My obsession with role-playing seems to have distorted the world's aesthetic.

"You are... Abedo?"

The figure not far away was covered in Joker's armor, and after hearing the young master's words, the figure slowly turned around.

The armor disarmed at that moment, revealing a face that the young master knew all too well.

The surrounding glaciers exuded a chilling aura, and the young master took a step back, subconsciously activating his Divine Eye to grasp the water blade.

Right now, not far from me, stands a being that looks exactly like me.

It wasn't an imitation, but a genuine replica—the clothes, the accessories—and the young master felt a fear that was hard to describe.

"An interesting ability."

The being opposite spoke in the exact same voice as him, and at that moment, the young master felt a chill run down his spine.

This feeling...

It's like playing rock-paper-scissors with your reflection in the mirror out of boredom, and after countless rounds of playing, the fear of finally winning when it's not a tie.

"who are you?"

Looking at the "Dattalia" who looked exactly like him not far away, the young master asked.

Upon hearing the prince's words, D'Artagnan responded calmly, "Me? I am the executor of the Fatui, I am Ajax, I am Her Majesty the Queen's most resilient sword."

Upon hearing this, the young master said in an unfriendly tone, "Trying to steal my identity? I won't let you succeed in such a thing. I am the executor of the Fools, the true young master!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the young master gripped the water blade and charged forward. Meanwhile, Tadalia, disguised as the young master Xia Qing, who was preparing to fight him, also condensed a water blade.

The two water blades clashed and collided, and the young master's power crumbled in an instant. Faced with this scene, D'Artagnan sneered:

"Compared to me, you're still too weak. Well... it's not a big deal. After all, you're just how I appear to others."

Upon hearing this, the young master continued his attack while saying, "I don't believe any of your nonsense. I will absolutely not give up my identity as the Executor of the Fools."

In response to the young master's words, D'Artagnan said with a hint of disdain, "Young master? Ha, I have no use for this identity. Don't worry, you are indeed a young master."

My phantom, you are indeed one of the Fatui's executors, and you are indeed Prince Ajax, but you are not me, not the real Ajax!

Seeing that Prince Datalia was trying to attack him with a spear in his right hand, he slightly shifted his body, then gripped the spear shaft and kicked out with his left foot.

After kicking the young master away, D'Artagnan continued, "I, Ajax, have never cared about the title of 'young master,' because my true identity is actually..."

Before Datalia could finish speaking, the young master who had been kicked away regained his footing. The power of the water element and the Eye of the Dragon God erupted, transforming into a bow and arrow. Looking at the elemental arrows shooting towards him, Datalia raised his right hand.

An energy wall formed by water-attribute magic directly blocked the arrow shot by the young master. D'Artagnan then revealed his true identity: "Chief Executive Officer of the Fools, Jester."

That's right, my true identity is the CEO of the Fools, Jester Ajax.

Upon hearing this, the young master sneered, his words filled with suspicion: "You're kidding me. Do you really think I don't know clowns?"

My Evil Eye is the emblem of past glory, an emblem personally bestowed upon me before Her Majesty the Queen by the Chief Executive Officer, the Jester.

Upon hearing this, D'Artagnan, who had never expected such a thing to happen, remained completely calm and continued:

"It was just the Empress's mission. If it weren't for Her Majesty's order, I wouldn't have bothered to pretend to issue you the Evil Eye."

My phantom, your mission has now come to an end, and there is no longer any need for your life to continue.

In response to D'Artagnan's words, the young master gave a cold laugh and replied:

"I don't think you have the right to deny my life. Everything I have is something I fought for myself. If you want to take everything from me, then try."

A phantom? Ha, I, Ajax, have never been anyone's phantom.

The young master, whose real name was Ajax, said this as he increased the speed of his archery, feeling a long-lost sense of excitement.

"There is a team in this world codenamed Phantom, which specializes in the treasures of the mind."

As Tadalia, who had erected a wall of water, spoke unhurriedly, the young master, upon hearing this, asked with a hint of doubt, "Huh?"

Ignoring the young master, D'Artagnan continued to mutter to himself, "Deep within the hearts of those with extremely high desires lies a palace, and these mental palaces are the playgrounds for phantoms."

Within the palace of the mind reside various delusions; even the Empress, whose goal is to overthrow the laws of nature, possesses a palace of the mind.

At this moment, the young master's tone became somewhat impatient in response to D'Artagnan's words: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"The leader of the Phantom Troupe is codenamed Joker, and... that Joker's real identity is me, Jester Ajax."

Within the spiritual palace of Her Majesty the Empress, who is determined to defy the laws of nature, reside the executors of the fools throughout history, whom she recognizes.

Those phantoms of the Fools' Enforcers possess power similar to the original body due to Her Majesty the Empress's influence, and you, the other me codenamed Prince, are the clown in Her Majesty's eyes!

Now, it's time to end this charade and speak frankly.

After saying this, Dadalia abandoned his defense and raised countless water spears in his right hand, aiming them at the prince.

"Now, prepare for your death, Datalia!"

Chapter 645: Life only has value when it is in my, Abelard's, hands. Go back, D'Artagnan.

"I won't lose!"

Facing D'Artagnan, who looked exactly like him and called himself a clown, the young prince gritted his teeth and used all his strength to unleash the power of the Eye of God to meet him head-on.

Within the mental space, the battle between the two began at this moment, and Prince Tartaglia's physical attributes were undoubtedly superior.

