Is That My Alter Ego - Chapter 121



Chapter 121 – Magic

Fortunately…? The ones waiting at the door did not harm me.

Of course, I trusted them; I knew they would never hurt me… but it was still a bit frightening.

We all decided to leave the palace and explore the streets at the heart of the empire. I doubt I will ever forget the beautiful decorations and the golden splendor that unfolded until we stepped out of the palace.

“Venice. Can you see this view? This is… the center of the empire.”

“Wow…”

After leaving the palace, I stood on the stairs before a massive door that could be called the entrance to the palace, gazing at the vast center of the empire.

Is this… another world?

It was so breathtakingly beautiful that words felt unnecessary. If one were to visualize the term ‘fantasy world,’ this would be it.

Balloons floating in the sky. Buildings adorned beautifully along the streets, vibrant lights shimmering in every color, and throngs of people bustling about.

It was a street so stunning it left me speechless.

“Let’s go. I have so much to show you.”

“Y…yes!”

And so, we began to descend the tall stairs, one careful step at a time.

“Uh…huh?!”

“Whoa! You need to be careful, my lady!”

“Master, watch out. If you keep that up, I won’t let you go!”

“Y…yes… thank you.”

As I descended the stairs, I nearly stumbled and tumbled down, but thankfully, Kali and Seris caught me just in time, sparing me from a nasty fall.

Anyway. We had arrived in the heart of the Empire. With so many people around, one would expect the streets to be filthy, yet they were astonishingly clean, not a speck of dirt in sight.

“Hey… how can the ground be this clean? So many people must pass through here…”

“Oh, that’s because of the magic. The heart of the Empire, this entire city is under several enchantments. If anyone uses magic, we can trace its remnants, and there are spells that automatically cleanse impurities, among other things. It’s the result of the Empire’s greatest mages coming together.”

“Wow… that’s amazing.”

“Don’t worry, I’m far more impressive than those folks. They can’t even compare.”

“…Isn’t that a bit self-important?”

“Pfft. You’re hilarious.”

“Hehe…”

While I was overflowing with wonder at Ariel’s explanation, the others began to mock her.

Eventually, to prevent Ariel from throwing a fit, I hurriedly adjusted her clothing, and thankfully, the incident came to a close.

“Look over there, see that restaurant? It’s a place my family and I frequent. The food is quite good, so let’s go together next time.”

“Uh… but it looks really expensive…?”

Ariel pointed to a massive restaurant in the distance, leading me by the hand. At first, I thought it was some kind of department store.

But… she wants to go together? I don’t have a single coin to my name…

“I… I don’t have much money…”

“Do you think I’d ask you to pay? Just show up. I’ll make sure you get everything you desire.”

In that moment, as I looked at Ariel, her words made her seem so dazzling and radiant that I felt a wave of gloom wash away.

“Y-yes…”

I could only respond quietly, without resistance.

“…I want to deny it, but she does look pretty cool.”

“I too… next time, I’ll definitely…!”

“Oh? Is that how it works?”

Anyway. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I decided to take the lead and began to explore the streets more eagerly.

—Hey, everyone! Come see! The magic show is starting!

And then, from afar, I heard someone shouting loudly, and people began to gather around that person.

“Ah…! They said it’s magic! Let’s go check it out…!”

“Ma-Madam! You can take your time! If you fall…!”

“Ah… ah!”

Thud—

Before Seris’s words had even finished, I began to stumble, my foot catching on a single, ghostly protruding cobblestone.

Ha… how could this happen? Until now, there hadn’t been a single raised stone on the ground, yet here I was, tripping over one that seemed so insignificant…

The earth drew closer. Soon, pain would come…!

“Ugh… uaaah…”

Thud.

Just before I collided with the ground, my body was lifted into the air. A warm heat began to radiate through me.

As I glanced at the sturdy arms that held me, I turned to see Seris, her expression sharp as a blade.

“Truly… you require quite a bit of attention. It’s concerning.”

“Uh… uhh…”

The smile she wore, both hauntingly beautiful and decadently alluring, made it impossible for me to meet her gaze.

“…Not bad, I must say?”

“Shit…! I should have gone first!”

“Everyone… is quite desperate, aren’t they?”

Thump-thump.

After Seris set me down, I felt as if I might lose my mind to the inexplicable fluttering in my chest.

Why was this happening? I had thought… I would feel nothing at all.

At that moment… perhaps it was the words they had spoken, right before the Emperor, that lingered in my memory?

Even now, I still didn’t know.

“Alright~! Has everyone arrived? Let’s begin, shall we?”

Regardless, my purpose was to witness that magic, so I hurried to get closer before it started.

“Ah… I can’t see!”

However, the crowd had gathered more densely than I had anticipated, forming a wall that I couldn’t squeeze through.

In the end, being short meant I could see nothing but the cheers of the people.

“…I wanted to see it.”

I had always loved magic, and I was curious if the magic of this world was any different.

But not being able to see it… was a bit disappointing, I suppose.

