Really pulled off something unimaginable. This Peter Pan wasn’t just a simple troublemaker. He was a pure villain beyond my comprehension. Why did he need so many children? Why did he bring them here? Where did the Magic Powder come from?
All the clues unraveled.
That giant flower turned the children into fertilizer and made Magic Powder out of them. The bones of the children were ground into powder, and their belongings were stored away, now revealed to the world once more. I couldn’t believe it, unable to continue thinking or move my body.
How would Captain Hook react to this truth? Knowing his daughter was eaten by a man-eating plant and turned into Magic Powder…
I looked at Tinker Bell with bewildered eyes. Tinker Bell clutched her torn wings and cried, but there was no sign of remorse in her gaze. Instead, it was filled with anger and hatred for daring to do such a thing.
“So you get it now? I wasn’t lying! Children who defied Peter Pan gained the glory of becoming Magic Powder for Neverland!”
“Glory? Glory?”
Cassandra abruptly stood up with unfocused eyes. The killing intent radiating from her made my skin crawl. At that moment, I realized how much a person could change when harboring evil.
Tinker Bell mocked Cassandra, not realizing the gravity of the situation.
“Yeah~ glory! Bad kids being turned into Magic Powder to help Peter Pan is the ultimate honor! Cassandra, don’t worry. Your brother is probably still being used for Neverland and Peter Pan right now!”
“d*mn…you…”
Step. Cassandra approached Tinker Bell with a grotesque twist of her body. Tinker Bell flinched, breaking out in cold sweat as she began to back away.
“What, what are you going to do?”
“How dare you insult my brother with your filthy mouth?”
Crack. Cassandra’s neck made an odd sound. She twisted it around like someone possessed, making eerie movements.
In an instant, she grabbed Tinker Bell. Wingless and with no way to escape, Tinker Bell winced under Cassandra’s grip, struggling.
“Ugh! It hurts! Let me go!”
“How dare you, how dare you, HOW DARE YOU k*ll MY BROTHER!!!”
Cassandra screamed directly into Tinker Bell’s ears, spewing madness and murderous intent. Only then did Tinker Bell realize the severity of the situation—her position had shifted from alpha to beta, facing d*ath.
“Devilish humans! I hate you all! I’m enraged by your vile actions! I despise my past 10 years of breathing the same air and listening to your words! How stupid, truly stupid, that I begged and acted as a d*mn mother to those who killed my own brother! I want to tear apart and k*ll my past self!”
“Wait, Cassandra! Calm down! What are you doing now?”
Cassandra moved toward the flower bud while tightly gripping Tinker Bell. The bud reacted like a living animal, sniffing the air with its massive body.
Chomp. The bud opened, revealing countless sharp fangs inside, resembling saw blades. Between the teeth were traces of victims’ flesh and bone fragments.
Seeing the victims’ remains, Tinker Bell turned pale and pleaded.
“Hiiik! Stop! Please! I didn’t mean to! It was all Peter Pan’s idea! He tricked me into creating Neverland, causing all this chaos! I never thought it would come to this! Please save me! I’m innocent!”
Cassandra lifted Tinker Bell close to her face and said,
“You never apologized, huh?”
“Huh? Wha?”
Tinker Bell blinked, confused by the sensation of floating despite losing her wings. Her neck slowly twisted backward. I witnessed her face gradually fill with terror, pleading for life.
“Save me…”
Crunch. Snap. Squeeze. The flower devoured Tinker Bell whole, chewing greedily without leaving a single piece. I could only watch the scene unfold, feeling unworthy to intervene. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend or empathize with Cassandra’s rage and pain.
Thus, I let her have her revenge. Tinker Bell and Peter Pan—how many lives had these two children claimed? Neverland felt like watching today’s juvenile delinquents harm innocent people, escaping punishment and living carefree lives.
They were literal demons in disguise, acting carelessly because they believed they didn’t have to take responsibility.
The flower greedily ate the palm-sized Tinker Bell and returned to its original form. Then, moving like a pump, it spat out a tiny amount of Magic Powder, barely enough to fill a handful.
