Chapter 0: On the Matter of the 'Promise'
This took place before our departure to the North.
Yuna and Yuri had spoken to me about it. They mentioned a 'Promise' module that resided deep within the black box area of my mind, where "it" was likely sealed.
They said it was a self-destruct switch that my past self had set up, to blow my head off should I ever completely succumb to darkness.
The idea was chilling at first, but upon reflection, it wasn't so terrifying.
In fact, it was rather reassuring. If I ever crossed a line of no return, it would be better to finish it cleanly with a self-destruction than to endanger my loved ones by turning against them.
After all, no one wants to see a deranged wizard attacking Yuna or Yuri. A clean resolution through self-destruction is a thousand times better. I decided to keep the 'Promise' intact.
Considering that I somehow managed to override Yuna's computational abilities, it's uncertain if I could dismantle it even if I wanted to.
However, before absorbing it... I wanted to have a conversation.
Once absorbed and integrated, the 'Promise' would return to its black box state. I wouldn't be able to perceive it, and communication would be impossible.
More accurately, communication should not be attempted.
Who chats idly with their own self-destruct device? If you want it to decapitate you cleanly in an emergency, it's safer to cut off communication. So, this was the only time I could have a conversation.
This being knew about my lost and vague past. Naturally, I was curious.
When I opened the door to my room, where the 'Promise' was said to reside, there stood a boy who looked exactly like me and a startled Selvia, who seemed as if she'd just heard that the Earth was flat.
The 'Promise' greeted me with a soft smile and a wave. He looked incredibly sharp.
"You're here?"
"Yeah, I'm here. What about you, Selvia? You didn't... say anything weird, did you?"
"I just shared a heartwarming story. I told him that the compass of my affection has always pointed to one person."
"What kind of cryptic message is that? Selvia, are you okay? Your face is really red."
Selvia, unable to speak properly, fumbled awkwardly and then quickly approached me. And then—
"I... I love you!"
She suddenly confessed out of nowhere.
"What, all of a sudden?!"
"Just... just remember that, okay? Got it?!"
"I get it, but this is so out of context. Can you explain—oh, she's gone..."
She vanished like the wind. Feeling both embarrassed and a bit tickled inside, I scratched the back of my head. Unlike with Yuna and Yuri, Selvia's confession had a fresh innocence to it, which made it feel different.
Not that I disliked it, of course.
"Treat her well. She's your childhood friend, after all."
"Since we're on the topic, what was it like in the past? From what Selvia says, I was like a walking saint back then."
"You weren’t anything extraordinary. You just did what was natural. You were an adult who children could rely on, you prevented bad things from happening, and you played happily."
As he said this, the 'Promise' shared a few stories from the past. Like the time I helped Selvia, who had wet the bed, by washing her sheets in the middle of the night, or when I carried her on my back through the mountain trails, making flower bracelets as we went.
"She used to sing about marrying you when she grew up."
"It really did turn out that way... But still, it feels like someone else’s story since I don't remember it. I should ask—am I really just a fabricated personality?"
"No. You were always you, in the past and now."
"Phew..."
I sighed in relief.
Just as the 'Promise' was a created module, I occasionally wondered if the 'me' who was thinking and talking right now was also something created or duplicated from the original.
"Oh."
I finally understood why Selvia had confessed so abruptly. If I and my past self were the same person, then her surprise declaration of two-timing would be nullified. It must have made her happy.
That made me feel better, too. I almost pioneered a strange genre called self-duplication NTR.
Now then.
I had to ask a question that only my past self could answer.
"What’s with the entity residing in my mind? How am I sealing it, and what plan did my past self lay out?"
"I can't tell you. It wouldn't make any sense even if I did."
"Do you want to die? You should know how many times things have gone wrong because of cryptic explanations."
"I’d love to give you spoilers, but sometimes, not knowing makes for better performance. Like trying to maintain your balance on a bicycle by not overthinking it."
However, he added after a brief pause.
"Don’t get too attached to names. Don’t dwell on it."
"I think I get the gist."
I deliberately cut off my train of thought. If I pursued this keyword further, I might be able to figure out how my past self bound 'it,' but...
It seemed that, as the 'Promise' suggested, knowing might actually mess up the build. Time to think about something else.
I changed the subject.
"You’re the one managing the scattered pieces of Mima's soul, right?"
"Ah... yes. I need to brief you on that. Could you bring that whiteboard over here?"
"What, you don’t have hands or feet?"
"My limbs are 50% shorter than yours. I'd appreciate it if the one with longer limbs did the work."
After dragging over the whiteboard, the 'Promise' used illusion magic to project a map of the continent on it. He marked the locations and sizes of the scattered fragments.
"You can sense them?"
"Yeah. Inside this mental space, I also manage the modules. While you were traveling with Selvia, Yuna and Yuri gathered all the nearby fragments. They even mobilized other wizards. They’re stored in the Violet Tower now, so go collect them later."
Indeed, about 20% of the fragments were marked at the Violet Tower.
Besides that, there was one large fragment in the North and another in the capital, Crown Hall. The rest were scattered in smaller pieces.
