Subtitle: You
I suddenly turned around in suspicion. Zero was smiling as if in open defiance. I walked toward him.
Zero – What happened?
– Who is the 1st Rule?
Zero suddenly burst into laughter. For no reason at all, I froze where I stood. He raised his arms into the air.
Zero – Think. Who could it be?
The words I wanted to say would not leave my mouth. I felt like nothing more than a puppet. Even though I was thinking, I could not answer. My throat tightened.
Zero – There is only me… and "you."
– Wha—
Instinctively, I tried to drive my sword into Zero, but… there was a wall before my eyes, protecting him.
Zero – What a pity. "Didn't you think of cutting me?" How very human of you.
Fear suddenly flooded me. I quickly stepped back. Out of breath, I tried to hold my sword with trembling hands.
Zero – What is it? Or did you get scared… of "us"?
– You're a psychopath!
Zero – No. I am me. And you are me.
As he said this, Zero stepped closer and touched my nose. The words leaving my mouth felt as though they were coming out according to Zero's will.
– Then what is your power?
Zero – Good question. What do you think?
Just as I was about to speak, I covered my own mouth with my hand. At that moment, that horrifying possibility crossed my mind.
– You are… "fate."
Zero narrowed his eyes slightly and began circling around me in approval. Or at least, that was how it felt.
– WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!
Zero – Because I enjoy it. In fact, that feeling is the reason I am who I am. When my master watched me with those eyes as I became the 1st Rule, I enjoyed it so much.
– Just for that… people's lives—
Zero pressed his index finger against my lips.
Zero – Shh.
Zero – You said it wrong. It will be the lives of my people.
– WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!
Zero – You cannot defeat me, Apollon. As long as I remain powerful in your mind, never.
I swiftly drove my sword into Zero's heart. This time, there was no wall. Just in case, I slowly stepped back.
Strangely, Zero collapsed to the ground and lay there without moving. Not the slightest movement.
I suppose… I had killed him.
Everywhere had turned into a pool of blood. Even so, I did not feel the slightest regret. I smiled willingly. Laughing, I began circling around Zero's lifeless body.
– I never thought seeing you like this would give me such pleasure.
Rain was pouring down in sheets. The surroundings were utterly silent. In the middle of an empty square lay a corpse, pale as snow.
I could see Odasaku from afar. I was certain he would praise me. After all, I had gotten rid of Zero.
When Odasaku reached the body, he froze in place. I looked at the corpse once more.
Odasaku – Kid?
His voice and hands were trembling. Losing his strength, he fell to his knees. He took the body into his arms and brushed the hair away from its face.
Odasaku – Kid… If you do not wake up, this will end very badly.
I touched Odasaku's shoulder.
– I'm right here.
Hahaha… how funny. The thing lying before me looked exactly like me. I tilted my head and looked again. It truly looked like me.
Don't be ridiculous. I cannot be the one who is dying…
My throat felt knotted. I swallowed and moved closer to the corpse, staggering as I walked.
At last, I stood near it.
Before me was me.
Before me… is me.
In front of me… I was there.
I grabbed Odasaku by the collar. My eyes began to fill with tears. I started shaking him frantically.
– I don't want to die! YOU HAVE TO SAVE ME! Again…
I lowered my head and stayed that way.
How pathetic I am…
I sensed someone appear behind me, but I did not care.
Zero – Killing someone is easy, Apollon. What I did was make you destroy yourself with your own hands.
I froze. My legs gave out and I fell to the ground. I did not even try to stand.
Zero – Just think about it. I have puppets who move exactly as I wish… All I have to do is think.
– You… you cannot be immortal!
Zero – Everyone dies one day. When I die, you will be born. Just as Cecilia died, if I can die too…
– THEN WHY DO YOU SPEAK AS IF YOU ARE SOMEONE ELSE?!
Zero – Because otherwise, you would never have become like this.
My vision slowly darkened.
Zero – You are me, Apollon.
It was dark. I do not know how long I stayed there. Only when I had thought enough was I able to open my eyes. Even so, I still did not feel at peace.
When I opened my eyes, I was in Odasaku's arms. When he saw that I was awake, he was clearly happy. My eyes filled with tears again. I grabbed his collar and shook him.
– WHY?! WHY DID YOU SAVE ME THAT DAY?! WHY DID YOU DO IT?! Why…
Odasaku placed his hand on my head without pushing me away.
– Why?!
He said nothing. All he did was let me remain as I was.
– YOU KNEW, DIDN'T YOU? THAT THEY WERE COMING!
Again, he said nothing. He did not even say no. I rested my head against Odasaku's chest.
– SAY SOMETHING! WHY ARE YOU SILENT? YOU MUST HAVE AN ANSWER. AT LEAST SAY NO… Please, say no.
Odasaku – I knew. From the very beginning.
I lifted my head and stared at him. In that moment, I could not say anything. I had known that he knew from the start, but… it should have remained a possibility that was never meant to surface in my mind. If you knew, why did you watch me suffer?
– You knew?
An involuntary grin spread across my face. Even slowly, I could feel my head spinning.
– THEN WHY DID YOU LET MY SISTER DIE?! WHY DID YOU LET ME LIVE?!
Odasaku was about to speak but closed his mouth again.
– YOU ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM ZERO!
The moment Odasaku heard Zero's name, he seemed relieved. But why?
Odasaku – Even if I could, I would not have stopped your sister's death. That is why I wanted to grant her one final kindness.
– So now you are going to say things like that?
Odasaku – That is the only thing I can tell you, Apollon. When you are ready, I promise I will tell you everything. Take this as your master's word.
– You are all lies.
After saying this, I released Odasaku's collar and stepped away from him. If Odasaku was connected to my sister's death, I needed to keep him close to me. All of it was for my sister.
Odasaku – Then I will take that as a yes.
I stood up and turned my back to him. I nodded slightly and began watching my surroundings.
After Odasaku stood up, before he walked away, I said one more thing.
– "Zero told me that I am him, but he is not me."
Odasaku's footsteps stopped. I could only hear his frightening breathing behind me.
Curious, I looked at him.
He looked frightening, yet just as certain of himself. His fists were clenched. Rain dripped from his hair. His eyes had darkened.
Odasaku – You are not Zero. And Zero is not you. This matter is closed.
Odasaku was clearly disturbed. Without questioning him further, I began following him.
– If he is the 1st Rule, then why are we even alive?
Odasaku – He cannot control fate however he pleases. And since you ask for a reason to live, let me ask you something in return: "Do you need a reason to live?"
That sentence took root in my mind. After that, I barely spoke. I only kept thinking about what Odasaku had said.
Eventually, we neared the house. Uncle Atheron was leaning against the wall, waiting for us.
Atheron – That is Apollon, right?
Odasaku – Forget it. He was never going to keep his word anyway.
Atheron closed his eyes.
Atheron – If you say so, then so be it. Let me tell you something. The scouting team has already set out.
Odasaku pulled a spear far too large to fit in a pocket from his pocket anyway and threw it to Atheron.
Odasaku – Then what are we waiting for?
Atheron pushed himself off the wall and approached us.
Atheron – So we are using the usual method.
– The usual method?
Atheron and Odasaku – Attack with everything we have.
End of Chapter