Volume 7, Chapter 15 – An Unexpected Enemy

Fia showed no reaction to Helian’s words, maintaining her cold tone.

“The Apocalypse? Helian, have you and The Sovereign misunderstood something? I have quite a bit of experience in destruction. If the Apocalypse you’re talking about is Chaos, then I can tell you with full responsibility—in the eyes of Chaos, I am the Apocalypse.”

“Such arrogance.”

“Many people have said that to me, but later, without exception, they all chose to believe me. Did you leave this puppet here specifically to tell me this? Since you know the exact time of the Apocalypse’s arrival and don’t wish to die at the hands of Chaos, why haven’t you taken any action? If I were you, I would have at least informed everyone of its arrival and made two-pronged preparations. But other than wanting to merge with Chaos, you’ve done nothing. Is that truly your only answer?”

Galil had said something to Nola, which Nola then relayed to Fia. The goal of Galil’s experiment was to weaken Chaos and mix it with various living beings on the World Tree Continent, thereby creating a brand-new species. This way, the new species wouldn’t have to worry about being swallowed by Chaos because they would become a part of it, and they would no longer suffer from hunger or injury, gaining eternal life.

Although this experiment would alter a lifeform’s personality—as if their mind were being controlled by Chaos—it guaranteed that the creature itself would not be consumed. It was perfectly normal that the early results of the experiment weren’t ready for use; as long as future improvements were possible, it was worth a try. However, according to Anastasia, even after a fourteen-year war of attrition in her world, The Sovereign still hadn’t achieved results. This was enough to prove that this direction was unfeasible, at least in terms of timing.

As an organizer of a faction, holding only one plan at a moment of life and death made it difficult to praise The Sovereign. He should have at least told everyone else on the World Tree Continent, allowing everyone to unite against the Apocalypse.

Helian gritted her teeth and answered venomously.

“Is it not because of a fool like you dragging your feet? If not for you repeatedly stopping His Highness’s resurrection, things wouldn’t have been delayed until today!”

“Your Highness!”

“An assassin?”

“Where is Prince Kalsey?!”

Just as Helian finished speaking, Anastasia and a squad of guards appeared at the doorway. They froze for a moment upon seeing Fia and Helian. Fia maintained a cold expression and waved them off.

“Kalsey is not here. I have captured the assassin. Go alert the guards downstairs. Anastasia, stay here.”

“Yes!”

Fia’s string of commands sent the soldiers away, and Anastasia moved to Fia’s side. She looked at Helian, who was forced to lie on the bed with her hands bound by [Telekinesis], and furrowed her brow slightly.

“Princess, is this… a Darkborn?”

“It’s Helian, a subordinate of The Sovereign . Have you never met her?”

“Your subordinate has always hidden in the rear, far from the front lines. I’ve never seen this person.”

“I see. I have some things to ask her. If what she says doesn’t match the intelligence you have, tell me immediately.”

“Yes.”

No longer disturbing Fia, Anastasia stepped aside.

Fia continued from her previous statement.

“You said it’s because of me that the Apocalypse is arriving early. What do you mean by that?”

Helian didn’t answer immediately. She struggled to sit up from the bed, her eyes burning with rage. If The Sovereign hadn’t ordered her to tell Fia the whole story, she would never have spoken a single word to such a flighty person.

“The true identity of the Apocalypse is Chaos. You must have seen them many times, whether it’s the seeds of Chaos or that black mud. They are indeed disasters created by the war between us Darkborn and the Gods, but initially, they were nothing more than extremely weak, small monsters—like slimes.”

“Monsters?”

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Ignoring Fia’s skepticism, Helian continued to explain.

“But as time passed, their power grew stronger. By the time we and the Gods noticed, Chaos had already grown to an unshakeable point by devouring the mana of the earth. Furthermore, those courageous but brainless Gods went to their deaths only to be swallowed by Chaos, further strengthening its power. Although we did our best to suppress it, it had already matured. Moreover, at that time, we had already exhausted our resources in the Great War, and the rift between the Darkborn and the Gods had not been resolved. This gave Chaos its chance. As a result, we were driven to this land of exile. Have you never wondered why, since Chaos is so powerful, it didn’t continue to pursue us after we fled to the World Tree Continent? Is it simply because the continent itself is a natural barrier?”

