Chapter 42

It was a bolt from the blue.

An opponent we were never supposed to be able to defeat. The remains of the ultimate, incomprehensibly powerful magician—

—were tossed aside by a passing gust of wind across the battlefield.

"...Sis?"

Mei’s stunned voice echoed faintly.

“…Why…”

And then, a dumb sound spilled from my own mouth too. But it wasn’t just because I’d realized Clarise—someone I knew—was dead.

The man who suddenly appeared behind Rex. The man who hurled Clarise’s severed head at him—

“…A comrade…?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

—was me. The way I looked back when I was still known as "Kazenagi."

---

Rex stood frozen, sword still pointed at the Demon Sword King. Every gaze on the battlefield turned toward the mysterious intruder and the head he’d discarded.

“Sis! Sis!!”

“C-Calm down!! Mei, don’t lose it now!!”

“No. Nooo!! Why!! Noooo!!”

In that frozen moment, the first to move was the black mage who cherished her sister above all else. Half-mad, she rushed toward the head that still lay near the enemy swordsman.

“Stop, Mei!!”

Karin thought quickly.

That swordsman is the enemy. Human in appearance, but if he brought down Clarise, he’s undoubtedly on the demon side—and powerful enough to kill that monster.

She couldn’t let their ally, Mei, crazed from grief, get anywhere near him.

“Who is that?”

“Flatche! If you’ve got time to stand there dumbfounded, help me hold Mei back!”

“Let go! Let me go, Karin! Please! Let me—let me go to my sister!!”

Karin called for help, but I just stood there, frozen.

What the hell is that? Why am I over there?

Is someone else inside my body? Then… who is it?

Why is that "me" talking to Rex like an old friend?

“Hm, calm down, little sister. It’s dangerous if Mei gets too close; she might interfere with Rex. Look, she’s coming this way.”

“See! Mei, look! Clarise is the one approaching now!”

“That’s a lie! That can’t be Clarise! Sis—Clarise would never lose!”

“Well, that was the plan, but... I let my guard down!!”

None of this made sense. I couldn’t process what I was seeing.

Who is that guy? Am I dreaming? But I’m Kazenagi.

That guy was definitely a swordsman. Even if she was caught off guard, he took down Clarise. He had the presence of someone trained in true martial arts. And the way he spoke—it was like he actually knew Rex.

────Did someone Rex knew end up inside my body? And if so, then who?

“I thought I was being careful—Rex warned me! But I got sloppy! Didn’t even notice the enemy getting close, and before I knew it—whoosh! There went my head!”

“Yeah, that presence was so faint, like wind. Even we didn’t notice him ‘til he was right next to Rex…”

“That’s not true… It’s not true… Sis… Sis can’t be dead…”

“Her head’s gone! Aha-ha-ha!”

...Right. I’m probably really confused right now. Must be dreaming or something. I’m sure my body was cremated like dice long ago. No way it’s just lying around here.

Besides, I swear I just heard Clarise’s voice. Yeah, my mental state must be messed up.

Confusion on the battlefield equals death. I need to pull myself together—

“Hm?”

“…Hm?”

Wait. Clarise’s severed head is floating. No matter how much I rub my eyes, it’s still floating there.

And—yep. It just talked. I must be hallucinating now. Ha ha.

“…Hm!?”

“What is it, Mei? Why are you panicking?”

“Eh? No way, right? There’s no way she’s alive.”

“She’s just a head and still this lively. Is that even possible?”

“Nah nah, even I’m barely hanging in there! I’ve got maybe half a day left to live—so hurry and take me back to my body!!”

……

I see. So even with just a head, Clarise can survive about half a day. Well—it’s Clarise. Figures.

So this is what it means to be inhuman. Mei was right. Trying to go toe-to-toe with her seriously would’ve been suicide.

“……”

“What’s the matter, Mei? Gone quiet on me. Floating takes effort, y’know—mind holding me for a bit?”

Plop. Clarise’s head settled into Mei’s hands. Yikes. Straight-up splatter.

“I heard there was a swordsman who could decapitate me, so I developed a spell just in case!”

“…No way. You combined healing magic? No, there’s no such spell structure. And even if there were, maintaining blood flow is—”

“Ha, haha. Yep. Knew it, knew it. That’s Clarise alright. Haha…”

And just like always, Mei’s eyes went dead like a fish. That's your fault, Clarise.

