Is That My Alter Ego - Chapter 105



Chapter 105 – The Invitation

Seris could no longer bear the muffled sobs of the mercenaries beyond the wall.

It was the weight of guilt for never understanding the hearts that silently followed him, always a step ahead, and the rising tide of self-reproach that suffocated him.

Quietly, so that no one would see, he rose from his place and began to walk slowly down the deserted alley, heading out of the village of Leriah.

His senses and physical abilities, transcending human limits, ensured that amidst the throngs of people, none noticed Seris’s passage.

—…Huh? Did something just pass by?

—What passed by? You fool! I saw nothing.

—Uh… huh? I’m sure something went by…

—Watch your tongue, you fool!

Using his magic, Seris accelerated momentarily, slipping out of the sight of the guards stationed at the village entrance.

Though a rookie guard, with slightly sharper instincts than the average, began to feel the sting of being labeled a failure and faced injustices,

Seris had no time to dwell on such matters.

Drip, drip—

Since hearing Hans’s cry, the tears flowed without sign of stopping.

Footprints of water began to dot the unpaved earth, carving a path along which Seris walked.

Leaving his tears to fall freely, he trudged toward the grave that lay beyond the village.

Whenever he felt weary, when his heart grew heavy, and the warmth and smile of the Captain became too much to bear,

he would always sit before the Captain’s resting place, muttering to himself until his heart felt lighter.

And now… it was unbearably hard. The guilt for himself and the longing for the Captain overflowed, making it impossible to endure any longer.

Thus, Seris walked toward the grave, where few ventured outside the village.

Though to Seris, his steps felt slow as a crawl, to any ordinary person, they were quite swift.

It did not take long to reach the grave, which lay a fair distance from the village.

Following a narrow path through a small forest, he soon saw the fenced-in gravesite.

—Grave of Leriah Village.—

Gazing at the words etched into the large stone, Seris slowly began to enter the graveyard.

Toward the resting place of countless souls from Leriah, and the Captain he cherished above all.

The Captain’s grave was tucked away in the farthest corner, and as he walked toward it, he let the thoughts that began to surface drift freely.

“Captain…”

I miss you. If demons truly exist, I would give everything just to see you again…

Slowly, ever so slowly, I began to walk. Just standing before the grave of the Commander made my heart ache as if I might collapse at any moment.

Just a few more steps, if I could only turn this corner… I would see the gravestone where the Commander lies in eternal slumber.

For one who had saved countless souls, including mine, and had been a guiding light for us all, the gravestone was far too small and humble.

At last, I turned the corner. My gaze fell upon the stone that marked the resting place of Commander Venice.

Thud.

“Uh… huh?”

And the moment Seris laid eyes on the gravestone, she sank to the ground.

The grave of Commander Venice was as if someone had unearthed it, the earth scattered, and within it, nothing remained.

*

“Sniff… huff…”

…It was no longer bearable. No matter how much I tried to weep alone in my room, soothing my heart, nothing changed.

I must go to Venice… to the small gravestone not far from Frost Keep.

Creeeak…

Ariel rose from her seat and quietly began to wander through the halls of Frost Keep.

Though it would be quickest to slip through the window, I did not wish to do that now.

“…Huh? Lady Ariel! Hello…”

“Shh! Be quiet…!”

“…Gasp!”

The maids turned to look at Ariel. One maid had been about to greet her, but another, quick to notice Ariel’s gloomy expression, stopped her.

After wandering a bit on the second floor where her room was, she descended the central staircase.

There stood Kyle and Jake, her older brothers, in the lobby on the first floor. They were deep in conversation, their faces serious, but upon seeing me, they approached with smiles.

“…Ariel! Today, outside…”

“…………….”

Kyle Frost, a bit oblivious, ran toward Ariel with a grin, but the moment he lifted his gaze to meet her face, he froze like a statue.

There was only one moment when his precious little sister wore such a pained expression.

“Ah… no! Ariel… let’s meet later, okay…”

Jake Frost, unsure of what to do, gave Kyle a gentle shove, urging him to let Ariel go.

Ariel felt a flicker of gratitude toward Jake, who had quickly assessed the situation, but now she had no strength to speak, so she continued on in silence.

Whoosh…

As she stepped outside into the warm embrace of the keep, the biting wind that blew year-round whipped through Ariel’s hair.

…It was cold. Not in a physical sense. My heart felt as if it were encased in ice, and… the reality devoid of warmth to soothe this chill was unbearably cold.

Step by step.

Footprints began to etch themselves upon the pure white snow. They led to a small cliff behind the fortress.

Drip-drip—

“…Venice. I… I’m so cold… huff…”

I wish you were here by my side. I need your warm smile, your voice to melt away this unbearable, biting cold…

A droplet falls upon the white snow.

I miss you so dearly, I long to see you. I cannot live without you…

It seems today’s lament will stretch on a bit longer. Ariel’s weary steps finally reached the cliff behind the fortress, where the moon and stars shone beautifully.

“Uh… uh?”

And there, where Venice’s gravestone should have stood firm.

The gravestone was gone, the ground upturned. And Venice’s body, utterly invisible.

Tears did not flow, and it felt as if time had come to a standstill. Ariel sank down, denying the reality before her.

*

“Ugh… ugh…”

Carly’s footsteps carried her away from the village of Espilia, toward the forest that lay on the outskirts.