“If you’re trying to say that emerald barrier is protecting us—whose creation is it?”

Helian’s expression changed.

“You’ve been to the Abyss?”

“I haven’t just been there; I’ve gone down into it. As you said, I’m an outsider. My existence is not bound by the magic of this world. I’ve been to the original continent; there is indeed nothing but Chaos there.”

“Impossible!” Helian countered sharply. “That is a barrier from which there is no return. The Chaos below would never let you go!”

“You aren’t me, so how do you know it’s impossible?”

Fia spread her hands. Being able to talk like this while remaining enemies was quite a strange sight.

Helian was clearly speaking these words reluctantly, ordered by The Sovereign behind the scenes. Revealing her own strength through Helian to convince The Sovereign would only make future communication easier.

“The endless black ocean is indeed spectacular. However, those Chaos are no different from the ones I’ve seen on the World Tree Continent. As long as you use magic without stopping, you can clear them all out one day. I’ve met the Elf God and acknowledge its power, which makes it even harder to understand why you were defeated by Chaos. If the Darkborn and the Gods united, with powerful individuals capable of using wide-range magic clearing the way in front and those of a slightly lower rank leading soldiers to hold the ground while you recover your mana, what could Chaos possibly do to you?”

“Easier said than done. There are powerful individuals within the Chaos. If they weren’t unable to exist independently outside of the Chaos, we would have lost even the World Tree Continent.”

“Hoh. Stronger than The Sovereign?”

Helian’s breath hitched. She seemed unwilling to admit that her master was inferior to Chaos. After a moment, she gritted her teeth to explain.

“While they are individually weaker than Lord Sovereign, their numbers are staggering. Even Lord Sovereign is unable to resist. That emerald barrier you saw was created by the Gods to prevent the mana of the old world from continuing to nourish the Chaos. They proactively extracted the mana from the earth, turning it into a barrier to buy us time. Now, ten thousand years have passed, and it is on the brink of its limit. What’s even more detestable are you outsiders. Your arrival will make Chaos even stronger. Without you, the power of Chaos would not have grown to this level.”

“Hmm…”

Fia glanced at Anastasia. She had been curious before—since both Absolute Evil and the Queen of the Kingdom of Death had participated in the war, why did the armies of the World Tree Continent still suffer repeated defeats? Now that she knew there were many individuals within the Chaos with strength similar to Helian’s, the Alliance’s defeat made sense. Seeing that Anastasia showed no reaction, it meant Helian was telling the truth.

But why hadn’t she encountered such Chaos when she went to the Sea of Chaos?

Helian narrowed her eyes, her deep purple pupils filled with rage.

“Especially you and that monster beside you. Your arrival has made the Chaos restless decades ahead of schedule. If you still want to live and care for your family and friends, kill her as soon as possible, and then take your own life. That way, perhaps the power of Chaos will weaken, buying us some time.”

“Monster? Say that again.”

The temperature in the room dropped abruptly. Fia’s ruby eyes held a cold killing intent. Even though Helian was only meeting Fia’s gaze through the eyes of a doll, her heart skipped a beat, and a wave of uncomfortable goosebumps rose on her skin. It was as if the person standing before her wasn’t an elf, but a God of Death from the world of the undead.

She suppressed her fear and raised her chin.

“Still unrepentant? Whenever an outsider arrives, Lord Sovereign’s Eye of Calamity throb. The power of Chaos will increase accordingly. My words are clear: only when you outsiders vanish will the power of Chaos weaken. Do with me as you please; losing a mere Demonic Puppet is nothing to me!”

“Princess, after Chaos descends, The Sovereign will only side with it. Kill her as soon as possible.”

Anastasia drew the mithril sword at her waist halfway, but such a move only provoked Helian’s disdain.

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“That includes you too. You also smell like an outsider. Eldest Princess, I’m afraid you haven’t even sensed that your confidante has long since become another per—”

Before Helian could finish, Fia stepped forward and grabbed her by the neck. Along with the glow of [Forceful Plunder] draining her mana, the puppet Helian controlled immediately went limp like a kite with a severed string. Fia then threw her onto the bed like a piece of trash.

Anastasia stepped forward.

“Princess… the things she said… Do you know her?”

