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Chapter 261: The Country of Steel and the Faceless Men (10)

The secret to seeing through Zigrund\'s disguise?

But there was a problem.

I couldn’t reveal her true identity without explaining my Mind Reading ability.

Zigrund\'s transformation was not an Arcane.

It combined body transformation techniques using Qi art, the Military State\'s intelligence, and masterful acting.

Though it borrowed some methods from the Arcane, it was a purely human skill.

Thus, neither the Regressor nor Tyr noticed anything strange.

The main reason was that they didn’t know who Kerapald was.

I am the same.

I haven’t met Kerapald for years.

If I forcibly claim that he is actually a disguised Star General, it would only lead to suspicion returning to me.

There was no need to take such a risk, right?

I could just lure her in.

As planned, she took the bait.

As soon as Tyr left, Zigrund targeted me, gambling her life by transforming into Historia to attack us.

Good.

Now that we\'ve come this far, it\'s time to expose her.

"You ask how I knew? That\'s backward. We’re the ones confused here. Who are you? Why do you have Historia\'s face and body?"

Indeed, her appearance was identical to Historia\'s, so much so that even Historia herself couldn’t find any differences.

Standing protectively before me, Historia instinctively scanned the enemy while feeling a strange discomfort.

"Not just the face and body. Even the combat skills and Qi art. They\'re very similar to mine. I can’t say there are no differences, but…"

"From the outside, it\'s indistinguishable, isn\'t it?"

Knowing that someone could mimic others so perfectly was quite unsettling.

It meant you could be substituted at any given time.

\'Historia\' smiled confidently, as if mocking herself.

"I can tell you, but first, I need to know something from you."

Zigrund, with Historia\'s face and body, spun around once.

With a sleepy expression, smooth body movements, yet unnervingly precise gestures, she asked me:

"My transformation was perfect. So how did you distinguish me?"

"You looked quite similar. But between close friends like me and Historia, there\'s a certain vibe, you know? I sensed that–"

"No. You never wavered for a moment. The gap between those who know and those who don’t. Your reaction definitely surpassed that gap."

\'Historia\' walked over leisurely.

Each step was light yet steady.

It might seem like Historia’s gait… but it looked somewhat bizarre to me.

"My transformation was perfect. Face, hair, height, skeleton, and even expressions, and speech patterns. I copied everything. The inside might be different, but from the outside, it\'s indistinguishable. Yet you figured it out."

"Quite confident, aren’t you? So, is the inside different then? Maybe we had a secret signal or mark between us?"

"Even if you had a secret signal, you’d need time to go through it. But your eyes didn\'t linger anywhere. Without some hidden ability, it would be impossible."

It\'s possible with Mind Reading.

I distinguished her immediately because I read the mind of someone acting.

Ordinary people don’t consciously think about every breath they take.

They walk naturally without calculating each step.

It was the result of natural actions, not a goal to be pursued.

But Zigrund calculated and reproduced all of that.

Every gesture, step, voice, movement, and surrounding environment.

She used all her muscles subtly to recreate it.

Her art was so advanced that ordinary people could no longer distinguish between acting and reality.

But for me, it felt like a script titled "Historia," with detailed instructions walking around.

The face was Historia\'s, but she was constantly aware that this was all an act and that her real name was Zigrund.

So, I didn’t see her as Historia.

"A hidden ability? Yes, of course."

But I can’t reveal my Mind Reading. Better to reveal something else instead.

How should I explain this…?

Oh, at times like this.

"It’s love."

"...?!"

Let’s gloss over it with a universally applicable term.

Historia looked at me like I was crazy, but I ignored her and brazenly continued.

"It’s a lack of love. With enough love, the differences are clear. Between me and Ria, we can notice even the slightest oddities in each other\'s gestures."

"That\'s a lie."

I got caught!

Wait. How can you be so sure?

You don\'t have Mind Reading abilities.

Don’t be so confident about the truth of my words!

I pushed forward shamelessly.

"Prove it then."

"Love is an emotion, not a method. It can\'t answer \'how.\' Moreover, you…."

Trailing off, Zigrund adjusted her emotions again.

She imagined a virtual Historia in her mind and immersed herself in it.

｢The last survivor of Hamelin. Rose to become a Star General, but it’s a series of failures, not successes. No adjutant to accompany her, and she always moved alone, with no family to speak of. This means she is still stuck in the past. She even gave up the Six Star Generals status to confront past ghosts…｣

She created a persona similar to the current Historia and internalized it.

She changed her voice, added the subtle gestures and tones she observed from Historia.

｢But he never sought out Historia. Even though he knew she had become a Star General. The weight of emotions is different. Leaning towards the other side. Thus, in this situation, Historia would...｣

Not perfectly identical, but enough to seem that way.

That’s Zigrund’s method.

Zigrund became \'Historia\' again.

"Lies! You never thought of me seriously! Huey, you didn’t look for me once in the past six years!"

It was \'Historia\' speaking, but the real Historia felt it deeply, clutching her chest.

While she stood silently, she was relieved that \'Historia\' was expressing her feelings for her.

How can you admit it?

It\'s all out now.

"And now you speak of love? Stop the nonsense! You never even thought of me!"

"It\'s not nonsense. With love, you see the differences clearly."

"What difference?"

Tsk. If this turns into a battle of evidence, I’ll be at a disadvantage relying on Mind Reading.

I need an excuse. It doesn\'t have to be true.

