Chapter 210: That is correct. You have won (4)
Whizz! Whoosh!
I gritted my teeth as I watched the soldier with a sturdy physique wielding a spear, taking up a rather large space in the corridor that served as an intersection. Compared to Joey, he was quite small, but from my perspective, he was still plenty big.
“Hehehe, they said if I catch you, I’ll get promoted to general and a reward!”
The guy charged at me, his eyes gleaming with avarice. I scoffed, finding his appearance ridiculous. Even though he was large, his charging form was so sloppy it almost made me yawn.
The spear blade aimed for my heart. Unfortunately, I can’t give you my heart because it’s not mine to give. I stuck my feet to the floor and slid sideways, effortlessly dodging the spear.
Where I had slid to avoid the spear, I saw the face and side of an Imperial soldier, his eyes rolling. I smirked and tripped him, shifting my weight in the opposite direction.
“Huh? Uwaah―!”
Crash!
His heavy body, pushed by me, crashed through the window and fell down below. A dull thud followed, and I shrugged.
That’s when it happened.
Thwack!
“Ugh……?”
My side and thigh burned. I turned my head to see crossbow bolts, still quivering, embedded in my flesh.
“Hehehe! Gotcha! Haha!”
A rat-faced Imperial soldier, who had somehow gotten close, was holding a small crossbow in each hand. He snickered, then discarded the crossbows and pulled out a dagger, charging at me.
“Die, Arisein!”
“You… You die!”
Enraged, my body moved, ignoring the pain. First, I swung my sword diagonally upwards to the right, severing his left hand. Then, I slammed my sword down, pinning his dagger and piercing his right shoulder, followed by a headbutt that crushed his nose.
He screamed.
“Kyaaagh!”
“Uwaaaaah―!”
I roared.
Damn you! You cowardly ambushed me! Die! Die! I didn’t keep this body safe all this time to die to a scum like you!
I headbutted him repeatedly until he fainted, then threw him down and slit his throat, ending his life. Then, I bit down on the dagger sheath and pulled out the crossbow bolts with all my might.
“Kguuuuuuuh―!”
It hurts! Damn it! It feels like someone’s searing my side with a red-hot poker! Like my thigh is being stabbed dozens of times with an awl!
Tears welled up in my eyes, and saliva dripped from between my lips, clenched around the dagger sheath. I wanted to collapse right there, but I rummaged through my belt and pulled out the last remaining potion bottle.
I used one on the 3rd floor, and now I’m on the 8th floor……
I forced the potion down my throat. My wounds began to itch intensely as they regenerated.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
With the sound of my clothes ripping slightly, the wounds disappeared without a trace. However, the potion didn’t seem to restore my stamina, as my body still felt heavy.
Damn you, Artshever, my enemy.
They said he and Aila were father and daughter. And Aila had spoken a little about her family.
And the truth of this world, the parallel dimensions.
The biggest reason he was able to come to this multi-dimensional space was because he stopped time in the world where Aila lived and escaped all the laws governing parallel dimensions.
In other words, he crossed over to this world with his own body and soul intact.
What does this mean?
There are two identical beings in this world.
This means someone on this continent, in this world, is Artshever. The same goes for Aila. She must also be someone somewhere on this continent.
Who could he be?
He could be an ordinary farmer. Or a general of some country, a council member of some republic, or even the current Emperor.
One in billions, the probability of anyone on the continent.
Yes. If it were just that, it would be virtually impossible to pinpoint his identity. I’m just an ordinary person in terms of qualifications, and I couldn’t even memorize the names of all my officers.
However, I can find out his name. No, it’s more accurate to say that I already know it.
That name is definitely composed of words that Aila was reluctant to say, words that must be kept hidden until I reach the Imperial Capital and have the final battle with him.
If it were anything ordinary, that good friend of mine would have told me. If she’s deliberately avoiding it, what could it be?
And what is the last possibility that my mind refuses to acknowledge?
Do you know the feeling when your head tells you there’s only one answer, but your heart refuses to accept it?
This dissonance arises when an absurdly shocking conclusion forms in your mind, and your emotions can’t keep up with your logic.
“Cough……!”
Even though it’s magical armor, it seems the shock absorption wasn’t perfect. The surprise attack, which I suffered while my concentration was low, came in the form of a mace blow to the back.
Of course, I wouldn’t let the guy who attacked me get away with it.
I grabbed the mace he had dropped during our fight and smashed his head. The mace, which must have been taken from somewhere within the castle, was brand new and shiny, but now it was covered in blood and brains.
However, thanks to the shock that remained in my internal organs, if there was even one more person ahead, my only weapon would be my tongue.
In a state where even mosquitos wouldn’t perceive me as a threat, I dragged my feet and moved my body, climbing the stairs.
This is the castle tower. Where could he be?
I bit my lip and stepped on the stairs, clenching my teeth and dragging my legs up. I could feel the new wounds I had sustained throbbing.
If I hadn’t brought the medicine made at the temple, I would have needed two more lives.
“Haa, haa……!”
Damn it. This is unfortunate. In this condition, even if I meet Artshever, I won’t be able to slap him.
