Chapter 25: Little Sunshine

It was a night in summer, the half-moon shining alone in the sky. The atmosphere, polluted by humankind, had made it nearly impossible to see the stars, but watching the moon itself had a calming, soothing effect.

In this serene environment, a woman and child were sleeping on the roof terrace of a two-story building, on a warm bedding with a blanket covering them halfway.

"Mom, which story are you going to tell me today?" the child asked, an innocent smile playing on his lips.

The mother paused, considering for a moment. "Hmm... Let me see, what story should I read to my little sunshine today? How about the tale of the little match girl?"

"The match girl?" The boy's eyes lit up with curiosity as he sat up, looking at his mother with excited eyes.

"You want to know? Then let me tell you the story of that misfortunate child," the mother said, a gentle smile gracing her features.

"Alright then, are you ready to hear the story of the little match girl?" the mother asked, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her son's forehead.

The boy nodded eagerly, snuggling closer to his mother as she began the tale.

"It was a bitterly cold New Year's Eve, and the snow was falling all around. In a dark corner of the streets, there was a poor young girl, bareheaded and barefoot, walking and trying to sell her bundle of matches. But alas, no one had bought a single one from her all day long."

The child's eyes sparkled, already captivated by the story.

"As night fell, the poor girl sought shelter in a dark corner, curled up and shivering from the cold. She dared not go home, for she had not sold a single match and knew she would be beaten by her father."

The mother paused, her gaze softening as she looked upon her son. "Feeling desperate, the girl struck a match to warm herself. And in that flickering flame, she saw a vision - a warm, cozy room with a large, tiled stove and a magnificent Christmas tree before her."

The boy's heart sank; he had hoped his mother would say otherwise. But before he could dwell on his sadness, his mother asked him another question, her tone gentle yet probing.

"Do you understand the story, Levi?"

The child nodded again, though his heart was heavy with confusion. But instead of comfort, he was met with another, more unsettling question.

"Then what are you doing here still? Isn't it time you wake up?"

Her words struck him like a hammer, and suddenly, everything came rushing back to him. The memories of entering Paradise, making a contract with the demon, becoming a mercenary, and finally—the last thing he remembered before everything went dark.

'The Trait Ability!'

The moment he realized, the illusion around him started to wane, the comforting warmth of his mother's embrace fading away into nothingness.

Levi now understood—he had been trapped in an illusion by his own ability.

But even as the world around him crumbled, he couldn't tear his eyes away from his mother's image. She stood there, her form slowly dissipating into the dark night, yet her face remained soft, and serene, with a warm smile that seemed to hold all the love in the world.

"Be safe, my little sunshine," she whispered, her voice tender and full of love, as the last remnants of the illusion vanished, and Levi was thrust back into reality.

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Sorry for the late releases~