I Lost, But I Fought Well
The doppelganger mimicking me and Mir was fighting exactly as loudly as the description suggested. Boom. Thud. Crash.
The dazzling spectacle made comparing it to the fight between my own doppelganger and Mir feel almost unfair. It stirred up such a colorful range of emotions that it felt like watching a movie.
“Just eating popcorn is making my throat dry.”
“There’s cola too.”
“...Why the hell is there even popcorn? And it’s cold, too.”
“Heh. Thorough preparation, I’d say.”
I took the cola Alkest offered, drank it down, and focused on the fight again while munching more popcorn.
“Zeon. Can you use that technique too?”
“No. It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”
“Huhuhu! I see, so that’s how it is.”
Alkest wore a nasty smile, clearly delighted by my answer for some reason. Well, trying to understand his personality was a lost cause anyway. I quietly ignored him and turned my thoughts to the technique my doppelganger was using—the so-called Cheonma Descent.
“Cheonma Descent, huh. The naming sense really is outstanding.”
As expected of my doppelganger. If I had my way, I’d copy that technique immediately. Unfortunately, all I could do was think about it. My body refused to follow through.
“It’s collapsing.”
“The body can’t endure it.”
-It’s because he’s recklessly hammering in power beyond his limits with zero countermeasures.
-It’s a method that goes beyond ignorance and straight into stupidity.
Everyone tore into the doppelganger’s technique without mercy. A final move that burned away one’s life and abandoned the body itself. It was literally a self-destruct technique that could only be used when there was nowhere left to retreat.
-Plus it’s obvious the thing was slapped together in a hurry.
Mir’s Incarnation Descent and the doppelganger’s Cheonma Descent. In terms of raw power alone, Cheonma Descent looked superior. But when it came to safety, flexibility, and varied application of that power, Mir’s Incarnation Descent was clearly better.
At first they traded blows head-on, but as time passed Mir began dismantling the doppelganger through all sorts of different methods. In the process I witnessed a fighting style that felt far too familiar—Cross Gun using dual pistols, along with the techniques of people I’d met who had taken the Incarnation of Light as their class.
Was this mere coincidence?
‘There’s no way.’
She definitely had some connection to them. It was unlikely she was another possessor who had fallen into the same game as me. If someone asked me why I thought that, I wouldn’t be able to give a clear answer. I simply felt it. My senses were telling me she wasn’t the same kind of existence as me. That she was a genuine resident of this world.
‘It’s fine. I can just ask her directly.’
I had won the bet anyway. Given her personality, she didn’t seem like the type to lie, so I could ask without worry.
-Oh, that!
-Hoo? That sword is…
Right then Hoya and Cheonma reacted with surprise as they watched Mir. Wondering what was going on, I quickly focused on her. She had both hands clasped together, eyes closed, striking a pose that looked like she was praying.
Flash!
The doppelganger under the effects of Cheonma Descent seemed to feel a strong sense of danger from Mir’s stance and charged in. But countless weapons floating in the air began moving on their own, as if they possessed egos, and started protecting her.
Guns. Scythes. Bows. Knuckles. Staves. And more. All sorts of abilities fired from the varied weapons. Their individual power was weaker than what Mir used directly, but the sheer number made the current situation far more overwhelming in terms of difficulty.
More than the weapons themselves, what truly captured my attention was the holy power of light enveloping Mir’s body as she prayed.
“That’s… a sword?”
Alkest, who had been watching Mir alongside me, muttered quietly.
A sword, huh… Well, I suppose one could see it that way. The shape forming in front of Mir was certainly distinct enough to be called a sword.
But I wasn’t just anyone. When I looked at it, I didn’t see a sword. Or rather, considering the original, it was more accurate to say it was too embarrassing to even call it a sword.
‘I expected it, but to think she’d even use that guy’s technique.’
Since she had already copied various players’ abilities, I had suspected it. That person had also been an Incarnation of Light, after all.
The former number one ranker. Karne’s technique.
「Heavenly Sword」
It was far inferior to the Heavenly Sword I remembered. Compared to the original it was so crude one could call it a club rather than a sword. Still, against a doppelganger that was already falling apart, it would be more than enough.
-That cursed goddess’s sword!
-To think we’d see that sword here. The completion level still looks low, but her talent is truly outstanding.
So both Hoya and Cheonma recognized that sword. I remembered it as the technique of the former rank one I had fought at the end, but I wondered what the Heavenly Sword meant to them.
