Chapter 148: Interlude: The Reason for Waste

A dream.

There is no brain inside that skull.

"This" is merely a superficial Yorishiro.

But the "memories" within those hollow contents are real.

This is why I dream of imitating my life.

In sleep, one simply organizes their memories.

Simply organizing the necessary memories, unnecessary memories, memories one does not want to remember, and memories one wants to remember.

And this is just a small recollection during the organizing process.

This is just a "dream."

"Why does your sister want to reach the 'Root'?"

The sister on the bed asked.

Since her eyelids were already more than half closed, she was probably dreaming. Therefore, I should have just closed my eyes and fallen asleep, answering nothing. I think I did not need to answer.

However, Hami answered face-to-face with her sister.

"... How did you know?"

I asked while answering.

This was the best answer I could find in the sea.

The younger sister's closed eyes opened. Clearly, this answer surprised my sister so much that it made her drowsy.

"Don't you know?"

To the sister who asked back, Hami said with an ambiguous smile.

"That's right. I don't know why I want to reach the 'Root.' But I absolutely want to reach it. I don't care about the honor and mission of being a Magician.

It is not that I want to do anything, but that I am helplessly drawn to it. I am not qualified to make fun of my parents. On the contrary, am I stupidly aiming for the 'Root' without any real purpose?"

A descendant of Kischur Zelretch, a disciple of the Second Magician, one of the four existing Magicians. Being born and raised as the heir to the Shikiori family, which can be called a prestigious Magician lineage, was the best answer I could give.

The ultimate goal as a Magician is to "reach the Root." When asked "Why do you want to do this?", Hami could only answer: "I don't know."

The younger sister's question must have been very ridiculous to my parents and other Magicians.

Asking this question is equivalent to denying the existence of a Magician's life.

As long as they are alive, their hearts will move and breathe, and if they are born as Magicians, they will naturally aim for "that place," the Root, because they have stopped thinking.

If I were to bring it up at most, it is because I consider "reaching the Root" the greatest honor for a Magician.

But that is why it is ridiculous to Hami.

If you really think "reaching the Root" is an honor, then you are very wrong.

As the name suggests, the "Root" is the root of all things, so not only the Magicians themselves, but even the ordinary people looked down upon by Magicians are born from the "Root." No matter how far or how thin, they are still connected.

So, even if no one tries to go there, there is the fact that they were born from there, and they will return there one day.

Since this is a matter of course, Hami does not understand why she thinks it is an honor to bother running backwards or getting ahead of others.

If you seek honor for snobbish reasons, it is better to aim for practical reasons such as "I want to obtain Magic" and "I have a wish I want to fulfill."

Magicians look down on "Magicians" who do not treat Magic as a means to reach the Origin, but as a means, so those who aim for the "Origin" might be the great enemies of Magicians, insulting them all. No.

However, for Hami, I feel it is more correct to be a person with a clear purpose and goal, rather than someone dazzled by a fundamentally misunderstood "honor."

For Hami, "honor" is nothing more than proof of achievement for obtaining a sponsor.

I feel the ultimate goal is to save money and not use it at all; she despises her parents who think it is fine, and despises Magicians who think the same way as her.

She despises her... but Hami also thinks she is the stupidest Magician, incomparable to her parents.

After all, Hami has a "purpose" but no "meaning."

From childhood to adulthood, by the time Hami could remember things, the purpose of "reaching the Root" had already been fully realized. On the contrary, I feel I had this purpose from the beginning, and I could only express this "purpose" after acquiring a certain amount of knowledge.

And this "purpose" was never forced upon them by their parents, like brainwashing, regardless of their own will.

This is obvious when you are not interested in the "honor" your parents desperately want.

But if you are not interested in "honor," then Hami's "purpose" is meaningless.

Although I did not want to get anything from the "Root" when I reached it, Hami also did not understand the "meaning" of my goal.

I don't know, but I want it.

Even though I know I will reach it one day without doing anything, I am certain I will never stop wishing to reach it as "Shikiori Umi."

