Is That My Alter Ego - Chapter 119



Chapter 119 – To the Empire!

Upon reaching the very front of the Empire’s central city, ‘Sunrise Territory,’ I marveled at the towering, vast walls that loomed so high I had to tilt my head back completely to see the top.

This is what it means to be called the heart of the Empire. It was a size that could easily rival several cities combined.

“…Tch, I wanted to hold on a bit longer.”

“Do you think you’re the only one? We all feel the same.”

“Ah… I just wanted to feel that sensation a little more…”

“Hmm, I was satisfied, at least.”

On either side of me, the faces of the women following me were painted with either disappointment or contentment.

Ah, just for reference, it took us only a few hours to travel from the western part of the continent to the heart of the Empire.

Of course, covering such a distance in just a few hours was impossible, but common sense didn’t seem to apply to them.

Fearing that another quarrel might erupt over my transport, I decided to settle it by ensuring equal time for everyone.

They could simply carry me like a sack of goods, yet I couldn’t quite grasp why they insisted on holding me so tightly.

Perhaps that choice was the right one; I heard a bit of grumbling, but no fights broke out.

…Each time one of them embraced me, the position shifted, and I felt a strange sensation that was quite the ordeal. But if they were pleased, I didn’t mind much.

In any case, we arrived safely…? at the Empire. After gazing at nature for so long, it felt a bit odd to behold something that lay between the medieval and modern worlds.

Of course, most of that indescribable feeling was filled with anticipation, curiosity, and joy.

“Now, here is the heart of the Empire, where the ‘Sunrise Royal Palace’ resides. Have you ever been here, Venice?”

“Not at all… This is my first time here. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“To think I would return to this place… and with the Commander, no less.”

“Wow… what is this place, so grand?”

“Heh heh…”

As we walked toward the entrance of the colossal castle walls, I engaged in conversation with them.

From what I gathered, Ariel, being the daughter of the Frost family, one of the pillars of the Empire, had undoubtedly experienced this place dozens, if not hundreds, of times.

Cerys mentioned that she had come a few times to handle matters since I had left. Suddenly, her eyes glistened with tears as she looked at me, prompting me to embrace her urgently.

Kali, like me, seemed to be experiencing this for the first time, her mouth agape in wonder, while Royu’s thoughts remained a mystery to me.

I had known Earth to be somewhat peculiar, but since arriving in this world, the strangeness had escalated entirely.

It was undoubtedly the Royu I knew, yet there was an unsettling quality to her that I couldn’t shake.

“Huh? Is something wrong?”

“No… it’s nothing…”

In the end, I found myself speaking formally to Royu, a stark contrast to the casual tone I usually took. I simply said that it felt more comfortable this way, and she seemed to understand.

The truth was, I felt a twinge of fear toward Royu, but the moment I considered voicing it, an instinct warned me that it would be irreversible, so I kept silent.

“Next!”

“Ugh… is it our turn…?”

To enter the Empire, we had to pass through this entrance, right?

Naturally, we lined up behind those who had been waiting ahead of us, and our turn was approaching swiftly.

Many like us were merely passing through, while ordinary carriages and ostentatious ones alike rolled by.

Well… the person about to pass through seems to be in a regular carriage. They looked a bit suspicious, and I could see beads of cold sweat trickling down.

Surely, nothing would happen. The guards controlling entry were fierce and cold.

Soon, it would be our turn, so we just had to wait—

“…Wait a moment. This hidden thing inside… is it a bomb?”

As the guard searched inside the carriage, his gaze suddenly sharpened, locking onto the grim-looking coachman.

“That… can’t be! You must be mistaken…”

“Don’t try to wriggle out of this. This shape, this texture… it’s definitely a bomb.”

The coachman’s cold sweat began to pour down like a waterfall. The more nonsensical excuses he offered, the sharper the guards’ eyes and stances became.

“Uh… uh…! Just let me go—!”

In the end, the coachman pulled a sleek knife from beneath his vest, which he had been wearing even in the heat, and aimed it at the guards.

“…A terrorist. I will subdue him.”

The guard hesitated for a moment, as if caught in a web of uncertainty, then brought something resting against his chest to his lips and began to speak, slowly advancing toward the coachman—no, the terrorist.

“Y-You b*stard! Get out of the way! I said get out!!!”

Whoosh—! Whoosh!

—Hiiik! What is that!!

—Run away!!!

—That lunatic!!!

