NOVPUB"So... you don't remember anything up until now?"
James repeated the question, as if wanting to confirm it once more.
According to what he said, it seemed that while I had been here, I had saved someone, left the building, or done something else of significance.
Of course, I had no recollection of any of that.
Nor did I know why I had done such things.
The last thing I could remember was—
"Uh... I do recall something about deflecting a missile or something like that."
"Not ‘something like that.’ It was an actual missile."
"Figures~"
"Hah. You say that so nonchalantly."
Even so, none of this really felt real to me.
How could I possibly have the power to summon a mirror the size of a city and launch a missile into another world?
If I were asked to do it again, would I even be able to? No way.
...Probably.
"Sorry, but I have no clue about my current condition or my powers. I get that I've fully transformed into a demon or something, but you guys have been watching me all this time—shouldn’t you know better than I do?"
"If you want information, we’ll give it to you. However, you must agree to one condition."
The woman in a researcher’s uniform, who had been standing beside James, stepped forward.
She was probably affiliated with this organization—at least, that was my assumption.
I looked at her and asked,
"What condition?"
"You must join the organization and follow our regulations. Additionally, you must vow to use your power solely for the benefit of humanity."
What a grandiose demand.
I responded immediately.
"No."
The researcher frowned slightly at my blunt rejection.
Obviously, from the organization’s perspective, this was far from an ideal answer.
But I didn’t care.
Her tone grew sharper.
"So, you're refusing to cooperate with the organization. That means the freedoms we can guarantee you will be minimal, and your treatment will not be favorable.
Or... could it be that you're the type of demon who wishes to harm humanity?"
Tch. How extreme.
It almost sounded like a threat.
But it lacked enough weight to make me feel intimidated.
I spoke my mind without hesitation.
"It’s not like I want to hurt people.
But I also have no intention of becoming a mindless servant to some mysterious organization, following the orders of unknown individuals I can’t even trust."
"..."
"For the sake of humanity?
If you told some random passerby to dedicate their life solely to humanity, do you think they’d agree? They’d just look at you like you’re insane.
It’s obvious that you’re trying to impose some kind of endless sacrifice on me under the guise of serving humanity.
And yet you expect me to just swear allegiance? That’s a huge miscalculation on your part."
"...Well, if you put it that way, I suppose it’s an offer that any normal person would refuse. I didn’t think that through."
Huh. She accepted it surprisingly easily.
I felt a bit awkward for lashing out so sharply, so I softened my tone.
"Well, at least you’re self-aware."
James, however, shook his head disapprovingly.
Though, at the same time, he was smirking slightly.
"Heh... You walked right into it."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
The researcher took the opportunity to explain.
"The organization seeks to contain entities capable of rational conversation.
Fortunately, you don’t lie easily, and your thought process is quite similar to that of a human. That’s a relief.
Now, we also have a grasp on your personality."
"...You were testing me?"
"Yes."
I suddenly recalled a similar situation with Maria.
I’d once heard that getting fooled by the same trick twice meant you were an idiot.
And that realization irritated me.
"I don’t like you guys anymore."
"I, for one, feel unjustly blamed."
"Don’t hate us too much."
She pulled a contract from a nearby drawer.
It wasn’t a forced oath, but rather a minimal agreement between both parties.
Interesting.
I wondered what kind of proposal they were going to make.
"Here’s our offer—you’ll be provided with certain privileges, but you must refrain from leaving at will.
If you abide by that, you will be allowed to leave occasionally with the organization’s permission, and we will accommodate your requests within reason.
If you wish for greater freedom, you can choose to accept the tasks the organization assigns to you. Of course, you have the right to refuse as well."
For a group that specializes in capturing and containing anomalous entities, this was a surprisingly peaceful deal.
I didn’t like the idea of my freedom being dictated by them, but I would have to compromise to some extent.
What? You think it’s strange that I’m accepting this so easily despite the fact that it inherently restricts my freedom?
Here’s a simple reason that might make it sound more reasonable—
These guys are ridiculously numerous and ridiculously strong.
I spoke with deliberate indifference.
