Ch.208Chapter 208. Kingdom of Plague

“Huh!!”

“Are you conscious now?”

How much time had passed since I was overwhelmed by shock?

Soon, my vision cleared and I saw my doppelganger grabbing and shaking my body as I sat slumped on the ground, trembling.

“Take deep breaths. Exhale slowly… Calm your mind and maintain composure.”

“Huh, ugh…”

“Good, if you’ve calmed down, answer me. Who are you?”

“I, I’m Hyoseong Woo…”

“That’s a relief. Thanks to your ability, it seems your mind won’t completely collapse.”

My mind collapsed…

Yes, since entering this world, I’ve nearly lost consciousness twice.

And losing consciousness in this world could lead directly to death.

Terrified by the thought that this could happen again, I quickly turned my attention to my doppelganger, who was scanning our surroundings with serious eyes.

“What just happened back there?”

“The time period collapsed because the manifested event ended.”

“What do you mean the time period collapsed? Is that even possible?”

“As you know, the shadow world is created from residues left by the living… If those residues manifested an event, isn’t it natural that the manifestation would end with the most intense memory?”

In other words, when a past event manifested in a place ends, it completely collapses rather than continuing.

And anyone caught in that collapse would face the crisis of having their existence erased.

The complete collapse of a time period means the total annihilation of everything existing within it.

“…Then, where are we now?”

“Since one time period collapsed, we must have been thrown into another time period connected to it. Probably not too far from the previous one…”

My doppelganger’s gaze swept around.

As her eyes surveyed the city spread out beneath the dark sky, her brow gradually furrowed, and soon an unpleasant voice escaped her lips.

“This place seems quite familiar to me since I share your memories… But is nothing coming to mind for you?”

“If something should come to mind…”

My gaze also turned to our surroundings.

The distant castle and temples rising in the distance gave me a rather familiar feeling.

It didn’t take long to realize why.

“…Briton?”

This is the Kingdom of Briton.

Before entering this world, it was nothing but ruins, and during Tachia Pailoi’s lifetime, it was the country where I was employed as a mercenary and appointed as a Hero.

But according to those memories, Briton was a place where moral order prevailed even during wartime.

Yet at this moment, the city immersed in darkness was filled with silence, and bloodstains on the roads and buildings created an ominous feeling.

“What on earth happened…”

“Kuhak, uh, ugh!”

As I roamed through such a place, I suddenly encountered a shadow on the other side.

I couldn’t help but feel hostility rather than relief.

I was well aware that people from the past could manifest on battlefields, and I had painfully realized that they wouldn’t necessarily be friendly to me after cutting down countless enemies that came rushing at me.

“S-save me… cough!”

But what appeared before me now was something beyond the normal human category.

This being approached me and then began to distort itself, rapidly swelling.

-Crack, crack.

Long tentacles burst through discolored skin and twisted limbs.

As those sucker-covered appendages flailed in all directions, the swollen brain began to protrude, tearing through the skull.

And as its surface split open, teeth and tongue began to appear. And eyes starting to sprout beside them…

-Gurgle, kwek, ah… KWEEK!!

As those cries leaked out and the eyes sprouting on its surface turned toward me, the sword manifested in my hand reflexively pointed at it.

“…An abomination?”

No, though grotesquely twisted, this was something different.

The abominations in the sacred realm had strong bestial characteristics as they were based on Beastmen, but what appeared before me now seemed to have stronger characteristics of “cephalopods” like octopuses rather than beasts.

“I think I understand now. What kind of place this is.”

Did my doppelganger deduce something as the monster gradually approached me?

Focusing her gaze on the monster, she soon began to speak in a heavy voice.

“It seems the time period we’re in is Briton at the time of its destruction by plague.”

“Plague? That’s an infected person?”

What nonsense.

How can a human body grotesquely distorting with tentacles sprouting be explained by disease?

-Gurgle, kwak, kahak!

But whatever you call it, what matters is that this person-turned-monster poses a threat to me.

