The massage ended as smoothly as it had started.
UltSans gave Clara a few firm pats on her back, a silent signal that he was done.
Then, without another word, he turned away, lifting his right hand as he aimed at the bones surrounding their belongings.
A low, pulsing hum filled the air as the bones shifted, sinking back into the ground.
Immediately, the bags and briefcase gained a blue outline, lifting off the floor in a quick, fluid motion.
They floated toward him, settling neatly by his side as if they had minds of their own.
UltSans barely acknowledged them.
His right hand remained raised slightly, fingers flicking in subtle, effortless control.
Then—without a word—they continued walking.
The bags floated alongside him, weightless and obedient, as the briefcase trailed just behind.
The silence stretched for a while.
Then—UltSans broke it.
UltSans:"So... family issues?"
His voice was calm, casual.
As if he was asking about the weather.
Clara hesitated.
Her gaze stayed locked on the ground, her expression unreadable.
Then—quietly, bitterly—
Clara:"...Yes..."
She exhaled sharply, pressing her lips into a thin line.
Then—without looking up—
Clara:"My mother never cared for my opinion on anything. She always ignored me. She just does whatever she wants, without thinking about anyone else."
Her fingers curled slightly.
Clara:"From her, I learned everything I needed for the job I had when I met you yesterday."
There was a slight bite in her tone now.
Not anger.
Just cold resignation.
UltSans listened.
Didn't interrupt.
Didn't react.
Then, after a moment—he shrugged.
UltSans:"...I see your point."
A brief pause.
Then—a smirk.
UltSans:"But I don't give a shit."
Clara's head snapped up.
UltSans glanced at her, unfazed.
UltSans:"That's how humans are, after all. Welcome to the club, Player 2. The best thing you can do is stop being human."
Clara stared at him.
Something about the way he said it—so certain, so dismissive—made her chest tighten.
Without thinking, she stepped in front of him.
UltSans stopped.
Clara's eyes locked onto his.
Clara:"...What do you mean?"
Her tone was firm.
Not defensive.
Not hostile.
Just demanding an answer.
Clara:"You're human. Just with superpowers. Like Spider-Man."
UltSans didn't respond immediately.
So—Clara pushed further.
Clara:"Who are you to talk about how humans are? And who are you to say you don't give a shit about my point? It's my life!"
Her voice rose slightly, emotion finally breaking through.
She hadn't meant to get worked up, but the words had slipped out before she could stop them.
UltSans watched her quietly.
Then—he let out a soft sigh.
UltSans:"...First, no. I don't have superpowers."
His voice was steady, almost tired.
UltSans:"That's magic."
A brief silence.
Then, his gaze darkened.
UltSans:"Second... I'm the judge who affected all humans directly and indirectly in my hell of a world before coming here."
His voice didn't rise.
It didn't need to.
UltSans:"That's who I am."
Clara didn't move.
She just stared.
UltSans:"And third..."
His smirk returned.
But this time—it was cold.
UltSans:"I'm also the only option you have who has total free will to say or do whatever I want about you."
Clara blinked.
UltSans tilted his head slightly, his tone smooth, but mercilessly blunt.
UltSans:"Let's be real—those people in that hotel? They're not accepting you. That's for sure."
His smirk widened slightly.
UltSans:"I'm your best shot. Your only shot. Your last chance. And even if I cared about your life..."
The glow in his pupils flickered, just for a second.
UltSans:"I spent years in hell. So many years I lost count. I shattered it over and over, reset it, rewrote it, erased it—until I finally had enough."
His expression remained unreadable.
His voice?
Even, calm.
But something about it was off.
UltSans:"You want to talk about how terrible your life is?"
A pause.
Then—he scoffed.
UltSans:"I can play the victim too."
Clara hesitated.
Something about the way he said it—
Something about the way his voice carried a weight she couldn't quite define—
She didn't know what to say.
So—
She said nothing.
Instead—she simply turned away.
And continued walking.
UltSans watched her for a moment.
