Kasuka Mado knew nothing about what had happened in the past decade or so. The obsessions she couldn't let go of at death numbered only a few.
First was Kureo Mado,
Second was Akira Mado,
Third was the One-Eyed Owl...
"..."
Hearing Kasuka Mado ask about the One-Eyed Owl, Kureo Mado and Akira Mado exchanged glances.
They weren't quite sure how to answer...
"We didn't succeed in eliminating her..."
Akira Mado answered honestly.
"Is that so? Well, that makes sense... she really was too powerful..."
Kasuka Mado wasn't particularly surprised by this.
The fact that her husband and daughter had survived to the present was already a great comfort.
Then Akira Mado continued: "However, she's no longer our enemy now. She's actually a good friend of Byakuya's. I just don't know if Mom can accept that..."
"What's there not to accept? Since Byakuya is the CCG Bureau Director, he must have taken good care of you all, right? And he brought me back to life—I should be deeply grateful."
Kasuka Mado said with a smile. "As for the One-Eyed Owl... since she's no longer an enemy, there's nothing to hold against her."
She was quite open-minded about it. However, she didn't know what the One-Eyed Owl had done to her after her death.
The fact that her face had been gnawed beyond recognition...
Neither Kureo Mado nor Akira Mado wanted to mention it.
"By the way, Akira, you just said 'she'... What do you mean?"
Kasuka Mado caught this detail. "I see—so the One-Eyed Owl's true form was actually female. Ghouls do have human shapes after all, but I never imagined that kind of kakuja form could come from a girl..."
The early One-Eyed Owl's kakuja form had been basically identical to the Non-Killing Owl's. Or rather, the Non-Killing Owl was something Manager Yoshimura had deliberately created to impersonate the One-Eyed Owl, creating a smokescreen for the CCG and the Washuu Clan.
With that kind of kakuja form, most people would assume there was a tall man inside.
The truth was actually a petite, adorable girl.
"By the way, Mom probably doesn't know this yet—ghouls don't exist anymore."
Akira Mado said.
"Ghouls don't exist anymore? Did the CCG eliminate them all?"
Kasuka Mado was very surprised.
"No, they were all turned into humans by Byakuya."
Akira Mado explained. "Although it sounds unbelievable, Byakuya really does have those incredible abilities—just like how he could resurrect you, Mom..."
"Oh my, how amazing. And such an amazing young man is Akira's fiancé."
Kasuka Mado exclaimed.
"He's not my fiancé yet—we're just in a relationship..."
Akira Mado corrected her.
"Aren't those the same thing?"
Kasuka Mado suddenly displayed an airheaded expression.
This was just how she was when it came to matters of the heart—otherwise she wouldn't have married Kureo Mado so hastily.
In her eyes, dating meant they were about to get married.
"..."
Akira Mado was momentarily speechless.
She suddenly remembered that her mother really was like this.
She decided not to bother explaining further—after all, her mother wouldn't understand anyway...
"Let's go. I really want to see what the outside world has become..."
Kasuka Mado was full of hope for the outside world. According to Akira, it seemed like the world had become much better.