Although she was hurt, she seemed keen on going anyway, and Graham wasn’t about to stop her. Angeline’s three party members did not have any past trauma weighing them down. They appeared to be very reliable in Belgrieve’s eyes.
Percival scratched his head. “Are you really fine with this, Bell?”
“With what?”
“Ange may be Ange. But she’s also our sworn enemy.”
“I guess she is.”
“I’ve chased after her for years, and I was planning on picking up the trail from here onward too. But to think it would turn out like this...”
“Percy...”
“What am I supposed to do? I hated her so much that I didn’t know what to do with myself. No matter what I had to abandon, I knew I’d never be satisfied until I struck her dead. She’s the one that tore us all apart. And yet... What is this? What the hell am I supposed to do?!”
“Percy.” Belgrieve placed a hand on Percival’s shoulder and looked the man straight in the eye. “Ange is my daughter. She is either family or friend to everyone here, nothing more, nothing less.”
Percival looked like he had something to say, but in the end, he gave up. He closed his eyes, folded his arms, and sat down. “Got it.” He smacked his cheeks without holding back, and they were a bit red when his hands came away.
“No more dragging out the past! Not like we can ever return to those times anyway. In that case, it makes sense to grab hold of the best future we can get right now! How’s that sound, Kasim?!” It had been a while since Percival’s last coughing fit, but the excitement got him coughing, and he took out his sachet.
Kasim stood and pulled back his hat. “Heh heh... If the leader says so!” He sounded happy and resolute. After all, Kasim hadn’t been as resentful as Percival.
The snow had ceased, but the sky was still a pearly gray, and the scattered ashen clouds lower in the sky flowed fast in the powerful wind. What happened to Lady Winter? If the snow stopped, does that mean she went off somewhere else? Was she drawn to these happenings? Belgrieve wondered.
He stood before the twisted space. It was pitch-black within, and he had no idea what he might find. The holy sword growled in his hands.
Miriam swallowed her breath. “How long...will this space remain open? It won’t suddenly close on us, will it?”
“Don’t ask me,” said Anessa. “But we have to go, right?”
Marguerite nodded. “We’re adventurers. Let’s go on an adventure, why don’t we?!” Marguerite still marched to the beat of her own drum, though her attitude had softened a bit.
Miriam chuckled. “Heh heh! Well said, Maggie.”
Belgrieve scooped up Angeline’s hair clip from where it had fallen to the ground. After clenching it tightly in his hand, he tucked it into his tool bag.
He turned to Satie. “Please stay here. I’m counting on you to treat Byaku and look after the kids.”
Satie bit her lip. “You might not come back, you know. Are you really going to leave me behind?”
“I’m sorry. But I think this is my duty.”
“I know... You’re right. Give my love to Ange.” Satie smiled with tears still in her eyes. Belgrieve softly drew her close and locked her in a tight embrace.
“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely come back.”
“I’ll hold you to it.” Satie pressed her lips to Belgrieve’s before parting.
Percival drew his sword from its sheath. “Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
“Old man!” Belgrieve turned to see Byaku staring at him. “I’m counting on you.”
“Yeah, leave it to me.” Belgrieve smiled.
○
Though the world around Angeline was pitch-black, she could still see her own feet. Step by step, she continued to move forward aimlessly. Perhaps she wasn’t even moving forward at all—it was possible she was simply walking in place. Even so, she felt like she had to keep moving her feet.
The smell of blood still lingered. It was unbearably unpleasant, but she also felt it fit her perfectly. Tears poured from her eyes—she wouldn’t be able to see her family or her friends ever again, and she wouldn’t want to even if she could. After all, she had stolen the future away from the one she held dearest, then infiltrated his home and lived a carefree life as though nothing had happened. For that, she could never forgive herself.
“His ‘daughter’? Please...” she murmured, her own words like daggers in her heart. Why don’t I just take my own life? But she was scared, and despite her deep despair, she still held on to hope.
You can’t hold on to something like that. You don’t deserve it.
From the tips of her toes, she could feel something creeping over her. Looking down, she saw that she was beginning to change into a black, featureless form, almost like a shadow.
Oh, I see. I’m returning to being a demon.
Angeline accepted it. She thought it was right and for the best. There was a tightness in the back of her throat. She felt lonely. Her nose was runny, and there was heat behind her eyelids. Her tears wouldn’t stop.
I’ll never see dad again. That thought made her sadder than anything else. No matter how she convinced herself that it was what she deserved, she could not shake off the sorrow. Just hurry and make me a demon already. Once I stop being Angeline, won’t this suffering end? I’ll forget about my friends, my comrades, my family... I’ll forget everything.
“Urgh...” Her feet stopped. She fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. I don’t want that. I don’t want to forget. Nothing good comes from forgetting.
But her warm memories were nothing but torture to her now. It was like they were eating her from within. Having a heart was painful. She couldn’t walk anymore, so she curled up, burying her face in her knees, and cried.