Witches, a race with "kindness" as their underlying hue.
Their appearances are no different from humans, yet each possesses supernatural powers that science cannot explain.
But they never used this power bestowed upon them by the heavens to tyrannize or bless others; they merely gathered together, residing on a small island isolated from the world.
To live peacefully and quietly was the entirety of their desire.
However, such as they were, they were utilized and exterminated due to the selfish desires of humanity.
Leaving behind only a single person: the Great Witch named Tsukishiro Yuki.
————To go and experience endless "solitude".
Six hundred years after the extinction of humanity.
Prison Island, or rather, the place that should have been called the Island of Witches.
After concluding yet another journey of 641 years, the Great Witch returned to that place with her Animus.
Six hundred years was too long a time. Because no one had tended to it, the savagely growing vegetation and vines had long since crawled over every corner of this mansion that originally served as a prison.
Tsukishiro Yuki tapped her finger lightly, generating flames within the air.
She burned away these obstructive greenery without damaging the architecture of the mansion, clearing out a space sufficient for people to live in.
"Do you still remember, Animus?"
Tsukishiro Yuki held the hand of the person on the sickbed who was gradually losing their five senses, placing it against her cheek and gently rubbing it:
"Six hundred years ago, it was right here that we first met."
"Back then, because I destroyed humanity, you chose to resent me and pursued me all the way for a full one hundred years."
"I cannot see the future, and you cannot return to the past. This world is left with just the two of us, all alone,"
"In the blink of an eye, it has been six hundred years."
Tsukishiro Yuki gazed tenderly at the figure on the sickbed, her profound gaze seeming to be reminiscing.
[...]
But the figure on the sickbed could no longer respond to her. Even if the body was imperishable, the essence of the spirit had already decayed.
The figure, gradually losing their five senses, could only gently lift a hand, following Tsukishiro Yuki's movements to actively wipe away the teardrop at the corner of her eye with a finger.
Although it was wordless, no matter how many times, Tsukishiro Yuki could understand the meaning he expressed.
Because essentially, they were the same kind of person...
Upon this vast and incomparable dead star,
Two prisoners trapped by "solitude".
"Do you still remember this ring?"
"That was the gift you gave me in the 144th year of our acquaintance."
"At that time, you had just ended your pursuit of me not long before. You said that as long as I wore this ring, I would have no way to selfishly die one step ahead of you."
"As a result, until now, you are the one who wants to leave one step ahead of me..."
"Sure enough, the selfish guy is still you, isn't it?"
Tsukishiro Yuki rubbed the ring located on the ring finger of her left hand,
The interwoven gradient hues of red and yellow made it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary object.
The figure on the bed moved their lips slightly, but could no longer emit a voice.
His chest heaved heavily in helplessness, as if sighing, or perhaps expressing an apology.
[I'm sorry.]
"No one needs you to apologize, Animus."
"Whether it is me, or those people in the past whom you failed to protect... You are merely an outsider, unable to influence the blood feud I carry upon me."
"I will not blame you, just as you did not blame me for once trapping you in this world out of selfish desire..."
[...]
"...Alright, so you saw through it long ago. That first time was indeed just an accident."
Tsukishiro Yuki let go of the figure's hand, turning to rest her head by the side of the figure's bed.
"But precisely because it was an accident, doesn't all of this appear romantic?"
"You, who were trapped in this world for unknown reasons, chose to pursue and kill me. And I, who became curious about you who were pursuing me for unknown reasons, chose to circle around with you."
"It is already... the 12th cycle of 641 years."
"I have a strong premonition that as long as pass through one more time, I can break the curse of your spiritual decay."
Tsukishiro Yuki recounted to the figure everything she had done using the magics named [Body Swap] and [Death Rewind] taken from the sacrificed young girls.
She had already destroyed humanity for a full 12 times.
As long as she destroyed them one more time...
Or rather, stepping over that natural chasm of the number "13" which holds mysterious significance, she could truly be together with him forever.
[...]
"What?"
"You say, that's enough?"
"Are you tired of me, Animus?"
"Perhaps I should resurrect that child Meruru and let you taste a new flavor?"
"Dream on!"
Tsukishiro Yuki pouted, reaching out a hand as if angry, and mischievously pinched the soft flesh at the figure's waist.
If it were in the past, he would definitely have smiled and joked with her,
And then made her a meal that night so delicious it would make her soul ascend to heaven.
He would also accompany her in somersaults, accompany her in reading books...
But now, all of these were gone.
She could only watch her partner gradually become paralyzed and numb, finally turning into something akin to a sculpture, unable to move a fraction.
"...I know, of course I know everything."
"You wish for me not to shoulder any more sins; you see that my soul is already overburdened by those dense and numerous blood debts..."
"But one last time, just one last time, okay?"
"As long as this one time ends, we will live on this planet forever."
"————Until the end when the sun extinguishes."
Tsukishiro Yuki took off her sun hat adorned with white roses.
She lowered her head, her white hair cascading down,
For the last time,
Or perhaps just like the countless times before, she kissed the "Animus" that belonged to her:
"Animus, I have a premonition that this final reincarnation will not be as smooth as the ones before..."
"But I am already prepared to sacrifice everything for it. For you, and also for me."
Tsukishiro Yuki extended her hand, slowly closing the eyelids for the figure on the bed.
When the world returned to being one person again, the trauma named "solitude," which could absolutely not be healed by "healing," began to quietly climb up her spine.
She walked to the grave of the girl named "Hikami Meruru" on the Island of Witches and dug open the grave.
She found the girl's corpse, which was well-preserved under healing magic, took off the ring on the ring finger of her left hand, and put it on the corpse.
Using the magic of [Body Swap] to cast it into the distant space-time,
Immediately following that, the Great Witch named Tsukishiro Yuki drank the "Witch-killing potion" that had been prepared 641 years ago.
No matter what, she must win.
To defeat "solitude".
The world split apart behind her, shattering like an illusory dream.
It was nothing more than taking revenge on those ugly humans one more time.
...
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