Chapter 180: Who Are You?
Chapter 180: Who Are You?
I had a dream.
A dream of the distant past.
A dream about how two people who only knew each other by face became friends.
And then, I saw another place.
Librarian, his expression completely devoid of emotion.
A scene where he confronted me, wielding black hands and mechanical tentacles.
And myself, roaring at that enemy as I swung my hammer.
“Right, so that’s how it happened.”
As soon as I heard that voice, I found myself in that place.
Inside a circular space submerged in a violet Mana Storm.
And on the opposite side, it sat on a couch, staring intently at me.
No, to say she was sitting was a bit of an error.
She was reclining on the couch, drawing from a water pipe.
Unlike the one who had looked almost identical to me until now, this Magical Girl looked a bit more decadent.
There were dark circles under her eyes, the color of her clothes was duller, and black patterns and silver ornaments were embedded here and there.
Yet, because all of it was only slightly different from my own form—because her presence was so natural it almost made me hallucinate that I was originally supposed to look like that—I didn't notice the difference between us at first glance.
“What, did you finally notice the physical differences? I can’t tell if you’re late or early…”
The black being spoke as if reading my mind, just as before.
“Well, differences in perception can’t be helped.”
The hedonist said this as she pulled the pipe from her mouth and walked slowly toward me.
Toward me, who sat in a mechanical chair with my chin resting on my hand.
“You’re quiet today. You’re usually so noisy.”
“…”
I have things to think about.
“I understand. Thoughts are sustenance, knowledge, and signposts. Didn’t you feel that keenly this time?”
“…You and I are different.”
There’s no way I’d spout such intellectual words.
“Different? No, everything is the same. Her, him, that thing, that person, that race, that future, that past, that present, that guy, that incident.”
The being said this and burst into a cackle, staring at me.
No, I was wrong again.
That ‘thing’ cackled. The woman wearing the clothes merely wore a bitter smile. She didn't make a sound.
The one laughing was the clothing itself.
What looked like black patterns were actually mouths and eyes, and they were rolling around, watching me or laughing.
“Ah, do I look a bit disgusting? Don’t worry. It’s a good kid. Fundamentally, it’s not much different from your clothes.”
…What does that matter at this point?
More importantly, there was something I’d wanted to ask ever since I spoke with Al’shel.
“Anyway, I have a question.”
“What is it? I’m busy, so I have time to answer you. I do.”
…That bizarre sentence structure is still the same.
“No. The sentences I speak are the complete and multifaceted truth, yet also a unique lie. They can’t be wrong. Though they are statistically wrong right now.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about.
More importantly, why can she read my mind but not my question?
“Oh, that? You realized that you and I are different. Well, a while ago. By your standards, anyway. Fundamentally we’re the same, but for now, different is different. So, I can’t read your mind by that margin of error. Just surface thoughts, words you’re about to say, or general knowledge? So I don’t know the question yet.”
Blah, blah, blah.
Was this person always this talkative?
“‘I’ am talkative.”
Ah, is that so? Well, whatever. Since she doesn’t know the question, I have to say it out loud.
“I heard something from someone I know…”
I intended to continue the question with that thought, but…
“Yes, go on.”
The opponent cut me off with uncanny timing.
And in the bizarre form of chiming in, no less.
…Let’s just ignore it.
“The Existence of The End said it needs a Pillar as a vessel for its descent. Then, did you do all this just to descend into my body?”
In a way, it was an incredibly strange thing to say.
Like a pig asking a human if they were going to eat it.
If the opponent was such a being, then what I was doing now was essentially the same.
“Pillar? You used an interesting word. But why would I need something like that?”
Skreeeeeeek.
An intense grinding of teeth, loud enough to grate on the ears, echoed.
And then, it appeared before my eyes in an instant.
Opening a door made of teeth floating in space, it was suddenly in front of me.
“We are all already inside you.”
Saying this, the entity that had popped out of the blue space reached out a finger with a violet claw and touched the violet gem on my chest.
Tap.
It was a small sound, but it embedded itself deep in my ears.
At the same time.
Whoosh!
I swung my hammer at it.
I swung so hard that the wind generated by The Hammer cutting through the air felt like a gale.
However.
“Oh, how scary. How scary. You’re so frightened, how can I even tease you?”
In that brief moment, it was already back to reclining on the couch, puffing on the water pipe.
“What do you mean, you’re inside me?”
Without being flustered by the bizarre situation, I threw the question at the being.
It was obvious that a nonsensical entity like Omega wouldn't be hurt by that, anyway.
