Crack. Creak.
There was a ship once sailed by a hero named Theseus.
The people of Athens, wishing to preserve the ship that held the hero’s legacy, replaced each plank when it decayed with a new one.
Eventually, only about 30% of the original planks remained on the ship.
Meanwhile, in the pile of discarded planks, nearly 51% of the original ship's parts had gathered. Yet, no one wise or thoughtful ever truly considered this fact.
People foolishly praised something that was no longer the original Theseus' ship. Yet, in the shadows, unseen by their gaze, lay the undeniable truth—the real thing.
No matter how the world is embellished or hidden with grand words, the truth will never change.
===============================================================
I had just shattered the heartwarming love story of Oh Daesu and Kim Luru with my own hands, then entered the Violet Tower, my robes of the Tower of Self flowing behind me.
In the lobby, I was greeted by the anxious, pacing Yuna, the Violet Tower’s master, and my scar-faced senior, who was slumped over, looking utterly burnt out.
A few others who had managed to escape on their own were also present.
Now, let’s see just how urgent and critical this situation truly is—enough that they hurried me so frantically.
Was it really such an emergency that I had to rip apart that emotional love story myself? Go ahead, explain!
“Where in the world have you been all day, junior—”
“What’s going on?”
“Someone unleashed 'Mass Confusion' in the tower. Most of the wizards have been affected and are rampaging.”
“...What?”
Did I hear that right?
'Mass Confusion' is a straightforward illusion spell. It casts a widespread illusion that causes extreme mental confusion. But of course... the Tower of Self has protocols in place to deal with such magic!
After all, the course I teach at the Academy is 'Countering Illusion Magic.' The wizards of the Violet Tower are proficient in handling illusion magic as they use it frequently themselves. They're well-versed in dealing with it.
My senior’s words sounded as absurd as saying a fire broke out at the Red Tower due to the 'Flame Spear' spell, or like hearing that a polar bear froze to death.
So, I grew tense.
“This... is not just an ordinary issue, is it?”
“Exactly! You should’ve come sooner, junior!”
If you want to mess with illusion magic experts using illusion magic, you better have overwhelming skills. If this 'Mass Confusion' spell was cast intentionally by a malicious wizard rather than by accident, it means that whoever did it is quite skilled.
“What should I... what should I do...?”
“Just stay put, cute little Yuna.”
“Ugh...”
I pressed down Yuna's pointy hat, covering her eyes. There’s nothing she can do in this situation. She’s a power-type mage, so her control is somewhat lacking.
If we attempt to awaken those under the illusion and accidentally wipe out their memories or mental defenses along with it, we’ll be in real trouble. It’s better for me, with my delicate touch, to handle this.
“...Hmm.”
Something was bothering me.
My scar-faced senior seemed to have escaped the chaos, but while her skills were certainly good, they weren’t on the level of Akshin-chan, who wasn’t anywhere in sight.
Could Akshin-chan still be guarding the Mima fragments? Or was she subdued by an intruder? It was nagging at me a little.
Well, if things looked too dangerous, she would have escaped on her own. She’s not the type to risk her life out of loyalty to me. She would’ve found a way around the restrictions of the 'Ginkgo Contract' if things went south.
That’s why I deliberately left her leash loose.
To ease the growing sense of unease that gnawed at the back of my mind, I asked Yuna to provide backup.
“Master of the tower, give me about a five-minute delay before you follow me upstairs. I’ll clear the way as I go.”
“...Okay!”
That should do it.
Rubbing my hands together, I began ascending the Tower of Self. Showtime.
===============================================================
What remains when you strip away a human’s intellect? The nature of a beast.
Thanks to the effects of 'Mass Confusion,' the inside of the tower had transformed into a miniature savanna, where various beasts fought to expand their territory.
“Follow the shorts! Follow the shorts! Dress them in shorts and give them bow ties! Expand the candidate pool for Princess Luche’s boyfriend!”
“Draw the accuracy-reduction field! Cover the world with hypnotic patterns, creating a world where nothing can hit its mark!”
