Chapter 30

As she walked down the corridor beyond the chapel, opening each door in turn, Flamm's body did not respond as well as it had during the battle, perhaps because of the emotional toll of killing Dane. She leaned against the wall for support, dragging her feet as she moved forward. Behind her, countless eyeballs were closing in—though the battle was over, the danger was not.

At the very end of the corridor, she opened the last door. Inside, a slightly larger room, Ink was sitting on the floor.

"Ink?"

But Flamm's voice trailed off. Next to Ink stood a tall woman, at least 180 cm, whom she had never seen before. Or rather, was she really a woman? She wore a dress and a wide-brimmed hat, with red hair reaching just below her chin. At first glance, she could pass as a woman. However, her muscular limbs, broad shoulders, and facial features were decidedly masculine.

"Is that you, Flamm?"

"Oh my, that man lost so easily. I didn't expect you to come so soon."

Her voice was unusually deep, confirming that she was indeed a man.

"You must be Flamm. Nice to meet you, I'm Mother. I am the mother of these children—the children of the Spiral."

"Stay away from Ink."

Flamm drew her sword. She knew of Mother's existence from Ink, but had always assumed she was a woman.

"Why should I, the mother, stay away? Besides, it was you who told Ink she was a monster, wasn't it?"

"I know you claim to be her mother. I know about the power Ink possesses."

"Yes, because I was the one who transplanted the core in place of her heart."

Mother answered immediately. Though she claimed to be a mother, she was likely the leader of this research project, a scientist affiliated with the church.

"So, the second birth, the ritual for these children to become my children through the womb of the mother—Ink included, they are all truly my children, and I am their mother."

Mother spoke freely about things Flamm hadn't even heard. She seemed more like a fanatic, or someone who was intoxicated by her own role, desperately wanting others to recognize her as "mother."

"But... I am—"

"Do you want to be human? Why? Indeed, you are a failure, but you possess a wonderful power. The power to give birth and become a mother. Look."

He pointed behind Flamm. The open door revealed countless white spheres packed together, but they did not enter the room, perhaps because Ink was there.

"Those are Ink's adorable children, looking at us."

"Children...?"

"What you have lost."

Rough hands covered Ink's eyelids.

"And what you desired. That desire, amplified by Origin's power, was expelled from your body. They have remained within you, hosting Origin's power, and have protected us according to Ink's gentle will."

"No, I didn't—"

"There's no need to be ashamed. You are a fine mother, a fine mother, Ink. I am so happy that my beloved child has become such a fine mother."

Saying this, Mother embraced her. The scene was horrifying in a different way from the powers of Origin. Flamm felt a chill and a wave of nausea. She couldn't believe that the love Mother spoke of actually existed.

"Sorry to meet you for the first time, but you there, Mother or whatever you are."

"What is it?"

"I don't think you can be a mother."

"Why? How can you say that so confidently when you know nothing?"

"Because you don't look at the children. You only impose your will, trying to shape them as you desire. No one wants that, neither in body nor in heart!"

"It's not for you or me to decide. Ink, can you feel my love?"

He pressed his body closer to Ink's. He nuzzled her, and his breathing grew heavy. Ink, perhaps used to it, did not show a particularly unpleasant expression, but she didn't look happy either. She opened her mouth hesitantly.

"I... don't want to. I want to be human. I don't want to become a monster that hurts others!"

"..."

Mother's smile vanished. She stood up, grabbed Ink by the collar, and with a swing of her hand—slapped her. Ink was thrown to the floor by the force of the man's arm.

"Then you're useless. Just a piece of trash, to be discarded. I raised you with love, and yet you are ungrateful."

"Ink!"

Flamm rushed to her, lifted her up, and said,

"Flamm..."

Hearing her weak smile and small voice, Flamm felt a sense of relief. She then glared at the large back in the corner of the room.

"Mother!"

Mother stopped and turned around at the sound of her angry voice.

"Frightening, isn't it? After all, children are best raised by their own parents."

At that moment, four children appeared behind Mother. Whether they had been hidden by magic or teleported, it was unclear. On Mother's left were a boy with curly green hair and a meaningless grin, and a blond boy who looked sullen and tapped his foot rhythmically. On the right were a boy with blue hair, who rubbed his red, swollen cheek with a sullen expression, and a girl with long white hair, who hid her eyes behind her bangs and held a doll-like figure.

"Oh, Nekt, what happened to your face?"

"I missed. That bastard, I'll definitely kill him next time!"

This was Nekt, who had been in battle with Gadio. The fight had been so intense that it echoed through the city, but it seemed he had been defeated and fled.

