Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Vice-Commander Gray (2)
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Gray's words hit me like a thunderbolt—not just similar, but exactly alike. My confusion went beyond bewilderment.
'What the hell...? Wasn't my possession the whole point? My very existence?'
This body I was using now should be the same one from before the possession, right?
'No way... It only looks that way to me, but am I actually inside someone else's body?'
The thought made me turn to Gray, who was still eyeing me with fascination.
"Um, could you maybe describe what I look like?"
"...Out of nowhere?"
Gray gave me a slightly flustered look.
But it didn't last.
She crossed her arms and started scrutinizing my features.
"Hmm... Overall, your face is identical to your dad... er, your father's."
She smiled warmly, like she was looking at an adorable nephew, and continued.
"And your eyes and nose are sharp, just like your mom's."
"Definitely got the sharp, handsome look from both of them."
I asked again.
"Any distinguishing marks?"
"Distinguishing marks? Hmm..."
Gray narrowed her eyes and examined me closely.
I watched her, hoping she'd mention the feature I had in mind.
That way, I'd know this body was mine—not someone else's.
From the world before the possession.
As I thought that, Gray, still studying my face, spoke up.
"Ah, yeah, there is one."
She reached toward my face.
Her index finger tapped the end of my right eyebrow lightly.
"There's a tiny scar here, super faint."
"Ah... really?"
Phew, thank God.
This is my body.
Not someone else's.
I let out a deep sigh of relief.
A small scar at the end of my right eyebrow.
It was from the world before the possession.
Back in the orphanage as a kid, fighting some punk who tried to steal my food—got it from a metal tray.
'The fact that I remember every detail so vividly means my memories are intact, too...'
But why was Gray talking like I had parents here?
'...No way this body is from a parallel world version of me, right?'
The possibility... wasn't zero.
Hell, given the situation, it was pretty damn likely.
In the novels and comics I'd read, possessions into parallel selves or worlds with the same origin were common tropes.
'Yeah... that fits the current setup perfectly.'
But there were no memories from this place at all.
Like swapping out a desktop drive.
"Ugh..."
Maybe I was overthinking the uncertainties.
My head heated up, throbbing painfully.
I groaned and pressed my hand to my forehead.
Gray must have taken it for shock over learning about parents I never knew.
"Yeah, it's a shock, huh? Thinking you were an orphan for twenty years, then boom—turns out you had parents."
She patted my head gently, her touch full of pity.
"But you need to know this: your mom and dad..."
"Kyaaah!"
"...Great."
A scream cut off the talk about my supposed parents.
Gray scratched her cheek awkwardly at the sound.
"Guess we'll finish this later."
I nodded, raising both Thunderbolts.
Leaning on the railing, I looked down toward the hostages where the scream came from.
And I saw it.
Among the hostages, a civilian hoisted into the air by their hair, gripped in the hand of a massive Fallen.
"Kyaaah! P-please, spare me!"
"Grrr... Hungry. Gonna eat you."
"This bastard told us to hold off since no signal came, and now he's the first to pig out."
"So you ain't eating?"
"Nah? I'm eating too. Heh heh!"
Apparently tired of waiting for the signal, the low-rank Fallen snickered as they closed in on the civilian held by the big one.
I turned to Gray, who was watching beside me.
"You said they have bombs implanted, right?"
"Implanted in their bodies, yeah."
She pulled a small handheld monocular from her coat.
She offered it to me to check.
I took it and peered at the low-rank Fallen.
Sure enough, their bodies were packed with what looked like explosives.
"...Fucking monsters."
Gray nodded in agreement at my curse.
"Fallen earned that name for a reason."
Yeah, exactly.
So we wipe them all out. Extinct.
"Gray, can you...?"
"Not 'Gray,' sis."
"Gray sis, can you launch them up high?"
"Still so formal... Well, we'll work on that."
She muttered as she hopped onto the railing.
"Just need to loft 'em up, right?"
"Yeah, high enough no harm to the people below."
"Easy peasy."
She flashed a grin and leaped off.
She kicked off the air like before.
Whoosh!
Her form blurred and vanished.
