She is not an investigator.

Unable to react, unable to dodge.

But she didn't care at all, even as blood began to slowly seep from her ears.

It was trying to weaken her, trying to intimidate her and make her start to back down with this level of intimidation and aggression.

But she never did.

When she arrived here, when she walked toward that guy, she had already resigned herself to death.

She never took any chances that she could leave alive, return alive, or see anyone else alive.

Only death, only walking towards death, only pursuing death, can make her attacks truly harm her.

She only has one chance, and so does it.

This is a gamble, a gamble where the odds of winning or losing are only 50%.

"Waaah...waaah..."

The cries could no longer reach her ears; her eardrums had ruptured completely, and she had lost all hearing.

She could only quicken her pace again, constantly squeezing out the little strength she had left in her body.

But the babies wouldn't let her go; they kept coming back, attacking again and again, only to be dodged time and time again.

But she couldn't hear; in this state of deafness, everything behind her was a blind spot.

Unable to detect the attack from behind, she could only quicken her pace and change direction again and again.

Whether their attacks were effective or not, they certainly did have the effect of slowing her down.

"what--"

The giant baby moved again.

It raised its arm, an arm that could almost cover the entire street.

The shadow quickly covered Igris's body, and the giant arm above her head fell down at an extremely fast speed.

She had nowhere to hide, and no way to hide. With an attack of this range and intensity, she couldn't think of any way to avoid it.

But she doesn't need to hide.

"Living towards death..."

She finally stopped. Because she was moving too fast, her figure even slid a distance away, but she didn't care. She just gripped the sword in her hand, lowered her body, and looked at the arm that was almost within reach of her.

"cut--!"

The blade gleamed, and with a perfect arc of light, Igris coughed up a mouthful of blood.

But she didn't feel pain because of it; instead, she smiled with relief.

Because at this moment, the shadow that had been covering her head had completely disappeared.

The baby's screams and cries came again, accompanied by unimaginable wails and groans.

Its arm vanished without a trace, as if it had completely melted into the air, and rain fell upon this blood-red world.

Crimson rainwater.

"It's not over yet! Cough..."

Igris took another step forward, but unexpectedly, before she could, her steps faltered and she almost fell into the red snow.

She felt an unprecedented weakness and tearing sensation in her body; she needed rest and time to recover.

But at times like these, she doesn't have that kind of time; she can only take one step at a time, pushing her limits again and again.

The shackles of life could no longer bind her power, and her flesh and blood could no longer hinder her.

She must move forward.

She had to wield her sword.

Boom-!

"Ugh..."

A powerful impact came from behind, accompanied by the terrifying sound of bones cracking, and her body was thrown back.

The embryos behind her have caught up. They will not stop because of her temporary weakness; they will only attack, relentlessly attacking her at her weakest moment.

She couldn't hear or perceive anything coming from behind her.

But she couldn't turn back; she had to move forward, she had to keep moving forward.

"…hateful…"

If it's only to this extent... how can it be considered risking one's life?

How could everything she said possibly come true at this moment?

boom--!

puff.

The baby rushing towards her suddenly collapsed to the ground, its flesh torn apart and its body mutilated.

Igris raised her head and finally looked behind her.

She saw it.

I saw people.

I saw other people.

Armed, they followed behind him, using their bullets to clear away any obstacles behind her.

She saw what they were saying to her.

She couldn't hear them, but she knew what they were saying.

"go ahead."

Keep going.

Keep moving forward.

Until the monster is killed, until one's life is consumed.

"Ugh—!"

Pale white bandages wrapped around her body and face, but soon, bright red blood seeped out from the bandages, almost staining them completely red.

But she still stood up, using her sword as a staff, and slowly, once again, took her first steps.

The Gods' Folly - Beyond the World: Chapter Thirty-Nine, The Blooming Flower

"team leader…"

"There's no need to stop her."

Anfer watched the staggering figure continue to move forward, then raised his gun again.

"What we need to do is help her stop being affected by those monsters, and the rest... we can leave it to her."

"Yes!"

Looking at the team members who continued their cleaning activities, Anfer once again turned his gaze to that particularly lonely figure.

Perhaps, it would be better if someone could go with her.

"What am I saying... All I need to do is trust her."

She is strong enough and resolute enough that the sword in her hand will never waver; she will only strike where she desires.

…………

"The streets are so chaotic... How could this happen?"

Felina squatted on the street corner, looking at the babies and embryos wandering in the street, her brows furrowed deeply.

They were blocking their way to the church, and if they didn't get rid of them, they wouldn't be able to get close to the church.

If you take a detour, you will inevitably pass by that giant monster.

This is a risk they simply cannot afford.

"...Don't be afraid, Millie, I'll take you to a safe place."

"...They...I know them..."

"...?"

Philina stared blankly at Millie, who, for the first time, broke free from her protection and ventured onto the street on her own initiative.

“They are my friends, my neighbors, my… family.”

"Millie...?"

She ignored Felina's calls and walked towards the embryos as they approached her.

"I missed you all so much, both outside and at home... We met again, we..."

"Millie! Stop! Are you crazy?!"

Felina abandoned her plan to hide any longer and rushed into the street, grabbing Millie's hand.

She stopped moving forward, turned her head, and looked at Felina with a puzzled expression.

“What’s the price…?”

"Those things are not your friends, they are monsters, they will tear you apart...they will kill you! Come with me, get out of here with me, hurry!"

Millie abruptly shook off Philina's arm and slowly took a few steps back.

“Felina…you are my friend too. I’m safe here. Go, you can go by yourself. They won’t hurt you anymore…leave this place.”

"Are you kidding me...?"

Why would an ordinary person live in a building full of monsters in this city?

Why has she been able to live safely to this day despite such danger?

Why did she never show any fear when she saw those terrifying creatures?

The answer is obvious, isn't it?