Thus, Hami said: "Actually, why do you want it so much." Let us find it with ',' at the Root, and conclude that this is also a reversal of host and guest.

It is not needed.

Even if the answer does not reach the "Root," we have the sea.

Given.

"... I don't think you're stupid, I'm naturally drawn to you."

This time, Hami opened her eyes.

Before I knew it, Hami's eyes were wide open, stunned by the reply from her sister with half-closed eyelids.

Perhaps because her consciousness was already dreaming, she seemed not to notice at all, continuing to speak drowsily.

"... Isn't your sister's desire to 'reach the Root' just like the feeling of old people saying 'I want to fly to the sky' or 'I don't know what is at the farthest end of the sea'?"

The answer fell into my heart all at once.

Until now, I did not know what I was worried about, and my sister's words perfectly matched the "reason" for the "purpose" I was lacking.

"... Ah. That's right. Exactly, exactly."

My "purpose," to put it plainly, is "curiosity."

Even knowing it was born from there, even knowing it would arrive one day, what was born from there was the prototype of the "Shikiori Sea," and what led to it was the final conclusion of the "Shikiori Sea." It is not what I am now.

Hami explained the reason for her "goal," saying she just wanted to see with her own eyes the hometown she was familiar with but had never seen, the final destination she should have reached, and I finally understood what this meant.

Perhaps this is the reason and meaning behind why the "honor" my parents are obsessed with is nothing.

However, neither the reason nor the meaning made Hami feel like she was mocking herself. I cannot deny that I might be the most foolish Magician, but I have lost the ability to doubt.

After all, the sea knows that it is precisely this "curiosity" that allows humanity to grow.

Magicians, as well as ordinary humans who cannot perform Manipulation of "mysteries," all begin their growth and evolution with "curiosity."

Since the age of mythology, we have been taught that "curiosity" leads to irreversible situations, but even so, humanity cannot stifle "curiosity."

"What will happen with this?" "What will happen after this?", I know that the feeling of wanting to know has great significance; it has produced not only failure, but also success and much happiness.

The purpose of "Rooting," which once seemed unreliable due to the fluffy scaffolding that couldn't be let go of in the sea, was laid on a solid foundation by my sister's words, and there was no reason for any hesitation.

So Hami stroked the hair of her half-asleep sister and asked with a smile.

"... Is there something you have?"

"Like my 'Root,' there is a kind of 'thing' that exerts an irresistible attraction on me."

"………………Yes."

My eyelids were already closed, and I didn't expect an answer, but my sister, who didn't seem to be asleep yet, closed hers.

"... I think the ending Magic is fine like this..."

Hearing her sister's answer, Hami's smile disappeared.

I wanted to reply with the same "answer" my sister gave me, but I realized that would not come true.

"I envy Mana so much... Watching Shiki and Mikiya, I imagine growing up like that, marrying someone like that..."

"... Doing good deeds and being praised, doing bad deeds and being scolded, living as a matter of course, dying as a matter of course... I am attracted to that kind of 'normality'."

My sister closed her eyes and continued to talk about Eight Trigrams, not knowing if she was answering while awake or asleep.

She said she envied and admired the parents of a distant relative she met in elementary school.

I admit that I yearn for the "ordinariness" within mediocrity and commonality.

My sister smiled sadly.

"... But this is impossible... because I am a... 'Magician'."

"--That is correct."

I cannot deny that "that is not true." Hami agreed to intervene because she knew her sister could not be saved because she was foolish enough to accept such a lie.

However, the reason my sister gave up on that "dream" was because she is a "Magician," but to be precise, that is not the case.

If this little sister were just a "Magician," then even if it were impossible for her to be completely "normal," she would be able to get as close to that position as possible.

As long as I threw everything away as a "Magician," I could do it.

However, Hami knew far better than her parents that this was impossible for her sister.

That is why we are sleeping in the same bed now.

My sister wanted to crawl into her own bed and sleep with her until dawn, saying: "Even if you put up a barrier at night, ghosts will still approach you."

