I've lost the power of Komiha, and the power gap has widened to the point where it can't be reversed. The only thing I can do is somehow create an opening and use this power on one or two of my enemies in preparation for a fight. ...... There is no point in sacrificing my life for a curse that will lose its effect if I die. I already know I don't stand a chance, but I'm being shallow.

"But that's the point, isn't it? You're the ideal enemy, you know.

　It's not a threat from an absurd force like Arcturial, but a pure contest of wits. That's why, that's why. As long as I have this power, I have to keep wielding it to the right people. I have to keep thinking about how to keep using it.

I don't know what to do. ....... At this rate, I'll just be a princess waiting for Rytal to come save me. That's not good, it makes no sense.

　It reminds me of something I used to do. I had a talent for memory, and I could retain and erase my memories at will, and play with them at will. But I've never wanted to keep my memories. I used this talent only to erase the bad memories of the many physical punishments I received from my parents who were creeped out by my bizarre existence.
　No matter how badly they hurt me, tomorrow I can face my parents with a smile on my face. No matter how bad things got, I could face my parents tomorrow with a smile on my face, and they would be kind to me. It wasn't until it was too late that I realized that this would further distance me from my parents.

"You can erase the memories, but you can't change the facts.

　Her mind was supposed to be calm, but the pain of the growing scars on her body kept increasing. The pain was enough to turn my escape into a defensive act. And I had to use my powers on my parents. My mind was still young, but my body was old, and I saw a child in front of me that I had never raised.

The only thing that the discrepancy in memory creates is fear. It doesn't lead to anything good.

　My parents chose to take out their frustration with the absurdity of the situation on me, and I was forced to use more power. The result was an ugly creature that couldn't even speak and could only cry and scream.

"Oh, what a terrible power. Fearless and abominable.

　I thought I'd use this power more. I have the power to ruin someone's life. I was born with that power. Now that it's given to me, I have to wield it. Otherwise, I can't understand why I was born with such power.

There's someone else I should be wielding my power against. "There is someone I should be wielding my power against, and that is the reason I am alive. I was born with this gift.

　I wield this power only by my will. I have to wield it. It doesn't matter how much others dislike me, as long as I think I need it. If you don't wield your power for yourself, there is no point in living as a human being. A life prepared for someone else is like a tool, and I don't want it.

Who cares about the details of winning or losing? ....... "Yeah, I'll set fire to this Thorin.

　It's a little frustrating to try to emulate the boldness of the people of the planet Juglar. I wanted to do something that only I could do. But all I've got left is this power and a bunch of mooks. That's the only distraction I can think of that anyone can do and still be irreversible.

Their actions will be read ....... But I don't think we can handle the movements of every ragtag group, so it might be better to be as messy as possible.

　You can burn as much as you can and then ...... act according to your mood. If I think about it too much, the people of the planet Yugra will read my thoughts. Then you can change what you do according to what you see and how you feel at the time.
　Then I'll have to return to the base first. It's been a while since I escaped from Ecdysium, but there's still a good chance they're after me. They may be trying to get me to swim and destroy the entire base. I'm going to use my detection magic to find out what's going on around me.

I can't believe they've read this much into me.

　In this town, there were magic seal stones placed in empty houses to prevent the enemy from using detection magic freely. But I'm the only one who did it, and I put different markers on each building to distinguish which house has the magic stone in it. In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use this kind of spell, you can contact us at .......

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you out.

　It is possible that the landmarks have been detected and understood so that they can be identified within the same range as me,....... I thought it would be impossible to distinguish such landmarks, features that differ slightly from normal houses, such as missing chimneys and half-cut weeds. .......

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one. Then we'll just have to search for them here.

　He poked the ground with his staff and listened to the reverberating sound, enhancing his own hearing with magic power. In this way, you can grasp the structure of your surroundings spatially. The disadvantage is that it can only be used in a quiet place and the other senses must be closed, so if you are attacked now, your reaction will surely be delayed.

...... Well, it's not like they're going to read the timing of this.

　I was planning to act immediately if I detected something, but it was an unnecessary worry. There was no one around, and all the people in the house were asleep. There were a few unpleasant discoveries.
　There were traps in places where I might pass. Out of sight, where no one would pass. If I had tried to return without thinking, I might have been trapped.
　You see that there is a rope in a part of the alleyway and look around. It could have been a squeaker, and it would have made a lot of noise if he had caught his foot on it.

