episode_0079

When I dozed off in bed and opened my eyes, it was the time I had promised with Veronica’s alter ego.

I trudged to the place written on the note, and the clone had arrived first and was waiting for me.

“I’m here. But your name is–”

The clone covered my mouth and signaled me to be quiet.

‘Are you doing this because you think there might be a listening device on my body?’

As soon as I closed my mouth, the clone began searching my body.

Every nook and cranny, every nook and cranny, meticulously.

Even places where there seems to be no need to search.

Then he hugged me and buried my face in his chest.

“…Are you just fulfilling your selfish interests?”

“Did you get caught?”

The clone fell away from me, laughing.

“You tried to ask my name earlier, right? Please just call me Helen.”

“Are you Helen too?”

The alter ego who played the role of Robben’s wife was also Helen.

“It’s also work to come up with a new name every time.”

“It’s worth it.”

The number of alter egos must be so large.

“Before I tell you the business, please take this first.”

The object Helen handed over was a sharply trimmed piece of pottery wrapped in cloth.

“What, do you want me to kill someone with this?”

“Yes. If I become ‘dominated’, please kill me.”

“Huh… . Does that mean it is not dominated now?”

Helen held my hand.

He slowly brought the ceramic blade to his neck.

As if you can just kill them if you don’t trust them.

“Our bodies have already been controlled by Ariel. Ariel is controlling the clones through the main body, but due to low understanding of the gift, loopholes arise.”

“Are you saying you are the one with that loophole?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

I took the porcelain blade away from Helen’s neck.

“Explain it.”

“Ariel, that woman is under the illusion that if she gives orders through the main body, we will all blindly follow them.”

It is worth thinking so.

Ariel’s slaves are puppets.

When you give an order, you have no choice but to move only according to that command.

On the other hand, Veronica’s alter egos are not puppets.

They also follow the orders of the main body, but there is no coercion here.

The desire to devote oneself to the main body is simply the strongest of all other desires.

Of course, it is ironic in that the desire is so strong that it itself becomes a force.

“Over a long period of time, we have built a system to execute the main unit’s commands most efficiently.”

“You mean division of roles? I’ve heard it before.”

A banshee once told me about how the clones move and are managed.

In order to move numerous clones efficiently, each clone has its own role. Among them, there are also middle managers who manage the alter egos.

Banshee, the highest command tower, receives Veronica’s orders and delivers them to middle managers. Managers select some of the alter egos they are in charge of and give detailed instructions.

Of course, this is a very simplified explanation.

In reality, there are managers who manage middle managers, and there are also alter egos who perform various roles, so complex that I, as a listener, did not fully understand it.

“So why that system?”

“As far as the orders given now are concerned, there is no need for me to be mobilized either.”

“Ah, that was it.”

Now I understand.

If a task can be handled by three people, it is efficient to assign just three people and assign the rest to other tasks.

Hitting a lot of people ignorantly doesn’t always lead to good results.

Also, it is more efficient to use someone who is flexible rather than having to bring in someone who is currently doing something else.

Especially if you are carrying out an undercover mission like Helen in front of you.

In other words, because the managers had many other clones to handle the work, they did not give any special instructions to Helen, who was infiltrating Paradise Church.

“That makes sense.”

Whether it is trustworthy or not is a separate issue.

“Of course, we don’t know when a new order will be issued, so we can’t be at ease. So, I will summarize the current situation as quickly as possible.”

“Good idea.”

As expected from the best information shuttle, it knows exactly what I need.

I like it very much.

“Now my clones are planting bombs in major cities within the empire.”

“…A bomb out of nowhere? Do you know what your purpose is?”

“The purpose is to collect as many ‘offerings’ as possible. These offerings will be used in the ‘Rite of Advent’.”

“If it is a ritual of advent… . Are you referring to the leader who believes in Paradise Church?”

“Yes. It is a ritual to bring down the being who is the guide of paradise to earth.”

What does being the guide to paradise have to do with Daisy?

“What happens when the Guide comes?”

“I’m not sure, but I heard that it guides all beings on earth to ‘paradise’.”

Mariela said that the paradise of the Church of Paradise is the same as the hell described in the scriptures of the Church of the Virgin Mary.

Does that mean that all beings on earth will be led to hell?

‘What is that. ‘I’m just saying I’m going to kill them all.’

Crazy guys.

The reason for using Daisy is understandable, if only to kill them all.