Knowing this, my parents would probably look down on me for being a sister who couldn't drive away low-level ghosts, but my sister isn't unable to drive them away, nor is she afraid of them because she wants to sleep with me." Hami understood what she didn't understand, so she cooperated with her parents to keep them from noticing, letting her do what she liked.

The Shikiori family cut ties with Magic and Zelretch when they fell in love with them over a century ago, but they are temporarily one of the four Exorcist Families, the "Two Justice House."

That family, in order to create a 'Universal Human,' dedicated themselves to creating a Colorless Body capable of containing and bearing many spirits, and the Shikiori family lost that 'skill' after being cut off. Thus, people with dual personalities are not born.

However, even so, the blood that has been created for hundreds of years and reached the "Colorless Body" does not fade or disappear so easily.

To be precise, the blood was born from a body more colorless than ordinary humans, and it was produced from a place close to the "Root," which is the reason why the Shikiori family is so obsessed with Magic. Magicians have a short history, which is why a masterpiece was born that is regarded as a "prestigious family" despite belonging to this category.

And this sister is closer to the "Root" than I am. Hami thinks this is some kind of genetic prank; if it were just the transparency of his body, he might have already approached the head of the dexterous family, but the only person in the family who realizes this is Hami.

My parents are snobbish, so they only evaluate Hami based on things that are easy to understand, such as the number of Magic Circuits and the quality of Magic Power. The only thing they value is the extremely rare Magic Attribute of "Void Element: None," which is even despised as "rare and useless," so they don't understand anything.

If Hami's talent is outstanding compared to other general Magicians, her sister's talent itself is not much, but her parents are not aware that her sister's existence and characteristics are of Penetration.

My sister's "specialty," even among the anomalies of "Magicians," can only be called "thorough." However, my sister herself has no talent that can utilize this "Penetration" trait.

So my sister is not afraid of ghosts. I don't think it's scary. Therefore, this is the most dangerous thing.

My sister's almost colorless body is the best Container for spirits that want to be resurrected, but my sister herself has the power of a Shikiori human, and at least teaching her how to drive it away is a problem. No. This little sister did not show any opportunity to be utilized.

However, even without an opportunity to be utilized, ghosts will follow my sister. And affect the defenseless ordinary people around her.

This is not the profundity of a "Magician," but a characteristic of my sister's body itself, so as a "Magician," even if I throw everything away, I will not lose it.

Even if my sister is safe and sound on her own, she will become a Curse-like existence, causing harm to those around her, so if you don't want this to happen, you need more than just the minimum "exorcism," but also exorcism, which a Magician cannot give up.

Moreover, my sister is not afraid of the dead, and has no intention of returning her body to them, so that must be prioritized.

This is why Hami was not used by the dead, but was uneasy about the voluntary surrender.

This is why I tolerate my little sister crawling into my bed.

I think that my own existence is my cornerstone, and I even have a blurred line between life and death, but I did not reach the conclusion that "I don't need a body," which makes me feel relieved.

This is why Hami embraces her sister's warmth as proof that she is still alive.

This is what I can do. I can't think of any words to say "I can do it" to a lifestyle that my sister is so obsessed with, or to comfort a sister who has already given up.

It's just that I can't get what my sister wants, it's too far away, I can only hug him and pray that he can be comforted.

To such a sister, my sister said while hugging her.

"So... sister. I... want to be someone like Suena who can protect 'normal' people."

He talked about the "dream" he got because he gave up, because he knew he couldn't achieve it.

"... Just like my foolish parents... looking down on those precious people... using them... staying away from those who hurt them... I want to be a Magician who can protect them.

I can't be "normal," but... but if I can be a Magician who protects that "normality," I think I'm glad I was born as a Magician... that's why I'm going to be that kind of Magician."

Hami's eyes widened again, and Hami smiled again.

That expressionless face, which seemed to be the embodiment of the two words "cool beauty" at the age of 8, was like a lie, deep and profound, as the name suggests, like a gentle and calm sea, the smile embracing everything. Your forehead leans against your forehead to measure your temperature and tell you.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to always see the difference between the two."

