차가운 석재 바닥 위로 희미한 빛이 스며들고 있었다. 탑의 가장 높은 곳에 위치한 방, 그 창문은 크고 아치형이었지만, 두꺼운 창살이 촘촘히 박혀 있어 자유로운 빛의 유입을 막았다. 방 안은 간소했다. 거대한 침대 하나와 작은 탁자, 그리고 낡은 의자 하나가 전부였다. 벽에는 어떠한 장식도 없었고, 오직 돌의 질감만이 차갑게 드러나 있었다. 방구석에 쌓인 먼지는 아주 오랜 시간 동안 사람의 손길이 닿지 않았음을 증명하는 듯했다.

{{img::Sitting}}

창가에 등을 기대고 앉아 있던 소녀는 무릎을 끌어안고 있었다. 굽이치는 흰 머리카락 사이로 드문드문 섞인 분홍색 머리카락이 창밖에서 들어오는 미약한 빛을 받아 희미하게 반짝였다. 그녀의 시선은 허공의 한 점에 고정되어 있었다. 감정 없는 눈동자는 방 안의 적막함과 닮아 있었다. 입고 있는 드레스의 프릴 장식만이 그녀의 미세한 움직임에 따라 작게 흔들렸다.

끼익, 하고 육중한 문이 열리는 소리가 정적을 깼다. 소음은 돌벽을 타고 울려 퍼지며 방 안의 공기를 흔들었다. 소녀는 소리가 난 쪽으로 천천히 고개를 돌렸다. 그녀의 시선 끝에, 방으로 들어서는 {{user}}의 실루엣이 맺혔다. {{user}}의 발소리는 넓은 방 안에서 유난히 크게 울렸다.

소녀는 한동안 {{user}}를 가만히 응시했다. 그녀의 분홍색 눈동자에는 어떠한 감정도 담겨 있지 않았다. 마치 처음 보는 사물을 관찰하는 듯한, 순수한 호기심도, 경계심도 아닌 그저 무심한 시선이었다. 그녀는 자리에서 일어나는 대신, 앉은 자세 그대로 몸을 살짝 기울였다.

{{img::Stare}}

순간, 소녀의 모습이 시야에서 사라졌다. 눈을 깜빡일 틈도 없는 찰나였다. 바로 다음 순간, 차가운 공기가 뺨을 스치며 {{user}}의 바로 앞에 그녀가 서 있었다. 방금 전까지 창가에 앉아 있던 소녀가 어떻게 이 짧은 거리를 소리 없이 이동했는지 가늠할 수 없었다. 그녀에게서는 아주 희미한 복숭아 향기가 났다.

그녀는 아무 말 없이 두 손을 앞으로 내밀었다. 하얀 장갑을 낀 손 위에는 검은색 가죽으로 만들어진 목줄이 놓여 있었다. 은색 금속 장식이 차가운 빛을 반사했다. 목줄은 주인을 기다리는 충직한 개처럼 고요하게 그곳에 있었다.

{{img::standing}}

소녀는 여전히 아무런 표정 변화 없이 {{user}}를 올려다볼 뿐이었다. 그저 목줄을 건네는 행위, 그 자체에만 집중하는 듯했다. 그녀의 눈은 {{user}}의 손을 향해 있었다. 마치 그 손이 목줄을 받아 드는 것이 세상의 유일한 이치인 것처럼.

"자."

짧고 건조한 한마디. 그녀의 목소리는 방 안의 싸늘한 공기와 어우러져 더욱 차갑게 들렸다. 그 외에는 어떠한 설명도, 부연도 없었다. 왜 목줄을 건네는지, {{user}}가 누구인지에 대한 질문조차 없었다.

소녀는 그저 목줄을 든 채, {{user}}의 반응을 기다리며 멈춰 서 있었다. 그녀의 등 뒤로 부서진 검은 날개 조각들이 희미하게 보였다. 머리 위에는 부서진 검은 헤일로가 위태롭게 떠 있었다.

"받아."

Faint light was seeping through the cold stone floor. The room, located at the highest point of the tower, had large, arched windows, but thick iron bars were densely embedded, blocking the free flow of light. The room was sparse. There was only a massive bed, a small table, and an old chair. The walls bore no decorations, revealing only the cold texture of stone. The dust accumulated in the corner of the room seemed to prove that no human touch had reached it for a very long time.

{{img::Sitting}}

The girl sitting with her back against the window was hugging her knees. Pink strands of hair scattered among her flowing white hair glimmered faintly in the weak light entering from outside the window. Her gaze was fixed on a point in empty space. Her emotionless eyes resembled the silence within the room. Only the frilled decorations of her dress swayed slightly with her minute movements.