There was a female mage with thick glasses, six years of experience, deeply entrenched in the study of 'Hologram' magic. She even had an imaginary boyfriend made of illusions.
And then there was another mage, three years of experience, who had been kind enough to give Yuna some crispy joy through her sugar-coating magic.
The two of them were locked in a fierce battle over control of one floor.
One was trying to dress people in shorts, while the other was trying to draw weird patterns. Then there were the mind-controlled wizards, turned soldiers by the confusion spell, caught in between.
I was genuinely curious about how this battle would unfold and who would emerge victorious. But I had no time to indulge in watching the chaos unfold—I had to check on Akshin-chan.
“That’s enough.”
“—He’s here! The creator of the butler shotas! The connoisseur! The light of the tower!”
“The mastermind pulling the strings behind the tower master, the villain who only understands half of a human’s heart—the crazy mage has returned! Retreat!”
Once they set me up with such a grand introduction, how could I not follow through?
“Ho... Even under the effects of 'Mass Confusion,' you recognize my magnificence? Do you still remember my black hair and red eyes?”
“O great one! Please, show us the ultimate being once more!”
“Could you, for the love of everything, control the tower master? How long will you let her keep destroying other people’s research?”
“Very well. Since you’ve asked, I shall show you the pinnacle of illusion magic.”
I waved my hand as if commanding troops, and my magic realigned itself.
My computational power may have diminished compared to the past. But that didn’t mean the fragments I had accumulated were useless. I had amassed a great deal of condensed experience.
The secrets of fire magic, the bizarre techniques I learned while being manipulated by a dark mage with an artifact—such elements allowed me to gain 'inspiration.'
Beyond calculations.
With inspiration, some things come naturally without the need for thought.
The essence of fire magic lies in its explosive power. There’s a thrill in unleashing it boldly and loudly. There’s no reason why illusion magic can’t be used in the same way.
Swish, swish, swish!
“Illusion Spear Volley.”
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—!
Hundreds of translucent arrows arranged themselves around me. With a casual flick of my hand, they shot off in all directions like heat-seeking missiles. A barrage from every angle.
“Ahhh! The crazy mage is using fire magic!”
“Aaaaah! Aaaaaah!”
They overreacted, but despite appearances, this was purely illusion magic. The 'ammunition' was sleep.
The wizards of the tower, who had been screaming about their impending death, soon fell into a deep slumber. In an instant, silence descended upon the tower. Mission accomplished.
I dusted my hands off and glanced around. Scattered clothes and twisted patterns drawn by the army of Mel-something covered the walls and floors.
Cleaning this up would be a job in itself.
“...Hmm?”
As I stared at the patterns, I felt a slight dizziness, blinking in confusion. Was Mel-something really this skilled...?
With a nagging feeling, I climbed up to the next floor. There were still more wizards and floors to deal with.
===============================================================
I reached the floor just below the top of the tower.
I remembered that the Mima fragments were stored at the very top, in Yuna’s lab. If Akshin-chan hadn’t shown up yet, maybe she was up there.
“Hmm...”
As I continued subduing the confused wizards on my way up, my unease only grew.
From the scattered information I had gathered, it became clear that this 'Mass Confusion' wasn’t an accident. There had to be someone behind it, casting the spell deliberately.
However...
Whoever cast the illusion spell must have been skilled enough to plunge the entire tower into chaos. They must have come here with a purpose. Yet, there were no signs of stolen research equipment or valuables. Not even a single casualty.
The only things left unchecked in the tower were Akshin-chan and the Mima fragments.
But neither of those items seemed like something an outsider would target...
Only a handful of people knew about Akshin-chan’s secrets and powers, and none of the dark mage groups I opposed were aware of her existence. Even the succubus queen who had learned of her was dead.
The Mima fragments? Even more unlikely. No one could know their true value without being informed. Although it was suspicious how many dark mages seemed to possess them...
The unknown is dangerous.
