"Sorry, I'll see you in a bit. Stay here for a moment and talk with your mother."
Elysia watched Jern's back as he said this and walked out the door, feeling a little bewildered. Everything should be fine, everyone should be happy— But for some reason, Jern was furious. ...
Why?
It was a mystery. As she pondered, a clear voice, like the sound of jade beads rolling on a tray, called out to her.
"Elysia, are you alright?"
"H-Huh?"
"You don't look well."
"I'm fine! I'm really strong, you know!"
Whatever.
Elysia buried herself in the warm embrace of her mother, who was looking down at her with concern. Even though she should have been seeing her every day, for some reason, she missed her. It felt like they were meeting after a long time.
"Ehehe, Mom..."
"What's gotten into you today? This is so unlike you."
[Elysia's mother] was surprised, but she gently stroked Elysia's hair with a soft touch.
"You said that boy was your friend, right?"
"Yeah! We were supposed to do something else instead of coming here, umm... His name was..."
Pondering, Elysia furrowed her brows.
Why?
It was in her memory just a moment ago, but his name...
"You don't have to think about it if it's too hard, dear."
"... Is that really okay?"
"Of course. You've been through so much. Just rest well today."
"Sniff... O-Okay..."
With tears welling in her eyes, Elysia hugged her mother once more. She was sad. It was hard.
She was lonely. She lost her mother, was ostracized, was kidnapped, and her father was hurt. So, she wanted to tell her returned mother everything.
Just for today, she wanted to cry her heart out, cling to her, pour out everything she had been through, and be comforted.
"That's right. Mom. You know, it was really hard for me..."
Just then.
Elysia saw something strange and closed her mouth.
"Go on, tell me more."
"... Mom, the blood on your hand."
"Hmm?"
Elysia's mother tilted her head, looking at the red blood smeared on her hand.
"Oh my, what is this? Did I get cut somewhere?"
"..."
Elysia remembered that just a moment ago, her mother had held her shoulder. She carefully touched her own shoulder. Warm, still-wet blood was there.
Her mother made a fuss and brought a cloth from nearby.
"Oh dear, it wasn't me, it was you who was hurt? Why all of a sudden?"
One step back. Elysia retreated, refusing the cloth.
"... I'm not the one who's hurt."
"What do you mean?"
Elysia slowly closed and opened her eyes, looking at the blood. Besides her mother, one other person had touched her shoulder just now. A small, forgotten name escaped Elysia's lips.
"Jern."
"Heh, hahaha! This is fun!"
The severed head was still laughing. It laughed like a madman, blood pouring from the cross-section of its neck. It was an incredibly unpleasant sight.
I narrowed my eyes and asked.
"Do you still think this is a dream?"
"I don't know. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't!"
"...?"
I couldn't understand. Wihwa's face gradually turned pale as he answered.
"I think this makes it exactly 1023 times. This is the first time I've died by having my head cut off since I was the Emperor."
"You were the Emperor?"
"I was, in a previous dream. Cough, keuk, if I wished it, I could be the emperor of a nation, or a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms."
"I can become anything I want! But... at some point, no matter how many times I woke up, and woke up again, I could never return to my original self... keuh."
It was horrifying. As the price for living a life of omnipotence, he had to live with the fear that his entire existence might be a delusion created by his own brain. Every relationship was meaningless, and no evil deed could be perceived as truly evil.
That was the price.
"Co-cough... Wh-What's... next?"
"You think there's a next time?"
There is no next time. Until the very end, Wihwa never realized that this life was his real one. He died dreaming of the next life after living a false one.
I looked unpleasantly at the head, frozen with a smile, then turned away. I didn't have the energy to spare on something like that.
"What am I going to do..."
I sighed, looking at the world around me which had grown much deeper in hue. I probably could have done something like this long ago if I had wanted to. From the moment I learned about Deep Fusion, I knew there were various possibilities.
Just as you can tell a bird's wings are for flying even if you've never seen one before, ideas kept coming to mind. However, I consciously erased them from my thoughts. I didn't know what might happen.
Now I knew. Perhaps I should create a command. I'm not very good at naming things, so I just looked at the railing and muttered.
