Is That My Alter Ego - Chapter 113



Chapter 113 – The Truth

All eyes are drawn to the mysterious woman within the palace of darkness and blood.

“Everyone… you look a mess.”

They gaze at the woman who chuckles softly. Yet, no words can escape their lips. From her, not a trace of energy or magic can be felt.

In this world, everything is imbued with at least a speck of magic or energy. This includes plants, inanimate objects, and even mere belongings.

Yet, from the woman, clad in black from head to toe, an astonishing absence of any energy or magic is palpable.

She seems almost not of this world, an unknown entity that should not exist.

[Yes… what in the world are you…! What is it…!!]

Crackle-!

The visibly flustered eyes strike down a powerful red lightning bolt upon the spot where the woman stands.

The lightning that descends upon Seris, Ariel, and Kali is dwarfed by this new, colossal surge, imbued with a malevolent energy that seems to mock their previous encounters.

“Ah… no…!”

“Ugh…!”

“What the hell…!”

“Royu….!”

The dark castle flickers with a crimson glow. The attack is so overwhelmingly potent that it seems impossible for any living being to survive it, leaving only the sounds of silence and screams echoing through the shadowy halls.

A massive cloud of dust rises, the ground trembling beneath the force of the assault, as the eyes begin to cackle with derision.

[He… heh… with this attack, even you—]

“Indeed. It’s a powerful strike. Had I been a ‘normal person,’ I would have been reduced to dust.”

[W-what…?]

The eyes emit a voice of bewilderment, a sound never before heard. After all, despite unleashing a full-force attack, not a speck of dust clings to the black-clad woman.

Even the strongest of this world, those who might be expected to crumble under such an onslaught, now direct their silent gaze once more at the woman who stands unscathed.

[Th-this is…!]

Crackle-! Snap!

The eyes, now in a panic, continue to unleash lightning and chains. It was unfathomable that their own attack, meant to signify their dominance, would fail to penetrate.

“This is impossible…”

“What in the world… are you…?”

“……….”

“Ro…yu…”

[This cannot be…! It cannot be…!]

In a situation where all doubt their own eyes, the black-clad woman still wears a mysterious smile.

“I told you. I am an ‘error’ that should not exist in this world. You cannot reach me. No matter what means you employ.”

-Of course, I cannot directly reach you either.

[….That cannot be…! I must rule this world…! Everything must lie beneath me…!]

“Yes. You would think that. Perhaps it’s a natural conclusion. It is the ‘concept’ bestowed upon you.”

[….Con…cept? What in the world are you talking about…!]

The eyes, now retreating, sweat coldly as they voice their terror.

—

The truth of my heart, which must dominate this world, had not reached its target, and within the vast expanse of knowledge I sought to grasp, there existed not even a speck of information about the woman.

“Hmm… you said you are a being that must rule this world, yes?”

[…What are you suddenly saying—!]

“But… have you ever pondered the reason behind it? Since when did you come to believe that you must rule the world, and why have you acted as such?”

[……Huh?]

My gaze faltered, a sudden halt. Surely… I am a being destined to rule this world. Everything must lie beneath my command.

…But why? Why must I place everything under my dominion and govern it?

I simply… had to act that way. I lived as the ruler of this world, without even knowing the reason why.

…Why, indeed?

What am I? From where do I originate? My gaze contemplates the reason for its own existence.

And then, the light in my eyes dimmed and froze.

“Of course… you cannot know. There’s no way for ‘NPCs’ to grasp the truth of this world, is there?”

“””………….”””

As the woman uttered those incomprehensible words, her gaze began to meet each pair of eyes that watched her.

“Seris. Do you know everything about your life?”

“….Huh? What do you mean…”

“Isn’t it… a bit strange? Why did you have to follow your father’s last words, and why did you act so stubbornly?”

“……….!”

“And… the mercenary group, was it? Who exactly founded that group, and who appoints the leader? You probably never had the chance to think about it, but it doesn’t make sense.”

“That… wh-what…”

“Those nonsensical contradictions. They are the ‘rules’ bestowed upon this world, and they are its justice. And they are also the ‘truth.’”

Seris lay still, frozen in place. Upon reflection, it was true. Why… had I insisted on the position of vice-captain?

To revive the mercenary group, it would have been wiser to trust another and lead from the captain’s seat myself.

Yet, I clung to the vice-captaincy as if it were an unchangeable fate, without even considering the possibility.

Who appoints the captain of the mercenary group? What is this world I have lived in… truly?

“Erriel, Kali. The same goes for you.”

“”…………””

“Erriel. In that place where the identity of Venice was revealed, you had no choice but to trust Venice.”

“…..Huh?”

“Why did you, the smartest and wisest among us, make such a choice? No, it was inevitable. The ‘story’ is predetermined, and you must follow the flow of fate.”

