Is That My Alter Ego - Chapter 96



Chapter 96 – Awakening

Another peaceful day in the village. The birds chirp, and the flowers bloom.

The warm sunlight bathes everything, wrapping my heart in comfort, and a yawn escapes me.

“Yawn…”

The same went for a cat-like beastkin. Playing with friends, as always, was the joy of life.

But that alone was enough. My life was blissfully perfect.

“Kali, what are you doing here?”

“Huh…? I just… suddenly got tired.”

“Hey, what’s that about? Let’s go! The others are waiting!”

“Okay, I got it.”

Young Kali beams back at her friend’s cheerful voice, following closely behind as they dash away.

Bang—bang—bang!!

Once again, a tremendous noise erupts from beyond the sturdy fence that envelops the village. The solid gate shakes as if it might shatter, dust swirling in the air.

“Kali, what are you looking at?”

“Um… I’m just… curious about what’s outside the fence.”

“Yikes! I told you not to do that!”

Her friend’s startled expression. Kali knew well that stepping outside or even showing interest was forbidden.

Every night before bed, her parents had sternly warned her, and the village elders always advised against thinking about the world beyond.

—

“…Yes, I understand. Let us go quickly.”

“Alright! A good child must listen well…!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

Thus, ignoring the towering fence that shook with a mad cacophony, I followed my friend.

What? There was no need to worry. Staying in the happy village, free of concerns, was far better than stepping out into the fearful, terrifying unknown beyond the fence.

Awaken.

A voice, warm and familiar, echoed in young Kali’s ears, though it was the first time she had heard it, bringing tears to her eyes without her even realizing.

“………..?”

She brushed it off as a fleeting oddity, chasing after the happiness before her.

“”………..””

As soon as Kali questioned the fence and the voice, she remained oblivious to the cold, expressionless gazes of the villagers watching her from behind.

And so, time flowed on.

From the moment Kali shed her childhood skin and transformed into a proper adult, she had never once stepped beyond the fence.

There was simply no reason to go out. She could eat whatever she desired, and all the boundless joy unfolded within the village.

“Kali. Come on, let’s go!”

“U…uhm…”

Though she still hadn’t changed her timid nature, it was alright.

The villagers and her friends embraced even that part of her, showering her with love.

Kali was so very happy. She thought that if this happiness could last forever, she would need nothing else.

This life was a profound blessing, and she harbored no worries.

Except for one solitary question.

Awaken…

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang-!!

Since that day when she faintly realized a voice was calling, it had echoed in her mind every single day for years, incessantly.

And the fence, now towering high enough to blot out the sky, shook even more violently than in her childhood.

Whose voice could that be, always ringing in her ears?

One would think that such a persistent sound would grow tiresome and frightening, yet the voice instead wrapped Kali’s heart in warmth and comfort.

…And each time she heard it, an inexplicable sadness and longing welled up within her. Thus, Kali did not shy away from the voice.

What could be happening beyond that fence?

From the dull noise and the crashing sounds that reverberated, it seemed as if something was ramming against the fence with its body.

Why? Why do I keep challenging this? After years of trying, when I see that fence standing unmoving, it feels like I should have given up by now.

“…If I go out there…”

What will happen?

“Kali—! Come here and try some fruit~”

Just as Kali’s curiosity reignites, the voice of a woman calling out, rushing over with fruit, reaches her ears.

“…What? But right now…”

“Don’t worry. First, would you like to taste this fruit? It’s perfectly sweet and ripe.”

“Okay…”

Crunch.

As she bites into the bright red flesh, a wave of sweetness fills her mouth. It feels as if she’s floating on clouds, blissful.

And the thoughts and questions that had filled her mind melt away like snow.

“…Huh? What was I just thinking about?”

“Kali, what are you doing over there! You’ll be late at this rate!”

“Ah… I got it!”

…It doesn’t seem like it was anything important. For now… let’s just focus on this happy moment.

….Wake up.

Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!

*

As she played joyfully with her friends, time flew by, and evening arrived.

Kali, promising to meet her friends again tomorrow, said her goodbyes and returned to her warm, cozy home.

“Welcome back, Kali.”

“Yes… I’m here.”

“Hehe. Our one and only daughter. You look beautiful today, too.”

Hug—

As soon as she stepped inside, her father and mother embraced her with smiles. Their warm arms felt so good that she never wanted to leave.

