Apocalypse?

Aaaah?!

I couldn't help but be shocked. And who could blame me?

The mirror that had filled the entire wall was gone, leaving only a plain white wall behind.

Where the hell did the mirror go?!

As I panicked, something finally caught my eye. The white wall wasn't smooth. There were bumps and protrusions everywhere, and something transparently glowing. In truth, the mirror hadn't disappeared at all—it was still there. It was just reflecting what looked like a white wall surface inside.

"Saaak!"

Incredible. What the hell was that?

Fortunately, Lania was keeping her promise, eyes squeezed shut and crouched down. I slithered closer to the mirror for a better look.

The white wall surface reflected in the mirror... its true nature was...

Scales...?

Scales. If my current ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scales were the size of barley grains, these were at least as big as a human head. I'd been slow to realize because of their overwhelming size.

A white wall covered in scales. And those scales were moving.

The mirror showed the target's essence. When I first heard that, I figured it might reflect my pre-reincarnation self—a scrawny young man who looked a bit insecure and hunched. But Headmaster Ballarnyar had spouted some nonsense about "worldline highlights" that made my brain hurt. From what he said, it seemed like my snake form would appear.

Honestly, wouldn't this new snake life be more of a highlight than my boring, ordinary previous one?

That moving wall of scales... it was probably my future self. An enormously enlarged... me.

How huge did I get?

I doubted even Giantification at max mana could reach that. Right now, my maximum size could match Father's, but even then, I'd be too heavy to jump. But that thing? Its size was beyond comprehension.

Then it happened. A clue to gauging my future size appeared.

I thought a fireball had suddenly appeared somewhere. But no—it was an eyeball. A massive eyeball flickering orange like a blazing flame.

Yeah, like the eye of some Sauron or whatever. Exactly like that.

This time, the eye filled almost the entire wall. An eyeball the size of a vast palace wall. I was awestruck by that insane scale.

-What? What are you looking at!

"You can't see it?"

-No, I can't. Damn it.

Ghosts don't reflect in mirrors, apparently. But Pellelian not only didn't reflect—he couldn't even see the contents.

I described what I saw to him.

-That huge? I can't believe you'd grow as big as that Shuémùlǎ.

What was Shuémùlǎ? Something from a monster encyclopedia, I think. Anyway, that's how it looked—what could I do?

I stared at the burning eye ahead. Just a future vision of myself, but terrifying nonetheless.

And then, something unexpected happened.

What the—?! Did that mean my future self could kill with a mere glance? Reaching the realm of heart-kill and intent-wounds-man?

But I didn't succumb to fear.

With Mental Strength at 20, even a great demon whispering curses in my ear would only mildly scare me.

But my future self seemed insanely powerful.

Kept hearing garbled noises nonstop. Man, that future me looked scary as hell. With eyes that fierce, it'd be hard to make friends. I started worrying about its social skills.

Then, a sudden realization hit.

This was a mirror. But not an ordinary one. My reflection on the other side was clearly affecting me somehow.

Ah...!

A flash of inspiration. If it could influence this side, maybe I could influence that side too? Like peeking at its status window. Or even Borrowing Horn a skill from my future self...

Let's try it!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I stared piercingly at my future self. Lose the staring contest, and it was over. Though it probably wasn't really staring back—just looked that way. That thought relaxed me for the stare-down.

I took a deep breath, focused, and pierced through.

Throb. The status window forming before my eyes crumbled. Kiyaaak! My head hurt so bad I writhed in agony. Separate from mental attacks—the sheer info overload.

A scoff, like a sneer. Must be my imagination.

Then—

Crack.

-Huh?

"Eh?!"

A cracking sound rang out, shocking Pellelian and Lania simultaneously. I looked up at the mirror too.

"Kee-sha-aak!"

To my horror, a huge crack had split the mirror. The reflected image vanished, the surface turning dull gray.

"What do we do! What do we do?!"

"Sasaak!"

Lania and I screamed in unison. No wonder—this was an incredibly valuable mirror. A national treasure of the kingdom, from what I'd heard.

"What the hell did you do?!"

'Nothing!'

Well, not nothing—I'd just glared at my reflection a bit. And now the mirror was cracked?!

"Saaaak!"

I hissed that it wasn't my fault.

"I'm dead!"

Lania clutched her head. She even tried rubbing spit on her finger to fix the crack, but no dice.

The commotion must've been too loud—footsteps approached outside.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing!"

Lania shrieked back. Anyone hearing that would know something's up, Lania.

"...Y-yes, time's almost up. Just a heads-up."

"..."

The footsteps faded, and Lania whispered to me.

