“…Me, right?”
“Then what do I look like?”
Chloe and Chloe stared at each other.
One side was Chloe, the dreaming subject, and still a student. She looked utterly shocked, as if she couldn’t believe what was happening.
The other side was the grown Chloe, the version of herself in the dream. She showed no reaction to the situation, her eyes half-dead.
Chloe shook her head for a moment and glared at the grown Chloe.
“No way, that can’t be.”
“Really?”
“Of course it’s obvious. Just like what happened in the magic tower—”
“Psychic magic, a curse, or the manifestation of my inner self due to stress, right?”
“…”
“Obvious. Well, it’s a reasonable thought for you right now.”
The grown Chloe with dead eyes looked down at the vigilant Chloe, casually putting her hands in her pockets.
“Shall we just call it that then?”
“…What?”
“Honestly, this is just the result of a coincidence nobody could have predicted. Naturally, I didn’t want this either.”
The grown Chloe’s words were unexpected.
If she was trying to manipulate Chloe through psychic magic or a curse, she would have convinced herself here, so why not?
For a moment, Chloe thought it might be a lie, but the grown Chloe was genuinely apathetic, turning to walk away.
Chloe hurriedly shouted after her.
“Wait, just a moment!”
“What now? Don’t annoy me and just go away.”
“Are you really me? Not psychic magic or a curse?”
“I told you I don’t believe that, right? Let’s just call it that. Now leave.”
“Wait!”
[Chains of Binding]
Chains sprang up from under the indifferent grown Chloe’s feet as if she found it really bothersome to ignore Chloe’s words.
This was ultimately a dream space. The dreaming subject was Chloe, and whether it was psychic magic or a curse, if Chloe kept her wits about her, anyone could be overpowered.
Even if it was a dream, it was actually a situation where Chloe could use all the magic she knew. Of course, she could only use magic within her capacity, but that didn’t matter. If the opponent was merely psychic magic or a curse, they would possess no combat abilities aside from mental interference.
Thus, Chloe executed one of her strongest spells, [Chains of Binding].
“Chains of Binding? How predictable.”
“…What?”
[Dispel]
With a mere gesture, the top-tier magic of Rank 5, [Chains of Binding], was completely erased.
This wasn’t simply possible because it was a dream. Just now, the grown Chloe used magic as a distinct individual, not as a psychic or cursed being.
Dispel. A disintegration spell that works only when there’s a significant difference in capacity between the parties.
If Dispel worked on Chloe, a Rank 5 Mage, the conclusion was one.
“Rank 7? Re-really?”
“Seriously annoying, so stop making that dumb face as me.”
“So, you….”
Psychic magic or curses mimic a single appearance to confuse the subject. Chloe had already encountered another version of herself in this way at the magic tower.
However, the entity created in that manner couldn’t use magic and had no combat abilities, merely babbling words. But the being before her was clearly different.
It wasn’t an existence created by external factors, but a living consciousness with a will of its own.
With a capacity far surpassing the current Chloe and that distinctive habit she displayed right before casting Dispel.
Giving a slight flex to her left elbow just before using magic was a minuscule quirk known only to Chloe herself. No one who had imitated her up until now had known that quirk.
In the end, Chloe arrived at a conclusion that she couldn’t believe herself.
“Am I… the future me?”
“….”
Logically, it didn’t make sense. Even a simple thought contravened basic laws of magic. Time magic was something out of fairy tales.
But facing it directly, she couldn’t completely deny it now that she was convinced.
“How? Has time magic really been developed in the future!?”
“Tch, I said it’s just a damn coincidence.”
“A coincidence?”
“For weeks, you’ve been having the same dream, right? The dream where you chase after Adam.”
“Y-yeah.”
“That’s the influence of the thoughts within the Dark Seod. Still, that in itself is just a dream and doesn’t hold any more meaning, but because you came into contact with the Dark Seod, the thoughts of mine within it met this dream and… awakened my existence.”
“What?”
Dark Seod? Dream? Thoughts? Self?
Chloe was momentarily confused, but soon grasped a rough understanding.
‘Does that mean the dream is a sort of body, and the spirit that was within that Dark Seod combined so that I could have form and self even in the dream?’
But the questions only multiplied.
“Then why did I start dreaming like this?”
“I told you, it’s because of the Dark Seod.”
“Hold on! Just what is that Dark Seod? Why was my future self’s thoughts within it?”
