Chapter 1054. Delusion of Righteousness

“You’ve seen it a thousand times. Why is it only now that you hate it? You’ve seen worse in the memories of your clients. But you’re such… such a…!”

Jury clashed with Death again. This time, she used him as a battering ram and collapsed tens of walls in her wake. Death’s body was the only thing capable of damaging the walls, so she had used him as a method to ruin the maze.

Though deep down, Jury saw a glimpse of the truth. Beneath her exterior, and the emotions coursing through her veins, there was an undeniable urge to dominate. Like everything that was not hers did not have the right to exist within her sight.

That everything that was not painted in the white of her light was a black forest.

“Justice and righteousness! The big scary beast of the black forest is right in front of us! Buuuut~ It hasn’t done anything wrong~ Frost said to fight it, so we’ll fight it. We don’t need to question her.”

You’re insane. You aren’t me. You do not represent me! If Frost heard me say that, then she’d–!

“She just needs to understand!” Jury roared triumphantly. “That we are worried about her just as much! She’s always getting hurt! Always…

always–!

”

The mere thought of Frost caused her outward persona to breathe with pleasure, like she was on the edge of a climax. If there was one motivation Jury understood about herself and this alter ego, then it was that Frost was central to them.

She had always despised Frost being hurt. Frost was always the first person to head into battle and was the last to leave. The image of her lover, who was impaled by countless rods, flashed in her mind.

She never wanted to see Frost like that again. And truthfully, if it were up to her, then she’d rather that Frost didn’t have to keep fighting. It was an achievable reality. But they were still so far away from it.

They crashed through one final wall. She held Death in another clash. However, her heart sank when she noticed that they were not alone.

“Juwy…?” A familiar, childish voice called from the clearing smoke.

“

*Cough*

“Mother is here… we’re saved!” Acedia celebrated.

They all looked worse for wear. Even the twins were not spotless. They had endured much from the Mistress, and it didn’t seem like they had long to live. But Jury’s eyes: no, her ears as well… they did not recognize their voices.

It was all white noise to her.

Instead, she noticed something else.

“… Frost…? Frost…?”

*Drip*

Blood dripped between Frost’s feet. Jury’s eyes moved from Frost’s face, down her shoulder… and where she expected to see an arm was nothing but a cauterized stump, wrapped in blood-soaked cloth.

Her small, tiny,

precious

Frost was missing her left arm.

Frost did not appear concerned about herself, but her eyes peeled open the moment she locked gazes with Jury. There was recognition in her eyes, as though she knew what was going to happen next.

“Jury…? I’m fine– Don’t do anything stupid–!” Frost attempted to calm her down. “You’re not supposed to be here! You… should not have brought Death with you too! Tch, everyone– Don’t stop moving! The Mistress is right behind us!”

The others moved on, with the exception of Joy who was held tightly in Frost’s remaining hand.

“Listen to me, Jury.” She calmly began. “This is normal. I know you’re shocked. But how many times have you seen me lose a hand? It was my left hand as well. I’m still wearing our ring.”

Frost did everything she could within her power to appease Jury. But Jury’s rage became palpable, and Frost could not help but shield Joy.

“Frost… They hurt you… Evil… Evil touched…”

“Jury, don’t disengage with Death–!”

Her efforts were futile.

“FROOOOOOOOST!”

I’m so sorry Frost. I’m sorry! I can’t stop myself!

A line of white feathers along Jury’s body turned dark. The pale light in her left hand suddenly carried a malevolent aura. She struck Death, sending him flying into a wall before she assailed the Mistress.

“YOU TOUCHED MY FROOOOOOOOST!”

Death–! The Mistress isn’t our target! We have to focus on Death before he kills them!

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Jury’s pleas did not reach her body’s ears. Her tail wrapped around the upper body of the Mistress, and she began beating her with rapid punches. Each strike distorted space, and the shockwaves caused Frost and Joy to be thrown further up the hallway.

“Frost… Frost never… never harmed you! My Frost… tainted by the likes of evil… My justice… my

judgement!”

If the Mistress had a head, then she would have lynched her with her tail. Eventually, enough punches caused the Mistress to shrink until she was swallowed into a tiny ripple of torn space.

“Avenged… I did it… Haha… Hehehe~”

*Slash*

Her celebration was short lived. The moment the Mistress disappeared, the sound of meat being torn clean from the bone, followed by a heavy thud caused her to freeze.

“… Joy…” Frost gasped.

No… NO!

Jury turned, expecting to find Joy’s body on the ground. But Joy was still alive, and she was hiding behind Frost, desperately holding onto her arm.

The body, which had been cut cleanly into two pieces, was a replica of Frost. It belonged to a Judge’s Pride, one of Frost’s very own creations. Relief flooded Jury, and she could not help but giggle as she approached a suddenly frozen Death.

“… Tch... I didn’t want her to die.” Frost mourned this being.

“Why do you look so sad?” She asked, poking Death’s body. “And why is he frozen? Oooh! It’s a Condition! Death Moratorium! I see! Each kill halts Death’s pursuit!”

I can’t see that. Can she communicate with Nav? If not, then how does she know?