Then—without a word—
He followed.
After a long walk, the atmosphere between them remained tense but quiet.
Clara led the way, her pace steady, her thoughts unreadable.
UltSans, as usual, followed.
His mind wasn't exactly racing—but he was… thinking. Observing.
Then—
Clara finally slowed.
They had arrived.
A modest, well-kept house stood in front of them, looking old but sturdy. The kind of house that had seen generations pass through it, holding countless memories in its walls.
UltSans tilted his head slightly, taking it in.
Then—
UltSans:"Huh… Is this—"
Clara:"Yes…"
A brief pause.
UltSans' pupils flickered slightly.
UltSans:"…Do we—"
Clara:"Yeah, let's go in…"
Her voice was flat, but something about the way she said it…
UltSans watched her for a moment.
She moved forward quickly, heading straight for the door.
Without hesitation, she unlocked it and stepped inside.
UltSans remained still for a second longer, his glowing pupils shifting slightly as he scanned the bags and the briefcase still floating around him.
Then—slowly—he followed.
Clara had left the door open.
But—
Just as UltSans was about to step inside—
Something stopped him.
A frail but firm hand suddenly pressed against the door, keeping it halfway open.
UltSans blinked.
Before he could react—
The small, elderly woman standing there suddenly reached up, grabbing his face with both hands.
UltSans' pupils widened slightly.
Then—
She yanked him forward.
And—
Planted a kiss on one cheek.
Then—another on the other cheek.
UltSans just… stood there.
Processing.
Eleanor:"Welcome, welcome!"
Her voice was warm but quick, lively, full of energy.
Eleanor:"Are you Clara's boyfriend? Oh my, how cute you are! And so strong-looking! How old are you? What are you studying? How long have you been seeing my daughter? Hmm?"
The questions came fast.
Too fast.
Her accent only made it harder to keep up.
UltSans remained still, his hands still halfway raised from where they had been about to enter his coat pockets.
He wasn't exactly used to this kind of greeting.
His glowing pupils flickered slightly.
UltSans:"Uhm… Thanks? I'm not her boyfriend—"
But before he could finish, Eleanor's grip tightened slightly—and she suddenly pulled him inside.
Eleanor:"Come in, come in!"
UltSans stumbled slightly forward, but before he could fully step in—
She suddenly noticed the bags and briefcase still floating behind him.
Her eyes widened.
Then—
She jumped back with a startled gasp.
Eleanor:"Ahh—! Madre mía! Things—floating!"
In a flash, she rushed to shut the door.
But—
UltSans, still half-standing in the entryway, simply raised a hand and caught it.
His grip? Effortless.
The door? Didn't move another inch.
UltSans:"Relax."
His voice was calm, almost amused.
Then, smoothly,
UltSans:"It's just… a very hard-to-see thread."
Eleanor hesitated.
Her eyes flicked back to the floating bags.
Then—slowly—her gaze returned to UltSans.
Eleanor:"Ooohh… Are you a magician?"
Her tone immediately shifted from shock to curiosity.
Eleanor:"You do tricks?"
UltSans blinked once.
Then—
His grin returned, lazy and relaxed.
UltSans:"Uhh… Y-Yeah, yeah. I'm a… magician. In my free time."
A pause.
Then, a halfhearted shrug.
UltSans:"It's a… little complicated to keep up. You know—work, exams, the usual."
Eleanor nodded quickly, several times, completely buying into it.
Eleanor:"Ahhh, sí sí sí! Of course, of course!"
Then—she stepped back and fully opened the door.
UltSans didn't hesitate this time.
With a slight flick of his fingers, the bags and briefcase smoothly floated inside, lowering themselves neatly onto the floor.
Eleanor watched, fascinated.
Then—once everything was inside—
She quickly shut the door behind him.
UltSans exhaled softly.
Then—without much thought—
He tucked his hands back into the pockets of his coat.
His pupils dimmed slightly, the glow settling into something calm, neutral.
He could already tell—this was going to be an interesting visit.