As Real as Illusion, as Illusory as Reality

As he spoke of the [Crown], he looked at the [Hard Armor] again:

Did you receive my orders?

[Hard Armor] nodded, [Crown] slightly relieved:

"Have you recalled your elite troops? I'm preparing to initiate another teleportation."

"It's been recalled, but..."

[Hard Armor] sounded extremely embarrassed.

"Due to the instigation of the rebels and the surprise attack by the imperial army, the second line of defense has collapsed."

"Before returning to Sand Capital, I ordered the complete abandonment of the second line of defense and the gathering of all available forces in Sand Capital for the final defense."

"I handed over the coordination of the evacuation to [Nether Crossing], and then came back first."

The amount of information in those words was so great that even [Crown] had to digest it carefully for a while.

After a moment, he finally realized that the second line of defense was gone, and looked at [Thousand Faces] again:

"As you've heard, there should be a continuous stream of skeletal troops returning to Sand Capital during this period. As long as their identities and numbers are verified, they can be allowed into the city to assist in its defense."

"Be careful not to let the rebels in, and all human mercenaries have joined the rebels; kill them without hesitation if you see them."

"Also, be careful that the imperial army doesn't join forces with the rebels, as that would be extremely disadvantageous for us."

"As long as you do these things well, that'll be considered a success. Go on."

"Yes."

[Thousand Faces] nodded and turned to walk towards the passageway leading to the ground.

Behind him, nearly four thousand enhanced Skeleton Man, all around level 50 in strength, followed closely in a well-organized formation and marching in unison.

"My lord, the Sand Capital is vast, and the number of soldiers will only increase. Perhaps you could delegate some of the responsibility for the defense to me? I will guard this place well."

Clearly, [Hard Armor] still harbored suspicions about [Thousand Faces], and felt that since he had come all this way back and abandoned his position, he should at least put in some more effort, otherwise he might be purged.

But [the Crown] clearly didn't think so. He looked at the senator, whose loyalty was almost suspicious, and said seriously:

"Come with me, there's something more important for you to do."

"Yes."

As [Crown] ascended the elevator platform, [Hard Armor] followed closely behind.

The platform slowly rose, and [Hard Armor] felt immense pressure in silence.

Whether it's the breach of the second line of defense, leaving one's jurisdiction without cause, or "surprise attacking" a colleague in Sand Capital, these things, though not written down, are not something any member of parliament can do without a reason.

When the rules are broken, there must be a price to pay.

[The Hard Armor] were almost ready to die.

"My lord, regarding what happened before, and [the Nether Crossing]..."

"No need to say anything more."

The person in the Crown waved, but for some reason, it carried a somewhat carefree air about them.

Those things are no longer important.

I sent him to the front lines precisely to replace you.

"Although the unexpected rebellion occurred, you eventually returned and demonstrated sufficient loyalty."

"In that case, do the few twists and turns in the middle still matter?"

"[Hard Armor], or rather...' Herbert '."

Upon hearing his name called out before he became a member of parliament, [Hard Armor] immediately tensed up:

"You're right, sir."

The person standing in front, wearing Crown, spoke calmly:

"Well, then I also have something even more important to tell you—there's actually more to that story than meets the eye."

Which matter are you referring to?

"It's that thing I just used to prove my identity, the thing about whether you'll be destroyed after you become the temporary vessel for the Holy Remains."

So... may I know?

[Hard Armor] asked tentatively.

"Of course, I'm telling you this so you'll know."

[Crown] His tone was calm and even, a stark contrast to his previous outbursts of composure:

"Their desire to destroy your Holy Remains back then wasn't just because you weren't capable enough to meet the threshold for being a candidate for senator."

"It's because you know far too little."

[Hard Armor] is puzzled.

"Some Alliance secrets are unknown to outsiders, such as [Thousand Faces] or [Nether Crossing], and not all of our own people know them either."

"For example, do you remember things from your childhood? Tell me about your life and your parents."

[Hard Armor] paused for a moment, carefully recalling his past:

"I am from Salin City, a port city in the southeastern part of the Empire. My father is a public official in the Imperial Port Authority, responsible for trade in specialty products with the Kingdom's Klaf City..."

"My mother was the youngest daughter of a declining noble family, and she knew how to make many desserts..."

"Alright, that's enough."

[Crown] waved his hand, his tone surprisingly laced with a hint of sneer.

"You see, this is the past I was talking about, a past that even our own people don't know."

I don't quite understand what you mean.

"That's understandable."

[Crown] said:

"Because you've forgotten who you are, forgotten your true identity, your true past, just like... the vast majority of people in the Alliance."

As soon as he finished speaking, [Crown] turned around instantly and pointed a finger at [Hard Armor]'s brow.

A flash of inspiration entered [Hard Armor]'s mind, and he felt a piercing phantom pain.

[Crown] withdrew his finger, [Hard Armor] only felt the other's voice growing ever higher and more distant, lingering in his ear:

"Look carefully, think carefully, who exactly are you!?"

The Crown before me appeared even more imposing and sacred, its bright Crown gleaming brilliantly.

[Hard Armor] took a moment to realize that his body didn't seem to have grown larger; rather, he had unconsciously fallen to his knees due to excruciating pain.

Meanwhile, his cherished memories kept repeating themselves in a state of haziness and fading, eventually splitting into two images like a Shattered Crystal Cluster.

In his left eye, a woman dressed simply and with a gentle face placed a small plate of beautifully presented dessert in front of him.

"Try it, Herbert."

The woman sat opposite him, looking at him with doting eyes, eagerly awaiting his evaluation.

In his right eye, a limb formed from a cluster of Crystal Cluster offered him a decent-quality crystal. The cracks in its hard surface created a resonant cavity, and Psionic Energy swept through it, creating ripples.

[Sizzle~ Sizzle~]

He couldn't understand what that meant.

The scenery shifted, and this time Herbert saw two even more expansive worlds: a vast blue sea not yet filled with floating corpses, and a bustling area teeming with crystal life forms.

This time, he couldn't understand the meaning behind the words of the two people holding his hands; the vibration of their vocal cords left him puzzled.

But he received a message from another Crystal Cluster tentacle from the resonance of emptiness:

Go buy some things you want.

The scene shifts again, and he finds himself in a magnificent church adorned with numerous reliefs of sacred trees, entering a sacred space enveloped solely by the radiance of crystals.

Two humans led him to kneel devoutly before the gilded statue. He imitated the surrounding Crystal Cluster tendrils, compressing his body to its limit and then relaxing it, repeating this nine times.

The ethereal hymns of the choir rose at just the right moment, like Psionic Energy flowing through the cracks in the skin, emitting a series of humming sounds.

The two memories, which had been completely separated, twisted and howled and overlapped again, like two negatives stacked under the red light of a darkroom, or two manuscripts placed on a photocopier.

In that magnificent, solemn atmosphere, in that space filled with sacred hymns and radiant light, "he" devoutly recited:

"[Praise be to you, great--]"

"Asker Yugdrahir."

[Senegal Milcrist]

"The One of Omniscience and Omnipotence."

[Body Without Beginning or End]

"The God Who Created All Things."

[Lord of Infinite Crystal Clusters]

"The ancient divine tree that eternally pities all living beings."

[The Immaculate Supreme One Who Illuminates All]