"... What is that?"

"The Serenity Prayer... It is my motto."

When I grew tired of my parents' clumsiness—even though civilization had caught up, they still insisted on inefficient Magic and remained skeptical of ordinary people—I learned about relatively modern Christianity at school. One was the sea's ideal self, "I want to become like this."

I will teach this phrase to my sister. Let me know and give me your honest opinion.

"You... you have all these things without praying to God."

Even without telling her, she probably knew it instinctively; even if she gave up her status as a "Magician," she could not become the "normal person" she yearned for. She understood that if she tried to force herself to become a "normal person," she would destroy the "normal person" she longed for in the worst possible way.

So she gave up on herself, but she was so dazzled by her own "dream" that she could distinguish between "things that cannot be changed" and "things that can," so that she would not let go of important things she could not let go of.

Umi admired her sister; she possessed such precious and dazzling "reason," "wisdom," "courage," and "dream" that her "purpose," which was nothing more than her own curiosity, became blurred.

After hearing her sister's words, her sister smiled helplessly and said:

Just before her consciousness was completely submerged in the dream, her sister made a simple response to her sister's praise.

"That is your sister."

To me, my sister embodied the Serenity Prayer without needing to pray.

"... Did you run away, you silly sister?"

He could not even explain why he had to get to the bottom of it, but there was no time to ask himself why he thought this way, but after all, her sister would not wake up.

So I gave up asking Umi and decided to sleep with my little sister with a hot water bottle.

I hugged my sister and wrapped her up to sleep.

From the ghosts aiming at my sister, I protected my sister, as if hiding her away.

(... If "getting to the bottom of it" is "my" dream as a Magician... then "my" dream as this child's sister is "Sora Shikiori, I want to know if this is a dream come true.")

Ah, if you weren't a Magician, I certainly couldn't be, but a Magician couldn't be human, gentle, dazzling, happy "dream"...

That is me as the sister of Sora Shikiori.

The original scene was "Shikiori Umi."

I want to forget, but I cannot let go. Even if I forget, I will not lose it.

Just like the origin, deep, deep, my original dream scratches.

"Hehehe... How beautiful. The world I see with these eyes truly shines with light; they are eyes worthy of my Collection."

An extremely unpleasant voice startled me from my sleep.

Umi transmitted Mana through the temporary body, closed her eyelids, sent visual information into her brain, and grasped the current situation.

I don't care about Omokage. I want to minimize my relationship with him. On the contrary, Umi's true intention is to cut off the necessary amount.

The only thing that bothered me was that I couldn't ignore this girl; although her personality and appearance didn't look similar, she couldn't help but look at her again.

"... But it's a pity, Retsu. It doesn't seem to suit you."

"Big brother, please don't do this anymore..."

In any case, Umi could not leave Omokage's sister alone.

Omokage, who had been immersed in the joy of putting Gon's eyeballs, which he had stolen using Illumi's Doll, into his own eye sockets, said with some regret after admiring his eyes, and turned his gaze toward Illumi.

Facing such a brother, Retsu pleaded with a crying expression and voice.

No matter who heard it, no one had any misunderstanding about her; he complained in words he could understand, but when he looked back, he tilted his head strangely, then turned to Retsu with a troubled, bitter smile.

"What's wrong with us? Haven't we done everything for you?"

Omokage had no eyeballs, facing his sister. Although they were empty eye sockets, thanks to Umi's Mana, he could be like her without eyeballs.

But Omokage did not notice.

I didn't know my own words hurt my sister's face.

(In the end, hurting Gon was my fault...)

Grabbing the hem of the skirt that Gon made her wear to look good, she felt extremely guilty for what she had done under her brother's orders.

"Human shape, you need human eyes to give life, you understand, don't you?"

"To give you life, you need human eyes that are as straight as theirs. People with strong wills, clear auras, are unlikely to have negative reactions."

"So you want to steal Gon and Killua's... those two companions' eyes? I don't want that!"

This time, I confirmed that I did not want to.

