The Same Face, The Same Build, The Same Voice. Even the clothes, crafted meticulously with attire packets, were identical down to the last detail, creating the uncanny impression that a mirror might be placed between the two.

They looked so alike that the Regressor’s eyes, which had cycled through seven distinct hues, couldn’t determine who the real Historia was.

“They’re not entirely the same. The issue is that I don’t know which one is real. No matter how I look, this doesn’t seem like some mystical power or a supernatural ability. It’s purely Qi Gong—an innate skill achieved through self-mastery. Perhaps it’s even reached the level of enlightenment… Tch, no wonder I couldn’t figure it out in the previous loop!”

In the previous loop, the Regressor had gotten close to the core of the military nation, yet the secrets remained elusive. The unexpected depth of military secrecy was partly to blame, as was the Regressor’s view of the military nation as merely an obstacle to overcome.

Now, with newfound insights, the Regressor looked at me with barely concealed anticipation.

“At least I’m not the only one in the dark here. Well then, can you figure it out, too?”

Their eyes sparkled with such excitement it felt overwhelming.

“Shay, why are you staring at me all of a sudden?”

“Oh, nothing. What about you? Think you could tell the difference?”

“Pardon? What do you take me for? I can spot even the tiniest scratch on the back of a card. Of course, I can tell them apart. How about you, Shay?”

“Me? If I put my mind to it, I could do it, too.”

“Then go ahead and try.”

When I challenged them, the Regressor scratched their chin, looking a bit troubled.

“Well… but to tell them apart, I’d have to open the Eye of Fate. I’m not one to be stingy with my lifespan, but using it for something like this is a bit much.”

“I wasn’t going to say this, but if you need a life-seeing cheat skill to tell, doesn’t that mean you just can’t?”

“S-Shut up! If you’re so confident, why don’t you try guessing!”

Please, I could just use mind-reading to know. I shook my head and read Historia’s thoughts.

“I hate to admit it, but that’s a perfect copy of me. My appearance, my voice, even the unique stride of someone trained in the Qi Gong technique, Baksakyeong. If not even Hui can figure it out…”

Why are they even asking if they think I won’t get it? Might as well give me a subtle signal instead. Aren’t they a piece of work?

I stood up and asked, “By the way, what’s with the quiz in broad daylight?”

“Oh, nothing special. The Security Director just changed and tagged along for fun.”

The ‘Historia’ before me spoke in a voice identical to Historia’s, but for someone like me who perceives people by their minds, it meant little. What’s the point of having the same appearance and mannerisms when the thoughts are different?

Looking flatly at the 'Historia' who had just spoken, I said, “Then since Hilde came up with it, she’ll be the one giving out the prize.”

“Well… I’m not sure if she has anything prepared.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? You’re not going to pretend there’s no prize, are you?”

When I pointed it out, ‘Historia’ froze in place. Staring at me with a rigid face, ‘Historia’ then broke into a wide smile, spreading her arms wide.

“Correct! Amazing, Father! How did you know? I put my entire heart into this act, even replicated the attire packets perfectly!”

“That’s a secret. A magician must never reveal their tricks.”

“Ugh! How unfair! You didn’t set up a secret signal between yourselves behind my back, did you?”

“Sure, I may be a third-rate magician who colludes with the audience, but Lia wouldn’t do that—she has too much pride.”

“Oh, really? Then what about my pride?”

‘Historia’ stomped her feet in frustration, acting more childishly than the real Historia ever would. Needless to say, this was Hilde. I looked at her coolly, no longer buying into her act.

“Fine, so what’s the prize?”

“The prize? It’s me!”

“That’s not a prize; that’s just… an object. I want a real prize.”

“You’re so mean! If you accept me as your prize, I could give you a massage!”

A massage, huh? Now that I think of it, Hilde does know how to use both holy power and acupressure techniques.

It’s not that surprising, really. Holy power is accessible to any human with a devout faith and deep understanding of sacred rites. But of course, the “devout faith” requirement is strict enough that any other belief makes it impossible... It’s not for nothing that they say wizards can’t use holy power.

But if it’s someone like the shapeshifter before me, who can even fool herself, that’s another story.

“Well then, I’ll take you up on that… But that’s not the real reason you came here, is it?”

“Nope! Our General has an important message for you!”

“An important message?”

Perfect timing. As long as Tirkanjaka’s around, I can’t rely on holy power for healing. Watching a healer transform back and forth in real-time isn’t exactly something I want to see, so I braced myself against the wall and headed out.

“I’ll be right back after a wash and some treatment. I don’t need you tagging along.”

“Hm. Fine. Go ahead.”

Who would’ve thought the one on the left was the real one…? Next time, I’ll get it right for sure.

See, I wasn’t the only one thinking it was a quiz.

Still feeling sore, I hunched as I stepped outside. Historia and ‘Historia’ followed on either side. Even if I perceive people by their thoughts, seeing two Historias standing side-by-side is confusing. Without mind-reading, I’d be completely lost.

But why do I feel like I’m being tested with no reward or reason? Feeling cheated, I turned to Historia.

“By the way, Lia, why did you join Hilde’s morning quiz?”

