The anxiety that the abyss-like darkness was about to devour her was just an illusion, and when given the chance to look straight at darkness, the realization might come that it’s actually not a big deal.

“Then you’ll be able to see the big, bright moon, the countless stars, and the little rabbit in the night sky.”

—Little rabbit…

“Look for it when winter comes. It’s a bit hard to find.”

This was a different dimension, so the constellation that Doah knew about might not even appear in this place.

The most important thing was that he’d be able to face his fear of darkness while he’s trying to find that constellation.

“That rabbit is actually me, you know.”

Doah made that bad joke again.

“I’m watching you from the sky.”

She spoke more earnestly this time though, and after a long while, the kid whispered softly.

—Okay…

This kid had been adamant about drawing the line between them all this time, but he suddenly answered her nicely.

Maybe it was because of that, but she was delighted to hear it more than she thought.

‘What’s this.’

Huh, it felt so sweet.

It’s like her nerves finally had a time to be a little relaxed now, what with having to deal with the Credel father and sons this whole time.

No, even further back in the past than that.

Before Doah became Bunny when she died, her mind had been in constant turmoil because of all the torment she had experienced in the Park household. It felt as if that had also melted away.

She was trying to comfort another child here, but she’s being comforted as well.

Doah let out a small chuckle.

—Why are you laughing?

Then, a curt answer came back to her. Maybe he thought that she was teasing him.

“Just, you know. This is nice.”

—What?

This moment.

This moment where she was having a conversation with a kid she didn’t even know, in this moment where they didn’t even ask anything about each other.

Right here and right now, Doah didn’t have to be a bad luck receptor or curse substitute.

She didn’t have to be the Park family’s youngest daughter, and neither did she have to pretend to be Ophelia.

She didn’t have to persistently analyze someone’s physiognomy or read their fortune in the name of her own survival.

As Doah couldn’t explain all this to the other person, she summed up her current feelings with a few words.

“It’s just, I think I’m going to like you quite a bit.”

Maybe it’s because they didn’t even know each other’s names.

Doah could only say these words that did not need any pretenses, towards this child who she would never meet in the future.

“So call me often, okay?”

—……

If they kept in touch like this, maybe one day they’d be able to open up and honestly tell each other what has been going on in their lives.

‘It’s ridiculous how he builds a wall first, but also calls me first, but…’

She was going to let it slide because she thought he was cute. It’s like raising a street cat.

To put it into words, perhaps it’s like she wished to tame him well and become his cat butler?

Though they didn’t know each other’s identities, it might be nice to provide a small shelter for this kid, just so he could take a breather once in a while.

No, honestly, he was the one giving Doah shelter.

With these thoughts in mind, Doah was able to settle her nerves and regain her composure.

‘Right, let’s just think about this calmly.’

There was no rush here.

Bunny was only ten years old. There’s still eight years left before she would come of age.

It’s fine to get to know each other little by little.

That’s what she was thinking, but…

—Fine.

With one clipped word, the call ended.

She suddenly wondered what he meant, and she realized that it must be the answer to what she said about him calling often.

* * *

“Hey!”

A threateningly sized rock flew straight at his head, then fell down to his feet.

Damien looked down at the rock on the floor.

“Terrible jerk. You don’t let out a scream even once.”

“Dude, that’s only obvious! How can a mute speak?”

“Ah, you’re really one?”

The children crowded in front of Damien broke out into giggles and scathing laughter.

The child slowly raised his head.

Small, thin figure. Ragged clothes.

His shaggy hair, tangled in dust and blood, covered his face and showed only his chapped lips and slender jawline.

“My mom ended up in the Garbage Dump because of you. She’s starving every day because of you!”

“Yeah, it’s all because of you. We’re all starving every day because of you!”

“You killed Annie. You deserve to die too!”

Another kid threw a rock that was in his hand.

Damien looked indifferently at the rock that was headed for his head. However, he lifted his hand and lightly caught it.

Then, without a word, he turned towards the other children.

“T-This monster!”

“Hey, the monster is coming to kill us!”

“Ack, run away!”

The children who were gathered as a group just now screamed and scattered separately.

“……”

Damien stared at the alley that was emptied in an instant, then looked at one kid who was slow to run.

He reached out one hand and made a gesture with his hand, grabbing that kid’s neck in the air.

And he made a rough estimate as he looked at his hand.

If those kids didn’t throw stones at him, then he wouldn’t do this. He’s sure that he would stop some of them from breathing.

‘Monster…’

Using the back of his hand, Damien wiped off the drops of blood running down his chin.

There was a cacophony ringing in his ears.

The sound of swords being brandished, anguished screams, bursts of blood, a desperate cry…

At one corner of his periphery, he could see structures made from scrap materials that couldn’t be called houses.

If someone were to curl up in this street where no one cared about anyone, then it wouldn’t matter who died.

He hated the dark.

Because he didn’t know what he’s capable of doing in the dark.

As he was overcome with an uncontrollable rage, he had a hunch that he really might turn into the monster that they were calling him.

“In the winter’s night sky, if you look closely, you’ll be able to see a rabbit right there.”

Damien looked up at the sky.

The cloud shaped like a rabbit had already disappeared in the wind.

He was never going to see it again.

‘Rabbit constellation…’

But the stars. Wouldn’t it be there all winter?

The four seasons here in the north were always severe.

Even now, he’d have to worry about the possibility of freezing to death once the sun went down.

However, as Damien rubbed his frozen hands until they were red, he suddenly thought that he wanted winter to come quickly.