Josef Kramer.

A formidable dark sorcerer and head researcher of Belzen, renowned for his work advancing dark magic through chimera experiments, and highly regarded within Baob. Yet he was also a notorious butcher.

*"The trial will commence."*

Who could have predicted such a pitiful end for a man once deemed a demon?

*"Defendant."*

*"..."*

Josef raised his head, the name echoing in his ears. His blurred vision took in the strange surroundings—an environment resembling a courtroom.

What had happened?

The demon glanced around, confused. Just moments before, he had been walking between cell bars, but now, as he opened his eyes, an entirely different scene greeted him.

*"What is this…?"*

His voice trailed off. He tried moving his body, but found himself bound tightly to a chair with ropes. A voice followed.

*"The defendant shall have no right to remain silent or decline any questions, nor shall he be allowed to state anything in his favor."*

*"…?"*

It was the snake seated at the judge's podium, dressed in a judge's robe, towering over the demon. He recited each line with a calm, cold voice.

*"The defendant cannot defend himself and must comply with the court's sentences. Do you understand?"*

A chilling silence settled over the room. Gone was the playful demeanor, replaced by an expression cold as winter. His gaze was that of someone not viewing a human, and Josef felt a strange, unsettling sensation crawl down his spine.

*"What kind of farce is this…?"*

The demon muttered to himself, struggling against his restraints, but the ropes only tightened around him, and his dark magic refused to activate.

Of course. This was a world constructed from the snake’s lies, a realm immune to external rules.

*"To be unable to hear His whispers… what devilry is this…?"*

*"Silence."*

*Snap!*

With a snap of his fingers, Josef's mouth closed involuntarily, his jaw locked tight.

*"Mmph! Mm-mmph…!"*

*"The defendant is forbidden from speaking, allowed only cries, pleas, and screams."*

The demon’s face hardened. Josef, who had previously lounged with a smug smile, now understood that something had gone terribly wrong.

Fear gripped his chest, his shoulders began to tremble, and the man swallowed dryly, as if any distraction would result in his swift demise.

*"We shall proceed with the trial."*

Undeterred, the boy in the judge's seat continued with his role.

*"Defendant Josef Kramer."*

*"..."*

*"You, a senior officer of the dark sorcerer group Baob and the head of the Belzen Laboratory, have threatened the peace of the continent. Do you admit to this?"*

*"..."*

*"Your silence will be taken as confirmation."*

The trial was one-sided. The judge posed the crimes, and the defendant was unable to respond.

*"Furthermore, you have committed numerous unethical acts based on forbidden magic, particularly focusing on human-based chimera research, resulting in the deaths of countless innocents. Do you admit to this?"*

*"..."*

*"Recently, you ordered an attack on Galimar Academy and attempted to kidnap its students. Do you admit to this?"*

The judge’s voice was detached, cold as frost. Beads of sweat formed on the demon’s forehead—a pathetic show of fear. The judge’s gaze held only contempt.

*"The court shall render its verdict."*

The words echoed solemnly throughout the courtroom.

*"The atrocities committed by the defendant as a member of the cult are unforgivable. Given the extensive nature of the experiments and massacres conducted at Belzen, the court finds these actions gravely severe."*

The number of victims in Bergen Belzen was precisely 15,924, including 3,642 children who hadn’t even reached adulthood.

Perhaps it was time for the demon to experience the despair of his victims.

*"Therefore, this court sentences the defendant to 15,924 executions in memory of the unjustly lost lives."*

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The sound of the gavel echoed as Josef wore an expression of disbelief.

Not a single execution, but… over ten thousand?

Though it took him a moment to grasp the sentence’s meaning, he quickly understood.

The judge snapped his fingers.

*Snap!*

In an instant, the demon found himself on the gallows, with a noose hanging before him.

As Josef stared at it in a daze, a thick rope fell over his neck, lifting him off the ground.

*"…Khrrrk!"*

The demon’s body struggled as it dangled midair, his throat constricted, his breath squeezed out of him. The platform beneath him gave way, and the rope descended with him.

*Crack!*

His neck broke midair—a swift end. The demon hung lifeless, eyes rolled back.

The snake overseeing the scene muttered to himself and snapped his fingers again.

*"Once."*

*Snap!*

The world reformed itself.

Josef awoke unscathed, standing once again before the gallows.

His eyes widened in horror.

*"Haah… haah…"*

The feeling of his neck snapping lingered vividly. His breathing was ragged, and the soft, eerie whisper of the golden snake reached his ear.

*"15,923 to go."*

Before he could even process the meaning, the boy snapped his fingers.

*Snap!*

*"Let’s continue, shall we?"*

*Crack!*

The demon’s neck snapped once more.