I quietly pondered the connection between those two and the Heavenly Sword as I watched the unfinished blade form in Mir’s grasp.
The moment the Heavenly Sword was completed, the battle was already over.
He had shown the Cheonma Descent by offering everything he had, but unfortunately the time had come to end it.
A sound like something crumbling reached my ears. Mir lowered her gaze to the doppelganger that was gradually losing form and collapsing, gritting her teeth.
To think she would have to reveal even this technique. It was stronger than she had anticipated. And Zeon would surely be even stronger than this thing.
Mir recalled Alkest’s explanation when he first introduced the doppelgangers and let out a small, bitter laugh. After fighting it herself, it was clear. The one who had created this situation was definitely Zeon.
“Cough.”
‘Tsk. My insides took some damage.’
Mir examined her condition while spitting blood. The Heavenly Sword she had used at the end was the culprit that had shaken her internals so violently.
‘It’s not even finished yet and it’s already this bad.’
If she completed it, she might collapse from using the technique itself. She couldn’t understand how the side effects grew stronger the more the technique was perfected. Still, thanks to it she had been able to defeat the doppelganger quickly.
Surely with this she had finished before Zeon…
“You’re late.”
“...Huh?”
Why are you here? Where’s my doppelganger? Shouldn’t you still be fighting?
Mir stared at Zeon, who was waving at her with a bright, cheerful expression. The fact that Zeon was standing there meant… in other words, that she had lost?
The realization that she had lost the bet immediately brought questions. Why had she lost? Could it be that the doppelganger copying her had also failed to properly replicate the original’s power, just like Zeon’s had?
She received the answer directly from the victor, Zeon. After hearing how his fight had gone, Mir’s face stiffened.
‘What? He only fought with guns and then died? What about Incarnation Descent? Where did all the other weapons go?!’
It was unfair. Truly, unbearably unfair. She couldn’t understand why her own doppelganger had fought so pathetically before falling, and she felt genuine anger at how differently it had behaved from the Zeon doppelganger she had faced.
One doppelganger had thrown away its life and fought to the bitter end, yet…
-If it were me, I’d be pissed about this too.
-It was just bad luck.
-Still, you fought plenty well.
-Exactly. It really was just bad luck. As for skill, well, it’s definitely head and shoulders above others in the same age group.
Mir couldn’t hear them, but Cheonma and Hoya were looking at her with faintly regretful expressions, quietly offering consolation. Of course, since the person in question hadn’t noticed at all, it provided zero comfort.
“Anyway, the bet is my win, right?”
“...Yes. It’s your victory.”
She admitted it coolly. As expected of our protagonist.
Before asking the question, though… I should clean this place up first.
“Alkest. You understand that this means our victory, yes?”
“Haha. Of course. It was a most satisfying outcome.”
Watching Alkest clap with genuine delight, I smiled as well. Yes, if you’re that happy about it, we’re happy too. After all, you’re about to become our Imperial Palace tour guide.
“Then keep your promise.”
“Naturally. I’m the type who keeps his word. How about we head to the Imperial Palace the moment summer vacation begins?”
“Summer vacation… Mir, what do you think?”
“Doesn’t matter to me.”
I didn’t have any major issues with it either. It wasn’t as if we’d be spending the entire break at the palace. Actually, maybe that would be better? I’d have to adjust my plans a little, but when I considered what I could gain from it… it actually sounded good.
“Since both of you are fine with it, I’ll contact you when the date approaches.”
Alkest scribbled something on a piece of paper that had appeared from who-knows-where. Probably organizing the schedule.
“Aah, today was truly a satisfying time. To think I was able to obtain such excellent data. I can’t express how grateful I am.”
“Then give us something extra.”
“Well said.”
“Haha! You really are like street thugs.”
Swish.
Alkest slowly scattered into the air. The absurd way he was clearly running away was so perfectly in character.
“Then I’ll take my leave before I get squeezed for anything more. By the way, to exit just press the red button on one side of your vision, so let’s meet again next time.”
With those final words, Alkest vanished completely. Perhaps because the chattiest one had disappeared, the surrounding space fell quiet in an instant.
“Shall we head back now too?”
“Wait. Before that, there’s something we need to settle.”
I immediately cut in at Mir’s suggestion. Where did she think she was sneaking off to? Unfortunately for her, I planned to claim the bet’s reward right here and now.
Now then, Mir? Let’s find out exactly what secret you’re hiding.