Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: The Fake's Resolve
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I handed the memory magic, similar to the blue crystal orb, to the fake Victoria and was adjusting the magic circle to match her magical circuits.
The fake, now completely free from Memorias's control, could no longer even maintain a human form, appearing as a dripping, gelatinous mass.
"First, the major risk: the more memories you transfer, the greater the chance you'll lose yourself," I explained, my expression unchanging as I looked at her.
With less than five minutes left, I had to finish explaining and execute the plan. While transferring memories, she could forget why she entered the memory magic or for whom she was doing this.
"I'm not the real Victoria Aberhart, after all. The more memories fade, the more I'll revert to an ordinary slime," the fake Victoria replied, placing her hand on the memory orb as she listened. She had already begun transferring bits of memory in advance.
Her face showed no hint of regret or hesitation. She looked composed, almost unbelievably so for someone facing imminent death.
"But wouldn't that mean I'd be remembered not as Victoria Aberhart, but as a companion with intelligence who helped the hero's party?" she added, a faint smile touching her lips. She said that leaving nothing behind was more frightening.
"Born a fake, yet possessing more sacrificial qualities than the real one... Even as an enemy's creation, I can't help but acknowledge that," Kyle, who had been hostile toward the fake Victoria until now, nodded upon seeing her resolve.
No matter how heroic we were, choosing to lose all memories and become a common Green Slime would be a difficult choice for anyone.
"Well, I suppose she's kind because she resembles me. If it were Kyle's or Anima's memories, she might have fought us as an enemy," the real Victoria retorted, perhaps a bit wounded in her pride by Kyle's words.
- I'm still uneasy. Even with a year's worth of my memories, can she succeed?
I, who could hear Victoria's inner thoughts, knew she was deliberately saying this out of concern for the fake.
Without memories of the near-miraculous successes I'd achieved, it was only natural for her to doubt.
Before meeting me, Victoria was someone who always compromised with reality, believing that enduring hardship alone would solve everything.
"Rather, I think she trusts Astal. You might not remember well now, but Astal always did crazy things when it came to you, Victoria," Anima clicked her tongue slightly. I had even torn through space from the Demon Realm to the continent to find a way for Victoria.
"That's right. Sir Astal was always the mage who gifted me miracles. If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have joined such an absurd plan," the fake Victoria said calmly, closing her eyes. It seemed my past devotion had meant something after all.
"So, which memories will you transfer first?"
"I plan to start from the moment I met Sir Astal. After all, we didn't have the best first impression," I asked, watching the flames rise past my neck. If the memory transfer order was wrong, the entire plan could fail.
"...If it were the real Victoria, I think she'd have transferred something else first."
"Haha, no matter how embarrassing it is for the real one to remember, without that ill-fated encounter, could I have fallen in love?"
I thought the fake Victoria's opinion was somewhat correct. No matter how embarrassing the memory was for Victoria, we couldn't only hold onto good things in life.
"Right. I've slowed time slightly inside the memory magic, so you'll have some time to sort out your feelings."
"Why go to such trouble? At this rate, I think the Magic Tower should create a course in your honor, Sir Astal."
"...Originally, I created this memory magic hoping someone would find it after my death. No matter if it's the Demon Realm, wouldn't human footsteps reach it after a few hundred years?" I couldn't hide my bitter expression as I looked at the blue crystal orb.
If I hadn't met Victoria, I planned to sacrifice my life to defeat the Demon King. Paradoxically, this magic, created so I wouldn't leave any regrets or attachments for my master who would grieve or the people whose lives I saved if I died...
"The children who admired my magic, waving branches in imitation... My master, who took in an orphan who lost his parents and hometown, and you, my comrades—I thought I shouldn't die without leaving any words for you."
"Such a gloomy magic might have finally found its owner," the fake Victoria said, now sharing her lingering regrets and remorse. Her expression showed more relief than regret.
"I'll go inside now. I'll come out just before the explosion, so please use defensive magic safely then."
"Alright, take care. It was a brief encounter, but at least you won't be remembered as a fake by those here," I said, deliberately turning my head and averting my gaze as I spoke the words she most wanted to hear.
"......"
Having listened to Victoria's inner thoughts all along, I could guess what she was thinking now.
"You truly are a kind person. I thought you'd scold me, call me a fake, or at least say something comforting with empty flattery."
"Because you're a fake, you can struggle more desperately and tenaciously than the real thing. I don't really dislike people who try that hard."
"Ha, haha... I-Is that so... At least I'm glad I didn't hear the word 'dislike' from you."
The fake Victoria's eyes reddened as thick tears fell, plop, plop, and she swallowed back a sob.
Even if they weren't her own memories, as someone who shared a year's worth of memories with me, it couldn't have been an easy decision.
"If... just if... reincarnation exists... wouldn't you give me just one chance?"
Only when the signs of explosion rose to her throat did the fake Victoria finally voice her true feelings.
Exactly opposite to what Heavenly God Lumina had decreed, she uttered words the original Victoria would never have spoken.
"Sure, if you can beat that person over there," I said, glancing at the real Victoria. No matter how I thought about it, she'd probably follow me even if I reincarnated.
"Haha, thank you. Now I can die without any lingering regrets."
"...You're not really dying, are you? I'll try to find you a match too. Someone as handsome and cool as me."
I wiped the tears from the fake Victoria's face with my hand. Searching this world, there would surely be plenty of good people to take care of her, aside from me who already had someone.
"I'll believe you'll take responsibility for those words."
The fake Victoria placed her hand over mine as she spoke. It felt slightly cooler than a human's body temperature now, but that only seemed to prove the warmth of her heart.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Inside the memory magic, the fake Victoria looked at the person who looked exactly like herself and felt a twinge of envy.
She couldn't help but wonder: what if she wasn't a fake who merely received Victoria Aberhart's memories, but the real person?
"...Such worries and troubles must be trivial compared to the love you've given," she murmured.
But the fake Victoria knew better than anyone what hardships the real one had endured over the past year and with what feelings she had adored the man named Astal Caisaros.
A saint living on borrowed time, clinging to faint hope while dreaming of the future.
Yet, fearing she might become a burden if she died later, she prepared for the worst by mixing affection with sharp remarks and criticism.
No matter that she possessed Victoria Aberhart's memories, these weren't ultimately achievements she had accomplished herself.
"Originally, I intended to give you the moment you finally accepted his confession... But given the situation, leaving just our recent conversation should suffice."
The fake Victoria smiled faintly as she looked at the Victoria from when the memory magic was recorded.
She could see all the behind-the-scenes stories—how that Victoria pondered ways to show her best side to Astal, the trial and error, the mistakes.
- Ah, let's start bright, not with a sad story. If I were defeated by Memoria, Sir Astal would be terribly sad.
- Like usual, like usual... Lighten the mood playfully as always, then get to the point. Victoria, you can do this.
The sight of her hiding sad or nervous expressions, taking deep breaths, or pacing the room to choose her words.
"How could I possibly interfere or get in the way of such sublime, tender love...?"
After seeing that, even the fake Victoria thought it was right for the original to regain her memories.
"...If there is a next life, I'll keep the promise to find me a man as wonderful as Sir Astal as my own cherished memory."
The fake Victoria reached her decision. Even if she could no longer understand human language or actions, it was better than hope completely vanishing.
Moreover, there was no reason to forget her original purpose while transferring memories and losing herself.
"I envy you. I'll show you I can achieve a love as wonderful as yours someday. That will be my proof of existence as 'Victoria Aberhart.'"
Having solidified her resolve, the fake Victoria began carefully transferring nearly all her memories, one by one, into the memory magic.