Chapter 7: Each One's Intentions

Where could this place be?

What could this place be?

I felt that question, but I don't know the answer.

To begin with, I can't feel any light.

My five senses are vague, and my consciousness isn't clear.

Only the sensation of sinking into some kind of depth is certain,

much like a sunken ship sinking into the deep sea.

Eventually, my five senses also faded, and I couldn't feel anything anymore.

My consciousness naturally waned, and I surrendered to drowsiness, falling asleep just like that.

How much time had passed?

What exactly did I do before this?

Just as I started wondering, a voice reached me.

――――Wake up.

Someone was speaking to me,

I couldn't determine the gender, but it was a voice I had heard somewhere before.

――――Wake up.

The voice spoke more clearly than before.

It seemed to be a young woman's voice, but I couldn't recall who it belonged to.

And then,

――――Wake up,「　」

I was called by the name from my past life, a name no one should know.

"!!!"

In an instant, my consciousness fully awakened.

When I sprang up, the person who was right in front of me quickly dodged.

"You are...?"

Standing there was a lovely girl with brown twin tails, wearing the school uniform of the school I attended.

She was the adorable girl one of my friends lamented could have become the class idol if she were just a little cuter.

That girl's name was Satsuki Yumizuka.

"Hello, me."

It was my current self;

a copy of me, as if reflected in a mirror, actually existed.

"This is the first time we've met like this, 「　」."

"Ah, yeah."

The 'me' in front of me greeted me in a feminine tone.

The events of the last few days had muddled my thoughts, and I couldn't quite calm down.

Who is she?

Why does she know me?

What happened after that?

I have a mountain of questions I want to ask.

"Yes, I suppose I should answer your questions. I am the soul, or perhaps the personality, the remnant, of the person who should have originally been the girl called Satsuki Yumizuka."

"The remnant of the person who should have existed... No way...."

Due to my hobby of reading numerous fanfictions since my past life, I had always wondered:

Where does the original soul and personality of the possessed person disappear to?

In my past life, this line of inquiry was unproductive speculation.

In this life, I ended up embodying that thought experiment, and although I tried many things, I never reached a conclusion.

All I gained was a mass production of chūnibyō (eighth-grade syndrome) dark history, partly due to my youth.

But the girl in front of me said, "the person who should have existed," which means...

"Yes, I am the soul that was meant to become the Satsuki Yumizuka you imagine."

In other words, the 'me(Watashi)' in front of myself(Boku) was the original Satsuki Yumizuka.

How should I react to the fact that the original is right in front of me?

I've thought about it until today, and a small pang of guilt strikes my conscience for enjoying daily life and taking her original place.

Although I didn't intend it, from her perspective, I'm like a cuckoo chick left in her nest.

I don't know what expression to make, or what to say.

"You don't have to be so defensive. It's not like I actively intend to replace you."

She gives a wry smile at my defensive posture.

"Originally, due to some cause, you reincarnated into this body from a parallel world—no, a world that should now be called a different world. As a result, with what you call [Original Knowledge], SHIKI and Ciel-senpai, like Roa, merge with the target soul and crush the host's personality."

And I became a vampire because of that Roa.

It's truly ironic.

"The point to note here is that what you did is different from Roa's method. Because Roa's ego appears after the target has developed a sense of self, but in your case, [you were overwritten by your own strong ego before the ego of Satsuki Yumizuka was established]. As a result, you weren't afflicted with a double personality like some murderous god, and you merely suffered from the gap between your body and spirit."

I see, overwriting the personality before it develops.

My long-standing question about the fate of the possessed person is finally resolved.

However, I still have a few questions.

For example, [If there was no ego, why have I been resurrected—no, born—like this now?]

I can generally predict the answer, though.

The reversal impulse that made me act like a blood-sucking demon when I confronted Ciel-senpai in the park.

She first appeared there. Furthermore, she initially called herself a "remnant of a personality."

