The last funeral

The carriage stood outside the iron gates.

The priest held the taut rope tied to the horse.

"Your carriage is ready, Humbert. I hope you haven't forgotten anything,"

Father Christopher said as Humbert approached.

"I'm entrusting you with my son, Father Christopher."

"Wait—what's your plan this time?"

"The Whale's Mouth. Perhaps you've heard of it."

"The Whale's Mouth?! Do you truly believe it even exists?"

"I won't lie—I never believed in it. I haven't believed in half the things I've done lately.

But this time, I want to believe."

"If it works... end it. End it for good."

"That's exactly what I intend to do. Now, I must go."

"One moment. Is it true… is Arto really your son?"

"Yes. He has my blood in his veins. That's why he won't go easily like the others. I won't allow it."

The horse neighed loudly as it was struck, and the carriage finally moved forward.

The priest watched it disappear with his last flickering hope.

All of the orphanage's hopes, really—perhaps this would save the next victim. Or the one after that.

Now that Humbert had confirmed Arto was his son, the priest couldn't help but wonder.

He'd always heard Humbert refer to the boy as his pupil. Did Arto even know?

Did he understand who Humbert truly was?

Or did he think it was all just part of their professional relationship?

The priest returned to the room where Arto's body still lay motionless.

Dr. Lloyd rushed to him and grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Christopher! This might be my chance to conduct a groundbreaking medical study!"

"You told me this was beyond medicine."

"I know! Which is why we'll tie it into demonic interference."

"We don't even know if it's a demon or not.

But Humbert will return—with answers."

Lloyd let go of the priest's shoulders, stepped back, and pulled a small notebook from his pocket.

"You're right.

That's why I'll begin documenting everything."

The priest and the doctor had been long-time friends.

They had met abroad, and when the priest was forced to return home, they returned together.

The priest never truly wanted to become a priest—it was his father's legacy.

Lloyd, too, had other dreams, but fate led him into medicine.

Still, over the years, he had used his expertise to help the children.

Free medical care, advice, support—his way of repaying fate for leading him here.

---

[Flashback]

"I won't marry him! He's scum—a liar! Why do you believe him?!"

"My daughter, the man you want to marry burned all our crops! Everything we own!"

"Humbert didn't do that! Your perfect little hero did—your so-called savior!"

That's how it happened.

Camilla and Humbert had been on the verge of starting a happy life together—

but someone had made sure it wouldn't go as planned.

From the very beginning, Humbert's brother had set his eyes on Camilla, the beautiful farmer's daughter.

But she had never loved him. She knew him.

A narcissistic bastard, good for nothing.

While Humbert—his opposite—was a true man in her eyes.

Yet somehow, the praise and light always fell on the brother.

And Humbert? He carried the blame, the criticism, the shame.

His brother enjoyed that.

Then came the day the couple decided to wed.

The brother exploded with jealousy, his hatred boiling over.

Would he let them marry in peace?

Impossible.

So he devised a plan:

Make the girl's father himself object to the marriage—

by destroying the most precious thing they had: that year's harvest.

And when Humbert tried to extinguish the fire, the brother had already filled the buckets with kerosene—

fueling the flames even more.

That's what the people saw.

Everyone in the small town turned on him.

They loathed him. They didn't believe him.

Only Camilla knew the truth.

And just like that, his brother's plan worked. The wedding was called off.

Watching his brother hold the hand of the woman he loved shattered Humbert.

He knew she wasn't willing.

But deep down, he wished she'd rather kill herself than place her hand in his.

"Oh Camilla... I should've cut your hands off... or his... I can't bear to see this..."

Humbert would whisper the most deranged thoughts to himself.

After that day, he chose to leave—forever.

To throw everything away and begin again.

A new place. New people. New life.

He didn't even know she was pregnant.

They had exchanged letters a few times over the years,

but she never told him.

She kept it to herself.

Until the day came—

when she knew death was near.

In her will, she wrote the truth:

Arto was his son, flesh of his flesh.

And it lit a strange hope in Humbert's bleak, solitary world.

He had something in common with Camilla.

He had a family.

He regretted not ruining the wedding, not taking her and running far away.

They could have escaped together.

Done anything.

But he had run alone.

Cowardly.

This time, though...

He wouldn't be a coward again.

This time—he would do whatever it took.