"...Alright. That’s not too bad."
At my answer, she smiled.
"Then, please sign here."
"This isn’t some shady contract where I unwittingly agree to undergo cruel experiments or be forced to fight bizarre monsters, is it?"
I’d rather not end up as some disposable test subject for their twisted VS games.
I had no desire to die a stupid death.
"Those kinds of requests would fall under the 'assignments' category. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to participate."
"So, in other words, you’re expecting me to take some on eventually. Well, as long as I can refuse, I don’t mind."
This translation is ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the intellectual property of Novelight.
"Alright. D-888. Since we're more like allies now, let’s use names when we talk in private."
A name, huh.
My old name no longer held any meaning since I had already died once.
Things with Ella had also come to an end.
I needed a new name.
I pulled from my mind the name that shone the brightest.
"Alice. Call me Alice."
"I thought so. You were muttering that name even before you came to your senses."
"Really?"
"Of course! Since we’re cooperating now, let’s shake hands."
She extended her hand toward me. I took it.
"Looking forward to working with you. I’m Carol, the head researcher."
"Same here."
-----
"That black sphere—that’s the Overlap.
Your world and ours have collided. It sounds grand, but in reality, it only spans the size of a small city."
Carol dismissed the clutter of complex programs on the large computer screen and played a video.
A black sphere, large enough to engulf an entire city, appeared on the display.
So this was what it looked like from their perspective when my world, overflowing with anomalies, merged with the outside.
Guess that explains why the missile came flying out of nowhere.
...It looked incredibly dangerous.
"The Overlap first became visible to the naked eye about an hour before the nuclear missile was launched.
At the same time, human fear, unsettling thoughts, and urban legends began being sucked into it.
The organization’s personnel, including the previous head researcher, were so dulled by their own fear that they hastily launched a nuke.
But the missile was swallowed by a massive mirror, and what emerged in its place... was you. Alice."
Carol paused briefly before continuing.
"We had believed the organization had sufficient countermeasures against mental attacks.
But as it turns out, while we have resistance against corruption, decay, and destruction, we have no immunity against having our minds taken."
"..."
"I see you have a lot of questions. Well, when we first encountered you..."
Why was she hesitating?
"When you encountered me?"
"You were asleep, so we just carried you back."
"...What?"
I had been expecting some grand battle against my mindless self or something.
"You were adorable."
"Shut up."
"How cold. Well, there’s more I can tell you."
After hearing various explanations from Carol, I returned to my containment room.
While I was in the research lab, the entire setup of my room had been changed.
Stuffed toys and plush furniture.
Walls decorated with colorful patterns that made my head spin.
"Do you like it?"
"...James, I’m not a little girl."
"Ah, my apologies. Was it too childish for a lady? If you want, I can change it."
That’s not what I meant.
"Forget it."
I flopped onto the bed.
...It was comfortable.
I absentmindedly chewed on a piece of candy while flipping through the documents James had given me.
Flip.
"You’re surprisingly calm. I stayed here expecting you’d be uneasy."
"What can I say...? I don’t even know if I really have that much power.
And I can’t even begin to grasp the scale of this organization. It doesn’t feel real.
I just decided to stop thinking about it. Ah, but thanks for the concern. I do feel a bit better."
Flip.
Ha-rim. Eun-jung. Soo-ho. Kyung-min.
They were all safe.
That was good.
Not a single one of their faces had changed.
It hadn’t been that long, then.
As I focused on the documents, James carefully asked,
"Do you... not want to see them?"
Flip. Flip.
"Not really."
"Strange, considering you can’t take your eyes off their pictures."
My hand froze mid-page.
"They’ve finally returned to an ordinary life."
"..."
"There’s no more danger. They’ve regained their peace and can now live like normal people.
That’s their ending. That’s how their story concludes.
I have no intention of pulling back the curtain on a finished stage just to drag the actors back onto it."
I would bear that burden alone.
Besides, even if I went to see them in this state, they wouldn’t recognize me.
Not that it mattered—I had erased their memories.
"Are you really okay with that?"
"Yeah. I’m fine."
The adventure is over.
