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“I do.”

Davey waved his hand dismissively and walked away, brushing off her question. She stood silently, watching his back as he left.

"Having to doubt my husband… So unpleasant,” she said while making a frustrated face she rarely put up.

No matter how she looked at him, there was no definitive proof that he wasn’t Davey. But something about their conversation felt off, leaving her unsettled.

"Then…”

"On the surface, he seems no different from the Davey we know. But we’ll have to keep an eye on him."

Whether he was aware of her growing doubts or not, Davey was busy preparing for their departure to the capital.

* * *

“Greetings to the Sun of the Kingdom.”

“Welcome, Davey,” King Krianes said while seated on his throne.

Baris approached as well.

"Brother, it’s good to see you."

“I heard the royal tombs were robbed, Your Majesty.”

“I’m afraid it’s true,” Krianes admitted, his expression clouded with shame.

"And my mother’s tomb…?"

"I’m sorry."

After Queen Lennie’s passing, King Krianes had her remains carefully laid to rest in the royal tombs. Now, they had been desecrated.

"With the whole situation gathering attention, it seems we’ve attracted scavengers from every corner."

"Baris, have you caught the culprits?"

"Yes, Marquis Peiltris apprehended them himself. They are currently being held in the underground prison—we plan to interrogate them at dawn and execute them immediately after." R̃

Davey nodded quietly. They had captured the culprits, but Davey knew there had to be more to it—someone still hiding in the shadows.

"Though we tortured them, we have yet to discover their motives. It seems likely they were acting under someone else’s orders…"

Davey made a cold expression before bowing to the king and storming out of the hall. Perserque, who had been watching their interaction silently, gave the king a respectful nod before following after him.

"Perserque, wait."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Did something happen to Davey?"

"Pardon…?"

Caught off guard, she blinked in confusion.

"What do you mean…?"

"Royal Father?” Baris, equally puzzled, looked at the king.

King Krianes, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, mumbled.

"I hope it’s just my imagination…"

His words made Perserque open her eyes in surprise.

* * *

“P-Please! Spare me! I didn’t mean to…! Aaaargh!”

Squelsh!!

Davey cleanly slashed the man’s neck with Red Ribbon. His face was ever so determined, without the slightest hesitation or emotion.

"Even the most reckless grave robbers wouldn’t dare touch the tombs of a kingdom with strong royal authority."

“P-Please… Spare me…”

Davey grabbed the man who was crawling on the ground with one hand, lifted him effortlessly, and stared him down with cold, piercing eyes.

"Where?"

"W-Where…?"

"The relics of the late queen, Lennie Alishad. I know you stole them. Where are they?"

"They—They’re on the black market…"

His face twisted with disgust as the culprits relinquished the truth.

"The black market? I took it down last time.”

"It reopened after it went down…! It’s run by the Kaisha organization, a notorious gang in the Lyndis Empire…”

Davey knew of Kaisha, having heard about it from Emperor Deorte. It was an organization with deep political connections that knew their way around the rules and regulations. Even Emperor Deorte had allowed it to operate, treating it as a necessary evil to regulate the underworld—they were basically the ones in control of the other organizations as well, after all.

"Did they make you do this?”

"N-No! We just thought we could make some quick money…"

They were just idiots that thought they could profit from royal relics. In truth, they were lucky to still be alive. Normally, the knights would’ve killed them already. Not that it would save them now…

"Fine."

"Gaaa!! Ahh!!”

The man gasped, tears streaming down his face as the dark mana coursing through his body oozed out.

"Please… Please spare me…"

As they continued to beg, Davey lit a small black flame at the tip of each finger without saying a word.

"If you survive the next two hours, you’re free to go.”

"R-Really?!"

Their eyes lit up with hope. But his next words shattered their illusion.

"Yeah. I’ll forgive you and let you die quickly and cleanly."

Sizzle!!

"GAAA!!"

They didn’t know surviving two hours meant withstanding fire and that his forgiveness meant death. They screamed at the top of their heads and melted away.

"Davey… Wasn’t that a bit much?"

"Sorry. I couldn’t quite control myself," Davey muttered, walking past Illyna without a second glance.

"Davey always followed his mother around when he was little. He probably feels guilty, especially considering she passed away in a very unfortunate way…” Winley murmured, catching up to them with a somber expression.

"Davey…" Illyna muttered, watching his retreating figure with a troubled look.

In the capital of the Lyndis Empire, Andrang, the leader of the Kaisha gang, was sweating bullets as Davey stood before him.

"I’m asking nicely—hand them over."

"B-But we acquired them through legitimate means—"

"I’m sure you know what happens to people who buy stolen goods.”

If the man in front of him were any other noble or royalty, Andrang wouldn’t have flinched. But this man was different.

Most people knew him as a saint—someone who had saved the continent from countless threats, known for his mercy and fairness.

He was a flawless man.

But those familiar with what he did to the underworld knew the truth.

