Chapter 22: The Reaper and the Tragic Conclusion—

I just wanted to be useful to everyone. I wanted to make everyone smile... and I wanted to be loved. I kept using my ability for that purpose, and then... everything was taken from me.

『You should be grateful. It’s unheard of for a filthy 【Monster-Possessed】 to be employed by royalty.』

If I had simply been conscripted, it wouldn't have been a tragedy. But Sierra had taken my parents hostage.

『Swear absolute loyalty to me with this 《Pact Magic》. Otherwise... you will lose everything.』

As soon as I obeyed, Sierra ordered her subordinates to manipulate the memories of my parents and my kin... making them forget me entirely.

『You will live in the shadows from now on. You must not remain in anyone’s memories. Your life will be filled with unbearable pain. ...Fufufu. Show me. Show me how a holder of a powerful unique ability breaks.』

At first, I thought I could endure it. Leaving my family and friends was sad, but they weren't dead. So one day, I would surely return to them and reclaim my happy life.

I was... so incredibly foolish.

『Ceeeee-ciiiil. You don't have the right to refuse, you know? The 《Pact Magic》 placed on you is the subjugation type. You cannot disobey my orders. Now... go and torture this person to death, just as I told you.』

Day after day, I was forced to participate in her hideous, depraved hobbies. As the time stretched on, my heart began to wither. I could never go back to them now. How could someone as filthy as me ever lead a normal life?

『For your next job... turn into a man and rape this girl. Yes, she’s a very good girl. To my eyes, she looks like a saint. But that’s exactly why... it’ll be so rewarding to defile her, wouldn't you say?』

I did it over and over again. At the command of the darkness lurking within the Kingdom of Sierra-Ringveid. I committed sins so vile they were unspeakable. The self-loathing that followed certainly tormented my heart, but...

The most painful part was the side effect of my ability. When I copied a target, their memories and personality were forced upon me as well—and eventually, the sense of who "I" was began to fade.

And so, Cecil Imitation no longer knew who Cecil Imitation was. It was the ultimate loneliness. If even I couldn't stand by myself, then I had no choice but to become a heartless doll.

Ah. But then... why? Why did I have to keep living like this?

(Hey, Alvart.)

(The friendship I feel for you is, without a doubt, the real thing. But that’s exactly why...)

I wanted him to be my reaper. I wanted him to be the one to end my life. Even if it was against his will. Cecil couldn't let go of that desire. After all, for her, it was the only salvation she had left.

"Ugh...!"

Alvart was entirely on the defensive. But the girl claiming the name and form of Cecil Imitation was certain. He would surely kill her.

(I guess I haven't pushed him far enough yet.)

(If I don't make him realize that he'll die if he doesn't kill me—)

(You'll have no choice but to kill me, right? Alvart.)

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she acted. She intensified her assault... stepping one foot over the line between life and death.

(Come on, panic.)

(You're going to die at this rate.)

(So, look... you have to... dodge this...)

In that instant. Something impossible happened. Something that should never have occurred.

"Ugh... aah..."

The lightning strike pierced Alvart’s chest. Letting out a small cry and coughing up bright red blood, her reaper collapsed to the ground.

"............Huh?"

He didn't move. Not even a finger.

"No way..."

It was a lie. This couldn't be reality.

"Alvart...?"

She stumbled toward him with unsteady steps. As she pulled him into her arms, she whispered:

"What... is this?"

Despair. A feeling she had hoped never to taste again. The trauma of killing someone precious with her own hands tore through her heart.

"U-A... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Her emotions could be described simply as "despair" in writing, but that didn't do it justice. What she was experiencing was something that couldn't be expressed even if you piled up an infinite amount of words.

"It's a lie...! This can't be...!"

Through heaving sobs and a torrent of tears, she spoke her true desire.

"I... I wanted you to live...!"

And... her true heart.

"I... I wanted... to be with you..."

Suddenly, the world changed. The Alvart Zesphiria dying in her arms slowly faded away. While she was reeling from the shock...

"────That’s exactly what I wanted to hear."

◇◆◇

My second unique ability. It was a peerless power truly fitting for the protagonist of a lust-driven eroge. But that was exactly why this power was nothing but a risk to me.