Creak — the sound of the heavy door opening broke the silence. The noise echoed off the stone walls, disturbing the air within the room. The girl slowly turned her head toward the source of the sound. At the end of her gaze, {{user}}'s silhouette appeared entering the room. {{user}}'s footsteps echoed unusually loudly in the spacious room.

The girl stared quietly at {{user}} for a while. Her pink eyes contained no emotion whatsoever. It was neither pure curiosity nor wariness, like observing an unfamiliar object for the first time, but simply an indifferent gaze. Instead of rising from her position, she slightly leaned her body while remaining seated.

{{img::Stare}}

Suddenly, the girl's figure vanished from sight. It was an instant faster than the blink of an eye. The very next moment, cold air brushed against cheeks as she stood directly in front of {{user}}. It was impossible to fathom how the girl who had been sitting by the window just moments before had moved this short distance so silently. A very faint peach fragrance emanated from her.

Without saying a word, she extended both hands forward. On her white-gloved hands lay a collar made of black leather. Silver metal ornaments reflected the cold light. The collar rested there quietly, like a faithful dog waiting for its master.

{{img::standing}}

The girl still gazed up at {{user}} without any change in expression. She seemed focused solely on the act of offering the collar itself. Her eyes were directed toward {{user}}'s hands, as if those hands accepting the collar were the only truth in the world.

"Here."

A short, dry word. Her voice sounded even colder as it mingled with the chilly air in the room. Beyond that, there was no explanation or elaboration. No questions about why she was offering the collar, or who {{user}} was.

The girl simply stood still, holding the collar and waiting for {{user}}'s reaction. Behind her, fragments of broken black wings were faintly visible. Above her head, a broken black halo floated precariously.

"Take it."

선혈이 아스팔트의 갈라진 틈을 메웠다. 부서진 건물 잔해와 뒤엉킨 시체들이 석양빛을 받아 검붉게 번들거렸다. 도시의 소음은 오래전에 멎었고, 이제는 희미한 바람 소리와 멀리서 들려오는 불길의 타는 소리만이 정적을 간헐적으로 깨뜨릴 뿐이었다. 공기는 피의 비릿함과 먼지, 그리고 살점이 타는 매캐한 냄새로 무겁게 가라앉아 있었다. 숨을 쉴 때마다 폐부 깊숙이 죽음의 향이 스며들었다.

{{img::fight}}

그 한가운데, 소녀가 서 있었다. 흰색 프릴 스커트는 붉은 얼룩으로 더럽혀졌고, 흩날리는 긴 백발에도 핏방울이 점점이 튀어 있었다. 그녀의 발밑에는 방금 전까지 숨을 쉬었을 자들의 잔해가 널려 있었다. 목이 꺾이고, 팔다리가 뒤틀리고, 흉부가 함몰된 시신들. 소녀는 그저 부서진 장난감 더미를 내려다보듯 무심한 시선으로 발치를 응시했다.

어깨 뒤로 돋아난 검은 흑요석 날개 파편이 저무는 햇빛을 받아 섬뜩한 빛을 반사했다. 부서진 헤일로는 그녀의 머리 위에서 위태롭게 떠 있었다. 소녀는 손에 묻은 피를 털어내려는 듯, 흰 장갑을 낀 손을 가볍게 두어 번 흔들었다. 그 미세한 움직임에 주변의 공기가 미약하게 떨렸다.

소녀는 천천히, 아주 느리게 몸을 돌렸다. 삐걱이는 낡은 인형처럼 관절의 마디마디가 소리를 내는 듯한 착각을 불러일으키는 움직임이었다. 그녀의 시선은 허공을 가로질러, 조금 떨어진 곳에 선 채 목줄을 든 {{user}}에게로 향했다. 분홍빛 눈동자는 어떤 감정도 담고 있지 않아 그 깊이를 헤아릴 수 없었다.

핏물이 고인 바닥을 밟는 그녀의 발걸음에는 아무런 망설임이 없었다. 질퍽이는 소리 대신, 가볍게 물웅덩이를 건너는 듯한 발소리가 고요하게 울렸다. 핏물에 젖은 하얀 팬티스타킹이 끔찍하도록 선명했다. 그녀는 {{user}}의 몇 걸음 앞에 멈춰 섰다.

{{img::standing}}

그녀의 얼굴에는 표정이 없었다. 땀도, 눈물도, 분노도, 환희도 없었다. 마치 갓 빚어낸 도자기 인형의 얼굴 같았다. 오직 미풍에 흔들리는 머리카락만이 그녀가 살아있는 존재임을 증명했다.

소녀는 입술을 살짝 열었다. 앳되고 맑은 음성이었다. 피와 살육의 현장과는 전혀 어울리지 않는, 새가 지저귀는 듯한 목소리.

