end of days. "There's little love lost between us and the mixed-race people. But even so, we're more sympathetic toward them than you areâ€”and also more pessimistic. If nothing else, mankind's population is huge. As our people's blood grows more and more diluted, your people will end up assimilating us. And I have little hope for the future that awaits our children once we lose even our nation. Our culture will be exterminated, our riches will be plundered, and the new mixed-race folk will be driven into poverty. For that is the way such things inevitably play out. Protecting our blood purity is important to preserve our people's dignityâ€”in fact, it's absolutely essential. As I see it, we have no other choice." Aguina calmly laid out the reason for his obsession with blood purity. Lute found himself at a loss for words, overwhelmed by Aguina's flowing argument. Eventually, though, the simple beastman spoke up. "B-but once the races become that intermingled, surely the laws will change to reflect that fact. At that point, there'll simply be no distinction between humans, beastfolk, and demi-humans. They'll only live together inâ€”" "And just how long do you think it will take to reach that idyllic state of peace and equality? Sir Lute, this is no time to be discussing pipe dreams and fantasies. I believe I've made my answer perfectly clear." And so he had. It was obvious that he wasn't going to be changing his mind anytime soon. Humanity had both heralded the end of days and committed the Mixed-Race Massacre, and the rebellion taking place was the direct result of their crimes. Aguina went on. "As Madam Elisabeth's subordinate, you were never informed, but not even Madam Vyade, the Wise Wolf and the second imperial princess, trusted the humans. Given the ongoing rebuilding efforts, the tiniest spark could have burned everything down, so we all held our tongues. But she spent just as long as we have trying to figure out an appropriate way to demand reparations from the humans for the losses we suffered during the end of days." "...What?!" Lute's eyes went wide in shock. He staggered. However, Elisabeth didn't find that fact particularly surprising. And at the same time, she knew. The only reason things had been so peaceful those last three years was because there was another reason the demi-humans and beastfolk couldn't come down too hard on the humans. Lute, practically shouting, spoke that reason aloud. "But the world wouldn't have even been saved if not for Sir Kaito Sena!" "Ayeâ€”because the rest of you sat back and did nothing." Elisabeth's voice was low. Lute's whole body shook, and Aguina narrowed his gaze at her. His eyes twitched, and he tilted his head at the scornful words being directed at the races that had lost so much. "I beg your pardon? Would you mind running that by me one more time?" "Until the end of days came about, until the Mad King made his moveâ€”what can you claim to have done?" The seeds of destruction had been sown all throughout their world, yet everyone had overlooked them and assumed they weren't their responsibility. They'd taken a horrible sinner and forced all their problems onto her. And this was where it had gotten them. The Mad King hadn't been able to prevent all the tragedies, no. But he had prevented the end of the world. And the fact that he was from another world notwithstandingâ€” â€”he was nothing more than a tiny, insignificant human. "I've little interest in assigning blame. Decide that on your own as you please. And I'm well aware of how far faith in mankind has fallen. But allow me to say this: What of your tragedies? What of your discrimination? What of your massacres?! As far as I'm concerned, none of that matters in the slightest!" "E-excuse me? Madam Elisabeth?" Lute's eyes went wide in a way that they never had before. After all, his direct superior had just taken a nuanced, intricately tangled series of causes and effects and hurled them all out the window. Surely, they mattered, didn't they? However, Elisabeth had no intentions of recanting her statement. If saving the world and destroying it are both but mere matters of personal selfishness... ...Then the decision to trust, doubt, hate, or love someone was also just a matter of personal sentimentality. Based on how those emotions piled up, they could very well bring about the end of days. The problem was, who would bear the burden of what would come after? And what would those who bore nothing say? "Aye, there was plenty of tragedy and despair to go around. I shan't ask that you join hands like brothers. I shan't ask that you try to see eye to eye. I shan't even ask you to forgive them. There can be no atonement for deeds such as those. But you would fear a blade that hasn't even been unsheathed yet, to the point of creating tragedies anew? You would abandon mankind, betray the world, and get in bed with rebels merely to survive? And moreover, you would ask me to pardon such acts? Not likely, I sayâ€”for in the end, you and mankind are no different. You cling too cravenly to life." Elisabeth bared her teeth. Once, a small portion of mankind had committed horrible acts in fear of death. And this was the exact same. The demi-humans were using the Mixed-Race Massacre to justify their own actions and claim the moral high ground. It was all the same. Justice had vanished long, long ago. "After being protected by one who believed in everyone, saved by one who believed in everyone, and allowed to live freely in a world where he now is forced to slumber...you would spout such careless drivel? I find it baffling! Utterly baffling!" Elisabeth laughed. Humans and demi-humans were both baffling. The