However, Omokage's eyes actually had no pupils, and his ears seemed to be decorations as well.

Her sister's words did not express his true feelings at all.

"How heartbreaking..."

"Thanks to you, I was able to become the 'God Puppet Master.' Because you were the first victim, I was able to complete this technique. Isn't it natural for me to do my best for your eyes?"

As soon as the words fell, sure enough, I reached my limit of patience, and Umi exploded.

"!... Umi. What is that reaction?"

Omokage saw the Doll that should have been asleep wake up, turned around, and asked with a disgusted raised eyebrow.

To this question, Umi thought he was an idiot with no ability to learn, but since he was asked, he answered honestly, just as faithfully as his Puppet.

"No, I couldn't help but laugh because I envied you too much."

"You need a 'real person' as Material for a Doll, you are satisfied with being able to call yourself the 'God Puppet Master' without shame, and you are well aware of your position."

Say it and then laugh.

It is not uncommon for Magicians to use human flesh and blood as Material to make "Puppets," but doing so is to add special abilities and other values to the "Puppet."

Just because of the motive of "making a doll into a human shape," saying that using human Material is only third-rate is not even unfair. Of course, if you use humans, you can make dolls that look like humans. This is by no means pride, but an act that should be ashamed of.

That is what you got after making a huge sacrifice, and you are satisfied with that level, calling yourself "God"; they will interpret it as kindness smiling at you.

However, the kindness of the sea would certainly not be conveyed to the other party.

Hearing what Umi said, Retsu's face stiffened with an expression of "I told you so...", while Omokage opened his eyes in the temple cave and strode in front of Umi.

Then he punched her in the cheek, sending her flying with a single blow.

"!" Brother!"

Retsu raised his voice in criticism, but although Umi had fallen from her chair completely unguarded, she remained calm, dignified, and expressionless in her beauty; she stood up normally and quickly cast Magic on him.

However, even without treatment, the blow to her cheek did not affect her beauty. The act of licking the blood flowing from her cut lip was so charming that you would not think of her as a 14-year-old girl.

Although Omokage was a Doll he had made with his own hands, her inhuman beauty and majestic appearance made him feel as if she were his own master, even though she should not have defied him, hiding it and throwing it into the sea.

"... And you... do not be Together with the 'Magician' of your world!!"

Perhaps because she was listening to the story of the Seal Designation Magician, a Seal Designation Magician called by others—rather than herself—the "God Puppet" of her world, coming from the sea, her pale face was flushed with anger and frustration, like a sick person.

I know I am a frog in a well; if a Seal Designation Magician were in this world, I would only feel embarrassed.

But his anger gave no reason for Umi's smooth lips to close. It was more like a lubricant, making them even smoother.

"Yeah. This world is very different from mine; putting them Together is cruel and rude.

It's not at the level of the Age of Gods, but compared to this place full of mystery and abundant Mana, and that place where only five Miracles have survived, it is not."

With a smile mixed with playfulness, innocence, and charm, she agreed with Omokage, but she clearly said "I am rude to you," not to Omokage, but to the Magician of her own world. Ours.

Miracles chase civilization, stars produce Mana; even if we estimate for a long time, this world will dry up in a few hundred years, and this world is more 'Magic'—it is impossible, but 'Magic' at the same level as that... In a world with a space for 'Nen Ability', Umi hinted 'that is how it is', further fueling Omokage.

"Stop! Brother, stop!!"

In a fit of anger, Omokage did not use his own ability to suppress it, but instead punched Umi again, trying to suppress it, but Retsu grabbed his arm just as he was about to raise it, begging him. Sure enough, he used violence here as he realized this was a total defeat that affirmed Umi's words; he clicked his tongue in disgust, loosened the force of his clenched fist, ignored Umi, and stroked his sister's soft hair.

"... Ah, right. Retsu is kind... that's why I think this is bad."

"... You know that child is 'kind', but if you really think it's bad, what are you doing?"

However, Umi alone ruined Retsu's good intentions.