That is to say—

"As a result of being crushed by your personality, the personality known as 'I' was unified with a personality led by you. Although, its only influence is limited to things like a feminine hobby and way of thinking. However, just as a person changes into the personality of the vampire Roa when Roa's personality emerges, as a result of Satsuki Yumizuka becoming a vampire, the soul that should have originally been there, the original personality, was resurrected—no, newly born—as a reversed personality."

In other words, my position is the same as Roa's.

The difference is that Roa waits for the target's personality to grow before taking over the personality.

In contrast, I took over without waiting.

And it wasn't the parasitic personality that revived because I became a vampire, but the host's personality.

However, if this is the case, it's certain that I can't use the Reality Marble, "Depletion Garden."

Now that I look around, a purely white space stretches out endlessly in all directions.

Given that I can talk to her like this, there's no doubt this is some kind of inner world.

However, since this isn't a "Depletion Garden," I probably can't use a Reality Marble.

"Instead, you can use Marble Phantasm."

Marble Phantasm, huh? I thought that was a True Ancestor's ability.

The ability to interfere with nature and make one's fantasies interfere with the world... Huh?

"Marble Phantasm."

No, wait, wait, wait.

Marble Phantasm? That's ridiculous.

I mean, I did, I did go back to my childhood in elementary school, and play "Marble Phantasm pretend" or something, but is that the cause!?,  I'm not convinced. I absolutely demand an investigation into the cause.

"Think for yourself a little. Sigh. Your Luck stat and your mind aren't even similar to the naturally idiotic Satsuki Yumizuka, who's suspected of being an airhead. You seem calm, but your mind is surprisingly lax. Or perhaps you had such elements from the start, which is why you were able to become—no, succeed in becoming—Satsuki Yumizuka."

...I feel like I was just told something quite rude. But if she doesn't explain, I'll be the one in trouble. This is an obligation for the person who knows the cause.

"Fine. So, first of all, how do you think you came to this world?"

I was confused by the unexpected question from my other self. Because I couldn't figure out how it connected to the current discussion.

Naturally, it was movement between parallel worlds; more precisely, only the soul moved and possessed the body of another human, something like that.

"Yes, that's a common-sense way of thinking. But aren't there other hypotheses? ――――Yes, the possibility that you reached here by passing through the Root."

Impossible. That possibility is absurd.First, I don't think it's possible to maintain a clear sense of self after touching the Root.

But... [I cannot prove that is wrong]. Because if that were the case, it would be convincing that I was originally unique, freed from the human body, and endowed with special abilities.

However, since I haven't even observed how I reached this world in the first place, her theory is also [merely a hypothesis].

"Yes, you're right, this is just a hypothesis. It might just be that I can use Marble Phantasm instead of a Reality Marble simply because my soul is different."

In the end, even discussing it like this, we're mostly left with things neither of us knows.

And in exchange for being able to use Marble Phantasm, there must be some sort of restriction, right?

"Correct. Something like Marble Phantasm isn't something you can use casually, just like how Dead Apostle Ancestor Sumire can only use it when she's sober. If you use it, the vampiric impulse will spiral out of control and cause mass murder. And even if you could put a huge hole in the ground, I wouldn't recommend it given the current situation where you are being targeted by Senpai."

So, I should understand that it's better not to use Marble Phantasm in the future.

This is troublesome. Far from making use of its power, this will likely make me an enemy of every faction.

If I don't behave cautiously, I'll be forced into Sensei Chitose's classroom immediately.

This is absolutely the worst. How in the world did things turn out like this?

The situation is unfolding as if the world itself is working against me.

"Oh, it's about time."

As she murmured that, light flooded the space.

Drowsiness and languor fell over me, and my eyelids felt heavy.

"Now, return. To the reality that is yours now."

My consciousness was fading.

My other self gradually disappeared with the light, and I, too, was disappearing.

Wondering if the day would come when we could meet like this again, my consciousness melted away like snow.

The news in question was stirring up the town, but the expressions of the people passing by hadn't changed.

A morning no different from usual, an unchanging landscape.

Could it be that yesterday's events were just a dream or an illusion?

As I was thinking that, I couldn't help but stop when I saw a person emerge languidly from the shadow of the school gate.

"Good morning, Tohno-kun."