Was it a mix? That's not a very good trick, is it?

　It seems that they didn't use any deadly traps as there is a chance that a civilian could be trapped by accident. ...... It's a shame that people think they can fall for such a stupid trap.


　Using the night vision spell, I carefully made my way through the city at night. I tried to use the detection spell several times along the way, but I couldn't use it satisfactorily because the location of the magic seal I had placed was shifted. Thanks to this, I consumed more time than I expected, and arrived at the tavern where the ruffians were hanging out much later than I had planned.

"Mr. Solide! What are you doing here at this time of night?
Nothing much. Komiha's messed up. Change of plans. We've decided to let you guys run wild on Trinh from now on.
"We're ......?

　The faces of the ruffians were dark. The expression on their faces was gloomy, which was understandable considering that Komiha, who was at least more powerful than them, had been killed.

I don't expect you to be a force to be reckoned with. All you have to do is scatter and go around setting fires.
Fire ......? ......
You've seen arson a few times before. You've seen arson a few times before, just on a larger scale. Once the whole country's on fire, you can just run away and hide until the heat dies down. You can share this with me.

　He takes out a bag of gold coins from his pocket and throws them at the feet of the ruffians. This is enough to keep you alive for the time being, even if everyone here miraculously escapes without being caught.

I understand. ...... So when are you going to do it?
"We'll set it up right now after we distribute the money. Now that Komiha's been caught, this place will be sniffed out before too long. Do it quickly. I'm going to take a look around.

　I just told you that Komiha screwed up, can't you think of anything else? But these people have little sense of guilt. If it's just arson, give them some money and they'll get it over with.

Hey, hey. ....... Gather round then, lads, and we'll distribute the money!

　He once again used his staff to search for the enemy outside the barracks. There were no disturbing shadows outside, so it was unlikely that they were being followed. But I also found Naruko's trap near this abalone house. He must have already found this place. After the arson, he should consider where to hide.
　First, prepare for the arson and wait for the signal from Ritual to join us. Once the signal is given, we will let the ruffians set the fire and lower the guard around the trading post. If Tzadari is there, that should be enough of a diversion. After that, ...... you're right, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a shot at the people of Yugra directly. He's the one who's going to be my enemy. Then I'll have to kill him. That's the only thing worth risking my life for.

Yeah. Let's do it. The Mix and the Exduk will probably kill me easily after that, but it'll be worth it.

　How do we kill them? If we break their memories instead of bringing them back, we can break their minds. However, it is not possible in this case, because it would take much longer to cause irreparable damage than to implant a wedge. Magical attacks ...... can be prevented by a single magic seal stone if it is read ....... It's easy to kill them because they're fragile to begin with, and the best way to do that is through pure magic enhancement,......, but it's not very spectacular.

"Mr. Solide, may I have a word with you?
What? I'm trying to think. I don't want to waste my time--

　The annoyance of the noise interfering with my thoughts suddenly disappeared. Why am I so stiff now? Oh, it's him. He's the one with the knife in my side.

"What?

　My body collapses. It's a knife prick. ...... No, if you look closely, this knife ...... isn't like the ones these guys have. It's not like the ones these guys have. It's not like they're holding a knife.

"Oh, it's your fault! You tried to use us as pawns!

　What the hell is he talking about? I gave you the money to escape. I don't care if they get caught for screwing up on their own, but I've given them at least a little help, haven't I?
　I can barely move my body. He tried to use a cane to help himself up, but the blood flowing from his side made his legs slip and he fell again.

"No! No! You guys, let's get out of here!

　The ruffians are running away noisily. You stabbed a man and then ran away in a hurry, are you children who can't be weaned? A few moments later, the sound of clanking in the sky reaches my ears.
　--I wonder what it's from. It took me a while to think of it because it's not a sound I hear very often.

The wounds aren't that deep, but they're still there.

　The blood can be stopped if you strengthen your magic. But I can't get any strength from the poison that's going around my body. This is a problem. I feel as if my body is turning to stone.

I think this is the second time we've met. How are you feeling, Solide?

　I hear voices. Eyes still moving, I wonder who it is. Oh, that's him, this dark-haired, dark-eyed ...... starling from Yuggra. Next to him is Mix. The two of them have very different expressions.



"...... is unexpectedly calm and a little surprised, don't you think?
It's a lethal paralytic poison. It's a deadly paralyzing poison, so it might be numbing the pain.