“Today, we have your favorite fish dish~”

“Come sit down.”

After Kali showered and got ready, her parents called her to the table.

Fish dish. Kali’s favorite food, one she could eat all year without growing tired of it. Normally, she would have rushed to devour the fish, but…

“…Today, I just want to… go to bed early.”

I do not know why, but today, my appetite had vanished.

“…Oh dear. It seems you have no taste for food.”

“Then… would you like to try this stew I got from a traveling merchant? Mom and Dad said it was simply delicious.”

“….No… I’m just tired and want to sleep quickly. I’m sorry.”

Kali conveyed her apologies to her parents, who were offering her food, and stepped into her room.

“”……….””

As her parents’ smiles faded, shadows danced in the dimly lit living room, cast by the lantern’s glow, unaware that a shape, not of a human, but of a wolf, lurked in the darkness.

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Creeeak… clunk.

“Haah…”

Why am I so tired today? It feels like I’ve never felt this way before…

Even the fish dish that usually ignited a fire in my eyes held no allure, and unlike the usual nights where I longed for sleep, my eyelids grew heavy, surrendering to slumber.

….Wake up.

Thud! Thud! Thudthudthud!

I don’t know. Perhaps… it’s best to sleep early today and rise with the dawn.

Softly, softly—

The moment Kali closed her eyes, she slipped into sleep. Just like any other night, she reveled in a blissful dreamland.

In her dreams, she played with friends, savored sweet fruits, and lay on warm grass, listening to the songs of birds as she napped.

—No, it had to be so. Until now, she had never once dreamt of anything but happiness.

Yet, for the first time in her life, Kali began to experience a horrific nightmare.

One day, out of the blue, monsters invaded the village, and everyone perished. Friends, neighbors, even her parents—all gone.

…And beside Kali lay a small child. A child she was certain she had never seen before, yet one who felt achingly familiar, a child she longed to hold close.

In the dream, the child and she embarked on a journey together. It was a grueling trek.

For the child, she would not shy away from anything. She even took lives.

“Ugh… ugh…”

The pain was maddening. Her head throbbed. Kali writhed in agony, suffering a torment she had never known in her life.

Then one day, she settled in a village that, while not perfect, overflowed with warmth.

She was utterly happy. As long as this child was with her, everything was alright.

But then, suddenly. The child was kidnapped by someone. The hatred for being powerless in the face of the child right before her eyes was unbearable.

To save the child, she worked day and night. Yet, the money was absurdly insufficient.

Then one day, by a twist of fate, she met someone.

“….Bodyguard?”

A figure composed entirely of pure, blinding white. At first glance, they seemed like any other human, or perhaps even stranger.

Suddenly, they would laugh maniacally alone, revealing a face that could only be described as wicked. Strangely, emotions lingered, yet their true visage remained elusive.

Days passed since that encounter. The person was entirely different from what I had imagined.

While everyone else was consumed by the burdens of their harsh lives, they offered counsel freely. They even distributed food to the lower tiers without charge.

Was it from that moment? I think I began to feel a flicker of affection. From that instant, I considered them a ‘friend.’

And when that person saved my sibling, solely because I called them a friend, I felt my heart race for the first time.

After the storm clouds had passed, days filled only with warm sunlight followed. The night market, a first for me. The sky adorned with a meteor shower, more beautiful than the shower itself, was you.

Suddenly kidnapped, I had dismantled an organization that had seized a section of the underground city, rescuing them.

After realizing my feelings for them, I donned a lovely dress, clutching roses as I approached.

Surely… I had never experienced such things. Yet, it felt so vivid, as if I had lived it, those days were filled with pure happiness.

And in that moment.

Wake up.

“Ugh—!”

Awoken by a voice echoing in my head, I jolted from a nightmare—or perhaps a blissful dream—gasping for breath as I sat up in bed.

What was that dream about…?

Wake up.

Bang—! Crash! Bang!!

Outside, it was still dark, the dawn air biting cold. Voices echoed as usual, the sound of the fence being pounded reverberated.

“……..!”

Surely… it was no different than usual. Yet why was my heart racing so…?

I must go out.

I needed to step beyond the fence, to confront someone out there.

Thoughts I had never entertained, thoughts I should never entertain, began to fill my mind.

There was no time for questions. Kali’s body, drenched in cold sweat, burst through the door and dashed outside.