Heavy footsteps. The spiraling staircase seemed endless, as if it would never reach its destination.
Was this what Artshever’s life was like? An endless life, endlessly circling. The fatigue and boredom he must have felt…… It’s hard to imagine.
Thinking about it made me laugh.
“Haha, ha! Hahaha……!”
Stop it, Arisein. Are you in any position to worry about others? Take care of yourself first. All you have to do is win the bet with him and make up for the points you lost.
Now, push your body forward! And climb! To where your nemesis is!
To where the enemy you must defeat is!
I opened the door with my blood-soaked hand.
Creak……
I could see the mountainside where the morning sun was about to rise. The first thing I saw was the harsh morning sunlight, dazzlingly piercing me.
And I sensed a person. A sharp wind blew, as if there was a rule that it should only blow from high places.
In the middle of the space where the wind and sunlight danced, my nemesis stood, smiling faintly.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Ah, yes, I have. Damn it. It was damn hard.”
Seeing his face, I felt it again. No, I felt it even before I opened the door. This paradoxical feeling, unfamiliar yet familiar, and repulsive because of its familiarity.
The green-eyed enemy with white hair smiled brightly.
“Welcome. Welcome, Duke Arisein Uck Herduke, and Grand General of the Kingdom Army. I am truly delighted that you have come to honor your promise with this humble jester. Now, shall we see the end of the bet between us?”
At that moment, the wind blew.
The wind seemed busy carrying the pale morning sunlight. Bathed in the light coming through the window, Artshever, backlit by the morning sun, spoke.
“What is my name?”
I walked slowly. I caught my breath, suppressed the nausea in my stomach, and walked slowly to stand 10 meters in front of him, trying not to grimace at the pain from my wounds.
I spoke.
“First…… I have something to say.”
“What is it? Ah, of course, I will strictly adhere to the conditions of the bet. It’s a promise. If I win, you will do as agreed. Yes, please speak.”
“Aila’s family…… was very warm.”
“I think so too.”
I raised a finger. It meant, shut up and listen to me. At least after coming this far, I had to tell him how I figured it out.
I needed to explain it to myself, too.
“A loving couple. The woman is older. The second son who doesn’t inherit the family. The one who is called Aila’s dad.”
Artshever smiled quietly and raised a finger.
“Parallel dimensions. Each of the connected multi-dimensional spaces is inhabited by people identical to me. Their lives are different, but their blood ties remain. That’s how the formula of a single dimension works. And you, you crossed over from the world where Aila lived, with your body and soul intact.”
He unfolded a second finger.
“Brandiego said that my role was to defeat myself. Could this simply symbolize ordinary self-discipline? Would that dragon, who probably knows everything, have told me that with such a singular meaning?”
A third finger.
“Aila was reluctant to tell me your name. She could have told me any name I didn’t know. But it was a name I knew. And among the people I know, there was no one with a daughter like Aila. Such a unique personality, I wouldn’t forget even after meeting her just once. And she said she became a baby when she came here because she had to correct the error in absolute time. That means her existence doesn’t exist in this world. In other words, she’s ‘the daughter of someone who hasn’t been born yet.’”
A fourth finger. The white-faced enemy smiled even wider. I took a moment to catch my breath. My head was spinning from saying so much at once.
I barely managed to hold onto my legs and support myself.
“My hair isn’t black. You fixed it. Before anyone could notice. And Aila’s hair is gray. A color that’s a mix of black and white. Who would be the mother and who would be the father for such a color to appear?”
He spread his hands wide. His face also opened wide.
Is he that happy?
“Lastly, this feeling I get every time I see you…… This paradoxical feeling, unfamiliar yet familiar, and repulsive because of its familiarity! I can’t feel this feeling anywhere else, no matter who I meet! Damn it! Of course! Probably because other people will never feel it in their lifetime!”
My heart pounded. Thump, thump, thump, thump. My heart pumped blood to my head, making me dizzy. The morning sun, almost entirely out from behind him, seemed to be stimulating my blood flow.
Clap!
He clapped. With a truly joyful face.
“Indeed! You are amazing. To think you would think that far! Now, what is my name that you figured out by thinking like that?”
I tried to exhale deeply, but a cough suddenly escaped my lips. I bent over and coughed violently several times. Blood might have mixed in, but I didn’t have time to care.
The truth that I explained to myself and acknowledged.
It heats up my head and makes my chest pound.
I have to acknowledge this reality that I don’t want to acknowledge, by myself.
“Hoo, I didn’t want to think about it until now. Maybe the other me inside me had a clue! But how many people would readily acknowledge that! But it’s just a ridiculous attachment not to acknowledge it after coming this far! Isn’t that right, Artshever!”
I shook my head vigorously.
Artshever, that’s just a fake name he made up!
I don’t know who he made it to mock, but it’s a fake name that the clown, laughing behind the mask of laughter, gave himself as if doing charity!
I raised my head. The morning sun was now fully visible in the sky. Towards the one smiling under the morning sunlight, I shouted with a feeling of vomiting blood.
“No, Arisein Herduke! My other self from another parallel dimension!”
He laughed. And he said.
“That is correct. You win.”
I got back what I had lost.
But I wasn’t happy.
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