Chapter 96: The Horrifying Liar (1)

[96] 15. The Horrifying Liar (1)

“So…”

I paused for a moment. It was because the scar left in my memory was choking my throat.

Although I’d been able to casually talk about Amy, Clara, and even Parsley’s story, without hesitation, I would still sometimes find myself stopping like this whenever I was talking about Feya and the Captain’s story. Even though four years had already passed.

“But how did you get your memories back? Didn’t you say Unnie threw away the fruit?”

Thankfully, Irene was a good listener. I thanked her silently for naturally changing the subject, and I answered.

“It’s all thanks to our great and all-knowing witch. I don’t really know the details either, but apparently Skuld gave the fruit to the Captain before the attack. And then the moment the captain saw me, she shoved it into my mouth.”

“…This ‘all-knowing witch’, what kind of person is she?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t Feya tell you about her?”

“Not at all. Unnie only gave a brief explanation about what happened…”

I shrugged.

“To be honest, I don’t really know either. I haven’t seen her since that day. The Captain exchanges letters with her sometimes, I think… Well, it’s none of my business.”

She was just someone I happened to meet. I owed her a favor, but that’s all. And besides, I had already repaid that debt.

“Hmm…”

However, Irene seemed unsatisfied with my answer. She bit her lower lip and started looking around, as if deep in thought.

An expression that looks like you can hear the gears turning in her head.

I quickly wrapped up the story, worried that the conversation would head in a different direction.

“Anyway, the bottom line is that I got my memories back. Though my legs didn’t come back with them.”

“…And that’s why you’re not accepting Unnie’s feelings?”

I stared at her with a dumbfounded expression, surprised by her words. I barely managed to collect myself and asked.

“Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?”

“No… You’ve had such a grim look on your face the entire time. I thought that maybe, because of this, you resented her…”

“There’s no way I would resent her.”

I cut her off sharply.

It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel any resentment. And it would also be a lie to say that I didn’t feel betrayed. My words, telling her to never appear in front of me again, were my true feelings.

But, after ‘that’ happened, I didn’t care anymore. And above all, to begin with, I…

Ah, fuck it.

I scratched my head irritably and replied.

“The reason I’m not accepting her feelings is because I have no feelings to accept. How many times do I have to tell you that the kid doesn’t really like me?”

“Are you being serious?”

“She’s just trapped in the past. She’s mistaking guilt for love.”

I frowned and looked away.

“Feeling sorry for someone isn’t the same as loving them. She’s just too young to understand that.”

There’s a reason I still sometimes call Feya ‘kid’ just like how I call Rose ‘Captain’.

“Anyway, getting back to the original story…”

*Knock, knock.*

A knock on the door interrupted me just as I was about to continue. Then a polite voice came from behind the door.

“Guest, the lady requests your presence.”

*Lady? Guest?*

“She’s calling for me. Sorry, I’ll be back soon.”

I looked at Irene, who had suddenly stood up, bewildered. She said, putting on a strange mask,

“I have a collaborator in this area, I’ll explain everything in detail later.”

Then, leaving me behind, she went out of the room.

Left alone in the room in an instant.

With a dumbfounded face, I muttered without realizing it.

“How did she already find a collaborator…?”

***

Jealousy is an ugly emotion.

This is a truth that everyone knows and accepts.

But jealousy is also an inevitable emotion.

A fact that many know, but refuse to accept.

The moment Irene entered the ‘lady’s’ room, she could feel a dark, red emotion bubbling up.

And it wasn’t because the ‘lady’s’ room was extravagant,

nor because there was no trace of fatigue on the ‘lady’s’ face,

and it was certainly not because her favorite dessert was placed on the ‘lady’s’ desk.

What made her jealous was the large painting hanging on the wall.

It was a portrait of seven children and a woman with blue eyes and blue hair.

Yes, it was a portrait of [Irene] and the children.

“Hello there, ‘me’.”

Irene looked at the *other* *Irene*, who was sitting at the desk. The *other* *Irene* smiled awkwardly.

“First time seeing me in person, huh?”

*Irene* stands up from her seat.