‘The truth regarding why there were no petty gangs in Heins Territory!’

Petty gangs did everything for money, and Davey similarly had no limits when it came to punishing them. Years ago, he had single-handedly destroyed the black market after they abducted a common villager from Heins and sold them as a slave. He didn’t care that the victim was only a commoner—he reduced the entire organization to rubble.

In other words, there was nothing good that could come from going against Davey. It was better to cooperate with him and not get in any trouble.

"Fine… But—"

"Say ‘but’ one more time, and I’ll take it as a sign that you’re ready for the consequences that follow. I’m holding back now only because of my father-in-law. Don’t test me."

"Boot! B-Bring it! Now!"

Terrified by his murderousness, Boss Andrang barked at his men to go through the stolen goods.

"It looks like we have one thing from the Rowane Kingdom… It looks like a jewelry box."

"Hand it over."

"Y-Yes… But—my apologies! It’s a force of habit! Please forgive me!" Andrang yelped as Davey’s hand menacingly approached his neck.

Davey would’ve sliced his head away if he hadn’t been quick with his excuse.

“...”

“But first, give us your word. We did pay a hefty price to obtain this treasure, after all. We won\'t ask you for reimbursement, but if you could leave us out of this matter...”

“Bring it to me before I change my mind.”

Emperor Deorte deliberately allowed the organization to exist, and Davey figured he must’ve had his reasons for doing so. He then accepted the small jewel box that one of the subordinates brought over.

“This better not be a fake.”

“Who would dare to deceive someone like you? We know better than to overstep.”

After a moment of contemplation, Davey disappeared into the darkness without another word.

“Phew…”

Andrang shuddered, feeling as though he\'d aged decades from the fear, and collapsed to the ground.

“From now on, don\'t accept anything from the Rowane Kingdom.”

“Pardon, sir? If we do that, won\'t it damage our reputation?”

“Reputation won’t keep our heads attached to our necks.”

He had just learned a harsh truth about life.

* * *

Davey sat in silence before his mother’s grave for hours, blankly staring at the jewel box she left behind. Later on, Perserque and Josiah had come to check on him and the jewel box.

“Well?”

“It’s a counterfeit…”

Josiah declared with certainty.

“The ring inside resembles the one I made, but it’s not the same.”

Josiah Frances had grown up as a human, but her true nature was that of a vampire. Not just any vampire—both Milpieu and her predecessors had said she possessed one of the greatest talents among all Vampire Lords.

She possessed the Blood Contract, and authority she wielded was hers alone.

“To be honest, I might not have noticed if I hadn’t looked carefully.”

Hearing her assessment, Perserque made a bitter face.

“At first glance, the connection between the pieces seems perfect. But there’s a subtle difference—it’s as if someone copied the ring exactly, down to the smallest detail.”

“Okay,” Davey murmured.

“Where do you think he’s gone?” Josiah asked.

“Somewhere far... very far away.”

Perserque looked away with a sorrowful expression.

“But, Per.”

“Hm?”

“Don’t you think it could really be him?”

The memories, the strength, everything he possessed—even Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon—were identical.

‘If everything about him is the same… didn’t that mean he was really Davey?’ Perserque thought.

Just then, Davey, who had been silently running his fingers over the box, retrieved something from inside. What happened next shocked them.

He began to cry before his mother’s tomb. Silent tears streamed down his face. He clutched a small item tightly in his hand, whispering something under his breath.

Perserque’s gaze grew increasingly complicated as she watched him.

* * *

Despite the late hour, Davey returned to the Heins Territory and worked tirelessly on new policies for the people. He personally went around to check on their well-being.

Eventually, he made his way to Perserque inside her room.

“Still awake?”

“I was waiting for you.”

“You knew I’d come?”

“If you hadn’t, I would’ve gone to find you myself.”

With a calm expression, she closed the novel she had been reading.

“Davey.”

“Come here.”

Seeing Davey smiling warmly with his arms open, she slowly approached him.

“Show me your divinity.”

Davey made a puzzled face at her sudden request. But after a brief moment, he nodded.

“Well, alright.”

As he unleashed his power, a pale light began to glow around him.

‘Something is off.’

The divinity he emitted was almost identical to Davey’s, but there was a subtle discrepancy.

“Davey…”

“Aren’t you going to give me a hug?”

“Who… are you?”

Her question made him freeze.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Per.”

“At first, it was only a suspicion. Honestly, it didn’t feel good to doubt you.”

“...”

“I tried to trust you… but there are too many things that don’t add up.”

“Like what?”

“Davey. Do you remember the promise we made before you left?”

“Of course.”

“What was it?”

“That when I came back, we’d do everything we wanted together.”

“And before that?”

“Before that…?”

Davey furrowed his brows in confusion.

“I… I don’t remember.”

“Davey…”

Perserque took a step back.

“The Davey I know has a flawless memory, almost like a curse.”

“Why… Why can’t I remember?”

“It’s not that you’ve forgotten. It’s that you never had those memories to begin with.”

