Thoughts and distractions filled Ater until his chest felt tight.
“…I thought you were….”
At first, he had believed Gio was human.
But as time passed, Ater realized that was not true. The average human lifespan was fifty years, and even someone who lived exceptionally well found it difficult to pass one hundred. He had wondered whether the new humanity might live longer, but that, too, was impossible.
What human could have spent 281 years shaping a horrific mass of meat into a person?
“…I remember… calling you.”
The memory returned terribly late.
“I-I unquestionably… inside that narrow cage….”
“You called me.”
“I was afraid. Being alone was so lonely, and the pain had continued so long that my mind was dazed. I didn’t want to remain that way. I couldn’t endure it any longer….”
“I believe you endured enough.”
“……”
“Do you regret it?”
“……”
“You appear to, at least a little.”
The fact that he had summoned back into the world an Evil God he had sealed with so much blood and flesh felt horrifying. Yet at the same time, he was grateful. In the end, this Evil God alone had reached out in response to his screams and summons.
Contradictory emotions came to him…