『R-18, do you reject it? Or do you die doing it?』

I interpreted the mission given to me in this new life as more than just "don't do sexual things." The "Correction Force" of this world was always seeking a bad end for Alvart Zesphiria, and that likely manifested in many ways.

If I accepted R-18 acts and became like the original Alvart, it would be a guaranteed bad end. At the same time, if I used a power so perfectly suited for a villainous protagonist without restraint—showing a bottom-of-the-barrel humanity—the world might judge me as having "become the eroge protagonist" and trigger a bad end anyway.

That was why I had sealed my second ability—【Hallucinatory Hypnosis / Mind Control】.

But this time, I had no other choice.

"Alvart...?"

Looking at Cecil, who was kneeling on the ground and weeping, I felt a massive surge of guilt. I spoke to her.

"It ended up being a bit of a mean trick, I guess. But there was no malice behind it. I just... wanted to hear your true feelings."

Just as Cecil had forced me to reveal my nature before the fight began, I had used my second ability to manipulate her heart and draw out her true self.

"If you really, truly wanted to die... maybe letting you would have been the kind thing to do. ...But that’s not it, is it? What you really want is..."

You want to head toward the future. You want to see tomorrow with me. The only thing standing in your way was surely—

"Hey, Cecil. You’ve been thinking this, haven't you? That you don't even know who you are anymore. And because of that, you’ll always be alone... something like that, right?"

She widened her eyes. She didn't say anything, but her reaction was more than enough.

"I’m sure there are all sorts of emotions swirling around inside you. There’s probably guilt for the sins you were forced to commit, too. But, you know..."

It was a cliché line, used a thousand times over in these kinds of scenes. But in this moment, those words were the truth.

"The sins you carry. The problems you have. They can only be resolved by living."

Receiving my feelings, Cecil said:

"...Everything you say is right. But, Alvart... I..."

I can’t even face my own sins. I don't even know if the guilt I feel is my own anymore.

To her, who was saying she didn't deserve to live, I let out a sigh.

"You don't even know your 'real self.' If that’s what’s holding you back... then why don't I help you clear that up, even just a little?"

I crossed my arms and looked down at her.

"First off, I’m not as kind as you think I am. If you were truly our enemy, or if you truly wanted to die... I would have taken the appropriate measures. I’m being completely serious."

The reason I didn't was not just because I cared about Cecil... it was based on solid evidence.

"Hey, Cecil. You told me earlier, didn't you? That I was a terrible liar. ...I’m giving those words right back to you."

"...Huh?"

"Actually, I was completely at ease during the fight. After all, you’d already confessed your true feelings right at the climax."

She looked like she had no idea what I was talking about. I gave her a small smile.

"Cecil. You—whenever you lie, you almost always smile."

She stared at me, stunned. I pressed the point home.

"At least you know one thing now, right? About the 'real you.'"

"Ah...!"

"Of course, this doesn't resolve all your pain. But... you’ve lost your reason to give up."

As long as I stayed by Cecil’s side, I would keep finding the "real" Cecil. If I did that, then surely...

"One day, you’ll be able to take back your true self. If, at that time, you still want to die... then..."

"Will you... kill me then?"

"...No, sorry. I probably won't be able to."

Part of it was because the guilt of killing someone would be too much. But more than that...

"Hey, Cecil. You copied my second ability, 【Hallucinatory Hypnosis】, and used it to manipulate me, right?"

"...Yeah. Because none of my other abilities worked on you."

My second ability was powerful enough to pierce through my first ability, 【Adaptation】. That was how I was able to stop Cecil’s rampage. But putting that aside...

"Even if my heart was being manipulated... I think what I felt back then was the truth."

"Eh...?"

"Look, this is embarrassing to say to your face, so... I’m only going to say it once."

Despite the awkward tension, I spoke to Cecil.

"I... I really do find you attractive. And I want to be with you. So... hey, Cecil. Don't say you want to die or ask me to kill you anymore. It makes me sad to hear that. Because you’re... a precious part of my life. Someone I can't do without."

Cecil let out a small laugh. Tears continued to fall.

"I don't think I deserve to ask this, but..."

In the next moment, she gave me the answer I had been looking for. The one that led to a happy ending.

"────Help me, Alvart."