Frost did not respond, and Joy couldn’t bring her eyes to Jury. It deeply hurt her, but her outward persona did not seem to care.

This isn’t me… Please Frost… Don’t think this is me.

She begged. She sincerely hoped Frost wouldn’t look at her like a monster. Frost’s expression steadily twisted, but her Condition suppressed her emotions, and she could only mourn the death of the Judge’s Pride.

“You… Are asking me why… I care about… my own flesh and blood… that was made with my own Light? The Judge’s Prides are the closest beings to a biological child. My Judge’s Aids disappear once I unmanifest the One Thousand Eyed Bird. But this is…”

She was visibly shaken. If it weren’t for the Judge’s Pride, then Joy would have been the one cut in half. Her outward persona nearly said this, but Jury, by some miracle, was able to rein her back.

Had she said this out loud, then there was no telling what would happen to Frost.

“… Jury… Please… Don’t let this happen again.”

… Does she know? Please know! I’m not the one who did it!

Jury’s internal please was suddenly cut by the indifference of her outward persona.

“Mhm~ I’ll think about it~!”

Shut up… SHUT UP! Frost, don’t look at me like that. Please! This isn’t me!

The air surrounding Frost became frigid. The light in her eyes flashed with an intense glow for a split second. She scrutinized Jury from head to toe, and after ascertaining something from her, she spoke with slow, deliberate pauses.

“Jury. Whatever happened to you, or if that is even you at all, I need you to stay on Death. Leave Misery to us.”

“But then you’ll get hurt again. How can I trust that you won’t be hurt?”

“What you think is irrelevant to what Jury thinks. If you’re so worried about me, then you will stay on Death. If you can break walls now, then now is the time to create a shortcut straight to the exit. I’m counting on you. Don’t let us down.”

Jury had never heard Frost be this firm with her.

It was painful for Jury, but she had a feeling that Frost was aware of Jury’s situation. They had been together for long enough for Frost to know the real Jury. She only didn’t outright say this because there was no telling how her outward body would react.

“Yes… Yes, I will.” Jury eventually surrendered, but she maintained a fake smile.

She waved goodbye to Joy, but Joy winced, as if blinded by the sun. Frost dragged Joy away as they rushed to the others, leaving Jury behind with the static Death.

“… Frost was angry… wasn’t she?”

You did this to her. Frost had a plan. You just had to stick to it.

“But Frost was hurt in the process. Evil hurt her…”

The stiff limbs of Death trembled. Death Moratorium was beginning to wear off. Soon, she’d be engaged in yet another battle with him.

She began cackling.

Her body lurched forward, and she cradled her stomach. Dark prints were left behind where hands just were. Golden orbs appeared within those black feathery patches, giving off the illusion that eyes were growing from her body.

“… I’ll make her understand… Haha… She’ll… she’ll understand. Look at her… There’s a reason why they made us strong, and her weak. Frost… it would be so easy for her if she just relied on us to do everything for her~”

Are you insane!? What the fuck are you planning to do!?

“Nothing… Nothing… An Angel punishes evil with extreme righteousness for the sake of its nest. Anything for the nest. Our pallid, beautiful forest…”

Jury had no idea what her alter ego was thinking. No amount of arguing made her speak. Her cackles only grew louder until she unleashed a hearty, maniacal laugh.

“An Angel can do no wrong. That is the only truth.”

And with that, she resumed her clashes with Death.

“Hmm. Now, the best course of action… Ahahaha~ It has to be to…”

*Thwack*

The scythe unexpectedly met with the side of her face. She tore through several walls and skidded along an ice path. She giggled at this, splaying her arms and legs out wide as if relieved by this.

“Aaaahh…

Finally

. A reason.”

Ugh…? This… pressure…? My head hurts…

There were screams, and the sound of an irregular heartbeat. Her heart wrenched like it had been stabbed.

Then, it began physically twisting in her chest cavity.

Jury slowly pushed herself up to her feet. She patted her apparel free from debris and gracefully plucked a loose feather with a gentle smile. Suddenly, her body disappeared, and she re-appeared beside Death.

Death was no more than an animated being. He had no emotions, nor was there any evidence of life in him. Yet, he seemingly jolted in surprise when Jury appeared beside him.

Her fist was already raised, and her tail coiled around it like a serpent. For an instant, her arm appeared over ten times its original size.

“My turn~”

Her casual, childish remark was accompanied by a strike that left an indent in Death’s chest. Rows of sharp teeth grated against one another like saws. The impact alone caused even walls behind her to topple.

You were holding back…? Why…?

“Because there is a big scary beast in our white forest~ Let’s do our best to remove it with extreme righteousness~! Maybe then Frost will understand. We’ll make her understand… She

will

understand!”

She won’t. Frost is going to end up killing you.

“Frost can’t fight the way she is. It’s better for us, isn’t it? A strong Frost means she’ll get hurt more often by the evil beyond and within our nest. It’s our duty as the harbinger of absolute righteousness to save her~”

Jury didn’t know how much her outward persona knew. But if she was able to make this claim, then she clearly did not know what Frost was capable of.

“This is the ‘role’ that’s easiest for us. No thoughts. No worries. A world purely of good and evil. isn’t it perfect?”