Antagonist Protection Service

"―You don't eat food, you don't drink water, and you've never seen the sun?"

"No."

"..."

My brows neatly furrowed, I covered my mouth with a hand.

'It has to just be because witches don't need that stuff, right? It has to be. It can't be something like child abuse... No, she doesn't look like she's malnourished or anything, so it can't be. If anything, it's just the lack of sunlight, but even that is...'

Casting a momentary glance outside the window once again, I quickly shook my head.

'That doesn't seem like something that can be helped.'

"That must just be because you're a witch. Every other form of life I've seen or heard of has needed those things."

"...Do witches not have life?"

Being asked that suddenly, I thought it was a novel, but very valid question to have.

Still, no matter how much of an interesting question it was, it was one I didn't possess the required knowledge to answer.

"That's a good question. I don't know anything about witches, so I can't really help you there. If you want to learn about them, the best thing to do would probably just be to ask your mother."

"Okay. Why do humans need life?"

"That... is a good question too. Uh... "

Now I really found myself stuck. It was the type of question you would only ask if you were either a scientist or a philosopher, and for everyone else, the only answer you could possibly give was something along the lines of 'because that's just how it is'.

That was also the answer that first sprung to my mind when it was thrusted upon me.

But, it wasn't something I could say. Because I didn't view it as an 'answer' more so than an excuse to avoid the question.

A real answer... I didn't even know how to begin to come up with one.

'Why do humans need life... Why do we... I mean, it's just because you do, right...? What kind of question even is that... Why...'

I was getting a little frustrated that I couldn't think of anything, and eventually, too long passed without me saying anything in response that I felt awkward.

After a while, I just sighed.

"I don't know that one either. It's a very tough question. Life isn't really a tangible thing that you can't precisely measure, weigh, see, or touch. At least, not that I know of. It's... not really a 'concept', but more like a state of being. If you are alive, you have life, but there are certain conditions that must be met in order to be alive. So, I guess you could just boil it down to the fact that meeting those requirements is necessary to be alive in and of itself."

Even I didn't fully understand what I was saying, and maybe it wasn't the best idea to be preaching what I didn't understand to a young child, but I also didn't want to leave her curiosity unanswered.

"I don't understand..."

Hearing her murmur that, I let out a small laugh.

"Neither do I, to be honest. But, some things are fine not to know the answer to. There are certain things you'll wish you didn't know when you learn about them, and even if it's just because you don't understand something, that's nothing to be ashamed of. You have time to learn and build your understanding if you want to, and everyone learns at different speeds. It's okay to take your time when asking questions."

After I said that, I watched her gaze meet mine, upon which she said something interesting.

"Mother says witches are ravenous for answers. She doesn't like it."

"Is that right? Then, she agrees?"

Simply nodding, it seemed that she had already been taught what I was talking about.

I was mostly relieved that it turned out whatever nonsense I was saying, actually made sense and wasn't nonsense after all. Or at least, some of it.

"Is there anything else you're curious about with regards to life?"

'Just don't ask me more insane philosophical questions, please...'

"What is a 'soul'?"

"..."

'Damn it.'

"Sorry. What do you mean, 'what is a soul'?"

"Mother said I have more soul than witches, but I don't know what it means."

'More soul...?'

"...I don't know how to answer that question."

Before I wasted too much time and energy trying to come up with some bullshit, half-baked and utterly clueless statement, I simply shook my head and said that.

"I don't know what a soul is or if it even exists. I guess it's sort of similar to life in the way that it isn't a tangible thing... Or well, I've never seen one, or even heard of one being seen. They're different from Spirits, I know that, but that's as far as my knowledge goes. Whether a witch has one, or what it would mean if they only had a small amount of soul, if it can even be measured in that way, I don't know the answer to any of that."

Hoping that that would be enough, I admitted my own lack of understanding around the subject, praying that the next one would be something I could actually teach.

'God, I'm a terrible teacher... Shit...'

Realising that she was being silent for a while, I looked back to the Protagonist just to see her staring at me.

"...Do you have a question? It's okay to ask if you do. Keep in mind I might not know the answer, though."

Even after I said that, she still continued staring, making me feel strangely nervous, as if I had done something wrong.

But, when she shook her head, I realised that wasn't it.

"...Are you guilty?"

Just three words left her mouth, but it was enough to make me freeze.

And that wasn't even all.

"You are here for me, but not to teach. Is that why?"

All of a sudden, she spoke in the same, blank voice, as if she already knew.