Chapter 183-2-rev


    [Part 2/4]


    "That''s not the issue."


    Unpleasant memories shed in my mind, and I shook them off, reminding myself that this wasn''t the time for that. Then I touched the cold, white neck of the princess... and turned to the hummingbird.


    ''Servant. What''s wrong?''


    "I have a question. The princess and I are just performers, right?"


    ''Yes, that''s correct. Why?''


    "So, what happens to the existence of our roles?"


    ''...''


    The silence in response to my question was an answer that was too clear. "...I see. Our souls aside, our bodies are pulled from somewhere starting from this time. They are beings that originally existed in this world. Is that right? That''s how it is, right, Shiro?"


    I''m pursuing the hummingbird and Shiro. There''s no response. The hummingbird has an emotionless face, while Shiro looks miserable and stays silent. Botan aside... Shiro, you understand and are keeping quiet, right? Please bear with it.


    The princess and I are like yers controlling this body using someone else''s power. If this body dies, it''s just a game over for us. But the owner of this body is Shiro''s mother!


    "It''s not just killing a role. It will really mean killing your mother. Is that okay?"


    "Th-That..."


    I confront Shiro with this fact again. Shiro trembles. She''s scared, faced with the reality she was trying to escape. That was the proof.


    "If it can be changed, you want to change it. You want to save her. ...Right?"


    "...!"


    It was a quiet gasp of disbelief. The white fox stared at me with a mix of anxiety, confusion, fear, and a hint of hope in her eyes.


    Ah. Yes. That''s right. This technique is definitely out of control. However, it''s likely that this technique reads the caster''s subconscious. That''s why it set up this role. It chose the princess as her mother instead of a random viger. It was obsession. By changing the mother''s choices, she wanted to change fate.


    ''Such a pointless sentiment. In the correct history, she has long been dead, you know? For us, it''s just a past event. What is there to hesitate about? Or have you been blown by a cowardly wind?''


    A cold usation came from the hummingbird, sharp like a spear. It was unpleasant, as if to say, ''Why are you hesitating over this?'' It was a correct judgment, a reasonable argument. But...


    "That''s a terrible thing to say. You want me to kill the parents in front of her daughter?"


    ''After all, this is just a dream. a little garden cut out from the flow of time. It''s just a branch separated from the river of time. The past. An event that has ended.''


    "But in the end, it all merges together. It gets incorporated into the great river of time and is redefined, right?"


    ''Are you talking about rewriting history? Like a copycat of Hakutaku? That''s ridiculous, isn''t it?''


    "Just think about it. If it''s rewriting... it''s probably already been done many times."


    They say that the p of a butterfly''s wings can cause a storm on the other side of the world. The time that Shiro cut out easily spans 5 or ten years. Even if it''s just a small part of a remote vige, the impact, if you consider even the smallest details, must be significant.


    "No, it''s likely that some people''s lives and deaths have changed. There''s no way it hasn''t."


    At least, I was sure of that because I knew the original story of this world. I recalled the memories that Shiro, Korishiraki, and Shirona shared. Comparing it to now, these escape events must have changed the fates of many people.


    ''...So what will you do? a half-hearted change is dangerous, don''t you think? are you nning to gamble and hope for a good oue?''


    "Not at all... It''s not that I don''t have a n, you know."


    Botan''s usation was quite valid, and I had been thinking about how to bnce things out in my own way. The problem was whether I could actually execute it...


    ''──Are you whispering behind my back?''


    "What!?"


    Sweet mockery rang in my ears. I instinctively braced myself and took a defensive stance. I absorbed a blow to my head with my arm. A horrible sound echoed as my vision spun. I was mmed onto the snowy ground.


    "Tomobe-san!!?"


    ''...!!''


    A scream of despair filled the air. The hummingbird dodged the strike and vanished. The princess, like a mother, crouched down, her shoulders trembling, her face showing coldughter and resignation.


    And then I...


    "Ugh, that hurts...!!?"


    That was my first cry as Iy sprawled out in the snow. The youkai fox isn''t very strong. Even the Nine-tailed fox is considered weak among cmity youkai. Weak, that is, among cmity youkai.


    "Ugh... my arm...!!"


    It was nothing like a human. My arm, which took the fox''s kick, was crushed. Flesh was torn, muscles exposed, and bone visible. Dark red blood flowed nonstop. It was a miracle that I didn''t faint.


