When Liebe woke up again, he was already surrounded.
When he materialized, dark matter gathered. A strange phenomenon like that was bound to attract people.
But this was clearly a suburb of the capital, and late at night, just as it was starting to rain.
It was simply too dark for people to gather like that.
The ones gathered around him were boys and girls aged from twelve to fourteen.
The magic stones in their chests would sometimes light up, illuminating the dark night.
“Are you… Magic dolls?”
He did not resent them, but he could not forget them either.
These magic dolls were the number one reason why the advance of Azure Skies was stopped.
“Found Liebe, leader of Azure Skies.”
“…Are you going to kill me? Apparently I’m already dead.”
“That was the order from our former master. That order has been neutralized.”
“I see… I don’t have a reason to fight anymore either.”
It was humans who Liebe wanted gone. He would show no mercy to magic dolls if they took their side, but had no intention of treating them as enemies otherwise.
“Demand that you depart from here. This is our territory. Legion territory.”
“…Legion? I’ve never heard of that group.”
“If you do not, offensive action will be taken.”
Liebe became more cautious, and the dark matter that served as the source of the ghost fluttered, and footsteps could be heard behind the magic doll that called their group Legion.
And what appeared, was a human.
“You…”
“…Anonymous. And you are Liebe.”
The shadow that introduced itself as Anonymous walked naturally in front of the magic doll.
And the magic doll conveyed concern to that back.
“Anonymous, this boy is the threat that led Azure Skies.”
“Stand back. I don’t intend to treat him as an enemy.”
“But it’s dangerous.”
“Trust me.”
Said Anonymous, and the magic doll seemed to finally give up, before retreating to the back with a sour expression.
“…Hn?”
There was thunder in the distance.
It creepily illuminated the area for a second, revealing Anonymous to Liebe.
Anonymous was wearing the raincoat, but not the fox mask.
“Quiet.”
Intense emotions ran through Liebe’s mind once he saw that face. So much so that he unconsciously activated his form as a ghost.
It was easy to see why. The person Liebe saw was someone he would rate as among the absolute worst, even for a human.
“You… You…!! Are you a human from the Fair Skies Church…!”
“…Am I that well known? Of course.”
Liebe knew who Anonymous was. He was a human affiliated with the Fair Skies Church.
And once it was pointed out to him, Anonymous laughed at himself and shrugged.
“The Fair Skies Church is the one I’ll never… Forgive… I’ll send you to your god.”
“That won’t be possible.”
Liebe activated Stealth with a voice of pure hatred.
Quiet Ghost, in other words, the giant head, was approaching, but Anonymous was unaware. He did not even perceive the blade of the guillotine approaching his neck.
The guillotine was dropped, to cut Anonymous’ head with resentment and no mercy.
“After all, there is no god anywhere.
Dragon.”
Meanwhile, Anonymous put his palms together and his body opened, as a glittering dragon appeared from behind and held him just before the blade touched him.
“Reverse.”
Immediately after, both bodies were flicked.
Liebe’s body turned back to that of a beast person as he rolled on the ground, and Anonymous was dragged back by the impact of the clash.
Liebe noticed something was off right away. That his body had turned back from that of a monster.
“My body… Is back to normal.”
“A ghost’s composition is similar to that of a magic doll. It is possible for me to interfere.”
“Qualia said something like that.”
“The interference itself can be done by anyone who knows the composition of the magic energy. Although I can only make the magic dolls stop or remove their instructions.”
It seemed the moment they touched, Anonymous invaded his heart, and as a result, forcibly undid the Quiet Ghost transformation.
But it was different from Qualia’s smart method, that was like undoing a puzzle ring.
Anonymous’ felt more like breaking the puzzle ring. Like he forcibly pushed back Quiet Ghost’s power to the abyss.
And although the guillotine hit directly, there was something odd when it touched Anonymous’ neck.
It did catch his throat, but it was like the blade was pushed back by it.
This defensive power left Liebe stunned for a moment, but he quickly gritted his teeth and threw him a question.
“…What do you mean? Isn’t denying the existence of god a violation of your creed?”
“If it doesn’t it doesn’t. You can think of it as god being dead, if you prefer.”
“Then why are you a follower of the Fair Skies Church? Because you can do anything if you’re with them!? Because you can torture people without it being a crime like a certain cardinal!?”
“…To destroy it.”
For a moment, those words did not reach Liebe’s cat ears, so Anonymous repeated them.
“I am on the surface affiliated with the Fair Skies Church to destroy it. Eden does not need that group.”
Liebe frowned, and Anonymous threw him a question.
“Tell me one thing. Where is the remaining Black Hole?”
“What are you planning to do with that information?”
“Azure Skies only knows how to use it to destroy the capital.”
Liebe frowned again, thinking about what other use could there be.
But he quickly snorted, thinking that question was meaningless.
“It’s no good. I heard it was confiscated by a guard knight chivalric order.”
“…I see. It seems you are being fooled by Backdoor.”
“What?”
“You must have noticed it faintly. How Backdoor was making you dance. The chivalric order still hasn’t found that black Hole.”
“…”
There was no response from Liebe.
A question emerged, one that Anonymous saw through.
“Violence always creates tragedy.”
Anonymous continued, as if pushing Liebe back.
“I’m sure you have noticed it too. Continuing these self-destructive attacks will give you nothing. It will give your sister nothing.”
“…What are you getting at?”
“You treat humans as enemies, but it’s not just humans who could kill your sister. It could even be a beast person… Are you saying all is fine between beast people? If that were true, there would be no wars between humans either.”
“…A human from the Fair Skies Church… Is trying to be all evasive to trick me again!”
Liebe bared his strong claws, and charged at Anonymous.
But before he could get close, Anonymous flew. He flew so fast, that Liebe’s eyes could not keep up.
And then, Anonymous spoke from the sky to the bewildered Liebe.
“Myself and Legion will search for Black Hole. We must have it for the Eden we will create.”
“Eden… What? Are you trying to resurrect your dead god?”
“This world has no need for gods or the Fair Skies Church. All we need is a gentle world where no one dies. That is the Eden myself and Legion strive for. That should also be paradise for you.”
“A gentle world where no one dies? Nonsense…”
Liebe looked up, but could not see Anonymous in the night sky.
But the words left by the one who was accompanied by rain, hit Liebe harder than any downpour.
“Your way of doing things will only bring new violence. One that will kill unrelated brothers and sisters, and it will also find your sister. The magic doll who taught me love was also a victim of such a thing.”
Only a ghost was left in the rain.
He dropped to his knees, and his thoughts traveled all over.
“Gu…”
It hurt.
Every word spoken by Anonymous stuck to the dark matter.
‘But it’s not just humans who could kill your sister. It could even be a beast person…’
These words in particular were wrapped tightly around his head.
Even if he did destroy humans, there was no guarantee that beast people would not bare their fangs towards Ina.
The world would not become a good one just because humans were gone.
He knew it, and yet, the humans Liebe saw were just too cruel.
And so, he was scared of leaving Ina in such a world.
‘There is no need for you to take that sort of action.’
Qualia’s words suddenly passed through the back of his mind.
Yes, beast people might become enemies of Ina.
And it might be humans who protect her, or magic dolls.
It might be that young knight named Qualia.
‘Maybe… Living can be this painful… But I still want to live among these people.’
Ina’s wish passed through the back of his mind.
She also knew it, and that was why she said such a thing surrounded by humans…
“I…”
A limit to his existence emerged again, and he laughed as he disappeared.
Liebe would appear again twelve hours later, during daytime the next day.
And just after the tragedy.
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