Umi's mocking smile disappeared, and anger rose like cold air.

Even if Sora's Doll was destroyed, Umi could do nothing, just like Killua who said nothing, spitting in disgust toward Omokage.

"What is this, 'for you'? Self-righteous."

"Shut up.

Facing Retsu's plea, Omokage said to him: "For your sake." Umi looked displeased, not angry, but said with hatred.

This time, it was not anger that made blood appear on his head. Omokage had more leeway.

He grinned, talking about his own self-righteousness.

"Hmph, what I did might be self-righteous. Sister let us make up for the eyes he lost—and Retsu himself, this child, the Doll, and look for suitable eyes."

Despite admitting that he was "self-righteous," Omokage only regretted his "past failures."

He did not regret sacrificing his sister to fulfill his wish of creating a human-shaped Doll.

You don't even realize what your "atonement" looks like behind you.

(... I died that day. I am not "real" here.)

He felt hurt and desperate as his brother pointed out with his mouth that he was never "real." The Doll sister, even without knowing it, Omokage spoke with the same self-satisfaction as when he lost his "real" sister.

"No longer mine" Soul Calling Jade Leaf, but I cannot let Retsu's gaze return to you..."

His tone sounded like he was regretting it, but Omokage's empty eye sockets pointed to the glass cabinet behind Retsu, ecstatic with satisfaction.

In his mind, he was probably Projecting a Doll the size of a four- or five-year-old child, dressed in luxurious robes, enshrined in a glass cabinet.

The Doll had beautiful blue eyes.

Compared to Sora's "Instant Death Evil Eye", it was inferior, but unlike her eyes, it wasn't just because it was too beautiful to look at directly, but because it was beautiful enough to attract you. Very good.

And the features of the Doll with such beautiful eyes... were very similar to Retsu.

A few years ago, Omokage created a Doll by sacrificing his own sister.

Because he experimented with an unfinished technique, he took his sister's life and could not transfer it from that Doll to himself or another Doll.

"Well, I think you could say I'm happy because I got eternal beauty from a special preservative.

Compared to what you tried to do to Sora... to your real sister."

"I am stronger than you," he said, plunging into Umi.

"Do you think you are qualified to criticize me?

You just didn't have the chance to do it, right? What is the difference between you and me?

Not good. You and I are absolutely different. Do not be Together.

If you ask me, Retsu tried to leave some form of evidence that her sister was still alive, which could be celebrated for her sacrifice, not in vain, but for the creation of art. I don't understand what you are trying to do. You are not qualified to call yourself a 'big sister'."

Umi was expressionless even when stabbed. Instead, it was white.

I know, no one else told me.

Even though I am not human.

Know. That's right, from the moment I was born.

From the moment I was born, I knew I was a creature called a "Magician," and then a creature called a human.

Even so, Omokage thought that if he pushed it toward him, it would hurt Umi, but he giggled and pointed out something obvious.

"Because of the incomprehensible thing called the 'Root', even if you reach it, there is no guarantee that you will be able to return, and it is even possible that your own existence will be erased. Fruit sister's Material cost to death world cormorant when death hand stomach paddy field you don't pretend to be human now."

Even if I use Magic to send visual information directly to my brain, I cannot see ghosts in Umi.

What he could see was the scene reflected in his mind about three years before he died.

Sister asked a Magician who studied Magic "Void Attribute" and had no results as an heir... if that was the case, it would be better to have "Void Attribute" for Magic. I remember when I was about to be sold to my parents, as a "Placenta" that nurtured several "experimental materials" with magical attributes, and at that time I was lucky enough to stop Umi in advance.

The reason I hit Gander again and again at that time was because the other party was really too disgusting.

It was a Coincidence that I was able to stop it. Umi's actions that year did not mean to help her sister.

This is why Hami smiled at her sister and replied, "Thank you for helping me," and said, "Do not misunderstand me."

Her black hair had already grown to about the same length as her own, sometimes styled and tied with a ribbon, but now it had become shorter and shorter.