With heightened caution and magical power, I reached the top floor of the tower.
When I opened the door, I saw a large magic circle designed to store something. And standing there with a somewhat peculiar expression on her face was Akshin-chan.
It didn’t seem like she was hurt, which was a relief.
“You’re here?”
“Yeah, your old man’s here. Someone’s attacked the tower, seems like it was a terror incident. What happened? And... the fragments?”
The magic circle was empty. The Mima fragments were gone. I couldn’t sense them anywhere.
Akshin-chan casually replied.
“I gave them back.”
“...Gave them back? To whom?”
Creak.
“To me.”
With a grinding sound, I heard my own voice from right behind me.
Instantly, I ordered every brain cell to analyze, gather information, and come up with a solution. This was a dire situation.
The information I had received from the 'Contract'—my fragments had disappeared, becoming untraceable.
The fact that Akshin-chan, controlled by the 'Ginkgo Contract,' had seemingly decided to betray me.
And that there were only a few illusionists on the continent capable of unleashing such large-scale confusion, myself included. Conclusion?
A doppelgänger.
I managed to figure it out.
“A shadow at my feet.”
Whirr—!
I felt the flow of magic behind me. The spell being cast was 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow'—an illusion magic designed to kill.
Judging by the hatred and malice in the voice and the overwhelming aura of threat, the doppelgänger was hostile toward me. This was unsettling.
Even when my heart or the raven had gained sentience, they hadn’t hated me. Because they were me. The possibility of my fragment becoming an enemy... I hadn’t seriously considered it.
Had some impurity mixed in? Or had someone... gathered my fragments and created this?
It didn’t matter.
I was already on high alert, magic power at the ready. I could respond. Beyond calculation, I relied on intuition. I drew the line.
With a mental brush, I wrote it out in one swift stroke. The shadow beneath me, the darkness peeking from the closet, the loneliness of a pitch-black night.
Silent incantation.
“Heart-Breaking Black Arrow!”
As I turned around, I released a black arrow from my grasp.
Finally, I saw my doppelgänger’s appearance. Black hair, blood-red eyes. A smirk that looked infuriatingly like mine. Same face, but so irritating.
Thwack.
The doppelgänger caught my 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow' with his right hand, as if he had been waiting for it.
That’s not a spell you can physically catch. He must’ve prepared a counter spell, binding it in midair. Did he anticipate this?
“I knew it. When pushed to the brink, I always come up with something. I didn’t expect it to be a silent incantation, though... How did you manage that? I don’t get it.”
“Who... the hell are you?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m the crazy mage, you fake. The darkness peeking from the closet—”
Who’s calling who a fake?
A black arrow began to gather in his left hand. Without hesitation, I activated the emergency celestial module. I lowered my stance and aimed a punch at his solar plexus.
It was a perfectly sharp strike, but—
“Oh, I already took that.”
“What...?”
Tap, tap.
Yet, with a strange and eerie movement, he stretched out his hand. My attack dispersed like mist, my arm knocked aside, leaving my chest exposed. I lost in the exchange, completely overwhelmed.
This... I had been out-calculated. The original celestial module, now separated from me, was in the hands of the doppelgänger?
I began to mutter a spell.
But every attempt to shake his mind with illusion magic was blocked. Even when I tried to divide and disguise the malignant information I injected, the doppelgänger’s computation speed was faster.
Instead, my own mind began to erode. I heard ringing in my ears, and the images on my corneas split in two.
I realized. He... had absorbed more fragments than I had.
I had absorbed around 30% of the fragments. But the doppelgänger, having absorbed the stored fragments from the tower, had likely exceeded 50%. He was more 'me' than I was.
Now I understood what it felt like to face myself as an enemy. This bastard didn’t give me any room to act. He simply tied me up and beat me down.
Still... there’s hope.
There’s something only I know. Something he doesn’t. I strike unexpectedly. I release a snake woven from illusions.
“Academic Love-Seek Serpent!”
“What the hell is this...?”
Shshshshsh—!