The terrorist began to swing a sharp, refined sword wildly, unleashing chaos, while those standing behind him started to flee in a panic.

Of course, some merely crossed their arms, wearing expressions of intrigue as they watched the scene unfold.

Perhaps they were strong enough not to be swayed or threatened by such a person.

…How could I tell?

“Oh… what an amusing sight.”

“There’s a fool who dares to carry out terror against the Empire.”

“Isn’t that guy just an idiot?”

“Puhuh… he’s like a bug.”

Likewise, the women who had been fixated solely on me now wore expressions of interest as they observed the mayhem.

Their relaxed faces, as if they could never be threatened, were the most prominent among those who did not flee.

“Submit quietly. I might let you keep your life.”

“Get lost—! What the hell do you want from me!!”

“…Hah.”

The guard, evading the terrorist’s attacks with a cold gaze, let out a deep sigh.

Truly… it must be tough. Perhaps it reminded me of the way public servants sighed under the torment of unruly patrons.

“…Damn it! You’re just sighing! Just die already—!”

“Ugh…!”

Gooo…!

And then, at that moment, a dark energy began to surge from the sword the terrorist held. The crimson aura coiling around the blade was enough to be called a ‘demon sword.’

But… why does that energy feel so familiar?

“Oh…? That looks similar to what we saw back then.”

“…What is that?”

“Puhuhuh… so there was a wild side to him after all.”

“That b*stard….!”

—

An intriguing gaze fixated on that sword. And only Ariel, with a crackling intensity, glared at the terrorist.

With a magic circle forming in her hand and her eyes shifting to a terrifying glare, it seemed she was ready to leap into action at any moment.

“…Just wait a moment. I’ll take that b*stard down right now—”

“Ariel…”

“W-what?”

“Don’t go…”

“But that guy—!”

“…Are you really going to go?”

Not wanting to see Ariel angry or crying again, I instinctively grabbed her sleeve.

I didn’t want to witness her fury or tears ever again, and I found myself looking up at her, my heart tightening.

“…Heh… heh… huff…”

Ariel stared at me blankly, her ears turning a deep shade of red, then she bowed her head and dispelled the magic circle.

“Gah… gah! This is precious…!”

“…I can’t hold back.”

*Slurp.*

I felt a gaze from behind, accompanied by a muttering sound, but I forced myself to turn away, determined to ignore it.

“…This is your final warning. Submit quietly.”

“C-cough! Don’t you get it yet?! Even after seeing this cursed sword!!!”

“Hah, cursed sword…?”

“Yeah! You wouldn’t understand, you ignorant fool! Sleep now, ‘Wail of the Darkness’…!”

…What kind of wail? What a name so drenched in teenage angst.

Regardless, the terrorist began to charge at the guard, laughing maniacally. At this rate, ‘Wail of the Darkness’ would surely cleave that guard in two.

Strange name aside, that sword seemed to possess quite a good quality. It felt like there was something akin to dark magic within it, as if it held some kind of power.

“Third failure to comply. I will subdue you.”

“What? What—”

*Crash—!*

Once again, the guard’s new model vanished in an instant as he spoke to something at his side. And as his model disappeared, ‘Wail of the Darkness’ was severed in half.

“W-what? My ‘Wail of the Darkness’…!”

“…What a joke. Wail, you say?”

*Crack—* *Snap!*

—

Ultimately, the terrorist fell helplessly to the ground, unable to show any sign of resistance against the guards.

Though I could not see it, the way the terrorist collapsed without a scratch suggested a professional hand at work.

It was only natural. Would the guards, tasked with protecting the heart of the Empire and the city where the Emperor resided, be weak?

Creeeak…

In the end, leaving behind only an unknown, small whimper, the terrorist was dragged away by the guards.

“….Next!”

Ah, it seemed our turn was approaching. The few standing before us passed through in mere seconds, reaching the front swiftly.

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“It looks like it’s our turn. Let’s go.”

“Y-yes… yes…”

“…The Cry of Darkness? What a cringe-worthy name.”

“Those idiots always come up with such nonsense.”

“But didn’t you shout something strange when you killed that last guy with the eyes?”

“Th-that was! You did the same!”

As we exchanged this light-hearted banter, we reached the front of the guard, whose dark circles had deepened.

The moment his cold gaze fell upon me, I instinctively lowered my head and averted my eyes.

A pause—

Then, the guard’s body stiffened as he turned towards the women standing behind me.