Even someone with perfect memory couldn’t recall something that they never experienced.

“And another thing.”

“Another?”

“That ring you’re wearing.”

Davey glanced down at the ring on his finger.

“Josiah said that although it looks exactly like the one she made, it’s not linked to mine through her magic.”

“That can’t be...”

“And Megalodria mentioned that the connection between you two has weakened.”

This was indicative of something seriously wrong with Davey’s condition.

“Even Verdandi said the power she lent you has been severed.”

“Wait… I really don’t remember. Why can’t I remember why I went there in the first place?”

“You don’t remember?”

“No, I don’t. Honestly, this is all overwhelming. If told by the woman they love that they’re a fake, who wouldn’t feel lost?”

“I’m sorry,” Perserque said calmly as she stepped back.

Everything indicated that he was an imposter. This in turn made Perserque certain that he was something else that was impersonating Davey, even right down to his personality.

“I want to believe you… but I can’t ignore the mounting evidence.”

Perserque reached out and took his hand, rolling up his sleeve.

His arm no longer resembled that of a human. Patches of his skin were peeled away. A glowing form of something, like a construct of pure energy, had replaced his arm.

“What… is this?”

“This is the final proof that you were created. I realized it the moment you arrived here.”

Davey sank into a nearby chair, overwhelmed by the revelation.

“So… I’m a fake?”

“...”

“I have the same memories, the same powers, and I love you just as much… But I’m still a fake?”

“Davey…”

“Don’t call me that. If I really am a fake, I have no right to that name. But Per…”

He lifted his gaze slowly, his face grim.

“I carry his memories and his power… what does that make me then?”

There was no malice in his question, as he was Davey in every way. He wanted to protect the people of the Heins Territory, enjoy his hobbies, and live a peaceful life just like the real Davey wanted. He even missed his long-deceased mother and his younger sister who he had left behind on Earth.

Yet he was a mere fabrication. Despite being ninety nine percent the same, there would always be that one percent difference. Many could argue that the difference was too minuscule to matter, but the true difference was more significant than one could imagine. It was like copying a soul and pasting it into a new body.

“So… What am I?”

Perserque teared up at his question.

“You are…”

She hesitated, struggling if she should firmly declare him to be a fake. But she thought that would be far too cruel.

“What am I?”

“Davey…”

“Don’t call me that. If I’m just a fake like you’re saying, then everything I feel and think must be fake too. Borrowed memories, borrowed identity, borrowed body… It’s all fake.”

He let out a bitter laugh and staggered back.

“Davey, listen! We don’t know yet! Maybe you were twisted by that place—by that Red Void you were trapped in. Maybe you’re still the real Davey, and this is all just a terrible mistake—”

“Enough, Per.”

“...”

“I don’t blame you. I love you, so I can’t resent you,” he said calmly with a bitter smile. “And you do have a point.

“There are strange gaps in my memory. There are things I can’t recall. There are things that don’t match up, too.”

Davey felt like some of the memories he should remember and those he shouldn’t had been jumbled together.

“Davey…”

“Honestly, I think you’re right. I might just be a fake.”

“...”

“And above all,” he said in a voice laced with sadness. “My powers are fading. Even Red Ribbon and Blue Ribbon barely speak anymore. If I’m right, the power in this body is only a fraction of the original’s strength since it was just copied over.”

He accepted the reality of his situation without much resistance.

However—

"With all these strange inconsistencies, I don’t know what to say anymore.”

The truth was, he didn’t want to admit it. He had all the memories. The same powers. All he wanted was to live a peaceful life from here on out.

"I need some time to think."

As Davey turned and left, Perserque slumped to the floor, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle a sob.

Even though it felt inevitable, the truth was far too cruel. She wished it were all just a mistake, a misunderstanding.

But everything pointed to him being a fake.

And if it was a trap, it was an incredibly elaborate one.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

* * *

“So, I’m... a fake.”

Walking silently through the dim hallway, Davey glanced at his faint bluish arm. He then closed his eyes.

When Perserque told him what she thought, his first instinct should’ve been to laugh it off as nonsense.

But he couldn’t.

Because no one knew better than he did that something was wrong with his body. He had undergone changes that shouldn\'t have happened if he was the real Davey. His body had twisted and distorted, as if they were the aftermath of someone forcing him to become a duplicate Davey.

“...”

He closed his eyes again. He knew he could continue living as if nothing had changed, pretending to be Davey.

After all, he was Davey O’Rowane—or at least, he believed so.

But—

"This... isn\'t my place."

His eyes darkened with frustration.

"This isn’t where I belong."

Crack…

He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles popped, his voice choked with sorrow and rage.

“Damn it... Then what the hell am I!?”

Bang!!

He slammed his fist into the wall, shattering it while breathing heavily.

“What... am I!?”

ChubbyCheeks & FriedNook\'s Thoughts

Editorb’s Thought

Wtf is going on lol