“Because I died with that sword.”
“…What?”
“The Dark Seod is a damn sword, you see. It gradually absorbs everything it cuts down, growing in power. Probably all the thoughts of those who were killed by that sword remain there.”
The Dark Seod, if it was the Dark Seod.
It didn’t take much thought to know. It was the sword that the mysterious figure from the forest was carrying.
Was that the reason it touched against my neck?
“I then went along with that self without my own consciousness, and I faded away because of my contact with ‘me.’ A horrible situation.”
“But that doesn’t… make sense.”
Chloe had just touched the Dark Seod today.
How could the thoughts of the grown Chloe possibly be contained within that sword?
With such a logically absurd contradiction, Chloe glared at the grown Chloe with a hint of suspicion, but—
“That’s because I regressed.”
“What? Reg-regressed?”
“The Dark Seod went back in time along with that guy. He must have been cautious of the Dark Seod, knowing it has thoughts. However, he wouldn’t have known that the thoughts and memories that should originally reside there returned to ‘his past self.’ Logically, how could he know? He’s never been back in time with it.”
“Returned to the past self….”
“Those who were killed by the Dark Seod are probably experiencing inexplicable dreams or recollections, right? There should be quite a few who died because of that guy.”
The grown Chloe spoke with genuine displeasure.
Regressed. Came back from the future to the past.
From earlier, it was hard to believe, but if it really was regression, everything would be explained.
Most importantly, after having a bit more conversation, it became clearer. The grown Chloe was indeed Chloe herself.
The naturalness, voice, breathing, movement of muscles and magic—everything was real.
After collecting her thoughts for a moment, Chloe looked back at the grown Chloe.
“So, did I die to that guy? But I seem older than I should be….”
“That guy?”
“If it’s the future, you probably know, but I met that guy carrying the Dark Seod today. He said he’d keep an eye on me, then did I ultimately die to him? Is it even possible that I’d be killed by someone who looks like a Rank 6 while I’m now Rank 7?”
“Hey, didn’t you just hear what I said?”
“Why?”
“That guy regressed along with the Dark Seod. Naturally, he’d be trying to change the future he knows. He didn’t have the Dark Seod when he was at the academy.”
“Well, that’s true… but the conclusion is still the same, right? I have to prevent my death by that guy.”
“What are you saying?”
“Huh? Weren’t we trying to prevent my future death?”
If the future version of herself, the grown Chloe, died to that guy, it would be a miracle or something close. She could avoid death caused by that guy with the future self’s help.
If she had erased this dream with forgetfulness magic, she would have died not knowing such a thing. Naturally, she assumed they shared the same goal.
The grown Chloe had an expression of disbelief.
“I told you at the start, right? Don’t annoy me and just go away. I have no intention of helping you.”
“Wait, what!? Then why are you explaining all this to me?”
“Because I know how bothersome your personality is. If I hadn’t explained it, you’d keep bothering me.”
“…Well, that’s true.”
“Anyway, I’ve said everything, so get lost.”
“No, that’s not how it works! You’re me, after all! Why are you being so cold-hearted!?”
“I think you’re misunderstanding something.”
“……!!”
Crack!
A powerful magic force seeped out from the grown Chloe’s body.
In an instant, the dream space shook, cracking under the overwhelming presence.
This wasn’t just a simple Rank 7. Given this level, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was on the verge of Rank 8, right before the mentor.
Despite possessing such power, even though it was merely called regression, the grown Chloe’s eyes remained dead.
As if she held no glimmer of hope.
“You are me, but I am not you.”
“What…?”
“You are indeed Chloe Pisty, the apprentice of the great mage, and a student of Grandis Akademi, but you’ve already diverged significantly from me.”
“What… are you… saying…?”
“I’ve read your memories. You haven’t met Adam, right?”
“Ad-Adam?”
Adam Keynes, the Finance Director?
For a moment, she was too shocked to remember and had forgotten. Now that she thought about it, why had the Finance Director appeared in her dream?
Could it be that in the future, she—
“Did I really love the Finance Director?”
“If you haven’t met Adam yet, you are no longer me. Just another possibility of mine.”
“Wait a second.”
“Right now, I am just a thought, a residue, and an abandoned thing. Rather than help a Chloe who hasn’t met Adam, wouldn’t it be better to just chase after Adam forever?”
“If I die, this dream will—!!”