There were bruises and abrasions on the wrist of the arm that was pulling my sleeve; I had cut my own hair, which had good Magic, so that my parents wouldn't talk. Then, perhaps he was angry and burned it off instead of burning it. Leaving it so it could be used as a formal dress, but there were bruises on his cheeks and eyes. "No," said Hami.

This is not for my sister.

This is not just because he doesn't know what happened.

If he had known, Hami would have stopped it in advance, even if it meant killing his parents.

After learning the situation, Hami thought disdainfully of her parents' shallowness.

Selling her sister Sora to a third-rate who couldn't even defend against his own gun, couldn't produce good results, clung to past glory, and sold her sister to someone who was more like a Parasite than a noble, Sora. Offering that child, that existence close to the "Root," to an idiot who didn't even understand its value and tried to use it as a Placenta.

How and Jin-inada stomach na stomach――――

That is what I thought, so I asserted it and told him.

"This doesn't suit you," he said.

＊＊＊

"What are you talking about?"

"Why?" Shaking off her sister who seemed to be asking, Hami asked Omokage in return.

"Hypocrisy? How ridiculous, what I do doesn't even count as hypocrisy; aren't you pretending to be human right now? This doesn't even need to be said.

I am a "Magician." How much money Root there', even without meaning or reason, just curiosity. That is the 'world' of a 'Magician'."

He smiled and admitted that he pushed him to hurt himself.

He declared such things as a matter of course, not even needing to be said, making a disappointed face as if he wanted to take revenge on Omokage, but unlike Omokage, Hami did not stop drinking this kind of wine. Reaction.

First of all, I did not oppose Omokage.

Hami saw the girl behind him.

A doll made by Omokage like me.

Like himself, Retsu, who must have thought Omokage was ordering him to act against his will, widened his eyes at Hami's remarks, as if saying "I can't believe it."

I affirmed it to her, just as I did to my sister that day.

"Do not misunderstand me," I told him.

"Why don't we do it together? That is a line neither you nor I have the right to say; it is a line 'humans' should say to us.

Trash is trash because it 'has no ability to treat others well.' Like you, unable to face your own selfishness and failure, shifting the blame in the name of 'for my sister,' even if it's just doing what you want to do. At least gracefully admit that you are trash?

They are people disguised as humans, aren't they? It's unsightly."

This time it wasn't blown to the side, but directly behind.

This time even Retsu couldn't stop it. Partly because it was a kick without hesitation, but the blow to Hami made her head feel like it was hit by a hammer, unable to scream "Stop!"

"Shut up!!"

Omokage commanded Hami while panting, as if sprinting.

Even without being told, Hami had already said everything she wanted to say to Omokage, so she said nothing, just smiled.

A kick landed on her stomach, and Hami slammed her back hard against the Wall; although she should have been able to feel the pain normally, Hami continued to smile like a doll, not twisting her expression from the pain, just like a doll.

That smile was a very human and organic smile, but because it was a smile that could not interpret human emotions, Omokage, who should have been the creator, felt eerie from the bottom of his heart. My feet stopped.

"……Unsightly? It's you.

Hami, you aren't even a 'Magician' anymore. You are my 'doll.' No matter how rude you are, even if your performance far exceeds mine, don't forget, you cannot disobey my orders and disappear from this world at your own will!

……You have no freedom. No matter how much you yearn for it, even if you sacrifice your sister, you won't reach the 'Root.' You have no freedom to make me do something meaningless; you will give me all the knowledge and techniques in your world and let me use them up!!"

It seemed that to cover up the reason why he started kicking, he was frightened by the doll he had created.

Despite this, Hami's expression did not distort, nor did any shadow appear.

He continued to smile, as if mocking me.

Hami was already looking at Omokage with a pitying smile; no one realized that his words were the final blow to the sister behind him, not to Hami, driving her to despair.

Omokage, not understanding the intention behind her smile, called the Hami who continued to smile a "lunatic," grabbed her bangs, and ordered her to lift her head.

"……On the ruins just now, I thought it was me who forced him to continue since last night, so I ordered him to 'go home' without stealing Killua's eyes.