If your head’s been chopped off, just die already. You’ve officially proven you're not human.

Seriously, how is she even talking without lungs? Everything about her is a mystery.

“Whew, Clarise-chan’s okay, huh?”

“H-huh? Huuuuuuh!?”

My imposter—the one facing Rex—was speechless at the sight of the talking head. Can’t blame him.

“She’s a magician, after all. Looks like chopping off her head isn’t enough to kill her.”

“I guess… But that’s not the kind of magician I remember…”

That fake me over there apparently believed he'd killed Clarise. Not that I blame him.

It’s the fact she’s still alive that’s strange.

“Heh heh heh. You fell splendidly for my ‘playing dead’ act. You lopped off my head, yet didn’t even bother to check my pupils. That was your mistake.”

“If someone gets their head chopped off, there's no room for acting, sis.”

“I see… Next time I kill a mage, I’ll make sure to check the pupils.”

…No, that’s not necessary. As far as I know, only Clarise can survive something like that.

“Now then, to conserve my mana, I shall sleep. Be a dear and bring me back to my body before waking me, would you?”

“Uh, goodnight?”

“Well, in that state, I doubt she could cast anything worthwhile. If she’s been neutralized, then that’s good enough.”

A guy like him nodded to himself, like he was trying to convince himself. Seems he’s doing his best to keep it together.

As that awkward atmosphere lingered, Rex alone kept his serious expression. He stared at Kazenagi, then finally spoke.

“You must be relieved she’s still alive, huh? …You’re the kind of guy who’d have been tormented with guilt after regaining your senses, thinking you killed her. Be sure to thank her later.”

“Oh? Regaining my senses, huh?”

Kazenagi’s lips curled at Rex’s words.

“…Ahahahaha! Rex, don’t tell me—you seriously thought I was brainwashed?”

The smaller swordsman, lightly equipped and holding a short sword, burst into laughter as he faced Rex’s relieved expression.

“I’m not brainwashed. …I just learned what true strength really means.”

“Not brainwashed? ‘Cause the guy I’m looking at sure doesn’t seem sane to me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m totally sane. Perfectly healthy. …I’ve just chosen to devote myself, heart and soul, to the Demon Lord.”

With a smooth motion—

The man claiming to be me, Kazenagi, pointed his sword at Rex.

“Rex. There was a time I saw you as a huge wall I had to overcome. A rival I absolutely had to defeat someday. But then, I saw the Demon Lord… and my whole outlook changed.”

“…”

“True strength isn’t about winning fights. It’s about being so overwhelmingly powerful that the enemy gives up before the fight even begins.”

“Oh yeah? So now you’re just wagging your tail and obeying this Demon Lord guy? How pathetic.”

“Yeah. I lost, completely. Before the fight even started, I knew I couldn’t win. Unlike you, Rex.”

The lightly armed swordsman approached Rex, who stood with a scornful look, sword at the ready. Step by step.

“Beating the Demon Sword King was impressive. I couldn’t do it myself until recently.”

“I am the strongest swordsman, after all.”

“But you know what? You never gave off that crushing pressure… that ‘no-chance-in-hell’ kind of aura. Not like the Demon Lord.”

He walked straight toward Rex, defenseless, full of openings—as if mocking him.

“I fell in love with the Demon Lord’s strength. And to grow stronger, I chose the demons’ side myself. No brainwashing involved.”

“…Hmm.”

“If I had to name something, I suppose I let them implant a demon factor into my body, to gain their resilience. But I betrayed humanity of my own free will—just to become stronger.”

“…”

“You understand now, old friend? Or should I say, former friend.”

No. That’s not me. No doubt about it.

I hate admitting defeat. There's no way I'd surrender to the Demon Lord without even fighting. Especially not while sane.

“I’m your enemy now.”

“Keep talking. You’re probably just being manipulated again, like always.”

“Think whatever you like. …Kukuku, how does it feel, knowing your old friend has turned against you? Rex, I’ve always wanted a real fight to the death with you. I can’t wait for the moment I slice off your head…”

And yet—the tone, the posture, the expression of the man calling himself Kazenagi—it was all a perfect replica of me. How shaken must Rex be, hearing all this?

Gritting his teeth, Rex clenched his jaw hard.

This is bad. If Rex starts believing that thing is me, the fake wins. At this point, maybe I should just reveal who I really am—

“Hey, you there! The swordsman calling yourself Kazenagi! What was it like, getting your body modified by the demons!?”