"Slash." -Swish!
I watched the cleanly severed railing fall deep into the abyss below, and slowly felt my back become drenched in cold sweat. I had a vague idea when I used it just now, but this ability is just too absurd. It doesn't matter where.
An invisible slash can be created anytime, anywhere within the range of my Tide Sense. The frightening part is that even this is just a fraction of it. If I were to crush something with the water pressure in my Deep Fusion state, it would be so strong that I would burst and die too.
So, I drastically narrowed the range of the water pressure. I applied instantaneous pressure, thinner than a strand of hair, for a very short moment. Then that water pressure becomes a slender blade and shoots out.
In Earth terms, the principle is similar to a water jet. That is Slash. And—of course, it's not the proper way to use it.
This is just a tiny fraction of my power, used to avoid the limitations of the water pressure. ... That's what scares me. Just what, what kind of terrifying price awaits me?
The moment I release this Deep Fusion, will I be crushed into a pool of blood? I'm not just saying that. The Deep Sea is honest; it takes as much as you use.
It has always been that way until now. But, eventually, I have to face it. Staying like this will only make things worse.
"Hoo..."
I took a deep breath and looked at Wihwa's cold, severed head. I, too, had to pay the price for drawing on this power. Slowly, I separated myself from the Deep Sea.
"Hup."
I braced myself with all my might. For the water pressure, the temperature, the field of vision, and various other things. For about 30 seconds.
I tensed my body, trembling, subjecting myself to the torture of enduring the deep, dark sea with a human body.
But— "?" Nothing happened.
The water pressure that could easily crush a mere human... well, it wasn't that it wasn't there, but it wasn't much different than usual. My vision narrowed. It was cold, well, yes.
It was about the same level of pressure I always felt. I don't know what it was, but it was good for me. I turned my head to go to Elysia.
I need to snap Elysia out of it and heal Aletus.
How bothersome.
Is there really a need for that? ... No, there is. It's certainly annoying, and nothing will change even if I do it, with only a future of being crushed to death awaiting me, but I still have to do what I have to do.
"—What is this."
I stopped, bewildered. I felt... incredibly, horribly bad. Negative emotions boiled up inside my chest.
It was far too intense.
The pressure!
I quickly checked again. Was it pressing on my insides? No. There was still no physical pressure.
My hands and feet began to tremble. It reached a point where I couldn't even stand anymore, so I dropped to my knees and collapsed on the floor.
"Ugh... Uuuurrrgh—!"
I vomited everything I had eaten onto the floor. When I wiped my forehead, an unbelievable amount of sweat came away on my hand. I have to stay calm.
With all my strength, I got up, leaned against the railing, and checked my condition. I confirmed there was no physical pressure. Then what was it?
What part of me was causing my body to react like this? If my feet were crushed, I could blame the water pressure. But I had no idea what was causing my limbs to tremble and this overwhelming anxiety that I was about to die.
Claustrophobia?
Or maybe something like thalassophobia? Had I developed a phobia like that?
"Kuh."
That wasn't the end of it. Suicidal urges kept surfacing. Everything in the world feels meaningless and horrible.
Such thoughts filled my mind. Clinging to the railing, I gritted my teeth and resisted the sensation, when suddenly, an absurd hypothesis came to mind.
"Don't tell me..."
I frowned, denying it to myself, but I slightly extended my Tide Sense. As I became able to perceive the surrounding terrain, the panic subsided just a little. Of course, I still felt like I was going to die.
But I could be sure. It was a truly absurd situation, but I was currently suffering from withdrawal symptoms.
"Ha."
A dry laugh escaped me.
Deep Fusion.
In the state of being one with the Deep Sea, I was safe. The five senses are such simple senses. I could see everything, know everything.
Above all, the Deep Sea was no longer my enemy. It was a new sense that protected me, my sanctuary, my home. But when I released it, I was thrown to the ground.
I became a being like an insect... seeing with my eyes, hearing with my ears, walking with my feet. A being that could be easily crushed if I were one with the Deep Sea. ... Is there really a need to go through all this trouble anymore?
