Because I Am Surtr

"That's right."

She glanced at Red. The gaze, which was as 'gentle as water' like a big sister's, made Red's hair stand on end. She instinctively hid behind Miss Surtr and let out a pathetic, blustering growl. Then, her gaze shifted, lingering only for a moment on the Rhodes Island insignia on Red.

"This child is a Sentinel, and she didn't come with you... It seems there's another Supporter in that organization. I see, so they reformed after the former one died. This must involve political struggle then—evaluating based on the strength you've displayed... Is that woman a princess or a queen?"

"She should be a queen, but was a princess before she died. Her name is Theresia."

"I see." The purple-haired Doctor nodded slightly. "It seems I willingly laid myself down in the sarcophagus, and my memories were erased by myself. And you must have left that organization after Theresia died. Now that both sides have come together, it's clear that the organization's current operations are not very good, and the successor has grown to the stage where they need a trial—the good child you mentioned earlier should be the successor, right?"

"Her name is Amiya, and she used to rely on you a lot."

"Understood." Persephone nodded. "Then I really shouldn't meet her in this state. Nor should I use lethal force to test my allies—if you hadn't come, I probably would have killed that child once, or tortured her until I got all the information I felt I needed to know—no wonder your hand has been on your sword the whole time."

"It's good that you know," Miss Surtr replied, flames igniting on the blade.

"Then, the last question. What is my name?"

"I'll tell you next time."

"..." Persephone raised an eyebrow.

And in the next moment, the burning Flame Sword pierced through the sky amidst Red's gasp. It shattered all cover, all inducements, all deceptive tricks, and plunged directly into the purple-haired woman's heart!

"I told you, I'm stronger than you," Miss Surtr whispered in her ear. And amidst the latter's muffled groan, she rotated the blade ninety degrees.

"Even counting your brain, your knowledge, your skills, your authority, I'm still stronger than you—stop having wicked thoughts, you bastard. To others, you might just be a neurotic, frail, yet gentle Doctor. But in my eyes, I see clearly all the twisted, filthy, and despicable things you've done—

—You killed Theresia at least ten times. Once for the sake of the battle, three times by accident, and in the remaining six times, you brutally abused and tortured her to death, for the reason that you felt she disrupted your thinking!—Now you have amnesia and have forgotten how I repaid you back then. But don't think about doing the same thing to Amiya!"

Surtr's expression was cold.

The response she received was like solid ice.

"Thank you for the reminder, I will keep it in mind." Persephone's voice was devoid of any inflection.

So the hilt turned another ninety degrees.

"Keep it in your brain, you thing like that, where would you get a heart."

The next moment, surging flames erupted from every pore of Persephone's body. And immediately after, everything around Surtr became blurry and chaotic.

She was back on that street again, back to that space-time coordinate where she hadn't had time to eat ice cream yet, nor had she seen Red.

Ah... that's right. That's how it is. She was stronger than Persephone because the Doctor's exclusive Death Return couldn't interfere with her memories or her rightful power. That's why she never feared Persephone, and never believed the disguise Persephone used to conceal herself.

—So, when Theresia died back then. Upon returning to Rhodes Island, her first reaction was to turn Persephone into ashes.

—So, even when W said she was coming to find Persephone for a 'reunion'. Surtr never worried about the survival of this pathetic woman and decisively sold her out.

But the turn of events was always swift.

"You won't give up until you see the Yellow River," she muttered, turning her head to look at the area where the sarcophagus was located. According to her feelings from the first return, Persephone at this time had just managed to open the sarcophagus's internal locking mechanism after trial and error.

And the naturally suspicious Persephone would now, without a doubt, immediately leave the sarcophagus area. She would go from being visible to being hidden and attempt to gather information about this world from more aspects—if she really had amnesia.

"And now I will make you give up."

The next moment, the color of dusk and the stench of sulfur stained the far reaches of the sky.