“Hey… I think I should go back—ugh… ugh!”

“Whoa. Please place your hands on my head.”

And just as I was gloomily turning to leave, my body was suddenly lifted. Upon closer inspection, I saw Kalia had hoisted me up with both hands, setting me down on her shoulders.

“Ah… no! Put me down…!”

“Ah, you wanted to see this, didn’t you? Place your hand upon my head and behold.”

“But…!”

“Stay still.”

“…Hik. Yes…”

Suddenly, perched upon the horse, my face burned with embarrassment, and I squirmed, desperate to be let down. Yet, as Kali’s voice dropped to a low murmur, I found myself compelled to remain still.

“Now~! Focus on this card! I shall not look!”

The magician seemed intent on performing a card trick. The card he presented was the Seven of Hearts. Blindfolded, he displayed it only to the audience.

Sharak—shararak!

Then, he began to shuffle the cards haphazardly. They floated in the air, appearing from his hands, only to be mixed again.

It seemed a touch more extravagant than the magic I had seen on Earth. Was he truly wielding real magic?

“Tada! All the cards have been shuffled! Do you remember the card you saw, dear audience?!”

“Yes…!”

Without realizing it, I answered, my voice ringing out in the silence. I had expected many to respond, yet only my voice echoed softly.

– Puhuh… Is that a child? Looks like they came with their sister.

– But the woman who seems like a sister is a beastkin, right? That child is human.

– Hehe. Quite adorable.

Damn it…! Why is no one else answering?!

Laughter and curious gazes from the crowd flew toward me. I felt as if I could vanish into a mouse hole…!

“Hehe. Thank you for your response. But tell me, sir, do you know how many cards are in a standard deck?”

“Y-Yes? Me?”

“Yes! It’s perfectly fine if you don’t know!”

“N-No! There are… 52 cards!”

A typical deck consists of 52 cards. With hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds, and the K, J, Q, and Ace cards, it adds up to 52.

“Wow! You got it right! Let’s give him a round of applause!”

Clap clap clap clap!

– Amazing! Well done!!

– Whew!

No, I’m not a child! It seems people think of me as one.

Of course, it’s true that my body feels weak enough to be unappealing, but I am a robust adult…!

Clap clap clap.

“Ha ha. Magnificent, truly magnificent.”

“You’re amazing, Master…!”

“Excellent.”

“Of course, of course. Naturally excellent.”

And then, from just behind me, the sound of applause and conversation drifted in.

I covered my face with my hands, overwhelmed by an inexplicable sense of betrayal.

Stop…! Please, just stop…! At this rate, I’ll die of shame!!

“Ha ha. You are quite the charming one. Shall we continue the magic? Now, let us all count the cards in my hand together?!”

The magician began to drop the cards slowly, one by one. One… two… three. The cards fell to the ground, then hovered in the air.

“Fifty… fifty-one! In total, there are 51 cards remaining! But isn’t that strange?! As our gentleman here mentioned, there should be 52 cards!”

It was true. The cards floating in the air added up to exactly 51. I wondered if I had miscounted, but it was definitely 51.

“And… among these cards, is there one that you all have seen?!”

After hearing the magician’s words, I began to slowly examine the shapes of the cards. Surely… the card I had chosen earlier was the Seven of Hearts.

Seven of Hearts… Seven of Hearts…

“….Huh!”

Insane! The Seven of Hearts is missing! All the other cards are there, but the one we chose—the Seven of Hearts—is gone!

So where has the Seven of Hearts vanished to? I certainly didn’t see it fly away when the cards were shuffled.

“Sir? Would you mind checking your pockets?”

“Me..? My pockets?”

“Yes! I would appreciate it if you could take a look!”

Could it be… could it really be…? My heart raced as I fumbled through my pants pocket.

And then.

“Huh!”

As my hand plunged into my pocket, I felt something— a card! And when I pulled it out, the shimmering Seven of Hearts revealed itself.

“Is that the card you all saw?!”

“Y-yes… yes!”

Clap clap clap clap—!

Cheers and applause echoed through the streets. Of course, I joined in.

Magic is truly wondrous, no matter how many times you see it. How on earth did he do that? I thought I had seen it with my own eyes.

…Or perhaps, in this world, real magic exists? But then, how did they manage it back on Earth?

Heart 7. A heart that signifies love, and the number 7, a symbol of fortune. I wish for the love that approaches the gentleman’s future to be eternal. I shall conclude the magic!

Waaah—!

Clap clap clap clap clap!!

As the magician struck a grand pose, a tremendous roar and applause erupted around us.

“…That magician. I ought to tip him.”

“Mmhm. No doubt, a splendid magician.”

“Hehe. That was quite the entertaining trick.”

From noble mtl dot com

“Absolutely the best… magician..!”

And those who seemed least likely to cheer, erupted with the loudest applause.

Seeing their joy, I felt a flicker of happiness within myself.

My, no, our day was still far from over.

—