novelraw Chapter 201 : Chapter 201
Chapter 201 : Chapter 201
Chapter : 201
Professor Artemia warned me absolutely not to tell the entities in the dream that this world is a dream.
She warned that the moment I say it, I would be trapped in the dream.
That meant it doesn't apply to entities that flowed in from the outside, not dream entities.
If it's something that flowed in from the outside like me and Zephyros, nothing would happen to me, and if it's an entity of the dream, I would be trapped in this dream.
It’s a story of a perilous gamble risking my future safety.
“…….”
Did I really get trapped in this world?
The method to check that wasn't very difficult.
“Ha.”
Professor Artemia said if I spoke to the wrong entity, my heart would stop at that moment.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.
As a result of slowly placing my hand on my chest, I laughed, "Haha."
My heart was still beating incredibly loud with unbearable fear.
“As expected, a fake.”
A perfect external entity with no connection to Lucian.
“What is your intention?”
“I’m the one who wants to ask that.”
With what intention does this thing dare to wear Lucian's face?
Moreover, why does it have the exact same face as that Lucian from the dungeon, scary enough to be identical?
Although fear briefly showed on my face, I looked straight at the fake Lucian.
“What is your true identity?”
Even though he stubbornly kept his mouth shut, I wasn't shaken anymore.
Because it's been proven that that thing is just a fake resembling Lucian to a terrifying degree.
“Ah, I really have no strength.”
If I were forced to get up, it wouldn't be entirely impossible, but a body out of control didn't recover easily.
Taking a heavy deep breath, I slowly looked up.
“Who are you?”
It’s not like I’m talking to a wall, but the opponent asking me back what I want to ask made me feel even empty.
In a hopeless standoff, I took a deep breath and looked straight at Lucian.
Fine, if you've decided not to say anything, it's not like I don't have a way.
Would this method work on a variable invading from the outside? It’s not that I don’t have doubts, but it’s better than not even trying.
「The entity before my eyes reveals the hidden identity.」
It was the best sentence I could think of.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.
My heart beat loudly in my ears. I felt my mana being slashed away in a chunk instantly.
Now, if only I hear the fake Lucian's shout—
“…….”
Why is nothing happening?
I tried to use the skill one more time, but it only wasted mana meaninglessly once more; the fake in front of me revealing the truth didn't happen.
“Huh?”
What on earth happened? Why is he not saying anything?
Just as I was about to write one more time, something POPPED! onto my face.
“Idiot! Don’t do it!!”
A voice in my memory. And blinking my eyes at the familiar power and warmth.
“Lou?”
Perhaps because it's a dream, Lou seemed able to speak like last time.
“You’re recovered, right?”
“Yeah! That’s right! Yahoo! Not stifling anymore!!”
Lou flew around above my head, seemingly very happy, then perhaps realizing the fake Lucian was staring at him, hurriedly stuck to the back of my head.
“I can help Zephy make the wind handleable!”
“Really?”
“I’ll try asking properly once!”
Although Lou hopped around on my head, if he could help Zephyros handle the wind, I could offer my head a hundred times over.
“That is, a spirit.”
The chains of light pulled tight.
At the gaze staring straight at Lou with bloodshot eyes, Lou hid in my arms with a SQUEAK! sound, seemingly terrified.
“What about it?”
“That too, a Light Spirit. How on earth?”
I couldn't just pass over the fake Lucian's mumbling as if it were nothing.
“…You too.”
This is definitely a fake with Lucian's appearance.
But why on earth—
“How do you know about Light Spirits?”
That should have been an important plot point Lucian barely figured out ahead of the finale of Part 2.
* * *
If the beginning of Part 2 focused on stories related to the Church of Light, the latter half was filled with stories of spirits related to Zephyros, who could be called the second protagonist.
The reason Lucian was bullied as a ‘cursed child’ was known to be due to his constitution being loved by spirits, and even the fact that a Light Spirit resided in the Holy Sword, granting it special power.
What was more shocking was the production team’s pre-interview for the 10th-anniversary update, stating that there were still stories left to be unraveled in Part 2.
How much I looked forward to their confident declaration that it would be a perfect story wrapping up all the stories continuing for several years after Part 1 ended!
‘To possess without seeing that!!’
It was still one of the unfair parts.
But that wasn't important. It’s not like anything would change, so I just had to accept reality quietly.
‘If I knew the truth revealed in the last story, would it have been more helpful in guessing this fake’s identity?’
I clenched my fist tight and took a deep breath.
