I was completely stunned.
The man in front of me smiled with such obvious malice that it chilled me to the bone. He had my face. My old face. Nil's face. Only the aura surrounding him was strange… twisted, as if something essential had rotted from within.
—That reaction just confirmed you know who I am! Hahaha!
I couldn't say anything.
What was happening?
How was it possible that Nil was here?
Or rather… that my old body was here?
"Oh~!" he crooned, tilting his head. "What's going on right now? How is Nil here, or rather, my old self?"
That's exactly what you're thinking, right?
My face tensed.
Could he... read my mind?
"No, no, miss!" he waved his hand, still smiling. "I didn't read your mind. I simply know your thought patterns. We've been together since we were little, you know?"
—W-what… do you mean?
—You still don't understand? What an empty head! You don't even know I exist! This hurts me so much, you know?!
—Huh?!
I definitely didn't remember anything like that. That wasn't Nil. That wasn't me.
What on earth was it then?
"It seems you want to know more," he said playfully. "As a special service, I'll tell you everything I know about us."
He clapped three times, slowly, as if he were on a stage.
He was crazy.
It was my old body… but inside there was nothing left of me.
—I'll ask you a question, Asagao. Why do you think your social withdrawal decreased when you were a kid?
—No… I don't understand what you mean.
"Look. Little Nil—or Asagao, whichever you prefer—was extremely shy as a child. That caused you a lot of problems. You always tried hard to communicate, but you failed time and time again."
I remembered those days. Even with children my own age, it was almost impossible for me to talk. Adults constantly misunderstood me.
—You had a deep desire to communicate and to feel loved. You still do, by the way. Hehe. What a demanding little brat. You wanted a version of yourself strong enough to overcome those barriers and get the attention you craved.
I couldn't deny it.
Although the orphanage director showed us affection, I never felt it was enough… and I didn't want to bother him either. I wanted to earn his attention on my own.
"And then," he continued with an ever-widening smile, "you created me. Unconsciously. A secondary personality capable of talking to people, of lying effortlessly, and of getting the attention you so desperately craved."
The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
-…That?
—Exactly! You developed another personality. But there's only me! Hahaha!
I felt pale.
Was it possible?
It sounded too coherent… and that's precisely why it was so scary.
—Those times when you were with friends and you reached the end of your rope… I'd take charge and sort everything out for you. I can't believe how foolish they were, believing all the lies I told! I don't even like to flatter ugly faces, you know?!
—That… that can't be…!
"Oh! And even during the terrorist attack, I had taken control. It was a life-or-death situation. But you had to ruin it and kick me out at the worst possible moment!"
—Huh?! What are you talking about?!
"Don't you understand yet? Someone as pathetic and timid as you couldn't have handled that. The solution was simple: it didn't have to be you. You just had to let someone else take the reins."
—Th-that's impossible! There should have been some sign!
He smiled again. It was my face… but I had never seen such a terrifying expression on it.
—Let's say this body is a bicycle and you were riding it. After a while, I saw you pedaling clumsily, I got frustrated, took the controls away from you, and sent you to the back seat. You could keep looking at the scenery… but I was the one doing the pedaling.
—That phenomenon…
Was that... what had happened to me all those times?
—S-so… how come you're here too?
"What the hell are you saying?" he retorted with genuine surprise. "You are the impossible existence here."
I felt my blood run cold.
—You've probably already heard of the concept of summoning in this world thanks to… let's say… a certain “Continental Destroyer”.
I didn't understand the reference, but I couldn't interrupt him.
—We died in the terrorist attack. Well… almost. As they were dragging us away, we were still in the process of dying. When we entered the Rift, your soul separated from your body like a snapping thread and was summoned. This body, however, was left adrift within the dimensional Rift.
My mind refused to process the words.
"Your existence right now is, in theory, impossible. Most likely, your soul collided with some empty vessel or shell at the edge of the Rift before being pulled in completely. And now you live inside it. Though I have no idea what body that is... or who it originally belonged to."
So… that's why I could use magic? Because this body was born into this world?
"I was incredibly lucky, you know," he continued cheerfully. "This body ended up coming back to life after wandering through the Rift. When I awoke... I was already the Demon Lord."