“Huh? I think they stuck some weird machine on my head, and before I knew it, the surgery was done while they were sending some kind of signal through it. From that day on, I couldn’t stop loving the demons!”

“That’s 100% brainwashing!”

While I was still worrying, Karin casually cut straight to the truth—he clearly had some implanted personality. Thank god. Rex probably won’t be shaken now.

“Knew it. That sounds just like my old friend.”

Rex’s face softened just slightly.

…Is this guy actually an idiot? If you have memories like that, how do you not realize you were brainwashed?

If that’s really how he is, there’s no way someone like him could be the intelligent, calculated version of me.

Assuming that someone else has definitely taken over my body—then who the hell is he...?

"Hey, listen up, best buddy. Your little sister Natal-chan? She’s living in my hideout now."

"Huh?"

"Heh heh heh, don’t worry, I haven’t laid a finger on her. But she was worried about you, you know. Even tried to avenge her big brother—came charging at me with a sword and all."

To that poor, brainwashed swordsman—Rex spoke gently, almost with pity.

He brought up Natal, my sister. Is he... trying to break the brainwashing?

"Natal... Natal, huh?"

"Yeah. Your little sister."

"...Heh, hehehe. Ahahahaha! Who’s that? Sorry, but I don’t have a sister!"

But the swordsman’s response—was laughter.

Looks like that man doesn’t know Natal at all. Which means... he’s not me. At the very least, he doesn’t have my memories.

"...Best buddy?"

"I don’t have a sister. I don’t have a mother. I don’t have a best friend. —After all, I’ve been reborn as a demon!"

Damn it. Using my body and my voice however he pleases... Who the hell is this bastard using my body?

"..."

"Natal, huh? I think I might’ve known some snot-nosed brat with an annoying name like that... but I can’t seem to remember! Ahahahahahaha!"

"...That doesn’t sound like something a siscon freak would say. Damn demons, really went all out with this twisted stunt."

"I am the sworn ally of the Demon Sword King, and the loyal servant of the Demon Lord himself!! Some shameless girl who raids people’s safes doesn’t count as family!"

"Maybe I was right to leave Natal-chan behind... I never wanted to see you like this."

"She always took my hard-earned money without asking—always pissed me off. Heh heh heh, next time I see her, the second she runs up to hug me, I’ll lop her head off."

...Wait. Does this guy—could he actually have my memories?

The only one who ever raided my safe was Natal. And everything he said... lines up disturbingly well with those dark thoughts I buried deep inside.

No way. This can’t be. Could he... at the very least, have my memories?

Now that I think about it—his stance, his movements... they’re exactly like mine...

"You bastard!! Then what, you forgot your own disciple too!? The one standing right behind me!?"

"Of course I did! I don’t have any—wait, any what...? ...Disciple?"

Wait—disciple? ...Oh, right. Me.

Now that I think about it, I’m supposed to be Kazenagi’s disciple.

"Rex. I don’t have a disciple."

"I’m disappointed in you, man. That’s cold. Saying something like that with the real deal standing right in front of you..."

"Eh?"

Kazenagi looked genuinely confused. Makes sense—I’ve never had a disciple in my life.

...Crap. This could be bad. If that guy really does have my memories, he’ll know I lied about being his disciple.

Okay... alright, time to scream something and hope it works.

"Master!! Have you truly forgotten about me!?"

"Eh? Who the hell are you!?"

"How can you call yourself human!?"

"Even your heart's turned into that of a demon!"

"Eh?"

Fake-me looked around, overwhelmed, as Mei and Karin showered him with abuse.

Well yeah, that makes sense. If he has my memories, this would be the reaction.

"She’s your precious disciple, isn’t she!? Wake up, you bastard!!"

"Eh!?"

Rex was furious. He probably didn’t want to see me sink any deeper into darkness.

Facing Kazenagi—who, from Lex’s point of view, was pretending not to recognize his beloved disciple—Rex raised his treasured greatsword high.

"I’m gonna snap you out of it, best buddy! Time to beat the rot outta you!"

"Wait... who are you? Seriously, who!?"

"Still playing dumb, huhhhh!?"

And so began their fated showdown. Kazenagi and the Sword Saint, facing off again in a deadly battle for the first time in years—

"...Eh!? Ehh!?"