If such beings are swarming in this city, it essentially means the entire kingdom is a danger zone.

This is the worst.

Garam Lee might have been dragged and imprisoned somewhere around here.

-KWRAAK! KAAK!

The monster, horrifying me, began to rush at me, extending its tentacles.

Though it was clearly human until recently, there was no hesitation in its actions.

As if it had lost its humanity by transforming into a monster… That was something I could see more clearly when it approached through the fog, revealing its hideous appearance.

“…Damn it!”

But the sword in my hand ultimately couldn’t point at it, and I chose to roll my body into an alley to avoid the tentacles.

“What are you doing!”

Then came my doppelganger’s rebuke.

Seemingly frustrated by my current behavior, her face looking down at me from mid-air was contorted with anger.

“An opportunity for counterattack came when you were attacked, so why are you wasting time? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of showing mercy to that monster?”

“Mercy? That’s not it…”

“Wake up, you foolish one! This place is nothing more than a remnant of the past, not reality! In this world that’s merely a moving record, do I really need to explain how stupid it is to be bound by petty morality!?”

-KWEEK! Karluk!

Tentacle attacks pierced through my doppelganger’s rebuke.

Retreating once more to avoid the attack, I blurted out whatever was in my mind.

“Y-you said it yourself! This is when a plague was spreading through Briton! That person became like that because of the disease… What if I get infected too? What then?”

No matter if it’s the afterlife, I can still die in this world.

That’s something I’ve felt while crossing numerous battle lines in the war zone.

If this city really has a plague, contact with an infected person could turn me into the same state as that person, transforming me into a monster.

“…Your excuse is plausible. How pathetic.”

Despite my valid opinion, she frowned as if unsatisfied, approached my body, and began to transform her shape.

What was created was blue armor overlaid on my body.

As I felt its thickness and sturdiness, something began to pour out from the gaping mouth of the mass of tentacles approaching me.

-KWEEEEK!

What came at me was a mass of mucus large enough to completely cover my body.

If there’s a risk of infection, this would be the worst attack. Even if I noticed it, it would be difficult to block a liquid.

-Leave it be. It won’t penetrate anyway.

But at that moment, my doppelganger’s voice came from the armor.

Following her words, I momentarily stopped and accepted the pouring mucus, but the mucus that should have stuck to the armor simply slid off and scattered on the ground.

“…How did you do that?”

-Using the spirit’s subtle control ability, I expelled everything potentially harmful outward. As long as no impact strong enough to destroy my body is applied, no danger will harm you.

Armor that guarantees complete immunity and defense as long as it’s not broken.

What is that, totally unfair.

-Now, since there’s no risk of infection, you can deal with it, right?

But there was no time to be amazed as my doppelganger didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

Despite saying we share the same origin, her attitude showed nothing but coldness.

-I have no intention of going along with your petty morality, so don’t waste time and deal with it quickly. Getting held up here is troublesome for you too, isn’t it?

As she said, this place is merely a fragment of the past.

As it’s a virtual space created by replicating reality, whatever happens here won’t distort the present.

So the only things I need to care about here are the safety of Garam Lee and myself, who are real people.

-Gu, KWEEK…

Though I knew this was right in my head, when I faced the tentacle monster approaching me, my hand holding the sword couldn’t help but hesitate.

Despite showing the intention to attack me at this moment.

-Mon, ster, sa, ve me…

The faint voice heard through those cries taught me that the being before me was human.

“…I’m sorry.”

Nevertheless, I ultimately chose to swing my sword at him.

It wasn’t just Hyoseong Woo who found this distressing.

Even if by some chance I had won against the dragon and returned here alive.

-SLASH!!

I realized that someone who knows nothing but killing can only do this much in this place…

*****

Yes, the situation in this city was something even Tachia Pailoi found hard to accept.

After all, she believed that if she returned alive after killing the dragon, there would no longer be any calamity targeting humans.

The king of Briton also confidently stated that after the dragon was killed, all of humanity would achieve harmony.

