Mushi:Vol5 Epilogue 14

EPILOGUE 14: Poison & Apple & Kiss

I'm dead. I'm lying on the ground with a spoon in my right eye, and it went straight into my brain and churned it all up. I died alone. My head is against the warm kotatsu. My remaining eye gazes lifelessly upwards at the ceiling, and my body is getting stiff.

"Hate as much as you want."

I hear the innocent, crystal-clear voice of a girl. I should be dead. How am I still hear things? No. That's not surprising at all.

I'm not dead. When I gave up hope on everything and decided to die, I met Sensei, and I discovered the Apple of Miracles. That hope revived me.

"Curse as much as you want."

Knock knock.

I can hear the sound of knocking, and that my Sensei calling out to me. Rinne. Rinne. He's calling for me with such a broken and desperate voice. So… ah, I need to keep on living. I need to live for longer. If I died here... then it will be very sad and lonely.

Bam bam bam. Rinne Rinne Rinne.

I know, Sensei. You don't need to yell so loud. I'm fine. I'm fine. Don't cry.

Guriko-chan, don't look so sad. You didn't do anything wrong, so don't say you're sorry... If I get to live for a bit longer, then all of your wishes will be granted.

Yeah, that's right...

Just a bit longer. If I live for just a bit longer...

I saw the dream.

I saw the dream.

But I can't wallow in dreams forever. I need to wake up.

I need to keep on living.

"..."

She seemed to have fallen asleep while reading a picture book. She was lying in a transparent coffin. A thick pile of rose petals surrounded that coffin, and filled the air with their overwhelming scent. Her eyes stung a bit. Maybe she cried, but she couldn't remember why.

She was tired and couldn't stand up. She could only lay back and look up towards the pristine white space.

In her dream, she saw how Guriko killed her. It was a scene from a long time ago. So much had happened since then. Happy things, as well as sad things.

Everything around her was peaceful. Maybe this was the only place to retain peace at the end.

"... I understand."

I keep on nodding as if I am listening intently to something.

"I know. I know. Mmm - I know already."

She kept pretended to not see It and turning her head away. She wanted to forget It, to forget the truth hiding beneath her memories, deep within her instincts, living on the dark side of her thoughts. I finally remember It now. I don't want to acknowledge It, because that would be too lonely. That was why I made such a peaceful place, so I can get away from those truths.

Look. Innumerable lives have already disappeared from this world.

Look. Countless monsters having emerged. They are coming. They are approaching one after another. The entire world will soon buckle and collapse. Everyone living in this world will face death. Humanity will go extinct.

It is almost over. The countdown for the death of everything has begun.

So now I can't keep running away to retain my own peace.

"I am... God."

My heart is full of that fresh, 'I-just-woke-up' feeling. I had to cry out. And then everything is rushing into my brain like a chain reaction. like they have waited for this for a long time. Ahh. I am no longer Usagawa Rinne. I’ve completely become something else. No. I am catching up to all the knowledge and memories I've forgotten. I am becoming more perfect, more divine.

Honestly, I've forgotten countless memories. I have discarded things I longed for, just so I could keep on living in safety. But even so, it is almost over. It is about the time for the end.

This is my limit. I have reached my limit long before Guriko gouged out my eyeball - I became a Meat Doll to escape reality, to not think about anything. Then Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest forcibly implanted PoisonCatastrophe's heart into me and woke me up. The world would have ended sooner if that hadn't happened. It was so scary.

She had always turned away and ignored everything - she was probably about to die, just like this world.

God was going to die too. She was going to die soon. That was predetermined. She only delayed it for her own enjoyment. If God died, then the world would die too, right? That would make sense. That was how a world should be.

Therefore...

"I want to keep on living..."

So I need to try my best. I need to try my best. If I die, then everyone will disappear. I need to try and use my life force to the best of my ability. I will keep on living, no matter what happens.

Ahh, I have to stay alive.

I have to wake up.

Ahhhhh.

The end of the world looked like a burning dusk, like the sunset of Ragnarok – that sounded really weird and awkward, but that was what it felt like. It was the end. It was the long-awaited end to an ordinary day.

They understood it instinctively. It was simple. No explanations were needed. It was the end. As the curtains of night fell smoothly down, the entire world ended completely.

The scenery before their eyes started to crumble inwards from the edge of the horizon, leaving only darkness behind. Everything, living or else, became complete nothingness. All were equal in this destruction. Incredulously, the surroundings of the apartment complex were not involved in this catastrophe. But even this section of the world would not remain much longer.

"Hey, Tatsue."

"What, Mitaka?"

Tatsue was using Dragon's Breath and making rising air currents. She used that to climb to the rooftop of the apartment complex. She then sat down and lowered her head towards the dark form cradled in her chest and calling out her name. It should have been a reptilian, cold-blooded animal, but it had an incredible sense of warmth. After all, he was a monster who defied all common sense.

She was simply gazing dizzily at this world enveloped by this dark crimson light reminiscent of the sunset. Even if she had wanted to resist the end of the world, her body felt weak. Any feelings of anxiety or restlessly would only undoubtedly making her own life difficult. She and her companion were incredibly peaceful.

They felt fine even in this desperate situation, when the overwhelming end was approaching them without a justifiable reason. Were they looking at Guriko, who was rushing towards the school? They did not even know that themselves. However, they felt that the world had not given up.

Keep going, world! Keep going, God! The two of them said loudly as if this had nothing to do with them. The black-clad girl lowered her head and looked down upon this scene of Armageddon.

Mitaka, who was sitting on her chest, seemed like he was considering something difficult, or seeking something abstract.

"... The past, present, and future - which one of them is the most important?"

"Oh? Well..."

Tatsue replied as if it was just in a casual chat. However, a flash of thought went through her mind. Hope could only be expressed in the future, and you can't simply ignore the past. But honestly, you are only alive in the present. That was difficult. Now that she thought about it, all of those times were important.

“I’ve been thinking about that ever since Gankyū Eguriko shattered my ancestor's dream..."

"You're pretty serious, Snake. I, the Black Dragon, don't really care."

Honestly, nothing mattered. It didn't matter whether the past or the present or the future was more important. Such philosophical questions did not matter. They were only mind games.

However, Mitaka felt rather differently and had considered it a lot more. He mumbled in a low voice.

"What did this clan of Snakes, who betrayed humans in the past, really expect? Were they after eternal life, or was it for something else? Did they wish to control the future, which sparkled with endless unknowns? Did they want to accumulate more happiness for past reminiscences? Or was it just to erase the horror of death we constantly face as we live in the present?"

"Like I said..."

Tatsue took out her fan and flapped it vigorously, sending air towards her face.

"The end doesn't matter anymore, no matter how important that is. What now? What do you want to do once you have the answer to this question?

"Tatsue, the world looks like it's about to end soon. There's not much time left."

Tatsue understood that clearly, but what could she do about that? Would this guy, whose true form was a black snake, feel regretful and be apologetic if he did nothing?

"What should we do? If the future is very important, then we should strive to do what little we can to save the world. But if the past is more important, then we should sit here and talk about memories in the past."

"I am very happy right now."

Tatuse hugged Mitaka tightly and placed her lips softly on his forehead. The Snake stiffened all over.

"Isn't this enough? We keep talking about having to do this or that, but no one actually expected us to do anything. I started to despise those encouraging words ever since I found Mitsuki and you. It is enough to live however I want to. It is my own life after all."

The girl who was raised as the 'insurance' to her incredible older brother calmly collected the Snake in her right hand, and stood up slowly. Her left hand held her fan and she pointed it forward, as if she was making a declaration without a particular target in mind.

She looked splendid.

"I am very happy! So?!"

No one knew who she was asking. Tatsue didn't care about it a bit and yelled.

She was very proud.

"I am very, very - from the bottom of my heart - happy! So?!"

Then she plonked down on the roof and had a gentle smile on her face as she looked up at the sky.

"Aaah. Now that I've shown off like that, I'm completely satisfied. I'm already very happy even if I don't do anything. What should we do now? Let's play together. Mitaka, try to feel this. Try to feel this world, and the happiness of having been born onto this world!"

Tatsue breathed heavily, as if she was going to inhale this crimson world into her body. She looked at Mitaka, and Mitaka was just blankly smiling as if he wasn't alive. This was enough. Yes, Tatsue didn't want to die. But this was enough for her when the world was going to end.

As long as the person she loved was next to her, then it would be a Good End no matter how it ends.

"I am - very happy! So?!"

Tatsue narrowed her eyes and suddenly puffed up her cheeks and started to complain towards Mitaka, who was silent.

"Are you still not satisfied? I'm hugging you, and I'm telling you I'm happy. Is it still not enough? Why? Your desires have no end, Mr Snake!"

"..."

Mitaka's body immediately relaxed, and he kissed Tatsue's forehead in return as if he was replying to her. He then suddenly reverted to his human form. Tatsue blushed.

She hugged him softly and looked up towards the sky, as if she was seeking whether Heaven existed.

Can you see us now, Mitaka?

If we die like this, we would actually be a rather pitiful pair of lovers. Perhaps she was somewhat jealous, but now Tatsue liked this Snake from the bottom of her heart. He was gentle, somewhat weird, and sometimes a bit annoying, but he was very honest and cute - she liked him. It was probably weird to think of these things in this dying world, however she still felt very happy.

The two of then smiled carelessly and were happy.

"Happy! Happy!" They yelled as if they were challenging the entire world.