She reappeared right in front of the civilian about to be devoured.
"What the— grak!"
"You son of a— grrrak!"
"...Grahhh!"
Her triple upward kicks sent the Fallen soaring to the height of our building.
I immediately pulled the triggers on both Thunderbolts.
Rumble-crack, boom-boom!
Gunfire like real thunderclaps echoed.
Bzzzzt-crackle!
Three rounds with Thunderbolt's effects—lightning and paralysis—traced blue arcs straight at the Fallen.
And then.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ KA-BOOM! The air itself shakes as their existences are utterly obliterated. "Whew, like father, like son—your gun skills are no joke."
Gray, who'd lofted up with them, whistled beside me in admiration.
I could only grin sheepishly.
'...All thanks to the cheat.'
Ah, can't exactly say that.
'Man, looks like Dad's weapon was a gun too?'
Father and son both using guns...
...Coincidence?
"Did my father handle guns that well?"
Gray's eyes sparkled as she replied.
"Handle? Every shot from that guy made Fallen heads—and enemies'—explode like fireworks."
"...Heads exploding?"
No way.
How? Piercing mana and demonic energy with bullets?
Did he have cheats like me?
Curiosity about this father and mother was building.
And with it, my head started throbbing again.
'...Not this again.'
Weird.
Every time "father" or "mother" came up, my head pounded.
Like it was telling me not to think about it.
"For real! Even his wild shots curved right into their skulls. Insane."
Gray chattered on like she was bragging about her star.
Each time, my brain felt like it was cooking, heating up more.
Then it hit me.
Ah, this is a restriction.
Something's blocking info on "father and mother."
'Why?'
Why the block?
Why hide my parents' info?
......Why?
Questions spiraling.
Eyes squeezed shut against the burning headache.
I calmed my churning stomach and asked.
"Wh-what about Mom's abilities...?"
"...You okay?"
"...Fine. So, about Mom..."
Stop.
A voice echoed in my head.
For some reason, it carried longing and worry as it tried to stop me.
But I gritted my teeth and pressed Gray for Mom's info.
The moment her lips parted with "mana...,"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The activation conditions for the derivative skill 'Composure' of 'Resilient Mind (A)' have been met.] [Would you like to activate 'Composure'?... Deemed unusable by current user.] [Activating 'Composure' automatically.] Snap!
Something in my head broke with a crack.
Vision went black, mind fading into the abyss.
My plummeting consciousness surged back up, yanked by an invisible hand.
"...Hah!"
Like a blocked breath breaking free, my head cleared.
"You sure you're okay? Your face is ghost-white."
Gray supported my staggering body, like I might collapse.
She gently bent her knees, easing me to the floor.
I thanked her and tried to ask about my parents again.
No— the moment I went to.
Zzzzzing...
A chilling sensation crawled over my skin.
And a terrifying premonition: one more question, and my head explodes.
I shut my mouth.
Gray, seeing it wasn't working, pulled a potion from her coat.
That was... antidote... fuck no!
I shot to my feet.
Dizziness spun me, but I glared and clamped down mentally.
"...No need?"
"I'm fine! Really!"
Her concern was sweet.
But not that potion!
"Still pale as death."
"Haha! Just my complexion—I'm good!"
I flailed around to prove it.
Sure, my guts churned like vomit central, but sheer willpower overrode it—no potion.
After proving I was okay, Gray tilted her head and pocketed the antidote.
I sighed in relief, leaning on the railing.
Glanced below.
"Everyone okay down there!"
"People here!"
"Contact the Association quick! Found the hostages!"
Fallen all down, no more hostages.
Association folks'll handle it.
As I started to look up.
Spotted Arthur among them.
"Looks like Arthur was fighting somewhere too."
No wounds, but clothes torn and dusty.
Meaning she took down Fallen, saved people.
I looked to the sky.
Blue had turned to red sunset glow.
Then raised my smartwatch wrist.
Messaged Asuka: Running late, eat without me.
Instant reply.
[Asuka]
- UwU! ・(｀ヘ´ )・
"Haha!"
Sorry for ditching dinner plans.
But I couldn't help laughing.