Puppet Show
I turned toward the direction of Cristelle's low, simmering anger.
Something stirred within the haphazard pile of corpses, causing it to shift.
Before long, someone slowly crawled out from beneath them.
Aren't you... the lord chamberlain?
*Sigh...* Boring.
I thought I'd almost fooled you. What a letdown.
The gaping wound left by Cristelle's bullet melted away in thick drops like ice cream, then quickly healed.
Still... I suppose that's why you were always my favorite toy.
I really shouldn't underestimate you, should I?
So, when did you figure it out?
Shut that disgusting mouth of yours.
If you're hoping to pry some information out of me, don't bother.
I have neither need nor reason to tell you anything.
Aww... When did you become so boring?
You used to be more... how should I put it...?
Like an innocent little puppy.
The kind that would stare up at me with bright, trusting eyes and believe every word I said.
Why don't you bark for me again, for old times' sake? Come on, please? Woof, woof?
...I'll kill you. I swear.
Oh, don't look so serious.
It's been so long since we've seen each other.
Speaking of which, how's your right eye? You're getting good use out of my gift, aren't you?
I told you... to shut your mouth.
You're nothing but scraps left behind by your real body, yet you never stop running that mouth.
Wow... You figured even that out? Impressive.
Want me to pat you on the head for a job well done? Ahaha!
Oh?! You startled me.
...Too bad. I was aiming to blow off that noisy mouth of yours.
Aww... Looks like our leading lady is pretty angry.
Didn't you like it? I thought it was one of my finest works.
Say one more word and I'll tear your limbs off.
Oh my... How frightening.
But isn't this backwards? I'm the one who should be angry here, not you.
Especially at... you over there.
Me?
Yes, you. Just what are you? You ruined everything.
Because of you, the beautiful tragedy I spent so much effort arranging has been completely destroyed.
How are you going to take responsibility for that?
Responsibility? Don't make me laugh. We'll see if you can still sneer like that on the day our revenge is complete.
Hmm... Our revenge? Is that so...?
I wonder what our poor little princess thinks. Are you going to take revenge too?
Oh? But then... who exactly would that revenge be for?
Look around you. You did all of this yourself, little princess.
You're not planning to kill everyone yourself and then blame me, are you? Right?
Haydee. Don't be swayed by that lying tongue of hers.
Aww... But I haven't told any lies.
Our little princess should know that better than anyone.
...
Cristelle. Most of what that wench says is a lie, but...
This... At least the memories you saw inside me... Those aren't fake.
Even if she deceived me, I'm still the one who did this to the kingdom.
I... I killed everyone and destroyed the kingdom. With my own hands.
Nonsense.
Haydee, you've grown weak. To think you'd fall for the enemy's deception so easily.
...I want to deny it, but I can't.
I remember everything vividly now.
...No.
That might not be true, Haydee.
What do you mean it might not be true...?
I've been thinking about it.
Something just doesn't add up.
Ufufu! Captain, you've noticed the inconsistency as well?
What are you talking about?
Haydee. As you said before...
This place was born from forgotten memories buried deep within your consciousness.
Because of that, there are small inconsistencies throughout this world.
Inconsistencies? Explain it in a way I can actually understand.
You still haven't realized it? Why was the Sage's chamber empty?
It wasn't merely empty.
It was closer to not existing at all.
Wait. What does that have to do with any of this?
Just listen, Haydee.
You need to find the truth among all the fabrications this repulsive liar has spun.
If you look carefully, that chamber isn't the only thing that doesn't make sense.
I'm sure the Captain has noticed by now as well.
...It's those corpses.
Fufu... Correct.
What about the corpses...?
They don't have any wounds.
...What? That can't be. They were clearly bleeding—
Haydee. Think carefully.
What exactly did you see in those memories?
Did you feel your spear cutting through flesh and piercing the palace attendants?
If so, where did you cut them? What were that poor maid's final words as she died?
That's... By the time I came to my senses, they were already...
Exactly. Already dead. Haydee, you have no memory of killing anyone.
Naturally, Haydee. Because...
You never did any such thing.
Everything here is merely a convincing set of circumstances that bastard created.