It was Ciel-senpai.

Senpai, in perfect condition, was waiting for me.

It was a casual greeting, but her gaze was like that of a sniper aiming at prey.

"Senpai... Yesterday..."

"Yes, that's right.

There's still time before morning class, so would you mind coming with me?

It seems we both have a lot of things we need to discuss."

".................."

I remember yesterday clearly.

A body that healed instantly despite having its leg cut.

The martial arts were like those of an exorcist in some work of fiction.

There are many mysteries surrounding this Senpai for Tōno Shiki.

But what I can definitely say is that

this person knows about the vampire causing the commotion in this town right now.

"...I understand. I also have something I want to ask you, Senpai."

We moved to the room labeled "Tea Ceremony Club."

The only member seemed to be Senpai, and there was no one else inside.

"Now then, Tohno-kun, how are you feeling?"

"I appreciate your concern, Senpai, but. More importantly, Senpai, who exactly are you? And what about Yumizuka...?"

Since Senpai's tone suggested she would slowly evade the questions,

I preempted her and threw out my questions all at once.

"You're impatient, Tohno-kun."

"Please don't evade the question, Senpai!!"

Slam! I hit the tatami mat.

I glared at Senpai, who was smiling while holding her powdered green tea.

I want to at least hear this much before the matter is left vague.

"...Are you sure you need to know?"

"Yes. I'm prepared to force it out of you, even if I have to."

I stated it plainly, unlike my usual self, and glared back fiercely at Senpai, whose gaze held power.

My hand was already on the knife in my pocket, ready to thrust it out at any moment.

Honestly, I don't want to do it, but I'll surely regret it if I don't force her to tell me.

"...Sigh. Fine, I understand. Very well, I shall talk."

We glared at each other for a while, but Senpai was the first to give in.

Letting out a big sigh, as if resigning herself, Ciel-senpai began to speak.

"I am an Executor of the Church, the so-called exorcist you see in movies and the like. I came to this town to exterminate the vampire causing the commotion. And Yumizuka-san happens to be one of my targets."

"What?! Yumizuka is a target!?"

Could it be that Yumizuka is the vampire who is the source of the recent trouble!?

That can't be, because the vampire incidents have been happening for a while now.

"That's right, Yumizuka-san is not the original culprit. To be precise, she is a child born from the Dead Apostle Ancestors."

"A child? But Arcueid said that if you're bitten by a vampire, you become a mindless dead person..."

"Yes, that's correct. Originally, a person should become a vampire slowly over time in that manner, but astonishingly, she has already become an independent vampire in just about a day. This is a terrifying talent comparable to the Twenty-seven Dead Apostle Ancestors. As an Executor, I must punish her along with the original culprit."

The gentle light disappeared from her eyes, and I felt irritation toward Senpai, whose expression was cold and who spoke in a plain, businesslike tone.

"Are you not convinced? Yes, she is certainly a victim. However, she is now a powerful demon that harms people. Tohno-kun, you must have seen it yesterday."

That's true.

There's no element I can deny.

Last night, Yumizuka literally became a blood-sucking demon.

But—

"But I want to help Yumizuka. If it's her, I'm sure she'll—!?"

In an instant, a dense murderous intent sent a chill down my spine.

"What do you know about her?"

I could hear the sound of her gritting her teeth.

She spoke in a tone laced with killing intent that seemed ready to strike at any moment.

"Tohno-kun, what exactly are you? Not content with just cooperating with a True Ancestor, are you also saying you want to save Satsuki Yumizuka? Who are you? Why are you in such a hurry to die, sacrificing your daily life? Why are you so fixated on them? Think about that carefully, or else—"

Next time, I will have no choice but to deal with you a bit more roughly.

Saying that, Senpai left the room.

I could only stare blankly as she left.

"-------------------"

What is Yumizuka to me?

What is Arcueid to me?

Because she's been my friend since middle school?

Is it to take responsibility for killing her?

Because she's a classmate and a close friend?

Because she's my partner in hunting vampires?

Or is it—

"...I don't know. I don't know, Senpai."