In truth, Ash was not very surprised. Precisely because he had expected it deep down, the pain came so quickly. He still remembered Igula mocking him, saying he was always sensitive when he should be slow, and slow when he should be sensitive. If he could learn to deceive himself and be selfish, perhaps he could freely enjoy the girls' goodness without tying himself in knots, avoid many dangers instead of risking himself for others, and escape sorrow without losing what mattered.
"...Vishy actually had a point," he said softly.
Death Frenzy took the cigarette back and held it between her lips. "It isn't just your physical body. Has even your mind fallen?"
"Before she became Artifice Supremacy, she actually didn't want to put anything from the outside world into her heart," Ash said. "All beauty in this world will eventually vanish like smoke. The only way to escape sorrow is to miss out on beauty."
"So you mean you're going to break up with Sonia and the others?" Death Frenzy took a sip of wine and tilted her head at him. "Should I thank you on Sonia's behalf for so graciously letting her go?"
"...Forget Vishy and Igula. Even Harvey is better at comforting people than you." Ash glanced at the open coffin. "Death Frenzy, have you ever lost someone important?"
Death Frenzy looked at the white smoke slowly rising from between her fingers. After a moment of silence, she sat down beside Ash as well and set the bottle down.
"The last day I saw my mother was July 10th. Then I entered the Multistar Prison, and the moment I left the prison, I advanced to demigod and stepped into hell. By the time I returned, the mortal world had already changed." She slowly exhaled a smoke ring