As to why I am in darkness in a near-passing experience—you see, the second part of 'Operation A' heavily focuses on a thing, and that is... My death.
[Abnormality:]
>System's Aeternitas<
*[Notice: To obtain what was wanted, one must first reach an alternate ending.]
Actually, death is far from me—such is the abnormality; what 'was' wanted? Heh—so, this is how they'll play me?
...
Well, that wasn't what I held in mind, so all's good and all—since I've known it from the start—ah. How many times have I tried?
The 'death' at this point won't be'mine,' rather the death of this' identity—that was it—didn't expect for it to come this far—dealing with those people truly was a pain. (Fun fact: Of course, I wasn't able to get out of there without any scratches.)
And by 'that'—basically, wounded to the fullest—good thing it came with regenerative powers'—else I'd end up like 'that'—the remains of a person with only bones' for a body.
Definitely, I won't be able to achieve that for a long span—I opened my eyes; the wounds' that spilled blood dried, and the heart that stopped began to beat—anyways, let's get out of here.
...
In sight, I find myself amidst the row of graves'—I was at a cemetery, to be exact. Honestly, in a few more and I'd be buried alive; welp, it's nice they'd covered me; otherwise, they'd see the resurrection of a type of 'zombie,'
...
A joke of an abnormality, certainly—to be granted immortality? For sure, it ain't the one for me.
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I don't exist—to be exact, this body doesn't; proof of that? It's as if they aren't able to remember me.
"Who is that?"—"Hadn't seen your face 'round here?"—"A noble...?"—"You ought to be careful; people like you are easy targets."
This was how they addressed me; though I've known some of them already—not once had I crossed paths, except in those days' I was at that place—I managed to meet everyone there. It was a small town—naturally, you'd easily be able to discern them from one another—so it's shocking to see how much they've forgotten me.
From the parent and her children to the guy at the bakery—the kids' that played at the roads—and to the elderly woman who'scolded' me.
Once a day passed, they would've failed to remember; nothing but a glitch in a system—that was the part assigned to me.
...
Nevermind, if that's what it was—I couldn't care what they've done. To be clear, the way it is starting, as for the goal of said operation—to change it, I'd need a bigger stage to play in—even if it means' stealing another's character in the story.
The perfect role? Needless to say, it would be this—"System Manipulation..." I let out, and within time'—a pitch dark hollow appeared next to me.
...
What was released? A corpse of a youth—identical to the one that chanted it—lay it to where he rested temporarily and in such a manner; created the view from earlier.
To the one that stood above—who carefully enveloped the other to the earth in the ground and then walked opposite him—that rested.
"Goodbye," he uttered.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
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To sum up this current life of mine, after graduation, until those last minutes, I couldn't understand what I wanted; thus, this ended up with me applying for some random large company.
I didn't deduce it was for a sort of industry—though, as long as I could live decently... Maybe it wasn't a bad opportunity—no matter, even if I'd ended up somewhere, it'd be the same.
...
I breathe, I eat, I drink, I sleep, and to supply those necessities' I'd go take my duties'—nonetheless, I didn't' believe this man would be active to the end—in regard to the job I've worked at—frankly accepted I'd be stopped before I'd reached the late twenties; perhaps I'd do it when 'that' ended, I thought as I walked down that silent road. Even at the last moment, the final wish I've yearned to accomplish was just a step more—and...
And even that wasn't given.
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Before the resurrection, haa—why has that memory come to me? Perhaps because I now stand here in the same space as the last time—I'd take any entertainment, alright? It's dark, clearly; in that case, let's just wait for it to heal me.
Oh—"Vie," ah, let me explain. The third spell I've learned in the last time was this'space' kind of like those'storage'—still, unlike those in different isekais', this one's literally just endless.
'System Manipulation,' Mhmm, the one spell that isn't passive—and of course I'd tried it. It was quite a surprise as it led me to a place—a place beyond this' novels' world—somewhere without any mana at all, but in that manner I can store anything I'd like in here, even the soul.
A complicated manner to explain; basically, this 'yellow' orb of an object is Vie—as I'd say you were the same as me, hence, "I'd borrow your identity."
...
The lady has been out of it lately; ever since the end of that dungeon raid, it couldn't be helped; an innocent traveler was the victim of our poor planning. It'd hurt to say this, yet we were grateful that nothing was damaged—especially in that instant—if I had checked the surroundings' who knew what would happen to the lady? particularly to me.
I didn't imagine they would be bandits' in the area—I was 'lucky' that someone had already beaten them; otherwise, I'd presumably be the one to die.
So, who was it, really?
...
Knock—knock—"I'll enter."
"Are you alright?" I'd ask the lady who'd been observing the window this' last couple of days' "Mhm." She replied, having seen that look on her face, it seems she'd reflected on it thoroughly.
"Say that when I'd no longer see those bags' under your eyes—I voiced, as I gently chop a sense into her head—"Ouch, what was that for—you've really returned to that 'Hal,' huh?"
A smile raised up her face; her expressions' getting warmer than prior—these' mindless lines of thinking—"I'll go pay my visits' to the person, it appears they're done burying—come if you'd like."
...
("Somehow I'd felt as if I'd lost somebody close to me...nevermind that.") was what the lady had in mind—"Ah! Wait for me." So said the lady who continued to follow the knight.
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"Are you ready to leave, 'young master'?" A blonde-haired man bowed to the opposite—a young man who wore the attire immersed in full black clothing—visibly almost torn to pieces.
"Yeah, I've already written a resignation."—"That so?"—piercing blue eyes' landed on the others' distant gaze. "Then we'd best be on our way. Also, you'd be better off changing—we don't want you being caught, do we?"
...
...
...
How tiring—since that nobleman' asked for the service—how would I decline? It was as nerve-racking as they've told me—it'll be a fun trip, hopefully.
Minai—that's me; a man of common blood in his eighteen' and one who works the role of a'spy'—at least that's what I go by—aim to quit 'til I get paid by these noblemen.'—that is, formerly being captured by 'that' man, it's fine as they say money makes the world go round.
So, if all goes well, I could charge him extra as well~ [Match Up]. Hm, who should I go for...? Like a deck of cards', a list of candidates' popped up and led me to point out a single man. Oh—Lin Forged—not much is known about his appearance—he does meet certain conditions' and accordingly, that viscounts' out the kingdom for a while...
Therefore, he's name' it'll be.
...
That said, should I triple the fee? I didn't think that man would provide a ride and a place to stay—more than that, some money included. How 'important' is this kid anyway?
I spoke too soon—dazzingly enough, he does 'take after' that family—(and maybe, in terms of appearances, for sure, he exceeds them.) However, an expression as 'that' doesn't go with a face; smile, smile~ anyhow, I'm probably the problem.
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With my contract ending up—I'd need to act quickly; be late, and I'd end up with the departed~ therefore, as careless as it might sound like [Concealed Shadow], I followed the young master. (Tip 1: People like that tend to have secrets' for many uses.)
Being the case—where is he heading to? At such late at night to boot... This might've been more dangerous than I anticipated, or not? The staff's quarters, ah?
...
Who's that? A young man went out of the building, and to an extent, he's kind of similar to the young master—I didn't get the wrong person, did I? This one does have lighter hair, and surely the other stood out way more than him—with the images I'd made—without warning; that silent execution happened in a mere minute.
'What the...' not an ounce of blood spilled yet; the other fell over to the dark-haired youth's shoulder—crimson-red eyes at my direction; I've got caught~ haa, honestly,
...
this has gotten more interesting than I'd intended to be.