The black-and-red box ignored Yae Sakura's vigilance and merely spoke again.
"Of course I know your name, because... Yae Sakura, I am you."
The next moment, the black-and-red feathered box suddenly erupted with an even more dazzling light, as if it intended to swallow Yae Sakura whole.
"This ominous red light... Could it be that those monsters that suddenly appeared several times were all because of you?"
Remembering the "demonic beast" she and Kallen had slain together during the day, Yae Sakura cried out in shock.
"Hmph, how could that be because of me?"
The black-and-red feathered box let out a mocking laugh.
"Yae Sakura, those monsters all appeared in accordance with your will. You wanted to destroy this village."
"No, my duty is... to protect this village, to protect everyone in it."
Though Yae Sakura answered firmly, her gaze flickered uncertainly, as if those words did not entirely align with her heart.
"Protect this village~ Protect everyone in this village~"
The black-and-red feathered box repeated her words in a strange, mocking tone before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha, you really are adorable, Yae Sakura. Is that truly your deepest wish? To protect a village that uses children's lives as sacrifices?"
When the box exposed Yae Village's greatest secret, anger instantly appeared on Yae Sakura's face.
Yet that anger vanished in an instant, replaced by bitterness and helplessness she could not conceal.
"No matter what, I already promised..."
"You promised your younger sister? Don't forget, Yae Rin was forced to her death by the very people you swore to protect."
Interrupting Yae Sakura's self-deceptive words, the black-and-red feathered box sneered again.
"I... No, no..."
Despair and pain appeared on Yae Sakura's face.
"The one who killed Rin with my own hands was me! Back then, I wanted to take Rin away