*"Twice."*

*Snap!*

The gallows wasted no time as Josef floundered. His neck snapped yet again.

*"Thrice."*

*Snap!*

Finally, the demon realized the boy’s intent.

This was an endless prison.

Josef would be hanged continuously until he met the precise number the boy had sentenced. His mind turned white, and an overwhelming fear settled upon him.

But there would be no mercy.

*"15,921 to go."*

*Snap!*

It was time for punishment.

---

The demon’s deaths varied. 

With 15,924 executions, the methods had to be changed up to prevent him from growing numb to them. Hanging, beheading, burning, quartering… he experienced it all.

*"Kuh… Ku-haaah!"*

*"12,084 to go."*

*Snap!*

*"No, no… stop! Don’t do this!!"*

*"10,834 to go."*

*Snap!*

*"Sp… spare me… please, I beg you!"*

*"9,999 to go."*

*Snap!*

As the deaths repeated mercilessly, Josef had lost his mind by the time the count reached the 5,000s, reduced to incoherent screams.

*"Aaaaaah!"*

Of course, I wasn’t entirely unaffected.

Even if it was an illusion, the endless stream of horrific scenes before me took its toll.

*"4,273 to go."*

But I couldn’t stop.

This was for those who had died unjustly. At least I could offer this for their consolation.

I snapped my fingers again.

*"Why."*

Too many lives had been lost.

While their names may never have been onscreen, each story held a tragedy just like Anne’s.

How much sorrow had there been?

The victims, sacrificed in cold experiments, each had dreams, lives snuffed out in places that denied even a single bloom.

Stars meant to shine extinguished too soon. I stood as the executor for countless tragedies.

*"No, no… no, don’t slice me!"*

The last thousand deaths were a reenactment of the chimera experiments.

Josef experienced the same tortures he had inflicted upon others, down to every gruesome detail.

On the operating table, the demon screamed for mercy.

*"Something’s growing in my stomach… eating me from the inside!"*

I watched in silence, my expression cold, the reflection of an unrepentant villain.

*"Perhaps."*

I had never claimed to be noble.

If asked whether I was a good or bad person, I’d probably lean toward the latter.

It just depended on whom it was “bad” toward.

I wanted to be the villain to villains.

*"I wanted to protect."*

There are plenty of good people who are kind to villains. Sometimes, it’s all right to be bad for the sake of the good ones.

I lifted my head slightly.

*"..."*

The sentence was almost over.

It was time to awaken from this nightmare.

Josef stood there, drooling, his spirit shattered.

I approached him calmly.

*"This is the last one."*

*Thunk.*

I gripped his neck.

His body was limp in my hands. I summoned the last remnants of my power, shadows flickering.

*‘I hope… this punishment was enough.’*

A fleeting thought.

I began the final incantation.

*"Clear Day."*

*Crash!*

A massive crack appeared midair as the world of lies shattered, splintering like glass.

Amid the breaking scene, I tightened my grip for the final time.

*Crack!*

The demon’s neck broke.

His lifeless body fell to the ground with the shattering remnants of the illusion.

This time, he did not revive.

At long last, he’d met the death he could never outrun.

*"Haah…"*

I let out a short breath.

The surroundings returned to normal—I was back in the depths of Belzen.

As I rubbed my sore wrist, a voice called out from behind.

It was Irene, her expression stunned.

*"W-What… it ended just like that?"*

Her reaction was one of disbelief.

Barely a moment had passed in reality, so her surprise was understandable. To her, it must have seemed like I had simply walked up and snapped Josef’s neck

.

I asked lightly,

*"Were you hoping there’d be more?"*

*"Not really, it just happened so fast…"*

*"Heh."*

Her voice was hesitant.

Reaching out, I gently patted her head.

*"It’s all right."*

My touch carried a warmth of its own.

*"It’s truly over now."*

*"If you say so… then I believe you."*

Irene muttered, nodding. As tension left her body, her red tail drooped—she was exhausted.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

*"You did well."*

The words were simple.

I gently pulled her into a hug, feeling her warmth in my arms.

And left her with a soft whisper.

*"Irene."*

*"..."*

*"You did wonderfully."*

*"..."*

She remained silent for a moment.

*"Let’s go back. The warm dormitory awaits us."*

*"…Yes."*

Her voice, laced with emotion, finally responded, as if barely holding back tears.

Irene buried her face in my chest, hiding the tears that had started to spill.

*"It’s over now."*

I patted her trembling back.

For a while, we stood there, letting it all sink in.

The long and fierce mission to rescue the fox.

---

**[EP6. Bergen Belzen]**  
**-The Lost Girl, Monsters Who Cannot Cry-**

The episode concluded at last.