My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 9

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 9

“You are… no. It’s nothing.”

With those words, Azel finally left me behind and disappeared outside.

‘Why is he suddenly acting like that?’

His departing figure seemed somehow suspicious, but pondering it wouldn’t change anything.

“There you are, guest.”

“Simoer.”

Not long after Azel disappeared, Simoer came looking for me.

The guy who was flashing his characteristic sly eye-smile seemed quite amused for some reason.

“You look particularly cheerful today?”

“Yes, my master just told me a very interesting story.”

An interesting story?

I couldn’t even begin to guess what kind of story would make the great Simor Cleorl so delighted.

But.

“…Hmm. That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”

I didn’t particularly want to know.

‘More precisely, I don’t want to get involved.’

A story that would make that lunatic so happy his nostrils are flaring – I really don’t want to get involved even if it kills me.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“Oh, no. I’m fine.”

Perhaps my refusal was too quick and firm, as Simoer’s smile grew even wider.

“Since we got a new lead, I’ll probably be busy for a while.”

“I see. It’s unfortunate that you’ll be busy.”

“You don’t need to feel sorry. It’s work I want to do.”

How fortunate that despite being a workaholic office worker, he has high job satisfaction.

However, since it wasn’t information I particularly wanted to know, I wished he would just leave.

“I really love the expressions people make when their hidden weaknesses are exposed.”

I know.

“Because that’s when human nature is most clearly revealed.”

I said I know.

So please just leave already.

“So I’m very much looking forward to this time as well.”

But this damn monkey bastard had no intention of leaving.

After rambling on with an ecstatic expression for a while, Simoer finally stopped his chatter only after hearing my angry outburst.

“I understand Simoer’s goal of finding out my identity so he can tease me as soon as possible. So please stop.”

“My, how perceptive of you.”

Who was the one who spoon-fed me the hints to notice?

Perhaps my incredulous feelings showed clearly on my face, as Simoer laughed heartily with joy.

“Haha!”

To receive a declaration of war right in front of me and have nothing I can do about it!

If I had overflowing strength and talent like other novel transmigrators, I would have at least tried to hit that bastard.

For the first time, I resented this weak body.

‘Well, my identity that even I don’t know. If they figure it out for me, I’d be grateful.’

Of course, I can’t help but worry.

‘But seriously, what should I do about a name?’

It’s already been a week since I came to this place.

Indeed, it was about time I really decided on a name.

‘Should I just make one up myself?’

When Azel first asked for my name, I panicked and was flustered, but thinking calmly about it, it wouldn’t be that difficult.

‘It only seems hard because I’m thinking of fantasy-style names, but I could just make something up in English.’

Mary, Ann, Julia, Pickle, and so on.

‘Couldn’t I just pick one of those?’

But when it came to actually deciding carelessly, there was something that bothered me.

“Then will you give me one?”

“You won’t tell me your name?”

“…I want to have a name that you give me.”

“Why is that?”

“Because that’s what made me live.”

“…!”

Back then, I panicked and acted too convincingly like I had a story.

But now to casually tell him my name.

‘That would be a bit much.’

It seemed I’d have to wait a bit longer for a name.

*

“What is this?”

And the next day.

I finally went to find Azel.

“A gift.”

Along with my answer, I grabbed Azel’s hand and placed the flower I’d been holding onto it.

His expression of ‘what strange thing am I seeing now’ was exactly as I’d expected.

He must have been so dumbfounded that he didn’t even resist once while I grabbed his hand and placed the flower on it.

“…You call this a gift?”

“Yes. It’s similar to the color of your eyes, isn’t it? Isn’t it pretty?”

Perhaps moved by my precious sincerity in bringing a red flower that had fallen by the window as a gift, Azel’s expression soured.

‘Sorry. Your sister doesn’t have money.’

A transmigrator who fell into a strange world with nothing is penniless. Moreover, since the owner of this body didn’t even have a wallet, I really had no money.

