Chapter 21: The Former Lust-Driven Protagonist Rejects Destiny
The reason Cecil manipulated my perception and tried to rush into a sexual encounter was definitely not... some honey-trap assassination.
In the first place, if she wanted to kill me, she didn't need to do something so roundabout. She was clearly much stronger than me.
So why? Why did Cecil Imitation want a physical relationship?
In the end... she wanted our special memories to be her final ones.
Even as I reached that conclusion, the word "resignation" was nowhere to be found in my mind. If I accepted that, I would surely never be able to live a peaceful life for the rest of eternity.
That was why. For Cecil’s sake—and more importantly, for my own.
I would cross blades with her now.
"—《Lightning of Zanda》!"
Cecil’s opening strike signaled the start of the battle. A supreme-tier lightning spell. She had compressed the scale of the phenomenon to the level of a low-tier spell... and fired thousands, tens of thousands of them.
Vast flashes of lightning streaked through the void. But as long as I could see them, my unique ability, 【Adaptation】, should have been able to neutralize them...
Even so, I chose to intercept and cancel them out.
"《Fireball》."
I fired an equal number of fireballs to match her attack, erasing the swarm of encroaching purple lightning. Why did I choose this response?
Because... this development was far too similar to the original game.
"...If I hadn't, it might have ended with the first move."
The attack Cecil unleashed at the start of the fight. In the original story, Alvart had taken that hit head-on. He had assumed his ability could neutralize any magic.
But for some reason, Alvart’s ability hadn't triggered. As a result, he had been heavily wounded right at the start of the battle.
I had avoided a repeat of that scenario... but the situation remained dire.
"...Switching to close quarters, are you?"
She must have realized that a mid-to-long-range shootout wouldn't get us anywhere. Cecil kicked off the ground and closed the distance.
"Ha!"
The brawl began. As I dealt with her fierce assault, I felt a powerful sense of dissonance.
...【Adaptation】 wasn't triggering.
As we traded blows, I landed several counters, but she continued to use magic without issue.
...So that’s how it is.
I was certain of it now.
"I see. So the reason Alvart lost in the original was..."
I leaped back to create some distance. While keeping a wary eye on my opponent, I spoke.
"Those who are 【Monster-Possessed】 harbor unique abilities. Cecil, yours is..."
Based on the few descriptions in the original game—and the hints she had provided herself—I had reached a conclusion.
"Limitless Copy. You can mimic everything about your target without any restrictions."
And her reaction?
"...Impressive, Alvart."
The praise and the faint smile on her lips weren't signs of her being composed. They were likely subconscious, born from a deep sense of relief.
I threw my next words at her.
"What you said earlier wasn't a hint; it was practically a confession. It would be harder not to notice."
Just a moment ago, Cecil had said:
『《False Realm Magic》. It’s the exact same situation as that thing Lady Sierra did to you recently.』
That was incredibly unnatural. After all, she hadn't been there when it happened. That left two possibilities. Either she had heard about the incident from someone else, or—
She had been there, disguised as someone else.
"Cecil. Your ability doesn't just copy powers. It copies appearance, personality—everything. You used that power... to copy my 【Adaptation】. The reason mine lost its effectiveness is because our abilities canceled each other out."
It was like a matter-antimatter reaction. If both sides possessed 【Adaptation】, the effects collided and caused an error. Therefore, my ability became completely useless.
"...That’s right, Alvart. You’re spot on."
Even with her trump card exposed, Cecil smiled. In fact, she looked almost happy.
"Everything you said is correct, word for word. Which means... I don't have any more cards left to play."
If it were anyone else, I would have suspected a bluff. But there wasn't a shred of desire to defeat me left in Cecil Imitation. Instead, what I saw in her was—
"Hey, Alvart. You still haven't gotten serious yet, have you? I can tell, somehow. So... use that power. Save me... and kill me."
That was it. This date event wasn't meant to destroy me. It was something Cecil had set up to destroy her own existence.
"It was fun, Alvart. I was so happy. If my memories of you are the last thing I remember... haha, there’s no happier end I could ask for."
There wasn't a trace of a will to live in Cecil’s words. She believed she was nothing more than Sierra’s tool. That she couldn't change her fate. If she was destined to ruin everyone’s future, she wanted to die at my hands.
...I’m sure that’s your true feeling. But.
"I’m not looking for that kind of answer."
I spoke while looking straight into her eyes. Cecil responded:
"...I’m sorry, Alvart. But..."
This is the only way, she seemed to say. She threw her resignation at me.
"If you can’t kill me! Then everyone is just going to rot in hell, Alvart!"
She attacked again. But there was no killing intent there. It was the exact opposite.
Kill me.
For the sake of the future.
So that you can find happiness.
To that desperate plea, I replied:
"Cecil—I’m going to pull it out of you. Your true feelings."
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