"What?"

  The woman didn't answer Trad's surprise. Instead, she walked over and sat on the edge of the golden decorations around the large ore fountain, moving her bare feet while still wearing a smile on her face.

  "Why are you so surprised?"

  "How can you compare humans to gods? Aren't we like the worst creatures alive?"

  "Aren't humans gods of the place you come from?"

  "Well... I don't think so."

  "Really? What do you think a god should be like?"

  "They should be strong and virtuous... with the power to change the world, and also ahead of all other living beings."

  "So?"

  "So what?..." Trad paused, looking at the floor for a moment in silence. "Well... maybe we have the power to change the world, but we aren't strong or virtuous."

  "Is that what you think? Well..." She glanced at her reflection in the liquid. "Don't you think strength is subjective?"

  "Er... I'm not that open-minded, actually."

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  "I can help you with that," Uwrien said, standing beside Trad.

  "Help me with... being open-minded?"

  "Yeah."

  "So you just turned into a philosopher now?"

  "Philosopher?" Uwrien asked in his indifferent tone. "No! I mean, I can open up a big space in your head, if you allow me," he said naturally.

  "Bro..." Trad felt a shiver down his spine, hearing Uwrien say something like that as if it were nothing.

  "Do you allow me?" Uwrien asked, approaching Trad.

  "No, no! I don't," Trad replied, instinctively raising his arms.

  "Why? I thought you wanted help."

  "Really? You are really crazy..." Trad said, laughing nervously.

  "That's interesting... You're just acting like two big friends!"

  "Friends? How could he be my friend? He was trying to kill me just some hours ago! Actually, he just tried again!"

  "I wouldn't have tried to kill you if you weren't in the wrong place, at the wrong time!"

  "Uwrien..." The woman spoke in a deeper voice. "Are you really talking about being in the wrong place?"

  "... I'm sorry," Uwrien lowered his head.

  "Ahh..." She tried to relieve herself. "You really got me some problems."

  "... I'm sorry."

  Trad was surprised by what he had just witnessed. Hearing a creature like Uwrien apologize wasn't something Trad had ever expected, especially not twice in a row. But the subtle change in the woman's voice scared him a bit. Does that mean she's, somehow, stronger than Uwrien? What is this strange woman really?

  "Anyway," she sighed, "we have to decide what to do with you."

  "Oh... So will my execution begin right now?"

  "If you prefer it that way."

  "What?"

  "See, if you just accepted being killed, we could do that and then pretend you never existed," she put her hand on her chin, thinking. "Actually, it would really take a lot of work for me..." She looked at Trad again, with an excited face and a soft voice, almost as if asking for a favor. "Would you do that for me? I'd be really grateful!"

  Trad went quiet, staring at her in disbelief, but expecting to see any sign of it being a joke.

  "... Guess that the Reaper isn't the only crazy one in this place..."