Chapter 181

INTERLUDE The Bitter Boy Has a Conversation with His Progeny The Laville Academy of Magic’s schoolyard had a giant tree growing in it called the Tree of the Sword King. This massive plant was said to house the Holy Sword Vald-Galgulus that Lydia the Champion once wielded. However, it was nothing more than a wonder of nature to the untrained eye. When bathed in the daytime sunlight, it sparkled with a bountiful beauty that cleansed the soul, which is why Mephisto chose it as the venue for his teatime. There was a tiny white table and chairs. The tray atop the table was piled with pastries. Among them was a strawberry tart, Mephisto’s favorite. He held his teacup in his right hand, took a sip of the black tea, and said, “This is nice. Very nice. A cascade of unexpected twists and turns are the spices that give a game its good flavor.” A giant mirror stood before the Tree of the Sword King. In it, Ard Meteor and his two comrades were visible. As Mephisto gazed at them, his lips turned into a contented smile. But his grin was not one of confidence. Elzard’s arrival and Alvarto’s magic immunity were factors outside his expectations and the keys to turning the odds out of his favor. Mephisto was fine with that, however. “You’ve given me the most unexpected twist to date, my sweet.” As he gazed at his beloved nemesis, his one true friend, his smile remained content in every way. “Good. Now that things have settled down on his end, let’s you and I have a little chat.” Mephisto turned his grin to the girl sitting at the table with him. It was undeniably Ireena Olhyde, but something was off about her. Her eyelids were drowsy, and it was unclear where she was looking. Her face lacked spirit. She looked like a doll. “Now, then! There was a truly intriguing moment in their little interactions. Yes, you guessed it, it was little Elzard’s mother. The fight with her mother rendered Elzard useless for a minute there. Do you know why?” Ireena promptly answered. “Because…it looked just like her mom.” “Hmmm, I give that a C-plus. Too bad. If you’d said it was because she didn’t notice the outward appearance didn’t match what was inside, I’d have given you an A. Oh well, let’s set that aside.” Mephisto took another sip of tea. “The guardian did indeed look just like her mother. And the guardian’s experience-driven battle prowess was likely also replicated flawlessly. But her memories and personality weren’t carried over. Meaning that the guardian was an impostor with little Elzard’s mother’s appearance and power. Okay, the preamble got a bit lengthy. Now, let’s get to the question.” Mephisto leaned forward, bringing his face close to Ireena’s. His grin deepened. “Sweet Ireena, at present, your outward appearance and your inner self are united. You are the spitting image of Ireena Olhyde, and the memories engraved in your brain are proof that you are yourself. But you see, sweet Ireena, despite this, even though your appearance and mind are united, you are not yourself. You aren’t even a person right now. Do you know why?” Ireena shook her head. “I don’t understand. I’m me. Who else would I be?” “Ha-ha! Thanks. You answered just as I expected, and of course you did. That’s all you’re capable of saying right now. I’d hoped you’d override that expectation. I guess that was too much to ask. You only break boundaries for others, not for yourself. That part of you is truly a carbon copy.” Mephisto’s golden eyes narrowed to slits. While there was a hint of disappointment in his gaze, his lips remained in a smile. “Why is it that even though your outside and inside are united, you are still not yourself? The answer can be found in your state of being, sweet Ireena. You aren’t normal right now. I’ve corrupted you. And yet you lack the awareness that you aren’t your true self. Your soul isn’t a human’s. You’re a puppet.” Ireena said nothing because Mephisto wouldn’t let her. He’d stopped her brain from thinking. She could hear his voice, but she didn’t have the power to react. Anyone in that state was nothing more than a toy in Mephisto’s eyes. “Sweet Ireena…you’ve got potential. That’s why I’m ignoring my beloved and focusing on you right now.” Mephisto brought his right hand before his face. “Now, let’s get to the heart of our chat.” He snapped his fingers, and the puppet became human again. The element needed to complete Ireena had returned to her, a quality that could be called the soul. It took Ireena a few seconds to grasp the situation once she was aware. And then… “Mmm!!!” …her cheeks flashed red, and she jumped backward. By the time her chair fell and hit the ground, she was already in a battle stance, glaring at Mephisto. “Mephisto Yuu Phegor! Bring everyone back now! Or I’ll—” “You really are a fool. But I love that about