"So, which one are you right now?"
At Gyulie's question, I think.
"Which one does it look like to you, Gyulie?"
After thinking it over, I turned the question back on him.
It's answering a question with a question, but I can't help it.
I myself don't know the answer to Gyulie's question.
"Both and neither. Right now you're so thoroughly mixed together that I can't say you're either one. However, your consciousness does seem closer to
"Ah, so that's how it is after all."
I scratch my head with a wry smile.
I'd expected as much, but having it pointed out by someone else gives me this feeling of "so it really is like that."
"Your manner of speaking does seem closer to hers."
"Yeah. Incidentally, I feel like my way of thinking is closer to that side too."
Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to feel this optimistic.
The old me was cautious and cowardly.
The fact that I'm currently experiencing myself ceasing to be myself, and yet haven't mentally broken down yet, was good proof of that.
"So what are you going to do from here on?"
"I don't know."
I really don't know.
In this situation where our souls have become so thoroughly intertwined, defeating the original would likely be too late already.
And the biggest problem was that I couldn't think of any means to defeat that original.
Even if I defeated it, it would probably achieve some mysterious resurrection, and on top of that, it has the ability to teleport, so it shouldn't be easy to capture in the first place.
The only reason I was able to engage it before was luck and the fact that the original is an idiot.
Even if I chased it, I couldn't catch it, and even if I caught it, I couldn't defeat it.
Even if I could defeat it, I'd never go back to being the old me.
There's not even a guarantee that the erosion would stop progressing.
I was completely boxed in.
"Honestly, I'm already cornered. Whether I'll remain as me is probably fifty-fifty, but whether that 'me' can still be called 'me' is another question. In that sense, you could say the being called Ariel has already transformed and disappeared."
I wouldn't go so far as to say she died.
I still clearly retain memories and feelings as Ariel.
But the way I think is different from before.
Can that truly be called me?
It's a difficult question with no answer.
"Why didn't you consult me before it got to this point?"
Gyulie asked with a slightly sorrowful expression.
"Well, what was I supposed to consult about with someone who was off having a drinking party with the enemy?"
He came at me with a serious look, but my sense of smell can't be fooled.
Gyulie is drinking.
Moreover, from the faint scent drifting about, it seems he had been in contact with the original of the enemy I'm opposing.
It seems like in addition to the scent I'd smelled before, there was a human scent too, so there must have been one other person as well.
"I'm simply treating everyone fairly as an administrator."
"I know. That's exactly why I couldn't consult you."
Gyulie is an administrator.
When it comes to running this world, he can't take anyone's side for his own convenience.
That's why, even on the brink of death, I can't rely on Gyulie.
Because that wouldn't be fair at all.
"Even so. Even if you couldn't get directly involved, you should have been able to at least act as a go-between."
"Throwing myself at your mercy from the start wouldn't have been very cool."
"And the result of standing on your pride is this."
"When you put it that way, yeah."
Honestly, maybe living so long had unnecessarily inflated my pride.
If I'd relied on Gyulie from the start, things probably wouldn't have turned out this way.
But I have no regrets about that.
"From your perspective, was it something that could have been worked out with a go-between?"
"At the very least, a ceasefire should have been possible. You and that one are aiming for similar positions."
"I see."
That's enough to hear.
Even if my existence were to disappear, there's a being who would inherit my will.
If I were to be devoured by that being, my disappearing wouldn't be meaningless.
"So it's not too late even now, you know?"
"Hmm. I'll pass. Since I've come this far, I want to see the ending for myself."
"I see."
Whether my existence remains or disappears.
"From your perspective, what do you think are the chances that I'll survive?"
"Fifty-fifty. The separation of our souls has reached a level that's beyond even my ability. Either way, your existence will remain in some form, but even I can't imagine what form that would take."
"I see."
"Unfortunately, the one who's been haunting your soul also seems to have lost the ability to stop the merger of their own volition. Whose thoughts will come to the surface is anyone's guess. There's even a possibility that after mixing together, you'll become something entirely different."
Let's hope that doesn't happen.
Part of me wants to remain if possible, and I'll resist as much as I can.
"For now, I'll chase after the original that fled. I'll figure out what comes after that when we meet."
"I see. Personally, I'd like both you and that one to remain and reconcile."
"Did the drinking party stir up some affection?"
"Yeah. I can see why you're fond of D. She's quite an amusing being."
To my half-joking question, Gyulie answered candidly.
That's rare.
For this man to express such thoughts about someone completely unrelated to
He must have really taken a liking to her.
"Cheating?"
"Absolutely not. She's interesting to watch, but she's an incredibly troublesome being to have around. I couldn't develop romantic feelings for someone like that."
"Ah, I see."
Is that praise or an insult?
If anything, it's more of an insult.
"Well then, I'll do my best so that the three of us can drink together someday."
"Yeah. Take care."
We exchanged farewells that might very well be our last in this life.
As Gyulie was about to leave via teleportation, I noticed something.
"Hey, you better take the Earth Dragon with you!"
"No."
Bluntly refusing, Gyulie teleported away along with the Earth Dragon's corpse.
After that, I looked around the bottom layer, but the other Earth Dragons had been collected too.
Damn it.
Next time we meet, I'll have to settle this grudge.
For that reason too, I can no longer afford to disappear here.