Vol 7 Chapter 9

"For me, who's already overwhelmed just nurturing the forest, to be the only one who can help you... that can't be."

"No. What I'm going to ask might go against your duty as El Karana. But I hope you'll decide to help me out of loyalty to me as a friend."

"What kind of matter is it that makes you say such things?"

"I plan to divide myself in two."

Superior answered as if he had been waiting for the question. A puzzled look appeared on Ilumine's face.

"Division? If it's that, it should be perfectly possible with magic, so why ask for my help? Unlike other humans, I know your magic has already transcended racial limits."

At the mention of racial limits, Superior's mouth twisted strangely for a moment. But before Ilumine could notice, his expression had returned to normal as if nothing had happened. Only Kapros, who had properly seen it, was quite surprised.

'What was that expression...'

"No, I don't want a magical clone that has a separate main body and disappears after completing set orders."

"...Then?"

"Exactly as I said. I want to divide my existence in two. Memories, consciousness, even body. All of it."

A great ripple passed through Ilumine's eyes. She seemed to immediately understand the weight of what Superior wanted.

"What?"

"I'll devote all my blood, flesh, and soul to divide them in two. Though this means I'll probably never return to being the complete and singular existence I am now, I have to do it because it must be done. The problem is that while dividing might be possible, there won't be anyone who knows what my original intention was afterward. That means even if things go wrong later, there won't be anyone to correct it midway. That's why I need someone who will remain like a tree in that place for hundreds of years to help me. And you're the only one who can do that now, Lumi."

"That's absurd. That's nearly taboo."

Ilumine shook her head. Her already pale face had turned so white it looked almost blue. These unfamiliar expressions and attitudes that would be utterly impossible from the current Ilumine properly conveyed that this was indeed something that had happened in the past.

"You're asking me to help you destroy your existence? That's practically suicide!"

"No, not destruction. Just division into two. So it's not taboo."

"That's absurd. Why would you want to do such a thing...?"

After a moment of silence listening to Ilumine's slightly trembling voice, Superior raised the corners of his mouth in a strange smile with eyes devoid of humor.

"...Are you that curious? Then help me. If you help, I'll tell you the reason after everything is prepared."

"That's nonsense!"

When Ilumine frowned her delicate brows and jumped up from her seat, Superior laughed lowly with his face darkly shadowed.

"Haha. Ilumine. My dear friend, Daughter of the Forest. If you hear the reason before everything is prepared, you might hate me enough to want to kill me. No, not just you. It wouldn't be strange if every being in the world drew their swords to kill me. So shouldn't I prepare accordingly...?"

Could this man before them really be the Superior they had known until now? For the first time, Superior pronounced all four syllables of Ilumine's name with emphasis, and there wasn't a trace of joking in his face. After staring at Superior for a long while as if hoping to hear him say this was all a joke, Ilumine finally slumped back down in her chair.

"What happened to you during these 10 years. Just what are you..."

"Though you're the only one who can help me, you don't actually have to. I already know that too. Even if you don't help, I'll carry out this plan. But then it becomes harder to guarantee how everything will turn out. That's all."

Just that. It couldn't help but sound like a threat. After long contemplation with her hand on her forehead and eyes closed, Ilumine finally nodded with a pained expression.

"...Alright. I'll help. Because being able to stop you if I think something isn't right seems better than you disappearing again."

At Ilumine's words, Superior closed his eyes and let out a long breath. His closed eyelids were trembling considerably. Perhaps he had actually been nervous, despite his surprisingly forceful attitude. But Superior soon opened his eyes and casually extended his hand to Ilumine.

"Thank you. We have a lot to prepare from now on. I'll tell you soon about the specific things you'll help with."

"..."

Taking Superior's hand with tightly closed lips, Ilumine's eyes were full of anxiety and worry for him.

"Just what are you..."

However, no answer came from Superior.

While watching that scene and thinking about what Superior's mentioned division might mean, Kapros suddenly started at a voice in his head.

[ Hahaha. As I suspected. Hahaha. ]

What? Was this the Superior from his time?

"...What's wrong?"

[ I can't watch anymore. No more. If what comes after this is really the answer I expect, I don't think I could bear it. ]

"Wait!"

[ Sorry. My friend. ]

Despite Kapros's protests, his right hand moved on its own and slashed through the air. At that moment, with a ripping sound like paper tearing, all the scenes before his eyes froze and faded to sepia. Even that sank into darkness and sound disappeared until he thought only silence remained, when—

Crash!

The world shattered like a glass window.

"Ugh!"

The moment he closed his eyes bracing for the aftershock, his body lost its support and fell endlessly into an unknown place.

On and on and on...

"Why did you come back so soon?"