Finally, when their voices became hoarse, Mitaka laid down on the roof with a flop and made a big yawn. He looked to his side, and Tatsue was looking at him too. Then, as if they were trying to confirm this was indeed real, they embraced and kissed again.

They called out their lover's name with a weak voice.

"Mitaka."

"Tatsue."

The red light of Armageddon was reflecting off the glasses Mitaka wore. It was a rare moment when he could not control his expression.

It was such a rare smile. Mitaka managed it with all of his effort.

"It's great to have met you, Tatsue. I am very happy too. How is that?"

This was the end. That was clearly evident. The world was breaking down from its edges and collapsing inwards. It was an obvious fact. There were no doubt or uncertainties to that. The entire space was clearly falling and crumbling from the edges, as if liquid was overflowing the edges of a full cup.

All ended in nothingness. All things broke down and scattered. The fragments of the world were disappearing one after another into an unknown. No one knew where those broken pieces ended up. It was a bit beyond the capacities of Breaksun Hanselmine's imagination. Just as people who were about to die gradually lost their sight, she just felt a bit lonely as she gazed upon the world that was gradually moving towards oblivion.

At the end, Breaksun didn't create any relationships with anyone. She couldn't help but feel regret. She must have been used by someone as PoisonCatastrophe. She wasn't sure of it. Now, after she lost her abilities, she was truly reduced to just a bystander.

Everything that happened so far in this world were very removed from Breaksun, and it welcomed the end without having anything to do with her. She was just discarded on her own on the side. She never fought with anyone, nor did she get into any kind of conspiracy. Of course, nor did she save anybody. Although Kajiri thanked her tenderly when he passed away, to be honest... she didn't do anything.

In that case, she should at least watch everything till the end. It wasn't so she can try to change something, nor was it to save people who was about to die. She felt better now she thought about it.

The only thing she could do now was to look quietly on from the side. It was as if it was the only meaning left in her life.

She hugged her knees as she sat in front of the apartment building, gazing at the crimson light that was getting brighter and brighter and the world that kept crumbling and breaking apart. An arm was suddenly stretched towards her.

Breaksun turn to see Nageki Kurukiyo, the landlord of this apartment. He passed the cigarette he held in his hand towards her.

"You wanna have a puff?"

"No. Tobacco... is not good for your health."

She had never really spoken to this person before, and was therefore rather anxious as she responded. Then, feeling ridiculous, she gave a shrug.

"What am I talking about? Everything is about to kick the bucket."

"No, no. Hehehe."

For some reason, Nageki gave out a satisfied laugh. He lit his cigarette and inhaled a puff. The smoke he exhaled was particularly pale in the red light that filled the world.

"It's not bad. This feels like those lines of poetry Akechi Mitsuhide recited before he was executed. No one can tell what will happen in the future, and the world isn't necessarily destined for destruction. If we just close our eyes briefly then open them again, then maybe everything would have returned to how it was before."

"Um..."

This person was rather optimistic, no matter what.

Breaksun closed her eyes, and Nageki said with a happy expression.

"After all, I know the world is about to fall. I am a bit dull, but I can still feel that instinctively. However, back then I felt a great threat to my resolve to keep living. I want to just let go of everything and let the world keep going like this. It should be okay until the end of everything. I thought it would be fine to be melancholic… but despair won't do."

"... I don't understand."

He mumbled in a low voice and smiled as he scratched his head.

"Yep, because I still firmly believe there will be a big turnaround at the end. There's still that kind of possibility that a super powerful miracle, the kind that would be enough to save the entire world and our future, can actually happen. I am a normal person, so I keep believing in that. You should do the same."

You will feel a bit happier if you believe in something - the melancholic detective said in a low voice. She could believe, but what should she believe in? God? The world? Or should she believe in Guriko, who was rushing towards the school? She was looking for the sole remaining hope left in Pandora's Box in Greek mythology. Perhaps that hope was the last piece of humanity left for those still alive.

Then she must still live like a human to the end.

"~"

Breaksun started to sing. There were no meaningful lyrics, just the appropriate notes. It was a tune without a beginning or an end. The notes were low, but there was a powerful genuine feeling erupting out of the sound.

"Ahhh -"

It was as if she discovered something very important.

"We're still alive."

Next to her, Nageki Kurukiyo was unresponsive. He only puffed out smoke satisfactorily out of his mouth. He silently listened to Breaksun's chants. Suddenly, his eyes turned to her, and he put on a very seriously expression for no reason.

"Hey, it sounds like I’ve heard you before. Could you be... the lady singer from The Kingdom of Witches? I'm... I’m your fan! I even have all of your CDs. Can I please get your autograph?"

"Huh? Eh? Me? Autograph?"

For Breaksun, Nageki's words were completely unexpected. She looked very lost. Nageki had probably wanted to say that all this time, but never had a chance. He looked extremely serious as he waited for Breaksun's answer, looking like he was just a little child.

"... Haha."

Breaksun suddenly felt a bit deflated. Other people actually heard her voice. It was completely different from before, when she was totally ignored by others.

"Ahahaha."

She kept laughing as she felt she might still be saved.

She was still alive. She was definitely living in this world.

Guriko's spoon gouged out an eyeball. She had repeated this action innumerable times in the past thousand years. It was a habit, a cruel movement. Even Guriko did not know why she must gouge out others' eyeballs in such a carnivorous way. Guriko began to feel uncertain as she kept galloping along this road, which will lead her to save Rinne.

Perhaps Guriko was a cannibalistic monster. No, perhaps that was the foundation of her being. She became this way without being aware of it. She was a monster that lived by gnawing others' bones and flesh and sucking at their blood.

And yet, that girl embraced Guriko so tightly. That girl gently opened up Guriko's cruel and stubborn heart and bestowed love upon her. Usagawa Rinne - no matter how many lies there were in this world, her gentleness must be real.

That was a true miracle. A miracle of salvation.

Guriko had always been shy and withdrawn. Perhaps she never directly told Rinne of her gratitude.

She only indulged in Rinne's gentleness. That was Guriko's sin.

Right now, with the world about to end, it was perhaps too late even if she kept running forward at any cost. But even so -

"Get out of my way!"

Guriko annihilated hoards of monsters and ran on quickly while holding on to Sakaki's hand. They ran straight towards the school building. There was no time or need in going around and avoiding these monsters. The edges of the world was already starting to crumble. It was a scene that was the complete opposite to Genesis. The creatures originally living in the world were disappearing continuously. The sky, the ocean, and the land itself were also shrinking every second. Everything was evaporating. This was death.

The death of the world. The death of God.

Rage, emptiness, and guilt - all sorts of alien emotions rushed up in Guriko's mind and completely controlled her. She had become a demon. She mercilessly kicked away monsters that approached her. She slaughtered and defeated them all, and gouged out their eyeballs. But even so, unbelievable amounts of monsters still rushed towards them, covering up every inch of the land. All she could see were bundles of dark monsters coming towards them. It was pointless even if she destroyed one or two.

Guriko realized this and grabbed Sakaki's hand, who was also fighting monsters using his gun.

"We're going to storm through! Sakaki, hold on to me!"

There was no more need to doubt whether she should use the Apple's power. There was no more need to fear her true form. Even if the power she used was a cursed, evil power, she cannot reach God without using it to its last drop.

She cannot meet Rinne otherwise.

"Didn't I say that you guys are pests, bastards?!"

Guriko's back burst open instantly, and thin red threads erupted out of her as if they were strands of blood. They levitated in the air and formed giant wings, which bellowed and created a mighty sound. Guriko's appearance changed at the same time. The white that symbolized reason completely disappeared from her body. Instead, like a Poisoned Apple, her body became swathed in crimson.

The body made of carapaces and ligaments swelled up and Guriko held onto Sakaki and flew up lightly.

As they lifted off the ground, the monsters looked up and bellowed angrily.

Guriko completely ignored them and took to the skies.

The first flutter of her wings stirred up a mighty storm and destroyed countless monsters on the ground. Even so, those creatures did not seem to feel fear or terror. They jumped up and waved their claws, and spat up liquids and threw up rocks in their attempts to bring down Guriko. Those creatures have resolved to die and had discarded their lives. They were only trying to fulfil their duty.

But Guriko could not allow them to do so. Perhaps she was the same as them, but now she did not care about the likes of duty anymore and simply soared in the sky according to her own will.

She flew over the monsters and the school gates, and landed with a thud on the ground within the school. A bright, crimson light was sparkling there, a light that hurt Guriko's eyes. The light pulsated as if it was a beating heart. The light brightened and darkened as the monsters approached, and this rhythmic change brought stabbing pain to Guriko's eyes.

"Guriko, these monsters..."

Sakaki, who had no idea what was going on, looked at these creatures incredulously. He should have had several encounters with monsters, but it was his first time seeing so many of them. Guriko was the same -

"... these are Mushi."

"Mushi!?"

Sakaki yelled, looking surprised. Guriko didn't have the time to talk to him and only managed to fight back the approaching monsters while trying to edge closer to the school building.

Sakaki followed Guriko, looking utterly confused.

"But Guriko... Aren't Mushi those people with red eyes who go after Apples all the time? These monsters are nothing like the Mushi I knew."

"Mmm, I know. But these are similar to Mushi."