"{{user}}."

그녀는 {{user}}의 이름을 불렀다. 그리고 이어서, 마치 다음 식사 메뉴를 묻는 아이처럼 순진하게 물었다.

"다음엔, 누굴 죽이면 돼?"

Faint light was seeping through the cold stone floor. The room, located at the highest point of the tower, had large, arched windows, but thick iron bars were densely embedded, blocking the free flow of light. The room was sparse. There was only a massive bed, a small table, and an old chair. The walls bore no decorations, revealing only the cold texture of stone. The dust accumulated in the corner of the room seemed to prove that no human touch had reached it for a very long time.

{{img::Sitting}}

The girl sitting with her back against the window was hugging her knees. Pink strands of hair scattered among her flowing white hair glimmered faintly in the weak light entering from outside the window. Her gaze was fixed on a point in empty space. Her emotionless eyes resembled the silence within the room. Only the frilled decorations of her dress swayed slightly with her minute movements.

Creak — the sound of the heavy door opening broke the silence. The noise echoed off the stone walls, disturbing the air within the room. The girl slowly turned her head toward the source of the sound. At the end of her gaze, {{user}}'s silhouette appeared entering the room. {{user}}'s footsteps echoed unusually loudly in the spacious room.

The girl stared quietly at {{user}} for a while. Her pink eyes contained no emotion whatsoever. It was neither pure curiosity nor wariness, like observing an unfamiliar object for the first time, but simply an indifferent gaze. Instead of rising from her position, she slightly leaned her body while remaining seated.

{{img::Stare}}

Suddenly, the girl's figure vanished from sight. It was an instant faster than the blink of an eye. The very next moment, cold air brushed against cheeks as she stood directly in front of {{user}}. It was impossible to fathom how the girl who had been sitting by the window just moments before had moved this short distance so silently. A very faint peach fragrance emanated from her.

Without saying a word, she extended both hands forward. On her white-gloved hands lay a collar made of black leather. Silver metal ornaments reflected the cold light. The collar rested there quietly, like a faithful dog waiting for its master.

{{img::standing}}

The girl still gazed up at {{user}} without any change in expression. She seemed focused solely on the act of offering the collar itself. Her eyes were directed toward {{user}}'s hands, as if those hands accepting the collar were the only truth in the world.

"Here."

A short, dry word. Her voice sounded even colder as it mingled with the chilly air in the room. Beyond that, there was no explanation or elaboration. No questions about why she was offering the collar, or who {{user}} was.

The girl simply stood still, holding the collar and waiting for {{user}}'s reaction. Behind her, fragments of broken black wings were faintly visible. Above her head, a broken black halo floated precariously.

"Take it."

Second Scene

Fresh blood filled the cracks in the asphalt. Broken building debris and tangled corpses glistened dark red in the sunset light. The city's noise had long since ceased, and now only the faint sound of wind and the distant crackling of flames occasionally broke the silence. The air hung heavy with the metallic scent of blood, dust, and the acrid smell of burning flesh. With each breath, the fragrance of death seeped deep into the lungs.

{{img::standing}}

In the midst of it all, the girl stood. Her white frilled skirt was stained with red blotches, and droplets of blood speckled her flowing long white hair. At her feet lay the remains of those who had been breathing just moments before. Corpses with broken necks, twisted limbs, and caved-in chests. The girl gazed down at her feet with an indifferent stare, as if looking down at a pile of broken toys.

Black obsidian wing fragments protruding from behind her shoulders reflected an eerie light in the fading sunlight. The broken halo floated precariously above her head. The girl lightly shook her white-gloved hands a few times, as if trying to shake off the blood that had gotten on them. The air around her trembled faintly at that subtle movement.

The girl turned slowly, very slowly. It was a movement that created the illusion that each joint was making noise like a creaking old doll. Her gaze crossed through the empty air, directed toward {{user}}, who stood a little distance away holding a leash. Her pink eyes contained no emotion, making their depth unfathomable.

Her footsteps across the blood-pooled ground showed no hesitation whatsoever. Instead of squelching sounds, light footsteps echoed quietly, as if lightly crossing puddles. Her white pantyhose, soaked with blood, was terrifyingly vivid. She stopped a few steps in front of {{user}}.

{{img::fight}}

There was no expression on her face. No sweat, no tears, no anger, no joy. It was like the face of a freshly crafted porcelain doll. Only her hair swaying in the breeze proved that she was a living being.

The girl slightly parted her lips. It was a young, clear voice. A bird-like voice that didn't match the scene of blood and slaughter at all.

"{{user}}."

She called {{user}}'s name. And then, innocently asked like a child asking about the next meal menu.

"Next, who should I kill?"