episode_0028

“….You know that Mom and Dad love you very much, right?”

My parents, who support me with overflowing love as always.

The warmth made me feel as if I was flying in the sky.

“Yes! I love you too…!”

In that atmosphere that is sweeter than candy and warmer than the sun. I smile brightly today too.

***

A dream I haven’t had in a long time, sweeter than cotton candy. No, it’s a nightmare that melts away in an instant… a nightmare.

“……Fuck.”

I try to wipe away the tears that are leaking out without me knowing. Instead of feeling good, it just feels dirty.

“…I have to wake up.”

The warm morning sunlight shining through the window and the birds chirping as if they were singing.

The colorful colors of fall are visible, and a cool breeze blows.

It has already been three days since my clone died. After spending most of my time in an alter ego, moving back into my original body feels rather different.

“….ugh. What should I do now?”

[Name: Venice / Age: 20. / Male / Status: Normal.]

[Unique Ability: Clone Wizard (???): You can summon your clone. The clone’s form and abilities are random, and you can control it like your own body.

You don’t feel the pain your clone feels! If the clone dies or is destroyed, the user can retrieve it again!]

[Due to the death of the clone, it cannot be used or assimilated.]

In an instant of overwhelming despair, a sigh escapes me. My alter ego, the body of the leader of the Scar mercenaries, has already died.

No matter how many times I tried to assimilate just in case, I couldn’t feel any connection to my clone or any mana. It seems that the clone body can no longer be used.

As the status window explains, I have now become a human being who cannot do anything.

“I was immersed in it without even realizing it.”

The day I first opened my eyes as an alter ego. I used the alter ego simply with the idea of controlling a character in the game.

However, as the time I spent as my alter ego grew longer and my precious relationships increased one by one, I felt as if my alter ego became myself.

And then… right before he died, he truly wished me a blessing with sincerity. If it were me, it would have been something I wouldn’t have even thought about doing.

I’m not sure why, but I think he spoke to them at the end as the leader of the Scar mercenaries.

Not as an alter ego, but as a person to person. It felt like my emotions exploded without me knowing. At that time, I had even forgotten that my body was an alter ego.

I had a hard time meeting people and couldn’t even think about moving forward, but when I assimilated into my alter ego, I became a different person.

“…It’s a shame.”

There were still many things I wanted to try. I also wanted to travel around this huge continent and meet new people.

I also wanted to try delicious food like Birong’s food. I wanted to explore the unknown world.

‘With my current body… I could never do that.’

As I return to the main body, I feel helplessness weighing down my body again.

Unlike the alter ego, which was overflowing with courage and will, only extreme fear and helplessness dominated the body.

…With a body like this. I think all I can do is stop by the library in front of the village.

I thought it would be like this… I wanted to experience as much as possible in my alter ego.

“…Ha. Let’s go to the library..”

I want to shake off the overwhelming feeling of helplessness and despair. I guess I should borrow a book and get some fresh air.

I headed to the library, feeling weak and weak, as if I would collapse to the floor at any moment.

“…….”

Nodding-

The librarian is looking into space with expressionless eyes again today. I bowed my head to her and walked around the bookshelves.

‘Isn’t there a book worth reading?’

Since I had been spending most of my waking hours reading, I couldn’t find any books I wanted to read anymore.

“……..?”

At that time, I felt like I felt eyes on me from somewhere.

There’s something uncomfortable about it… and an uncomfortable gaze.

I hurriedly looked around at the sight that seemed to be crawling from beneath my feet, but I couldn’t see anyone in the library except me, the librarian, and the books.

I looked out the window just in case, but as usual, all I could see was a quiet village with no people.

“…Ugh.”

It seemed like he was feeling strange, probably because he was in a bad mood after having a nightmare.

“Goodbye…Goodbye.”

“…….”

There were no books to read, and this uncomfortable feeling did not go away, so I left the library right away.

“……..”

Even as I left the library, the inexplicable gaze towards me… did not go away.

***

“….Now this will be my only pleasure in life.”

A horizon with no end in sight. Calm waves. And the autumn wind blows gently. It is a beautiful landscape, almost like a painting.

…Daily. Even after seeing this… I never get tired of it.

No matter how frustrated I was and how many thoughts I had, when I looked at this scene, as if by magic, I couldn’t think of anything else.

“What should I do with my life now?”

I can’t do anything anymore like this. It would be nearly impossible to find a job because you can’t even meet people.

Even his only unique ability, the art of alter ego, could no longer be used.

The good news is that I have quite a bit of money left, and the cost of living in this town is very cheap.

Just looking at that point, it seemed like I wouldn’t starve even if I didn’t work.

‘…Then what do you do?’

From now on, I will eat for the rest of my life. sleep. I have to live without doing anything.

When my self-immolation ability disappeared, all I was left with was emptiness.

“……Let’s come to our senses.”

Still, I have to live. Let’s have a little courage… and find something to do.

library. I think a library would be good. The librarian was an incredibly quiet person… and there were no other users besides me, so I thought I could do it if I just had a little courage.

“….Good! Then, let’s ask the librarian!”

….of course. Not today, but tomorrow. I went to the library earlier, but going again now feels a little awkward.

“Then let’s go home…”

Tiriring-!