"What now?"

She asked so seriously, but as her teacher, I felt bad—I had no idea.

Help me out, Pelleli-mong!

'Should we do it now?'

-Do what?

'Operation Take Over the Palace!'

We were in the palace. Strike first before getting nabbed for damaging a national treasure!

-Hmm, not a bad idea.

Pellelian seemed on board too. Great, let's take over the kingdom...

Knock knock knock.

"Time's up. Please come out."

But our plans were cut short.

"What do we dooo?!"

'Buy time for now!'

Lania blocked the door and held out. Such an obedient student. But it wasn't the best choice.

"You have to come out. H-hey, open the door!"

"Just a sec!"

"Time's up! Open it now!"

The maid tried forcing it open. With Lania blocking, anyone would suspect us.

'Lania, let the maid in and take her out. Murder and silence.'

'What kind of nonsense is that?!'

Nonsense from her teacher? Such harsh words.

But no chance to act. A sliding sound—there was a small viewing window up top.

The maid peered in. Spotted the crack, of course.

"Gasp."

Click, lock.

She let out a yelp, shut the window, and fled.

Lania screamed.

"Kee-yaaak!"

Why else would she run? To fetch guards, obviously.

'Last stand here.'

'No! Surrender please.'

'No way! You do it!'

As a marquess's lady, Lania probably wouldn't get executed. Probably. But even without breaking the mirror, I'd be insta-killed if caught. No surrendering.

"This was a mistake. I'm done for."

'Rap battle now.'

I was panicking too. Anyway, couldn't get caught and die. Had to use wits somehow.

-Hostage situation. Make it a hostage play somehow.

'Got it!'

And sure enough, footsteps rushed over. Sounded like... two? Just two?

No door-busting charge. Just polite knocks.

Knock knock ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knock.

"Calm down. I'll come in alone."

The voice was clear like a bird's chirp or silver beads rolling on a tray. A whispering tone, almost poetic.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"It's okay. It'll be fine."

"Uh, uh..."

Even Lania, channeling Pitch Throw Law, deflated.

The door opened to reveal a girl in a veil.

-Grab her!

"Saaak!"

As I lunged, Lania grabbed my tail. Ping!—I stretched straight in midair.

The startled girl flinched, veil flipping slightly.

"Kyaaak."

"Saaak!"

Whoa, I jolted too. Her veiled face was badly burned and distorted.

She hastily fixed it.

"Sorry."

"N-no, Your Highness."

Lania knelt on one knee. Princess, huh.

-Damn, should've taken her hostage.

Despite Pellelian's words, I felt a bit sorry for the princess. Had I overreacted to her burn scars? We were the guilty ones, yet she apologized.

I apologized too.

"Sasaak..."

"S-snake?"

Oh no. Too obvious a greeting.

The princess glanced between me and Lania.

"Ah, ahahaha. Sorry. It's my pet snake..."

Was Lania a genius? Quick thinking.

I climbed her arm pronto, making a dumb pet-snake face.

"Looks dazed and cute. From the scare?"

"That's its normal face. Cute, right?"

"Adorably so. What's its name?"

"Name...? Ur, Uroro."

"Ur, huh."

Princesses usually scream at snakes, right?

"Cute. Ur."

Yet she gently stroked my head. I played ultra-normal snake.

'Dumb face, max vacant expression...'

-Just like always.

She'd seen the crack, but the mood wasn't bad.

"Like an angel. I'm Lily."

"Saak."

"Oh? It understands me."

Lania jumped in.

"Ur's smart. Oh, proper intro: Lania Grayrim."

"I knew. Didn't expect to meet like this."

The princess glanced at the mirror. Lania panicked.

"That, um..."

"Congratulations."

"Huh?"

Through her translucent veil, the princess smiled faintly.

"You locked eyes with your reflection, and the mirror cracked?"

"Ah..."

I nodded at Lania from behind.

"Yes, exactly."

"It happens occasionally."

"Really?"

Was that it? Not my fault then? Phew.

"Yes, and those people always become great heroes. Oh, why's the snake suddenly dancing?"

That's right. Hero snake incoming.

"But what now? The mirror's broken..."

"It can be fixed. Just sprinkle water."

Lily pulled out a spray bottle, fetched a ladder like a pro, and misted it. Miraculously, the crack slowly mended.

"See? Sticks right back."

Confidence like she'd done it before. Curiosity struck.

I had Lania ask.

"Anyone else recently crack it besides me?"

"Ah, the last was Sir Gunter."

I jolted.

"Sasat!"

"Eek."

He did too? Classic Gunter... You're my rival for sure.