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Sitting at a dining table placed next to a small kitchen, a man watched as a girl around seven years old in a cute pink apron was struggling to knead bread dough on a cutting board.
She was kneading it correctly, but her small hands made her progress slow. It was an uncomfortable sight for the man.
So he asked, “Do you need some help?”
Surely it would be faster if someone with bigger hands like himself helped her. However, the girl shook her head.
“No, you're not good with your hands, Number Twelve.”
“…”
Her response baffled the man. He couldn’t believe that such a young girl was saying such a thing to him, a person who was confirmed to be the chief researcher next year. But he didn’t complain about it, as it would be ridiculous to get worked up over the words of a child. Besides, the child was just making it apparent that she wanted to do the task herself.
A peculiar silence settled over the dining table before the man broke it by changing the subject. He was unable to endure it.
“Where is your dad?”
“He went to work. He told me he’s going to be busy because of the upcoming Offering Ritual next week.”
“…”
The man briefly stiffened at the words “Offering Ritual” which naturally came out of the girl’s mouth.
The Offering Ritual required one to dedicate their soul to the completion of perfect equipment. As countless trials were conducted over the years, he kept feeling more and more unsettled by the process.
Am I getting tired of it…?
Trying to excuse himself, he told himself he was just tense because the ritual was such an important project. It was during this time when the girl finally spoke first.
“Aren’t you the one leading the ritual this time?”
“Yes… along with the other researchers.”
“How will it proceed?”
The girl never looked up and just kept kneading the dough. She seemed mature for her age, perhaps because she had lived alone with her father for the past few years.
The man hesitated briefly, barely able to bring himself to answer.
“First we stabilize the body. After that, we will synchronize it with the vessel and transfer the soul inside. This time, it will be done through flames.”
“Flames…”
“The flames will naturally envelop the body and melt the soul inside. There won’t be any pain.”
Hearing the words he added, which were obviously meant to...
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