So why has this happened in this place where she disappeared?

Why has the salvation that should have come after the dragon’s disappearance been completely crushed by such a terrible calamity?

“Wake up, you foolish one.”

When the path I had traversed through such a tragic scene became covered in blood, my doppelganger, who had emerged from my body, began to urge me as I stood blankly in the alley.

“This shadow world is a place where you can never return to reality if you lose your mind even once. Have you forgotten why you came here?”

I know. I came here because there’s someone to save.

I just wavered because the sight in the afterworld wasn’t just a difficult hardship to wait through, but a scene that even my other personality found hard to accept.

I felt my mind, which could collapse from such wavering, being somewhat straightened by the rebuke of the doppelganger before me.

“…Are you helping me?”

“…What?”

“I mean, you’re protecting my body, giving me advice, and scolding me when I waver…”

Though I still don’t know her exact identity, she’s been practically helpful, preventing infection and serving as armor.

If she weren’t here, I would have had to avoid each infected being, and wouldn’t have been able to actively roam the city like this.

“What nonsense are you talking about…”

Is it pathetic to even feel grateful for that?

Soon, my doppelganger pressed her finger against my forehead and began to speak in an irritated voice.

“Listen carefully, you fool. My body is currently maintained through spirits drawn by your ability. In fact, whether I like it or not, I’m bound to be subordinate to you.”

“Um, so you’re saying you can’t separate from me?”

“If you die, I’ll probably disappear too. Even if I’m irritated by your pathetic appearance and feel the urge to grind you up and drink you, I have no choice but to help you to maintain myself.”

Her eyes narrowed more tightly, and from them, I felt an intense gaze.

I smiled faintly at that and prepared to resume my halted steps.

“Whatever the case, since you’re helping me now, I should at least thank you.”

“What useless thing are you…”

“Thank you for helping me.”

If you weren’t here, I might have collapsed long ago.

When I conveyed such sincere gratitude with that meaning, my doppelganger turned her head away from me and muttered indifferently.

“Pathetic fool. Isn’t it because you can’t let go of such foolish feelings that you’re suffering in a place like this?”

“…Hahaha, I have nothing to say to that.”

Well, this attitude might make me look like a pushover.

But I’ve survived so far by maintaining such an attitude, and I believe it’s still the most legitimate way for me to survive.

And this child will follow me without complaint from now on.

Feeling a small hope from that, I was about to finish my rest and move forward when my doppelganger blocked my way and began to show vigilance.

“Be careful, there’s something ahead.”

“…Is it dangerous?”

“We’ll have to see for ourselves. Since the path ahead is narrow, prepare to break through forcefully.”

There’s no time to turn back and find another route.

Feeling that I had no choice, I quietly caught my breath and directed my feet toward the place where my doppelganger was showing vigilance.

And as soon as I set foot there, I was greeted by the sound of flesh being torn.

-SLASH! SLASH!

But what was making that sound seemed far from the cephalopod monsters I had been cutting through so far.

“Do not forgive me…”

A man with an iron mask hiding his face, armed to the teeth.

The sword in his hand was pulled out from a piece of meat on the ground, beginning to capture the moonlight on its blade.

“Do not forgive me, do not forgive me…”

Repeating those words again and again, the iron-masked man continued to mutilate the corpses scattered across the square.

His onslaught stopped only when even the faint twitching visible in the corpses subsided.

“Do not forgive me for failing to save you…!”

-SLASH!!!

The fierce swing that finally came with a shout marked the end of his sword strikes.

As I felt a sense of déjà vu from that guilt-ridden voice, his gaze gradually began to move toward me.

“…Are you too.”

Yes, though fully armed, he was definitely the person I knew.

As I realized this, he turned completely toward me, gripping his blood-stained sword straight, and asked a question.

“Are you too… infected with the disease?”

Despite once being called a wise ruler.

He showed me the sight of him executing his own citizens infected with the disease by his own hand.