30 minutes before the girl went to the public bathhouse.
Even though she gave all the shoes to the neighborhood kids, Mori was still annoyed.
'I did something strange to try to relieve my guilt, but I don't know if this will soothe her heart.'
Mori should have at least asked her name. Of course, she knew she wouldn't answer, but she should have asked anyway.
As the witch's mood grew gloomy, the black reindeer pulling the sleigh in the night sky took notice. They were creatures who, though somewhat ill-tempered, knew how to cherish their own lives.
It was four in the morning, and no children were playing with snow anymore. Everyone was fast asleep, and the streets were quiet.
Colorful lights hung everywhere on the empty streets. They were decorations for a Christmas party and her birthday. It reminded her of the girl's last words.
"It's almost Christmas, a festival just for you. Go and enjoy it. Don't pay attention to me, don't be interested, and just dance happily in the flower garden you've created."
"How can I not be interested?"
She felt like there weren't many people in the world with such scars. There must be quite a few people with horrific memories of witches or demons.
How can she compensate them? What can she give them to save them, having already lost so much that was precious to them?
How should she apologize?
Mori lay sprawled on the wide sled, gazing at the Milky Way. The light felt particularly cold today.
At that moment, dark wings obscured the Milky Way. The owner of the heavy wings flew forward, cutting through the wind.
"Mori, what are you doing here? If you want to enjoy the party tomorrow, you should go to bed a long time ago."
It was Halpas.
As the demon sat down at the end of the sled, its weight caused it to jolt. Mori, who had no intention of getting up, raised her head slightly, glancing at Halpas, even though the startled black sleds screamed.
“Why did you come?”
"I came here because darkness was rising from somewhere. But you were the master of the darkness."
"Do you see darkness in me, too? Isn't darkness something that only humans see?"
"You were originally human. So, it was inevitable that Kona would use that to play with you and Serietti."
"Ah."
"Anyway, what are you worried about? I'll listen to you."
"Get out, you old man."
"I'm old, but I'm in my prime for a demon's age."
Halpas, who had no intention of giving up easily, sat down in a comfortable position. Mori, who couldn't be bothered to fight any longer, decided to just confess. This was a problem for the entire Demon World, so he needed to know.
As the girl told her story, Halpas listened quietly.
"There must be quite a few humans in the world who have bad memories of witches and demons, just like dogs. Isn't the world like hell for dogs right now?"
"You look so gloomy, just like a lost puppy."
"No matter how much compensation the demon world gives to the human world, is that really what the victims want?"
"It looks like a stray cat that got wet in the rain."
"Do you have no idea after hearing this? What's with that calm face?"
Mori bared her fangs and snickered. Halpas smiled leisurely.
"To conclude, that is a needless worry."
"You crazy bastard. You don't care about the misfortune of those people?"
"That's not it, there is no human in the empire with a story like that girl's."
“Then how do you know?”
"You'll be able to see it when you become the King of the demon world. Would you like to hold my hand for a moment?"
Halpas extended a massive hand, like a beast's foreleg. Mori, though trembling, took his black hand.
Then the vision changed.
“What is this?”
The world appeared in black and white, with white dots shining here and there.
The light was white, but it held subtle color variations. Some were slightly cloudy, some had a beautiful rainbow glow, some were a warm green, and those in the distance were yellow.
"The shining white dots are the human soul. Each has a different color. Anyway, don't you think that something so clear and bright would taste delicious if it were dirty?"
“So, what is it?”
"Don't be serious. I was just joking. Anyway, look over there."
The place that Halpas pointed to was the Grand Duke's hotel. The nobles who had gathered for the Christmas party were staying there."
Amidst the swaying white light, a peculiar light appeared. It was a light with a black crack writhing in its center.
“What is that?”
"The soul of Catherine Ortega, who was attacked by the spirit demon, was not left with such scars. In the case of a light trick by a low-level witch, there were no traces left, but anyway."
“Oh my.”
"Fortunately, that soul seems to have overcome its wounds and is shining again, but if not..."
Halpas pointed elsewhere. There, at a glance, was a dangerous light. It was on the verge of being consumed by the enlarging black crack.
"That's how it happens."
"What is that? Is that the girl's soul?"
“I guess so.”
Her soul felt as if it would burst into tears at any moment. Just looking at it made her feel like crying.
As Mori was about to fly towards the spirit, Halpas grabbed her hand tightly.
"I'm not finished talking yet. You have to hear why I'm showing you this sight."
“What is it?”
"I didn't unify the human and demon worlds without thinking. I even anticipated a case like that girl's. As I've said before, I have a certain degree of foresight."
As Halpas let go of Mori's hand, her vision returned to normal.
"In the future I saw, no humans were suffering in the world you created. Those with wounds in their souls. But, despite this, they were actually healed by the changed world."
“Why?”
"The reasons varied. Some found comfort in the mere thought of no longer being terrorized by the demons, while others simply accepted the changed world. And some understood you, Mori. There were even those you secretly compensated for."
Mori's shoulders, which had been hunched over with a heavy heart, relaxed slightly. But questions still remained.
"...Why didn't those people oppose the exchange between the demon world and the human world? If they had a fear of demons, they would have vehemently opposed Severian when he signed your contract."
"I objected. But no one listened. Everyone ignored me, thinking I was just the talk of some utterly prejudiced demonic people."
"This."
"Anyway, Mori, what's certain is that in the future I saw, no humans were suffering because of the world you created."
"Then what about that girl? She looks like she's having a really hard time."
"Just wait a minute."
Halpas smiled confidently and leisurely folded his arms. Mori was simply wondering why he was acting like that.
***
The girl left in the empty house crouched before the fireplace, staring blankly at the adorable shoes Mori had left behind.
"What am I supposed to do with this? I can't even wear it."
She thinks she could make some money selling them. The problem is, will anyone buy the pretty shoes that the vagrant is selling?
It was obvious that anyone would call the police, saying that the shoes were obviously stolen.
The fireplace was dying down. The girl decided what to do with her shoes. They wouldn't be worn or sold anyway, so they should be used as pretty firewood.
But does the spark have any meaning now?
‘My body hurts so much.’
The eyes that had been blinded by the witch throbbed. Three years of living on the streets had worn her body to the limit, and she was on the verge of breaking down. If she went to the hospital for a checkup, she felt like she be diagnosed with over ten different diseases.
'Can I meet my dad now?'
Why, as her time of death drew near, her heart felt at ease. She always lived with a heart full of resentment and venom, yet why was it that she was finally at peace?
And why does the expression on that damned witch Gremory's face come to mind? She was a witch who should enjoy the misfortune of humans, but her face was so disgusting that she didn't know what to do and was weeping instead of being happy.
What is it about that witch's expression and the apology she uttered with a trembling voice that makes her feel so comfortable?
Her skinny body collapsed on the dusty floor. She no longer had the strength to get up. Her vision was getting blurry.
'I'm really dying now.'
She's glad she got to eat the bread from the bakery she wanted to eat so badly right before she died.
The girl, accepting death, closed her eyes. She felt her body gradually becoming more comfortable.
And when she opened her eyes again, her body was completely relaxed.
“Haylene?”
Her father was right in front of her. The girl, Haylene, smiled brightly and sat up.
"Dad! Are you here to pick me up?"
"... Daughter."
"Oh! Thank goodness! I thought I wouldn't be able to see you even after death, since they say that souls that die to witches are destroyed forever!"
"I'm sorry, Haylene."
Huh, warmth was felt. Embraced by the father she had missed so much, Haylene blinked, startled by the overwhelming sense of reality.
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