"I see," Akane said quietly, her gaze dropping. "And those with power choose not to use it, even if it's to save themselves."

In her world, she'd faced the opposite problem -- people without power seeking to claim it through any means necessary. Hongou's reasons were truly pitiable, but even so, it didn't excuse him for the terrible things he'd done to other people.

"Then...you're afraid that if you had magic, you would fail to use it to help others as well?"