It was exactly about time for the sunrise. While the morning mist was still up, she began to sprint through a forest that was next to the highway.

Sadly, when she was about to exit the forest, something covered her from the side while grasping hold of her. She then had a feeling that the aura coming from her whole body was slowly but surely disappearing.

When she looked, there was a net around her body. It wasn't a mere net. After all, the more she struggled, the more energy she was losing.

'It must be a net with a special spell on it.'

Her heart sank at such a thought. After all not just anyone could create something like that.

*RING RING*

Then a unique sound of a staff echoes throughout the forest creepily.

"I have found you."

There was a single low-voice of a man.

"The cursed daughter born from our Himejima bloodline."

From behind the trees,

"The child that carries the blood of that black Angel."

Several mountaineering ascetics sedge-woven hats wearing people who were carrying a staff appeared.

"It has been a while, Akeno."

A voice filled with dignity said that to her. She was familiar with this voice. The mountaineering ascetics made a path and the one who appeared in front of her was a man who had passed his middle age. He took his hat off, and looked at her who was captured by the net. His eyes were filled with sadness.

Akeno couldn't help but murmured,

"... Granduncle."

Yes, this old man was someone from the Himejima clan. To her, he is her granduncle from her mother's side.

The Himejima is a clan that has been affiliated with the Shinto gods since ancient times. Her mother's family is also entrusted with a Shinto shrine with history behind it. The other mountaineering ascetics should be the relatives of Himejima.

Her Granduncle said to her while bending down.

"I won't let you escape now. I must get rid of Himejima's shame today. You understand me, right?"

'A shame.'

She felt so suffocated. For them, it was said that the daughter from Himejima was taken and used by a Fallen Angel, and her… She was known as a cursed child that was born from them. For that reason, she truly was a shame to them.

Himejima is a Shinto clan with a deep historical background. For that reason, breeding with another kind is an unforgivable act. If it gets found out by the Japanese God they serve, they won't know what kind of penalty they will receive.

The oath and cleanness towards the rules of Himejima are absolute, and as a result, her mother died.

She , who had lost her mother and had rejected her father, wandered throughout the country and ended up being targeted by those from Himejima. A child that will taint the name of Himejima is a being they can't allow to exist.

"... I simply want to live."

She said that while actually meaning that. There isn't any falsehood behind that. She was an outcast who couldn't go after her mother and couldn't follow her father.

However, it feels like she would be rejecting all the experiences she had in that house if she were to die, and she simply hated the idea of that happening. Her Granduncle breathed out in grief and shook his head to the side.

"Do you really think a human with black wings will be able to experience the life of a normal person? In the past one year and six months, you should have realized it when you traveled to different areas…You are a smart child after all. For a monster to attain the living style of a human, did you not come to realize that it isn't something you can achieve with your current strength?"

Yes, she had witnessed it. While she was traveling throughout the country, she came to understand that in order for someone who has an extraordinary power, to live like a normal person you would need a strong determination and strength.

She still didn't have such strong determination and strength. For that reason, she became scared and began to think that there wasn't any place for her in this world. But,

---

“Akeno, this isn’t your fault”

---

Remembering those words, brought back strength to her heart

‘No, I am here! I am living here! I still….can't die! I don't want to die!’

*Biri Biri Biri*

She made lightning within her hand and released it towards the Himejima ascetics!

*Bang*

While making a bright flash, her lightning struck between them. Possibly due to the power of her lighting being stronger than they imagined, it seems like she got them while they let their guard down, and they didn't know where to aim their staff at. Sadly, before she could rejoice,

"Destroy!"

Her granduncle shouted with a loud voice. A strong spiritual power was released at the same time, and it disperses her lightning.

‘It looks like my lightning won't work on granduncle. Even though it ended like this, I did increase the power since the last time I fought him’

The mountain ascetics fixed their stance, their hatred toward her slowly increasing .

"Damn! The power of her "Light and Thunder" is getting more powerful as days pass!"

"If we don't take her down quickly, we will be the ones getting killed eventually!"

They started directing their staff at her.

"Oni!"

"Oni-ni!"

It was at this moment that the small Onis stoods in front of her to protect her from the mountain ascetics.

“No! All of you will be killed! Don't!"

She desperately moved despite being wrapped in the net and used her whole body to protect the Onis.

"...So you will protect the Onis huh. Looks like you have also inherited the blood from that girl Shuuri."

Her Granduncle pointed his staff at her cold heartedly.

A tremendous energy began to gather at the tip of his staff. Akeno didn’t need to be told to understand

‘I will most likely die if I get hit by it.’

"I'm sorry, but this is the end for you. It seems like the black Angels aren't interfering. The least I can do is to send you off without any pain."

Hearing him spout such words at such moments, a deep sense of disgust overwhelmed the fear she felt,

‘I really hate adults. They were only worried about how they will appear to others, and didn't forgive my mother at the end… ! They also see me as a disgusting creature.'

She hid her hatred towards them and began to talk with her Granduncle.

"Please spare these small Onis."

"…Sure, very well."

"One more. Please put my grave next to Kaa-sama's. I beg you."

"I cannot allow that. You are an existence that was not supposed to exist. I will only promise you the matter regarding the small Onis." she didn't have that much expectation for him to approve the latter wish. However, it was a faint hope she held that it was possible.

However, as long as the small Onis will be safe then it's all right. "……Oni."

The small Onis were shedding tears because they were worried about her. She lovingly caressed the top of their head.

'It's all right. Thank you for serving me until now. It's okay. Live on behalf of me. All of you shouldn't hold a grudge against them.'

It seems like the small Onis understood what she wanted to tell them without saying it to them.

Meanwhile, her granduncle's staff gathered even more spiritual power, and was ready to unleash it. Akeno closed her eyes. Her expression was peaceful.

"If I have one regret. It's that I wasn't able to see onii-sama one last time."

it happens when her grand uncle was about to unleash his attack towards her. A voice suddenly sounded in the woods,

"Hold on."

The light gathered around the staff disappeared due to that voice. The mountain ascetics and her eyes move towards the depth of the forest.

Her eyes widened before moisture began to build on their corners,

“I have listened to all that shit because I was curious what would push so many grown men to hunt such a gentle little girl. But I must say...”

A grey aura began to emanate from him, the earth itself seemed to dry as the tree and the grass died.

“It’s the first time I feel that some people should be tortured before being killed. As such let me ask you… ”

He walked slowly, in the silence brought by his aura,

"Prideful bastards… Please tell me, how do you wish to die?"