　The people of Yggra's planet took my staff with a look of amusement on their faces. I don't think I'll be able to get up without it, or maybe I won't be able to even with it.

I don't think I can get up without it.
Yeah. I had my guys, Harkdock and Cale, look into the personalities of the ruffians in town. I also had them run a description of anyone who's been in or out of the Horstal Trading Company and locate this place. And also to find out about the magic seal stones scattered around the city.

　Just like I used the people around Yugra's star people, this guy used my men? What, I didn't have to feel bad about arson just because it was a means to an end? We're both copying each other.

The main reason I shifted the location of the sealing stones in the city was to buy time for you to return to this place after you took Komiha to surprise Exarch. It must have taken you a long time since you couldn't use your detection magic properly and there were many childish traps along the way, right?

　The battle with Ecdysium was the signal for the people of Yugra to contact them and betray me. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

They're the kind of people who are ruled by fear. It was easy enough to get them to listen to you if you threatened them enough. I didn't quite believe you when you said you were going to set them on fire and escape while you were at it. I gave him the knife and said, "You don't have to believe me. You just have to listen to Solide,' I said, and I left. They're going to do something and run away, and I'm going to set up a squeaker.

　So... ....... I guess they thought I was going to do what they predicted and make them disposable. That would be too bold. ....... If you're disposable if you do what I say, and free if you stab me with a knife at the drop of a hat, you might ...... do it.

It's a horrible way to end. ...... There's nothing spectacular about it. That's my only complaint. ......
"Yeah? It's because you used your power on me that it ended up this way. It made sense.
...... That's a terrible thing to say.

　That's just the way things go. Oh, that's okay. Well, well, well. It still means something.

Did you have fun, Solide?
Did you enjoy the process, but not the end? ......
Well, well, well. That's good. I had fun, too.

　I had a good time too." This man is smiling with a satisfied look on his face. But this smile is ...... not something I should be worried about. In the first place, this man's future is .......

You could have been friends with him, but that would have been difficult. ......
"Yeah. But this is not a bad way to end it, is it?
"Haha, I bet.

　I didn't think I had anything special, but this guy understands me. If you can die in front of someone who understands you, it's the most beautiful thing.

　◇

Solide is confirmed dead.

　I checked Solide's pulse and pupils and passed the word to your friend. I looked at him, letting him meditate with his eyes open. Despite the fact that he had died from a deadly poison that had caused him to lose all his freedom and become ice cold, Solide's face was as calm as if he were asleep.

"Well, it's probably around here somewhere...

　As I stood up, my friend began to examine Solide's body. I unconsciously clenched my fists as he hummed and played with the corpse of the man who had lost his life to his own machinations.

"What are you doing, my friend? ......
There it is. Here's the key. Now we can capture the bastard in the basement of the trading post.
"......, of course.

　You take the key that your friend released and put it in your pocket. It's a hard thing to get, but I don't feel the least bit moved by it. He slowly stood up and held out the staff he had taken from Solide to me.

Now that Solide is dead, there is no one to replenish the wand's magic. The curse can be lifted if you let it, but you--

　Without waiting for the end of my words, I cut Solide's staff in two with the Emb. Your friend looked dumbfounded as the severed wand fell to the ground, but he quickly returned to his amused expression.

You want me back so soon? He hates me.
I don't want to see your friend like this any more. Your friend is not the kind of person who would enjoy understanding another person's mind and using it to send them to their death.
"Well, of course not. That's what "I" and "me" stand for. It's not like me.

　Your friend picks up a piece of cane that has fallen to the ground and observes its cross section with interest. I'm sure he's not interested in my thoughts right now. But now it is finally over. I had feared that there was a plan, but now that the wand has been destroyed, your friend will return to normal.

I understand that your friend is not the same as the one I know. I understand that the friend you have now and the friend I know are two different people, and I apologize for treating them as if they were the same person.
"Oh, you cared about that? It doesn't matter.



　Before I could even think about the meaning of the words, my body reflexively moved and grabbed my friend's chest. The relief I felt was easily shaken like this. But I couldn't help but say.

"Then why, why did your friend do this to you ......!
"I'm sorry, can you let me go?

　I'm sure he'll stare at me with those eyes again. I was expecting that, but your friend gave me an annoyed look. Surprised by this, I let go of her hand and took a few steps back.

