She is not an investigator.

“You know what my real purpose is in coming here.”

"Of course, you are dissatisfied with the boundary between reason and madness. You yearn for those tribes deep in the wilderness to restore you to normalcy. You are seeking opportunity and also seeking redemption."

"No, what you said... isn't entirely correct."

Igris raised her head and took a deep breath of the cold air, which made her mind clear and her consciousness more alert.

"I'm running away."

"?"

“I’m running away from everything about myself, whether it’s sadness, anger, madness, or anything else. I feel like I shouldn’t have these emotions because I’ve never had them before, but I’ve always forgotten, always forgotten how those people called me.”

Igris.

“Igris, I am Igris… not Aaron. I have been reborn, I have been given a completely different life. I feel fear, confusion and bewilderment about everything that is unfamiliar to me. I feel that this is wrong. My thoughts and my reason are constantly reminding me that I should change, I must change.”

But she was wrong, terribly wrong.

"But I've forgotten who said that to me... He said that the only thing that can truly defeat a person is that person themselves."

What imprint, what disease, what madness, what hysteria.

Those were her weaknesses, her confusion, her self-doubt, and her lack of self-confidence.

So... let's leave it at that.

She raised her head again, looked at Nyarlathotep who was listening quietly, and said with a smile.

"That's fine then."

The Gods' Folly - Beyond the World: Chapter Forty-Four, Just Like That, Dissolved

"Are you... craving death?"

“I know my soul will be lost forever, but death doesn’t seem far away, just like the person who has always been by my side.”

Igris smiled, because she remembered the figure who had held her hand in that final moment.

She was never alone, not even in death.

"You want to give up now?"

“My new life has too many flaws and incompleteness. It has made many mistakes from the very beginning. I am not aware of it, but I seem to be hurting everyone around me all the time.”

She raised her fingers, listing her crimes.

“I was reckless, clumsy, slow-witted, savage, and promiscuous. I ruined my own life and the lives of others. They shouldn’t have done this, and they shouldn’t have paid the price for the mistakes I made.”

"so."

"So, if you really want to grant my wish, then let me die and erase all traces of me from this world."

silence.

Time seemed to stand still, and the two figures in the standoff remained motionless, like a still photograph.

After a long while, He opened His mouth first.

Have you made up your mind?

"Yes."

"I can grant your wish, but from this moment on, everyone will forget your existence. Even if your body rots and your soul dissipates, no one will remember you, and no one will feel sorrow for you. All traces you left in this world will be erased."

"This is my wish."

"……Oh."

A snicker.

He was mocking her, mocking her ignorance, and mocking her naivety.

Do you really think I don't know your purpose?

"?"

“You still haven’t listened to me, Igris. I told you, you don’t belong to that world, you belong here. Even though everything here is chaotic and disorderly, you belong to this world. No one can take you away, no one.”

For the first time, He lost his smile, but his face showed no anger, only indifference, and endless indifference.

"What did she promise you? A new life? Everything new? Or a chance to start over? I won't do what you want, and I won't do what she wants either. I've seen too many self-proclaimed smart people who try to manipulate contracts to get more out of me, but I never keep contracts... You, Igris, are the same."

Are you going to back out?

"No, of course not. I won't let you die. You will live, you must live. No matter what she promised you, you must remember that she doesn't belong to this world, and you don't belong to that world. Reject her, and I will reject her for you. All you have to do is continue being that promiscuous idiot and continue living in this chaotic world."

Is this what she wanted?

No, she never intended to do anything from the beginning.

She was simply discarding.

Having already possessed enough, she had to begin shedding some of her heavy burdens in order to gain a new life.

A new beginning? No, just an opportunity to enjoy life.

Her system malfunctioned; it wasn't something Nyarlathotep did, nor could He do it, because it doesn't belong to this world.

Therefore, this deal was not a two-party transaction from the beginning, but a three-party transaction.

Nyarlathotep will grant Igris's wish, but He has no good intentions; He will not let her have her way.

That mysterious figure would also be willing to help Igris, but she cannot influence this world, so she needs an opportunity, an opportunity for Igris to break free from this world itself.

So did she make a choice? No, she didn't. She never made any choice.

Because she didn't trust Nyarlathotep, nor did she trust that person.

They all had their own purposes, and Igris's purpose at this moment was also very simple.

She wouldn't accept Igris's death, nor would she allow that world to affect this place.

So no matter what, she won't die.

She will survive, so she can choose neither.

“Your trickery pleases me, Igris… but I must grant your wish… so you can live, but I will take your body with me. I need to have a good talk with the guy in your head… that’s all, bye.”

wow-

The sound of the mirror shattering rang out, and Igris's vision went black as she fell into a deep coma.

Her body became transparent, began to dissolve, dissipate, and turn into bones, but then dissolved at an extremely fast speed.

Even though all of this was happening in the crowd, they all acted as if they were completely oblivious, simply looking around for someone.

Searching for the blonde girl who wasn't there.

…………

The bottom of a tall building that no one can find.

Simia came down, though she didn't know how she got down. She felt dizzy, and when she woke up, she was at the bottom of the building.

She didn’t know if some kind person had rescued her, but she did know that the imposter who had been chatting with her and sharing food with her had disappeared.

Although they spent very little time together, they often argued and bickered, and even had a fight once.

But surprisingly, she was a little reluctant to part with it.

Perhaps this is what they mean by "no fight, no friendship"?

But compared to those things, she has more important things to do now.

For example... going to the toilet.

For example, look for Igris.

For example, look for other people.

Although everything seemed to be over, she did nothing but talk to herself for a long time on the rooftop.

That's obviously not going to work; she's capable and can help.

So even after everything is over, she has to find ways to help herself as much as possible, instead of just slacking off and eating all the time.

Perhaps she should go to the church first? After all, it was there that she and Igris were suddenly separated.

She always acts faster than she thinks, and before long, she arrived at the church door.

It looks much the same as when she first arrived; it's very clean, with only a thin layer of snow in front of the church doors.

With the door open and unsure if there was any danger inside, Simia raised her weapon and cautiously entered the church.

Just as when she had visited, the place was empty, white, and tidy.

On the clean floor, bathed in the light cast by the stained glass, a figure lay quietly.

Simia knew her.

Although we're not very close, we do know each other.

"Vicatina?"

She moved closer to Vicatina, poked her cheek with the barrel of her gun, and checked her breath.

"...!"

Fell asleep.

I really don't know how she can sleep so soundly in such an environment.

"Hey! Wake up! If you keep sleeping, everyone will abandon you!"

She didn't answer, nor did she show any sign of waking up.

"This guy..."

Simia sighed, reluctantly putting down the weapon in her hand and instead carrying it on her back.

Actually, compared to Vicatina being abandoned here, Simia is more worried that she will also be abandoned.

Perhaps... the others have already left.

"...What am I thinking? Igris wouldn't do that..."

That's right, Igris wouldn't do that.