The Traveling Hero Won’t Let the Innkeeper’s Son Escape

The day after the invasion of another creature. Ruth and Cyrus were on their way to Tomash.

Cyrus had already spoken to Tomash. Ruth is guided straight to the small chair without being asked anything.

(Did the conversation with Mr. Thomas... go well?

I wonder if you're worried about others, but I'm worried about Cyrus and Tomash.

As always, Thomas talks in a frivolous way, and Cyrus talks to Ruth.

However, as far as the condition was concerned, there was not a very harsh atmosphere.

The dolls (Dolls) who were helping Tomash with his research were also working flat.

"Look, Ruth. Imagine it. Remember in your head that you want to be your body, your body, your body, your body. Think about how your body moves."

At the end of Cyrus's words, Ruth's consciousness was cut off from the surroundings.

The view you've been seeing disappears, losing the feeling of the doll's limbs. I feel like a cloud. I suddenly felt numb as if I could sleep like this.

Ruth, don't forget your image! It's the same as moving a doll. Be conscious! They're gonna disappear! You're gonna help Alec!

Silas's words can be heard from the other side of the wall. The thought that had been diluted by the name "Alec" was clear.

(Ah, yes, I have to imagine. We need to help Alec a little bit.)

I almost lost sight of myself when my body senses dragged me into consciousness.

Even Thomas, who had few words, was told not to lose sight of himself. I'm sure I know this feeling, and it's because he failed. That's all that matters.

(It's hard...)

It's as if I can't wake up. The world is about to become blurred and integrated with itself. I feel strongly that I have to keep myself, but half of my brain is wrapped in blurriness and mist, and I'm about to lose sight of myself.

Ruth, if it doesn't work, I'll stop! That's nice!

(I can't do that...!

Cyrus and Tomash spent a lot of time while we were busy, and we can't afford to make it any harder. And once you fail, there's a chance you won't let me tell you that it's dangerous next time.

(Make the image stronger!

The image of my body. Physical strength and hips that can run wild mountains. The ability to pull a bow, the skill of handling knives. Good ears to hear distant sounds.

Share as much as you can remember from your brain to your whole body.

But along the way, I also wondered how big my body was and how thick my arms were.

(What... that?

Then, somehow, extra information came into Ruth's head.

Is that my body? What's my... body... like?

I don't know how thick my arms were, how broken my stomach was, how tall I was, how low my voice was - the more I think about it. It's too obvious, I don't really remember my physical characteristics. I can't remember.

I felt my memory was confused.

(Ah, no....)

Such a confused head, a strong image came from the depths of my memory.

Body on stretched arms and legs like thick wood, high field of view overlooking most people, hair that cannot be extended habitually.

Even though I felt that the figure that came to mind was not my own, the image gradually became immobilized because I remember seeing it in the mirror many times.

"Hey, Ruth! Something's wrong, all right!?

I heard Cyrus's worried voice again.

(Shit, they think it's a failure)

Anyway, to be stronger than now, it was changed to a split-type. Ruth remembered that it was not a fragile thing like a doll, but a strong body.

Eventually, the sensation of the limbs returns. I grabbed the pipe on the side and felt a cloth under my leg.

Oh, hey, this...

Cyrus, stay back. Final adjustment in progress. It's not good to fail now. "

Silas' confused voice echoes Tomash's serious voice.

(Is it going well?

I gradually felt myself taking on the shape of a person. Two hands and two legs, each with their fingertips, grasp the surrounding objects vigorously.

(Such a man's body was a trick.)

The feeling of instability and danger disappears from the figure of the doll, and you feel the strength of the trunk of a tree.

(I can see around...)

Color and shadows appeared in a world that had always been pure white.

From the blurry appearance of Cyrus, you can clearly see it.

--But for some reason, it was a confused expression.

"Cyrus, please..."

The voice that finally came out was lower than I could imagine.

(Is that it? Was I such a low, scratchy voice?

When I heard it in my own ear, I felt it was a little sweeter, but what came out of Ruth's mouth now was a bass that was hard to hear.

I thought that the Splice type was a side effect because it only mimics the human body, but I wonder if something is wrong.

While thinking about it, Ruth's body shapes people.

Eventually, Ruth's head moved and he was able to look down at his body, which he felt uncomfortable with.

Did I feel so bony?

Most likely a woman would have mistaken her for someone she met for the first time. As for his own body, the body looked down strangely and succeeded.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"Theoretically, it's over. Split seems to have gotten used to magical phantom crystals...."

In Tomash's words, I found that Ruth had succeeded in changing to a spliced shape. But the words are unusual and confusing to him.

"... are you really Ruth?

With Cyrus questioning, Ruth's unpleasant feelings swelled to the fullest.