Chirp-chirp—

The cicadas still sang, and the birds chirped. The weather was disgustingly clear.

Despite the sweltering heat, the lush green grass and beautiful nature resembled a painting come to life.

“Master… dear.”

Yet, to Carly, the beauty of nature was lost on her. In this moment of heartache, she yearned to find a small forest where no one would know her pain.

She thought she had let him go. Yet, her master still lingered in her heart.

Now… if she did not go to where her master lay and weep freely, it felt as though the tearing pain in her chest would never fade.

The king of beasts. For someone like Carly, who possessed the finest physique in the empire, her steps through the forest were pitifully slow and heavy.

Swish…

The sound of cool water flowed nearby. Occasionally, the cries of wild animals echoed, and the rustling of the grass broke the silence.

And amidst that beautiful scene, a sound of weeping and falling droplets quietly resonated.

“…I miss you.”

Sigh—

Unconsciously, she buried her nose in a small doll, inhaling its scent. The faint trace of his fragrance was intoxicating and bittersweet.

From noble mtl dot com

If even this last scent were to vanish, how would I go on living?

“I… miss you…”

That beautiful voice and face. The way her hair fell, the rough touch of hands that used to stroke my head.

I miss it all so much.

Carly’s footsteps finally reached a small clearing hidden within the forest.

In all this time, no one had come but Carly, and the clearing felt unnaturally crafted, as if nature had not touched it.

At its center lay a crude grave, one that Carly had made herself. A space where she had buried him with tears and from the depths of her heart.

“…Huh?”

…It should have been.

The once-mounded grave was now dug up, the earth scattered haphazardly, and the small branch she had placed atop lay broken.

“Ah… no… no…!!”

That was bearable. The most important thing was not those. Carly hurried toward the grave.

Thud.

“Ah… aaah…!!”

The disturbed grave was empty, as if nothing had ever existed within it.

Who did this? Who—!

“Ugh… ah… aaah!!”

Why did they dig up the grave? For what reason? Why, of all places, the master’s grave?

A furious rage began to swell within her. She wanted to tear apart the culprit and reclaim her master right then and there.

…But where should she even begin to look? The scent of her master, which should have been unmistakable, had suddenly vanished as if it had never been.

Carly sank to the ground, wailing.

Before her, a clear voice she had never heard before accompanied the appearance of a blue window.

Ding-!

[We invite you!]

What in the world is happening? Am I truly losing my mind?

No matter how much she rubbed her eyes or screamed in despair, this was undeniably reality.

…Inviting me? Who do you think you are—

“………..!”

[The person you seek may be there?]

As if reading her thoughts, the blue window began to rise mockingly before her. And it pointed in a certain direction.

*

“Uh… uhh…?”

This couldn’t be. Surely, this place was sealed off by a barrier that no one could breach…?

Yet, as Ariel lifted her gaze, all that remained were the remnants of a torn barrier, shredded and broken.

Creeeak-!

“…Who are you? Who the hell are you-!!”

Why on earth did you dig up Venice’s corpse? And how… how did you tear my barrier to shreds like that?

Blood poured from her shattered teeth as she howled, and tears flowed even more abundantly.

She sank to the ground, a cold chill creeping up her spine.

And in that moment.

Ding-!

[You are invited!]

“…………!”

Ariel sprang to her feet, her senses on high alert. There were no traces of magic, no signs of anything amiss, yet a blue window floated before her.

Is this… really magic? No, no. This was something beyond mere magic.

“Is it you?! Are you the one who took Venice-!”

[Perhaps! If you come to the place I’ve invited you to, you will know everything!]

As she stared at the mocking blue window, an unfamiliar, intense rage surged within Ariel.

And in one corner of the blue window, a small arrow danced erratically before settling in one direction, as if urging her to move toward it.

“…I will kill you. By any means necessary.”

*

“Uh…? This… this can’t be…”

Commander Venice’s grave has been unearthed. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around, wondering if she had come to the wrong place, but it was unmistakably Commander Venice’s grave.

Why? For what reason was the grave disturbed?

“Why… why in the world!!!!!!!”

Why would anyone desecrate the Commander’s grave? What could possibly justify this? And why only hers?

“I will kill… I will make them pay!!!”

As an overwhelming fury radiated from her, Seris’s hair began to whip about wildly.

I will find the culprit, no matter what, and tear them apart. It doesn’t matter who they are.

And in that moment.

Ding-!

[You are invited!]

“…Who are you?!”

The moment Seris’s gaze fell upon the sudden appearance of the blue spear, her hand moved with a speed so swift it was nearly invisible, drawing her sword.

No magic, no signs of warning had been present. Was this yet another attack?

Though she understood nothing, one truth stood clear: the owner of this blue spear was the b*stard who had defiled the Commander.

“Where are you? Where are you—! I will kill you!!!”

[Follow the direction! Everything you seek lies there!]

“………!”

A small arrow appeared at the edge of the blue spear. Gritting her teeth, Seris glared at the blue spear and, without hesitation, began to sprint in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Thus, three women, born on different days in different cities, each sharing the common bond of having lost their beloved, began to move with frenzied speed toward a single destination.

A land where no one lived, ravaged by the past invasion of monsters.

The ‘Western Continent.’ A place also known as the land of death.