"Hmm. Since the wand is broken, the task I'm asking you to do is over. ...... Let's have a little chat. I'm sure the future me will spoil it for you anyway.
"My role in ......?

　I could sense from your friend that you were in a similar mood as before, yet you seemed to be relaxed.

The "I" of the time, well, it goes without saying that the "I" was the main player. Facing various kinds of malice is inevitably painful for the heart. I've been adjusted to have a mind that can be amused by it.
...... I can understand that.

　Your friend now enjoys understanding, shaking, and manipulating people's minds. It's not a personality thing, it's a way of getting around.

But actually, you can switch to 'I' or 'me' too. When I woke up, it was me, but I knew right away that I wasn't a good match for you. But I didn't switch. Because I decided it was okay to be me.
No.

　Then your friend could have behaved as usual, but he didn't! If you don't mind being the kind of person who enjoys messing with our minds, then why do you do this?

"Because, Mix. It's the only way to keep you apart, right? You wouldn't want to get rid of me, would you?
......Exclude......?
See, you destroyed the stick without a second thought. I just needed one person to do this for me. I wanted one person who would do this, who would not listen to me and make me disappear.
"What ...... are you talking about?

　I can't even think beyond that right now. Your friend laughed in annoyance and continued.

As you said earlier, 'I' and the 'I' you know are like two different entities. And I know this from the data left behind, but the future 'me' will not have a 'me' position. I know why, because it's me. In the end, you tried to enjoy it, but you couldn't stand it.

　I heard that your friend got fed up with living emotionally in his former world, and began to live at a distance from others. I guess your friend now is in the state of memory just before that.

Maybe that's why. I didn't hesitate to take risks in the past, but I became more frivolous about my own life. Well, there's not that much difference, is there? That's why I decided it was right for me to disappear as me.
"That's why I decided that it was the right thing for me to disappear as I am." "Even if you say that's why, ...... I don't really understand what you're talking about.
What would you have thought if I had said this?

　Your friend grasped the severed cane so that it was in its original shape and turned it toward his back so that I could not see it. It was as if he was protecting it from me.

I don't want to disappear. Help me, Mix.
"What?

　Tears flowed from her friend's eyes, and she had a weak expression on her face that I didn't think was normal. It's hard to believe that it's an act, but it's as if the wand is still intact, and I feel a painful tightness in my chest. .......

I'm not a strong person at heart. I'm a coward, a weakling, and a miser. I'm so scared of disappearing like this, so scared that I can't even end it by myself. That's why I couldn't switch to 'me' or 'I'. I knew that if I were in that position, I would do anything to survive, no matter how dirty.
...... It's...
"What if I came to another world and the first person I met was you? You've thought about that, haven't you?

　That's not fair. How could I not have thought about it? If only he had met me first instead of Lord Ratzel. ....... I'm sure I would have become friends with your friend, even if we didn't speak the same language, and .......

'I'm not afraid to use your mind in this way, but I'm not afraid to survive. Because there's a chance you won't disappear.
If that's the case, ...... why is your friend now ......
I told you. I told you that in the not-too-distant future, I will be in a position where I will no longer be needed and will disappear. That's why I was able to weigh my present self against my future self. There is no future for me no matter which one I choose. My first priority is myself, and then the people around me. If the comparison is the same, I'll just seek a better outcome for you and the people around you.

　Your friend wiped away her tears with her sleeve and returned to her fake smile. But his eyes are slightly bloodshot. If you hadn't destroyed the wand and kept Solide alive, he would have been able to maintain his existence for as long as possible. Perhaps there was a way to prevent it from ever coming back.

There was also the shallow reason that I didn't want to get too close to you personally.
"Well, why is that ......
"Well, you don't want to make a difficult decision for a woman you like and then find out that she won't choose you, do you?

　Your friend laughed at that. That was the sincere smile I saw on his face back then in Garnet. But isn't it terrible to show that face now? I got rid of you without a second thought.



I'm .......
Good luck with that, Mix. As long as your tastes haven't changed, you've got a pulse. I'm rooting for you, even though I'm not sure if I'll make it to the afterlife.

　With these words, your friend suddenly collapsed into unconsciousness. Solide's curse was lifted and his original memories returned, which must have caused his confused consciousness to temporarily stop functioning. I took your friend in my arms and carried him to safety for the time being.

Thank you, ......, Mr. "I". I will do my best to repay your support.

　I couldn't help but say these words when I saw the cane lying on the ground.