I said goodbye to my father, the next day.
　Aisha was once again in the playground, just the two of them.

　It's a secret that Aisha, remembering that she had nowhere to go and that she had no place to go, blushed and danced back to the room where the doll that was her father lived, although she went outside in the dark to make a statement of determination and to say goodbye with great gusto.
　In the awkward atmosphere, Aisha rents the doll's room and goes to sleep unguarded, and I can't help but say that Aisha is truly out of character as a child.

　From the busy front street to the back alley.
　You will be able to find a single, nondescript tree in a strangely distinctive hall at the end of the street where discarded pieces of wood and precious metals are scattered like trash and stray cats wriggle around.
　At the end of a series of houses that look abandoned, the hall comes into dim view.

　Then - the sound of a swing swing swinging was heard by the ears as it creaked and shook.
　Aisha wondered if Izuna was already here, and as she turned her gaze, someone Aisha didn't know was there, sitting down on Izuna's seat.

''Eh.........''
　I couldn't help but hear that voice spill out.
　And it was also slightly uncomfortable.

'Welcome, I've been waiting for you.'
　Aisha is bewildered, but the beautiful woman, who exudes a cold beauty, tells her that.

"You are.........who.........?
　For some reason, Aisha says this in a wary manner.
　It wasn't a reaction to seeing a graceful, calm-tongued woman, but Aisha was reflexively wary.
　After all, the woman is looking at people with cold eyes that seem to be looking at things.
　Aisha unconsciously took a step backwards, as if to escape from that gaze.

'Oh, you haven't heard anything from Izuna - my name is Annalicia Rainfill. I'm the head of the Rainfill family.
　The tone of his voice is terribly gentle.
　But Aisha can't believe it.
　It's not the words, but the eyes.
　I really didn't want to think that Annalicia, who was staring at Aisha as if she were a worthless piece of junk, was an acquaintance of Izuna's.

'She had mentioned that she had an older sister.

Oh, you're here. I'm glad.
　'Good,' she utters, but I can somehow understand that she surely didn't mean it.

'Where is Isna...?'
　Aisha says with slightly more verbal intensity.

'She's asleep at home - and she looked like she was depressed after someone said something terrible to her.

"...　What's your point?
　At Aisha's words, Annalicia deliberately cowered her shoulders heavily and said

''Nothing--oh, but there was one thing I had to say--''
　He was elusive.
　He was so stinging that I almost doubted there was a place to grab him more than that.

　The threateningly narrowed eyes stared at Aisha slightly.
　A bad feeling passed down her spine.
　Aisha waited for Analicia's words as she braced herself.

''-- would you please not get involved with that girl any longer?

　It was a one-sided, high-handed order, pronouncing no consideration for Aisha's wishes.

''Ha!　Why....
　For a moment, Aisha was moved by the woman's inexplicably one-sided pronouncement.
　But soon it was painted over with a fierce rage.
　So she could rebel head-on.

'Izuna and I are friends. It's none of your business!''

'What?　You're surprisingly slow on the uptake.
　Even as she looked at Aisha, who was furious, the woman simply told her in a quiet, admonishing tone of voice, as if she were admonishing an incomprehensible child.

It's not just a matter of time before you speak to him. He is not someone you would normally talk to. Besides, as the child's guardian, you have every right to be concerned about him or her.　It's just weird to see that girl so depressed and not do anything about it.
　It was a plausible and reasonable argument.
　It was also a plausible reason.
　But Aisha could never be convinced.

'No!　That was...!
　I did say a few harsh words.
　But that's just because I wanted to give Izuna a chance to move on, just like Aisha had been told by Nacht, that's all.
　I wondered if I could support Izuna in the same way that Aisha was supported.

You're not a good listener, either. ─ I'll tell you straight away that you are not a good listener. You are a danger to the Rainfill family. You must withdraw from the house at once. Or do you want me to make you a gift for the family?
　The woman just continues one way or the other.
　Surely, in her mind, that's the end of the story.

'This is my order as a nobleman. Good.''
　So that's the end of the story.
　There is no room for Aisha to get in anywhere.
　Analicia gets up from the swing and tries to leave.

　Aisha followed it with her eyes.
　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends and family.
　Eventually, when the figure disappeared from her sight and she could hear footsteps behind her. Aisha opened her mouth wide and said clearly.

''--Oh, I refuse.''

　Annalicia, who had been pacing, stops dead in her tracks.

'What does it mean?'
　The voice I heard from behind me became more intimidating.
　No, it even seems to contain clear hostility already.

　However, Aisha is not frightened.
　It's not the words of someone else that are important to Aisha, it's not the words of someone else in front of her, it's Izuna.
　It's important that the little girl, who was actually kind enough to support Aisha's crumbling heart with the slightest whim, is important, and in order to protect such an important thing, she will defy even a nobleman who thought he was living in the heavenly world.