Cassandra crushed the powder underfoot, muttering,
“Just for this? Just for this…?”
I didn’t know what comforting words to say or how to act. Everything felt terrible, heartbreaking, and confusing.
This world was far crueler than I imagined.
“Hey~ look who we have here.”
At the entrance, a familiar voice rang out. Cassandra and I turned to see Peter Pan smirking with a shiny stolen bicycle.
“Thought someone invaded my castle, but it’s just Mommy and Siyoo? What’s wrong with moms these days? And Siyoo, showing up and causing trouble right away? Such a mess.”
“Mess? You’re the one who caused this, Peter Pan. How could you do this? Do you even feel guilt?”
I no longer saw Peter Pan as a mere proud young boy. He had transformed into a cold-blooded murderer in my eyes.
Peter Pan shrugged.
“Guilt? Why should I? I’m just a kid! You said it yourself—I don’t have to take responsibility~ Are you mad? Haha! Puhaahaha!”
His tone and attitude pissed me off so much I wanted to cut out his tongue. But rushing in now would be dangerous—we’d end up like Tinker Bell if we fought him.
I swallowed hard, looking at the Magic Powder under Cassandra’s feet.
“Peter Pan-!”
Suddenly, Cassandra charged at Peter Pan with bloodshot eyes.
“No!”
I tried to stop her, but she was already at Peter Pan’s face. He smirked and kicked her stomach casually.
“Ugh!”
Cassandra flew back, clutching her abdomen, unable to scream, only letting out painful groans. But her eyes still burned with venomous hatred, wanting nothing more than to k*ll Peter Pan.
“How dare you attack the king of Neverland~ Hmm? Looks like I need to reset Mommy again.”
“Urgh. All this because of bastards like you! Elise, my brother!”
“Aww~ stop with the sentimental nonsense! So annoying! You’ve been here forever without aging—what’s your problem~ Ugh~”
Unable to control her anger, Cassandra sobbed, tears streaming down her face. Under the dim light of the carnivorous plant, her tears looked eerily like bl**d.
“By the way, where’s Tinker Bell? She’s the only one who knows this place?”
I quietly stepped closer to Peter Pan, who unknowingly stepped on some Magic Powder.
“Under your foot.”
“Huh? My foot?”
Peter Pan lifted his foot curiously, and Tinker Bell’s Magic Powder scattered. His face froze.
“N-No way. You…you damned fools actually killed Tinker Bell!!”
Peter Pan screamed wildly, his prepubescent voice cracking in extreme agitation.
I frowned at his hypocrisy—indifferent to others’ deaths but furious over his friend turning into Magic Powder.
“I’ll k*ll you all! You’re all getting executed! I’ll turn you into Magic Powder right now!”
It’s now or never. If we fail here, it’s over. Ellis isn’t here. It’s all on me. Shaking but trying to hide it, I stared Peter Pan straight in the eye.
“Hey, Peter Pan. I officially challenge you to a duel, wagering the throne of king.”
“What!? A duel? And you dare bet the king’s seat!? Are you insane?”
“Coward?”
My words froze Peter Pan mid-stride.
“What?”
“Coward? Ha. All that posturing, yet you’re scared? The so-called king of Neverland is just a coward after all? Here you brag about doing whatever you want, yet you run away when challenged to a fair fight?”
“H-Hey! I’m not scared! Fine, I accept your challenge! I’ll crush you right here!”
“Without using Magic Powder.”
My condition stiffened Peter Pan again. His face showed clear signs of confusion.
“Magic…Magic Powder?”
“Coward? Coward? Ah~ Poor little Peter Pan thinks he needs Magic Powder to win~ If you’re really the king of Neverland, why resort to using Magic Powder in a fair fight?”
“Tch! Shut up! I can beat someone like you without Magic Powder any day! Alright! I’ll defeat you right here in front of everyone, then turn you and Cassandra into Magic Powder!”
Success. Without Magic Powder, he’s just a boastful cowardly brat. Looking at the grief-stricken Cassandra, I resolved:
To properly educate that d*mn little b*stard.