If I just take this hand now and melt into it— "...!!" Snapping back to my senses, I immediately picked up a nearby piece of wood and plunged it into my thigh.
Puk...
I gritted my teeth against the pain of tearing flesh. I bit the inside of my cheek several times, whipping myself onward.
"Get a grip, you bastard! What did you come all this way for?!"
In the state of Deep Fusion, I would be nearly invincible. Just like how I easily killed the stronger Wihwa, I would be able to unleash my power to my heart's content without any backlash. That's not a good thing.
Not at all, not even one bit. Now that I know the price, it's even more so. If I stay fused for a long time, I will shed my human body.
From the 'human' named Jern. I would be demoted to the 'phenomenon' of the Deep Sea. ... I see, I've gained a new enlightenment.
Is the group that calls this act an ascension the Red Lotus? So that's how they use a power that transcends cognition. No, this is not the time to be learning things.
I reached out and moved as far away from the railing as possible. My mind was reeling. If I stay here, I feel like I'll really throw myself over.
If I do that, I can become one with the Deep Sea, so wouldn't that be a good thing— "No!" The worst—no matter how many times I think it over, it's the worst. I made the worst possible move.
I had no choice but to do it to survive, but I used a power I could never handle. I felt my heart sink. Now, I can't even escape through death.
I've become that kind of being. This is the heart-realm. A world that hates its master.
Suddenly, the Deep Sea I was hiding in seemed so vast and empty. I was lonely.
"Just... a little."
Now I really have no choice. I have to open the Deep Fusion, even just a little. To get through this moment. ...
Is this my own thought? Or is it the cry of an instinct, cast down from a transcendent existence to a human one? I don't know.
I just let go. —As my consciousness slowly melted into the sea, the last thing that entered my vision was Wihwa's head, smiling even as it shed tears of blood.
"Mom, Dad is hurt."
"... Huh?"
Elysia smiled like a girl her age, looking at her slightly flustered mother.
"I'm sorry. Since you weren't here, I should have protected Dad. But I couldn't. Hehe..."
"What kind of silly thing are you saying? Isn't Dad over there, cooking for us?"
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a loud knocking on the door of the next room.
[Honey, Elysia! Just wait a little longer! I'm making the perfect honey pie!]
"Ohoho... He could have just asked a servant to do it, the fool."
Elysia took in her smiling mother's face. She wanted to remember every single detail, without missing a thing. She opened her mouth and slowly confessed her feelings.
"You know, after I lost you, it was really hard for me. I was bullied, I was kidnapped... I felt like everything was my fault, like the world hated me."
"Mommy's right here. I love you, my daughter."
"Yeah, Mom. I love you too!"
Elysia replied with a smile.
"But I met someone who had it even worse than me."
"He said he grew up in an orphanage. And as soon as he turned ten, he was destined to die."
"If it were me, I would have already cried myself to exhaustion and given up, but he learned magic to save us when we were kidnapped, became the disciple of a slightly scary Great Mage, endured all that painful training, and even comforted me."
She remembered the grave. Seeing the curve of Elysia's lips, her mother smiled.
"He sounds like a good person. Do you want to be like him?"
"No. I don't think I could live like that."
Jern struggled so hard that even she, watching from the side, could tell. Sometimes she wondered why he went to such lengths. He was so diligent.
He was honest with himself. He never lied...
"I can't be a person like that."
"Then—" "But if I can... if I can be of even a little help, I want to lend him my strength."
"Why?"
Her mother asked as if she truly found it hard to understand.
"Is he worth all that effort?"
"Yes!"
Elysia shouted confidently.
"Because Jern always comes to find me when I'm having the hardest time!"
In her clear, bright eyes, which only children of her age could possess, was an unshakable will, without a hint of hesitation.
[Elysia's mother] smiled softly.
"Go."
"... Okay. When I go later, let's talk about what happened next!"
"Hoho, I'll look forward to it."
Elysia rubbed her eyes. There was no sound, no light, nothing at all. Just like that, what had been her mother vanished, the room became a ruin, and the bed became a tattered rag.
