EP.77
The soul of Erekaya from the future currently resides within Jin’s mental space.
No, to be precise, the term ‘reside’ might not be entirely accurate. Because, in the phenomenal world, the soul of Erekaya ten years later practically does not exist in this era.
Ordinarily, in the material realm, a typical human can only accommodate one soul within one body. This is because the human body is originally shaped to be a vessel that can contain only one soul, irrespective of the size of mental power or the weight of the soul.
Of course, exceptions do exist. Those known as necromancers or mediums, who inherently wield powers related to spirits, can accommodate multiple souls within their own bodies without any issues.
However, that is solely because they were born with the innate capability to be vessels for ‘multiple souls,’ and those falling outside this category cannot, under any circumstances, contain two souls within a single body.
Naturally, Jin is also someone who falls outside this category and possesses only a very ordinary talent.
It is precisely for that reason that Erekaya had no choice but to resort to a trick to dwell within Jin’s body.
That trick was to ‘informationize’ herself and dissolve into Jin’s mental space.
She redefined her own soul not as a spiritual entity, but as a capability known as synesthesia, and while transferring her unique ability to Jin, she took steps to ensure that her soul—the ‘impurity’—would also interweave with it.
The method Erekaya employed has its own set of advantages and disadvantages compared to the usual state of necromancy.
First, the advantage is that unlike typical necromancy, there is no duration limiting her, allowing her to perpetually reside in his mental world without constraint. Furthermore, even if the subject lacks spiritual abilities, it is still possible for two souls to dwell within one body.
However, there is a significant downside: Erekaya is not residing in Jin’s body in the state of necromancy; rather, she is simply dwelling in a corner of the mental world through the form of ‘transference,’ which means she cannot provide him with direct assistance.
Originally, necromancy is a spiritual ability aimed at manifesting extraordinary powers that one did not originally possess by accommodating a powerful spirit not one’s own.
Yet, in Erekaya’s case, there were no merits from residing within Jin’s body.
While it was possible for her to ‘lend’ Jin her synesthetic ability, it did not stem from Erekaya being necromanced within Jin’s body; rather, it was merely Erekaya applying her own ability to lend him her powers.
In a nutshell, Erekaya clearly exists within Jin’s mental world, but she has not completely fused with him, and thus her role can be regarded as that of a bystander and an unwelcome guest.
However, that very fact is not without its own merits for Erekaya.
For instance, even if Jin is asleep or unconscious, Erekaya, residing within his mental world, is counted as a different entity, allowing her to observe the outside situation.
“I like you.”
And that is precisely why she saw it.
While Jin was rendered unconscious from the backlash of Excide, Altina von Rudel Seryas secretly stole a kiss from his lips and even went so far as to part his mouth and gently insert her tongue—a truly audacious sight.
– …Altina.
A sigh involuntarily escapes her. Is that woman even aware of what she is doing right now?
No, it’s quite clear she is aware, which is why she boldly capitalized on the opportunity, striking at the gap presented by Jin not being in his right mind from the backlash of Excide, offering him her knee as a pillow, or engaging in such indecent acts.
Of course, considering it as indecent might be a bit of an understatement; rather, it is significantly lower in severity. But from Erekaya’s perspective, such acts were certainly enough to be branded as indecent.
– W-What an audacious…
Thinking back, it has always been this way. For Erekaya del Pendragon, Altina von Rudel Seryas was always an obstacle, a hindrance that interfered with her affairs at every turn, much like a stone lying inconveniently on the road throughout her life.
Originally, the House of Count Seryas was merely a branch of the Pendragon Dukedom.
However, after the Pendragon Dukedom graciously allowed the Count Seryas branch to exist, they have now become arrogant, disregarding their origins and developing a competitive spirit against Pendragon.
Erekaya believed there was no need to engage with such a trivial and childish sentiment, so she consistently responded to Altina with disdain every time they met.
This was because, fundamentally, Erekaya and Altina, as well as Pendragon and Seryas, were on entirely different ‘levels,’ and their positions were worlds apart.
Altina herself might have thought of Erekaya as her rival or perhaps a good-natured competitor, but from Erekaya’s perspective, that was nothing more than a severe misunderstanding.
The two had never stood on the same level even for a moment since their births.
From the stature of their respective families to their grades in Nineveh, the depth of their martial arts, and even reaching the level of mastery—Erekaya had always surpassed Altina in every aspect and had proven herself to be the superior and more outstanding individual.
…Indeed. At this very moment, until Altina von Rudel Seryas stole Jin away, Erekaya had always been superior.