    I mean, I had no time to deflect; I took the hit directly. My upper body could have vanishedpletely. Despite being a mere mob character, I had a surprisingly strong body. Maybe the influence of Youbo (youkai mother) was affecting my mind somehow?


    Anyway, I connected the possibilities. And that was all there was to it. The danger hadn''t passed.


    ''Long time no see, you talkative monkey?''


    "Ha, ha... this is the foxdy. You could have yed a little longer, you know?"


    In response to the elegant ck fox''s graceful insult, I also tried to act tough. I put on a brave face and directed my gaze further behind the fox.


    (That loud noise... is that stupid spider still around? What''s going on!?)


    A giant spider rampaged through the snowy mountains, its massive body towering over everything. It acted like a clown, muttering silly things as it fought. This wild beast attacked an imaginary opponent, wearing a smug look. Ugh, how annoying.


    ''I''m letting the spider see a brave and glorious dream. It''s a nuisance that it''s so sturdy. I mean, all my attacks are being bounced off... Still, what is that thing, I wonder?''


    The ck fox sighed, sounding utterly exasperated. It seems like the white spider being shown an illusion. Idiot...!!


    "Grr, ughh...!!"


    ''Hey, don''t get up on your own.''


    "Guggh?!"


    Despite being in a fantasy, I endure the indescribable pain and try to get up. I''m kicked in the feet and fall back into the snow. Her beautiful legs, adorned with tabi socks, trample on me. The pressure is strong...!!?


    "Guggh, fyu... Ha, ha... I have a proposal for you. Would you be interested...?"


    ''A proposal? Hmm, sure. ...Take-it-easy~?''


    "Ugh...!?"


    The ck fox smiled seductively. At the same time, her beautiful legs were pushed into my chest. The sound of my bones cracking, like a massage, was heard. Rib fracture, no, it looks even worse. The total number of broken bones is probably at least a dozen. I let out a breath and scream, unable to utter a sound.


    ''You, a mere monkey, trying to negotiate with me? How arrogant, don''t you think? Do you think you''re in a position to be asked for such a thing?''


    Sheughed, looking down on me and seductively mocking me. Her beautiful, yet hideous, face scorned and ridiculed me.


    If it were a footjob y, she would be the perfect opponent, but reality is not so kind. My breathing is being suppressed, and my lungs, struggling to breathe, are desperate to form words. I make another proposal.


    "That''s right, it''s a negotiation. Would you at least listen to my offer? It''s not a bad deal...!?"


    As I began my sales pitch, gasping for breath, more pressure was applied. My lungs were screaming. My lung sacs were being crushed as I was trampled. I can''t exhale. I can''t inhale. I''m suffocating...


    ''Hahahahaha, what a wonderful instrument! It ys such a beautiful melody. ...Don''t you think so, my dear little sister who will be my step-sister?''


    "...!!"


    The ck foxughed heartily, and then turned around, still trampling on me. She looked at the white fox with a smile. The white fox, who had escaped this time, was terrified, but she summoned her courage and called out to her step-sister.


    "Kurorei... Step-sister."


    ''Hehe. So this is the time you cut out. It''s only temporary, right? ...It must be quite a long time ago? What instructions did you receive toe to this time?''


    The ck fox, who had a vague idea of the white fox''s true identity and the truth of this time, now had a certainty about it. It seems she thinks this altered time, isted by this technique, was ordered by her future self.


    "Step-sister... Please! Niisama... I mean, Tomobe-san, don''t do that!"


    ''Is that an order?''


    "Th, that is...!!"


    The ck fox''s cold response to the white fox''s plea, which was close to a plea. The cold aura she exuded made the white fox unable to speak. Her words stopped. Her breath stopped. Her thoughts stopped. The step-sister was taken aback.


    ''Don''t keep quiet. Not being able to think on your feet is a disgrace for a fox? ...You can''t do this, can you? Is that magnificent nine-tailed fox just an ornament? Why did I send such a fool?''


    The ck fox was confused, shaking her head. The white fox''s reaction was apparently a failing grade. Her future self, who had ordered this altered and isted time, seemed to be wondering about her own judgment and intentions.


    "Hah!"


    Iughed at that ridiculous sight. I coughed up blood whileughing loudly. Immediately, I was choked by a crushing pressure in my chest.