“We’ve met a few times. Don’t take her words to heart. She is an enemy; those were just tricks to drive a wedge between us.”

“But the Apocalypse she spoke of is identical to the one your subordinate witnessed…”

“Even if it’s the same, there’s no need to worry. I am here in this world. If the reason for the Alliance’s repeated defeats was those Chaos individuals with strength equal to Helian, that actually puts me at ease. Take her back to the Dusk Palace and keep her under strict supervision. A Second Rank puppet that can’t use magic won’t be able to cause much trouble. I need to go back to the Barony of Yarua to pick up Claire and the others. Also, Kalsey’s disappearance is no small matter; do not speak of it without authorization.”

For some reason, Anastasia hesitated. After a second or two, she asked tentatively.

“The Dusk Palace and Claire? Princess, what are these…?”

“It’s understandable that you don’t know. The Dusk Palace is my palace, and Claire is my fiancée. You’ll meet soon. Also, your room has been moved from the servants’ quarters to my floor. You can ask Colita for details. Hurry now; I’ll go to the Barony of Yarua first.”

“Huh? Fiancée? Moved to your floor? You—”

Before Anastasia could finish her sentence, Fia vanished from her sight.

…

By the time Fia returned to the Dusk Palace, it was already eight-thirty in the morning. Everyone, including Erin Slate, was seated in the dining hall of the palace.

As for Helian’s puppet, Anastasia had handed her over to Colita to be settled. Currently, she was sitting restlessly in her chair because, in her mind, she had no right as a servant to sit at the same table as her master. If she were caught by Yelido or Yulisha, the consequences would be dire. If Fia hadn’t ordered Anastasia to sit down amidst the bewildered gazes of Liti and the others, she wouldn’t have dared to do so for anything.

“…To summarize, the current Anastasia is another person. However, their souls are linked, so there’s no need to treat her as an outsider.”

As her voice fell, Fia nervously observed everyone’s reaction. Claire and Erin Slate were lost in thought. Milu remained as she was from the start, her terrifying blood-red eyes fixed intently on Anastasia. Only Liti’s eyes widened, her mouth forming an “O” shape, her expression showing she had no idea what was happening.

“Sister Anna isn’t sister Anna anymore? What are you saying, Sister… leading us back to Blossom so early in the morning and saying such nonsensical things.”

“To put it simply, Anastasia is similar to how I was when I lost my memories. Although she is still Anastasia, she isn’t the Anastasia we know.”

“But Anastasia’s aura hasn’t changed at all. Her mana is still at the Fifth Rank…”

Claire’s gaze moved between Fia and Anastasia. Although she could tell that the current Anastasia was very restrained, in terms of both aura and strength, the Anastasia before her was no different from before. Even the reassuring look in her eyes when she watched Fia was identical.

“And where did the original Anastasia go?”

That was the crucial point.

Fia’s heart tightened, but she feigned composure.

“I will go look for the original Anastasia. For now, it’s certain that the Anastasia we know is in no danger. During this time, I will be staying in Blossom to refine my magic knowledge. I’m sorry, Claire. I must ensure Anastasia’s safety first before I can begin removing the curse. Also, there’s something I want to confirm with you; it might be a bit dangerous.”

“Anastasia is more important. It’s fine if my curse isn’t removed. My most precious treasure is right here.”

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Claire’s right hand rested gently on Fia’s leg, her clear emerald eyes flashing with tenderness and concern.

“Just like Sister… does it mean sister Anna also lost her memories like Sister?”

With her attention completely away from the dining table, Liti stared intently at Anastasia as if realizing something, a flash of hesitation appearing in her rose-purple eyes.

“You could say that, but not exactly. The current Anastasia is the soul of another person. It’s more direct if you think of it as a soul swap, Liti.”

“Personality… different.”

Still maintaining an expressionless look, Milu spoke calmly. As someone who had followed Anastasia to learn swordsmanship, Milu was more familiar with her than Liti. Anastasia’s subtle movements were vastly different from before. For example, when facing the estate servants, although Anastasia could call out their names, her eyes were evasive. Anastasia held a very high position in the Dusk Palace and could decide a maid’s fate on her own. Coupled with her strict nature, Milu had never seen Anastasia show such timidness toward a maid.

