Part 267: As if twins

With a massive hole torn through my abdomen, I collapsed, utterly powerless—but even then, I refused to give up.

"...Guh...《Heal...》...I need to..."

"It's pointless. I've already imbued this attack with an attribute that cannot be healed. To mend you, the wound must first be torn open again, and then the spell must be recited anew."

No way. You're kidding. I have to go through some kind of surgery just to heal? Seriously...?

"Give up. — Once again, my body shall be used. Or perhaps this time, things will go smoothly."

"No... please..."

I screamed, barely able to breathe.

"Of course. I've suspected it all along. Repeating the same mistake over and over."

She'll surely go through the motions mechanically, doing what she believes she must.

Sorting out what's worth living, and what isn't.

But that was a fundamental error.

What she did was neither the optimal solution nor anything close to it.

It was simply the result of consistently choosing what was easiest for herself.

In Sakagō, even those with physical disabilities seemed to have their lives secured.

That was impossible in the world governed by the other "me."

And that was what—brought about discord and resentment, and ultimately led to the end of her life.

In the end, no group is more fragile than one that has lost its capacity for tolerance toward others.

"Please... listen..."

"Hmm?"

"Can you hear me...?"

"Yes, yes. A last wish, right? I'm listening."

"Please... *cough*... I'm asking you..."

"Unfortunately. That was a serious attempt. A second chance isn't possible."

"Choose... you choose for me."

"...? You want me to decide which one stays?"

"You've been watching... all along... you must have known..."

"Indeed, I've seen your memories. I've seen the gentle world you envisioned....But in the end, it was me who was chosen. That's why..."

"Decide... me or her... stay..."

In the timeline of my past life, I had easily killed the girl named Amanogawa Tsumuri.

As a result, I never ended up going to the community at Ichihon Gijuku University.

There was no battle with the "Spirit User."

That must be it.

She doesn't know how to sense the presence of spirits.

"Choose! Either this person stays—or I do! Pick whichever suits you better!"

With blood spilling from her mouth, she summoned every ounce of strength to scream these words—and only then did a response finally come.

Her voice—always lingering beside me, yet never interfering—came through.

‘Aa, nnmouu!’

It was a strange voice, unmistakably feminine, yet oddly elusive in tone.

She was known in the《Skill Identification》as simply《Fairy》, and with a sudden flick, she leapt into the pocket of the other “me,” then—clink!—emerged again, making a sound.

“This…!”

The other "me" stared in shock at the unexpected third-party intervention.

In the next instant, the two identical faces were swallowed by a roaring flame.

A deafening impact struck my ears, and in an instant, my eardrums ruptured, my consciousness fading.

Spun through the air, tossed by the blast.

Lying prone, coughing as my chest burned from the scorching wind.

'Idiot!'

The hearing restored by natural healing was filled with the sound of giggling—“kyakyakyakyakyakyak!”

“See, see! I went out of my way to help you, so pull yourself together!”

Following the high-pitched voice, I looked up to see a peculiar creature—like one that could only exist in a fairy tale world—a fairy floating in midair.

The fairy stood no more than one twelfth the height of an average human, with four transparent wings attached to her back. Her delicate white skin and hair, shimmering like golden thread, were so irresistibly cute they made one want to bottle her up and keep her safe.

"You... "

Realizing, as she spoke, that she had just won the gamble she'd saved until the very end.

"Back then, I believed that since my past self could control monsters, you'd also be on our side if you were here..."

『…………Hmph.』

Intent on blaming the current situation,

"But if you were going to help, you could've done it much earlier..."

『Idiot. Even with the basic control power of "Spirit Binding I," they can't move on their own will.』

"Oh, really? I didn't know that..."

『Just so you know! I haven't forgotten the grudge of having Yoshii killed!』

"Yoshee...?"

"You're the one who killed the 'Spirit Summoner'! That's you!"

"Yeah..."

From the community of Ichihon Geidai University.

I let out a deep sigh and slowly stagger to my feet.

"Well, that's something we'll talk about later..."

Then, the Fairy didn't respond at all, vanishing smoothly into thin air.

I don't fully understand, but this is probably the limit of 'Spirit Summoning I.'

Letting out a small sigh,

"——gurgh..."

Blood gushed out again from the wound, pulsing steadily.

Looking closer, it seemed as though the area around my abdomen was rotting at an alarming rate.

I felt as if my internal organs were dissolving completely, turning into a gooey mess.

At this rate, I wouldn't last much longer.

With great effort, I managed to lift my completely无力 body and stagger toward the other "me."

A blade, thrown amidst the blast wave, was impaled in her chest.

"Brilliant."

I had already picked up the broken blade, anticipating Fairy's unexpected move.

A single, precise strike targeting her weakness.

At last, I finally felt it—completely mine.

"As the saying goes, 'War is deception.'"

I said weakly, smiling.

"Ahh...,"

the other "me" murmured, clutching her chest.

"The line from JoJo's Part 2, Esidisi said that, right?"

"Yeah, that one."

A manga chat while on the brink of death.

I guess, in situations like this, it's because we're both versions of myself that we understand each other so well.

"...No matter how much power I gain, there are still ways to lose... like this..."

The other "me" said, lost in reflection, and let out a deep sigh.

"Alright, that's enough. Just finish it quickly."

There was something almost like she herself wanted this ending.

I shrugged, then collapsed beside the other "me."

"But unfortunately, I don't have the strength to do that either."

"Wait, really?"

Then, a brief silence.

"...So, this is a contest to see who dies first?"

"That's about right."

"Not exactly inspiring, is it?"

"Well, that's just... you know..."

For a moment, they both seemed to catch their breath,

"Isn't that just like us?"

And with that, they weakly smiled at each other.

Like twin sisters.