My left arm was gone.
Just… gone.
I tore my sleeve with my teeth and right hand, wrapped the stump tight.
Blood slowed to a trickle.
Eve started running toward me, staff glowing.
"Don't! Stay with the kids!"
"But your arm—"
"Recovery won't work on Gluttony's bite. Keep the souls anchored. That's your only job."
Eve bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, but obeyed.
A cheerful girl's voice floated from nowhere.
"Wow, you even know that? You're strong, Reiji-kun~"
The gray rat at my feet began to swell.
Magic pressure exploded outward.
The rat burst.
Silver hair cascaded to the ground.
Black gothic dress.
Silver eyes shining like knives.
Enri smiled like we were old friends.
"Hi again! Been a whole day, hasn't it?"
I stared.
"…You."
Enri clapped her hands.
"I was stuck in that gross rat body. Much better now, right?"
The black-robed boy from earlier ran up, eyes feverish, holding the jar of hearts like a holy relic.
"Gula-sama! I collected them all! With these we can finally summon—"
Enri's smile didn't waver.
She tapped his shoulder.
"You can die now. Role's over."
The boy's body disintegrated mid-sentence.
Head, arms, legs—falling apart like wet paper.
He reached for her, confused, pleading.
Enri watched him turn to ash without blinking.
"Ugh, so clingy."
I felt the rage climb my throat like acid.
"You turned a kid into that."
Enri tilted her head.
"I just ate all his other emotions and cranked revenge to max. Made everything simpler. I'm actually super nice."
She giggled.
"Anyway, about your eyes—"
"Shut up."
My voice came out flat. Dead.
Enri pouted.
"Rude. Fine. Offer time!
Leave now and I'll let you and the girl walk.
I only need the hearts to finish summoning my cute little Evil God."
I looked at the eight small bodies behind me.
Kids who begged for cake three days ago.
Kids who called me "teacher" even though I never wanted the job.
Kids who were now cold because this thing in human skin felt like it.
Important?
No.
They were loud, annoying, and temporary.
But they were mine for a few days.
And nobody touches what's mine.
I took one step forward.
"You piss me off."
Enri's smile faltered for the first time.
"…Huh?"
"Those kids were nothing to me.
Just noise.
I would've forgotten them next week."
Another step.
"But you made them scream.
You made them beg.
You turned a broken boy into a toy and threw him away when you were bored."
Mana began leaking from my body in visible waves.
The floor cracked under my feet.
"So this isn't about justice.
It isn't about saving anyone.
It isn't even about the kids."
I raised my remaining hand.
Palm open.
Mana condensed into a single white sphere so dense it bent light.
"This is personal."
Enri's silver eyes narrowed.
"…You're going to fight a Demon Lord of Gluttony with one arm?"
"No."
The sphere doubled in size.
"I'm going to erase you."
Enri's smile finally vanished.
Behind me, Eve was still pouring light into dead children.
In front of me stood the thing that killed them.
I took the last step.
"Come on, Gluttony.
Let's see if you can eat this."