Chapter 423

All living beings pursue the goals of survival, growth, development, and reproduction, regardless of the presence or absence of consciousness, and they strive to adapt to their environment.

About a thousand years ago from the era I lived in, the Mazzak crossed a strait of about 100 kilometers and settled in the eastern lands of the continent. It was a matter directly related to survival. The eastern continent across the sea was polluted by demon magic and swarmed with monsters. Thus, the one who devised the large-scale migration plan for these Mazzak was none other than the first Demon Lord, Salvamonium Delacroix. He was a legendary figure who was said to have ruled the eastern continent for hundreds of years. The yearning of the Salvamonium alliance, which commanded the army, was to resurrect the Demon Lord and reclaim the eastern continent. However, I had never heard the news that the first Demon Lord had cat ears.

“Evi, scary!”

“Ahhh! Save me, oppa!”

Adella raised both hands, showing her long nails to threaten her siblings. Niobe, shocked, trembled and hid behind her brother like a shield.

“Hahaha.”

“What are you doing? Why are you scaring the kids?”

“Sorry, but their reactions are just too funny. Ouch!”

Since we were in a fantasy world, I struck her on the back of the head harder than ever before. It seemed she didn’t really feel pain.

Hiasen, who had been suspiciously on guard, relaxed his stance. He also showed a slightly dubious expression at Adella’s clumsy demeanor. However, I couldn’t just overlook it.

“Actually, I saw someone who looked just like Adella in Alzahab’s pendant.”

“Then this girl is really…”

“No, that can’t be. That’s why I’m confused too. Are you saying the person in that photo was the first Demon Lord? I’m still doubtful.”

I added a comment while biting into an apple, sitting on a mat.

“Moreover, it was definitely a photograph, not a painting.”

Photography using light magic existed in my time. But inventing such magic a thousand years ago? It made no sense at all.

The most plausible explanation for this situation would be that the person in Alzahab’s pendant is not the first Demon Lord but rather a descendant. Could someone who knew the first Demon Lord’s face have designed Adella?

According to Njangsterol, most character designs in the world of Olwa are generated by AI, but who knows? Then I would have to fly to England again to find Adella’s character designer and verify the truth, which would be quite a hassle.

No reasonable conclusion came to mind after going through all the possibilities. Meanwhile, Adella was playing a centrifugal game with Niobe, who was holding her hands.

‘Even playing with ghosts, her sociability is remarkable…’

I thought that I might end up carrying a heavy burden when I came for some healing after a long time. I decided to call over Hiasen, who was anxiously watching from the side, to say goodbye.

“So, who is she? She has a strangely familiar scent like yours.”

“Scent? Are you a pervert? Ugh, that’s creepy…”

I frowned and glared at the person who would be my half-brother with disgust. I didn’t know that Hiasen had become this kind of human being who sniffed women since he was young.

“No, not that scent! I mean Aura! Aura!”

After hearing Hiasen’s long explanation, I reluctantly accepted.

I laid down the dazed Niobe carefully and took Adella’s hand.

“This girl’s body is my avatar.”

“You said you wouldn’t make any avatars again.”

“Don’t worry; it’s not an avatar for that purpose. So, shall we head out now? We had fun.”

“Wait, are you really leaving?”

“Hmm, why? You thought I was going to nag you about not using that magic again?”

Hiasen had been repeating such advice like a cuckoo.

“Don’t ever come to see us again. Don’t live trapped by the past.”

“Okay.”

“Are you trying to leave because you don’t want to hear that? Is it sad that you can’t go now?”

Without saying a word, he just shook his head.

His flashy platinum hair swayed in the wind, dancing lightly.

The blue hills and Niobe’s white silk dress were being dyed with an orange glow.

I hugged both the boy and girl tightly one last time.

“Thank you for always being by my side when it was tough.”

“We…”

“I’m talking to you fake ones too.”

I thought that it might be the last time I would be able to see them, so I said my final goodbyes.

The alchemist with a defect shattered with a crash.

I had shaken off my previous life with a clear mind.

* * *

I hoped that the happiest moment for Adella was the time she spent with me. If I had to pick a top moment, it would probably be when she came out of the game world.

But since virtual reality wasn’t reflected in the alchemist, I’ll pass on that.

Then the second pick might be the day I created her body.

No, she probably couldn’t feel true happiness then, as she was too stressed.

Was it during our trip to Japan? Or at Adella’s birthday party?

Before long, a familiar background materialized before me.

It was our bathroom.

“Eh?”

“Ahhh!”

Ghost-Adella stood against the wall, completely naked from head to toe.

I turned my head the other way and yelled.

“Don’t tell me you’re in our bathroom…! Besides, this is a shared space!”

“No! I swear, I’ve never done that in the bathroom!”