A sky-obscuring flame storm whipped up, and amidst the terrified and desperate screams of the Kazimierz City people who had finally calmed down a bit, it directly and decisively lunged towards the direction of the sarcophagus area!

Chapter Twenty-Three: Beware of Backstabbing!

Still the same building, the same hall.

The same two people, different points in time. And as Surtr, riding the flames and sulfur, directly broke through the sarcophagus's outer wall and numerous protective measures to burst into the core area, Persephone had just managed to detach herself from the coffin-like machinery, with mist from the thawing still clinging to her.

She looked at Surtr, her expression complex and slightly expectant.

"Your name is Persephone." Miss Surtr gave her the response she expected. This was to signify that her memories and will had not been erased by Death Return, and that she indeed surpassed Persephone in power—the Flame-haired Sarkaz flicked her fingers, and a crest formed from flames materialized, clearly displaying its characters.

—'Persephone'

Persephone's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"It feels familiar, so it seems this name is indeed closely related to me. But... it's not enough. I don't think this is my real name."

"It's indeed not," Miss Surtr nodded. "This is a name you gave yourself. Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld in ancient mythology. And it perfectly matches the special power you possess, because you are indeed intertwined with death; it's no exaggeration to call you death's consort."

The two chatted pleasantly, with none of the previous tense atmosphere—this was only natural. Since one party had Death Return and the other possessed a superior perspective and perception, it meant that any extreme emotions or actions were of little value here—Surtr had realized this long ago and thus developed corresponding habits when interacting with Persephone. It was even easier for Persephone to see through this layer.

So she asked.

"Then my real name is—"

"I don't know." Surtr was not vague about this. "You said you forgot. But when Theresia asked you the same question, your answer once was, 'Perhaps I never had a real name.'"

"I see." Persephone seemed to realize something. She also noticed a subtle change in Miss Surtr's tone as she spoke. "It seems the situation is very grim... Do you also have a similar condition?"

"Mmm, I did forget my real name." Surtr did not use the word 'also' to place herself in the same category as Persephone when describing it. "But this wouldn't attract attention in this world. Because people in this world always prepare two names: one is the real name, and the other is a work alias. This is a custom, and there is no difference in hierarchy between the two names. And my alias is Surtr."

"People in this world—" Persephone gently savored these words. She said them deliberately, and she knew Surtr didn't care. "Your name doesn't sound like it belongs to the same root as 'Persephone.'"

"Yes, the spelling of my name is 'Surtr.'" Miss Surtr formed a stable spelling with another ball of flame. "The origin is also from ancient mythology. But it's a different branch of mythology from yours. It refers to a world-destroying fire giant who wielded a sword of calamity and ended an era of history and mythology."

She saw Persephone's gaze shift slightly, looking at the red and black flame sword suspended behind her.

"Mm, this child is that sword. Its name is Laevateinn, it is my limbs, my extension. And it is a part of the power I wield."

"And another part of your power has seen through my trump card?" — She was referring to Death Return.

"You can understand it that way." Surtr replied: "Of course, I can also reveal the specific details to you. But not here, not now."

"You are very confident." The purple-haired Doctor's eyebrows lifted lightly, her fingertips tearing through the air. Several greyish-white energy blades were thus unleashed, easily cutting a massive opening in the wall — it was originally meant to connect to a corridor, and from the window at the end of the corridor, one could directly see the urban landscape of Chernobog. However, at this moment, outside the broken window, there was only a twilight-like wall of flame.

No one came to disturb their conversation, no noisy sounds to affect the quiet in the hall. The chaos and clamor of the city were completely sealed outside by this sturdy barrier, without a single bit leaking through. And no power could shake it.

Thus, the purple-haired Doctor, whose race was unknown but very likely a Lilin, pursed her lips — her lips were as sharp as a blade, and her eyes, flashing with alternating light and shadow, revealed her rapidly thinking mind.

Outside the window, the silent wall of fire remained motionless.

Inside the hall, the contemplative philosopher whispered softly.