My schedule practically arranged itself. Since Bennett’s sister’s situation is urgent, we’ll stop by the North to collect the fragment there, then head to the Violet Tower to retrieve the others.
After that, we’ll hit the capital and take a grand tour of the country...
"..."
As I scanned the map, noting the locations of the Mima fragments, I noticed something unsettling and pointed it out.
"Hey, the percentages don’t add up."
Even combined, the fragments on the map didn’t reach 100%. Did some get permanently lost during the fragmentation? Or... perhaps someone else had stolen them?
"Yeah, that’s what I wanted to tell you. The signals from many fragments have 'gone dark,' and more are disappearing even now."
It smelled like trouble. I expressed my feelings without holding back.
"...This is really unsettling."
"This might be the final hurdle in the Mima’s 30-fragment case. Should I leave you with some words of encouragement as a parting gift? Now, go ahead and absorb me. I’ll be inside, holding a big, red button."
The 'Promise' extended his small hand, and I took it.
A very strange... feeling. The crazy crow, this guy, and the others—absorbing beings with separate consciousnesses wasn’t exactly a pleasant sensation.
As if fully understanding this, the 'Promise' began to merge with me first. In an instant.
Blink.
In the brief moment I blinked, the 'Promise' had fused with me. I didn’t even have time to resist. The technique was so precise and meticulous that it left me in a daze.
It felt like I was grasping and wielding a concept that was beyond mere information.
It must have been a skill my past self possessed.
Indeed, to seal "it" in my head after causing such world-shaking chaos, such a technique would be essential. A new goal suddenly emerged.
To reach the level my past self had achieved once again.
I sealed "it" on my first attempt, so when I reach that level a second time, I might be able to destroy "it" completely. I have no idea how to develop such a skill, but...
I’ll get there eventually. Because I’m me.
I left a belated word of thanks to the empty space in the room.
"...You did well. Keep up the good work."
And then, as if on cue, a roly-poly toy on the table fell to the ground with a thud. It wobbled from the impact.
It’s not me who has to work hard—it’s you. I felt as though I heard that response.
__________________
Chapter 1: The Abandoned Child of the Uriensto Family
A small room with curtains drawn, barely letting in any sunlight. In the dim, early morning light, a knight and a wizard sat across from each other at a table.
One was small, delicate, and appeared to be a young girl.
The other was tall, upright, and appeared to be a woman.
They were opposites in appearance, as if reflecting each other's hidden sides, yet their dull blonde hair and violet eyes were the same. This mysterious color was the only evidence that they shared the same blood.
Cecile Uriensto smiled faintly as she spoke.
"Sister, I'm glad to see you’re doing well. It seems you’ve even found a suitor. You two look good together."
"Aah, don’t say such embarrassing things... Hehe."
Yuna Uriensto Violetiris blushed and giggled, surrounded by a soft floral effect. Cecile hadn’t seen her sister’s sunflower-like smile in a long time. Had it really been over 15 years?
Jewel Uriensto had always been difficult, and Cecile Uriensto had always been cowed by their parents.
Yuna was different. From a young age, Yuna Uriensto was brilliant, and with that brilliance, she defied their parents. She often took Cecile out to play.
Her sister was still as bright as ever.
Time flows mercilessly fast, but it’s because of that that what remains steadfastly shining through the torrent of time is so precious. Cecile felt joy at seeing Yuna's smile, which reminded her of past memories.
"So, you quit being a knight... How does it feel? Are you happy?"
"Yes. I’m discovering the joys of life, one by one. I only wish I had realized it sooner. I feel sorry for you, Sister."
"No... It’s fine... We were all young back then."
"Why couldn’t we see that our parents were wrong...?"
The Earl and Countess of Uriensto had viewed Yuna as a thorn in their side. Despite her talent, they thought she was lazy and brought shame to the family by not putting in the effort.
So, they treated her poorly.
Yuna wasn’t even allowed to join family meals, and she was constantly criticized. Cecile, afraid of being scolded by her parents, couldn’t bring herself to stand up for Yuna.
Looking back, it was a choice filled with regret.
"...Still, it’s a relief that things turned out well for us in the end."
"Yes."
"To be honest, I was envious. Envious of you, Sister, for leaving the family and gaining a free life. Sometimes I even resented you. But... in retrospect, it was a shameful thought. What I should have resented was the shackle around my ankle, not someone who had found freedom."
"......"
Cecile had long envied Yuna.
The sisters had been apart for a very long time. Their separation happened one summer, the year Yuna turned ten. A gaunt wizard had visited the family.
The wizard had examined the three Uriensto sisters and praised Yuna as a once-in-a-century prodigy of great magic potential.
Acknowledged for her magical talent, Yuna was sent to the Violet Tower, where she rose rapidly through the ranks, eventually becoming the Tower Lord at the age of 12.
For a brief time, her achievements filled the "Wall of Glory."
Though the previous Tower Lord’s death in a tragic accident at the tower had played a part, Cecile believed that Yuna must have been universally acknowledged for such a feat to be possible.
She had no idea of the horrible experiments and mass killings that lurked behind those successes. How could she have known? The events of that day were buried deep in the darkness of forgetfulness.