A clever deception. A calculated lie. Her specialty, is it not?
Hmm... Is that so?
And why do you think I'd go through all that trouble?
...Are you still going to keep up this disgusting charade?
The reason is simple. What you want is the complete destruction of Haydee and me.
This dreamlike space is based entirely on Haydee's memories.
Conversely, anything absent from Haydee's memories is left laughably incomplete.
The Sage's chamber, which Haydee had never visited, was proof of that.
Because you'd never seen it, its very existence had been cut away.
This vast illusion is riddled with lies from beginning to end.
It merely takes Haydee's memories and dresses them up with plausible fabrications.
And from that, we can reach one more conclusion.
Don't tell me...
Haydee. Even if I kill you, I won't obtain any trace of Morcerf.
Unlike me, you don't possess an eye capable of perceiving the Void.
How could you possibly remember something you cannot see?
Then that means...
There was never a correct answer to begin with. It was a riddle with no solution.
Morcerf, the scene you wanted was probably...
Me falling for your scheme, shooting Haydee dead, and only then learning the truth and falling into despair.
Am I wrong?
The lord chamberlain, Morcerf, who had been quietly listening to Cristelle, lowered her head and began shaking with laughter.
...Kgh.
...Khehehe.
Pwahahaha! Amazing! Absolutely amazing! I'm genuinely impressed!
*Sigh...* If only these memories and emotions could've reached my real body too.
What a shame. Such a terrible shame it almost makes my stomach hurt.
Ugh... Isn't there some way to make that happen?
But... my real body is probably already dead by now. So I guess there's no point?
Morcerf is already dead?
Captain.
We're dealing with the Executor of Deception. Do you actually believe her?
It's a lie not even worth lending an ear to.
Morcerf casually snatched Cristelle's bullet out of the air and toyed with it between her fingers.
Wahaha! Caught me again?
Well, who cares whether my real body is dead or alive!
Finding out something like that wouldn't be any fun.
Still... what a shame. I thought I'd get to play with you a little longer.
Hmph. I'm bored now. You aren't fun anymore, so I think I'll throw you away.
Morcerf snapped her fingers with a bored expression.
Something enormous charged toward us, causing the ground tremble beneath its weight.
Captain of the Royal Guard... eternal loyalty... to the princess...
That's...!
...Brainwashing. You're still indulging in that vile habit, I see.
Haha! You didn't actually think I'd just let you leave, did you?
Go on. Struggle all you want.
That might be... a decent final bit of entertainment. Hmm.
...Just you wait. I'll make you pay...
I'll definitely come to kill you.
Oh my, how terrifying.
If only you'd shown a little more of that resolve earlier.
I really wanted to see the look on your face when you fell into despair.
Shut your mouth...! You piece of trash... treating people like toys...!
Ahaha! Looks like our little doll has her spirit back too!
Anyway, good luck! I hope you manage to survive.
Especially you. You're the toy most like me, after all.
...Enough nonsense. Now get lost. You talk far too much for mere scraps.
Oh? Trying to deny it now?
You know the truth better than anyone, don't you?
Even if I'm the one saying it, you know that much isn't a lie.
Oh, and one more thing!
...You.
If you beg me to save you, I just might let you out of here right now. What do you say?
I was a little angry at you at first...
But you're interesting. It'd be such a waste for you to die here.
I refuse.
I don't even want to talk to a psycho like you.
Wahaha! Wow, you've got quite the attitude!
Well then...
If you're lucky enough to make it out alive, let's meet again sometime.
My real self will be delighted to find you.
Who knows? Maybe I'm already observing you intently!
Phew...! Now that the loathsome chatterbox is gone, all that's left is getting out of here.
...Ghhh...
Fufufu! Taking down that brute won't be easy.
...You idiot.
If you'd just left when I told you to, things never would've gotten this complicated.
Two idiots in one place... And after all that talk about cold reason.
True. But thanks to that stunning display of idiocy, you're still here, alive and breathing.
Captain. Do you regret your decision?
Not at all.
Then there's no problem. Obstacles have always stood in our way.
All we have to do is keep moving forward.
...So, shall we get our hands dirty?