“I was really surprised when you contacted me through that old connection. I made it when I was 14 and then completely forgot about it. And to think that it’s ‘me’ who contacted me…”

*Irene* seemed to still be processing the situation. She clenched and unclenched her hands. Then, in a forced cheerful tone, she said,

“Anyway, have a seat! I prepared some dessert since you said you were coming. I’m not sure if ‘you’ still like this, but…”

“I appreciate the thought.”

Irene smiled faintly and sat down. Then, in a cautious tone, she asked,

“But what about the data…?”

“Data? Ah, right! Hold on…!”

*Irene* rummaged through her desk drawer and pulled out a spherical magic tool.

“Here. It’s all in here. Ah, this is a magic tool called ‘Memory Orb’, and the way to use it is…”

Irene easily activates the Memory Orb and checks the data contained within. Then, nodding her head, she said,

“Yeah, I’ve confirmed it.”

“…Right, of course you would know, since you’re ‘me’.”

“Right, because I’m ‘you’.”

*Irene* chuckled without realizing it. Irene smiled softly as well and then thanked her,

“Thank you. I know it was a sudden request.”

“Well… It’s not a big deal for me.”

*Irene* scratched her head awkwardly. But soon, a smug smile spread across her face.

“Besides, we’re comrades who are going to save the world together, right? It’s the least I can do.”

Save the world. Irene suddenly thought how lightly *Irene* said that. For the past ten years, that phrase had been a curse to her, nothing more, nothing less.

Once again, the dark red emotion surges.

But Irene hid them behind a smile.

“By the way, are you still running an organization?”

“Seeing as you say ‘still’, I guess you’ve given it up?”

“I realized that working alone is easier.”

“I get it. I sometimes want to throw everything away and just work on my own.”

*Irene* chuckled. Irene pretended to laugh along while glancing around the room.

“For someone who says that, your organization seems pretty big…?”

“Well, it’s nothing special. Just big enough that my influence reaches every corner of the continent…? As a reincarnator, this much is expected.”

“The entire continent? Is that possible? Couldn’t the ones far away betray you?”

“Fufu… That’s why I developed cell phones! …Well, it’s closer to a pager than an actual cell phone…”

“Wait, so most of the people working under you don’t even know your face?”

“Not most, almost none of them know? But it’s fine. I just have to occasionally use my knowledge of the original story to instill some discipline.”

Only one window behind her.

Her subordinates don’t know what she looks like.

Her organization has its hands stretched in every corner of the continent,

and they’re all connected through a communication magic tool.

And there are no weapons in sight.

Irene, as if in deep thought, stroked her chin.

“Hmm… Hearing you say all this makes me want to start running an organization again…”

“Right? That’s why I always end up changing my mind every time I try to quit. Of course, managing people is a bit difficult, but you can do so much more in return.”

“Is that so…? Then, do you have any tips on how to manage people?”

“T-Tips?”

*Irene* stumbled over her words as if flustered. But soon, unable to hide her boastful air, she began to explain.

“Well, it’s obvious if you know the original work’s knowledge. Be a mysterious and powerful prophet. Once you trick them properly, you gain not just loyalty, but faith.”

“Oh… Can you show me?”

“There’s nothing to show. It’s like this. ‘Don’t worry, David, I’ve already seen and heard everything. So just trust me and wait~’ Then you use your knowledge of the original story to swindle them.”

“Hooh…”

Her subordinates’ loyalty borders on faith.

She uses fake prophecies to manipulate and exploit people.

But her performance can’t be perfect.

After all, *Irene* is still Irene.

One of Irene’s biggest flaws is that her tongue loosens in the face of praise. And that she opens her heart too easily.

“So, what about you?”

“Huh?”

Irene frowned at *Irene’s* sudden question. *Irene* smiles and continues.

“We’ve been talking about me all this time. How were you in your world?”

Irene barely held onto her expression that was about to crumble. Trying hard to paint her face with a smile, she answered.

“Nothing much.”

“Come on, you’re ‘me’, there’s no way you’re ‘nothing much’.”

*Irene* laughs cheerfully and waves her hand.

“Or at least tell me about how your companions are doing on your side.”

Companions.