"Me... what are you like...? Don't you have a mirror or something?

"Oh, the mirror...."

"Use this one."

One of the dolls that was helping Tomash brought me a plate whose surface was glossy like a mirror. It must be some kind of experimental tool.

Looking sideways at Cyrus, who was forcing his expression, Ruth took it and looked at his face.

The moment I saw myself, my temperature suddenly dropped.

(- Why are you here?! Takashi Tanizaki!?

In the place where Ruth was supposed to be seen, Takashi Tanizaki, who lived before him, appeared.

Tough face, short hair, fat neck and torso on hands and feet. There was a magnificent figure there that was not similar to Ruth in this world.

"... Ruth, who the hell are you? I can hardly be anything but myself, can I? Is it a failure?

Splice forms a figure with an image. Nevertheless, since only my body knows fine details and how to move, I can't change my appearance even if I try to change to another person. Even if you can, it seems that only a strong part of your memory will make you look like a chimera bonded to your body. Of course, other creatures are going to be the same, and it's going to be even worse.

"This is...."

I was worried about how to explain it to Cyrus, who didn't know that Ruth had a memory of the previous life, and the door of the entrance burst open.

"Ruth, did it work!?

What I heard was Kia's voice. I told her this morning that Ruth would change to a split-type shape, so she must have waited in front of the door. But it won't come out forever, so I must have cut out the numbness and come in.

Kia, I told you not to wait.

"... are you done yet?"

"How'd it go?

Keep following Kia, and Karen, Ed, and Yuan will also come into the room. I can't see it directly from Ruth's position, but I can see it approaching with footsteps.

"Eh, well, what should I do!? What should I do!?

Ruth, who had become Takashi Tanzaki, was upset. Hurry up and think of Ruth's original figure, but it won't change. On the contrary, I tried to return to a liquid that was the prototype of the split type, but I didn't know how to do that either.

Put this on for now.

Cyrus gave me his clothes. The clothes provided for Loose are not long enough to look good.

Ruth!

Kia and the others opened the door to the room where Ruth and the others were. The change was over, so the assistant must have got it.

Kia and Ruth aligned their gaze, but as they looked around the room, they tilted their necks towards Cyrus.

"Cyrus, what about Ruth?

"Eh... no, Ruth..."

Cyrus tended to look at Ruth confused. Once again, the four eyes capture Ruth.

"Um... Cyrus, who is this guy?

"No, good man! Where did you hide such a good man, Cyrus?

"That's the first face I've ever seen."

"Who is it?

Of course, when I look at Ruth now, there's no way they can recognize him as "Ruth."

However, there is no Ruth like person in the room now, and the former Ruth Flor doll was dismantled in the process of being removed from the magical phantom crystal, or it is in a state of fragmentation.

"Cyrus, where's Ruth?

Asked again by the four of them, Ruth decided not to be able to deceive them any further.

"Everybody calm down and listen... I'm Ruth."

In Ruth's words, the four of them solidified for a moment.

"... I don't know who you are, but please stop lying to Ruth."

"Ruth is a gorgeous kid now. I can't be a good body like you."

"It's not similar... but...?

"... hmm?... but... take care of this..."

Without putting it in my hair, I get a natural reaction.

(Well, I guess I can't help it.)

Ruth also knows that it is difficult to equally connect this figure with his usual figure. I decided to tell everyone slowly again so that they wouldn't feel upset.

"Of course I don't understand. But I'm really Ruth. I remember everyone properly, and it's not like another person is lying. For a little reason, I think I'm in a different position... but I'm sure it's Ruth Braw."

When Ruth said it with a serious face, the faces of the four people who initially thought it was a joke changed.

"It's true! It feels weird! This is Ruth! But it doesn't look like Ruth.... but I do smell Ruth!

Suddenly the lab became noisy after seeing the confused words of Kia.

"Really, that splice type contains muscle enhancers and Ruth looks like this!?

"Muscle enhancers... no, the skeleton itself is different. I can only think of Ruth as someone else."

"Eh, what's going on!? Why is Ruth looking like someone else!?

"... have you done something strange?!

"It is difficult to keep the split type stable. The formula is exactly the same as that used for you."

I knew everybody was really panicking.

(... I have no choice but to be angry...)

It would be impossible to deceive you properly in this situation. Then it was decided that it would be better to tell him why Ruth was looking like this and who he was in the first place.

"Um... um! Listen to me!

Ruth raised his voice and the noisy surroundings calmed down.

"There's no doubt I'm Ruth. And there's a verse that comes to mind when you look like this... Can you tell me why?

As slowly as possible, so as not to make it hard to hear, and so as not to seem angry, Ruth said carefully, the noisy members moved to a separate room.