"..."
"Commander? What is it? What are you doing here? And were you always this... young?"
I almost blurted out, "You guys are the ones who’ve been eating in hundred-year increments," but I barely managed to hold it in.
"Hmm... the Teacher really isn’t this young, is he?"
"...Uh, I’m not a commander. I’m just an ordinary person passing by."
"...No way..."
"What is it, Rapi? Did you think of something?!"
"Commander... could it be a hidden child!"
"Hmm... no, that’s not it, at least..."
"Ooh! As expected of the Teacher! A son who looks exactly the same!"
"Sigh..."
"Ahem... In any case, if you’re not the Commander, how did you get here? Did you get lost?"
"Got... lost?"
It was possible I’d unconsciously used my ability and ended up here.
"...Hey, guys?"
"Hm? Why are you calling us, Commander?"
"Teacher?"
"What is it?"
"Turn around for a second."
"Hmm... understood."
And so Neon, Anis, and Rapi turned around, and I quickly mixed mystery and fear together.
I prayed, Please let this work in one shot!
Crash!
"...Good, now..."
My vision blurred. No, the world in front of me blurred. It faded so naturally, as if I had never been able to see anything there in the first place. Ah, right. One of my eyes was blind.
How long had it been? I wished this was all just a dream, and that when I woke up, someone would greet me warmly.
"Uh... um... hello?"
"Haa, damn it."
Click!
"Watch your mouth around the Commander."
"No... honestly, I was surprised too when I first saw this kid..."
"Sigh... Rapi, step outside for a moment."
"...I can’t take orders from someone who isn’t the Commander."
"...Just this once."
"No! How do I know what you’ll say while I’m gone!"
"No, Rapi? Just step out for a moment... I have things to talk about with this kid, and I’m curious about a few things."
"...Commander... if things get dangerous, shout right away."
"Got it~"
With that, Rapi left, and the other me and I faced each other.
"So... I was curious... what’s your name?"
"...Hmm... I don’t know if yours is the same, but... it’s XXX."
"...And your nationality?"
"Republic of Korea... well... I was sleeping, and then I suddenly ended up here..."
"...I... don’t know if you’ll understand, but I got sent over to Blue Archive..."
"Your name is...?"
"Same as yours... XXX."
"...Then..."
In the end, that meant we were the same person.
"...I don’t know where this place is, but... I think I came to the wrong place."
"Yeah... that’s exactly what it looks like."
After a bunch of random conversation, the conclusion we reached was that our ages were different, but the essence of our existence was the same.
"...But how did you get here?"
"...Sigh... it’s a long story."
"...Yeah, you don’t need to explain everything right now. Tell me later."
"Right. Just in case I’m not actually you, I want to ask one question."
"Sure, go ahead."
It was a question I couldn’t possibly not know. It was simple and clear. My favorite food.
"What’s your favorite food?"
"Huh... my favorite food?"
"Yeah! If it’s me, I have to get this absolutely right!"
"Ah... now that I think about it, I kind of want some... There was nothing better than that."
"...What is it?"
"If you’re me too, then you should know. Pajo, right?"
"...How did you know that...?"
"Haha! If it’s me, there’s no way I wouldn’t know that one!"
"...Then what’s your favorite dessert?"
"Mint chocolate. I’ll eat anything as long as it has mint choco in it. I even made mint-choco pizza once..."
"No, no! I get it, I get it! You’re me!"
"Good, haha. Let’s go out for now."
When we went back outside, Counters was watching us suspiciously, hands on their guns.
"...Look, for now, he and I are the same person."
"...? What did you just say...?"
"Teacher! What do you mean by that? How can there be two Teachers!"
"Wow... two commanders?"
"Hey, but what should I call you? It’s awkward to keep saying ‘the other me.’"
"...Hmm... just call me Commander."
"Got it."
Maybe because he was me, the conversation flowed easily. If there was a downside, it was that he seemed a little weaker.
"Hmm... then I have a question too."
"Yeah, go ahead."
"What do people call you?"
"Hmm... just call me Haruta."
"...? What kind of Japanese name is that?"
"I didn’t exactly want it either, but it feels a little late to change my name now, so I’m just using it."
"Good. Haruta, what’s your purpose for coming here?"
Rapi had been quiet for a moment, but the instant she heard my name, she asked my purpose. Well, she was a veteran among veterans who’d spent years, maybe decades, on the battlefield. I supposed it was a natural question.
"...Hmm... to kill the Queen?"
"...?"
After hearing that answer, Rapi and the Commander turned around together and quietly exchanged a few words.
"...Ah... that was... probably a joke...?"
"Commander! That man over there is exactly like the Commander, and he even knows our objective!"
"But... if he’s an ally, isn’t that a good thing? Besides, Haruta over there is the same as me..."
"...If the Commander says so, I don’t mind, but..."
As I listened to the Commander and Rapi talking, Anis and Neon standing in front of me came into view.
"...But were they always this tall...?"
"But Haruta, where did you come from?"
"...Hmm... just a normal academy...?"
"Could you really be the Commander’s hidden child... or something?"
Anis was asking questions exactly like Anis would.
"Ooh! Mister Haruta! Then if you’re like the Teacher, one bullet would be dangerous for you too!"
That made me curious. What was my body like right now? Could I use mystery and control it?
"..."
Szzzt
"Uh... huh?"
The instant I pulled out a gun I normally never even used, Anis and Neon immediately drew their weapons.
"...Ah, it’s nothing. Wait a second."
And then I put the gun to my head.
"W-wait a sec!"
"Mister Haruta, wait!"
Bang!
"...Phew... I’m fine."
Thank goodness. If I couldn’t use mystery here, I really might have died, so I had no choice but to risk my life and test it.
"What...? Are you... are you even human...?"
"Wow... Anis... that gun Haruta’s holding right now is..."
"No... Neon... I know what kind of gun that is too... and I know just how powerful it is..."
After I fired one shot, the Commander and Rapi immediately ran over.
"What happened..! I heard a gunshot just now."
"What is that?! That..."
A single pistol in Haruta’s hand.
"..."
After taking in the situation, Rapi immediately drew her own gun and aimed it at Haruta.
"...Commander! Take command!"
"Hey, wait, that’s not it!"
"Seventh Dwarf Full Active! Pierce it!"
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