"Right, Flamm, let me introduce you. These are my precious children, the children of the Spiral."

Mother spread her arms wide and said proudly. They all seemed to be the same age as Ink or slightly younger. Though they looked like ordinary children now, when they used their powers, their faces would likely turn into the same disgusting flesh vortex as Ink's.

"The green-haired boy on the left is Fuis, the blond boy next to him is Luke. The blue-haired boy is Nekt, and the girl on the far right is Mute. What do you think? Aren't they all adorable children?"

Flamm swallowed hard. If they decided to kill her, she would surely lose. She couldn't escape and would be erased without a trace. Fortunately, they didn't seem to be hostile at the moment—

"Don't be so on guard. It seems there's a split in opinion among the Origins about whether to kill you or use you. Until a decision is made, we, as neutrals, won't kill you."

"Among the Origins?"

Flamm was puzzled by the way she spoke as if there were multiple Origins.

"Hehe, you'll find out soon enough."

"Come on, Mother."

"Fuis is right. How long are we going to waste time on this trash? Ink, you should have been discarded long ago."

"I give all my children equal opportunities. That's my educational policy, Luke."

The rude Luke, at Mother's admonishing words, averted his gaze again.

"Mother, I need to pee."

"Oh, Mute, that's a problem. We need to hurry. Nekt, can you help?"

"Sure, Mother."

Nekt held out his open palm. Flamm sensed some kind of power swirling there.

"Right, about the disposal of that thing."

Just before "Connection" was activated, Mother remembered and spoke to Flamm.

"To be honest, those eyeballs are very troublesome. It would be a great help if you could destroy them with your power. Don't even think about helping them. It's impossible anyway, and even if they survive, they'll just be blind, weak, and useless trash."

Flamm gritted her teeth. There was no hope. She was selfish and unreasonable—

"Is this the word of someone who claims to be a mother!?"

"Now you're just a stranger, so you're trash. That's how it is. See you, Flamm."

As Nekt declared "Connection," Mother and the others vanished in an instant.

"Wait!"

Her voice echoed in the room, but it didn't reach them.

"Damn..."

Flamm clenched her fists in frustration. Hearing her, Ink looked up with a worried expression.

"...Sorry, Flamm."

"Why are you apologizing, Ink? It's my fault. I said some terrible things to you."

"But... it's true, isn't it? I turn into a monster at night and spew out things I don't understand... Just by living, I cause trouble."

"No, that's not—!"

She wanted to say "No," but if she left her alive, more people would suffer. Flamm and the others would be pursued by that thing until they died, and they wouldn't be able to sleep properly unless they were near Ink. Not sleeping for a few days might be manageable, but for the rest of their lives— it would be the same as being told to die.

"It's okay."

"Ink?"

"It's okay. Just being able to talk to you like this one last time makes me feel happy."

"Wait, don't give up so easily!"

"Then what? As long as I'm alive, everyone will get hurt. I don't want to live like this. If I can't be happy as a human, it's better to die here—"

No, that's wrong, I'll do something.

That's what she wanted to say, but Flamm knew her own powerlessness. She understood the existence of things she could and could not do. Sometimes, "giving up" is the right choice. Ink sat up, slipped out of Flamm's arms, and settled on the floor, facing Flamm with a smile and open arms.

"Here, please."

In a pleading manner, Ink begged for death. Flamm's lips trembled, her teeth clenched, and she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't do anything. To change the situation, she needed to destroy the core, but if she did, Ink would die. Even if there was another solution—could Flamm achieve it alone? Her abilities were Soul Eater, Freeze, Reverse, and Prana. No matter how she combined them, she couldn't think of a way to save Ink.

"Besides, if you're the one to kill me, Flamm, it might be a happy thing. Because, you know, I feel like I can die as a human."

She said this in a bright voice. Her words were probably more for accepting her own death than for convincing Flamm. She didn't want to kill her, but not making a choice was also irresponsible. She had fought her way to Ink, risking her life to save or kill her. The answer was already clear. Ink wanted it too. If there was no other way—then there was no choice but to kill her.

"Ugh... h... ah... aah..."

Her shoulders shaking, her face drenched in tears, Flamm slowly stood up. She swayed like a ghost, her vision blurred, and she looked directly at Ink's smile. What a painful sight. Her cheek muscles were strained, and when she closed her eyes tightly, large tears overflowed. Despite this, Flamm moved forward to fulfill her responsibility. She put excessive force into her right foot, which still resisted, lifted it, and took a step. When her foot touched the floor again, her heart and body felt even heavier.

"Haaa...!"

She tightened her abdominal muscles, exhaled, and moved