Tia has had cake in her mouth since she was little.
Her family wasn’t wealthy.
After all, Tia’s house was the only bakery in the village.
Although the cakes were infinitely meager compared to those eaten by nobles or the bakeries in big cities, they were a huge gift to the village’s children.
Because of this, children always flocked to Tia, wanting to eat cake.
But Tia didn’t keep many friends around her, except for a couple of close ones.
The kids who couldn’t become Tia’s friends looked at her with discontent…
However, Tia had a friend she had been close with for a long time.
“You’re here again today?”
“H-Hello.”
A small child helplessly crouching on the outskirts of the village.
Tia brought leftover bread today to take care of that child.
The child hurriedly stuffed the bread into their mouth.
“Hey, hey! You’ll choke! Eat slowly!”
“I-I can’t help it.”
Nod.
The child still stared vacantly, bread in mouth.
This child is probably an orphan.
Tia told her parents about this child’s identity, but they said there are no orphans in their village.
Even if there were, they would have foster parents.
But, it’s right in front of her eyes.
What parent lets their kid get all dirty without washing and not feed them?
Tia, who grew up without ever being hungry under kind and gentle parents, couldn’t understand.
“Do you want to come to my house?”
The child shook their head.
“Why not~? Mom and Dad will like you! There will be lots of bread that you like!”
“…Not you… I don’t want to.”
“Everyone is really nice.”
The child shook their head even more vigorously.
In the end, Tia gave up.
From her consistent experience watching this child, they seemed very vigilant.
Maybe like a wild alley cat.
If Tia hadn’t tried to get closer to this child, she would have ended up just like everyone else, not able to speak to them.
“Then… cake?”
“…!!!”
“Hehe~ Your eyes sparkled.”
This child, who seemed to have no emotions, revives at just the mention of cake.
It’s pretty cute to see them like this.
Tia got up from her spot.
“Just wait a little. It’s ‘Bin’s’ birthday soon, so I’ll be making a cake then. I usually make a bit extra, so I can bring some!”
“Cake.”
“Yeah. Just wait about 3 days! Take care!”
Tia left excitedly from that spot.
Left alone in the darkness, ‘it’ kept murmuring a single word.
Cake… Cake… Cake…
“Cake.”
It vanished suddenly, leaving only a mischievous little boy in its place.
A mischievous boy was the only one left.
Bin forced a smile.
Like a child.
“I want to eat cake.”
■
“What are you thinking about?”
I was leading a child named Tia deep into the cave.
The deeper we went, the more of the copycat’s parts gradually revealed themselves, but they weren’t that strong.
They were incredibly weak compared to the beastman I had met before.
‘It’s only natural since the only thing to “copy” is the village residents.’
“I’m just… thinking about why it ended up like this.”
Tia told me an old story.
The story of a poor child who loved cake.
She didn’t seem to be much older than me, but there was something like a wounded stray cat about her that I couldn’t just pass by.
So, I decided to stay by her side.
I took care of her, played with her, and talked with her.
Before I knew it, we had become inseparable friends.
“…But then she disappeared. It was Bin’s birthday party─”
For a moment, Tia froze as if caught in a chokehold.
Was it really ‘Bin’s birthday party?
Was that playful girl really the one I knew?
‘An, nyung. Tia~~~~.’
What birthday was I celebrating, anyway?
I’m so confused.
My hands tremble, and I feel like I’m going to be sick.
If everything is denied…
Bang!
“…Huh.”
“Your mind seems very unstable. First, take a rest.”
“Hero… sir…”
Tia’s eyes begin to close.
Since I’ve put her to sleep, nothing should happen for a while.
[It seems like Tia is a copycat.]
[Isn’t that the boss?]
[Hmm.]
[??]
SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1WE83WnhqbmRkVmFBelZMWWxOUi9nSGtlTzEyY2ltSVB3YU5FSzNLOVJsTg
[Why is Tia the boss?]
[No way, haha.]
[What is this?]
[Let’s just kill her, haha.]
[Tia-chan would never do that!]
[Hahahahahaha.]
“I think so too. She’s not an ordinary child.”
A girl about 13 or 14 years old, neither too big nor too small.
It’s definitely not big enough for her to hide in a basket, and it’s strange if a basket exists that could hide a 14-year-old girl.
All of this leads to only one conclusion…
‘It doesn’t feel like a doppelganger.’
There’s no sense of that unique dissonance or strangeness.
I don’t feel it exactly ‘yet.’
There’s always the possibility that it could change…
“It’s not yet. So let’s just wait and see.”
It’s literally just ‘possibility.’
[Hmm.]
[Then let’s kill her now.]
[Rilly does as she pleases.]
[According to Lily’s wishes…]
[Lily do whatever she wants.]
[If it’s not yet, then catching her now might not take care of the boss.]
the Staff of the Holy Light; it was a beautiful yet ominous weapon, twinkling in the dim cave light.
“Are you here to help me?” Tia asked, hope flickering in her chest like a tiny flame against the darkness encroaching around her.
The woman — the so-called angel — merely smiled, but it wasn’t the reassuring smile Tia had fantasized about during her lonely days. It was more like… she was already plotting something.
Tia clenched her fists, trembling with both fear and determination. “You’re not here for me, are you? You’re just another fake!”
With that thought, the ominous air thickened, and Tia steeled herself. Deep breath. She had the spell ready. All she needed was to make sure the real ones came through — if they ever existed at all.
“Bring it on, fake angel! I’ll show you what Tia can do!”
She yelled, letting her conviction blast through the cave like a war cry. The locals would hear her, right? Only, the locals were probably busy hiding from the fakes. But who could blame them?
What you’re holding in your hand is neither a weapon that judges evil nor a holy staff…
Thump.
No way.
Thump. Thump.
My heart is pounding harder than ever, and my head is ringing.
My hands and feet are shaking, and my breath is rapid.
Since the moment I discovered the fake, the worst thoughts have been gnawing at me.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
‘What if I’m not a fake too?’
Am I not just like them?
What if I’ve already been replaced by a fake and am living thinking I’m not one?
Doubt breeds more doubt.
“Ah. Aaaah…”
Crack-!
Blood pools at the corner of my mouth.
Calm down, Tia.
Keep your eyes wide open and look properly.
Does what’s in that angel’s hand look like the ‘real’ Tia to you?
‘No.’
I am the real one.
I am the real Tia.
‘That’s a fake.’
A damn fake that destroyed the village and killed my family.
That fake is trying to deceive the angel and take that place.
Now, it’s trying to swallow even the last of my self.
The angel looked back and forth between me and the fake.
“I expected it, but I didn’t think there would really be one more…”
“I’m the real one! That one is the fake!”
“Is that so?”
The spell of truth is about to become complete.
I just have to hold out until then.
By that time, the angel will believe me too.
“I don’t know how you brought the fake here, but please believe me. I’m the real one.”
I lost everything, but I didn’t give up.
I sought countless ways and waited for revenge while living among the disgusting fakes.
But this can’t end like this.
‘The revenge of Tia can’t end like this.’
The angel nodded.
“Well then… we can figure it out by talking.”
“…Huh?”
The angel’s hand moves.
Swish.
As the mysterious magical power envelops the fake, its body trembles.
No.
“…Ugh.”
Don’t wake up.
“Hero? Why suddenly am I…”
Don’t look at me.
Just disappear. Close your eyes again.
Please.
Despite Tia’s desperate wish, the other Tia turned to face her.
“…Me?”
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