Chapter 57: Consultant


    When did it start?


    The girl in front of me began to falter and crumble under the weight of her burdens.


    If one were to guess,


    This exceptional girl likely recognized the weight of the expectations the world ced on her from a very young age.


    And so, she created another version of herself.


    One devoid of anything else,


    Only stripped down to the pride and responsibility she should bear as royalty.


    If you ask how thats possible, I couldnt exin it.


    Just as one cant exin the principles of the mana that spread throughout the continent.


    Just as we cantpletely decipher dreams we have during deep sleep.


    Just as even the most devout cleric, who often prays on bended knees, cant always discern the intentions of the divine.


    It was a spiritual dilemma that defied logical exnation.


    But one thing was clear: without doing so, the weight on the girl would have been unbearable.


    Eleanor was always trying.


    Even in dreams, she showed herself studying to maintain the dignity of a princess, often falling asleep in the process.


    Even when nightmares made her fearful of sleep, she naturally found herself at her desk, pushing forward in her studies.


    However, there was something peculiar about her.


    She put in the effort to uphold the basics of being a princess, but her words often revealed ack of genuine interest in it.


    This was particrly evident in the way she always asked me about animated characters.


    The Eleanor of the past knew shecked the pride and responsibility of royalty.


    At my words, Eleanor, who stood before me wrapped tightly in royal pride and dignity, flinched.


    So, she tried even harder. She was a good girl; she must have forced herself to change.


    ...


    But in reality, it was the opposite. She knew her royal duties all too well, and it was their weight that broke her, prompting her to detach from them.


    Without anything else.


    Only the sense of royal responsibility remained.


    This was the true identity of the Eleanor standing in front of me now.


    A cold breeze blew.


    For a moment, she closed her eyes as if even this simple sensation was a precious experience. Then, she slowly nodded.


    Yes, thats right. I am the personality that took on the duties Eleanor distanced herself from.


    ...


    I was efficient. It was almost miraculous how I could solely focus on the weight of the royal duties.


    She dered confidently and joyously. Its likely herck of basic knowledge and creativity stemmed from this singr focus. She was streamlined to perfection, perhapscking in basic knowledge because she only retained what was absolutely necessary.


    But you see, I am still her personality. Even if that child forgot, I am Eleanor too, and over time, Im bound to grow.


    Even when she had detached herself from her royal duties, Eleanor continued to evolve.


    But when the burden of royalty had disappeared, ironically, Eleanor began to stress again about why she felt no sense of royal obligation.


    Isnt it funny? That child lost the memory of creating a new personality due to excessive stress at the time, yet she trod the same path again.


    In conclusion, Eleanor was an imperfect human.


    But she was too diligent and had an uncanny ability to view herself objectively.


    Thus the standards she set for herself continuously bound and pressured her.


    If this continued, she would have ended up in the same situation again. Thats why I decided to take over.


    Not the kind and fragile personality, but the one fit to rule, to be responsible, and to dominate as royalty.


    So, trying to mold dreams as closely to reality as possible is for that reason?


    Yes, thats right. If Im out and about, the child needs a ce to belong.


    So she attempted to create a new world using dreams as a medium.


    A world where the fragile yet diligent Eleanor could be genuinely happy.


    The reason it seemed like a nightmare is also due to this. The child would never ept such a situation where she hands over her burdens to me.


    With a casual shrug, Eleanor spoke calmly, but the mood swiftly changed.


    But you ruined everything.


    Eleanors finger jabbed into my chest.


    There was deep resentment in her eyes, mixed with skepticism.


    Do you know? Because of that damned creature named Mack, the other personality ispletely obliterated. Without a trace, cleanly.


    ...


    Our beliefs shed over the concept of who was the nightmare. And in the battle for control of the body, my stronger conviction won!


    Thump!


    She now struck my chest with a solid punch. But it wasnt painful.


    However, her face contorted as if she was the one who felt more pain from the strike.


    And! The child herself admitted she was weaker than me!


    ...


    Thats why she disappeared!


    Her voice was unwavering. While there was resentment, there was a sense of zero regret.


    The tears that had briefly welled up had already been hidden.


    With an expression as cold as the night air, Eleanor dered,


    Its probably for the best. As royalty, one should be able to sever such weaknesses.


    ...


    My stance is just that. To prioritize the kingdom over the entity called Eleanor. Its only natural.


    Without wanting to converse any further, Eleanor turned and headed toward the balcony railing.


