Chapter 38

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 38

Chapter Title: The Inner Me

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After forcibly receiving the Elixir of Atonement.

The 7th floor of the Tower, standing alone.

.

.

.

After briefly confirming that this floor also featured Lizardman-type monsters.

I had to endure the elixir's penalty for the next hour.

So I unhesitatingly downed the blue potion in my hand.

A moment later.

"Ah."

For an instant, it felt like the fog in my mind cleared, sharpening my senses.

A surging confidence flooded me, making me feel like I could do anything.

But that lasted only a moment.

The moment the next alert appeared...

"...Uh? Ooh?!"

...I'd never felt anything like it before—a sensation like my brain turning to mush.

I let out a weird groan and blacked out.

And after that.

I had no idea how much time had passed while I was unconscious.

The moment I regained awareness and recognized myself as me, what I saw was...

"Hey, you're finally awake."

...It was me.

No, more precisely... it was moving my body.

And it had noticed me waking up and was speaking to me.

"I've always wanted to have a chat like this someday. Main body."

Some thing that called me the 'main body'.

With control of my body taken away, there was only one thing I could do.

"The real body really does feel different, huh? There's quite a gap compared to what I sensed from inside."

'...Fuck.'

I could only watch like a ghost from a third-person view as this entity possessing my body marveled and twisted it this way and that, spewing curses all the while.

"Hey, main body. Don't use such harsh language. How's a dad with two daughters supposed to act like that? Gotta set a good example as an adult."

'......Fucking hell.'

"Yeah, that's more like it."

It was the same from then on.

"The tactile details from inside... they're a bit off from reality. I'll tweak that later since I remember them now."

"Ah, so this is hunger? Gotta eat on time or you feel empty—living bodies might be more hassle than I thought."

"And this is physical pain... Haha! Never thought I'd feel it for real. Totally different sensation from inside. Fascinating."

I had no idea why the living human body was so novel to it.

It marveled at the scent of the earth, at pinching my cheek.

It even stripped off all my clothes to feel the wind on bare skin.

It was playing with my body in the most bizarre ways.

Like a kid with a new toy.

But my devastated expression lasted only a moment.

"Hey, main body. Don't make that face. I didn't come out because I wanted to."

'...What...? What did you just say?'

"Exactly what I said. I didn't want to come out, but leaving things as they were would've gotten messy, so I had no choice."

'...Explain in detail.'

Maybe because it was possessing my body?

I could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tell its words weren't lies, so I demanded details.

And the mystery entity switched from playful to serious and continued.

"First, before the explanation... simply put, who I am."

"I'm the purest emotions and desires inside you, fused into one being. In other words, your inner 'you'."

'Inner 'me'?'

"Yeah. Born because of 'you', existing because of 'you', watching everything from your inner world. That's what I am."

'So, roughly... my alter ego? Like Inner Benefactor?'

"Not exactly opposite in personality... but call me whatever's comfy."

"The real point starts now."

Gulp-!

Pretending I had a throat to swallow with, I tensed up and listened.

The Inner Benefactor's words were shocking.

"Main body. You nearly died just now. Not physically—mentally."

"Two egos in one body? Obviously not normal at a glance. Especially for an unstable main body like you, with a fractured mind."

"If I hadn't stepped in, you'd probably be a monster by now, consumed body and soul by the new ego."

'Isn't that basically you saying you're super dangerous right now?'

"If that were true, we wouldn't be talking. Bluntly put, I could swallow you whole and claim this body right now."

Those words were 100% true.

I knew because it was my inner self.

Mere intent, and it could devour my ego and take my body—no bluff.

But knowing the truth didn't make the situation acceptable.

After all, no reason for my inner self not to seize my body.

So I cautiously asked about it.

"Simple. I'm not interested in your body at all."

'Not interested?'

"Yeah, hard to grasp, right? Not asking you to."

"But I'm serious. I'm content right here. You have no idea how fun and happy the inner world is."