you. You’re just like my daughter, putting your emotions over the right and wrong of a situation. That dash of stupidity is truly a beautiful thing.” It wasn’t sarcasm. Mephisto’s words were sincere. There wasn’t a trace of sourness in the smile on his beautiful face. “Anyway, have a seat, Ireena.” The moment he finished his sentence, Ireena dropped her defensive stance and returned to the table. “Mmm?!” Ireena snapped backward like a rubber band, her eyes open wide as she grunted in shock. She floated in midair, and the next thing she knew, she was seated again. “Mmm?!” She was seated again. “Mmm?!” She was seated again. “Mmm?!” She was seated again. “They say time is finite. But never fear, sweet Ireena, for there are no pesky limitations between us. So repeat your attempt as much as you’d like—until you feel ready to sit and chat with me, that is.” He regarded her sweetly, like an angel, yet there was a devilish terror behind his expression. Ireena gritted her teeth in anguish. She hadn’t the faintest idea what he was doing to her. All she knew was that this man was Ard Meteor’s equal…or perhaps a phantom even greater than he was. No matter how she resisted, she would be seated the next instant as though nothing had occurred. “What’s this? Giving up already?” Mephisto cackled. “What…do you want to talk about?” Ireena demanded, stifling her anger as best she could. “Yes, well, my thoughts aren’t particularly grand. But if you work hard enough, you just might be able to resolve this matter in my darling’s stead.” “What…do you mean?!” Ireena demanded. Mephisto smiled cloyingly. “You see, Ireena, I don’t particularly hate you people, and I don’t want to destroy you, either.” “Then why?!” “Fair point. I didn’t tell my darling, but I guess I can tell you. It’s more fun if my little game with you has a different flavor than the one with my sweetheart.” And so the devil began his story, recounting everything that had brought him to this moment. The truth. “Now, where shall I begin? Where did it all start? Ah, yes. I awoke in the middle of that little fight you and my darling had with Lizer in the Megatholium. At the time, I was really struggling, trying to break the seal my dearest put on me.” The words that followed were beyond anything Ireena could have imagined. “…………” After Mephisto finished explaining everything to her, Ireena sat in a daze, her eyes open wide. She’d lost the ability to do anything other than stare silently at Mephisto. “Well, your reaction is only natural.” The faint glimmer of resignation in Mephisto’s eyes as he sipped his tea was likely from the story he’d told. How had he broken the seal? Why had he called this battle the “farewell game”? And why was Mephisto taking a battle seriously for the first time? The shock of learning the answer was too much for Ireena’s psyche. But in time, her brain accepted it. “If all of that…is true…then you shouldn’t be…wasting your time…doing this!” Ireena trembled with emotion, yet Mephisto remained unbothered. However, there was something like resignation in his gaze. “It is true, which is exactly why I’m doing this. The future is already determined. Having said that, I can’t guarantee that events won’t turn in your favor,” Mephisto muttered cryptically. He stared head-on at the girl across from him. “When I began this farewell game with my honey, I’d given up on everything. But now, things are a little different. I’ve begun to think that resisting fate might not be such a bad thing after all… And I owe it all to you, sweet Ireena.” Mephisto’s intentions were a mystery. She had no clue as to the reason behind his obsession and his bizarre point of view. What value did he see in her? Mephisto saw through her doubts. “It’s only natural that I be obsessed. And there’s nothing at all unnatural about me thinking of you as special.” The following words that came from Mephisto’s mouth sent lightning through Ireena’s heart. “You are the descendent of my daughter—Lydia Viigensgeight.” Ireena felt the weight of a heavy boulder roll onto her shoulders. “I’m…Lady Lydia’s…descendent?” She couldn’t refute the claim. Memories from her past flooded her mind. She recalled when the boy who called himself a god had sent her to the old world. During the quest with Ard and her friends to get back to the present time…they’d met Lydia. The time she spent with Lydia had been filled with warmth. Ireena had felt like she was interacting with her mother. At the time, she’d assumed it was due to Lydia’s maternal instincts and gentleness. But if somebody had told her that sensation came from a blood connection, she would have believed it. In fact, she would’ve taken satisfaction in knowing that. Mephisto was right. Ireena was the descendent of Lydia the Champion. That much was easy for her to accept.