The Riddler

"?"

Rienta looked at 'Rienta' with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"

"Let's talk in my Personal Space," said Rienta with a serious expression.

"But the Personal Space can only..." Rienta began, then fell silent.

He waved his hand and opened the portal to his Personal Space.

'Rienta' waved to Frieren and Fern and stepped into the magic circle.

Rienta followed closely behind.

Inside the Personal Space.

As soon as 'Rienta' entered, she began to examine the various ingredients and kitchen utensils.

Rienta watched this scene in silence.

I had some guesses about the replica in front of me.

Seeing that 'Rienta' had even started a fire and heated a pot, preparing to stir-fry two dishes.

Rienta couldn't hold back any longer.

He stepped forward and stopped 'Rienta's' actions.

He said helplessly, "What are you doing!"

"Are you going to have a couple more drinks with me? We're still waiting outside!!"

"... Heh." 'Rienta' chuckled softly and stopped what she was doing.

He summoned a table using Telekinesis and poured two cups of tea.

The table was made by Stark, and the tea was Frieren's 'Magic That Produces Hot Tea'.

'Rienta' took a sip before saying:

"I must say, your Personal Space is really convenient."

"Unfortunately, I can't use these external plugins right now."

Rienta didn't drink the tea; she just gripped the cup tightly.

The tea produced by the hot tea magic was not scalding hot.

But at this moment, it felt as if the heat was burning through Rin's palm and reaching deep into Rienta's heart.

After a moment of silence, he said, "So, you are me?"

"BINGO! You got it right!"

'Rienta' performed a pose frequently used by anime characters.

Then, smiling, he looked at Rienta and said, "How was it? Wasn't my movement very anime-like?"

Rienta, somewhat speechless, "What kind of time is this for you to still be playing around like this..."

The smile on 'Rienta's' face slowly faded, and she said calmly:

"In a sense, we're both going to disappear."

"What's wrong with playing around?"

"..."

Upon hearing this answer, Rienta fell silent for a moment.

Asked:

So, are we really Yin and Yang?

"Yes."

"I don't believe it!" Rienta glared at 'Rienta': "I'm not kind at all, and you're not evil at all..."

"I can access my Personal Space, isn't that enough proof?" 'Rienta' interrupted Rienta calmly.

"But..." Rienta wanted to say something more.

'Rienta' interrupted him once again.

He knew exactly what Rienta was thinking.

Let's put aside these unrealistic fantasies for now.

I never intended to convince myself.

He waved his hand, clearing away all the surrounding items, and looked at Rienta with a meaningful gaze.

"Since you don't want to lose your true self, there's another way."

"My existence is essentially the result of a compromise with the rules of the world. But two completely identical people—that's against the rules."

"Coincidentally, the 'Tiger' of the capital city can perfectly solve this problem for us."

Since you don't want to accept this proposal.

"Then one of us going out would be one solution."

After saying that, he directly projected a long sword emitting blue light and attacked Rienta, who was still in a daze.

Rienta cursed under her breath and waved her hand to summon three pale blue petals in an attempt to block 'Rienta's' attack.

However, the three flower petals did not attempt to intercept the longsword.

So much so that the longsword went straight for Rienta's heart.

Fortunately Rienta managed to dodge the attack in time using 'Etherealization'.

There was no time to ponder why the automatic defense of the Defensive Magic had failed to take effect.

Looking at 'Rienta' in disbelief, he said:

Are you serious?!

Similar to using 'blur' outside, using 'blur' for too long will directly exit your Personal Space.

After dodging the attack, Rienta canceled her 'hollowfication'.

The projected longsword attacked 'Rienta'.

However, 'Rienta' had already summoned a pale blue lotus to block the attack.

'Rienta' chuckled softly, but did not answer the question.

It continuously projected longswords at Rienta, but unlike the first time, it did not target vital points.

Seeing that the Defensive Magic was ineffective, Rienta simply activated her ethereal form and launched a full-scale attack on 'Rienta's' defenses.

Fifteen seconds later.

Rienta's intangibility duration is nearing its limit.

However, the pale blue lotus of 'Rienta' is also full of cracks.

With a shattering sound, the longsword projected by Rienta successfully broke through the lotus's defenses.

A long sword pierced straight through 'Rienta's' chest.

'Rienta' seemed to have anticipated this outcome.

He stopped trying to project the sword into the magic circle once more.

The black cracks in the surrounding void also dissipated.

After a moment of silence, he said, "You win."

Rienta looked at the half-sword hilt in 'Rienta's' hand with some confusion.

He asked, "What is that? And why not use 'etherealization'?"

'Rienta' smiled and said:

"Because this is your Personal Space."

"I do not understand."

You don't need to understand.

Rienta clenched her fists, barely suppressing the urge to punch him, and said:

You know perfectly well that I hate riddle tellers the most.

"Just teasing you."

'Rienta' dispelled the Projection Magic, summoned the tables and chairs back, and waved them towards Rienta.

Both of them deliberately avoided these items during the fight.

Rienta hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat down opposite 'Rienta'.

"Rienta" said calmly, "You have one minute to ask me a question."

"What was that sword you just projected? And who exactly are you?"

"That sword is mine. I won't tell you its name, for fear you'll steal my wisdom. As for my identity, I wasn't lying to you just now; I am you."

"..." Rienta coughed and said, "Then you'd better explain your identity clearly, you bastard!"

"A long time ago..."

"?"

Rienta jumped onto the table, grabbed 'Rienta's' collar, and glared at him fiercely.

"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you."

Upon hearing this, Rienta returned to her seat and said impatiently, "Hurry up and say it."

'Rienta' straightened her expression and said:

"Besides your memories, I have another memory, but it's not complete."

You can think of me as someone created from another timeline of you through some means.

His purpose is... his purpose is...

Rienta tried several times, but couldn't come up with the answer.

He smiled helplessly and pointed upwards.

Just then, 'Rienta's' body began to slowly dissipate.

Rienta was a little anxious and rushed to his side, casting a 'Magic That Heals Everything' on him.

But it only slowed down the rate of dissipation.

"You bastard! Finish your sentence!"

'Rienta' was also helpless, and after thinking for a second...

He said softly:

Why do you think you were able to draw the Hero's Sword?

"And why did you receive that letter from Schlacht?"

That future is real, but it may not be yours.

Having said that, 'Rienta's' body was almost transparent.

But he didn't seem to mind, and a smile returned to his face.

He said:

"I prefer your memories; they're so much better than that guy's."

"Don't forget to ask those test-takers for magic."

"That's what I promised Frieren."

"Oh, and remember to say goodbye to Fern for me."

"There's one more thing..."