—Impossible! They summoned us less than six months ago!
—Of course. But floating inside the Rift sent me several years into the past. I don't expect you to completely believe me… but I don't care! Hahaha!
—S-so you… you…
"Yes!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms wide theatrically. "I'm the one who caused all this calamity! I can see the blood spilling and guts flying everywhere! Hahaha!"
The image of the soldiers torn apart in the castle returned to my mind with brutal force.
The Devil who had brought me here still stood to one side, silent. Nil—or whatever it was that inhabited my former body—looked at me as if he were enjoying the best show of his life.
"I think that's all for now," he said suddenly, coming closer and crouching down to my level. "I still have a special affection for you, Asagao. Even though you didn't even know I existed."
The smile she gave me then completely paralyzed me. My mind was reaching its limit.
"I'll kill you painlessly~" she whispered sweetly. "Ehehe! What a cliché line~"
Huh?!
The Devil muttered something in his guttural language. Nil sat up and listened attentively.
—Oh? You want to do something?
…
Oh really?
…
Oh! What a fantastic idea!
Then she looked at me again with shining eyes.
—Asagao~! This ugly guy wants to spare your life. Be grateful!
I couldn't utter a word.
—¿Oh?
YOU EMPTY-HEADED FOOL, DON'T YOU EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE?!
A sharp pain shot through my scalp. He had grabbed my hair and lifted me into the air as if I weighed nothing.
—Ahhh! Please! Let me go!
—WHAT?! WHERE IS YOUR GRATITUDE TOWARDS THAT UGLY GUY?!
—Hic…! T-thank you… *sob*…
He let go of me suddenly. I fell to my knees, crying uncontrollably.
—See? It wasn't so difficult, you adorable little Asagao~
—Hic… sob…
—Well. You'll live a little longer. We might see each other often at the fortress. Because this ugly fellow has taken an interest in you. In short… you'll be a toy for the demons.
An indescribable terror coursed through my entire body.
—Ooh! Before I hand it over to you… why don't we let you run around for a while? Wouldn't that be more exciting? After I count to ten, he'll find you and do whatever he wants with you. Doesn't that sound fun? You are reading on g.com, the official source.
¡No!
Overwhelmed by panic, I immediately started running.
A dull thud.
—I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED COUNTING YET, YOU EMPTY HEAD! WHY ARE YOU RUINING MY FUN?!
He slammed me to the ground with brutal force. I miraculously managed to stay conscious. The pain was so intense that I couldn't stop crying.
“As a final act of compassion,” she said, looking down at me, “I’ll let you enjoy your ‘romance’ in private. Oh, and just so you know: we’re on the border between the human continent and the elven forest. Even if you shout for help from the castle… it would take you half a year to get there on foot. I arranged all this especially for you.”
He had brought me here deliberately.
—Okay… let’s begin. One…
I ran.
I ran with all the strength I had left. I stumbled, got up, stumbled again. I felt my ankle twist, but I didn't stop. My clothes became covered in thorns and tears. My whole body ached.
I'm afraid.
Hurts.
Someone… please…
A deafening roar shook the forest.
¡¿Yes?!
I tried to accelerate, but my legs wouldn't respond anymore. A thick root sent me sprawling. When I looked up, the Devil was already there.
It extended one of its enormous claws towards me.
-BARRIER!!
It was my last stand.
A transparent dome materialized around me. The monster began to strike it with brutal force. Each impact shook my concentration. I felt the barrier cracking.
Then I heard human voices. Footsteps. Judging by their clothes… adventurers!
—Hic…! Help, please! Please!
They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the Devil. Fear was clearly etched on their faces.
—PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! SAVE ME! DON'T GO!
One of them took a step back. Then another.
They abandoned me.
Desperation swallowed everything else.
Fon-nii…
Where are you?
Violetta-san…
Lily-san… Edelweiss-san…
All…
I cried silently, without the strength even to scream.
A clear sound, like a mirror breaking, reached my ears.
My barrier shattered.
The Devil's enormous hand grasped both my arms with terrifying ease. His long, wet, nauseating tongue traced my cheek and then my thigh.
Not anymore…
My mind was reaching its limit.
I don't want any of this anymore.
Someone…
Please…
Save me…