Is That My Alter Ego - Chapter 136



Chapter 136 – Aftermath

KWA-BOOM-!

“So today is my turn!!”

“Stop talking nonsense! It’s in two days for you!”

“And who are you to say that? Today is mine!”

Every time they shouted and swung their hands, the air trembled as if the very heavens were shaking, accompanied by a sound like thunder crashing down.

To an outsider, it might seem like they were fighting for their lives, but knowing their true strength, I could tell they were merely engaging in a light spar.

From noble mtl dot com

Summer was now fading, and the cool autumn breeze had begun to blow. The once vibrant green leaves were gradually turning a pale yellow, and the weather felt pleasantly mild.

“Haha… what a mess.”

I sat in a chair on the terrace, sipping tea while watching their… sparring?

In truth, even if I were to step in, I wouldn’t be able to stop them, so I chose not to intervene.

Creak- creak-

“…Feels good.”

Ignoring the tremendous noise, I leaned back in the rocking chair, letting the cool breeze wash over me as I closed my eyes.

In the West, where we were, there were hardly any people around, but perhaps that was why the beauty of nature was so vividly present.

Ah. By the way, this place is where I first opened my eyes in this world.

I’m not sure if I should call it my home… but anyway, we began building our house right where that building once stood, pouring in a level of money and technology that a mere ordinary citizen like me could hardly imagine, and the house was completed in less than a week.

Honestly, even objectively speaking, my—no, our house didn’t look that impressive. From the outside, it appeared to be a typical two-story wooden house.

However… that exterior, which looked like wood, was actually a blend of mithril and various ores, magically disguised to resemble wood. Though invisible to my eyes, according to them, the building was equipped with numerous defensive spells and artifacts, making it resilient enough to withstand an attack from a five-star monster.

When Ariel brought in the contractor and I heard the amount they proposed to build this house, I nearly fainted. I immediately told them that this was unacceptable.

Because it required an astronomical sum, enough to build dozens of mansions, just to construct this single house.

“It won’t do. It needs to be at least this much to feel secure.”

“Don’t worry, I have plenty of money.”

“Yeah. I need to do this to feel at ease.”

“Mm-mm.”

But since the choices were not given to me, we were living in this house now.

If I were to list the functions this house possessed, I could talk for hours and still not cover it all. In truth, I didn’t know everything either.

To introduce just a few of the more prominent features… If manipulated through magic, it could be completely sealed off like a bunker, providing perfect defense against the outside.

Even for someone like me, lacking in magical prowess, there were defensive mechanisms akin to turrets, ready to respond should danger arise.

They might have been lying to tease me, but they claimed that if infused with magic, the house itself could levitate and soar through the skies.

…This isn’t some movie about floating houses with balloons. I wanted to believe it was a lie, yet their expressions were far too serious.

In any case, it had already been several months since we began living in this house. The sweltering summer had passed, and now the cool breeze of autumn was upon us.

During this time, quite a lot—no, an incredible and astonishing amount—had happened.

I recalled the time we all went to the private beach in the south owned by Celis, where the five of us claimed the vast sandy shore and played joyfully.

In truth, when they all appeared before me in their uniquely vibrant bikinis, I didn’t know where to look and ended up closing my eyes.

Somehow, I pushed aside my embarrassment and splashed around in the water, applying oil at their request and grilling meat to eat… it was truly fun.

For the record, I nearly died when a monstrous creature leaped out of the sea while we were playing, but it took less than thirty minutes for them, furious and determined, to dive into the water and eradicate every monster in sight.

We also explored the beautiful natural landscapes of the east while listening to Kali’s explanations, and visited the village of the beastfolk for a special experience.

We gathered at Ariel’s villa in the north, sipping cocoa while watching a delightful play created by an artifact, and built a giant snowman together, among other things.

Though only a few months had passed, these were the most enjoyable and exhilarating days of my life. Each day slipped by unnoticed, filled with such happiness.

And all of it… was possible because they were with me. Because they looked at me, standing by my side.

They always say that my words and actions have saved their lives. That is why they always show me such devotion.

One might think that way. But… it wasn’t only them who were saved.

I, too, was saved by them. They breathed hope and happiness into a life that had merely been surviving, a life that was no different from being dead despite still being alive.

It was thanks to them that I could genuinely smile, that I felt the desire to live alongside someone. And… that I wanted to love sincerely. All of it was because of them.

I am happier than I could ever wish for. I simply… hope that this happiness lasts forever.

“…Oh dear. Has it really gotten this late?”

Lost in thought for a while, I snapped back to reality and glanced at the clock, realizing that lunchtime had arrived.

It would be good to inform them, who were still smashing the floor and slicing through the sky, of this fact.

Ahem.

“Everyone….!”

“”…….!””

As I let out a small shout, all their actions came to a sudden halt, and their gazes turned toward me.

My voice was so faint it barely registered against the cacophony that had filled the air until now, yet they recognized it immediately.

Good. Shall we all sit down for a meal then?

“It’s lunchtime now… ugh!”

Screeeech—!!

At that moment, a sound like a piercing shriek filled my ears, drowning out the world around me. My head began to throb as if it might burst.

The pain was so intense that I sank to the ground, cradling my head in my hands. I had never experienced such a headache in my life; it felt as if my mind was turning blank.

“Ugh… aaah…”

I merely sat there, expelling sounds that could not form into words.

And at the same time, as memories surged into my mind like waves, I began to scream as if I had lost my sanity.

…Monsters, I will kill them all… with everything I have, I will surely…!

What on earth… is this memory? It’s so infuriating, and yet so sorrowful. The boiling emotions felt as if they might explode at any moment, threatening to melt my heart away.

…Subject 8. Commencing the experiment.

Another memory crashes in. Cold, painful, and hollow. The emptiness is so profound that I feel as if I might vanish like dust caught in the wind.

…We are all the same person. But why… no, that’s not it. Even alone, I will set this wrong world right.

A sense of sorrow and regret. Yet, as I confront the burning sense of duty and will within, it feels as if I might go mad.

“….Sir! Why so suddenly…”

“……Stay focused!”

“Don’t… why…”

“Damn it… no… no…!”

Facing my fading consciousness, I see them rushing toward me, their pale faces filled with concern, but my vision was closing in.

‘…You all.’

Yet, I was not looking at them. Perhaps I had lost my mind, for three men stood before me, quietly gazing down.

Different in appearance, form, and features, yet they all felt the same.

…Me. The three manifestations of myself. They looked down at me with a quiet, yet pitiful gaze.

As I met their eyes, my mind drifted further away. My body had lost all strength, and I collapsed to the ground.

This feeling is oddly familiar. It’s the same sensation I had experienced three times before.

…Death. Though there was no pain, the emptiness felt as if my very existence was scattering, and now it began to wash over me once more.

Am I to die like this? So happy… living alongside those I love.

I had yet to repay their boundless love, and there were still so many things I wanted to do.

You… no, why have you come to find me? Is this vengeance for those I have led to their deaths?

…….!

I could no longer discern the sounds around me. This low, rumbling noise—was it the voice of nature, or the wails of those who had perished?

As our gazes met, I felt as if my mind were being drawn into some abyss.

I lost consciousness just like that.