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ED Note: So really, why are demons, spirits, and even creatures with a different source considered a local race of the world by Suzuki’s ability but not Humans? Are they not actually a local race native to that world?
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Nevertheless, the man's sword still fell mercilessly on Elmer.
(Papa!! NO!! Papa, PAPA!!)
Elmer's body continued to be chopped into pieces in front of Duma's eyes. Even after he had decapitated Elmer, the man laughed like a fiend and continued to chop him limb from limb.
Eventually, as if he had finished his handiwork, he revealed his bloody face to his men and smiled with satisfaction.
"Then, I'll leave the rest to you—. Burn the house down— so there's no evidence LEFT behind!"
The robbers responded with a cheerful "Aye!" and then began to leave the room in succession.
…Elmer's head, with an expression full of pain, tumbled and rolled in front of Duma.
(Why? Why did you do this horrible thing? What did Papa and I do?)
A short time later, smoke entered the room. The men must have set the house on fire.
In the midst of blazing flames. Unable to cry, Duma just watched as the fire engulfed everything.
Burning. Papa's house. Papa's memories. Papa too. Me too. Everything. All of it. Burning.
Duma's skin was also being burned. Her jaw joint snapped open due to the high temperatures.
(AAAHH… AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH…!) Outside the crumbling house, the men laughed while smoking cigarettes lit with the roaring flames.
"The Boss is still as bad as ever, right?"
"Yeh, while we're the ones who have to do all the troublesome work—."
"Let's just finish our smoke, then let's get the hell out of here… huh? What the hell is that?"
The men's gazes shifted from the decaying house to Duma, who was walking slowly toward them.
(W-Who… am I?)
"H-Hey. The doll is walking toward us?"
"That doll, I thought we tore it all apart! What the hell is going on?"
Her head was confused, and her consciousness was clouded. However, when Duma saw the humans in front of her, a powerful urge came over her.
(H-Human!! Hu-Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate! Hate!!)
With a "kapari" sound, Duma's mouth split open all the way to her ears. A frightening voice emerged from her mouth.
"Gige! Gigegagegigigigigigigi!"
"M-Monster!!"
Seeing Duma's needle-like fangs, the men drew their swords. Duma, on all fours, attacked the men as her instincts dictated. She sliced them and bit them, taking no notice of their attacks. No matter how much they cried or screamed, she tore off their limbs and bit into their torsos while they were still alive.
After scattering the men's guts all around, Duma scouted around the vicinity.
(N-Not enough!! Not enough!! S-Something still missing!!)
It was a thirst for murder that continuously rose from the depths of her body. She had already forgotten the reason why. However, someone was constantly shouting in my head. "Hate Humans."
———And...
Duma was breathing heavily with a "haa haa." Dolls never feel fatigued. The heavy breathing was in response to a desperate attempt to keep her body together, to somehow hold on to her crumbling body with magical power.
(H-How could I, have forgotten it until now?)
She had an intense hatred for the robbers who killed Elmer. Because of that, she fell into the demon world. Lord Demon Lord gave her strong magical power and was appointed one of the Demon Lord Army's commanders, entrusting her with the Immortal Fleet.
No matter how many humans she killed, she was never able to quench her thirst because she had yet to avenge her father's… Elmer's death. And everywhere, she constantly sought the image of Elmer, the man who made her. That's why she had collected so many undead and dolls that resembled Elmer's…
She glanced at Suzuki. Up until now, she had been trying to kill Suzuki and turn him into a doll.
Suddenly, the image of herself, who had been trying to turn Suzuki into a doll by force, and the accursed robber overlapped.
(W-What I'm doing is, t-the same as those guys…?)
She looked at Suzuki. He was very cute. If possible, she wanted him to stay by her side forever. However, if she forcefully and violently got what she wanted——— then she would be no better than those despicable robbers.
Suzuki approached Duma, who was barely able to stay standing. And then...
"I'll give one to you too, Duma."
Suzuki smiled and put yet another omusubi on Duma's head.
"AH–————!"
She screamed without realizing it. The feeling was very similar to when Elmer touched her hair.
When Duma looked at Suzuki once again—— she turned speechless.
She saw Elmer standing in front of her, not Suzuki.
"Duma..."
The same gentle voice and smile that she remembered from that time spoke to her,
"Papa!"
Her voice came out naturally. It wasn't the usual halting voice of Duma, but the voice of a young human girl.
(T-This is an illusion. I-I know it. Even so…)
Duma dove into Elmer's chest. And then, she let out everything that had been bottled up in her chest.
"Papa! I missed you! I, was lonely!"
"Duma. I'm sorry I left you alone up until now."
Elmer's voice, gentle and warm, and at the same time nostalgic, made Duma's heart ache deep within her chest. The heat from deep within her chest pooled under Duma's eyelids.
"Papa, papa!! I, have done cruel things! I've been doing cruel things up until now!"
Elmer smiled at Duma with a gentle expression.
"I created you. Therefore, your sins are also my sins."
"Wrong! Papa has done nothing bad! Everything, is all my fault!"
Elmer gently held close the screaming Duma in his arms.
"It's alright. Papa will always be with you!"
"Papa…!"
Tears welled up in the young Duma's eyes. Tears blurred her vision. Elmer's image gradually faded away.
Duma was convinced. That this was the last time. After today, she will never see Elmer again. That's why…
(I-I have to say it. At this last moment… to Elmer…)
The young Duma looked up at Elmer and smiled as best she could.
"Papa! Thanks for making me!"