The serpent tightened its grip on the doppelgänger’s magic, undoing the spell that had been interfering with my 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow.'
Splat—!
And I pierced his head with it.
The black arrow struck the doppelgänger’s temple directly, shattering and burrowing into his brain. His pupils momentarily unfocused as a trickle of blood dripped from his nose.
This should’ve finished him...
“...You think?”
He sharpened his gaze once more. This bastard... even after taking a 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow,' he was still standing...?
“Pitch-black night’s solitude.”
“...!”
“Take one as well, 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow.'”
Whirrrrrr—
It was dark.
The doppelgänger’s arrow was even darker and more sickening than my own. The emotions rising from it were doubt and envy. They were his feelings.
So, he harbored such emotions—
Thud.
The 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow' pierced my head. I had once devised a plan to achieve enlightenment through self-inflicted 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow,' but this... this was far more horrifying than I had imagined.
I was being dragged down into an inescapable swamp of emotion. Eerid, Bennet, Tara, and the many other players... Their screams tightened around my throat.
I lost control over my body. I crumbled.
===============================================================
Thud.
I felt the doppelgänger’s foot press down on the back of my head as I lay there. But I wasn’t sure.
“...You bastard. Even as a fake, you’re still me. You pulled out all the stops with just 30%.”
“Is it over?”
“Yeah, it’s over, Akshin-chan. Just give me a second to extract the 'Ginkgo Contract' management code. I’ll make you free in no time.”
“Free? More like changing the hand that holds the leash...”
A hand rested on the nape of my neck. Then I felt a pulling sensation. The bastard was absorbing my information. So this is what the raven felt like.
The doppelgänger extracted the information regarding the 'Ginkgo Contract' from me. Now, he held the right to release Akshin-chan into the world.
Then—
Without a sound, a butterfly appeared, fluttering into the room.
The butterfly morphed into a human form, descending gracefully. At the tips of her fingers was a chilling glow.
“...S-stop. Don’t move.”
“...”
It was Yuna. The five-minute delay I had asked for had paid off.
But the bastard, calm as ever, said:
“Yuna, just wait a bit longer. I’m almost done absorbing this fake. He’s the one who caused the chaos in the tower.”
“...”
“It looks like the dark mages gathered fragments to create something like a clone of me. Disgusting... Luckily, Akshin-chan recognized me. Thanks to her, I survived.”
So that’s how he’s playing it.
The doppelgänger and I shared the same appearance, and he had absorbed more fragments. From a purely physical standpoint... he was more 'real' than I was.
How could you tell us apart? We were the same person, split into two.
His voice carried a deep affection for Yuna. From what I could sense, it wasn’t an act—it was genuine.
As much as it disgusted me, as much as my head throbbed... Even if I died here... the doppelgänger would take care of Yuna and Yuri.
In that sense, I could accept it. Even if it pissed me off, I could come to terms with it. You bastard.
But then—
Astonishingly, Yuna firmly denied him.
“You’re not him.”
“...Why? No, seriously. Why?”
The doppelgänger asked, genuinely confused. His hand trembled as it rested on my neck. His voice even wavered with a sob. He was hurt deeply by Yuna’s rejection.
I was curious too. Why, Yuna...?
Yuna answered:
“Because he loves happy endings. Now move, fake. If you lay another hand on him, I’ll kill you.”
“...”
I was happy. I felt like I had the entire world.
Even though I had been struck by the 'Heart-Breaking Black Arrow,' rendered a pseudo-vegetable with vacant eyes and tears flowing down my face... I felt great. Like I was flying.
However, that might not have been...
The right reaction. If Yuna had denied my existence... I would’ve gone half-mad. No doubt about it.
“Yuna, just think about it one more time... I’m him. Look, black hair, red eyes. The crazy mage who never remembers names and always wins fights!”
“This is your last warning. Move.”
“...”
Considering how aggressive the doppelgänger was...
“...Alright, I see.”
It wouldn’t have been strange if he completely snapped.