"Y-you''re... me?" I heard Evil Jared say, a little rattled from the way his tone was.


    His face also disyed shock, which was a reaction I expected. Jane had the same look as well.


    They were both dumbstruck by my sudden revtion.


    "I am not exactly you. This is as strange to me as it is for you, but I can clearly say we''re different people."


    Our hair color were different, sure. But we lookedpletely alike—especially taking his past form into ount.


    "My true identity is Lewis Griffith. I was also reincarnated into Jared Leonard''s body. I attended Ainrk Academy. I made acquaintances. Got stronger. I grew... just like you. Still, were different."


    And that distinction made all of the difference.


    "Haa... so Merlin''s theory was true, after all? The bubble theory."


    ''Bubble?''


    "Our entire universe exists in a bubble, but there are other bubbles that reflect the same contents of our universe, but in a more distorted form. The side bubbles..."


    Merlin came up with a theory simr to the reality of the Branches and Roots by himself? That was surprising.


    Then again, he was able to discover the use of Miasma in a world that didn''t use or even have it, so I didn''t have to be so surprised.


    There was one problem with the bubble theory, though.


    ''It tries to ce this world at the center of the grand scheme things. But every supposed bubble, in reality, is a side bubble. The original reality traces back to the root.''


    It wasn''t my world, or this world.


    Different actions and inactions caused the reality they were in to branch off and form a world where such action existed or didn''t exist.


    This loop of action and reaction caused the cosmic tree to be stretch on nearly infinitely, and even I couldn''t calcte how far it extended, or how many branches existed in it.


    ''Limiting it to bubbles and calling other words side bubbles is a little...''


    "So, youe from one of those side bubbles, don''t you? It all makes sense now. That strong anomaly that we experienced over a month ago. That was when you arrived, correct? We couldn''t pinpoint the location, but you must havended somwehre close to the Outgroup."


    His posttion was spot on. As expected of this world''s version of me, I guess.


    "I can imagine them giving you a hard time due to that face of yours. How did you be allies?"


    So this guy understood the kind of trouble he caused me, didn''t he? What an annoying bastard!


    ''I almost died, you know?''


    Yes, this world''s standard of Magic was poor, but I would have seriously died back then if things had devolved any further.


    I still got shivers anytime I remembered that very intense moment.


    "Ie from a world different from this one, Jared. Or should I call you Lewi—"


    "Don''t call me that!" He snapped, his expression turning immensely dark in an instant.


    ''I see. So he really wants to let go of hisst that badly?''


    It must have been a really terrible first round he had.


    "Alright then. Ie from a different reality; one where I am praised as a Hero. I stopped a war, and I put my life on the line over and over again to save my people. I helped bring peace to the world."


    I told him about how my world''s version of Neron and me were very close friends. I told him of how the Nether Cult consisted of members of the Outers.


    I told him about how Jane and I were best friends instead of lovers.


    I felt my heart ache every time I spoke and looked at his face. I could see something gleaming deep inside him.


    Something that told me he wanted it—what I had.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    I didn''t think his desire was to be purely evil and despised. All of that was only a means to an end.


    All of these tragedies, though unforgivable, only served as a path to achieve his grand desire.


    MAGIC!


    And thanks to his love for Magic, Merlin was able to manipte him and use him to achieve his ends.


    In the end, this world''s Jared was just a victim.


    ''it doesn''t make his actions excusable, and he''ll definitely pay for them. However, I can empathize with him...'' I gave a soft smile while looking at his dazed face.


    "I''ll be getting married soon. I think... I may have found something worth pursuing other than Magic..."


    Looking at myself in the mirror now, seeing how far my desires would push me, and how it would warp those dear to me, I discovered the truth that had taken me this long to find.


    "I get to choose what to pursue. I have always had the choice."


    Whether it was between Karlia and Emilia. Or Magic and Love.


    I had the choice ultimately.


    "I don''t have to keep going down this lonely path. And I certainly don''t have to do it by hurting those around me."


    I could tell that this world''s Jared and Neron had some form of rtionship—most likely something simr to mine—before their friendship devolved.


    Stefan''s frustration with Jared for killing his cousin, Maria, stemmed far deeper than a mere student''s action.


    ''They were most likely close. The way Ed and Ana were to me.''


    Kuzon''s vengeance spree wasn''t simply directed at an unknown enemy. He and Jared must have had a rtionship prior to his actions causing such a catastrophe.


    In the end...


    "You made the choice to pick Magic over your friends."


    And I could see where all of that would lead to.


    "In the end, you''d also abandon Jane for the sake of Magic."


    It had taken me centuries to arrive at this conclusion, but right here and now, I had taken one step closer to the truth I wanted to set for myself.


    "I love Magic. But...  love my friends and family more."


    That was the true difference between me and this person before me.


    "We''re not the same."


    *


    *


    *


    [A/N]


    This chapter hits deep for me, personally.


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