Just as I was about to get up and head home, I heard a familiar beep.

At the same time, although it was unfathomably far away and I couldn’t pinpoint its location… I could vaguely feel the magic.

‘….what. This…’

It felt the same as when I first sensed the clone’s mana.

…But my clone is already dead… How did this happen?

I opened the status window as if possessed.

[Name: Venice / Age: 20. / Male / Status: Normal.]

[Unique Ability: Clone Wizard (???): You can summon your clone. The clone’s form and abilities are random, and you can control it like your own body.

You don’t feel the pain your clone feels! If the clone dies or is destroyed, the user can retrieve it again!]

[Due to the death of clone 1, it cannot be used or assimilated.]

[Can be assimilated with clone 2!]

“….Huh?”

In disbelief, I rubbed my eyes and did several laps on the spot.

However, the information that caught my eye remained the same.

“Have I… gone crazy now?”

[no! You are not crazy!]

“Then… what happened…? What about alter ego 2? Wasn’t it that I couldn’t use my abilities anymore?”

[Literally, this is the second clone! There doesn’t have to be just one clone!]

“Ha…haha…”

I burst out laughing at the cheerful mechanical sound that I hadn’t heard in a long time. However, it was a smile full of joy and anticipation, not a feeling of negativity.

“….Good. This opportunity… can’t be missed.”

For someone who was destined to become a useless person who couldn’t do anything, another opportunity has come!

Out of joy and anticipation, I quickly ran home with steps that no longer felt heavy but rather light.

Slurp-

“Tskcha.”

It was still broad daylight with the sun overhead, but being connected to another body made me feel a little tired.

‘thank you. Status window…’

[…you’re welcome!]

“…Then. Let’s go!”

Close your eyes and do not resist drowsiness. The body becomes comfortable as if sinking into the bed, and the mind becomes more and more distant.

Leader of a mercenary group. Next… what kind of ‘me’ will I be born with?

I felt my mana and the mana of my clone resonating. I literally lost my mind.

***

Jeok… Jeok.

I walk aimlessly towards somewhere. Holding something precious in your hand, just look forward.

My feet sink as if I’m stepping on something, and a huge wind blows me, causing my coat to flutter. I hold the coat tightly in my hand to keep it from flying away.

…And at the same time, I feel the bone-chilling cold.

“…Huh!”

What… where am I?

I looked around while shivering from the cold, which was incomparable to the harsh winters in Korea, which are known for their harsh winds.

“…..Snow field?”

In a snowstorm that rages like a storm, you can’t even see an inch in front of you. Even just looking at the snow I am stepping on, it looks like it has accumulated more than 30cm.

I was holding a small basket tightly in my hand. and…

“…Oh my god…!”

It was so damn cold! My teeth chattered and my whole body shivered from the cold.

The extreme cold was such that even wearing padding wasn’t enough, but I was only wearing a thin, shabby coat.

Even the coat was worn and torn in some parts, showing signs of being patched and sewn.

‘…I need to go somewhere!’

As of now, it was my second clone and all, and I felt like I was going to freeze to death before I could do anything.

Is there somewhere nearby where I can warm up for a moment?

With my body trembling, I looked around, concentrating on what I could not see clearly.

“Is that… a cave?”

At that time, I vaguely saw a cave-like shape on the mountain in front of me. Without thinking any more, I took a difficult step towards that cave-like figure.

It was difficult to take a single step due to the snow piled up above the ankles and the strong wind, but I went ahead nonetheless.

‘…..nice!’

As I managed to get there, the entrance to a really small cave caught my eye. I guess there is no law that says people should just die.

I removed the black and purple curtain with a strange pattern at the cave entrance and entered the cave.

“….Wow. I guess I’ll live a little longer..”

It was still cold, but it was worth living just because I wasn’t facing the wind. I put the basket down on the floor for a moment, put my hands together, and let my warm breath melt them.

‘…..for a moment. This smell…’

As soon as my sense of smell, which had been paralyzed by the cold, returned, a fishy yet familiar smell hit my nose.

A smell I got sick of when I was the leader of the Scar mercenaries.

“….Blood scent?”

The terrible smell of blood wafts from inside the cave. At the same time, the indescribable smell of chemicals and an unknown ominous energy can be felt from within.

‘What on earth… happened?’

To find the base of this blood scent, I slowly walked inside the cave, following the light of the purple torch hanging on the wall.

As soon as I turn the corner, I see curtains again, a mixture of black and purple with a strange pattern.

Beyond this, a horribly strong scent of blood wafts. At the same time, I feel a strange energy that cannot be expressed in words.

Somewhere heavy… and evil energy.

Slurp-

I opened the curtain and pushed myself inside.

The strong scent of blood and medicine that seemed to numb the nose.

The purple torch illuminates symbols and objects of unknown meaning placed on the desk.

“……huh.”

Also, on the other side, several people were seen locked in iron bars. All of them were spitting out a huge amount of blood, and there were injection marks on their bodies. They also had bruises, so it looked like they had been beaten.

‘…Is he…alive?’

Their already dead eyes felt lifeless and their bodies did not even move. All that was left was a body that sat down and dropped its hands as if it had lost hope and given up.

This place… what on earth is it?

I could not help but freeze in place as I saw the scene of indescribable horror.