Part 262: The "Me" from a Previous Life

The next story shown was another tale of "me."

But if I were to begin telling it, it would quickly become an impossibly long and drawn-out narrative.

Though here, we can't perceive the passage of time as it happens outside—just editing down the essential parts feels like it's taken a good one or two weeks of experience.

So, I'll skip over this matter entirely.

If I must mention just one scene that personally shocked me, it would be the fact that there was a bedroom scene in the movie.

Seeing an exact double of myself being embraced by a man I felt no emotion toward was honestly traumatic, yes.

"I guess I was... the kind of person who could fall in love~"

"Well, I was just curious at the time. It felt kind of pointless to face the final battle without having experienced it first, don't you think? I just wanted to see what it was like, that's all."

"Y-you wanted to... try it out...?"

It sounded almost like a science experiment.

"Could I at least hear your thoughts on it...?"

"Exposing a part of myself never seen by even my parents to someone else—it took real courage, I realized."

"Wow~. Anything else?"

Something that changed greatly within me, you know...

"A single event doesn't truly transform someone's heart. A person's inner world gradually takes shape over a long life."

"I see~"

Since it was coming from myself—no one else—it didn't seem like a lie or an exaggeration.

I kept nodding in quiet admiration, yet my attention was fully drawn to the film starring "me."

The story's end, of course—my own "death."

Moreover, it arrives with startling ease.

Just before the final battle.

Poisoned by a single traitor.

"...Was there no way to fix this with a healing spell?"

"No, there wasn't. The poison in the wine was 'zombie toxin.'"

"Ah. That's truly hopeless."

"To a player who's reached a certain level, zombies aren't much of a threat—but in the end, no way was found to counter that poison. The fluid from its body is an unyielding, incurable toxin. You, too, must be especially careful."

"Uh-huh."

I can't help but feel like she's the one I trust the most in the world.

Come to think of it, that's probably only natural.

In the end, the only person you can truly talk to without hesitation is yourself.

"Then, shall we head off now?"

"Head off? Where to?"

"We're going back to the high school field... A spacious place will let us move more freely, don't you think?"

"Ah...!"

That's when I finally remembered.

We're about to fight a one-on-one duel for survival, aren't we?

No way. I don't have a chance of winning this.

But she should have been more than twice my level, shouldn't she?

"Could it be... already...?"

I swallowed the words that were about to follow—goodbye?

"No....There's still something I must teach you."

"?"

"Didn't I say? I'm going to teach you combat techniques."

I made a strange expression.

After all, she's also referring to myself—so I understand, to some extent, what she means.

But at this moment, I couldn't understand why she had to send salt to the enemy.

I took a deep breath and spoke what felt like a bold, courageous words, even to myself.

"I think... it would be more appropriate for you to use my body."

It was only because I had seen her "story" that I could say this.

Surviving should be the rightful fate of my past self.

It almost feels as though that would make for a more coherent narrative.

A hero who met an untimely death will finally walk the path of a proper life this time.

Then she laughed, half in mockery,

"That's not something to decide now. The stronger one survives. That one will surely be of greater use to the world."

I understand the logic... but...

"Come, take up your weapons....We've prepared identical blades, heirlooms from our grandfather."

Glancing sideways, there it was—just as she said, my familiar sword placed right there.

And neatly tied up, just as it had been entrusted to the lovely Aizuki Miharu.

The scabbard was tightly wrapped in a spiral, making it nearly impossible to draw.

"Let's say you pass if you land even a single strike."

"...Does that mean I'd have to kill someone?"

"If you're capable of killing, then go ahead and try."

She smiled with an unsettling expression,

"You know, don't you, what I was called by the Hachibana girl?"

"Teacher"... was it?

I'm in trouble now.

As I reached for my sword, almost simultaneously, a blue flame ignited on the sword held by the other me.

Her... job, was it?

Even though it had already been mentioned in the movie, confirming it once more with a "Skill Assessment" made it crystal clear.

— Level 182.

"Magical Swordsman."