Sometimes memories come rushing back like vomit. Memories reeking of blood and potions.

“Is your Charles still afraid of sleeping alone? Is Gloria as arrogant as ever? Ah! And Betty! How’s *your* Betty? My Betty’s getting married soon…”

When it was all over, Irene had made eight graves. Seven were already buried, and one was waiting for its owner.

But that day, Irene didn’t hang herself.

Irene smiled brightly.

“It’s more or less the same for us too.”

“I thought so.”

*Irene* leaned back in her chair and laughed lightly.

“Well, it’s not like those little rascals would change just because they’re in a different world? They’re kids who don’t even listen to their unnie…”

Irene smiled awkwardly and put her hand in her pocket. She felt a cold, metallic touch.

“But, Irene, what’s that outside the window?”

“Outside the window?”

*Irene* turned to look at the window.

“There’s nothing there? And how long are you planning to wear that mask…”

Blood splattered on the window in the shape of an orchid.

*Irene’s* stupid face slides down the chair. Irene put the smoking gun back into her inventory.

Naturally, it was just a crude imitation of the one from ‘South Korea’. It could only hold a single bullet, and without rifling, its accuracy was terrible.

But, when it came to assassinations, it had one advantage over the original. After all, ‘South Korea’ didn’t have any noise silencing magic.

Irene stripped the clothes off *Irene’s* corpse. And without hesitation, she started putting them on. They were a bit loose, but not too noticeable.

“Charles was torn in half. Gloria’s face was smashed. Betty…”

Irene dressed the corpse in *her* clothes and mask. Then she took out a potion from her inventory.

“Well… even I don’t know what happened to Betty.”

*Gurgle*

*Irene’s* corpse melted as soon as the potion touched it. Before long, it was nothing but a red lump of flesh.

Lastly, Irene took out a cleaning magic tool from her inventory. There was no need to search for bloodstains.

A single snap of her finger.

That was all it took for the room to be spotless. Now, only a single lump of flesh wrapped in rags was dirtying the carpet.

Irene, who had become *Irene*, looked down at *Irene,* who had become a lump of meat.

Her hands didn’t tremble, even though she had just killed her other self.

It was like when she had sent cultists to attack the supply line heading for the west,

it was like when she had burned down two villages to trap the Rose Rem mercenary group,

and it was like when she had killed the man who was originally the porter of the hero party.

Only a dull reverberation spread in her chest. It wasn’t remorse, nor sorrow. It was just the dregs of emotion.

In the end, human actions aren’t divided into good and evil, but into those that are unfamiliar, and those that have become familiar.

Irene wiped off the bloodstains on her clothes one last time and called out.

“David!”

The sound of running footsteps, and a moment later, a man with an urgent face rushed into the room. It was the man who had escorted Irene here.

“Lady? What’s the matt… Huuck…!!”

The man’s face turned pale as he saw *Irene’s* remains.

“W-What in the world…!!”

“It was an assassin. They tried to kill me, and then, when I tried to subdue them, they chose to end their own life…”

Irene looked at *Irene’s* corpse with a sad expression. The man’s face grew even paler.

He prostrated himself on the floor and shouted,

“I-I’m sorry! It’s all my fault…!! I’ll immediately summon the guards to protect…”

“David.”

The man raises his head to look at Irene. Irene spoke with a benevolent smile.

“Don’t panic. I’ve already seen all of this. You don’t need to protect me.”

“B-But, Lady…”

“David, do you still not trust me?”

A glint appeared in Irene’s blue eyes.

“Despite all the incredible things I’ve shown you so far?”

It was then that David felt a pressure choking his breath. It was the very sensation he felt when he first confronted the lady.

“H-How could that be…!! How dare I…”

“Then, David, without questioning my words, dispose of the corpse. I don’t need to tell you how, do I?”

“Y-yes! O-of course not!”

David hurriedly slung the lump of meat over his shoulder. Not minding that his clothes were getting soaked with blood, he was about to rush out.

“Ah, and one last thing.”

David looked back at Irene with a terrified expression. Irene smiled and said,

“Bring the Emperor’s man here. There are things we need to discuss together.”

David nodded frantically.