7DP 194.2
194: Like a Completely Different Person
TL: Cnine
ED/PF:
R1[1–2], R2[3–4]
Part 3
「Hold on, hold on, hold on! I can explain everything!」
Then, the demon god Antendixis suddenly popped out of me and grabbed Lyla by the shoulder.
「An… explanation?」
She asked, her hand still on the ribbon of her maid outfit, looking between me and the demon god with a mix of suspicion and confusion.
「Woof?」
At my feet, the forest elf dog nodded solemnly, like she totally got it — “Ah, yep, everything checks out.”
「Lo, this one be Jilbagias. His former self— nay, speak not that name — was bound by taboo magic. And in its stead was born a being true to his demonic essence, the very spirit of what he was meant to be.」
「That’s kinda misleading, Demon God.」
I thought about keeping quiet, but yeah, no chance.
「It’s not really some ‘true demon personality.’ It’s more like all the knowledge and habits the original me built up as a demon, mashed together. Sure, I’m a demon prince, but I’m missing half the stuff that makes one — the pride, the ego, that thirst for battle. Honestly, all that’s left that still feels like me is a bit of curiosity.」
Lyla looked completely bewildered. Well, who wouldn’t, after hearing something like that out of nowhere?
「Anyway, the important thing is that I’m not your enemy. Just think of me as a 『Husk』 running oddly because the original self inside is gone.」
「This being was born when we did rescue yon hound from the night elves’ gaol.」
「Yeah, that’s right. We both used some magic to seal our own minds for a bit, didn’t we? Anyway, it’s been forever. Glad to see you’re still kicking.」
「WOOF WOOF!」
I held out my hand, and Liliana smacked her paw against it like a pro. Smart dog!
「So… that’s what happened. But… why?」
Lyla looked uneasy as she turned to the Demon God.
「…The original personality had reached his limit,」
murmured the Demon Lord, his voice barely above a whisper.
The one behind it all, Antendixis.
「He must’ve wanted to disappear or something. Without realising it, he used magic and ended up sealing his own mind.」
「...」
Lyla was at a loss for words.
「No way...」
Her legs gave out, and she dropped to the floor.
「―――」
She whispered that name, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Ah, crap. The Demon God did say not to mention that name… though I didn’t really understand why.
...
So that’s how it was, huh. To her, I really am Jilbagias.
It made me kind of sad, honestly.
I mean...
I still remember everything about Lyla, through Jilbagias’s eyes.
I remember when she first came to me. Making her face her dad’s severed head… yeah, that was a really messed-up thing to do.
After that, she taught me that magic of human transformation, and I took her out to the training field so we could start practising flying. It feels so nostalgic now.
And then there was that time when the tutor and the Demon God got totally wasted and started clinging to each other. That scared the hell out of us.
Our first meeting couldn’t have gone worse. She was terrified of me, but little by little, we got closer—
And then, one day… something big happened.
I didn’t really remember that part.
But I do remember the first time she flew on her own. In the morning light, her silvery scales sparkled, and she glided through the air like she was swimming. She was amazing.
Even when I was acting as the Demon Prince.
I remember that too.
But――
「...」
Seeing her—clutching her chest as if enduring some deep ache, quietly letting tears fall—
Upon knowing that I might no longer be the “me” she knew.
「Woof?」
But the dog stayed the same. I was the one who pulled her out of that jail, after all. She might just be used to me by now.
「Well, as long as you’re safe and sound, that’s what matters.」
I gave the dog’s golden hair a good rub.
「Woof!」
She squinted her eyes and smiled with joy. A beauty like a miracle left behind by the light gods themselves, yet behaving in a way that felt utterly mindless.
It’s distorted, huh.
You and me, mate.
Yeah… figures. I’m just a backup version, aren’t I?
Oi, you hear me?
Of course you do. I am you, after all.
I don’t know who I’m supposed to be, and honestly, I couldn’t be bothered to think too hard about it.
Whatever crap you went through? No clue. I couldn’t even wrap my head around it.
I could guess it was pretty bad, though.
But even then… you get that we couldn’t stay like this, right?
We couldn’t pretend the whole thing never happened.
I mean, I’m still alive, and I’ve got to keep going.
…Seriously, I had to. I didn’t get the option to just die.
I’m just one side of this someone-called-Jilbagias thing.
If it was only me, I didn’t stand a chance against what’s coming.
So get your arse back here.
Running away wasn’t an option, because I’m—
...
…And let me say this as the other half of you.
I looked over at Lyla, still crying in silence.
You can’t just let such a cute girl cry!
Honestly… it makes me jealous, you bastard.
「Come on, wake up already.」
I smacked my own forehead with my clenched fist.
It felt like my thoughts were being hammered and forcibly reshaped—
Everything came crashing back at once. Memories, emotions, all of it hitting me like a damn flood.
God… how pathetic. I’m sorry… seriously, I’m really sorry…
Getting pep-talked by my 『own self』? What kind of mess even was that? It’s embarrassing…
I’m sorry...
「…Good grief. For a moment there, I wasn’t sure how you’d turn out,」
Ante said, relaxing a little as she smiled at me in the moonlight.
I couldn’t say a word. The tears just kept pouring, and I couldn’t stop sobbing.
My own body didn’t even feel like it belonged to me anymore. I had no clue what to do.
I’m sorry… truly, I’m sorry. I didn’t even know who this apology was meant for anymore.
But… even so… there was one thing I had to say.
To Liliana, who gently licked away my tears and stayed close to comfort me.
To Lyla, now staring in surprise, who had been in pain on my behalf.
And to Ante, who had always been there—watching over me, supporting me without fail.
「... I’m back」
I’d finally made it back, in the truest sense, from the battlefield.