“Disappeared, right? That’s probably what I want. In the end, I’m just a loser who couldn’t protect Adam. I should have died a long time ago.”
Gloomy, sticky, and clingy.
The very voice that echoed the first time she had the dream. It felt even louder when they conversed earlier, but now it felt that much more pronounced.
Is this it, the end?
To be turned away by the future self, whom she met due to a coincidence, and just wait to die at the hands of that guy?
Even though I’ve become Rank 7, I’m dead. Given how weak I am now, it’s doubtful I can even graduate from the academy safely.
That guy with the Dark Seod has regressed and is trying to change the future. Does that mean he’s trying to kill me before I become Rank 7? But then why did he spare me in the forest?
Countless thoughts and distractions swirled around, and the grown Chloe turned away without a moment’s hesitation.
Amid that distance.
Chloe realized.
‘Even if she says she’s different, no matter how much she claims she’s not me.’
In the end, that Chloe is also herself. The same Chloe Pisty.
So—
“What about the Finance Director?”
“…”
“Honestly, I can’t relate, but don’t you love the Finance Director? Wouldn’t it be better to meet the real Finance Director again instead of chasing after me until I die?”
“I can’t take this anymore.”
“Right now, the Finance Director is still alive.”
“…You.”
“From what I hear, you didn’t protect him? But now it’s different.”
Like how grown Chloe had explained about regression and the Dark Seod to let her go.
Chloe also had to do something to persuade the grown Chloe.
Chloe Pisty had a truly bothersome personality and preferred justification and logic rather than mere appeals.
This reflection felt quite painful.
“I’ll definitely make it clear. The Chloe here doesn’t like the Finance Director at all. There’s no way that will change in the future.”
“Nonsense.”
“You’ve called yourself just a residue, but if you still possess the abilities of a Rank 7, wouldn’t it be possible to inhabit my body? You could meet the Finance Director that way, right?”
“You’d let me borrow your body?”
“If you cooperate with me, absolutely. You’re my future self, so you could teach me efficiently, right? Help me learn magic until I become a Rank 7, and help me avoid being killed by that guy.”
“…”
“In return, I’ll approach the Finance Director actively. If you want, you can use my body.”
Still looking a bit skeptical.
It’s a bit awkward to say, but I need to land the finishing blow.
Words that would sting Chloe Pisty’s pride.
“Or would you rather let that Finance Director be taken away by the Headmistress quietly?”
“…What?”
“You said you read my memories, right? I heard your voice too. The dead woman must be referring to the Headmistress?”
“Th-that’s…”
“I honestly can’t believe the Headmistress died, but whenever I see her, I feel an inexplicable jealousy boiling within me, so it seems likely. In the end, you were surpassed by the dead Headmistress, right? Would you really want to live like a loser again this time?”
“…It looks like this rotten personality of mine may have its benefits, rather annoyingly.”
“That’s because I don’t care whether the Finance Director loves the Headmistress or not. But you care, don’t you? I’m ready to fully cooperate. It’s time to fulfill the love you couldn’t achieve this time, isn’t it?”
Instantly, the grown Chloe appeared right in front of Chloe. She had used teleportation magic without Chloe even realizing it.
The grown Chloe’s eyes were still lifeless, but her expression was distorted with intensity.
“Still, you’ve said quite a bit.”
“So…?”
“Reuniting with Adam is too much for me. But at the very least, I won’t let that woman take Adam’s heart again.”
“I knew it, no matter what you say, you are me.”
“Seeing that grating pride and audacity, it seems you really are correct.”
Once again, the grown Chloe and Chloe faced each other.
There would be no goodwill formed now, nor any consideration of each other’s well-being. The current Chloe Pisty, no matter the time, was not one to do that.
She would only utilize herself thoroughly according to necessity.
Relieved that her persuasion had worked, Chloe was about to ask her to teach her magic first when—
“Anyway, since we made a deal, I also need to tell you about that guy.”
“You’re talking about the guy who regressed with the Dark Seod? Yeah, he’s a professor at the academy, right?”
“Professor? No, it’s someone you know.”
“Eh?”
Not a professor?
She thought he was an insider at the academy, and he was someone Chloe knew, no less?
In a moment, a name flashed through Chloe’s mind.
It was someone she had dismissed as impossible earlier.
And the very person she had talked to just a few days ago.
A student from Grandis Akademi, just like Chloe.
“Ruth Spero.”
“…Crazy.”
“That bastard is a regressor.”
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