If it stops her from rebutting, I win.

Hmm, what obvious trait is missing…?

Oh? Wait. That might work as a reason.

"The way you shake is different."

"Shake? What do you mean?"

"Here, this."

I tapped my chest.

At my outlandish response, both Historia and \'Historia\' tilted their heads in confusion.

Never mind.

Let’s call it privacy, and if they criticize it, I\'ll accuse them of being rude.

"The real Historia has been tied up for days. Even for a Star General level individual, she was bound so tightly that even her chest and torso were compressed. So her movements are restricted. Compared to the fake, who shakes quite normally. The difference is obvious."

Maybe my answer was too unexpected.

Even \'Historia,\' who usually matched my lines, hesitated and paused.

After a moment\'s thought, she realized her oversight.

"...Indeed, I didn’t consider that."

"Of course not. As I’ve said repeatedly, love makes the difference."

"Is that what love means…? I didn’t reflect on Historia’s recent condition."

"Even if you did, could you pinpoint such subtle differences? Only someone with keen observation could do that."

"Shut up, both of you!"

Historia turned and kicked my leg.

Her boot dug into my leg, and it felt like a heavy rope pulling me down.

I flailed my arms and fell embarrassingly.

Standing with one arm covering her chest, Historia looked down at me with a mix of shame and disdain.

"Pervert, I ignored it because it was awkward for a prisoner to react sensitively…!"

But my lie deceived our allies before the enemy.

Oops.

The flow was disrupted.

I might have kept fooling them if this continued.

"...It was plausible. But a well-crafted lie."

Just as dipping your hand in hot water makes lukewarm water feel cold, emotions are relative.

Thanks to our Historia’s excessive embarrassment, \'Historia\' regained composure.

"Historia adjusted her body to withstand the effects of Qi art using Gam Qi Art. She wouldn’t be damaged just from being tied up for a few days."

"You figured it out. Indeed, it was hard to distinguish based on that."

"Still, it was an oversight. I haven’t received such information about her being a recent prisoner. And she managed to stay still even when tied up."

"You also couldn’t dismiss my claim. Ria and I have been together these past few days. We could’ve made something that only the two of us recognized, not necessarily signals or visible markers."

"True, I can’t deny that. But it\'s highly unlikely."

"Why? You don’t know what happened to Ria during those days."

Despite my sharp point, \'Historia\' calmly replied.

"If you had shared some secret, Historia wouldn’t be so defensive."

This is tough.

I continued arguing.

"That’s just a possibility. It doesn’t count as evidence."

"Like your claim?"

Tsk. As expected of a Star General, she’s not easily fooled.

I need another explanation…

"Huey! How long will you two keep chatting? There’s no time for friendly talks!"

Historia, unintentionally eavesdropping, interrupted forcefully.

"I’ll handle myself, or rather, that thing. You should leave."

"Are you sure you don\'t need my help?"

"I’m confident in one-on-one. I rarely lose. And Huey, you’re powerless. Even if you stay, you won’t be much help…"

"You\'re wrong, Historia. You’re too naive for espionage."

‘Historia’ interrupted.

"I asked how he figured me out. He hasn’t given a proper reason. Of course not. There probably isn’t one."

"Why does that matter?"

"Groundless confidence. Winning every gamble. The Arcane."

With a strange smile, \'Historia\' began explaining kindly, like a teacher to a child.

"Seeing the future. Reading the past. Following the threads of fate. Observing and hearing from miles away. Miracles drawn from faith and belief. Any power that does not originate from humans, but is granted miraculously and defies common sense, we call it the Arcane."

"...I know that."

"If you know, why not suspect him?"

Clomping her boots, \'Historia\' retreated slightly, half-hidden in the control room’s darkness, counting on her fingers.

"A piper played in Hamelin. Many children died, and those who saw it distrusted the Military State. He operated in the capital, then fell to Tantalus. There, he joined the monsters to rise against the Military State. And now, he\'s almost succeeded."

"That’s not what Huey did. He got caught up in it…."

"Do you really think so?"

\'Historia\' covered her face with her hand.

She then slid it down from her forehead to her chin, and her face quickly transformed.

The cheekbones protruded, and the muscles changed shape.

Her skin shrank, taking on a pale complexion as if she hadn’t seen sunlight for a long time.

Historia\'s expression vanished, replaced by arrogance trying to mask incompetence.

"Kerapald… so it was you in disguise."

It was Kerapald\'s face.

\'Kerapald\' muttered gloomily, inserting a clothing packet into his Bio-receptor.

"So, let’s assume he possesses an Arcane. Everything makes sense then.

"The Pied Piper knew from the start that I wasn\'t Kerapald. He even knew about the traps in this refinery."

Simultaneously, the once sturdy, healthy female body changed into a frail male one.

The swollen shirt deflated, and the strong shoulders drooped.

The clothing packet shifted, turning Historia\'s shirt into a labor camp supervisor’s uniform.

It wasn\'t a complete change in skeleton or body.

Just an illusion created by manipulating the surface.

At the peak of Gam Qi Art, muscles, bones, flesh, and organs can be compressed or expanded freely.

"No ordinary talent could pull this off. He must have an Arcane. Omniscience, or a foresight-like Arcane."

With a transformation nearing completion, Zigrund\'s appearance was now undeniably Kerapald\'s. Though I could still faintly see Zigrund\'s true form.

"That’s my conclusion. How about it, Pied Piper?"