The boy named Uta.
He was the very person Marie had betrayed and stolen from.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"...I'm sorry…"
"Hm?"
"I… I gave it away. Your money…"
"…"
"I was supposed to use it to save my sister… My father's debt… they took her because of it…"
Through her sobs, Marie confessed everything. It wasn't an excuse, nor an attempt to justify her actions—it was a plea for absolution.
She laid bare everything:
Her father's debts and how he fled, leaving his daughters behind.
Her sister being taken as collateral.
Her desperate efforts to earn money to save her sister.
The creditors who appeared to take her as well.
How her sister, forced into prostitution, had been killed by a violent client.
How they planned to make Marie take her place to repay what remained of the debt.
She told it all, sparing no detail.
"Why… why did I have to be a child?"
"…"
"If I were bigger… stronger… maybe I could've saved her. Maybe I could've taken her place and sold my body instead. Why? Why am I so small and weak?"
"That's hard to bear, isn't it?"
Uta crouched down and gently placed his hand on Marie's head.
"It hurts, doesn't it? It's lonely, sad, painful… terrifying."
"Sniff… I… I stole your money…"
"It's okay. You weren't wrong. Family is important. More important than some stranger's wallet. You did the right thing."
"I… I did?"
Looking up at Uta, she saw his face—calm, serene.
It wasn't the kindness of compassion. Nor was it sympathy or affection.
His expression was one of distant understanding, a pitying tolerance as though observing an insect's plight from far above.
What Marie saw in his eyes was pure mercy.
It was the gaze of a being who stood beyond comprehension, offering charity with neither malice nor care.
"Still, if you seek punishment, I can provide it," Uta said, his voice steady.
"Punishment…?"
"Punishment is also salvation for the guilty. To atone and begin anew, unburdened by your sins."
Marie's vision blurred, her consciousness fading.
"You are forgiven. Live this new life for yourself."
Those words echoed softly as everything around her went black.
Marie died that day.
That was an undeniable fact.
Meanwhile, in a room on the second floor of the gang's headquarters, several men laughed uproariously.
"Man, I can't believe we squeezed that much outta a little brat!"
"This'll more than cover her old man's debts, eh? Hahaha!"
The men were gangsters, part of an organization that controlled the underworld of the Fafnir Kingdom.
Their operations included loan sharking, human trafficking, and brothel management. While exploitative, their businesses were legal under the kingdom's laws.
That said, they often went too far. They were, by all accounts, unrepentant villains.
+
Marie's father had been a scoundrel.
He racked up debts gambling, only to gamble more in a futile attempt to pay them off.
When he failed, he sold one of his daughters to cover part of what he owed before fleeing, leaving both girls to fend for themselves.
The older sister, forced into prostitution, died at the hands of a violent customer.
And the debt collectors turned their sights on Marie, planning to sell her next.
"Haha! We made a killing with that gold, though! Where the hell'd that brat even get it?"
"Probably stole it. Doesn't matter to us, as long as we've got the cash!"
They were basking in their good fortune when one of them brought up a new concern.
"What about that kid who teleported us? What're we gonna do about him?"
"He's responsible for two of our guys dying out there. Bring him in alive—I'll make him pay."
"You got it, boss."
The leader smirked as he toyed with the pouch of gold.
They thought themselves wolves, preying on the weak. But they had no idea what kind of predator was coming for them.
A commotion echoed from downstairs, breaking the leader's reverie.
"What's going on down there?"
"I'll check it out," one of his subordinates said, moving toward the door.
Before he could reach it, another man burst in, his face pale.
"Boss! It's bad! Someone's—"
The man didn't finish.
In an instant, his body disintegrated into dust.
"Delivery!" a cheerful voice called out. "Just kidding."
Standing amidst the pile of ash was Uta, his unassuming figure framed by the doorway.
"You… what the hell are you doing here?" the leader growled.
"Why do you think?" Uta replied with a faint smile.
"What about my men downstairs?"
"Killed them. Turned them all to dust."
"…"
The leader's men weren't pushovers. They were strong enough to handle most threats.
"How… how did a brat like you…?"
"You didn't hear me? I said I killed them," Uta replied, his tone as light as ever.
"Kill him!" the leader barked.
The remaining men drew their weapons and charged at Uta, aiming to strike him down.
Uta didn't move. He didn't dodge or defend himself.
Yet their blades shattered on impact, rusting away into brittle fragments.
"What… the…?"
"That makes it easier for me," Uta said, stepping forward.
One by one, he touched each man lightly.
And one by one, they disintegrated into ash.
By the time the leader was the only one left, his bravado had crumbled.
"Please… spare me," he pleaded.
"Why would I do that?"
"I'll give you the gold… everything! Just don't kill me!"
"…No."
"Why?!"
The leader's voice rose in desperation. "What did I ever do to you?!"
"Nothing, really," Uta admitted.
"Then why?!"
Uta tilted his head thoughtfully. "I guess… you just annoyed me."
"Annoyed…?"
"Seeing that girl cry left a bad taste in my mouth. It made my stomach churn. So I'm killing you. Simple as that."
"Y-you're insane…"
"Am I?"
The leader finally understood.
This boy—this creature—was no human.
"Well, if that's all, let's wrap this up."
"No, wait—"
"Goodbye."
With a simple touch, the leader was reduced to ash, leaving behind only the pouch of gold.
"Ah, there it is," Uta said, picking it up and smiling as though nothing had happened.