Without even glancing my way, Historia replied.

“I didn’t join.”

“Come on, Hilde walked up to me with your face and asked me to guess who was real. That’s basically a quiz, right?”

“She did that on her own. I didn’t stop her.”

“That’s only an excuse if she’d come alone. You were right there beside her. Doesn’t that count as cooperating?”

Historia still didn’t turn, but Hilde, beaming, chimed in with enthusiasm.

“Because! Girls always want someone to notice those tiny but special traits only they have! Our Major here is a girl, too!”

“…Director.”

“See! Even her tone is gentler now! Have you ever seen Historia act like this?”

Why was she getting so excited? I’d humor her, but with these sore muscles, I couldn’t keep up with her energy. Seeing me struggle, ‘Historia’ boldly inspected my body and asked,

“So, Father, what’ll it be? A massage? Shower? Or both?”

Both? Even if you were my real daughter, that would be crossing a line. Historia immediately reacted.

“What do you mean, both?”

“Don’t worry, Historia! I’ll handle it all myself!”

“That’s not the point! Don’t do anything like that with my body!”

“Ah… Guess I’ll have to respect her wishes. Fine, I’ll keep it proper and shift into a male form.”

“I never said that! You’re missing the point!”

Right, Historia was spot on.

“Lia’s right. My consent is what matters here.”

“You can’t, no matter what you think!”

What? No way?

Look here, Historia. I’m the king of humankind. There’s nothing I can’t do when it comes to a beast. You’re in no place to—

Don’t even think about it…! I’ll pummel you if you try!

Well, some things are impossible, even for me. I guess there’s one more thing to add to that list now.

“Alright, I’ll hear Lia out first.”

“And what about the massage?”

“It’s not exactly the top priority, is it? Since you both came here together, it must be about Lia’s plans for the military nation… or rather, about using the military nation as leverage. Am I right?”

“Nothing gets past you, does it, Father? That’s right.”

Well, I’m using mind-reading, after all. Hilde shrugged her shoulders, undoing her transformation.

“Oh well~. I’ll leave the privilege of kneading Father’s shoulders to Historia!”

“Like hell I’d do that.”

“Though it should be a hands-on job, I suppose you’d feel uncomfortable with me here. I’ll take my leave, then!”

Hilde waved her hands and stepped away lightly. Though she’s technically on my side, she seems to care about the military nation a lot. She sticks around effortlessly but steers clear of anything that could harm the nation.

On the other hand, Yuel takes the opposite stance. While Yuel tried to resist me and Tirkanjaka aggressively, Hilde, by contrast, seeks compromise. If Yuel is a hawk, then Hilde is more like a dove… or maybe a cuckoo? She’s embedded herself in the midst of former enemies, carving out her own space.

Well, I’ll play along, even if I know. It’s easier that way for everyone.

“Come in.”

Historia’s room was particularly spacious and luxurious, even by annex standards. Though “luxurious” in a military nation’s terms meant a slightly softer sofa, a somewhat larger bed, and a cozier blanket. This is supposed to be a VIP room?

By my standards, a sofa harder than a wool cushion doesn’t qualify as a sofa. I didn’t feel like subjecting my sore body to it, so I dragged my feet over and collapsed onto the bed.

Historia looked at me with concern.

“…Are you in pain?”

“Not as much as you’ve endured, but I can’t tolerate it as well.”

“Lie down. I’ll apply acupressure.”

Acupressure—treating the body with physical force infused with Qi? She does realize that if she messes up, she could cause internal injuries, right? I’m feeling uneasy.

“You learned acupressure?”

“I watched the Security Director do it.”

Really? If you could learn just by watching once, then what’s the point of studying? Even if you’re a genius, acupressure is a technique with history and tradition—

“Oh… Ohhh… that feels good.”

Well, I guess it works.

Historia’s hands moved skillfully over my muscles. She dispersed Qi lightly, feeling the tension points, then instinctively focused on where it was knotted. It felt like someone was massaging me from the inside.

Lacking holy power was a shame, but maybe that’s what made it feel so refreshing. Satisfaction comes when something missing gets fulfilled. Holy power, with its “reversing” nature, often lacks that sense of satisfaction.

“Hui. Position six.”

“Got it.”

Position six was a knee-raising posture… My body moved almost on its own. With one knee up while lying down, areas that had been untouched received a direct impact, making me let out a long groan.

Aside from occasional posture instructions, she continued the massage in silence. When I started feeling more relaxed, Historia pressed her hands into my back and spoke.

“…I…”

It was finally getting serious. I stifled my groans and focused on her words.

“I was trying to create a place for you in the military nation so you could return anytime.”

It’s said that those who master Qi Gong can control their bodies entirely at will... but is that really true? Will is something that sways with emotions, so can it ever truly be “complete”?

Historia’s hands and voice… were trembling, beyond her control.

“Not just for you. For those who survived Hameln, like Siati, and others who went on to the military academy despite the stigma following the Hameln incident. I wanted to give them all a place… and that’s why I followed orders and became a Grand Commander.”

Because of Historia becoming a Grand Commander, the students of the military academy who survived Hameln weren’t ostracized.