In a truly audacious manner, it seemed that Altina had a far greater talent than Erekaya in the despicable art of seducing men.
Even though Erekaya hadn’t even held Jin’s hand yet, Altina, one of her rivals, had gone so far as to engage in indecent acts with him, albeit unilaterally.
Yes, she knew. At this very moment, Erekaya was utterly powerless to stop Altina von Rudel Seryas’s audacious behavior.
Had she been Erekaya from three months ago—fresh from her reincarnation—she might have watched Altina’s actions nonchalantly while calculating her next move in her mind.
She knew. Altina von Rudel Seryas was once Jin’s lover.
Men, by and large, struggle to forget their first love and tend to attach a great deal of significance to the very act of first love; Jin was no exception to this silly tendency.
Erekaya was not here for mere amusement.
The reason she desperately wished to return to the past, losing her own body and parasitizing in a corner of Jin’s mental world to preserve her very existence, was rooted in something far more profound than trivial matters.
It was, in fact, rather foolishly her fault. After being robbed of her consciousness and body by the ‘Old Serpent,’ Ajdahaka, and having single-handedly killed every member of the Pendragon Dukedom, she became one of the primary causes leading the world to ruin.
Although until now, she had been telling Jin to woo her while jokingly discussing her preferences and ideal types, half of that was indeed in jest, while the other half served as a means to atone for her past sins and to correct the future vision of herself she wished to achieve someday.
Yet at this very moment, Erekaya was entirely oblivious to the end, the ‘Old Serpent,’ or any message from her status window, as she gazed with trembling eyes at Altina stealthily stealing a kiss from Jin’s lips.
Her disdainful words were not directed toward the sneaky Altina who was claiming her first kiss with him.
Rather, they were nothing but a self-deprecating remark aimed at her own reflection.
Erekaya’s mission was none other than to make her present self happy.
According to the status window message, it was about guiding Jin onto the right path, making Erekaya happy, and ultimately preventing the inevitable end that would come someday.
However, the emotions she felt while watching Altina kiss Jin were entirely… a sentiment that even she could not describe.
If only I had been there. If I had been in Altina’s place, or even in my own place at this moment.
If I had a body, a form with circulating blood and warmth.
If I had a hand to catch you when you fainted, to caress you when you were about to collapse.
If I had a knee to lay you down and become your comfort when you were exhausted.
If I had the feet to share the same perspective as you, to look at the same place, and to walk down the same path together.
Right now, if only I, who is foolishly unaware of where I am and what I am doing, had stood there from the time of my reincarnation until now and shared everything with Jin!
At the very least, Altina von Rudel Seryas would not be acting so brazenly as she is now.
Ah, Jin. Let me say this now, but I know you very well.
You are truly a foolish person.
Despite having undergone reincarnation nine times, you have yet to abandon your humanity. And despite the years you’ve lived, you have achieved little in martial arts, and the amount you still don’t know far exceeds what you do know; you are a pitiful man.
…Yet, at the same time, I know something.
No matter how many times you are bent, broken, or occasionally stumble, you never give up and always charge forward with resilience.
Though you may not possess the manners toward women outwardly, you are still tormented by the memories of a long-lost lover from decades past, demonstrating your innocence.
Through all those moments that could be long or short, I watched you. I observed you more than anyone else in the world, sharing and experiencing so much with you.
In contrast to my life as the Little Princess of Pendragon, now I find myself in a position that is undoubtedly lacking and wretched. Yet, through you, why is this world so brilliant and beautiful?
– …Happiness, they say.
To make oneself happy, the woman who suggested seducing oneself has now come to harbor one different desire.
Even now, to prevent the end, I have no intention of retracting the advice for Jin to seduce his present self.
…However, there is no guarantee that the subject of “happiness” necessarily refers to my present self.
For instance, it is entirely possible that the Erekaya indicated by the status window is not my current self, but rather my self at this very moment.
Then, is it not acceptable for such a self, even if merely a sinner in this world, to have at least one wish?
…I don’t know. I still know nothing. I have no idea about my own heart, the direction it is flowing, or what I truly desire.
Despite it all, there seems to be one fact I can be sure of.
Erekaya despises Altina von Rudel Seryas. I loathe Altina, who was once his lover in a past cycle even more.
I also dislike Claire Delphin Mascarena. I really detest Serika von Valentine as well.
…And I also hate the present self that is Erekaya del Pendragon.
Erekaya del Pendragon truly despised all the women who approached him.
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