I'm Not Anna
Pigs can fly if they have wings. It had already been a month since Priscilla began her "role-play."
"Yawn... It's morning already?"
"Of course it is, Prissy. A 'miraculous' morning. Let's make today count. How about we start with some light stretching?"
Every morning, Priscilla headed into the forest to gather herbs. She built up mana in her heart bit by bit, slowly regaining her strength, and at home, she played the part of the good, lovable daughter. She spent each day diligently, perfecting her spell and treating its side effects.
"Oh, Anna dear. More herbs?"
"Yep! Hehe, there were tons in the woods."
"Playing is fine, but don't go too deep. There might be scary beasts."
"Of course! I stuck close to the village."
"I love you, my daughter."
"...I love you too, Mom."
And as she filled her days so faithfully, a stifling feeling began to grow deep in her heart. It was strange. Everything was going smoothly—yet she felt like she was missing something crucially important.
...It's just because I haven't found clues about the spell yet. I'm frustrated by how slow the progress is.
It was all this girl's body's fault. No talent for mana, weak constitution, and in the middle of a growth spurt—every night, she collapsed into bed like the dead.
"Prissy, no need to be so impatient. It's slow, but you're definitely changing, right? Step by step, one foot in front of the other."
Yeah. No need to rush. For now, living fully in the moment was enough. Distinguish what she could do from what she couldn't, and change things one small step at a time.
As Priscilla thought that, she suddenly realized how bizarre the situation was.
...Heavens, who would've thought I'd start thinking like Gigachad.
Before she knew it, she was thinking just like him. It was bizarre. Truly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Time flew by like an arrow loosed from a bowstring. Priscilla grew accustomed, day by day, to living as the girl named Anna.
"Mom! I'll do the laundry today, so rest up. You're still not feeling well."
"Oh? Then I'll leave it to my daughter today."
"Good job. Helping others is proof of strength. The good vibes are starting to roll in."
Helping with her mother's chores.
"Mom, here's some herbal tea good for your joints. You said your knee was aching last time, right?"
"Thank you, my dear."
"Perfect. Remembering what others say and doing what they need—that's the surest way to change the world."
Taking care of her mother's health.
"Mom! Read me a fairy tale today!"
"Hehe, my daughter's still such a child. Then today, I'll read your favorite, The Seven Ravens."
"Oh, acting like a kid when you're a kid—necessary too. Your performance is getting pretty smooth now."
Throwing a little tantrum with her mother.
"I love you, my daughter."
"Yes! I love you too!"
"Another victory today. Now get some good sleep, my daughter. For tomorrow's miraculous morning."
Expressing love.
It was a perfect day, like something out of a painting. Lying in bed, feeling her mother's warm hand stroking her hair, Priscilla closed her eyes.
As she lay there with eyes shut, a voice full of affection rang out.
"How can you be such an angel, my Anna."
"......"
Only then, hearing her mother's tender call of her daughter's name, did Priscilla realize it. The source of the suffocating pressure that had weighed on her chest all day.
The reason she'd felt such inexplicable anxiety despite everything flowing perfectly.
...I'm not Anna.
She was feeling guilt. For daring to bask in a love she, of all people, didn't deserve.
I'm just a witch who stole this little girl's body.
In that moment, something inside Priscilla snapped.
Her mother left the room after stroking her head. On impulse, Priscilla called out a name she'd thought she'd never utter.
"...Gigachad, you there?"
"Of course, Prissy. Always by your side. Never thought you'd call me first."
For the first time, Priscilla faced the muscular macho man before her eyes seriously. Her inner self. The guy who read her thoughts as easily as breathing, butted in annoyingly, and nagged in that weird speech pattern. Passionate man.
A hallucination born from her spell's failure.
At first, she'd been terrified of that delusion. Now, even those grotesque muscles felt somewhat familiar.
Priscilla's lips quirked up in a faint smile. A powerless laugh, having let go of so much.
"Gigachad, I've decided. I'm going to kill myself."
Yeah. That was it. A witch like her pretending at love only led to this misery. She'd forgotten that fact for far too long. Like some novice witch, she'd made a stupid mistake.
"Prissy, you look deep in thought. How about a night walk?"
"No thanks. Just... I'm fated to fail. Like every witch who chased immortality. Chasing impossible dreams just means endless failure."
In that sense, how lucky was she? The spell's side effect was just this musclehead nagging by her side. Looking back, it was ridiculous she'd trembled over something so minor.
