It’s strange.

No matter how Siel looked at it, she couldn’t comprehend it.

The boy was definitely out of place.

From what she had observed, he was never foolish.

In every action, he exhibited an intelligence that seemed unfit for his age. He could immediately catch on when someone was scheming and was quick to notice things.

However, what was odd was his way of dealing with situations.

The norm was, if someone attacked you first, you took them out before they got the chance to get you.

That’s how the world she had wandered through these past three years worked.

But this boy, he always leaned on uncomfortable means like threats or intimidation and never made the first move to kill his opponents.

So she asked him.

“You’d find it simple to plan their downfall. Why don’t you take any revenge?”

To which he responded as if she were the odd one out.

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Why would I kill those kids?”

“No, I mean, they are indeed annoying, but they’re still kids! Plus, if they weren’t in this place, they wouldn’t have turned out this way, right?”

The more they conversed, the more she found his behavior, um, peculiar.

Like he had come from an entirely different world.

Because they’re kids, there’s no question they should be protected.

To her, children were like livestock.

Property owned by their parents.

If there wasn’t enough money to raise them, they’d just be buried straight into the ground as soon as they were born, or if there’s a bit of leeway, raised to be put to work, or if circumstances got worse, sold off for a decent price.

At least, that was how the world she knew operated.

But when she shared such thoughts, the boy looked horrified and utterly disgusted.

“It’s fundamental for parents to love their children!”

He claimed, blaming the twisted state of the world on its sheer madness.

Hearing this, she felt she was starting to understand the core of this boy.

He was a hopeless dreamer.

A dreamer with a softness that made her wonder how he survived in this cruel world.

To survive in this hard reality, one must distrust, be wary of, and betray everyone.

Yet, this boy truly believed.

In a world where everyone could be treated equally.

A world where parents could love their children.

A world where they don’t have to kill each other to survive.

He insisted that such an absurd world must come to exist.

That it was only right, and that it was the natural order of things.

“Was he a child of nobility?”

That was the only conclusion she could reach.

Such naivety could only come from a sheltered child who grew up without knowing the ropes of the world.

He was probably a noble’s son caught up in some sort of mishap that brought him here.

“Surely, he’ll face reality soon enough.”

She was convinced his ideals would crumble one day.

And yet…

The boy never changed.

She watched in a daze as the boy was whipped in her place.

That fragile form of a human.

The pain must be unimaginable for him.

Yet, the boy’s expression remained unfazed.

She knew why.

She had seen something like this once before.

“It’s okay, Siel. Really. Mommy is fine, so don’t worry and just sleep.”

Pretending to be strong, telling her not to worry, that everything is alright.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt because of my constitution.”

Even while getting beaten to a pulp, the boy said it like that.

Surely, he was hurt because of her.

So, it was only right for him to resent and hate her.

It was logical to distance oneself.

Yet, why did the boy continue to stick to her?

She simply couldn’t understand.

Every action of his was utterly incomprehensible.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

“If you don’t want to eat, then don’t.”

Why couldn’t he just walk past a starving child, instead of stealthily sharing his meager rations?

“If you have any conscience, keep this quiet from the others. My rations are limited as it is. I already have enough enemies; being marked as a fool would be a disaster.

And… this is the last time I’m helping you. Find a way to survive and feed yourself.”

Why did he wear such a guilt-ridden expression while saying this?

After saving someone using his own food, why does he look like he’s done something wrong?

So soft.

Far too soft.

With a mindset like that, there’s no way to survive.

This talk of an equal world, human rights, a world where children can live carefree as they should; dreaming of all that in this world is futile, it can never be attained.

And yet, the boy remains unchanged.

In these two weeks, nothing has altered.

“…Eat this. I’m not feeling hungry today.”

Once again, the boy said this as he handed her a piece of bread.

She simply couldn’t hold back any longer.

She couldn’t understand this boy at all.

She couldn’t understand why she couldn’t tear her eyes away from this foolishly kind boy dreaming of an impossible idea.

“Why?”

So, the question slipped out.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

The girl wasn’t a fool.

No, she knew.

She was aware the boy hadn’t touched food for days, always opting to share his portion with her or the other kids.

He was always taking the whip in her place, always lending her a hand.

Always appearing whenever she found herself in danger to save her.

She knew everything.

“Was there something wrong with the bread you ate earlier? Just take this quickly; my arm’s getting tired.”

The boy feigned ignorance with a nonchalant tone.

“You should be the one eating this. You haven’t eaten anything in days.”

She couldn’t tolerate his reaction.

It upset her.

Of course, it’s not right.

She doesn’t deserve such treatment.

It was the same with her mother.

Her mother didn’t deserve to die because of a monster like her.

So.

“Why?”

She couldn’t wrap her mind around it.

The reason he was doing this for her. The reason he cared so much.

She looked at the boy again.

He awkwardly scratched his neck, thought a bit, and then spoke.

“Just, because it’s you.”

Why did that phrase bother her so much?

*

The girl slowly moved her feet.

The surroundings were chaotic. However, with a small nudge of magical energy, gauging the situation became a simple task.

And then, Siel witnessed it.

The conclusion the boy had faced.

It was as she expected. The boy was far too soft.

He ought to have eliminated anyone in his way. He shouldn’t have extended any kindness.

That outcome had already been decided long ago.

The unconscious boy was being dragged to the execution platform. The girl, staring blankly at the scene…

“Are you there?”

For the first time, she initiated a conversation with the wolf.

Why? She couldn’t comprehend the rationale behind her actions.

It wasn’t logical. All she needed to do was run away from here.

She had managed to escape such places before. Her mother had taught her all the magic needed to cloak her presence.

So why was she doing this?

Because of that boy?

That felt strange. They had only known each other for two weeks.

Heck, she didn’t even know the boy’s name.

And if he had such dreams, truly a dreamer wishing to make this already doomed world a better place,

He wouldn’t last long even if he was saved here.

But why.

“I’ll make a contract.”

Were her lips moving on their own?

Why couldn’t she take her eyes off him? Why was she so concerned about him?

‘Ah…’

It was then that the girl finally understood what love was.

– Just, because it’s you.

Just like the simplistic words the boy had said.

She had thought her mother shouldn’t love her, and she shouldn’t love her mother.

Because she was an abomination. A life that never should have seen the light of day.

But it’s different.

Love isn’t like that.

When someone loves someone, no reason is necessary.

When someone loves someone, no qualifications are needed.

You simply cherish them because you want to. You treasure them simply because they are important.

She doesn’t want him to die.

So,

… [I’ve certainly received half of your soul.]

She loves him.

She wants to protect him, come what may.

“Swallow it up, wolf.”

A sinister black shadow envelops the world.

What once was human transforms into mere flesh.

Strolling gracefully through that macabre scene, drenched in blood and flesh, the girl advanced.

To rescue the one she loves.

“…Siel?”

The boy she holds in her arms gazes at her.

He must be incredibly bewildered.

And rightly so.

The overseers have been devoured by the shadows without a trace.

The children are all in a panic, scrambling to escape.

“How did you… No, more importantly… Why?”

The boy asked.

Why did she help him.

Siel paused, deep in thought.

Though she deemed herself selfish, it was actually because she cared for him, kinder than anyone else.

Because she too had grown curious about the ideal world he spoke of.

Because he had shown her what love is.

Siel didn’t know how to convey all those feelings in just a few words.

So, with a faint smile, Siel simply said,

“Just, because it’s you.”