"I can experience everything you see and feel anytime, enjoy it freely."

"Your games, comics you watched, food you ate, women you like, battles with enemies—everything!"

"Every day, no hassle, no risk."

"I love my spot, my life. No desire for your body. Even if offered, I'd refuse."

'Then... the reason you stepped in...?'

"If the main body dies, the inner world crumbles, and I can't stay whole."

So, in short.

One way to sum up Inner Benefactor's words...

"I'm gonna chill inside, sucking the sweet nectar, so you go spin your top out there, you bum."

"Speaking of, can't you get a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠girlfriend sooner? Can't simulate unexperienced stuff, so it's stuck and annoying."

"Ah, once out, how about groping Dr. Kim or Karin's chests first?"

'You fucking bastard!'

Why do I do the work and you get the honey, you prick!

Maybe because it's the sum of my desires?

Right after realizing Inner Benefactor was a dopamine-soaked shut-in, we bonded quickly over our similarities in conversation.

"Seriously, main body, you're too frustrating."

"Why not make mental health potions? If you'd done it sooner, I wouldn't have had to come out!"

'Do I have mental issues? Just occasional mental breakdowns, nothing major.'

"And the intelligence-boosting elixir too. Drink that, and you'd have pulled over a hundred girls by now."

'I'm already smart. Need intelligence booster? Really?'

"Ugh. My main body, but so dense it'll kill me. Let me spell it out."

"You're not that smart. You're fucking stupid, so make the intelligence elixir first thing when I leave. Got it?"

'Hmm... that bad?'

"Argh, I'm exploding! Exploding! Neighbors! My guts are bursting—!!!"

"Hoo... No helping it. Guess I'll make it mys—"

'No way in hell~ Material shortage normalized!'

"Ah! Why shortage now of all times! I could've fixed your idiocy somehow—!! This was the last chance—!!!"

We bantered like long-lost brothers for a while.

Then.

"Shhhk-! Shhhhk-!! Shhhk-!!!"

"Was feeling good, but you showed up right on time."

The monster we'd ignored while chatting found us.

Just watching Inner Benefactor fight taught me plenty.

'Violence is bad, Alter.'

"Monster-bashing is legal. Watch closely this time, main body. You can't hide behind others forever."

"I'll cram every technique I learned sparring Orc Uncle into this body—adapt well."

'Orc Uncle?'

"Y'know, that stewed orc. After the potion, he's chilling inside with me, sucking honey. We spar for exercise sometimes."

'A monster in my inner world...? How?'

"Beats me. Possible, so he's there?"

'Doesn't attack?'

"Nah. Communicates fine, can't defy me anyway, so we're neighborly."

'Huh... wow...'

A stewed monster entering my inner world.

No clue what's happening inside my body anymore.

Come to think of it, I stewed a lich too this time.

Hopefully it doesn't settle in as a neighbor... worrying.

"Anyway, I'll handle that. Focus here, main body. Watch and remember when I say!"

Thwack-! Thud-!

Thwack-! Thunk-!

Splat-! Crack-!

"Shhhk-!?!?"

"This is Orc Bare-Hand Fighting. Boosted physicals with battle aura—I evade attacks and strike vitals with bare hands."

"Next, Battle Aura Explosion."

Boom-!

...KABOOM-!!!

"SHHHK-!!!"

"Infuse weapon with battle aura to withstand, then it bursts on impact."

"Downside: weapon's one-use. Great for preemptive on unaware foes."

"Deliberately let it graze this time. Real combat, it'd kill or near-kill. Use wisely."

"Last, Orc Axe Technique... no suitable weapon, so just the form. Practice repetition."

Swish~ Swish~ Swishswish~

"To raise battle aura grade, wrap yourself constantly. Familiarity ups it."

"Shhh... shhhh... shhhh...!!!"

"Taught you everything... time to finish it?"

Crunch-!