　Even if you are afraid, you will face it.
　You don't even have enough reason to be afraid.
　It's the Aisha who will one day face the dragon. What do I have to fear now, against a nobleman?
　No, that was still a deception, and being a villager at heart, she was still afraid.
　But there's no need to keep your mouth shut because it's much, much scarier to do nothing.

''No matter what your status is.
　Aisha summoned up her courage.

'Status is not a reason to tear us apart - I'm sure Lord Nacht would say that.　
　That's why there's no reason for Aisha to pull back.

'Izuna is my friend--I hope you're the one who doesn't interfere as much!
　There was a slight pause.
　You could call it the calm before the storm.
　Soon, in an instant, the silence was gone.
　That's exactly what happened, in an instant, as if I was running away.

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　And.
　That was the signal that something had switched.

'Yeah, well, I don't want to do that anymore--it's a pain in the ass--'　
　It's as if the voice changes, as if it's unmasked.
　It's a throwaway, depressed, violent voice.
　The altered tone of voice meshes with her eyes - it's so fitting and satisfying.
　This is the true heart of this woman, this is her true form, I thought.

　In addition, the air has changed.
　The air was so tense that I couldn't breathe.

'Oh, God, it's a pain in the ass. It would be best if we could talk about it, but that would be easier, but there is no reason to talk about it - it's much, much simpler - bereavement or something like that, I think. No?
　Where they were lurking, Aisha didn't know, but they emerged from behind buildings and in the ground.
　A clattering, crunching metallic sound rang out.
　More than ten dolls stood around the woman.
　As if they were servants following the princess.

'Nah!　A doll!　Why are you--maybe--

Correct. You're half right. I made this doll. I made the dolls you hung out with. Aren't they adorable?
　He easily affirmed Aisha's words and said such things with his heart.
　In other words, this woman is also the one who created the doll in the image of her father.
　The moment I understood that, the moment I realized it. Aisha's fierce rage swirled inside her.

'You!　You turned me and Izuna against your father!　Because of that, Izuna is still--

Aaaaah, they're all idiots. Most of your answers are wrong, and you're missing the point. I don't know what you think of the power of slack-jawedness, either, really. You asked for it and it came true. Don't blame me for this, you little shit!
　Aisha was puzzled and almost ran away, either because of the threatening words or because of the threatening doll's appearance.
　The words continued to be spoken to Aisha, who managed to stay on her feet.

'Oh, but you're a little bit right about Izuna, great, great--'
　It's as if he's mocking me.

'What are you, Izuna?　What have you done to Izuna!
　At such a question, Annalicia - smiled terribly.

'I'm her precious sister. Because I set it up to be so. That dumb, big, stupid, important person. It's funny, isn't it, you know, funny, you see!　--That kid calls the woman who killed his parents "big sister"?　
　I'm not ashamed of anyone, I just enjoy it.
　He said it with amusement.

　This is no good.
　I can't help it, I can't.
　Yes, Aisha was sure of it.
　This is something that shouldn't be near Izuna, she concluded, and by the time she concluded that, the spirit that had communicated its intentions had unleashed its blade without mercy.
　But it stopped only to deeply gouge the arm of the doll that had stood in the way of protection.

''Things are so disturbing, people talk to the end--''
　But then the blade flies again.
　A woman's doll blocks it.
　Repeatedly, repeatedly, the blade of the wind strikes.
　Aisha just asked the spirit to eliminate it, trying to get rid of it.
　However, perhaps because of her disturbed mind, she is unable to pass her magic power to the spirit well.
　Calmly, she can't attack it.
　Proper situational assessment was inexplicably lacking, and monotonous attacks followed.

　The remnants of several, shredded puppets were scattered about.
　However, Annalicia was not injured in any way.

''Hah, hah----''
　Aisha breathed on her shoulder.
　Her anger was making her more exhausted than she had ever been before.

'Have you calmed down?　Well then, it's time to say goodbye.

What did you do to Izuna?　What do you want?　She looks so lonely. He's been alone for so long and yet--
　At least that's what Aisha thought.
　Even if she denied it, he thought so.
　Otherwise, she wouldn't have spoken to Aisha.

'Huh, so let me tell you a little more, silly you. Being alone is a good thing. From the moment a creature is born, it's always in a state of struggle. The quickest way to take advantage of the stupid people who don't want to understand that and make it mine was loneliness, that's all.
　He said this matter-of-factly in front of Aisha.

'That's why I killed him. He was even called a hero of the Great War in the past, but it's no wonder humans are so stupid. Great power breeds envy and fear, and history easily betrays and discriminates against them. So there are plenty of people who kill haters, and the way they kill them is easier than you might think. All he did was take the helpless mother hostage and kill the one who got in his way, and then when he was done with her, he killed his mother and showed her that he was done with her. The only thing left to do is to give the weak boy hope. Give him something he can cling to. That's all there is to it. My most important, most important piece is complete!　Do you understand?

　He feels a moment of nostalgia for such words, words that only exist in malice, and he immediately denies it.
　Because to Aisha, meaningless malice is familiar, but meaningful malice is unfamiliar to her.