Mistress Of The Evil Forest

''Ah, you came back.''

''Mhm.''

Closing the novel in her hands, Chloe smiles at me, ''I had a feeling you'd come over.'' she says.

And she would be right. Even without Sikare giving me these potions, I would still pay her a visit anyway. I wanted to ask her about the situation at the imperial palace, but I guess this takes priority.

Peering past the blond girl at the desk, I still see a lying silhouette on Peln's bed—the other me's bed. Neveah has been sleeping there since... I wonder how long she's going to stay that way.

''Did you see her?'' I ask, my voice soft, even though Neveah wouldn't wake up with more noise.

''Her? You mean the God of Nihility?''

''...Yeah.''

''Nope.''

Inconveniences in addressing her aside, Aurora is rarely seen these days, considering even Chloe is clueless about her. Head shaking, the girl flops back onto her chair with a sigh.

''I also need to see her... need to confirm some things.''

''That's easy enough.''

''...?''

Under her puzzled look, I pull out the suspicious-looking flasks from my inventory and put them in her hands. Chloe then perks up at me, eyes round, head tilting.

''What's this?''

''Unspecified potions. You said you wanted to switch back to your original body before, right? These can solve it.''

For a long time, Chloe didn't actually know if she wanted to come back to her old body. After all, 'Amelia Luminous' had both power and wealth, not to mention that Chloe spent a long time training Amelia's body.

Still, in the end, she chose to be 'Chloe.'

It's the only body that holds memories of her family, the one she was born with and lives in.

So, hearing that the switch is now possible, Chloe's eyes widen, and a wide smile unknowingly blooms on her face. Looking fired up all of a sudden, she rises to her feet, excitedly paces a few laps around the room, before slumping back onto the chair.

''Heheh... finally...!''

''Are you that happy?''

''Yeah! It's been so frustrating seeing that idiot running around with my body, acting like it's hers... oh, by the way, how does this solution work?''

When I explain it to Chloe, she predictably frowns at the scary-sounding process, but also calms down a bit. 

''...Pull out the soul...? Are you sure it's safe? And what does this have to do with the God of Nihility anyway?''

''About that...''

Chloe is my best friend. She's been with me for most of my life, a reliable companion and a good person. Unless someone tampers with my memories, I'm sure I won't forget her even if thousands of years have passed. Those are my core memories, and I won't let them go so easily.

So, even if something were to go wrong with the procedure, the other me definitely won't sit still.

No, she'd prevent it from happening.

But regardless, she'll show up any time soon. Like...

''You guys are trying something interesting.''

Now.

One with darkness, Aurora gently steps out of the shadow, literally 'appearing out of nowhere.' With that same thin smile, she snaps her fingers, bringing the flasks into her hands. Chloe seems almost angry that her stuff is stolen, arms flailing, but knowing her opponent, there's nothing she can do except stay still.

''Hm... quite a strong partition. It must have been difficult to replicate a deity's power with mortal methods.'' Aurora hums.

''You're here just in time. I have a favor—''

''Return Chloe to her original body, yes? Neveah over there told me about it before, actually.''

Both of us turn to the white-haired goddess, but she's dead asleep, so we look at one another instead. Naturally, a question arises.

''Uh... did she ever mention the reason I switched bodies with Amelia in the first place?'' Chloe cautiously asks.

Grinning mischievously, the other me replies, ''What do you think? In this world, one Amelia Luminous, a duke's daughter, is worth a thousand times more than Chloe, a nobody. The matters regarding the Miko are complicated, as you know.''

''...So it's for progression, after all.''

Wait, then what about me? If I weren't being put into a noble's body anyway, then why an owl? As far as I know, Zircon Owls aren't exactly apex predators. Why not something inherently stronger?

As if she has read my thoughts, Aurora makes a 'shush.'

''That's a story for another time. Now, then, let's return you to where you belong, Chloe.''

''O-Okay. It's probably safe, right...?''

''Maybe?''

Why are both of you uncertain??

Nonetheless, now that we've come this far, even I am a bit nervous. After all, we'll have to make some adjustments once the two swap back. It'll be chaotic.

''W-What is this?! Why are you guys dragging me here in the middle of the night?!''

Calling for the real Amelia isn't hard. She's still under my command, after all. I suppose this is one reason we can be confident in leaving Amelia Luminous's body for... Amelia Luminous.

This girl is somewhat of an idiot. She's reckless and rash, but at least she knows how to act.

''Uh...''

Surrounded by the three of us, Amelia lets out the little retaliations she has, but soon, her demeanor softens significantly. I wonder if the 'arrogant' and 'intensely noble' Amelia is capable of being this timid in the game.

After we tell her the procedure, the girl is expectedly stunned.

''Eh? Swapping back...?''

This should be something she wants, too, so it doesn't take long before she nods and chugs down the potion, followed by Chloe herself. The two lay side by side on the empty bed, seeming slightly pale.

It would be a lie if I said I'm not worried, but since Aurora is here...

''Phew... 049, are you there?''

''Heeding your command, my lord.''

''...Didn't I tell you to call me by my name?''

For some reason, as I summon the doc, his way of addressing me has suddenly changed. Hands behind his back, 049 stares briefly at me—at us—and nods as if reaffirming something.

''When you become one with the supreme entity, my lord, you shall become the purest existence—free of diseases, free of the Pestilence... if so, it is only just that I address you this way.''

''Fine...''

Resignation. 

There's nothing I can do against this man's stubbornness. Thankfully, he proceeds to do his job properly, manipulating the faint essences floating above the girls' bodies. Visually, it seems almost ghostly, which isn't good.

Aurora is looking... amused. Maybe it's fine. It has to be.

''Finished. Now they do fit, I see.''

Babbling something about souls and bodies, the doc gingerly walks back into the portal I made. Nervously, I approach the unconscious girls, noticing the usual aura of Chloe has indeed come back to her old body.

It's a strange feeling, having adjusted my mental image of her all this time... and now, we're reversing it again.

What should I tell her when she wakes up? 'Welcome back'? 'Congratulations'?

''Just take her on a date.''

''...What?''

The other me is saying something ridiculous with a smug. I really do wonder what has gotten into her...

''Trust me. It's going to be peaceful for a while, so focus on yourself.'' She shrugs. ''And the people around you. Take a break from the 'storyline.'''

''...''

''That'll be beneficial for you, don't you think?''

Leaving those words behind, she vanishes into nothingness.