This is an order. Next time, even if it breaks, you must take them."

"……Brother, I beg you to stop……

Don't take your eyes off anyone anymore…… Give Gon's eyes back to me……"

To Omokage, who was giving orders to Hami, Retsu lowered his head and pleaded with a voice that sounded as if it were being squeezed out.

In response, Omokage moved his hand away from Hami, turned around with a bitter smile, and replied.

The expectation implied in the plea was the hope that Tohsaka Rin had always held, "This wouldn't be a lie, would it?"

"Have you changed your mind……?

No wonder. Except for my instructions, I dealt with them as Retsu himself."

Although he understood that his sister's feelings were real, he also understood that otherwise, he would be admitting that his ability was an imperfect failure, and Omokage understood nothing.

"But your new eyes must be alive…… and of pure brilliance.

Well, next time I will give you Killua's eyes as a gift."

I knew her feelings were real, but I didn't listen to her words or requests. Doing what Retsu said to "stop," while calmly saying "for you."

Omokage himself broke Retsu's persistent hope, even smashing them into pieces without realizing it.

He really said, sister let us I didn't steal other people's eyes for it.

I don't even want to make compensation for self-satisfaction because I want to reduce my guilt.

As Hami said, this man just wanted the "eyes" he was clinging to. However, just like Hami, no matter how much he was criticized, he would not accept it with dignity as "that's right." I have no intention of bearing the hatred and sin directed at me because of my actions.

Let us take over everything from the first victim's sister.

"For your sake," Retsu realized it was for that purpose, triggered by the sea, and finally realized by his brother's own words.

So I said nothing.

"A visitor... I thought it was time, but—"

I didn't even have to ask to know who was there.

I know, but I cannot say it. Because I realized that the earnest request to "stop it" would only tear your heart apart, creating something real out of falsehood.

"Give my eyes back..."

The brother said, touching Retsu's cheek, and lifted her face without resistance.

I didn't want to see anything anymore, thinking it would be convenient to have my brother's eyes returned to me.

"Soul Calling Jade Leaf"

However, even if I turned back, even if I lost my sight, even if I lost the light, my despair would not disappear.

Omokage would not delete it. Whether intentional or unconscious, he left Retsu with one despair after another.

"Come, let us go too. Let us ensure that seeing your beauty is the last thing they see."

She wanted to be friends with Retsu, and Retsu asked her to return Gon's eyes. Retsu's tearless face turned toward his brother; he tried to tell him of his dying tragedy, but his feet walked toward Omokage.

She hated that she could not resist him, could not Escape, and could not even tell Gon and the others to "run away," but she kept praying silently.

(――――Stop talking, brother)

Although I should have given up, I should have figured it out, but there was still kindness in Retsu's heart; he praised the puppets he made and the puppets he used Manipulation on with a sunny smile, and stroked his head with his warm, large hand. I have memories of it.

Even if it was the real Retsu, not his own, Retsu could only cling to it.

A good brother is no lie. This is why I believe he will one day return to his original brother.

Believing so..., although knowing this was an act of deceiving himself to comfort himself, Retsu, who still believed and followed his brother, heard a majestic voice.

"Let us. Trash is trash because you have no ability to treat others well."

You want to believe, you want to deceive yourself, but the sea pushes you mercilessly.

I don't know if the initial kindness was just superficial, or if the shock of his sister's death completely changed me, or if there were other factors.

However, Retsu's kind brother Omokage was already gone. Once again facing the thing that kept him alive, used Manipulation on him, and tortured him, which was only a fragment, Retsu glared at the sea with his eyeless face.

I don't know what expression she had when she said that to me.

"So... please remember, if you are not valued, thinking you are worthless is a serious mistake."

I don't know what kind of face you have.

It was just a very kind and sad voice.

This time, it could be said that from beginning to end it was serious (perhaps?), but if I think about the next time Sora's nervous emotions will come...

I don't care if Omokage will face Immediate Death, can you somehow save the serious Shikiori sisters?