Sloth's Collapse

The ordinary Witch Cult members had stood quietly in the background until one of them suddenly tore off his hood, revealing a young face.

But that delicate face was now twisted in anguish.

"Why? Why? I escaped that body, so why does it still hurt this much?"

As he spoke, the boy clutched his heart and collapsed to his knees. Tears poured from his eyes until they turned red.

"Damn it! What did you do to me?"

Sloth stared wildly at Subaru Natsuki. Pain surged through him like a tide, threatening to drown him. He wanted to break free. He wanted to kill the person causing it.

But the instant that thought arose, the pain swallowed every other thought in his mind.

Subaru Natsuki stood and slowly turned toward the young man kneeling on the ground.

"Tsk, tsk! Weren't you asking for love? I only gave it back to you. Why so ungrateful, Sloth? You're wrapped up tight in love now, aren't you? Your brain isn't trembling anymore, is it?"

Sloth clutched his chest and slumped forward. He struggled to raise his tormented eyes, his voice hoarse.

"Please... Please let me go! I don't want love anymore. I don't want it! Please... let me go. I don't want to hurt like this anymore!"

Sloth crawled toward Subaru Natsuki's feet. The pain, multiplying by the moment, had nearly robbed him of thought.

Subaru Natsuki looked down at Sloth's hand gripping his pant leg. A cold smile curled his lips.

"Just wait a little longer, sweetheart. The fruit's almost ripe. Once it is, you'll be free."

In Subaru Natsuki's eyes, Sloth's anguish was ravenously drawing strength from his soul.

Like a pitch-black sapling, it had driven its roots deep into Sloth's soul. Its branches writhed as a fruit etched with black patterns