"I'll kill myself until I steal a decent body, then you and I build a cabin in the woods and live there. Honestly, I've grown kinda fond of you now. Funny saying this to a hallucination... but we could make pretty good partners, don't you think?"
"You're running away."
"...What?"
"No more pussy lies. I'm your inner self. You can fool yourself, but not this Gigachad."
"What the hel—"
"Prissy, you're just... scared. Of hurting the one you love. And being hurt by them. So you're turning away from this moment, trying to run."
A cold, sunken expression and serious voice unlike his usual passionate self.
In that instant, Priscilla's face twisted viciously.
"So what? If it's running away, then what?"
"Prissy."
"Yeah, running away. Like a coward, scared of love. But if I don't run? People die anyway. I'll just steal someone else's life again, live like a parasite. So what the fuck do you want from me?!"
"Stop overthinking. You're not in control of yourself right now. Focus on the present—"
"Change things one small step at a time? What lesson am I supposed to take from that nagging mouth of yours?! Keep pretending to be this dumb girl and deceiving her mother? Is that what you want to tell me?"
"......"
"You're a hypocrite. Gigachad."
Priscilla poured out her emotions like a scream, then began to sob. Her limp shoulders shook up and down.
"If I hadn't been born, I wouldn't fear death."
Priscilla sniffled for a long while.
A moment later, Gigachad spoke.
"Yeah. You're right on all counts. Life is precious to everyone, and to survive, we get pathetic. Maybe you are a parasite."
"......"
"But Prissy, just because you have to live pathetically doesn't mean you should become a pathetic person. You have to accept the way of life you've chosen. Even if life exists just to torment you—you've got to do your best within it."
"...I don't want to deceive her mother anymore. I'm scared my true self, my lies, will be exposed. I just... want to run."
"Don't worry. You won't have to deceive her anymore. No need to run."
"What?"
Priscilla suddenly felt the air around her grow chillingly still. The house was unnaturally quiet.
"You feel it too, right? I'm you. You're screaming so loud—why hasn't your mother come in?"
The moment Gigachad finished speaking, Priscilla bolted from the bed and rushed out of the room. She flung open her mother's bedroom door.
Only an empty bed sat there. No one.
"Mom—where's Mother?!"
"Congrats, Prissy. No more of that 'goddamn role-play'."
"You fucking bastard. Tell me. Right now. Where did Mother go?"
"Don't you smell that familiar stench? Rotten eggs, ashes, virgin blood, and the maggot-ridden stink of death..."
Hearing Gigachad's words, Priscilla's face drained of color.
"Demon worshippers...? Why here?"
"Last role-play. A hero will come to kill the demon worshippers, so play the 'poor girl who lost her mother to demon worshippers' for the hero. Then you won't fear heroes anymore. You'll be safe, just like you wanted. Absolutely!"
"Lose... Mother?"
"Yeah, the situation you wanted, right?"
In that instant, Priscilla bolted out barefoot like a madwoman. The girl's frail feet scraped on stones and branches, becoming a bloody mess. She tumbled, unable to keep balance, then staggered up. The more she ran, the more wounds she got.
"Why bother, Prissy? That body can't even heal wounds easily. Oh, expecting a hero to give you a potion? Yeah, looking as pitiful as possible works in your favor."
"Shut up."
"Isn't this the situation you wanted? No responsibilities, no fear of heartbreak."
"......"
"Congrats. My daughter. The role-play's over now."
"...What are you? Gigachad wouldn't talk like that."
She turned to look at Gigachad mid-mad dash. He grinned cheekily and replied calmly.
"Doesn't matter how I talk, right? I'm your inner self."
"......"
"Look at you. No matter how much I try to stop you, you're pushing forward. Something the old pussy you couldn't imagine."
Only then did Priscilla realize Gigachad was messing with her. Impossible not to notice with that goofy grin.
"Anyway, no matter what I say, I can't make you move. Because—"
"The only one who can move me... is me."
"Of course."
"Ha, haha. I really hate you, Gigachad."
"That's weird. I'm you, and I love this Gigachad so much!"
"Yeah, maybe that 'possibility' exists too."
In that moment, threads of magic flowed from Priscilla's heart, forming the spell.
She might end up hunted by heroes again.
"Like you said, I've changed. Me."
No more hesitation.
First, save Mother.
Then kill those goddamn demon worshippers.