of the Forest are currently debating their fates." Lute reacted to Ain's initial statement with bewilderment, but Elisabeth immediately sussed out the reason behind the internal division. Yet again, it all came back to the demi-humans' obsession with blood purity. Aguina and the other traitors had wanted to make sure the citizens with the highest and second-highest grade of blood purity didn't get completely wiped out, so they probably concealed the information about the hostages and the traitorous demands being made of them from some of their comrades. They knew that if they kept them from being complicit in the betrayal, the beastfolk would spare them. That way, even if the mixed-race folk lost, the demi-humans' roots would survive. Elisabeth thought back on Aguina's words. "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 was willing to prioritize his people's dignity over his own happiness to the bitter end. His family had been taken hostage, and on top of all that, the betrayal he was being asked to make served to advance his people's interests. At that point, how could anyone possibly say no? From the demi-humans' perspective, Aguina's decision was no doubt right and proper. 'Tis a hideous choice, one devoid of reasonâ€”yet even so, I've little doubt that man intends to see it through. As Elisabeth thought, a conflicted expression crossed Lute's face. "Madam Elisabeth, I'm heading to the cells to confirm the situation. Then I have to go to the imperial family and the Three Kings of the Forest and tell them what we know about the demi-humans' betrayal." "Aye, good. 'Tis important that a report be given, and they'd never grant me an audience with the Three Kings. Be off." "Pardon me, then. And, Ain, I'm glad you aren't hurt. We'll talk more later." After calling over to his beloved wife, Lute left the room. As Elisabeth watched him go, she suddenly realized something. Why had Aguina asked Lute to come with him? Part of it was probably to use her subordinate to get her and La Christoph to lower their guards. On that front, the gambit had been a complete success. However, there was another important reason as well. Instead of having to relay the information through Elisabeth, Aguina wanted Lute, as a beastman, to see the situation and the choice Aguina had made firsthand. That way, it would serve as a question. The mixed-race folk are starting an uprising. The humans have been betrayed. The demi-humans did the betraying. Nowâ€”what will the beastfolk do? Two of their imperial princesses had been murdered. Even though there was no way they'd work with the mixed-race folk, there was still the possibility of them joining forces with the demi-humans in the coming war. Unlike the demi-humans with their captured settlement, the beastfolk had no clear reason to fight. But that was why Aguina had gone out of his way to share his fears about the future with Lute. Mankind had caused a tragedy. Yet even now, the power gap between them and the other two races continued to grow. At some point in the future, the minorities were going to find themselves absorbed. So would they rather be ruled by the mixed-race folk, or the humans? That was the choice they had to make. Humans weren't even aware of how exclusivist they were. And both the other races knew it. In the end, what will the beastfolk do? Elisabeth gazed at Lute's back as he receded down the hallway. She wordlessly clenched her fists. It's time for a story. A beautiful, poignant fairy tale. Three years ago, the world very nearly met a tragic end. However, that seemingly immutable fate was altered by a single person. And the one who accomplished that miraculous feat wasn't a grand hero of any sort. He was a boy who had reincarnated from another world following a life of abuse and a meaningless death. He got a second chance at life, then had a number of experiences, some horrifying and some irreplaceable. Then after a long series of battles, he obtained a colossal amount of mana and used it to save someone precious to him. And while he was at it, he saved the world. By sacrificing himself. After burdening himself with God and Diablo, the boy fell into a deep slumber at the World's End. Thanks to his deeds, the people of the world managed to avoid the apocalypse. The greatest good for the greatest number was, surely, the greatest outcome. It was a tale of admiration, foolishness, and love. But whenever someone's story ends, there are some things that yet remain. With its lease on life renewed, the world continued on. But the bells would eventually toll on a new curtain's rise. For that is the way bells and curtains are. However, every single thing about the new storyâ€” â€”is hideous and vile. A gust of wind struck Elisabeth on the cheek. She was standing out on a balcony. It had been built atop one of vast branches that jutted out from the World Tree. She stood there and silently looked down. There was a long scar on the ground that cut through the forest surrounding the World Treeâ€”Vlad's handiwork from the end of days. Modest had never exactly been part of the man's vocabulary. Things inside were tumultuous, but out there, it was quiet and still. A flock of birds flapped their way across the pale-blue sky. By then, day had already broken. Elisabeth opened her mouth and broke the silence. "So why follow me here?" "Why, indeed...? I'm not sure even I can fully explain it." Ain had come to stand beside her at some point. Ever since Elisabeth had left the infirmary, Ain had been walking alongside her. Ain took off her face mask and gazed up at the sky with her inhuman eyes. For a little while, the only sound was that of the birds. Eventually, though, Ain quietly spoke. "There was a day, once, when I asked a young man who seemed like himself, yet at the same time, like someone else, if he was well. He smiled and said he was fine. 