—

It feels as if my head has been struck by a hammer. Why… why did I make such a foolish judgment?

I should have listened to Venice’s words just once more, should have taken a moment to assess his actions, as I always did in my usual self.

Instead, I chose to distrust Venice, even to the point of hatred.

…But why? Why did I do that?

As if there was no other choice. The thought of not trusting Venice was the only one that ever crossed my mind.

“…And lastly, Kali. In every moment that Venice was hurt, vanished, or left, you were not there.”

“That was because I—!”

“You might think it was mere coincidence. But tell me, why were there moments when you, who always clung to Venice, had to be apart from him?”

“………”

What is this… Wait. Thinking back, it’s true. I had never been apart from Venice, yet there were moments when I had to ‘inevitably’ separate from him.

As if obeying an unyielding command, every time I distanced myself from him, an incident would follow shortly after.

Gazing at the dazed expressions of the three women, the dark woman, Royu, begins to speak.

“This world is… a constructed realm.

■■■■■■ ■■.”

Crackle—crackle.

As Royu uttered some words, a crackling sound filled the air, as if the world itself was censoring her. Looking at the dazed faces once more, Royu smiles knowingly.

“Royu… what on earth happened…?”

“…It’s been so long since you called my name that I can’t help but feel my heart race.”

From noble mtl dot com

Hoo.

Royu exhales a deep sigh. Within that sigh lies the weight of everything she has endured.

“I… don’t know well either. The last moment I said goodbye to you, I opened my eyes in this world.”

“………”

“It was quite strange. I thought I was dead, yet I opened my eyes in another realm. But you know, there was a signpost before me that felt so familiar.”

“…A signpost?”

“Yes. The one from the game we played together. The one that would turn off the game just by touching it. The one we both… got annoyed with and marveled at.”

Royu recounts. The scenery was undoubtedly different from the game they had played, yet that signpost was unmistakably the same.

However, for Venice, the scene was elusive, as if shrouded in fog, too vague to grasp.

“I… can’t remember well… I recall all the moments we shared… but that game…”

Royu’s expression shifts to one of sadness as she looks at Venice’s face. Yet, she regains her mysterious smile, as if to say it’s alright.

“…Yes. You have become a resident of this world. Unlike me, an error that should not exist here, you were truly reborn into this realm. It’s only natural.”

“Mi… I’m sorry… Royu… I should have remembered you… the things we did together…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s not your fault. So please, don’t cry, alright?”

Royu’s face transforms, as if recalling a distant past, a wistful glow enveloping her features.

“…It was truly strange. The moment I touched that signpost… I lay there as if I had just opened my eyes for the first time.”

Confused, she touched the signpost again, yet she awoke in the same spot. At that moment, Royu realized that this world was but a game.

“I wandered through this world. And by chance… I saw you. You looked different, your personality was different, but one thing was certain: you were you.”

-How could I not recognize my love?

“But you know, something curious happened. You were not just one person; there were three of you. The same energy, indistinguishable from one another, resonated throughout this world.”

Royu was lost. Three identical beings? Was this even possible?

Yet, the very notion of being trapped in a game world was absurd, so she quietly observed the Venises.

“I… strangely enough, could create ‘errors’ in this world. I could witness every action and moment of all ‘you.’”

Creak—

As Royu raised her arm, the fabric of reality tore along its path, revealing a chaotic swirl of unknown symbols and colors within.

“…I saw you, looking happy with other women. I didn’t want to intrude… so I merely watched. But then… one day, suddenly, you died.”

Royu’s mystical eyes trembled. The memory of her beloved’s death lingered, painful and bittersweet.

“Even… all three Venises met tragic and sorrowful ends. I despaired, and despaired again. I was happy just watching you, but… I could no longer gaze upon you.”

In her despair, the signpost resurfaced in Royu’s mind. A ‘means’ to return to the past, to start anew with just a touch.

“…As expected, the moment I touched the signpost, I awoke. And… you were alive, not dead.”

However, no matter what she tried, she could not prevent the deaths of the Venises. Royu had no direct influence in this world, and the deaths of the Venises felt as inevitable as fate itself.

All the Venises were the same. No matter how hard she tried to change the environment or the characters they encountered, death remained unchanged.

“I watched you endlessly as you took your own life… sacrificed yourself, and died unjustly. And I turned back time once more.”

The warmth of love was the only thing that kept her sanity from fraying, as her mind grew weary and worn.

You were there… by my side, whether I was struggling, happy, or utterly broken.

“I lost count of how many times I turned back time, how many times you died. Yet, I still couldn’t find a way to save you.”

“Then, at that moment… another Venis suddenly appeared. The fourth Venis.”

Another Venis emerged. Unlike the others who had no memories, this one retained fragments of the past.

In that moment, a flicker of life returned to Royu’s fading gaze.