Elysia wasn't surprised. She grasped her shoulder. The now-dried blood was definitely still there.
As the memories of those times resurfaced— "Ugh..." For a moment, it felt like tears would overflow. But she put on a brave face, slapped her cheeks, and held them back.
'I can't stay like this!' All her memories had returned. Her father was probably trapped in the next room.
And Jern, Jern had definitely come to save her. Elysia was fairly certain. Jern liked her so much he didn't know what to do with himself.
That's why he kept coming to find her. If he couldn't confirm she was safe, Jern would never leave. 'First, I have to save Dad...'
Somehow, she had to get out of this roaring spire and let him know she was safe. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, Elysia carefully opened the door— "Kyaaaa!!
Jern!!"
She immediately felt her heart drop and ran forward. Jern, bleeding profusely, had made it to her doorway before collapsing unconscious. Forgetting to stay silent in case of enemies, she rushed over, lifted him into a proper position, and pressed her ear to his chest.
A moment later, her heart dropped a second time.
"H-He's not breathing!"
Is he dead? No, that can't be! She felt her hands and feet trembling.
Just when she had resolved to lend him her strength, the person himself was dying.
"... No!"
First, she did her best, pressing on Jern's chest with her small hands. She had seen it done somewhere, but she couldn't do it properly.
"Jern, wake up! Get a grip!"
As a last resort, Elysia slapped Jern's cheeks repeatedly. And then— "...
Ugh."
"You're... awake?"
Jern's eyes opened. That should have been a good thing— But his eyes looked anything but normal. His eyes weren't exactly overflowing with goodwill on a normal day.
But today was bad. A little, no, a lot bad. They looked less like a human's and more like she was looking at an inanimate object.
Swallowing dryly, Elysia cautiously reached out her hand.
"Are you, are you alrigh—" —Thwack!
Elysia was sent flying to the opposite side of the hallway, tumbling wretchedly.
"...!"
The pain was beyond the level where she could even scream. It felt like her entire body was being beaten with an iron club.
"O-Oww...."
Thud.
As Elysia writhed in pain, Jern's body slumped over and fell.
"... Ugh."
Elysia gritted her teeth and stood up. She didn't really know what was happening. Even Elysia knew she was closer to an idiot than a genius, and she had no idea what kind of magic had just hit her.
So, she trusted something else.
"J-Jern..."
Staggering to her feet, Elysia approached Jern. Because her leg was broken, it took a long time to sit down next to him again. There was no hostility or anger on Elysia's face.
Instead, she offered a confident smile.
"You said it before, right? That I might be able to save you. You always say the right thing, so you must be right this time too."
She didn't believe in herself, but in his words. She placed her bruised arm on Jern's chest and took a deep breath. When she first heard that she couldn't manifest magic because she had this thing, she wondered if it was a cursed power.
That thought hadn't changed much even now. But, If this power could help Jern right now... then she thought she could consider it a blessing.
"S-Something's happening, right?"
She gathered her ability to reject magic, as much as she possibly could. Even when her heart felt like it would explode and her blood felt like it was boiling, she absolutely did not stop.
"Nnngh..."
She even let out a groan, giving it her all. Even if it looked like nothing was changing, even if it seemed like it wasn't working well. For over ten minutes, with all her might.
Enough to kill her— "...
Hah, haah...."
So much so that she couldn't even feel happy when Jern woke up. She squeezed out every last drop of her strength. Jern, who had for some reason vomited a large amount of water, shook his head as if he had a severe headache, slowly sat up, and looked around.
"Where am I... Elysia?"
"... Ah..."
She didn't even have the energy to answer. As she spoke in a fading voice, he looked startled, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her limp body.
"What happened, no, your bones are broken... Which bastard did this to you?!"
Jern shouted, looking at the battered Elysia with a hint of fury in his eyes. Elysia truly had no strength to say anything. But seeing the injured Jern get angry on her behalf seemed to give her a little bit of energy.
So, she managed to say at least one thing before she fainted.
"You're the one who hit me, you big idiot..."
"??"
Even in her fading consciousness, seeing the bewildered look on Jern's face was quite amusing.