“Soul swap? Then where is my sister Anna? Where has she gone?!”

Liti’s anxious questioning made Anastasia bite her lip. She had also experienced the bond between Anastasia and Liti. Because of that, having the current Liti refuse to recognize her left her with mixed feelings. After Fia’s death, the only person in the entire palace who still recognized Anastasia besides her subordinates was Liti.

“Princess Liti…”

“Don’t call me that while wearing sister Anna’s face!”

Liti stood up and shouted sharply, completely treating Anastasia as another person.

Fia furrowed her brow.

“Liti, calm down. I hurried back precisely to figure out what happened. This Anastasia is no different from the true one; she is innocent.”

“Innocent? Sister Anna loves Sister so much. Is Sister really going to just watch as a fake takes her place? I won’t accept an outsider pretending to be her! Milu, Sister Claire, are you all just going to watch?”

“Liti!”

Anger finally surfaced in Fia’s voice, the majesty belonging to the Eldest Princess manifesting. Liti’s breath hitched.

“I understand your concern for Anastasia, but listen to what I have to say first.”

The room fell into a brief silence, making the maids standing in the corner of the dining hall exceptionally nervous.

Liti opened her mouth as if to say something, but the pressure Fia brought as an older sister made her not dare to talk back.

“Sit down.”

Milu, who was sitting on the same side as Liti, pulled her arm to make her sit back down. Fia was about to continue her explanation, but Anastasia, who had been keeping her head down, afraid to face everyone, suddenly raised her eyes. Although she still wore a look of shame for occupying Anastasia’s body, there was now a look of resolve in her azure eyes.

“Princess, let your subordinate explain. This is something I must face.”

Anastasia took a long breath, then looked Liti in the eye with a serious and earnest expression.

“Princess Liti, please allow me to address you as such. Although I am not the Anastasia you know, in my world, I also spent decades by your side. It is more accurate to describe me as the Anastasia from another world.”

Anastasia relayed her experiences to everyone—from Fia’s death to the crusade against the Milcandis Holy Kingdom, and finally, the arrival of the disaster and the fourteen-year war of attrition. By the end, she was looking at Liti tenderly, a hint of the emotion and sorrow of a reunion visible in her azure eyes.

“…So it has been fourteen years since I last saw you, Princess Liti. Our last parting was when I left Silvar with the Princess. You were hiding in the send-off party, waving at me, but at that time, I didn’t dare respond because of the gazes of the surrounding nobles. After leaving Silvar, I never heard from you again. I never expected to see you so full of life in my lifetime. If the Princess were still here, she would surely be relieved.”

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“Ugh.”

Liti’s facial muscles twitched. The send-off Anastasia spoke of had indeed happened.

But a single example was not enough to make her believe.

Liti asked another question.

“Then I’ll ask you: what is my favorite place to go?”

“It’s my room.”

“…”

Liti was speechless.

The entire Royal Palace was filled with eyes and ears. Only Anastasia’s room, because it was small and secluded, had no one monitoring it. When Liti wanted a space for herself, she would hide in Anastasia’s room.

—This truly was Anastasia herself.

“Idiot.”

As if giving Liti an out, Milu’s right hand tapped her small head. She looked at Fia, her usually emotionless face showing a hint of concern.

“What happens next?”

Milu was asking if the current Anastasia would continue to live as her replacement forever, or if they would find the original one and send the current one back to a world full of disasters.

Fia took a deep breath.

“There will always be a solution. I will do my best to save both of them. After this, I’ll be staying in the library and the Forbidden Library. Do not disturb me unless there is an emergency. Also, Erin Slate, stay behind for a moment.”

Fia looked toward Erin Slate, who had remained silent.

Without hesitation, Erin Slate nodded in affirmation as usual.

“Yes.”

Silence fell over the dining hall. Even the sound of forks clinking against porcelain plates felt exceptionally piercing.

To lighten the atmosphere, Claire tilted her head with a smile.

“Since we have such an opportunity, Anastasia, why don’t you tell us about the people you knew in that world? Have you heard the name ‘Claire’? Despite my human appearance, the real me is so strong that even the Darkborn stay far away. With my personality, I would surely have been a big help.”

Claire’s remark piqued everyone’s curiosity, and the stagnant air finally began to flow again.