Because Historia actively participated in all assignments, Siati and the Resistance survived.

Because Historia left the position of her adjutant vacant, someone—one lucky person who caught her eye—could enjoy a respectable position with minimal trials...

But that position remained empty.

“You’re the King of Humanity, aren’t you? You grant people’s wishes… but…”

Her hand tapped my back, carrying a weight that went beyond physical pain.

Historia fought alone to carve out that place. Although the military nation dismissed her efforts after her initial betrayal, it didn’t invalidate her struggle.

But in the end, her wish was not to fill a position but to create it in the first place.

“Lia. You wanted a friend, an equal, didn’t you? Someone you could share your heart with.”

A connection based on something beyond strength or authority—a true equal.

That was Historia’s desire.

“To share your heart, you first have to cut away part of it. You had the strength and ability to do that; it’s just that other people’s voices couldn’t reach you. Just like the children’s cries couldn’t reach the military nation.”

I lay my own feelings on others, but I never truly share them. That’s why I can only fulfill others’ wishes but can never be the object of their desire.

Historia’s feelings for me were born from mind-reading—a shortcut. For her to genuinely share her heart, she had to open it first.

“The military nation didn’t change much after Hameln. But the cries those children risked their lives for changed you, and thanks to that, the military nation changed. Their wish was fulfilled… because you accepted it.”

“It was hard.”

“But you did it. It’s different now from the solo act at Hameln. You have people who rely on you, who respect you, and who you can live up to.”

That’s why Historia had to make a place. Because only by creating a space can it be filled.

Historia realized this after losing so much.

Her hand, gripping my shoulder tightly, soon relaxed. Looking down at me, she spoke.

“The Security Director says there should always be one Grand Commander in the military nation who knows the secret.”

“If not, there’d be no one to protect it.”

“Hui, what am I supposed to do?”

“Do what you want to do.”

“But… what about you? No matter how much I create a place here, it’s meaningless if no one fills it. Even if I stay here to protect the military nation, you’ll never come back, will you…”

“Oh, about that…”

After making sure no one was eavesdropping, I spoke softly.

“I’m the King of Humanity, remember?”

“…I still don’t believe it, and even if I did, I’m not sure it would change anything. So?”

“Then why did the King of Humanity appear in the military nation?”

“Why are you asking me that, so-called King of Humanity?”

“Because I don’t know either. Like you, I was born human and couldn’t choose my birthplace. By the time I was old enough to understand, I was already rolling around in the back alleys of the military nation.”

The King of Beasts, in a general sense, adheres to universality. Though not an absolute rule, it’s broadly applicable. My presence in the military nation implies that the nation represents humanity’s universality to some extent.

The issue is that I don’t understand why that is.

“Being the King of Beasts doesn’t make me special. Especially not as the King of Humanity, with my power stripped away. Since I was born here, I’ve had to live in the military nation. That’s why I attended elementary and middle military school. If nothing had happened, I would’ve gone to high military academy and gradually uncovered the nation’s secrets.”

But in the end, I didn’t get to the high military academy, so you could say it’s unusual. In hindsight, humanity’s wishes align with that universality.

I was trying a different approach.

“Then, I happened to meet Shay and learned something.”

“The King of Sin?”

“Right. I need to confirm it. I don’t know how it’ll end—maybe it’ll be fine if I’m the only one left standing, or maybe it won’t be.”

I truly don’t know. This is uncharted territory, so I can’t afford to act recklessly. But I’m also not the type to play prophet, listing every possible outcome and treading carefully.

“But one thing’s for sure—once everything’s over, I’ll return to the military nation.”

That’s the truth. If I’m allowed ordinary time, I’ll stay in the military nation and search for the secrets, just like before entering the Abyss.

Historia pondered my words before finally replying.

“That sounds like a lie.”

Really? I’m honestly telling the truth, and she thinks it’s a lie?

“I can’t trust you. You abandoned the military nation and me so easily. Nothing can hold you back…”

Of course. I’m the King of Humanity. Unless I hold all of humanity hostage, that’s how it will remain.

But I still keep my promises.

“Alright, Lia. Thanks for the massage. Oh, right, remember when I went down to the basement of the communications department and promised I’d return the favor? Not that this is much, but…”

I extended my hand. Historia took it, pulling me up in a casual, friendly motion. Something two friends might do without much thought.

Then I added one more thing.

“Position eight.”

A movement to swap positions. Historia reacted instinctively. In an instant, our positions reversed, and Historia, who would never fall if she resisted, ended up sprawled on the bed due to a single whispered word.

Looking down at Historia, I rolled up my sleeves.

“You’re probably even more sore than me.”

“Huh…?”

“Consider this a payback. I’ll give you a massage.”

“Hui, you… acupressure…”

“I just learned it. Just now.”

I can’t do it. But Historia can. Which means, by reading her thoughts, I can, too.

Acupressure is a highly sensory skill, but it doesn’t matter. I can read her sensations.

“Position zero.”

That which is engraved early lasts the longest. Following a command set long ago when she was still unpolished, Historia exhaled deeply and relaxed.