boy had known just how horrible people were. He knew that fact remained true, even across worlds. Yet even so, he saw the world as beautiful. Because that was where the people he cared about lived. "So I'll protect it," he'd boasted. He'd smiled to the very end. And now they were trying to rob that smile of its meaning. Even though they were the ones he'd protected. "Everyone is the same. Indeed, even I. We're all but swine, hideous beyond compare. Humanity, demi-humans, beastfolk, mixed-race folkâ€”when you view us not as individuals, but as groups, none of us are deserving of belief in the slightest. Yet even soâ€”" Even so? Elisabeth abruptly trailed off. Even so, what? What could she say? Why, she didn't even know what proper salvation looked like. But then suddenly, someone picked up where she left off. "Yet even soâ€”I believe. Even to this day, I believe. I believe that God's in his heaven, and that all's right with the world." "Huh?" "What?" "Hmm?" Elisabeth, Lute, and Aguina all let out dumbfounded cries. In unison, the three of them turned. And when they did, they saw the corpse, knife still embedded in its back, slowly rise. 10 The Saint's Declaration Shall we be off? There's no need for us to hurry as though we were chasing the White Rabbit. Even so, we should stop sitting around like the Caterpillar. It would seem that everything proceeded according to my instructions. Aguina's probably carried out his task by now. It really was unfortunate that we couldn't find common ground with those two nonconformists. Now that negotiations have broken down, we have no choice but to thin our enemies' ranks. However, I find it unlikely that Aguina would be able to catch the Torture Princess by surprise. The saint, though, is another... What is it, Alice? I don't look well? It's true, I've been better. The anguish hasn't faded. For in truth, even I know. Vengeance merely begets vengeance. Despair is a vicious cycle. And demanding atonement from people with no direct connection to the massacre is absurd. Our rebellion will bring about nothing but new tragedies and fresh victims. We don't stand to accomplish anything, and it won't bring anyone happiness. But that's fine. Hell only exists within the mind, and ever since the end of days, there's been a fire burning inside me, one that no amount of rain or tears can quench. So what choice do I have but to throw oil on it? That way, it can burn and burn and burn and return this whole damn world to ash. Then once all the hatred and rage and sadness are gone, I'll finally be able to rest in peace. Nobody will have to cry anymore. But nobody will be able to smile, either. Well, so be it. If anything, the fact that people have been able to keep smiling after a tragedy like that is more perverse still. They live such carefree lives, and they're long overdue for atoning. Because if they don't, I won't be able to forgive them. Nor will my comrades. And the dead won't be able to move on. Still, though, a thought does cross my mind sometimes. If only God were more merciful. Were that the case, there might have been another way. But even if there wereâ€” â€”I'm sure I would have still chosen the same path. It's stupid, I know. Nothing but irredeemable stupidity. Just that. Nothing more. "First of all, I'd like to set your minds at ease. Your initial assessment, that I was dead, still holds true. As of now, I can no longer be counted among the living in good faith. Counting me among the dead is far more apt." "Concern for others should hardly be your top priority in a situation like this! And besides, 'tis illogical for a dead man to be moving... Ah, no, I see now. You didn't have a heart or lungs to begin with." Upon hearing La Christoph's overly earnest statement, Elisabeth squeezed the bridge of her nose. The Modest Birdkeeper had lacked many key organs from the beginning. As a saint, La Christoph was a man who existed on the boundary between life and death. Even the poison coursing through his veins wasn't enough to keep him from being able to speak. That being said..., Elisabeth thought as she shifted her gaze. After double-checking his wound, she shook her head. "...How long until you break down?" "I'm afraid I can't say. I'm no healer...and even if I were, I imagine I would have quite a difficult time diagnosing a nonliving body. That aside, the necrosis is advancing rapidly. Once my body fully decomposes, even these lips I'm talking with right now will rot away. It won't be long until I transition from a 'talking corpse' to a mere pile of flesh." "Y-your body... What in the...?" "I'm aware of how unseemly it is, my good beastman soldier, and I'm sure I'm not very pleasant to look at right now. However, I do ask you quell your fears to the best of your ability. This body was granted unto me by God, and as such, I take great pride in it." Lute had let out an alarmed yelp at La Christoph's grim condition, and the saint gave him a calm reply. La Christoph's cheeks had begun slowly caving in, and his gums and teeth were visible through the round holes in them. Meanwhile, his eyes were growing dull from their outer perimeters inward. Elisabeth had been rightâ€”he was little more than a rotting corpse. The poison burned through human flesh like it was nothing. Even without organs to destroy, enough damage to the outside of his body would be enough to end La Christoph's existence once and for all. The fact that he was still able to move despite the horrific transformation he was undergoing seemed too cruel to be called divine protection. If anything, it was closer to a curse. Even so, though, Lute hurriedly saluted him. "My deepest apologies! I consider