episode_0012

“Gulp….”

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A sorrowful whimper.

Floren tightly grasped Alberto’s body and buried her face in it. Despite the blood splattered everywhere from his shattered head, there was no hesitation whatsoever.

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“Was he always like this?”

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It was quite perplexing.

I’m living well, after all.

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Should I pretend not to know…?

But if I leave it like this, Floren might die.

Lost in the vast foggy forest, she might end up as a meal for monsters.

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I can’t let her die after going through all this trouble.

I immediately moved the lifeline on my body.

I must convey the next command before Alberto’s life fades away.

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Swoosh!

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“Stop crying. I’m not dead.”

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“Eek!!?……”

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As I formed a human shape with the lifeline, Floren widened her swollen eyes.

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“I told you. That was just a doppelganger.”

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“Ah!… Aah!!?……”

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“But still, I didn’t feel bad.”

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“Aaah!!! I-I really thought you were dead!!”

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“Was it my fault?”

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“N-No… that’s… Phew… I’m just relieved. It was just a surprise…”

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He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

A genuinely relieved expression that I’m alive. Perhaps we had that kind of relationship.

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Being looked upon favorably is not a bad thing.

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It’s a strange feeling.

Someone’s concern.

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“Exploration of the fog forest is suspended. Come back.”

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“But the path…”

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“Now that this lifeline is your guardian, take good care of it. The doppelganger will soon die, so communication ends now. It may be dangerous, but come back alive.”

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“…What about this lifeline?”

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The reconnaissance ends here.

There’s no reason to be greedy and extend it outside the safe zone of the fog forest. It’s best to send her off after adequate preparation.

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“Understood. That’s all.”

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“Oh. Munchan!!?”

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*Thud.*

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His field of vision went dark.

Alberto’s vital signs ceased.

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Giving up on reviving him.

Instead, I instilled reliance in the lifeline.

Absorb the corpse, protect Floren, and guide her home.

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It shouldn’t be too risky.

The lifeline that absorbed the slave hunter will take good care of Floren. It may fall short compared to Alberto, but it will fulfill its role.

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Probably.

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Now then.

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Swish~

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After returning to my newly created elven body, I caressed the Shaela fruit.

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With its red ripeness.

Not much time left.

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Shaela.

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Awaken now.

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*

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“…Munchan?”

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Wriggle, wriggle~

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Floren felt both relieved and terrified as she clung to the lifeline.

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After Munchan left.

She saw everything.

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Melting Alberto’s body.

Absorbing the hunter.

Expanding the lifeline.

Swelling greatly.

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If a monster appears, it quickly coils around it.

Breaking bones like a snake.

Melting with poison for absorption.

Such an unbelievable being entwined itself around her body like a host.

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If the poison leaks out incorrectly?

She dies.

That’s the end of it.

She couldn’t help but be scared.

Even though she knew it wouldn’t happen, fear acted independently of that knowledge.

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“Ugh… Please, don’t attack me.”

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Wriggle, wriggle~

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“You understand, right?….”

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Squelch~ Thud!~

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“…I-I’m hungry.”

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Pop!~

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“…Thank you!!!”

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Floren sighed in relief at the fruit attached to the lifeline. It understood her words.

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However, a question arose.

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Both this doppelganger named Alberto and now this lifeline.

Even without Munchan directly controlling them, they understood and complied with her commands.

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How is such a thing possible?

Going as far as being strong in doppelgangers and lifelines. Unheard-of abilities. Transferring consciousness to doppelgangers and using lifelines and poison…

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“Um… Lifeline? What exactly are you?”

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Wriggle?

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“…Never mind. Let’s go back. Please show me the way.”

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Wriggle~

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Whoosh.

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In the deep fog, a strand of the lifeline pointed ahead. It was the direction where Munchan’s dwelling was located.

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“Lifeline. Do you have to protect me all the way? I’ll be collecting things on the way. Since I promised to cook for you

“What… sturdy. If it weren’t for the sensation writhing against my body. Gives me the chills.”

Dream, Twist.

“No, it wasn’t about moving slowly. It’s not that I dislike it.”

The small talk didn’t stop.

Strangely, she felt at ease.

Once again, she spoke her mind freely.

“Do you know? I saw tentacles on the tower, they move similar to you, Joolki. But much more creepy than you… Oh, what am I saying. Anyway, tentacles are a woman’s nemesis. I’ve experienced it before. I haven’t told anyone. Keke… You do know this conversation is confidential, right? Ah~ so embarrassing.”

Twist~

Perhaps because the tension had eased.

From then on, Floren shared embarrassing past stories without holding back.

However, she didn’t know.

That when a detached stem absorbs Munchan, all the memories of the stem are transmitted. Black history is being created in real-time.

*

Fog Forest, 14th day.

She feels it.

Shaela’s fruit has fully ripened.

Swoosh.

She touched the fruit and supplied nutrients and mana obtained from the garbage dump.

“You’ve taken enough. Stop eating and get up.”

She stared at the fruit again.

It was time for Shaela to emerge from the fruit….

Strangely, there was no response.

The fruit should split, and the completed body should come out, but she felt no movement.

Like a dead person.

“…Shaela?”

She clearly felt it.

The mutation of the fruit had ended. Inside was Shaela’s intact body.

So, why isn’t she coming out?

“Why aren’t you coming out….”