"What can you do with such a weak posture? The only one who can have the identity of Ajax is me, the clown!"

"I am Her Majesty the Empress's most loyal blade, and you... are nothing but a mere phantom!"

Seeing that Prince D'Artagnan was nearing defeat, a mocking smile appeared on his lips as he prepared to deliver the final blow to his defeated opponent.

"Goodbye."

As soon as he finished speaking, the water blade that Tadalia had conjured pierced the prince's heart, and at the same time, the prince unleashed his final attack.

Completely ignoring the injury to his heart, he charged forward a few steps, and at that moment, the water spear in the young master's hand successfully struck Datalia.

After hitting his opponent, the young master suddenly had a strange feeling. The guy opposite him... was exactly like him.

Whether it's combat skills or some subconscious habits, they are exactly the same as mine, it's like another version of myself.

Feeling his strength quietly draining away, the young master, who even wanted to drag others down with him even in his dying moments, knelt weakly on the ground.

"Who did I kill? Who killed me? I...I killed myself?"

The young master's pupils began to dilate gradually, and at this moment he felt his consciousness gradually dissipate.

"Although it was just a phantom, I never expected you could do this. But, damn it, I haven't fulfilled my oath of loyalty to Her Majesty the Empress yet."

At this moment, D'Artagnan spoke weakly in the same voice as the young master. With the sound of the two of them falling to the ground at the same time, D'Artagnan lay on the ground facing the sky and closed his eyes.

At this moment, due to his previous posture, the young master ended up slamming his face into the ground. Fortunately, in this mental world, he didn't have to worry about being disfigured.

As their consciousness gradually faded, a red ball suddenly appeared in the sky and then slowly descended.

Strange sounds echoed around them, and the two people who heard them instinctively tried to open their eyes.

At the same time, a suction force pulled the two of them into the red sphere, which from the outside appeared completely unable to hold them.

“Dartaria, you don’t need to open your eyes. I am Abedor, the chief alchemist of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt.”

Just as the prince and D'Artagnan opened their eyes simultaneously inside the red ball, Abedo's voice rang out.

Great!

Upon hearing this sound, the young master instinctively wanted to cheer. Sure enough, he could always trust Abedo, and even in the current situation, Abedo was able to find him.

Unfortunately... Abelardo arrived too late this time.

Could it be that the temperature inside his body was gradually disappearing? A self-deprecating smile appeared on the young master's face. From the day he joined the Fools, he had been aware of this.

"Dartaria, this is a life solidification device. With it, you can be resurrected directly regardless of any damage you suffer."

Abedo's voice rang out again, this time with a greater sense of divinity than before.

Abeldo! As expected of you, you're definitely more reliable than any lady when it matters. I feel much more at ease when it comes to saving myself.

While the young master was still feeling excited, D'Artagnan, lying on the ground beside him, used his remaining strength to plead:

"Abedo, save me! Grant me the life-fixing device! My life belongs to me. It doesn't matter if the young master dies."

???

Damn it, your tone wasn't this low when you were fighting with me earlier. The young master felt like he was losing face because of this guy who looked exactly like him.

And it's not right that the young master's death doesn't matter. I was the one who did it first. Whether it was the first time I met Abedo or the first time I made a deal with Abedo, why did it turn out like this?

When we were fighting, your skills didn't seem much better than mine, maybe even weaker, but how come you were so adept at begging for mercy?

The young master, his fingers trembling slightly, pointed at D'Artagnan, who had begged for mercy at the crucial moment, as if he wanted to say something. Abedo, hearing this, sounded somewhat surprised:

"Oh? Don't you feel sorry for the life of your other self, who was created only a few years ago?"

Upon hearing this, D'Artagnan immediately shook his head: "The life of a shadow is very short. I have lived for more than 20 years. I am still young and cannot be sacrificed!"

Upon hearing Dadalia's declaration, Abedo continued with emotion, "Dadalia, I never imagined you loved your life so much."

Upon hearing this, D'Artagnan immediately proved his innocence: "I am a good man, I am the original Ajax, I am stronger than the prince, I am loyal to you, so let the prince die."

???

Hearing the words of his other self, the young master, who was already too weak to speak, wanted to angrily denounce how there could be such a shameless person.

I would never admit that the guy was me. How could he so easily choose to swear allegiance to someone else, and why did he keep saying that I was dead?

Upon hearing D'Artagnan's words, Abedo paused for a moment before continuing, "Ajax, I didn't expect you to love your life so much. The young master will understand you."

I won't!

Upon hearing Abedo's words, the young master felt an urge to sit up abruptly from his deathbed and angrily shout, "I won't!" But unfortunately, this urge could only remain a fantasy in his mind.

Abedo, what are you doing, Abedo? Weren't you here to pick me up? The word "forgiveness" gives me a bad feeling!

When the young master thought this, D'Artagnan's face showed a look of joy and relief:

“I am a warrior with rich combat experience, far more so than you, young master. It is certainly more worthwhile for me to serve you than for you to serve you.”

Abedo paused for a moment before continuing, "Alright, I'll bring two lives."

Upon hearing this, D'Artagnan showed a pleased expression, clearly pleased with the news: "Thank you, Abedo."

When Abedoda Dalia said this, the young master secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If there were two, then he would definitely be the only one left. Fortunately, there was Abedo.

But just as both relaxed, feeling that survival was within reach, Abedo spoke in a chilling voice: "Life only has value when it is in my hands, Abedo. Go back, Ajax."