I knew it would come one day, but it's too soon! … They were on the other side of the continent five days ago!"

"You’re telling me…but they just appeared in the wilderness only thirty kilometers away from here… wait, you don’t know at all?"

Dee was no longer listening.

"That's enough! If I still had my old body, I could fly to inform everyone at a time like this!"

Ai had no idea what Dee was talking about.

But she could feel Dee’s anxiety.

Ai had a bad premonition.

It was one that smelled far more severe than the one they had just barely escaped from.

"Ai! Run to school right now—now, wait! Look for Alice—"

"W-Which way?"

Ai did not probe any further as she got ready to run at any given moment, only to feel like she almost tripped.

And as if to mock the two panicked people.

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A siren sounded in the sky of Ostia.

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"W-What is that sound?"

"It’s here—"

At that moment, the pebbles on the ground began to shake.

The vibrations grew stronger with each passing second, and finally even the tombstones began to shake.

"Ai, we have to go!"

"Yeah, but, eh?"

They took each other's hands and started running.

"W-What's going on?"

"Shut up and run!"

The vibrations grew louder and louder and the sirens created a wall of sound. It seemed the source of the noise was right behind them, and Ai, driven by fear, forcibly turned her head to look behind.

She saw it.

"!"

She saw that ‘thing’, a monster eating everything that would look back at it, and at that moment, both of them were devoured.

They were not permitted to make even the slightest resistance.

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