Gift of Hatred, Given Shape (after battle)

…….

After we defeated the horde of gnomes...

Don Quixote and Heathcliff fell to their knees before everyone.

I also knelt down, feeling like I should be down there with them... but Outis tightly pulled me to the side.

<Mm... I feel bad for those two.>

... I am ready... Commence, Lady Outis...

You absolute buffoons... How did you ever think that this was going to turn out okay?

Are you even aware of the risks Executive Manager took to get here? How worried they were about you two?!

Well, actually, Clockhead was in on it from the sta -

Silence!

Do not refer to the Executive Manager with such derogatory language! Insolent fool!

Heeaugh! 'Twas mine fault! 'Twas mine fault!

My mother used to scold me like this in my youth.

Outis did not seem to slow down at all with her stern scoldings...

And the pair fell completely silent, their heads hung low.

... I decided to wander away from this scene. This guilty conscience was too much for me to bear.

<... Is Crayon doing okay...?>

Yes. She merely lost her consciousness from exposure to excessive degree of psychological shock.

How did you find yourself at a place such as this?

You are... a human, right? And we're really in the Outskirts?

Crayon initially appeared somewhat taken back from the deluge of questions. But she soon began to open up.

So... you're really from the City.

I'm from Cloud Town. It's a village on the north side of the Outskirts.

Are there a lot of... monsters like those gnomes out here? That can speak?

Yeah. There are many more monsters out here other than the gnomes. I've seen a few of them myself, but... the village elders told me about the rest.

Our village was built to keep the monsters out. To keep us safe.

If this didn't happen... we'd all be preparing dinner back at the village by now...

So they raided your village.

Yeah... and they attacked us when the Hunters were gone. So...

We normally don't get raided by them around this time of year, so I thought we were safe... But they suddenly attacked us, rushing in on their sleighs...

Some of us tried to fight, but we didn't stand a chance. And... everyone that they killed... got shoved into the sacks on that sleigh.

I passed out from fright... and they thought I was dead, too. I got shoved into the sacks like the rest of the villagers.

Oh... We forced you to talk about something that couldn't have been easy to go through. I'm sorry.

N-no, it's okay... Can I... ask things, too?

Anything.

Is it right that crayon boxes in the City have 48 different colors? And they have gold and silver colored crayons, too?

Um... Probably...

And...

... there's just people in the City, right? No... monsters like the gnomes that try to kill us, right?

Hmm... It's kinda hard to answer that, actually.

Sometimes, I'd climb a high hill to look at the City. I always saw pretty, colorful lights from up there... So colorful that I don't have enough colors in my crayon box to draw them all.

I wish I could live in the City. If I lived there, I'd never have to worry about getting attacked by monsters. I could live happily with all my neighbors...

... You've really never been to the City, huh.

S.S.E.

I'm sorry...?

Same story everywhere. Doesn't matter where you are. Death always stalks us.

Woah... that was so cool! Can you say that again?

<Huh? That was cool...?>

... Oh! Uh, did you guys see anyone else nearby, by any chance?

I don't think we ran into any other humans out here.

No... But he has to be here to save us...

Who do you mean?

The best Hunter of Cloud Town... If he was at the village, the gnomes wouldn't have...

It appears that, in the Outskirts, there are 'Hunters' who specialize in hunting monsters. Akin to Whalers of the Great Lake, that is.

But... Wait.

So if they're kidnapping and killing humans for these gifts...

... Who are these gifts for?

HO! HO! HO!

Of course, the gifts are for our poor and kind neighbors who do not cry!

Executive Manager! Retreat!

I don't know when it happened... but a large shadow was looming over us.

Augh! What is that thing?!

I am Santata, bringer of gifts to our neighbors! HO! HO! HO!

The guffawing giant, garbed in red, carried a massive gift sack on his shoulder.

It was definitely not a human.

Yeah! It's that git! That one's the boss!

Lo! The crimson garb! That is the crimson garb that I spoke of!

The pair immediately jumped up from their knees and began shouting in unison.

That's the Red Sack's outfit? Oi, then he's already...

N-no! Not the Reindeer-man, too!

Shut it! Cut the useless chatter, for once...

After silencing the pair with a short, stern command, Outis approached me and spoke in a low voice.

Executive Manager. Since he appears to be of an intelligent species, I will attempt to parlay with it. ... But we best prepare for battle in case the talks fall through.

<... Yeah, that's a good idea.>

What do you mean by neighbors...? Wings? Clients from the City?

HO! HO! HO! But we are denied entry to the City, are we not?

Is that big lump of meat a gnome, too...?

I happened to overhear the gnomes during our time in captivity... They call their master 'Beard Giant', which I believe is not a gnome.

A giant...? There really are all kinds of monsters out here, huh.

Dante, that's not an Abnormality, is it?

<No. That's not an Abnormality or a Distortion. I'd say it's closer to the Whales...>

HO! HO! Do you yearn for gifts, too? Yet your kind already owns all there is to own!

We and our neighbors in the Outskirts wish so dearly for that very day. The only day we are allowed joy and comfort in human gifts.

I see. You produce toys out of humans and gift them to those who harbor hatred for humans.

Out of the pure goodness of your heart.

Here, where all those who have been marginalized and exiled by humans gather and wallow...

... we pour our infinite hatred and care into packaging these gifts. HO! HO! HO!

Quite the verbose way of saying 'I refuse to negotiate'.

HO! HO! HO! Why don't you come here and join us, become joy to those who need it?