    In her current state, devoid of any vulnerability, there might indeed be reasons to view her more favorably than the original Eleanor.


    She would no longer waver.


    She would no longer doubt herself.


    She would easily ascend to the presidency of the academy, showcasing her leadership as a ruler.


    And then,


    She would likely sow the seeds of rebellion among the students.


    Shed be consumed with the stubborn belief that she could rule the kingdom far better than her own brother, King Orpheus.


    At a nce, this Eleanor might seem tightly bound by a sense of royal duty.


    But in reality, thats not the case.


    Shes merely clinging to the sense of royal duty.


    Because she has nothing else.


    Perhaps, the personality I encountered in the game was the present one.


    As per her ns, the fragile Eleanor, unable to distinguish between dream and reality, would have lived eternally in the dream world.


    And this Eleanor probably would have followed the same fate; where she meets her end at the hands of Aria Rias, her ssmate.


    While creating Mack, we had to grasp several concepts.


    Regrettably, I was not particrly fond of seeing the same oue y out.


    What?


    Eleanor red at me with a furrowed brow, seemingly perplexed by my abrupt words.


    Though she looked as if she didnt want to engage and would prefer to send me away, I continued speaking.


    It wasnt simple enough to just conceptualize it as a creature that feeds on nightmares. From the start, we approached it as if we were creating apletely new creature.


    It was easier to think of it as drafting the lore for a creature named Mack.


    However, we needed to do it as intricately and realistically as if we were gods creating a new animal.


    It wasnt just about giving it an elephants trunk.


    We had to consider how the trunk moves, its habits, whether there are bones inside, the muscle mass, its length, and so on.


    We meticulously crafted Mack in vibrant detail.


    Its ability to feed on dreams was the most critical part.


    Yes, thats where everyones focus was.


    But I thought differently.


    I was more concerned about what happens after it consumes a dream. At the time, not knowing about Eleanors dual personality, I wondered if there was an evil spirit that I genuinely couldnt see.


    Eleanors eyes widened upon hearing my words. She couldnt hide the rising anticipation, even if she wanted to.


    This might not be a pleasant topic for a princess, but when animals eat, they also excrete.


    I discreetly produced a small orb.


    Its a fragment of the nightmare left behind by Mack. However, while Mack could digest nightmares, it couldnt digest personalities.


    Its fortunate that Mack could only consume a nightmare. No matter how much we nned for various scenarios, we never considered the situation where the consumed entity was just a personality, not an evil spirit.


    So...


    Shes still inside this.


    Eleanor stared nkly at me. Now, it was her turn to make a choice.


    From the standpoint of a princess bound by Royal duties, it might be apt for her to remain as she is now.


    Bing the object of admiration for the people of the Griffin Kingdom, and having the charisma to transform students into rebels


    Had Aria Rias not intervened, her coup could have been a sess.


    Returning to her original self could be seen as renouncing her royal duties and disregarding the expectations of her people.


    Yet, Eleanor didnt agonize for long. With a look that said she wouldnt regret her choice for a moment, she confidently nodded.


    Choosing not to verbalize her decision was thest vestige of her royal demeanor. But it seemed like, for once, she wanted to put herself before her position as a princess.


    Okay.


    With that, I presented not only the fragment left behind by Mack in my hand but also took out a ck gem from my pocket.


    The Stone of Command, the Lemegeton.


    That...


    Pretend you didnt see it.


    It would attract attention for no reason if others saw it.


    Thinking so, I mustered mana. Eleanor, who was trying to appear confident, asked with a hint of unease.


    Are you sure this will work? Wouldnt it be better to ask the Grand Mage?


    Thats funny.


    It truly was.


    Who did she think she was talking to, and whom did she think she should ask for help?


    When I first met Eleanor, I had asked Dark Sage a question.


    Is there a way to enter dreams?


    And at that time, she had replied:


    [Is that even possible? While a connection between souls might be possible, entering dreams would likely be impossible.]


    Right, dreams are unattainable.


    Do you think this is about dealing with dreams?


    Not dreams, but personalities.


    So, its about handling the soul.


    The situation required the merging of a girls soul that had been split in two.


    And fortunately, this was my area of expertise.


    Dont forget who I am.


    A being that exists closest to the boundary between life and death. A consultant who connects with souls, listening to their stories.


    I am a necromancer.


    With those words, my mana, the fragment left behind by Mack, and the Lemegeton began to resonate.


    <strong>--- End of The Chapter ---</strong>


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