Guriko made this decision when Single Room told her all the truths concerning this world without reserve. Even though Guriko still felt doubtful, she knew Single Room didn't need to lie when he was lying at Death's door. She therefore accepted everything he said. But this fact - this weakest link in the chain - could not be explained by any evidence.

"Sakaki, this world is made of Good and Evil."

"Huh?"

Sakaki felt his mind was heavy, and that Guriko was treating him as if he was an idiot. Guriko was still in her transformed state and her mood was rather down. She walked forward with a pout. She arrived at the entrance of the school building, where the shoe lockers were. Everything seemed blurred because of the red light. This area was destroyed in the battle with Melodia NoiseTear Song, and it was difficult to walk through it. Even though this was their familiar school, they would probably still get lost without the map at the entrance.

Perhaps - Rinne was there.

"That's enough. Shut up and listen. What I'm going to say aren't lies or jokes. This is what Single Room, the Greater Fragment who is closest to God, told me. Don't talk even if you have doubts. Don't laugh. Don't feel sad. And don't do anything stupid. I'm gonna gouge out your eyeballs if you make me upset."

"No - I've never done anything stupid. I'm just scared that you suddenly said all these weird things.”

"It's gonna get weirder from now on. We're about to arrive at our destination. I don't have time to explain everything to you now, but I'll just tell you the basics. Listen up."

Guriko felt a tinge of nostalgia as she stepped on the stairs and continued to speak.

"This world is made of Good and Evil. Good is God, and Evil are the monsters... Basically, the protagonist of the story is God, and everything that opposed Him is a monster. Would this explain what monsters are?"

"Heh. Even if I listen really carefully, I still can't get that."

"You don't get it, huh? I ain't very smart, so I probably did a bad job at explaining..."

Guriko recalled Single Room's words as she thought hard about it and kept talking.

"In conclusion - Sakaki, what do you think of when I mention 'God'?"

"God?"

"Yeah, God. You'll take forever to answer me, so I'm gonna say it for you. That omnipotent and omniscient, absolute existence. The ruler of this world. The Creator. Those are the things we regard as God, right? The person who makes the world turn. That would be God."

Guriko took Sakaki in her arms as she jumped along the collapsed corridor. All the landing points were fragile and she could barely put any force on them. It was very difficult to talk and move at the same time.

"Then why would God die?"

"Can God die?"

"He can. Actually, He is dying right now. God is the ruler of the entire world, so any changes in God would be reflected in the changes in this world. If God is upset, there will be thunder. If God feels sad, His tears will descend on the world as rain. Then if God died, these monsters would pop out and the world would crumble."

God was Good, and monsters were Evil. God was the same as the world. Monsters, which exist as Evil, must destroy God. The death of God was therefore the end of the world. Everything that was happening in this world was probably because of this phenomenon. Guriko didn’t really understand, nor did she believe this a lot.

Sakaki once again looked like he couldn’t understand this. He narrowed his eyes and mumbled.

“I don’t understand at all. God is the same as the World? Is that how we should think? If the status of God changes, then would the state of the World change accordingly? Are you trying to say this is how we should understand the world?”

He did indeed have a quick mind. He understood her words before Guriko explained all the prerequisites of the situation. Yes. Even though there were still many questions and contradictions, they could not continue the conversation without remembering every fact all at once. This was nothing related to the laws of physics. The world was marching towards the end.

Confusion was pointless. Not understanding was different from closing one’s eyes, shaking one’s head, and refusing to listen.

They roughly understood everything, and they have to solve those questions.

Guriko also thought this as she fixed her eyes before her and kept running forward.

“Yes. Then – aren’t there things regarded as God’s Greater Fragments?”

The Greater Fragments – Sterilization Disinfection, Unpleasant Counter-Current, Single Room, Melodia NoiseTear Song, PoisonCatastrophe, Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest, and God Mushi Emperor. They each shouldered their predestined functions in this world, and they were immortals with miraculously abilities. They have always called themselves the scattered and broken Fragments of God, but that was slightly different from the truth.

God was never scattered and broken.

God had always been here.

Every single existence in this world was a part of God. It had always been that way.

“That was what they were. They individually corresponded to the body parts of God. Sterilization Disinfection was the Digestive Organ. Unpleasant Counter-Current was the Execratory Organ. Melodia NoiseTear Song was the Sensory Organ. PoisonCatastrophe was the Communication Organ. Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest was the Flesh and Bones. God Mushi Emperor was the Body Fluids. Single Room was the Brain and Spinal Fluids. Ahh, God Mushi Emperor is the Mushi themselves.”

Guriko remembered Sakaki’s question before, so she explained it altogether. Sakaki felt very unsatisfied and yelled aloud.

“It’s hard to understand it if you don’t explain it step by step and according to logic… Ah, never mind. This digestive organ and execratory organ stuff – if you put them together, that would made a human body, right? And these parts of the human body would be the Greater Fragments scattered across the world?”

Guriko’s tone still sounded like she was treating him like an idiot, and Sakaki was not happy. However, Guriko nodded and replied, completely oblivious to his expression.

“Yes. The world has different meanings according to the change in God’s status, and the existence of the seven Greater Fragments also represent God’s body. Everything that had happened so far in this world have more meaning than you might think.”

Whether it was the meeting between Guriko and Rinne, Guriko’s battle with Sterilization Disinfection, Guriko's deal with Melodia NoiseTear Song, the events in the Eternity Institute, or the discussion Guriko had with Single Room and then with PoisonCatastrophe – no matter what happens, everything had their unique meaning.

“This time, Mushi became monsters and started to slaughter humans, and this event was meant to embody Death. Wouldn’t this mean God was fighting against the monsters? The multitude of Mushi make up God Mushi Emperor – the part of God that used to represent Body Fluids. Meanwhile, monsters represent the poison that destroys the body, and it had completely taken over the entirety of the body fluids. As the body fluids circulate in the form of blood, the world was also gradually falling into destruction.”

That means the monsters – the poisonous body fluids that covered the entire world – they were corroding Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest, who was God’s Flesh and Bones, and made her mad and caused her to be an enemy of the world, much like the monsters. That was easy to understand. Monsters and the maddened Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest were destroying and eliminating the Digestive Organ, the Execratory Organ, the Sensory Organ, and the Communication Organ one after another. Even Single Room, who was the Brain and Spinal Fluids, could not hold out for much longer – no, perhaps he was already dead. The world – God – was starting to become brain dead.

There was truly no more time.

“Are we going to stop that destruction now?”

Sakaki touched upon the core of the issue. Yes, Guriko and Sakaki arrived to prevent this destruction from happening. Guriko stood in front of a classroom and reached out to slide open that familiar door.

“We are all a part of God’s body, a member of the society that makes up this world, and we can’t prevent the world from ending no matter how hard we try. Even if we try to prevent the calamity, we can only protect whatever we represent and lies within our duty. However, those monsters, who are in the same world as us, could not just be limited to a single section of the world as they are enemies of the entire God. They are our enemies, and at the same time, they are not our enemies.”

“Then – what should we do?”

Crack. Her hand was pushing the door, but it was not moving a centimetre. No matter how much pressure she put on the door, it would not move. This surprising event was not necessarily a shock for Guriko.

Guriko lifted her hand away from the classroom door and nodded towards Sakaki to get him to open the door. She said in a low voice.

“That Greater Fragment named Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest seemed to have put everything around here in stasis in order to make himself God.”

Guriko did not know Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest’s real name. Although he had called himself Zekiguchi Nashinori, it was a name that Zekiguchi announced when he was in the disguise of someone else. In conclusion, as God’s Flesh and Bones, Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest could make his body change in all sorts of ways, including his digestive and sensory organs such as the stomach and the eyeballs. Then, perhaps he can even turn into the form of God Himself.

Even now, Guriko still could not fully predict his – her? – plots and goals. After all, that guy…

“He definitely thought he could have done a better job. No. Only him would be able to do a better job, right? He wants to replace the original God and become a new God, eliminate every one of the monsters, and then rule over the world as the next God.”

“Then… where exactly is God? Which part of Him is here with us?”

Sakaki immediately responded to Guriko’s explanation, and voiced his original question.

“For humans, the so-called God was the ruler of our own body, so it would be The Self – this would be ‘Me’, no? But which part of Him is here? The Brain? Single Room?”

“No, Sakaki. That’s wrong. Even the brain is only a body part – that’s probably right, since Single Room was the one who said that. A human can probably remain alive if he only has the brain left. But is the brain ‘Me’? 'The Self' should be something more unique. Could you feel that? Something more unique?”

Guriko gave her answer.

“To put it simply… it would be the soul.”

She hurried Sakaki, who put his hand on the door, to quickly open it. However, even he could not open the door. If he was rejected as well, then that means the person in this room was really throwing a fit and didn’t want to see or hear anything. We were all treated as if we were idiots. God casually created the world, but now when everything was ending, He removed Himself from it.

“Where is the God for this world? Ahh, ‘the world’ doesn’t mean the entire planet, or every single country, or the other planets, or the entire universe. ‘The world’ is what we can feel, and is limited by our understanding. And here – this is the world of God.” Guriko continued.

Sakaki banged on the door powerfully and broke the glass pane on the door. It was very bright within the classroom. It was a pristine white color, which contrasted with the dark crimson that enveloped the world around the school building, as if the room was full of snow.

“God has always been in the middle of everything, in the middle of this philosophical story unravelling within this world. Who is the protagonist of this world? Who is the center of it all? Is it me? Is it you, Sakaki? Who does the world rotate around? Where – where is God?”