I don’t know if that ritual can really awaken Daisy, but once she awakens, she could easily send people to ‘paradise’.

“What time does it take to explode the planted bombs?”

“I heard that it explodes after the ritual begins, and preparations for the ritual are almost complete… . There are only a few hours left.”

“That’s right.”

It’s nice that it goes quickly.

“But even if there are self-immolations all over the empire, is it possible to prepare and detonate a bomb in just one day?”

“Anything is possible. There are quite a lot of supplies prepared in case of an emergency.”

“What on earth were you preparing for? .”

Have you prepared in case a war breaks out?

Like a banshee, he is thoroughly prepared and cautious.

While I was trying to convince myself, Helen was silently looking at me with profound eyes.

“Why? Is there anything else left to say?”

“…Will you save me? Our body… .”

“Of course.”

I answered without hesitation.

As long as Veronica is the heroine, we can never let her die.

Besides, I haven’t reached 100% yet, so I can’t let Ariel dominate me.

Of course, this route was ruined.

“Of course… You did it.”

Helen smiled and nodded.

“Director, I have one more thing to tell you about us.”

“What is it?”

“There is an invisible ‘line’ that connects our alter egos to each other. We can send and receive ‘messages’ to each other through that line.”

“I roughly expected it to be like that. Why is that?”

“As you know, the only thing we can exchange is ‘messages’. It’s just hard information made up of letters and images.”

As Helen said, alter egos can only exchange hard information.

This hard information does not include emotions or sensations.

Therefore, even if the alter egos exchange their experiences, it is only an ‘indirect experience’, like reading a book or watching a movie.

“But the main body can convey the emotions and sensations it feels to its alter egos. The line connected to the main body is special.”

“This is my first time hearing that. Can the alter ego be transmitted to the main body?”

“No. Only the main body can be transmitted unilaterally. We call this ‘fairy tale’. Emotions and sensations are ‘assimilated’ with the body.”

Suddenly, I remembered the time I had a drink with Banshee.

– Since Belle is infatuated with you… We are destined to be like that too.

‘Right. ‘The banshee was assimilated by Veronica.’

no wonder. There’s no way that rational, cold-hearted banshee would fall for me just because she listened to Veronica’s thoughts.

“So? Why did you tell me that?”

“…I just wanted to tell you. We want you to know more about us… . That’s just it.”

Helen had a somewhat lonely expression on her face, but forced a smile.

Then he took a step closer and narrowed the distance.

“Now my role is over.”

Helen’s small hand wrapped around my wrist.

He put the ceramic shard to his own throat.

“If I were alive, it might be discovered that I met the director.”

“So… . Are you asking me to personally destroy the evidence?”

“Yes. I guess alone… . Because it’s difficult.”

Helen had a stern expression, but her hands were shaking.

Self-immolations are also afraid of death.

Of course, there are alter egos that do not fear death, but it is said that such heterogeneous clones are dangerous, so they are not created except in special cases.

Anyway, this guy is for me.

More precisely, he is trying to kill himself for the sake of the main body.

‘It’s sublime.’

He says he wants to make sacrifices, so we should help him.

I tightened my hands.

A piece of debris pressed down on Helen’s neck.

A shallow wound appeared and blood formed.

“Now, wait… .”

Helen, who was trembling, stopped my hand.

“What, are you scared? Should I finish it quickly?”

“No, that’s not it… . I have one last favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“…Kiss. While kissing… Please do it.”

“That’s quite a romantic request.”

“It’s the last one, but you can do that much..?”

“…There is nothing that cannot be done.”

Helen closed her eyes and raised her head.

I lightly supported the back of Helen’s head with my free hand.

“…Even though I’ve had so many different experiences, this is the first time I’ve ever experienced something like this.”

“I’m glad about that. Because I took the Director’s ‘first’ in some form.”

“Huh… . Does that happen?”

It was so absurd that I burst out laughing.

Helen seemed to have relaxed somewhat at this, and smiled with a slightly relaxed expression.

“Please do it quickly. I don’t have time.”

I kissed Helen.

Helen’s trembling hands stabilized as the kiss lasted for a few seconds.

Without opening my mouth, I plunged the splinter into Helen’s neck.

Even though she was trembling in pain, Helen held onto my neck tightly and did not let go.

How long has it been since then?

Her arms, which had been holding a lot of strength, slowly relaxed, and Helen’s body fell to the floor, helpless.

After that, Helen’s body slowly disappeared.

I left only after watching her until the end.