I can't decide whether it's up, down, or sideways, and I struggle on and on.
And then I explore my surroundings.
Somebody.
Somebody.
Tuskete!
I don't know how long it took me to get those words out.
Just for a moment, I let them out as best I could, layered on top of my lighter breathing.
Then I reach out in the direction I'd desperately wanted to go.
There's no one there.
I know that, but still.
Yeah, I know that.
In the midst of thinking I wouldn't give up.
Gently, there was someone holding my hand.
And that hand pulled me up with a squeeze.
Hi, Amy. I'm so glad you're okay.
"That voice, Mike?
Yeah, yeah. It's Mike, living in your midst.
I didn't understand it at first.
Because when I was pulled up and could see clearly in front of me, there was a humanoid, white figure standing in front of me.
I vaguely recognized it as a microphone from the voice I heard.
It wasn't like the usual microphone.
"Well, I'd love to have a chat over an emotional reunion, Amy, but I... Honestly, I don't have time. So you really need to listen to me, okay?
Mike, who is always comfortable, is in a hurry.
That's what's been making me nervous.
"Where we are and what's going on now. I guess that's what Amy is wondering about first.
Can you explain it to me in order?
Mike would show me gestures such as holding up his index finger and pointing at the water or waving his index finger.
Indeed, my last memory is of suddenly hearing a frightening voice, calling out to Jiro for help, and then I don't ...... understand.
I look up and it's dark, and if I look down I can see the dark water.
I've never been here and I've never seen a place like this.
To put it simply, this place is inside you, or more specifically, inside your mind.
And Mike said this dark space was inside of me.
Well, I don't think I'm that dark, but I'm actually like this.
I'm shocked.
But I've been transformed by the spirit of the demon king, so there's no need to be depressed, it's a very different world now.
Demon King, you mean Mike, right? So it's Mike's fault that it happened?
You could say that's the question, or you could say it's not.
I wonder if he smiled, but in response to Mike's vague answer, I say, "Don't be deceitful.
I'm not deceiving you. To explain that, I'm going to tell you who I really am.
Smiling at my attitude as always, Mike slowly opened his mouth.
I told Amy and others that I am the persona of the Demon King, but I'm not. The real persona of the Demon King is this black surface you're treading on right now.
I followed him as he quickly pointed downward and saw the black surface of the water.
And I am the key to this demon king's seal. Now I am the remnants of a wise man you named Mike. And a fool who was turned into a human pillar after being forced to clean up after a brave man long ago.
Mike began to narrate his existence in a matter-of-fact and concise manner.
His appearance seemed to indicate that his initial narrative of not knowing who he was was was a lie.
I'm sorry, Amy. What I told you about my memory loss was actually a lie. I knew you were summoned to be a candidate for the hero. I really just didn't want to give this demon king's soul to the sun gods, and I hereby apologize for the trouble I put you through.
Mike speaks as if to affirm my thoughts.
As Mike bows his head, I'm beginning to lose track of what he's talking about because it's so outlandish.
Mike is not the Demon King, he's a wise man, and he used me because he doesn't want to give me his soul?
I thought I had been friendly with you in my own way, but I thought that was a lie.
''At first I was going to purify this demon king's soul inside your body to get rid of it, but seeing you inside me, I changed my mind. I was going to take a long time to purify the magic of this soul and give it to you as a token of atonement for the trouble I caused you with the demon king's soul. But I didn't expect it, because I was exposed to the holy sword's light, and the demon king's grudge suddenly became more active and uncontrollable. Thanks to this, I was able to break through the partition and swallow your soul until it was swollen.
He was planning to spend a really long time to erase the Demon King's soul, and to do so, he cast a wise man's magic on me.
I was on the verge of losing your soul and I managed to find it and pull it out, but your search and the fact that I tried to calm the demon king's soul and your search for it also wiped out my magic power. I can't hold this soul back anymore.
I couldn't say anything to Mike, who paused in a hand up pose, saying there was nothing more to do.
But somehow I knew that I was going to disappear.
It's funny.
I would normally cry and scream, but I don't have the energy to do so.
Maybe it's because I was drowned in the soul of the demon king a while ago, or maybe it's because I've realized that I can't resist that thing.
"I'm going to disappear.
Yeah, if you don't do anything.
Then, as I was about to give up, Mike gently shone a ray of hope on me.
Fortunately, we still have a move left. Or should I say, you made a move on me?
"? What kind of thing?
Now there's a being fighting for my soul. It's hard to tell from here, but the demon king's soul's consciousness is heading that way. Thanks to that, I can move freely like this. But that doesn't mean I can't do anything about it.
Isn't it with nothing to do in the end?
As if he knew that I was thinking that, Mike showed me a tsk tsk gesture.
Yes, I can't do anything. But I'm a wise man. I'm the smart one when it comes to teaching something. I'm not the one to do anything here. It's you, Amy.
It was as if he was guiding a bad student, and Mike nodded at him.
These words reminded me of the first time I met Mike.
Looking back, Mike had a suspicious vibe from the beginning.
But strangely enough, I didn't think he was a bad person.
Come on, I'll tell you. The secret of the sage's art, from now on you are the sage's apprentice. Are you ready, my disciple? Otherworldly wisdom is a little difficult, you know?
Maybe that's why I don't know if it's because when you challenge me like this with a suspicious atmosphere .
OK! No problem! I'll do my best!
I encouraged my weakened self and increased the intensity like when I start a dance practice.
Let's challenge!
Another side END
Word of the Day
Unexpected events have a bad connotation, but there are cases where it's a good thing.