That’s why Cecile inadvertently voiced a thoughtless statement.
"Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had seized that fortune—"
"No."
A creaking sound, like something was out of alignment, filled the room.
Cecile, taken aback by the sudden chill in the atmosphere, looked up. What she saw was an empty, blank stare fixed on her. It was cloudy and dark.
Though the eyes were vacant, Cecile could feel an overwhelming torrent of emotions emanating from that void. A static crackling, an overlapping image of Yuna.
There were two of her. One person, but two beings. Her sister, and someone else. Existing in a layered state.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed, and Cecile found it hard to breathe. The air felt like jelly. She struggled to breathe, as if a giant hand was pressing down on her.
"...Sister?"
"It wasn’t fortune. It was misfortune. I still regret it, following that wizard like a fool."
Cecile endured the oppressive atmosphere with a pale, frightened expression. Was that really her sister?
"And I still resent them. The Count and Countess of Uriensto, who sold me off. Think carefully, Cecile. Learn to distinguish between the things you can say and the things you shouldn’t. Do you understand?"
"...Yes."
Cecile barely managed to squeeze out a response.
Yuna Uriensto Violetiris returned to being the "sister" Cecile remembered.
"Hey, want to take a tour of the lab? There are some interesting things here."
"..."
From that moment on, Cecile never mentioned the Uriensto family again. But internally, she constantly questioned and reflected.
What just happened? What was that phenomenon? What on earth happened at the Violet Tower? And... what did she mean by "sold off"?
That day became the starting point for Cecile Uriensto’s quest to uncover her past.
____________________________
Chapter 2: Betrayal
The Evil God-chan yawned lazily. The Violet Tower Lord and Yuri Lanstier had left for the academy to join Mima, leaving her alone in the tower.
Someone had to stay behind to keep an eye on the Mima fragments in storage.
Waiting was tedious and boring. The Evil God-chan yawned repeatedly, rolled around on the bed, and even played solo games of Go to pass the time.
Then, a message came through the communication crystal. It was from Mima.
Click. The connection was established, and Mima’s face appeared on the other side of the crystal. With a half-bored, half-playful expression.
—Hey, holding down the fort alone? How cute.
"...Shut up!"
—We’re going to swing by the North. We’ve got some things to do, and it turns out there’s a fragment left there. Call if you get lonely. I’ll sing you a lullaby.
"Do you think I get lonely? Stop talking nonsense and get to work. Shoo shoo."
Mima chuckled before disconnecting.
After the incident with the Evil God-chan’s containment, Mima had been more lenient with her. "Friendly" might be a more accurate description.
"...Idiot."
Up until now, Mima had been on guard against her, wary of the inherent malice and uncontrollable nature that came with being born from a fragment of "it." But in the end, he was just a soft-hearted fool, easily swayed by human emotions.
Idiot. If you’re going to be cautious, stay cautious to the end.
Even the control mechanism known as "Gingoa" was too soft. It was like opening a moral textbook and suggesting to follow it exactly. He should have been more ruthless and thorough.
He should have completely destroyed my consciousness, cut off my limbs, and molded me into something entirely harmless.
But the reason he didn’t was obvious. He didn’t want to erase the personality known as "Evil God-chan." Even though I was born from evil, he wanted me to have a "happy ending."
Idiot.
Evil God-chan muttered to herself quietly as she rubbed her chest, which felt uncomfortably tight.
"...Stealing the letter from the North turned out to be pointless."
It wasn’t just muttering to herself. Behind her, a man in a deep hood responded casually.
"No, thanks to that, the house is empty. I was planning to snatch the Northern fragment secretly, but this works even better. Now I’ve got the perfect chance to devour the collection of fragments Yuna and Yuri painstakingly gathered."
"Don’t let your guard down. I saw the Tower Lord plastering layers of defensive magic all over it."
"Are you trying to warn me? Is this your way of showing some affection? You’re getting cuter by the day."
"...Shut up."
The man chuckled, then slowly pulled back his hood with a pale, veiny hand.
Beneath it, jet-black hair and ominous red eyes were revealed.
It was a familiar face, but the expression was different. His eyes held an unmistakable malice, and his lips curled into a sneer that seemed to mock the entire world.
He was the product of dark mages who had gathered Mima's fragments in an attempt to sabotage him, but who had ended up creating an uncontrollable entity with its own consciousness.
"Alright, let’s leave a surprise gift for the fake."
A mad wizard who believed himself to be the real deal.
"So... Evil God-chan, where are they keeping the fragments?"
_______________________________
Extra: The One Who Lost Her Face
She opened her eyes.
"Oh, she’s awake."
"...Kim Lulu, don’t get too close. It’s dangerous."
"What’s dangerous about someone who drifted downriver? You worry too much, Odaesu."
"You don’t worry enough!"
A sharp-tongued girl with crimson hair and a lively girl with bright red hair. The crimson-haired girl felt strangely familiar.
"Hey, who are you? How did you end up drifting here?"
Faced with the lively girl's question, the woman with no name or face answered with a mix of confusion and frustration.
"...Who am I?"
She had lost her memory.