“Theo, are you okay?”
Lou asked carefully, still hiding behind my back.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
Right, let’s calm down. The opponent is a crazy guy who can kill a person nonchalantly without blinking an eye.
He aimed for my vital point in an instant, and if it were reality, I would have died instantly on the spot without a chance to do anything.
“I have to figure out the opponent somehow.”
Since he flowed in from the outside, it implies there's a one in ten thousand chance I might actually see him in reality.
Although it’s just a sliver of possibility, having to face the fake Lucian as an enemy is truly a terrible thing I don't even want to imagine.
Anyway, figuring out the opponent as much as possible would increase the probability of victory even by 1%.
“How?”
At Lou's innocent question, an answer didn't come easily.
Because that question alone filled my head distantly as well.
The Writer skill doesn't work, and how do I find out the identity from an opponent who shuts his mouth tight if he feels disadvantaged?
“…It seems what we want is the same.”
“What is it that you want?”
“Aren’t we both wanting to figure out each other’s identity?”
That is correct.
I definitely want to find out why on earth this fake has Lucian’s appearance and how he knows about the Holy Sword's secret.
This fake also seemed to want to find out about my identity or power.
“You mean we just answer each other? How do we know if it’s a lie?”
“Can’t we swear on our mana?”
“Is there even any meaning in swearing on mana to you?”
At the question full of wariness, the opponent fell silent.
Fine, absolutely, the method of swearing on mana is a bust.
“We can ask the Light Spirit.”
“Me?”
Lou tilted his head.
A gaze seemingly pathetic for not knowing even this pierced down on Lou.
At that gaze, Lou, feeling intimidated, shrunk his wings even more.
I was intimidated just the same. Seriously murderous.
“What do we have to do?”
“Bind each of our pinky fingers with a ring of light.”
Lou made rings made of light on mine and the fake’s pinky fingers as instructed for now.
“The moment a lie is spoken, the ring of light will break.”
“If it’s detecting lies—”
“Comparing human magic and spirit power is preposterous.”
This jerk, being strangely sarcastic is annoying.
I clenched my fist tight and took a light breath, phew.
Is it right to make any deal with a guy like this?
“If you don't want to, there is a simple method.”
“Threatening so damn murderously with Lucian’s voice!!”
For a while, just hearing Lucian’s voice might remind me of this voice!
Right, even though he is bound by chains right now, the moment I let my guard down even a little, I don’t know what dangerous thing he might commit.
Enduring until Zephyros finds the real Lucian is the one and only goal.
“Questions can only be answered with Yes or No. I will ask first. Is your name truly Theo Lisitoel?”
Deciding everything on his own from one to ten, the fake asked.
It was fortunate if you can call it that, to know that I sold my original real name to find a way to turn the Senior back.
At this point where he doesn't know my original name, my one and only name was Theo Lisitoel, no matter what anyone said.
“Yeah.”
“Truly Lisitoel?”
“Are you asking two questions at once?”
“…I was talking to myself.”
Having a strangely clumsy side really resembles him too.
It was my turn to ask, and all sorts of questions swirled dizzyingly in my head.
Why does he have Lucian’s form, and what is the reason he appeared here? How does he know so well about spirits, what on earth is his identity, etc.
But, none of my questions could be answered with only ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
Then the first thing I will ask is—
“Do you know this world is a dream?”
“…Yes, Lucian’s dream. A dream of repeating the moment of being pointed fingers at for being cursed and self-harming.”
Truly a scathing evaluation. It feels bad even if it’s true.
“Everyone has trauma they can’t overcome on their own.”
I felt I had to say at least this.
“The one who bullied is at fault, not the one who was bullied, right?”
“How nice it would be if the world worked that way.”
The fake scoffed lightly.
“Those with power exploit, bully, and sacrifice those without power until the end without being punished.”
It was a tone as if he was sick of it. It also seemed he felt severe disillusionment.
Either way, it was a weary voice filled with severe loneliness.
“Where is the value in being saved by such a world?”
The fake asked.
“Is that a question?”
“No, I will ask the second question. Is your father Count Evan Lisitoel?”
“Yes, my father is Count Evan Lisitoel. The greatest wizard in history who is the Head Professor of Lapis Academy and serving as the temporary Principal.”
I can be confident that Father is the only person across the entire continent to whom such a title can be attached.
At my answer, the fake seemed to organize his thoughts.
Then it must be my turn now.
Pondering what to ask, I decided to ask what I wanted to ask most.
“Do you want to destroy this world?”