“…Kali! Where are you going—! Come back home!!”

“Not out there—!!”

I could hear my parents’ cries. Their voices, always warm and beautiful. But in this moment, that voice felt so alien.

“…I told you not to go out, Kali!!”

“Come back quickly!!!”

Voices of friends drift from behind, their once bright tones now a sickening echo.

“Ugh… Hah!!”

I ran like a madman. My heart felt as if it would burst, breath clawing at my throat.

Yet, Kali had finally reached the towering fence, a barrier she had never approached in her life.

“Don’t open that door, Kali!!”

“You’ll never be able to return—!”

The voices of the villagers mingled in a cacophony. Their footsteps, still pounding, echoed loudly in the air.

…I know. If I step beyond this door, I will never reclaim this moment of happiness. I will never come back…

“…I must go.”

I don’t know why. It was simply that the urge to open the door, even at the cost of all this joy, filled Kali to the brim.

Creeeak…!

The massive door, long sealed, swung open with a mere flick of her small hand, as if it had never been locked.

Surely, I had thought, the world beyond the fence would be beautiful and vibrant.

“…..What is this…?”

But what in the world was this?

The realm outside the fence was nothing but endless darkness. Taking a step forward, I glanced back at the village.

It shone like a solitary gem, vibrant and distinct amidst an infinite void.

In this world of shadows, there was only a single white line. Beyond that, only darkness reigned.

…What on earth is happening? My head throbbed with the strangeness of it all. It felt as if the entire world moved solely for my village.

“………!”

Kali stared intently at the white lines unfurling in the darkness before her, only to be jolted back in shock.

The reason was clear. The white lines were the remnants of a ‘something’—a mountain of corpses, stacked infinitely high.

She gazed at the towering, battered fence. It looked as if it had been shattered and broken countless times, now ragged and worn.

…Did that tiny body really create such a thing? How many times had it been repeated?

Tatata—!

From the mountain of white corpses, something white began to rush toward Kali. A profound terror gripped her heart.

I must… go back…!

Just as Kali turned to flee back to the village, a voice, so familiar and sorrowful, echoed in her ears.

“…At last, you have arrived. Kali.”

“….Huh? Why am I…”

A voice so achingly familiar. The moment I heard that celestial voice, one I could never tire of, echoing from a dream just moments ago.

Tears began to flow from Kali’s eyes. Unstoppable, relentless.

“Come… back…!”

From behind her, a cacophony of voices—friends, parents, villagers—merged into a grotesque chorus.

Overwhelmed by a profound terror, Kali could not even turn to look; she could only tremble in place.

And then, at that moment. Someone clad in white brushed past Kali, heading toward her back.

“…It’s alright now.”

“No… nooo…!!!”

Silence enveloped her. She had no idea what that person had done.

Yet, a light erupted from behind her, so blindingly bright that she could feel its warmth.

In that instant, the darkness that had consumed the world began to recede. Gentle sunlight started to illuminate the shadowy realm.

And then, all of Kali’s memories came rushing back.

Every day spent traveling with Kalea. The day she had fortuitously met Venice, and all the joyful moments that followed.

The voice that had revealed to her that she was trapped in this false space belonged to Venice.

He had repeated countless deaths to awaken her, never yielding, always challenging fate.

“…Master…?”

Tears streamed down her face. At the same time, something cloaked in white began to reveal itself. Black hair, eyes of crimson hidden beneath half-closed lids.

“…Yes. It’s me, Venice.”

“Master…”

“It’s time to wake up, Kali.”

Venice approached the tear-streaked Kali. His trembling hand brushed against her forehead.

And in that moment.

“…Hah!”

Kali awoke as if from a long nightmare. She regained her senses. Looking around, she found herself in a vast clearing.

In the still-falling rain, she could see Ronan Ael, the beastfolk, and even Kalea.

“Kali…”

And then, right before her, the voice she had longed for echoed.

Master. My one and only, the voice of the one to whom I had devoted my life.

You have saved my life countless times… and once again, you have rescued me.

“Master…!”

He felt gratitude that he was still alive, and a sense of honor at having been saved once more.

Now… it is my turn to give back. With all that I have, I will…

Kali turned to look ahead. And in that moment.

“…Huh?”

“Cough… Is it… okay… now?”

Shlick—

A spurt of blood erupted from Venice’s mouth. His own hand, still unchanged, pierced through Venice’s chest.