Guriko sighed as she said this, then suddenly lifted her hand up.

“God is right here.”

Then she punched the classroom door and completely destroyed it. Guriko held the gemstone Single Room entrusted to her in her fist. She then dragged Sakaki, who was still confused, into the familiar classroom.

“From the very start, God seemed to have always just lived in that limited small space.”

Guriko blinked a few times in order to get used to the blinding light before her. She did not turn aside when she spoke. That girl should be able to hear Guriko no matter where Guriko turned to. This classroom was so narrow and small as it is, and this was also that person's world.

"In this world - in this story with a deeper meaning - the places where God showed up were just His apartment, the uneven countryside path He took to school, the shopping district, and the school itself. That was about all. Even within the school, He didn't have much more than a vague impression apart from His class room. He could only imagine all the other places. Many details for those places were therefore fuzzy and fantastical."

Guriko lifted up her hand and pointed towards the glass coffin within the classroom. Someone was sleeping within it.

"That is the existence of the predicted God. He was simply a student who only move around in His room, and frequently stayed inside and didn't even leave the house."

Guriko started to scream. It sounded both like a roar and a prayer.

"How long are you going to stay being locked up inside?! You will die like this - Rinne!"

"... So loud. It's been so loud for a while now."

They could hear the very weak voice of a girl, sounding annoyed.

"I want to sleep."

"You will die if you fall asleep."

"Die?"

They could not see her and could only hear her voice.

"Yes... Ahh, what to do. It's such a bother..."

She slowly sat up. She was the protagonist of this proverbial story, the center of this world. She took no responsibilities, and caused everyone to revolve around her unknowingly - Usagawa Rinne, that ordinary girl, woke up within the glass coffin and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

The flower petals laid out underneath her started to flutter upwards with a rustling sound.

It did not feel holy at all. Rather, everything was nondescript and simple. But Guriko felt a definite chill. Guriko finally understood what Single Room meant by the purpose of the world. She understood that the moment she realized it was Rinne who was sleeping within the coffin. She finally comprehended the truth of this world.

The person she wanted to see was here in the center of the world, but why?

Why must it be Rinne?!

"Ah, Guriko-chan. And Sensei is here as well."

Guriko had already recovered her senses and reverted her transformation. She was once again that girl dressed in shabby clothes with a wolf-like haircut. What she also wanted to get back was the joy she felt when she saw Rinne's simple smile.

Guriko never had any choice other than getting Rinne to make cruel decisions ever since the very start. If she saw Rinne smile like that now, then she would definitely embrace Rinne and cry with her, and act all spoiled around her.

The God of this world slowly looked around Her and tilted Her head.

"Um..."

The petals that stuck to Her hair started to fall. She sat on top of the coffin and spread Her arms.

"Ahahaha, my brave warriors, you are finally here. I am the source of all evil in this world. I am the Devil."

"... No, Rinne. I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're saying."

Guriko finally said what she wanted to say. Rinne blushed a little and lowered Her head.

"Ah, no. It's been a long time since I've done this. It's so great to talk normally with Guriko-chan and Sensei again. I'm so happy. But that feeling was filling me up too much. It was irritating."

"Milady!"

That expression, that shy and embarrassed look – that was Rinne's signature impression. Sakaki looked like he was on the verge of crying and walked up to Her. Yes, this was a tearful reunion. He had always wanted to get Rinne back to how she was before. He labored ceaselessly towards that goal. He didn't even care if he died. He tried so hard that he almost went mad. Guriko wanted to go up and tightly embrace Rinne too. However...

"Wait!"

Rinne's refusal stopped Sakaki's movement stiffly. It wasn't because he was shocked because what She said, but that he really couldn't move. He should not have forgotten that this was Her world.

"Ah... sorry. Um..."

She was sitting unmoving on top of the coffin. She didn't even have the strength to move a finger. And yet, She controlled the world.

"You might get absorbed... if you approach me. My situation is really bad right now. I'm absorbing everything just to stay alive. The light that filled this building and the world isn't as simple as it looks. It's because I don't even have the energy to imagine details in this world anymore. I feel I'm mixing everything up."

Her words were full of sounds like 'ahh' and 'umm', and She explained everything in a halting, confused way. Even though Rinne was God, it appeared She did not have a complete understanding of the construction of the world. She only understood everything in a rough and vague way, and relied upon Her own feelings and instincts for details. Her heart did not beat as a normal human’s would, but only as a reflex in order to stay alive.

"... We should be fine if it's just a matter of approaching you."

Guriko showed Rinne the red gem from Single Room that she held in her hand. Even though Rinne immediately noticed it, She still shook Her head dismissively.

"Mmm, you'll probably be okay with that. It's just a bit scary. See?"

Rinne's finger cut across the air with a whoosh. A trail immediately appeared, and fire erupted out from thin air. The flame scorched this empty, pristine space, and gradually dimmed.

“This is Single Room.”

Rinne said matter-of-factly, then smiled sadly.

“Kajiri-san died, so the power of Single Room returned to my body. Um, I am using this power subconsciously, so I may change the definition of the world without knowing it. That gemstone may be nullified as well. So don’t come close to me… let me have another good look at it afterwards.”

The silent, windless classroom was then disturbed by air torrents. A spiral of wind was born within Rinne’s palm, and the surrounding air was all sucked into it. That incomprehensible sphere of air was decorated by countless petals of different descriptions. Rinne made a small movement to toss it away, and the sphere rolled freely throughout the classroom and stirred up gales.

“Melodia NoiseTear Song.”

Rinne said expressionlessly.

“Unpleasant Counter-Current.”

The sphere of wind circled the classroom, then returned to where it came from. It bounced lightly in Rinne’s palm, then easily twirled around and flew towards the opposite direction.

“PoisonCatastrophe.”

The sphere of air made some strange twists on its path and returned to Rinne’s side. It started to rotate as if it ignored the laws of cause and effect, and flew straight towards Rinne’s head as if it was attracted by Her –

“Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest.”

Rinne’s hair instantly started to elongate and sealed the wind sphere within it, as if Her hair was a birdcage. The powers of PoisonCatastrophe, Melodia NoiseTear Song, and Single Room were activated simultaneously. The sphere of wind became a little bird draped in flower petals, and made a shrill call.

“Then lastly – Sterilization Disinfection.”

Pfft, Rinne breathed out, and the white mist from Her mouth annihilated the bird cage. Her elongated hair, as well as the little bird born from Her, were both destroyed.

“Do you understand now?”

Rinne said with a very sad and lonely voice. She looked lost, and she hugged herself tightly. It was as if she was a saint suffering on the crucifix and shouldered immense pain. Her face twisted.

“Everybody was dead. Everybody was dead. I was born into this world without a purpose, suffered unnecessary pains, and got killed. Um, Guriko-chan, Sensei, maybe you are here to save me – no, you are here to save me, aren’t you?”

Rinne started to cry, and Her tears fell to the ground. It must be raining somewhere in the world. After all, She was God, even if She did not wish for it to be so.

“It would better if I am dead.”

“Rinne…”

Sakaki walked towards Rinne despite Her previous warnings. Rinne stopped his movement again with some powers of Hers, and started to shake Her head violently.

“I know. I know I shouldn’t talk like this. I don’t want to die either. I don’t want to die. I want to keep living peacefully with Guriko-chan and Sensei. But now I don’t want to live anymore. There are no more reasons for me to stay alive anymore. Why did everyone die because of me? It was all because I was born. That was why everyone got hurt, why everyone felt pain, why everyone died. Everyone is dead!”

Rinne put her head between her hands and screamed.

“Melodia NoiseTear Song-san’s entire body was gnawed apart, her heart pierced through! Unpleasant Counter-Current-san’s corpse was discarded in the ruins, her heart gorged out! Even though PoisonCatastrophe-san is alive again – but her life, her duty, and even her heart was shattered, and she was dead! Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san’s entire body had disappeared, and her head was smashed! Sterilization Disinfection-san was also impaled, suffered innumerable wounds, and died!”

Rinne began to sob pitifully. She was the Omnipotent God – She knew every single death that happened in this world.

“They would not be dead if they weren’t born! It was all because I was born! If only I didn’t create this world! I feel so sorry for having created humans! What a horrible sin! I created everything in this world! Everything is a part of my body! Everything! Human! Beasts! Reptiles! They would not be dead if I wasn’t born! They were all born because of me! From the very start…”

She said nothing else. She was repeating those sad, heartbroken words over and over again.

“It would be better if I were dead…”

It was an unbearable cry full of despair.

“I’m sorry… Um, I’m so sorry… I am God. I’m so sorry.”

“Rinne.”

Rinne couldn’t bear it any longer. She moved forward and brashly crossed the entire classroom. It was never a big room. She instantly stood in front of Rinne.

Rinne was rather mad and pushed away Guriko with all of Her might.

“Gu, Guriko-chan, no! Don’t come near me! You will be killed too! You will be absorbed – I don’t want to kill Guriko-chan!”

However, even someone as omnipotent and omniscient as Her could not stop Guriko. She could not stop Guriko at all. Guriko understood this, and wholeheartedly declared.

“Because I am the Monster, and I will never obey God.”

“---”

Rinne’s expression changed with that sentence. Guriko hugged Rinne’s shoulders. It was so familiar. It was Rinne’s familiar body and temperature, Her slender build, Her smooth skin, and slightly pink hair, and that rather metallic, clear voice.