“Then what is this?”

Adella’s false accusation did not last long.

The bathroom door burst open, and my past self yawned as he walked in.

She began charging black mana into a simplified transmutation circle on Adella’s back.

“Phew, see, sis? It was the day I first gained a body. Just how much did you doubt me?”

“Even now, that’s suspicious enough. You’re saying your happiest memory was when you were washed by me? Are you a pervert too?”

“Look at the situation right behind this…! I took a bath afterward. Reflecting on everything that had happened until that moment, I must have felt really happy.”

“Oh, so I’m not even your dad or friends, and I’m just the one who lost to bathwater?”

I’m quite disappointed by this.

“Truly, there’s no one as good at sulking as you, sis, ohhh, wow!”

“…?”

Splash!

As soon as Adella came into contact with the light wave, the transformation took place instantly.

Ghost-Adella changed into the current Adella.

She beautifully fell into a tub of water, fully clothed.

“Ugh. What is this? My clothes are drenched, huh.”

“Haha.”

“Oh, NaeMe sis, you smiled? You just smiled, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Would you believe me if I said it was all a calculated slapstick from the beginning?”

I also lightly touched the me that was walking around the room.

And having returned to the bathroom, I squeezed into the cramped space opposite the tub.

“You said you wanted to take a bath with me before. I thought it would be okay to do it while wearing clothes.”

I splashed water onto Adella’s face.

“Ugh. That’s not what I wanted! NaeMe sis is a shy person.”

“Well, let’s consider that.”

I submerged my mouth below the water’s surface and exhaled.

Transparent bubbles started bubbling up.

I popped them with my fingers again.

It felt like playing Whac-A-Mole, and it was fun.

I thought about trying to create a type of aquatic magic like this.

“Those people earlier were worrying about whether I’m the Demon Lord or something like that, right?”

Adella wiggled her toes towards my face.

I answered nonchalantly to keep my inner thoughts hidden.

“Yeah? Oh, yeah. I was seriously worried.”

“Is it serious? I don’t understand what this Demon Lord is.”

“Hehe, it’s nothing. Just thought it was interesting. Actually, I was a vessel for the resurrection of the Demon Lord.”

“Eh? This tiny body?”

“No, my past life!”

“Aha.”

“Anyway, in order to resurrect that Demon Lord or some deity, they spread erosion, made wars happen, and I just lived my life and died. But when I was reincarnated, there’s this AI pretending to be a person, so I created a body, only for you to be called the first Demon Lord. Doesn’t it feel really like a Delphoi prophecy that everything results in the way it does?”

“Is it serious?”

“Of course not. What’s serious about it?”

I petted the seaweed-haired Adella’s head for a long time.

My hair was really not in good shape in my previous life, but touching these smooth strands made me feel good.

“And the one doing harm to people is the bad one, while the first Demon Lord seems like a decent person.”

“Why?”

“After all, he crossed the sea, risking danger to save people. It’s amazing that he developed barren land where no one lived. Although his descendants invaded humans after death, leading to war.”

“Oh. Thinking about it, he seems like a decent guy.”

“Anyway, that’s all in the past. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

Thus, it became a venue for conversation.

I told her that I would be in America during winter vacation.

I barely convinced her to stay in Korea when she insisted on following me.

It was the perfect opportunity to stabilize the somewhat unstable erosion and train my weakened body.

“Something feels like it’s missing. Ah! How will you explain why people think you’re an AI?”

“Yeah, that was also a thing… But Saetbyeol, I realized something.”

“Mm-hm.”

“Why do I need to explain?”

“Because you’re mad?”

“Then I’m even angrier because those who refute what I said are making me mad.”

I didn’t like it when other people meddled, knowing my body best.

The best persuasion is shown through action rather than words.

Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang’s home three times to recruit him, and Zhuge Liang released Meng Huo seven times to command him.

The wisdom of our ancestors is truly remarkable.

By combining these two appropriately, I would have them come back seven times.

Whether I persuade people or they persuade me, that’s essentially the same.

[Release: Alchemist]

Before this dream-like space disappeared, I pressed my palms together and splashed water on Saetbyeol’s face.

* * *

“Minister Ulysses Murphy. This is NaeMe.”

[Huh? Oh, okay. What’s going on?]

I usually don’t take politicians’ phone calls, but due to my cursed memory, I was forced to memorize them.

“Do you happen to know when you’ll be returning to the U.S.?”

[Probably late tomorrow night? Maybe a day or two longer.]

“Do ministers usually take private jets?”

[Right.]

“I’ll make you a hero, Mr. Murphy. But in return, please let me ride that plane. I have a severe fear of big planes…”

At the same time, I uploaded my passport photo on Instagram.

It was my first post after two months.