[Time until Tower exit: 59 minutes 59 seconds]

.

.

.

[Time until Abnormal Status removal: 4 minutes 33 seconds]

.

.

.

"Not much time left."

'What'll you do first back inside?'

"Obviously, update the inner world with today's realism! Bit of a hassle, but not bad experience."

"So, main body. Can I check out outside for the remaining time?"

'Leave the Tower?'

"Curious about it, wanna see the girls and Doc for real."

"Realized once out: seeing from inside vs. outside is different."

'True that.'

Only 4 minutes left anyway.

Didn't seem like second thoughts.

To fulfill Inner Benefactor's wish to see Dr. Kim and the girls, we exited the Tower a bit early.

.

.

.

Exiting the Tower.

"Daddy-nyang!"

"Daddy!"

They'd been waiting the whole time.

The two girls sitting in the living room ran over and hugged Inner Benefactor.

That instant.

"...Nyang?"

"...Huh?"

Smack-!

Sensing something off, the girls tilted their heads.

Then they pushed away, narrowing their eyes suspiciously at Inner Benefactor.

"...Not Daddy-nyang!"

"...You're not Daddy!"

"Haha, caught~ You raised them well, main body~"

'Obviously, whose daughters are they.'

The body was the same.

But they detected the subtle difference between Inner Benefactor and me, tails stiffening warily.

"I'll stay cautious for now, my lord."

Seeing them, Dr. Kim and Karin sensed the anomaly too.

Dr. Kim gripped her mana, Karin her katana hilt, ready to draw anytime.

And witnessing it all, Inner Benefactor...

"...Nice. Worth seizing."

'...Hey, you don't mean...?'

Thump-! Thump-! Thump-!

'Don't! Stop, you mad bastard-!!!'

"Sorry, main body. Forgive this me."

'Forgive what! Just don't do it!'

...It ramped battle aura to heart's limit.

Wrapped whole body thickly, then charged at Dr. Kim and Karin.

But Dr. Kim, no way she'd watch idly, launched a massive mana spear.

Clang-!

"Haha-! Even glancing off packs this punch? Pretty heavy."

Inner Benefactor casually deflected it to the floor.

Yanked the spear, hurled it at Dr. Kim, and rushed Karin.

"...I'll cut you down."

Karin, in draw stance, grasped the situation—stacked three skills, unsheathed.

They merged into a new unique skill.

At speed where you wouldn't notice the draw without focus, she slashed Inner Benefactor...

Kagagagang-!!!

"...? What?!"

...But failed.

"If you know where it'll hit, just concentrate all battle aura there!"

Yes.

She knew it was lower floor than her.

Unsure of situation, thought killing me unwise—misjudgment.

Led to belief she could subdue without vitals, aiming to sever arms.

Inner Benefactor read it, eliminated other possibilities.

With godlike dynamic vision, read sword path fragments, poured all aura into arms, blocked.

Now right in front of Dr. Kim and Karin.

"My lord!"

Inner Benefactor reached for them.

Dr. Kim mostly using mana for magic circle upkeep, Karin slowed by unique skill recoil.

That instant.

With the removal alert, control returned to me.

But like a pre-input game command, ignoring my will, my arm moved on its own.

By the time I realized...

Grip-!

"Eek?!"

The sensation in both hands was something soft yet springy, gripped tight.

'...Soft yet springy...?'

...What the hell is that?

Curious about the novel feel, I slowly shifted my gaze.

Realized my arms ended ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at Dr. Kim's chest and Karin's lower body.

Squish-!

"Ah."

I learned the identity of the soft, springy things in my grasp.

...Inner Benefactor, you insane bastard.

Should've known when he mentioned Dr. Kim wanting out.

This fucker now.

'Haha, spin your top, main body! I'll enjoy from inside!'

Dumps cleanup on me.

He bails to inside for fun after the deed.

Goes to such absurd lengths just to grope tits and ass?