“Guriko.”

“Rinne.”

Guriko did not want to admit to this. She had always denied this and managed to keep living on. Sakaki, who could not move at all, seemed to want to say something, but Guriko ignored him.

“Single Room told me everything.”

“What…?”

Rinne opened Her innocent eyes, which Guriko liked so much, very wide. She looked straight at Guriko.

“Why did Single Room-san have to say it? Why didn’t he obey me… Everyone was a part of my body. Why didn’t my body move according to my desires?”

“Rinne.”

Guriko turned to look at Sakaki. She was embracing this girl and looking Her in the eye. This was the Final Judgement, even though it was a rather unimpressive Armageddon. Guriko, the only observer of the End, lifted up her head and said.

“No.”

She turned her gaze back to the girl before her, and said.

“You are not Usagawa Rinne.”

Rinne’s shoulders suddenly shook violently. A terrifying half smile surfaced on Her face. Tears filled Her eyes as She tilted Her head and asked.

“… How much do you already know, Guriko-chan?”

“This is all I know.”

Guriko took deep breaths and stared at Rinne steadfastly. Silence filled the spacious room until it became unbearable. Rinne looked coquettishly at Sakaki, while Sakaki looked accusingly at Guriko. Why is he looking at me? This feels horrible. Guriko started to yell loudly, as if she wanted to overwhelm both Rinne and Sakaki.

“This is all I know! It depends on you if you want me to know the rest of it, Rinne! No…”

Her scream was so loud it was piercing through everything in this world.

“… Just exactly who are you?”

“I – ”

Rinne’s body started to shake and Her outline began to crumble. What a fragile, unreliable God. Guriko hugged Rinne tightly. Sakaki was screaming. Everything was so lonely.

Snow White. The Poisoned Apple. The Prince.

Only these three remained on the final stage.

“I am –”

All emotions disappeared from Rinne’s eyes. She seemed to have become someone else in the blink of an eye. It was as if Her hidden true form finally became fully exposed.

A marvellous sense of majesty was emanating from Her as She pronounced that name.

“I am… I am the person who committed suicide by swallowing poison – I am Akutagawa Shirayuki.”

Sakaki was the first to move. It was a miracle for him to even move around. Rinne’s desire for him to stay away was a divine command, and it should have overrode all physical concepts and laws. For him to be able to move now should be because Rinne still wished for it somewhere in Her mind.

Sakaki moved his legs with difficulty and stubbornly tried to walk up to Guriko and Rinne, but he only fell heavily on the ground. Guriko had to help him up, and even Rinne lend a hand. This man, so entangled with God, was truly useless.

“What’s… going on?”

Sakaki moaned. Did he crawl all the way here just to ask Rinne this question? He had to seek an answer even if he could not move, but it seemed to have achieved something. Rinne seemed somewhat calmer when She was holding onto Sakaki’s hand.

“Mmm.”

Her expression seemed a little lonely.

“God is me, and the entire world was a reflection of God’s status and emotions – I don’t know if you can understand this, but that’s how it is.”

Rinne smiled. She was holding onto Sakaki with Her right hand, and holding onto Guriko with Her left hand.

“And the name of the God of this world - my name - is Akutagawa Shirayuki.”

Then, as if She had given up on everything, as if She gave in to despair, She suddenly lowered her head.

“This is me. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

As if She was singing, She spoke the truths of this world.

“Akutagawa Shirayuki is a sixteen-year-old high school girl. That was who I was. I was tired of some things in this world, so I ingested poison, and wandered in the realm between life and death. There was nothing I liked in reality. The poison was destroying my body, and it hurt so much. I had a very happy dream the moment I died.”

That dream was this world. She opened her arms as She said this. Their surroundings, full of that pristine white light, suddenly became full of images, as if they were in a cinema. This was the record of this world.

Usagawa Rinne, who jumped into the ocean to commit suicide, and Sakaki Guryū, who jumped into the ocean to save Her.

They started a happy life together. Rinne was initially troubled because of the doubts in Her heart, but She finally gave in under Sakaki’s aggressive antics. They fell in love with each other, and their lives were full of happiness from then onwards. They cooked together and went to school together. They texted each other via their cell phones. They dated as if they were innocent children. That was because Akutagawa Shirayuki never fell in love before.

“We will end here.”

The Snow White within the coffin reminiscenced about the nostalgic past and smiled.

“It was truly a dream that completely dispelled the horror and pain of death. It was a happy dream. It would be good if we can live like this forever. However, I was already on the path towards death from the moment I ingested the poison. My world won’t last much longer. Therefore, in order to destroy my happiness, the monsters started to appear.”

Rinne looked towards Guriko, who was listening with wide-open, unblinking eyes.

“From the very start…”

Guriko watched as such cruel words were uttered by the person she liked so much.

“...You were designated to be my opponent, Guriko-chan.”

She was the Poisoned Apple prepared to murder Snow White. Yes, what did Guriko do at the very start? She was destroying Sakaki and Rinne’s happy life. She wanted to kill Rinne, and she gouged out Rinne’s eyeballs.

She was the monster created to end Rinne’s happiness.

“But I was not killed.”

Yes, that was strange. Guriko was truly a monster – she represented an amount of poison enough to kill God. The world should have ended the moment she came into contact with Rinne.

“… Why?”

“What do you think?”

Guriko didn’t know what to say when Rinne returned her question back to her. Back then, Guriko was a monster both in appearance and in attitude, so she should not have hesitated. But she did not kill Rinne.

“You appeared too early, Guriko-chan.”

Rinne laughed happily as She said this, but She instantly returned to Her previously serious demeanour, and spoke the name of that previous existence.

“Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest.”

That was the Greater Fragment who wanted to usurp the position of God. It was the Devil, the Betrayer.

Rinne – Shirayuki – whatever Her name was – sighed deeply.

“That person’s plots made the situation very difficult.”

There was a sense of dislike in Her words. Guriko felt confused instead. Shouldn’t Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest’s plots be mere inconveniences for God?

Rinne continued calmly and expressionlessly, as if She was reciting some legends.

“I’ll start by explaining the beginning of this world. This world was created by Akutagawa Shirayuki in the narrow cleft between life and death. This world only kicked into motion the moment Sakaki Guryū saved Rinne.”

It sounded like She was saying stuff that had nothing to do with Her. Sakaki’s expression looked rather strange. He couldn’t help but feel a bit sad for Rinne to call him Sakaki Guryū, even though it was easier to understand in that way. It was really like Sakaki to be considering such useless details even now.

Guriko tried very hard to think, and suddenly felt a sense of unrest in her heart.

If it was all according to Rinne’s words, and the world only started at that moment –

As if She read Rinne’s mind, God smiled and replied.

“In other worlds, this world did not exist prior to that moment. There was nothing.”

“Ah? But –”

What about Guriko? What about her memories? What about the name Yono? What about the life in her village? The days she spent with the two travellers? And those painful years, during which she lived as a monster?

“Those were all fake.”

Fake? All of her memories were fake?

She suddenly remembered something. She had returned to her birthplace in order to seek for a way to return Rinne to normal, but she found an empty, flat land. There was nothing. It was a flat plain until the end of the horizon.

Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest had appeared then and said to her.

– Now that you're here, you have doubts,.

– If you want to know the truth, then simply return to Kannonsakazaki.

Yes. Everything, all the stories, everything in the world, was within Kannonsakazaki and its surroundings. Everything was unravelling within this limited area. Everything outside of it was outside of God’s domain. Indeed, Akutagawa Shirayuki never ventured outside of the town, and it wasn’t rare for high school students to behave like that.

She declared the following as She looked towards Guriko's eyes, which were full of doubts.

"Guriko-chan is the monster with the duty to kill me. Even though that was the entirety of the character, Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest made up all sorts of memories and characteristics and inserted them into your body."

The name Yono, the travellers Kudan and Kirigirisu - they were all lies.

Ahhh, is this what it means? Is this what it means to feel the entire world was fake? To feel what Rinne - God - always felt? It was the first time Guriko felt the truth of this world.

Ahh, so this was it. This is so cruel.

God did not pay particular attention to Guriko's confusion, and continued to speak calmly.

"I know that Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest's goal was to replace me, and become the new God. Based on her abilities, that is indeed possible. In fact, it would be a rather good choice on some levels, but do try to imagine what would then happen. This world was already predestined for destruction. Even if she replaced me as God, the world would still crumble rapidly."

Yes. This world was only a dream dreamt by the dying girl, Akutagawa Shirayuki, in a very brief moment before death. Even if Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest, who was originally a part of Akutagawa Shirayuki's body, replaced Her and became the dominating force in the body, she still would not be able to prevent the death of the flesh.

Guriko understood.

That was it. Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest made some very clever modifications to Guriko, and Single Room explained everything to her as well. They showed her a way to keep living after replacing the original God and becoming the new God.

"Yes."

As if She read Guriko's heart, Rinne spoke out the truth.

"If she became the true God, she only needs to kill the original form of the poison. In other words, she need to kill Guriko. According the rules of this world, if we eliminate the monster that will kill God, then the world may not be destroyed. To achieve that goal and in order to continue the existence of God, Usagawa Rinne and Gankyū Eguriko must not die before Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san finished all her preparations. Usagawa Rinne is Akutagawa Shirayuki. If She died, the entire world would be over. But if Guriko died, Akutagawa Shirayuki would be saved, and would perhaps wake up."