But wouldn’t it be better than asking empty-handed?

“Since I gave you a gift, give me one too.”

“…What?”

Azel was now looking at me like I was the world’s greatest highway robber.

‘Still, looking at me like a thug is a bit hurtful.’

Of course, the flower placed on his palm was quite small and insignificant, but it was still rude to look at someone like that.

And what I wanted was something else.

“Give me a name.”

Waiting one day was already being very patient.

“A name?”

“I told you. I don’t want to hear ‘hey,’ ‘woman,’ anymore.”

I planned to get a name from Azel in exchange for the gift.

Perhaps now understanding why I’d come all this way carrying this, Azel’s expression became even more menacing.

“It would be faster if you just revealed your name directly.”

Instead of answering, I just smiled brightly.

It was my way of expressing ‘forget it, just come up with a name.’

As expected, Azel noticed this and looked even more annoyed, but that wasn’t my concern.

“Bringing something like this and calling it a gift.”

But I couldn’t just let this comment slide.

“Something like this? But it’s so pretty.”

“It’ll wither and rot soon anyway.”

“But we’ll remember its beauty.”

The word “remember” seemed to grate on his ears, as Azel’s expression became quite sensitive.

“Memories and such are completely useless.”

“How are they useless? They’re all precious memories.”

“Memories that only one person remembers have no value at all.”

The sharp thorn that slipped from his tongue finally brought our conversation to a halt.

Surprised me and Azel with his regretful expression were reading each other’s reactions.

‘It was a mistake.’

Since Azel in the game never revealed his regressor’s sore spot like this, I was quite surprised too.

Thanks to that, I felt quite strange.

‘He’s kind of pitiful.’

Yes, pitiful.

The fact that this man, supposedly the strongest in the worldview, that terrifying mastermind, was a human being trembling and getting worked up over just one memory like this seemed pathetic.

“Instead of remembering alone, you can share them.”

So without realizing it, I spoke words that weren’t part of my plan.

“Share them?”

“The memories you’ll build from now on won’t disappear anymore.”

“…!”

Azel has one fear.

Living a repeated life once again.

“I promised you, didn’t I? That I’d give you back your life.”

But he won’t regress anymore.

“You don’t have to lose anything anymore. Everything you achieve in this life, you can keep until the very end.”

So he can feel at ease.

There’s no need to be afraid or wary anymore.

Though I’m an excellent liar, at least I could tell him this much honestly.

“So don’t be afraid anymore.”

Meanwhile, red eyes the color of flower petals silently watched me.

*

What a strange person.

By the time the woman finished speaking, Azel was certain she was a strange person.

‘How can she be so confident?’

The woman who spoke of salvation was always full of certainty.

This time was no different.

‘She’ll give me back my life.’

Words he’d never heard before.

A promise he’d never made.

“In that sense, please accept this flower as a gift.”

This entire process was all a first for everything.

“It would be nice to plant flowers outside too. It’ll take a long time, but someday they’ll grow big and bloom beautifully.”

“It might turn out to be a useless endeavor.”

“It might turn out to be the second best thing you’ve ever done.”

How could she possibly be like that?

Azel suddenly found it so strange that the woman before him was creating all these firsts.

“Of course, the best thing you’ve ever done would be meeting me.”

Unaware of this fact, the woman was still looking at Azel and smiling innocently.

Dazzlingly bright.

*

What’s wrong. Why is he acting like that.

‘That guy, why are his eyes like that?’

Azel’s red eyes staring intently at me wasn’t a first-time occurrence.

But how should I put it.

Yeah, something. Today something was different.

‘L-let’s just smile for now.’

They say you can’t spit on a smiling face. I kept smiling at the somewhat ominous atmosphere, but my mouth was starting to twitch.

‘No, what is it! Why is he looking at me like that!’

Just as my anxiety was growing, Azel’s lips finally moved.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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