Who... was this?
That face, that smile, it was his mother, and yet the woman speaking to him was not the mother he knew.
No matter how much his father beat her or how much she cried in pain, she had never once tried to abandon him and run away.
They always shared what little food they had, and sometimes she even gave him her portion, telling him he needed to grow bigger.
They had survived together.
They had helped each other live.
And yet, the woman before him who looked like his mother was clearly trying to kill him.
"It will all end with this. Okay? You do not want to be alone either, right, Ars? Come with Mama."
The hand held out to him was stained red with blood, and he shook his head while crying in terror.
No, no no no no! I do not want to die!
This had to be a dream.
A terrible nightmare.
He shook his head desperately.
"...I see. So Ars will not come with me."
The woman lowered her head and muttered quietly, then suddenly, "—Ah!"