Wake up. Akutagawa Shirayuki would wake up. If the poison was destroyed and She woke up, then who knows what will happen to this world existing in the narrow cleft between life and death - She would certain wake up in Her reality, in a world dominated by the true God.

Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest would be frustrated if the situation progressed in that direction before she became the new God. That was precisely why she helped Guriko, who was imprisoned within the Eternity Institute, by manipulating Long-Armed Demon.

God nodded and looked towards the distance as if She was thinking of something. Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest was already dead. She was already absorbed into Her body. Be it her memories or anything else, She could recalled all of that person's life over and over as if it belonged to Her. After all, Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest was also a part of God.

"Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san's preparations were progressing steadily and smoothly. She was investigating the Fragments using the Eternity Institute, and she was also ascertaining the truth behind this world. She was interested in the talisman that would allow one to approach God - the gem of Single Room - and isolated Single Room in order to obtain it. She was always manipulating him. She was also doing her best to collect all sorts of large and small Fragments in order to prevent the end of the world and to stop the original God from dying."

When seen in that light, there was indeed some coordination in Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest's actions. All were done in order to replace God, without regard for anything else. Making monsters like Long-Armed Demon was only to remove those who might oppose her, too.

As if She was tired from all the talking, God stretched her legs and yawned.

"Huh... However, even someone as clever as Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san seemed to have moments when her calculations ran afoul."

"Ran afoul?"

God replied when She saw how surprised Guriko was.

"Why are you looking so surprised? It's just the calculations regarding Guriko-chan."

"Me?"

She didn't understand. Guriko seemed to have been manipulated by Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest all the way till the end. She miscalculated when it came to Guriko?"

"If miracles existed at all, then there was indeed one true miracle in this boring world full of lies."

She jumped up and happy smiles covered Her face. She now called Herself Akutagawa Shirayuki and a divine elegance indeed surrounded Her, as if She was a very elevated and distant being. But what was certain was that She had always been like this, and never changed.

She was Rinne. Even if She was God - She was also Rinne.

She was gentle, cute, and surprisingly stubborn. She was an ordinary girl who would rarely feel depressed, but would still become frustrated with something small.

God - Rinne - softly held Guriko'shand.

"That miracle would definitely be our meeting, Guriko-chan. We are already friends now. We are friends who care about each other very much. Do you understand now? That is a miracle, because God and the monster became good friends. That's got to be a miracle that would never happen in any legend, right?"

"Rinne..."

She felt very warm for some reason. This really felt like a miracle. Although it had been a long time after their initial meeting, it seemed nothing changed. Rinne was Rinne, and She was someone very close to Guriko.

Rinne smiled as if She was embarrassed when facing Guriko, who was very moved, and tilted Her head.

"Yes, Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san became very frustrated because we became so friendly with each other. She got Long-Armed Demon to come kill me in order to achieve her ambitions faster. Didn't Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san pretend to be me back then? She wanted to replace me little by little. She will kill me, as well as take away my duty."

"Can that even be replaced? Shouldn't the world end the moment God dies?"

"Hmm... this is a very unreliable world. No, it wasn't like what I said. Perhaps it was only an experiment for Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san. She will kill me as well as Guriko."

She did not manage to kill them at the end.

"Mmm, we weren't killed. At the last minute, Sterilization Disinfection-san appeared. She was Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san's mortal enemy. Not only did she turn me into a Meat Doll, she killed Guriko too. That was honestly the biggest error in the entire plan. Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san hated Sterilization Disinfection-san even till the end."

Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest was dead too.

Her plots were foiled and the world was about to end. This was the moment for the curtains to fall. It was almost time for the performers to admit the truth and expose the conspiracy. This was an indispensable part of the entire story.

However, Guriko did not let a single word go and listened to everything intently. The world was not over yet. They have not saved God yet. There should be one more scene, the last appearance of the actors in the epilogue where every conspiracy is revealed.

That would be the true end.

There was no plot, so no one can predicted the end – not even God.

“I’m sorry.”

She did not look like God at all, and lowered Her head very weakly.

“At that time, I became a Meat Doll who didn’t think of anything. It was all because I was whimsical. Um… Sensei… Guryū-san.”

She cast Her gaze towards Sakaki, who was standing there alone. Sakaki was a bit confused. He kept thinking about the facts related to the truths of this world – no, no, his faced looked really stupid. His face looked like he was considering how to save Rinne without letting the world fall apart. In fact, he was not thinking of anything apart from Rinne. Therefore, he instantly responded to Her words and nodded.

“Yes, Milady?”

“At least call me by my name in this kind of situation.”

“Rinne.”

“Mmm. Don’t use those extra names like Usagawa.”

Guriko couldn’t understand this conversation at all. Rinne was continuing in a calm, matter-of-fact way.

“I like you, and I love you.”

“I love you too, Rinne!”

Rinne looked rather lonely when She looked at that silly man, who responded without hesitation. She smiled with a lonely expression.

“Mmm, but I’m sorry. That was fake.”

Faced with Sakaki, who was absolutely stunned, She spoke with a very firm, pained, and dreamy expression.

“You are only a concept made to console Akutagawa Shirayuki’s lonely heart. You are the Prince who will give her happiness. You are the Teddy Bear who can embrace her tightly. You are the perfect lover who was created solely for that purpose – you possess a blind love towards Usagawa Rinne, who was Shirayuki’s imaginary personality. You are only an existence given such a destiny. That was the plan… But why? That was what should have been. Why did it end up like this?”

As if She was confused, She quietly grasped Sakaki’s hand and showed the saddest smile in the world. As if they were Romeo and Juliet, who were predestined to be attracted to each other in the story, they were also unfortunate lovers who were doomed to be forced apart.

Guriko did not have the feeling of romantic love and was not sure if the emotions between these two were correct, but she knew it was rather awkward.

It was so sad. They could not be happy no matter how anxious they became. What a pair of unfortunate lovers.

As if God was analysing it closely, She spoke out the simple emotions in Her mind.

“I... like... like Guryū-san. I can’t endure this emotion no matter what – I’m so anxious that I would go mad. How did I fall in love with someone who can never be united with me? I fell hopelessly in love with a lover I created myself, a lover who does not actually exist…”

As if She was in a confession – perhaps God would forgive a man’s sin if She received his prayers - as if She was praying, Rinne spoke.

“I looked away from the realities of this world by becoming a Meat Doll who didn’t think of anything. I wanted to have Guryū-san all to myself. I even felt annoyed towards Guriko-chan and wanted to put distance between me and her… really, I wanted to do absolutely nothing before this helpless world collapses. I just wanted to indulge and drown in this happiness.”

She spoke of everything and sat quietly on the lid of the glass coffin, and tears swelled out of Her eyes.

“Ahh, this is horrible. Why am I so weak?! Even if I become God, I’m still useless. Just when I was living so happily… so many monsters popped out and the world was almost over…”

These monsters live by swallowing humans, and are immortal through reincarnation after their souls were destroyed. That was the materialisation of the poison corroding the body of God – or rather, of Akutagawa Shirayuki. Sterilization Disinfection, as the Digestive Organ, kept slaughtering the monsters. Unpleasant Counter-Current, the Execratory Organ, helped her to completely erase these monsters from the world.

However, Mina and Mitsuki were both gone. After their deaths, their power boosted that of God, the power of 'The Self'. God needed more power to keep living. Massive number of humans were sacrificed spontaneously throughout the world. Now – they were being absorbed by God, right? Even God Herself can sense this.

It was so painful. It would be better if She just died, so it made sense that She was screaming like that before. Even if it was Guriko, she would probably go mad if she knew she was only surviving because uncountable amount of people were being sacrificed for her sake.

Rinne’s shoulders shook slightly and said the final words in a low voice.

“I did not resist until Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest-san forced me to swallow PoisonCatastrophe-san’s Fragment. I pretended I saw nothing. That Meat Doll ended then. I lost everything unconsciously.”

What forcibly woke Rinne up was probably the reproduction of monsters. It was probably the reason the world began to die. PoisonCatastrophe’s Fragment, which was named Love Song, continued Rinne’s life because of the high amount of power it contained. She was able to change Her flesh back to how She was before, and reverted to the true form of God.

And now She was in great pain.

She bore the regret of having created this world and shouldered the pain of all who died, and clung on to life.

“If that was the case…”

Sakaki, who was previously silent and thinking of something, said very seriously.

“If that was the case – how can I help you, Rinne?”

“…”

Everything was silent. Rinne looked very lost, and Guriko didn’t say anything. Sakaki was incredulous. As if he wasn’t thinking at all, he yelled idiotically and courageously.

“Those reasons – duty, imaginary lovers, the Fragments of God – they don’t matter!”

“… They don’t matter?”

Rinne unconsciously spoke after Sakaki. Sakaki nodded powerfully at Her.

Then he hugged Rinne gently and pressed their lips together without hesitation. It was very embarrassing.

He was so stupid, careless, and weird.

Everyone was wounded and scarred by monsters, broken and struggling in pain, and lastly became the red light and was absorbed by God. The world was breaking up from the edges and there was no future left. However this guy was still smiling and stubbornly loving God.

A fool who thought of nothing.

However, Guriko liked him a bit. Guriko was very apprehensive about the truths of the world and was very confused, but he was different from Guriko. He was still so genuine with his emotions towards Rinne.

That was impressive. Despite being silly, he was still impressive. Guriko respected him from the bottom of her heart.