“Actually, I get hurt normally. It hurts my feelings when you think of me as some kind of monster.”
As if she enjoyed teasing me, she wore a twisted smile and nitpicked my thoughts.
She even added a strangely sorrowful tone to the last sentence.
But.
“Cut the crap and just answer the question.”
I couldn't feel any human-like emotion from that being.
No matter how much sorrow was packed into her voice, it didn't affect me at all.
“I can give you the answer to that question, but…”
Click.
The sound of gears echoed.
“We’ve wasted too much time playing around today.”
The moment the words and the sound overlapped, my consciousness began to plummet toward the Abyss.
“Next time, organize your questions before you come. And don’t go wild. It’s a waste, isn’t it?”
Unable to resist the lure, I closed my eyes.
* * *
A white ceiling without a speck of dust, clean white sheets, a soft bed.
It was a somewhat familiar room.
Recalling my last memory, it was likely a hospital room somewhere.
I had no way of knowing which hospital it was, though.
I wondered if Oxymoron was going to pop out again.
Thinking that, I placed my hand on the soft cloth covering my body and sat up.
Click.
Along with the sound of the door opening, a woman wearing a stained doctor’s gown walked in quietly.
Straight blonde hair and blue eyes.
Not very tall.
A slender frame and an expressionless face.
A woman I had never seen before.
“Are you feeling alright?”
As soon as she entered the room, she turned her head toward me and asked the question without any sign of surprise.
She approached me proactively.
“I’m fine, but…”
“That’s a relief. You had excessive bleeding, ruptured blood vessels, and your heart had even stopped, so I thought you might die. Yet you’ve come back alive again. I suppose even if a permanent Magical Girl’s body is numerically identical to a human’s, it shouldn't be treated as one…”
Mutter, mutter, mutter.
She was staring straight into my eyes and babbling about something, but most of it didn't register.
Part of it was because the content was too technical and rambling for me to understand, but the bigger reason was…
Who is this?
I had no idea who this woman was.
She was acting incredibly familiar, but nothing came to mind regarding her identity.
If she was acting this friendly, we should have at least met once.
Hmm… who is she, really?
I kept racking my brain, but nothing came up.
My social circle was so narrow that unless I had amnesia or was under mind control, there was no way I wouldn't remember such a distinct woman…
“Oxymoron was trying to tear me apart. Asking how I could bring you back in this state when I was right there. Oh, as a side note, I really did lose an arm. I never knew a scalpel could be so sharp. Please thank Oxymoron later. She’s currently fast asleep after the surgery.”
…A blonde woman who talks way too much and knows Oxymoron?
I really don’t know. Who on earth is this?
While I was lost in thought.
“…So, that bio-machine… Are you listening? Or have your sensory organs or brain been damaged?”
The Enemy’s unceasing tongue continued to wag recklessly.
The blonde woman, perhaps worried about me, frowned slightly and reached out to place her hand on my forehead.
“Excuse me.”
She asked for permission, and since it was the hand of a stranger, I could have avoided it if I wanted to, but I blankly allowed that cold hand to touch me.
It was because I felt a strange sense of familiarity and sincerity from her.
After about ten seconds, she finally pulled her hand away and spoke.
“Numerically, there don’t seem to be any particular problems. Ah, my apologies. This is the only measurement method I have right now.”
Measurement? What did she do?
Didn't she just check my temperature?
No, that doesn't matter.
“There’s one thing I want to ask.”
“Not just one, you can ask dozens. I’m sure you have many questions.”
Well, that’s true. But right now, all those questions have been swallowed by a single one and vanished from my brain.
Sigh.
After a brief sigh.
Inhale.
I swallowed that breath back in, feeling incredibly nervous, and opened my mouth.
“By any chance… do I know you?”
Words far more pathetic than I had imagined came out of my mouth.
I wondered what the person in front of me would think if I had lost my memory and we actually had a close relationship.
And, as expected, my prediction was correct.
“…”
The person who heard the question stared at me with her mouth agape, as if she found it absurd.
How long did that awkward silence permeate the room?
“Ah. Ahhhh! Right! Of course. Yes. My mistake. I’m sorry.”
Suddenly, the woman shouted loud enough to shake the room.
Then, as if she finally understood the situation, she nodded unnaturally.
“I thought you were being unusually polite for Lee Ha-ram. Come to think of it, it’s only natural that you wouldn't recognize me. This body felt so familiar to me that I forgot.”
No, I’m asking who you are.
The way she speaks is familiar, but there’s no way the woman in front of me is that guy…
“It’s me. Librarian.”
The world is doomed.
I truly thought so.