Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: The Form of Love
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The fake Victoria felt a slight sense of relief after revealing her true identity.
Maybe I should have done this sooner.
Seeing Astal's face fill with shock and confusion actually made her feel more at ease.
"Why on earth did you reveal yourself...? If you really do have Victoria's memories, then revealing you're a fake would be the last thing you'd want, even more than death."
"Because that's what Victoria Everhart would have done. To call herself your lover, isn't memory alone the most important thing?"
The fake Victoria spoke, placing her hand over her chest as if to show confidence. An ordinary person would have hidden this fact and continued the act of being Astal's lover.
They wouldn't want to be exposed as a fake who only received memories from Memoria, and they wouldn't want to be hated by the person they love.
"I am doing what I must do, in my own way, as your lover."
But the fake Victoria chose to tell the truth with her own mouth.
Because this was the right thing to do.
If she was a fake, a being who must one day hand over her memories to the real one and disappear...
"...This is the form of love I learned from you."
"......"
She would rather become a person Astal Kaiseros could never forget.
Because there were things only a fake could do. A desperation and struggle that the real one could never possess.
"Alright, let's assume for now you're a fake. Then, what's the proof? Memoria could have done something to your memories."
Even though the other Victoria had readily revealed she was fake, Astal showed caution by seeking confirmation once more.
It showed just how precious the person named Victoria Everhart was to him.
"What's this? Weren't you originally someone who would loathe or try to kill monsters or demons on sight?"
"Well, that was true... but the situation now is very different."
The fake Victoria burst out laughing at his serious demeanor, so different from when he faced the Chameleon Dragon.
How could someone be so soft and kind?
If she were truly Victoria and his lover who shared his love, she thought she would have been truly happy.
"If you were a slime that doesn't harm humans, like in Geraktar's case... there'd be no reason to kill you."
Look at him now. That man who seemed so thorough and cold-hearted was hesitating with every word she spoke.
"That might be difficult. I am, after all, a being sent by Memoria to make you all fight each other, so it's only right that I disappear."
The fake Victoria lightly stroked Astal's cheek, suppressing her feelings of regret.
If she said here that she didn't want to disappear, he would probably really find a way.
"But..."
"There is no 'but'. Have you forgotten how vile Memoria is? She thinks of humans as nothing more or less than taxidermied animals, treating them like toys she can play with as she pleases."
The fake Victoria glanced at the real one and spoke. She judged that the real Victoria, lacking memories, might not know what kind of being Memoria was.
If she informed her of this, she thought the real Victoria would also burn with a desire for vengeance to subjugate Memoria.
In a way, she too could be called Victoria Everhart.
"Even though I have reason now and am with you all, and think of myself as another 'Victoria Everhart'... there's a high chance that will change."
As she said this, the fake Victoria let her fingers fall from Astal's cheek. The warm, soft sensation faded, leaving a sense of longing at her fingertips.
She wouldn't be able to feel this warmth and emotion anymore. Once Memoria died, she too would not survive.
Originally, if a slime's core is destroyed, its clones disappear as well. That's why slimes cannot infinitely mimic and divide.
"The reason I think of myself as a fake is because I can no longer hear the voice of the Heavenly God Lumina."
To persuade the other companions, the fake Victoria began presenting evidence that she was a fake.
If she didn't do this, it seemed these people would protect her to the end or refuse to accept her choice.
"Couldn't Memoria have done something? She might have blocked the connection to the Heavenly God..."
"The probability of that is extremely low. Even if She cannot directly influence the mortal world, would a God be a God for no reason?"
The fake Victoria let out a soft chuckle through her teeth at Astal's adorable line of thinking.
No matter how much he didn't believe in gods and disliked them for tormenting Victoria with the side effects of miracles, it was difficult for a human to defy a god.
"Moreover, I tried secretly using miracles or divine power, but I couldn't use them at all. The person next to me could use them, though."
"...A very small flower like a thorn bloomed at my fingertip, but I plucked it out immediately."
The fake Victoria looked at the real one with a gentle gaze as she spoke. Originally, she would have been jealous of even this light physical contact with Astal.
But now, after boldly revealing she was a fake and stating she would disappear one day, she was showing consideration by allowing this level of deviation.
"Alright, if that's your choice... if that's the only way to subjugate Memoria... then respecting it would be right."
Seeing the real Victoria and the fake not treating each other as enemies but acknowledging each other, Astal changed his mind.
Since he could read the real Victoria's inner thoughts to know what they discussed in his absence, he couldn't ignore their resolve.
"Hey... Then what should I call you from now on? If you're really a fake with only Victoria's memories, and a slime..."
"Just call me Victoria 2, as you wish. No matter that my true nature is a slime mimicking a human, I can now proudly use that name."
Seeing Anima hesitantly approach the fake Victoria, she couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth rise.
Even knowing her identity was fake, because she was Victoria's best friend, she could tell Anima was trying her best to be considerate of her.
This must be what it feels like to be alive.
The fake Victoria finally felt like she was living her own life, not overshadowed by the real one's shadow.
"It's a bit strange. I thought if you were really a slime split from Memoria, you'd hold hostility towards us or try to devour us secretly."
Kyle, who had been silently leaning against the wall observing the situation, finally spoke.
True to the Hero who had advised Astal to eliminate the fake so decisively, it seemed he didn't fully trust her.
"I think so too. No matter that I have Victoria Everhart's memories... it's highly likely Memoria orchestrated this situation just for her own amusement."
The fake Victoria readily agreed with Kyle's opinion.
No matter how devout and benevolent the human named Victoria Everhart was, such reasons alone wouldn't have been enough to escape Memoria's grasp.
"...It's really easy to mistake you for the Victoria we know. Did you have some change of heart? You seemed rather flimsy just a moment ago."
Hero Kyle had no choice but to acknowledge the fake Victoria after hearing her statement. She was reading Memoria's intentions better than anyone and doing her best at what needed to be done now.
"Well... To put it simply... I guess it's right to say I became jealous after seeing the real Victoria Everhart."
"Actually, I told her that if I were to die, I'd at least give her the chance to live Victoria's life."
The Victorias looked at each other and nodded. The two, who had been at odds just moments before, were now uniting their strength for Astal's sake.
"No matter how much I struggle, if I can't escape being a fake... I wanted to do something the real Victoria couldn't do, so I'd at least remain in memory."
As she said this, the fake Victoria clenched the fragment of Memoria in her hand.
Watching the mucus-like substance cling to her body as if they were one, she once again felt the reality of being a fake.
"......"
A sense of relief and comfort, like being held in a mother's embrace, was shaking the fake Victoria's reason, but for the man she loved more than anyone, she gritted her teeth strongly.
At that moment, Memoria's voice began to echo in her mind, and her vision started to darken.
A damp, musty smell and sensation enveloped the fake Victoria, and through this information, she realized Memoria was in a specific underground location, but...
"From now on, I'll have to control you directly. I'd rather die than have my hiding place exposed!"
Memoria's terrifying laughter spread through her ears, and the fake Victoria began to lose control of her body.