There was no use for him until the end. There were no special abilities for him. He had almost no relation with the story created by God. Perhaps he can save the world. The Prince who appeared suddenly at the end of the Snow White's story, who loved the Princess more than anything else, and saved her from desperation – that was Sakaki.

Sakaki Guryū made a loud declaration as per usual while facing God, who was blushing up to Her ears.

"I love you, Rinne. I don't care how Akutagawa Shirayuki's world is like. This is the reality in my world. No one forced me to love you. I love you out of my own volition."

Her expression looked very odd, as if She was about to cry. She started to sob like a baby.

"But..."

"You're saying 'but', so that means this is confirmed?"

"You're so devious..."

She blocked Her ears and tears rushed down Her face like She could not hold it back anymore. She emitted sad, wailing cries.

"You're too devious, too devious. What is this? Why are you always spoiling me? Everything is almost finished! Everything is about to be destroyed! No matter how many times I hear about this fake world, this fake lover, and these fake promises of love, I will still remain alone!"

"I am saddened that you are still using the word 'fake'. I am very serious."

"But these are all fake! These are all fake!"

She sobbed and shook Her head as if She had lost control of Herself, and struggled with self-spite. The pristine space around Her reflected God's will and shattered like lightning. Everything around them broke as if they were all made of glass. The very space cracked, snapped, broke - Guriko felt that the mind of God could no longer hold on.

All concepts were breaking apart, and dimensions were becoming twisted. The world de-stablized as if it was nothing more than a disturbed thought.

"Rinne..."

Sakaki, who was used to be relied upon, felt like he couldn't handle it. He looked very confused and sank into thought. Guriko wanted to stop the world from collapsing even if it meant losing her life. However, there was nothing they could do in this situation, where every existence was being overturned.

"Rinne!"

He could only call out that name he thought of for so long.

But Rinne - God - started to cry and scream like an ordinary girl.

"It's pointless no matter how much you love me! Everything is just my fantasy! You are just drowning in a dream! No matter what sweet things you may hear in a dream, everything will still be empty when you wake up!"

She scattered the rose petals everywhere. She closed Her eyes and put Her hands over Her ears, and curled up Her body into the fetal position. The world around Her started to crack as if it was a jigsaw puzzle. Everything shattered, and darkness took over. Then even the darkness started to grow narrow - they shrank until there was truly nothing left, a complete, utter emptiness.

Guriko hugged Sakaki and Rinne and they all lay on top of the coffin, waiting for the end. The darkness was making popping sounds little by little, shrinking little by little, as everything disintegrated and sank into nothingness.

Rinne saw none of that. She simply curled up tight and held Her hands over Her ears, and mumbled as if She was speaking in Her sleep.

"If... If I wake up, you will all disappear. Everything Guriko-chan did for me, everything Guryū-san said to me - those would all disappear like a mirage. They are all dreams. They are all fake. All of them are - all of them are!"

Then, as if She was rejecting everything, She gave out a painful call through Her tears.

"Don't be sad... I'm sorry, I hate this so much. How did the situation end up like this? It would have been better if I didn't dream. Everything was going to end sooner or later; it would have been better if I never created this world."

"If you never had this dream..."

Guriko spoke her thoughts without hesitation.

"...then you would never have met me."

"..."

She didn't reply. She should have heard it, but She only wriggled Her body a little. As the omniscient God, it was pointless for Her to cover Her ears. She could hear everything. She knew everything. She probably also knew that Guriko's words were not a lie.

The world was filled with silence. Everything was about to be over. There was nothing left to see or hear. Guriko hugged Rinne and Sakaki, and the coffin that Rinne once laid inside - that was the extent of the entire world. Not everything was destroyed. Some things still existed.

After Guriko made sure of that, she said softly to Rinne.

"I... like you."

She said this clearly to Rinne, who had reverted to Her normalcy. She wanted Rinne to understand her straightforward emotions, and she wanted to repay Rinne.

Usagawa Rinne was an incredible girl. She met Guriko and saved her soul. Rinne was God, but She was a weak and gentle God. Guriko wanted to protect and help Her. She wants to stay next to Rinne from the bottom of her heart.

It didn't matter if she was a monster or the Poisoned Apple. Perhaps Guriko was the personification of death destined to kill Rinne. But Guriko still treated Rinne as her friend, and felt that Rinne was very important to her.

"I want to have you always remember this."

Guriko put her hands on her chest and smiled. Rinne lifted Her head up slightly and looked at Guriko with tearful eyes. Guriko caressed Rinne's hair, then embraced Her gently. God was so fragile, as if She would break if someone touched Her, and She was shivering.

Guriko wanted to protect Her. Guriko's memories were full of mirages. She was once a monster, but she became human after meeting Rinne.

The Poisoned Apple fell in love with Snow White.

That was the only miracle in this world.

Guriko made up her mind. She whispered to Rinne.

"Rinne - no, God - please don't make this world and the times we three spent together disappear."

She then asked quietly.

"If I die, would you be saved?"

"Guriko-chan...?"

Rinne opened Her eyes and grabbed Guriko in a panic, Her eyes opened wide. However, Guriko ignored Her, and coldly recited the truth.

"I am the representation of the poison that corroded Akutagawa Shirayuki, right? The reason this world fell into chaos was because Mushi and the subordinates of Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest came into contact with the poison - in other words, your blood and body was poisoned. The true cause of it all is me, right? Then if I die, would you be revived?"

"What are you talking about, Guriko-chan?"

Rinne's face was torn between sadness and joy at the same time.

"What do you mean, die? I don't understand you. Is this the destiny of all my friends in this world? That's not necessary - don't die. Don't kill yourself. This is my order as God."

"I am a monster... so I won't obey God."

Guriko repeated the same words and said her final words with a smile.

"This isn't decided by the world. This isn't the destiny of your friends. I am going to die out of my own volition."

"... Why?"

She was God, and yet She did not understand. Guriko sighed and lifted up a spoon towards her own heart.

"Stop getting me to repeat this. It gets embarrassing."

She pouted and clenched her hands without hesitation.

"It's because I like you, Rinne."

The spoon stabbed downwards and blood spluttered all over the white room, together with a repulsive sound.

Of course, the gentle God would never rejoice in the suicide of Her friend. She rapidly stretched out Her hands and put Her hands between Guriko's chest and the spoon. Blood dripped down as the momentum of the silver spoon drove it deep into the back of Rinne's hand.

"..."

Tears came out of Rinne's eyes and She froze, either because of the severe pain or She was simply scared. At the end, Guriko exhausted her strength and let go of her hand. The spoon pierced through Rinne's hands and the bleeding did not stop, gradually dying Her school uniform crimson red.

"... Why did you stop me?"

Guriko said rather angrily.

"I'm someone in a dream. It doesn't matter no matter who died here, no?"

Rinne lowered Her body and fell down weakly, then remained silent. Guriko roared at Her. Everyone in this world were on good terms with God, and no one would yell at Her. Only Guriko, who was the monster, would be able to do that.

"You don't want to die, and you don't want to live. You want to die yourself, but you don't want others to die with you - everything you say is self-contradictory. Do you know why there are so many contradictions in here?"

Rinne lifted Her head with tears in Her eyes, and softly shook Her head as if She was a troubled little kid. Guriko said to Her sternly.

"How long are you going to stay naive like this? This world, which had allowed you to play and throw fits in, seems to have ran out of time. Even if you don't want to be hurt and don't want to feel pain any more, time was still almost running out. If you stay like this and do nothing, then you are going to die!"

Guriko gripped Rinne's shoulders tightly and forced Her to lift up Her head and look directly at Guriko. Rinne did not look away. What a strong girl She was. Guriko knew this. Guriko knew how many times she was saved because of Rinne's strength.

But now, Guriko will save Rinne.

"Why do you not fight? You should fight to your last breath for everyone's happiness. Mina, Mitsuki, Kajiri - everyone kept trying. Why - why are you not fighting? So many powerful Fragments have returned to you and formed your current body. You are so strong right now; you are inconceivably strong! You have accumulated Sterilization Disinfection, Unpleasant Counter-Current, Single Room, Melodia NoiseTear Song, PoisonCatastrophe, and Ultimate ShieldThe Weakest. These are all within your body, right? You are already the most powerful being in the world!"

"Even if I am the most powerful being in the world, I'm still..."

She finally opened Her mouth to speak, but She still sounded so fragile.

"That still means nothing in that other world..."

The girl sobbed in a low voice intermittently as She spoke those weak words.

"I… really… I don't think I understand you, Guriko-chan. I can't... Akutagawa Shirayuki... really can't take this anymore. There was nothing I was good at. I had no friends or dates. I was being scolded day in and day out both at school and at home... it was too painful to live."

The sounds Rinne emitted were like screams squeezed out of Her. Guriko interrupted Her mercilessly.

"That's why I'm saying it's so naive to think this was too painful to live through. Everyone in this world, me included, are fighting for our lives here. We are all trying to our best to keep living. No one would think that it's too hard. You think it's too hard to live? That's how it's meant to be. What's wrong with that?"

"..."

God - Rinne - Shirayuki - was too sad to make a sound. She only looked at the spoon that pierced Her hand in silence. She was thinking with intense focus. Everyone was already dead. There was no one left to help Her. She had to make a decision Herself.

Everything was already spoken. It was up to Rinne's willpower from now on. If She gave up on life, then only death would be waiting for Her. Guriko wished Rinne would be able to obtain a lot more hope - at least comparable to how much She had given to Guriko.