Could it be?

Is she really dead?

Only the flesh is alive?

Like Alberto?

Has it turned out that way?

Oh.

For some reason, she felt deflated.

Reviving a dead person, it was indeed an impossible thing.

It was a futile hope.

Indeed, it was pointless.

I….

[Divine Lord. Are you sad?]

An elf coexisting with the body asks.

Reflexively, she answered the question.

“I don’t know.”

[I sense it. How great your affection and interest were for her. A remarkable being will surely be born.]

“A birth? Nonsense. This is a corpse. It’s been far too long for her to wake up.”

[I don’t know yet. Please open it yourself.]

“What do you know to be babbling like that?”

[…I apologize.]

Ugh.

Why am I bothering with this nonsense.

I’m making a fool of myself.

“Fine. Let’s see.”

She pressed her hand on the fruit. She pierced and tore the fruit apart.

Drip….

A transparent liquid burst out.

A young girl was seen inside.

Shaela.

Motionless as ever.

Is she really dead?

Or just a breathing corpse?

What’s this?

She looks like a doll.

Swoosh!

The main stem moved. She intended to lift her with the stem since it was difficult to take her out by hand.

No expectations.

An independent doll that can’t even be controlled. Nothing more, nothing less.

You’re already dead-

Twist!

“Huh?….”

She moved.

The moment the stem touched her body, she reacted.

Just a simple biological response?

Swoosh.

The stem spread flatly around Shaela like clothing. Then she felt a slight trembling.

“You… could you be alive?”

There was no answer.

No significant movement.

Just a slight tremor.

Squeeze-

After pulling Shaela out of the fruit with the stem, she carefully laid her down so she could stand on her own. She detached the stem except for the part wrapped like clothes.

Surprisingly, she stood firm.

Standing on her own will.

“Shaela?”

“……”

But then.

She should respond.

Why.

Why is she just standing there?

As if she sees nothing.

Hears nothing.

Staring blankly?

“Shaela!!”

Thud.

She grabbed her shoulders.

Twist!

Her body trembled again.

What’s going on.

Why….

“You… can’t see ahead?”

Even without an answer, she knew.

Unfocused pupils.

She was looking at black.

“You can’t hear me?”

The Deaf Ear

Listening to a voice that only he could hear, constantly replaying in his own imagination.

“Hey!! Can’t you hear me?!”

Just in case, he tried saying it in his mind. Shaela had the ability to converse internally with her contact.

“……”

Perhaps he had lost that ability.

No response.

He hadn’t become a doll.

Strangely, he knew.

Shaela was alive, yet she couldn’t feel alive.

More than anyone else, he knew well.

He is in the fourth dimension.

Forced to witness such absurdity.

Trapped in a chain of fantasies.

It’s a scary and lonely prison.

Left to wither in despair, unable to even find a way to die or seek help.

“I… I’m sorry.”

Swiftly.

He embraced her.

Regret flooded in.

He should have just let him die. He dragged him into hell out of selfishness.

“I used you until the end. I’m sorry. Maybe I tried to save you out of guilt. I wasn’t thinking about you at all.”

“……”

His trembling gradually subsided.

It stopped as if frozen.

Becoming dull.

What should I do?

Living like this from now on will be more painful.

It’s not too late; I must free him now.

“I’m truly sorry… If it’s too hard, I’ll end it now.”

“……”

No answer.

He remained silent.

Alive but practically dead.

Let’s stop now. With as much strength as possible without causing pain-

Tap, tap.

“……?”

He widened his eyes.

Lowering his gaze slightly, he saw Shaela’s hand slowly rising and tapping on his stomach.

Tap, tap, tap.

Swipe.

Her hand moved.

A faint sensation, the only one he could feel. Using it as a guide, she fumbled and tapped.

As if confirming my existence.

Tap, tap, tap.

“You….”

What is she doing?

Perplexed, I relaxed my body.

Shaela didn’t stop but continued moving.

Her hand gradually moved upward.

Slowly.

Reaching the end.

Thud.

Her palm touched my cheek.

“……”

It was a small, warm hand.

It felt like the world paused for a moment.

Such a sensation was brief.

Her hand descended again.

Shaela’s hand touched my right hand.

Clasped tightly.

She grasped my hand with both of hers.

“Shaela?….”

“……”

Thud.

Looking back, Shaela was crying.

Expressionless face.

Salt streaks ran down from unfocused eyes.

Despite her once strong hands trembling, she gently sought help.

“Why… are you crying?”

She said she was a god.

Why is she crying like a lost child….

I don’t know.

I really don’t know.

Does she want to live?

Or does she want to die?

What is she thinking?

Has she realized my true identity?

What is she trying to tell me?

In the end, I couldn’t do anything.

*

Numb to all senses.

That is soon.

Darkness.

Disappointment.

Fear.

Despair.

Emptiness.

Bringing various things.

So I didn’t want to miss it. That faint sensation that momentarily made me forget everything.

Sensation.

Body temperature.

Warmth.

An unknown sense of kinship.

Hope emerging from despair often leaves a more distant terror lingering. Fear makes people desperate, fearful, clinging on to life.

Lost and hanging on.

Therefore.

“My heart feels like it’s going to burst.”

Don’t let go of this hand.

“Don’t leave.”

By my side.

Please.

Desperately hoping to reach out.