--The sound of bare feet stomping around echoed at regular intervals through the dim, cold space.
Not even the slightest bit of light penetrates into the space, and the path one follows is like walking through darkness or shadow.
And yet the footsteps moving through the place showed no sign of hesitation, and they walked through the foul-smelling space as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It was as though they were walking through their own familiar room.
"――――"
The sound of dripping water and the footsteps of crawling insects.
The feeling of gravel and mud under my bare feet. A place that brings up only discomfort, yet the shadow doesn't let out a single complaint.
The swarms of insects that were ravaging the castle made a way to avoid the shadows that were approaching. The trickling water flowed under my feet, and I made my way down the gentle slope, using it as a guide.
Eventually, the shadow stopped and looked up, its long hair slicked back.
There is still no light in the world.
However, there was only a light in his eyes that could be called conviction.
A faint light flutters softly, and a wind begins to stir around the shadow's feet.
Her long, light red hair and the long-hemmed robe she was wearing were fluttering in the wind.Furthermore, a circular square was suddenly drawn at her feet, starting from the point where the wind was blowing up.
"Did the activation ceremony survive?"
With a mutter, a shadow appeared on the glowing magic circle - the girl's body rose up.
Her body was pushed upwards as if an invisible floor was rising up, and she nearly crashed into the dark ceiling. At that moment, the girl's body was pushed outwards as if through the bedrock.
The sunlight burns her eyes and the girl closes her eyes.
It took me exactly ten seconds to open my closed eyelids. The sunlight filtered through my eyelids and stung my eyeballs. Driven by a sense of resistance and impatience, I opened my eyes wide.
--Before my eyes, I saw the sun just beginning to rise.
"... Surprisingly, I wasn't that impressed."
The girl tilted her head in response to the sunlight she saw.
Just as he had muttered, the emotionless eyes were filled with only a ripple of emotion. Having only seen the temporary sun, he had hoped that seeing the real sun would move him in some way, but the result was not good.
"Even so, it seems that you managed to get out of the barrier safely. As odious as it may be, you managed to complete the Trial without a hitch. I'm grateful for that at least."
Otherwise, it would have been extremely difficult for him to leave the Sanctuary. It would have been like he was drowning in his own schemes. When he thought of the girl who had had to clean up his mess, he felt a strange dissatisfaction begin to sprout in his heart.
"Well, I guess that's fine. I can't push myself too hard with this body, so I'll walk around for a while to fill in the gaps."
The girl opens and closes her arms to check her body's condition.
A clone with the same soul as the original vessel's body is created. The soul is fixed there to match the original, but it can't be helped that it takes time to become accustomed.
"He kindly gave me the name. I think I'll call myself Omega."
With loose lips, I stepped through the grass and passed through the gaps between the trees, leaving the forest.
The journey is a little unsettling for a girl like me, but it's nothing. Fatigue and pain are only possible because my body and soul are connected. I need to enjoy the fulfillment of life that I haven't felt in a long time.
"Beatrice has left the Forbidden Library, and Roswaal has lost the Gospels. However, there is still much that is smoldering, such as the young man who picked up the embers and Garfiel, who has not forgotten his anger. I will keep a watchful eye over him from the shadows to see how he will deal with these things."
He purposefully avoids mentioning the girl who is making his heart ache and starts walking.
The world lies ahead of her, a treasure trove for the girl, timeless, rich, and ever-satisfying to satisfy her infinite curiosity, a treasure trove for anyone with a thirst for knowledge.
"If we keep doing this, maybe one day we'll find out."
Along the way, the girl spotted a flower and smiled faintly.
I picked up a petal between my fingers, smelled it, and gently popped it into my mouth.
Even beautiful flowers will eventually wither. Why do flowers wither?
Will the beautiful memories between people also fade someday?
"--Ah, why does love decrease?"
Muttering, the girl with her long, pale red hair swaying took a step forward.
The "Witch" has been unleashed into the world once again.