'I'm still me, after all...' Even to this day, I'm not sure if it was my duty as a healer to stop him or not." "...Hmm. I don't know who it is you're speaking of, but he sounds like a most foolish man indeed." "Mm, and I suspect that this might be why I followed you." "Hmm? I don't follow." "You remind me of him quite a lot. You were both harshly wounded, you were both filled with resignation, and you both refused to lose what was important to you. He may have been a sinless soul, and you may be a peerless sinner, but the two of you have the same eyes. And one other thing." "That being?" "I only just found out, but I'm pregnant." *** Elisabeth couldn't help but let out a hysterical yelp. The birds resting on the World Tree all hurriedly took off. Ain was the very image of composure, but in contrast, Elisabeth's mouth hung wide open. "No, wait, surely Lute, not I, should be the first to hearâ€”" "Now, I can't claim to know all the specifics of what's going on." Ain cut Elisabeth off and continued. She gently stroked her belly. Elisabeth narrowed her eyes. The imperial beastfolk princesses had been murdered, and the demi-humans had betrayed them. Those were the only two things Ain knew. However, that was more than enough to realize that peacetime was over. Ain's next words sounded almost like a prayer. "All I wish for is a world where our child can live with a smile on their face." "Are you truly prepared to accept the gravity of destroying the potential for children to look up at the sky and dream?" The reason Ain had said that probably had to do with how similar the Torture Princess was to the Mad King. He had once saved the world, and Ain's subconscious had driven her to make the same wish to the person who most resembled him. And at the same time, Elisabeth heard La Christoph's words overlaid with Ain's. For a short moment, Elisabeth had her breath taken away. The situation was utter chaos. It was unclear which path the beastfolk would take, the humans were idiots, and the Torture Princess had no idea what the best option would ultimately be. And yet... In a world forcibly made even through revenge, some things will invariably be lost. "Excuse me, I need to go speak with Lute." There were some things that simply couldn't grow in the soil left in hatred's wake. Instinctively realizing that, Elisabeth turned to leave. The moment she did, Ain looked up in shock. With an ominous feeling in her gut, Elisabeth stopped in her tracks. The heavy flapping sound of wings had filled the air. The next moment, countless figures filled the sky. Thousands upon thousands of birds had all taken flight at once. It was like a storm, or like a black cloud blotting out the sky. It was a bizarre sight, and certainly not one that had come about naturally. The birds were utterly terrified. Then from amid the countless figuresâ€” â€”an imposing voice boomed through the sky. "Hear ye, ladies and gentlemen! "Let my words be heard as a record of our subservience. Let them be heard as a lamentation of the humiliating lives you've forced us into. Let them be heard as a cry of rage at the cruelty of the fates you've subjected us to. And let them be heard as a hymn of joy. We have wept, and we have wept, and we have wept, and we have no tears left to shed. What choice do we have, then, but to rejoice in your tyranny? We have surpassed resignation, we have transcended despair, and at long last, we have found our answer. But you people can't even begin to imagine the cruelties we had to suffer to reach it. "You only see what you want to see, only hear what you want to hear. "It is in weakness that people have room to grow. Yet you persisted in your ignorance. So, so many of you insisted on continuing your insane foolishness. Who allowed you to be so stupid, so cruel? "Why should we have to forgive you? "For make no mistakeâ€”we have been called on to forgive you time and again. "A thought crossed my mind onceâ€”if the end of days truly had been upon us, maybe it would have all been fine. All your atrocities could be forgiven, written off as isolated incidents of fear-induced derangement. "But God and Diablo failed to bring down the hammerâ€”so I must do it in their stead. "I'll take this world, I'll make it my own, and I'll kill every last fool who walks upon it. I don't need a reason. After all, justice died long ago. At this point, what use does anyone have for something so decent and proper? And at the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether I do anything; it won't affect our ultimate fate. Salvation isn't coming, ladies and gentlemen. Not for you, not for anyone. And certainly not for me. "It's clear now that God has no mercy. "It's clear now there is no other way. "The sun has gone darkâ€”now, let the killing commence. "We, the mixed-race folk, hereby declare our rebellion against you." "â€”Longinus." Elisabeth snapped her fingers. When she did, a spear shot through the flock faster than a bolt of lightning, like an act of divine retribution. Elisabeth's attack struck true, piercing through the communication device hidden among the birds. It tumbled to the ground with an earsplitting screech. The announcement was over. However, every single person gathered in the World Tree had