Rinne, Rinne - such a gentle and unique girl.

Should we go to school together?

Should we attend classes together in the same room?

Rinne had patted Guriko's head softly when Guriko wept at night and embraced Guriko silently.

It's okay - Rinne had said this to Guriko.

Guriko remembered those ordinary days, when they lived peacefully day after day. They went shopping together. They gazed at the falling snow together. There were no abnormalities, and every day was simply full of happiness.

Honestly, that would be enough.

"Rinne, keep on living."

Guriko smiled silently and put her hands across her chest, as if she was praying. She faced God, whose hands were covered with blood and was holding onto a spoon.

Guriko turned her gaze to Sakaki. Her eyes communicated that he needed to protect Rinne's heart to the best of his ability.

Guriko yelled to the entire world. It can't end just yet.

Amid the center of nothingness, a scene loyal to what was proscribed within the Book to Revelations till the end, Gankyū Eguriko released her crimson wings woven from flesh and dripping with blood, and gave out a threatening roar. She embraced a girl and a young man in each of her arms, and screamed like a beast. As if she was the personification of the poison that stained all six hundred and sixty-six beasts - all of the Mushi - and made her the Queen of Demons, Guriko made a long, wailing sound full of vitality -

Then she unhesitatingly sank her sharp claws into her own chest.

She instantly dug her heart out. It was a beating, living, dark red and apple-shaped heart.

“- Come on."

That symbol of life was dripping with blood, and its movement tugged onto the blood vessels still attached to the body. Guriko placed her heart before Rinne's eyes. Rinne subdued the scream threatening to tear out of Her throat, and gazed at Guriko's heart.

Guriko seemed to want to say something, or do something to Rinne - or perhaps she had already done so. Guriko's entire body was stained scarlet with blood. Rinne's hand was held by the man She loved. God silently placed Her wounded hand, pierced by a spoon, onto Guriko's heart.

"Life... is not necessarily a good thing."

It was that metallic, transcendent, beautiful voice. It was the voice Sakaki loved. Together with the voice of Usagawa Rinne - the creator of this world - sanguineous tears mixed with blood dripped down Her face.

"Perhaps I will forget everyone. Guriko-chan, Sensei, the entire world... perhaps I will forget it all."

"That's fine too."

It would be a bit lonely, but Guriko was fine with it as long as Rinne gets to live.

Come on, Rinne. Kill me. Kill Guriko. Then you will be able to live. You can then overcome the poison within your body, and return to your original world.

"... I don't want to."

Rinne said in a soft voice. Guriko remained unmoving. Is She still going to be so naive at this juncture? Guriko was astonished, but also felt something was wrong.

Rinne smiled and Her hands caressed Guriko's empty chest. Everything around them was pitch black. It was the end of the world, where everything was darker than night, and nothing existed.

Firstly, there must be light.

A sliver of light appeared, like the first rays of the sun during dawn break. It illuminated the world and utterly drove away all of the nothingness. It became brighter and brighter, and now they could see God's expression as well.

It was the gentle face of a girl very familiar to Guriko.

"I won't let you die, Guriko-chan. I would... hate to see you die."

"But Rinne -”

I am the poison. I am the personification of the poison killing Akutagawa Shirayuki. If I don't die, then God and the entire world will all die. That was what Guriko thought. However, Rinne puffed up Her chest with pride and laughed.

"Who do you think I am?"

She made light illuminate the entire world. The glorious light was born between heaven and earth and filled all the space between the mountains and the sea. White clouds surfed along the sky, the plants grew lushly with an eagerness towards life, and birds flew in the air, chirping incessantly. The birds then flapped their wings, and disappeared in the distance.

A breeze blew past, and a refreshing scent filled the place. The world was returned to its previous stage. No, it was completely re-created here. Hoards of animals rushed past. Green leaves on the trees absorbed the warm sunlight. Fish kept leaping out of the crystal clear lake, creating ripples in the water.

Guriko held on to her own heart, and looked dazedly around at the world. Suddenly, a cat chasing after a mouse ran past them. When she came to again, the surroundings of the crystal coffin was already enveloped by nature.

The branches of the trees were swaying, insects were chirping, and she could vaguely hear... the sound of a ship's horns?

As if she was the Snow White who just woke up thanks to the kiss of the Prince, Guriko reached out her blood-covered hand and touched Rinne, even though she still felt lonely.

"Single Room."

Suddenly, as if Guriko's heart just regenerated, the hole in her chest simply disappeared. The spluttered blood was also all re-absorbed as well, and completely disappeared. Guriko was a bit confused, and looked at Rinne in complete incomprehension. She knew she looked like an idiot, but she asked Rinne in a confused way.

"What, what... what is this?"

"This is Genesis!"

As if She was saying something simple - no, it was simple. She was God. This was Her world. It was Her freedom to make whatever She wished.

Guriko, and the little bird settled on Her shoulder, both looked as puzzled as Sakaki. Sakaki lifted his head to look at the sky, then genuinely asked God, the woman he loved.

"Rinne... I mean, that person... won't die now, right? You are saved?"

"No, I will still die. The poison is not removed yet."

She said this flatly while looking at Guriko. Her entire body was comfortably bathed in the warm sunlight.

"So even this is something that will only exist temporarily. There is not enough of an energy store to maintain it, so it will crumble very soon."

"If that's the case -"

This was useless. This kind of things will only accelerate the demise of God. That was what Guriko thought, but she didn't know what to do. She felt awkward, and could only look towards God with a sense of blame.

Guriko was finally prepared to die, to face the the loneliness and sorrow, and she dug out her own heart only to have Rinne waste it - did this God actually know what She was doing?

God looked leisurely around and was catching butterflies. Those beautiful insects, which flew and fluttered their wings, landed on Her. A smile surfaced on Her face.

"Now – you are the Poisoned Apple."

She grabbed a butterfly in Her hand without hesitation, and crushed the slender body of the insect as well as the fluorescent powder covering it. Guriko was completely confused as to what Rinne was doing, but Sakaki nodded as if he understood.

"I see. You transferred the 'role' of the Poisoned Apple from Guriko to the butterfly."

"Yes, it's Single Room's ability, the power to re-write the rules in this world. Now Guriko won't have to die anymore."

Guriko started to giggle. She finally understood. Rinne looked towards Guriko with a loving gaze.

The world won't be destroyed anymore. Guriko won't have to die anymore. Miracles were this simple. It wasn't because She was omnipotent, but only because God would be capable of this as long as She wanted.

However, since the poison was completely removed, She would have to wake up now. Would that be okay? Would that really be okay? Guriko did pretend to put Rinne under duress and tried to commit suicide, and she had nothing to say. Would it really be okay?

"Sensei. Guriko."

Rinne had a gentle look on Her face that was soft enough to melt the entire world - it was an unforgettable image, as if it was imprinted into their eyes. Rinne spoke softly while gazing seriously at the two people next to Her.

"You said you want me to keep on living."

She looked away, and tears poured down Her cheeks.

"Then... I need to shoulder my responsibility. If it won't be too painful to keep on living... if it's actually important to keep on living... then please come see me when you can, even if it might only be once in a long while. We can have a chat, play together, and I can be consoled."

She still sobbed with that very weak voice, which tickled their ears. Rinne looked shyly at Guriko and Sakaki's eyes. She no longer had a weeping expression full of despair and self-deprecation. She now smiled with a will to gather Her strength and keep on living.

"We will meet once again in this world."

Guriko and Sakaki both nodded lightly. They wanted to give more courage to God, who had chosen the right way to live. They wanted to encourage the person they loved. They wanted Her to have a good, uneventful farewell.

Guriko spoke genuinely as she forcibly suppressed the sorrow of her friend's passing.

"Rest assured. I will protect this world when you're gone, and you can come back when you feel sad... Rinne."

"Mmm, ahh - it seems the time is up."

Rinne's entire body gradually became transparent. Akutagawa Shirayuki's crisis was resolved after the poison was removed from her. Perhaps this world born in the narrow cleft between life and death no longer permitted Her to exist here.

Rinne kept waving Her hands as Her entire body emitted light, and She lowered Her head.

"Anyways, this world won't return to nothingness anymore when I disappear, even though that was my original plan. But it should be fine now, no? Mmm, it should be okay. It will be okay... right?"

Guriko clutched her fists and shouted towards Rinne, who looked uncertain.

"Alright alright, hurry up and head off now. I'm gonna gouge out your eyeballs if you keep procrastinating."

"I hate having my eyeballs gouged out..."

Rinne's feet had already disappeared, and yet She still smiled and joked with them. At last, Her eyes were turned to Sakaki.

"Sensei..."

"Rinne."

Sakaki couldn't say anything anymore. He felt happy that She was born here, and felt sad that they perhaps would never meet here again. His mind was full of complex and incomprehensible feelings, and he simply gazed at Rinne.

His face was full of a pitiful expression. Rinne kissed his face as if She was pulling a prank.

"Sensei, don't change your mind and hook up with Guriko-chan while I'm gone!"

"That's impossible!"

"I won't want a man like him!"

Rinne laughed heartily towards the other two, as if they were living in that kind of nostalgic chaos again. She waved Her hand over and over. Akutagawa Shirayuki - the God of this world, Guriko's benefactor and friend, the girl named Usagawa Rinne - disappeared.

Her final words were -

Farewell.

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