"Y-you're... ?" I heard Evil Jared say, a little rattled from the way his tone was.
His face also displayed shock, which was a reaction I expected. Jane had the sa look as well.
They were both dumbstruck by my sudden revelation.
"I am not exactly you. This is as strange to as it is for you, but I can clearly say we're different people."
Our hair color were different, sure. But we looked completely alike—especially taking his past form into account.
"My true identity is Lewis Griffith. I was also reincarnated into Jared Leonard's body. I attended Ainzlark Academy. I made acquaintances. Got stronger. I grew... just like you. Still, were different."
And that distinction made all of the difference.
"Haa... so rlin's theory was true, after all? The bubble theory."
'Bubble?'
"Our entire universe exists in a bubble, but there are other bubbles that reflect the sa contents of our universe, but in a more distorted form. The side bubbles..."
rlin ca up with a theory similar to the reality of the Branches and Roots by himself? That was surprising.
Then again, he was able to discover the use of Miasma in a world that didn't use or even have it, so I didn't have to be so surprised.
There was one problem with the bubble theory, though.
'It tries to place this world at the center of the grand sche things. But every supposed bubble, in reality, is a side bubble. The original reality traces back to the root.'
It wasn't my world, or this world.
Different actions and inactions caused the reality they were in to branch off and form a world where such action existed or didn't exist.
This loop of action and reaction caused the cosmic tree to be stretch on nearly infinitely, and even I couldn't calculate how far it extended, or how many branches existed in it.
'Limiting it to bubbles and calling other words side bubbles is a little...'
"So, you co from one of those side bubbles, don't you? It all makes sense now. That strong anomaly that we experienced over a month ago. That was when you arrived, correct? We couldn't pinpoint the location, but you must have landed somwehre close to the Outgroup."
His postulation was spot on. As expected of this world's version of , I guess.
"I can imagine them giving you a hard ti due to that face of yours. How did you beco allies?"
So this guy understood the kind of trouble he caused , didn't he? What an annoying bastard!
'I almost died, you know?'
Yes, this world's standard of Magic was poor, but I would have seriously died back then if things had devolved any further.
I still got shivers anyti I rembered that very intense mont.
"I co from a world different from this one, Jared. Or should I call you Lewi—"
"Don't call that!" He snapped, his expression turning imnsely dark in an instant.
'I see. So he really wants to let go of his last that badly?'
It must have been a really terrible first round he had.
"Alright then. I co from a different reality; one where I am praised as a Hero. I stopped a war, and I put my life on the line over and over again to save my people. I helped bring peace to the world."
I told him about how my world's version of Neron and were very close friends. I told him of how the Nether Cult consisted of mbers of the Outers.
I told him about how Jane and I were best friends instead of lovers.
I felt my heart ache every ti I spoke and looked at his face. I could see sothing gleaming deep inside him.
Sothing that told he wanted it—what I had.
I didn't think his desire was to be purely evil and despised. All of that was only a ans to an end.
All of these tragedies, though unforgivable, only served as a path to achieve his grand desire.
MAGIC!
And thanks to his love for Magic, rlin was able to manipulate him and use him to achieve his ends.
In the end, this world's Jared was just a victim.
'it doesn't make his actions excusable, and he'll definitely pay for them. However, I can empathize with him...' I gave a soft smile while looking at his dazed face.
"I'll be getting married soon. I think... I may have found sothing worth pursuing other than Magic..."
Looking at myself in the mirror now, seeing how far my desires would push , and how it would warp those dear to , I discovered the truth that had taken this long to find.
"I get to choose what to pursue. I have always had the choice."
Whether it was between Karlia and Emilia. Or Magic and Love.
I had the choice ultimately.
"I don't have to keep going down this lonely path. And I certainly don't have to do it by hurting those around ."
I could tell that this world's Jared and Neron had so form of relationship—most likely sothing similar to mine—before their friendship devolved.
Stefan's frustration with Jared for killing his cousin, Maria, stemd far deeper than a re student's action.
'They were most likely close. The way Ed and Ana were to .'
Kuzon's vengeance spree wasn't simply directed at an unknown enemy. He and Jared must have had a relationship prior to his actions causing such a catastrophe.
In the end...
"You made the choice to pick Magic over your friends."
And I could see where all of that would lead to.
"In the end, you'd also abandon Jane for the sake of Magic."
It had taken centuries to arrive at this conclusion, but right here and now, I had taken one step closer to the truth I wanted to set for myself.
"I love Magic. But... love my friends and family more."
That was the true difference between and this person before .
"We're not the sa."
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[A/N]
This chapter hits deep for , personally.
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