A week had passed since he had started descending into the dungeon again. And every day became a trial, all thanks to the voice in his head: at any time, he forcibly spouted nonsense, recalled the past, or humiliated him.
He stood by the entrance to the Blue Pharmacy. Having thought everything through to the smallest detail, he simply hoped that the Sword Princess would not be there. That was the only thing he could hope for.
«Come on, go in, what are you waiting for? I'm sure they didn't even notice your disappearance; after all, whether you're there or not, there's no use either way.»
He ignored its words and reached for the door to open it, but someone had already beaten him to it. Looking with wide eyes at the man,
— Sorry, — stepping aside, he said through his teeth. The man did not even pay attention to him. Without delay, he entered the Blue Pharmacy.
«I won't hesitate anymore,» — he thought, closing the door behind him, but, seeing Naaza's sleepy eyes, which were staring intently at him, all his resolve evaporated.
«What, why am I acting so insecure? Did I copy someone again?», — Kopii thought, approaching Naaza.
— Hi, Naaza.
Kopii said in a confident voice, or so he thought.
— Hi, Kopii. You're back already.
At her question, Kopii grew embarrassed. He did not understand what she meant. Seeing Kopii's confusion, she continued:
— Well, you said you needed to leave Orario for a while, didn't you?
She looked questioningly into his eyes.
— Ah, yes, I thought I'd forgotten to tell you. Hahaha, — scratching the back of his head, he said confidently. But chaos reigned in his head: he clearly remembered that he had never said that.
«Maybe I just forgot because of everything I went through?» — Kopii thought.
— Ding.
The bell rang, interrupting his thoughts. Looking at the person entering, it was a girl he did not recognize. Stepping aside so as not to disturb the customer.
«Oooh, Kopii, look at her ass! But, of course, she can't compare to those Amazons, but damn, she's beautiful too, and her equipment only emphasizes it. Very good, very good! I'd lick it!»
— Shut up, — Kopii whispered, blushing a little, and averted his gaze from her ass.
— Don't say that, — he continued, stepping a little to the side.
— Who are you fooling, Kopii? I know you like it too. Or have you already forgotten that we are one whole?
— I'm not a pervert, — he whispered, blushing even more.
— Kopii, you can fool anyone, but not yourself.
— Shut up! — raising his tone a little, he said.
— What? — looking towards Naaza, he noticed that their attention was focused on him. Smiling, he said: — That wasn't to you. I-I-I'm just… talking to myself, don't mind me.
Scratching his head, in despair, he walked away from them. Now he was on the other side of the pharmacy.
–Hahahahaha, you should have seen your face! Ahahaha.
— It's all because of you. Can you ever shut up?
— Do you even understand what you're saying right now? You're blaming the voice in your head? How pathetic, Kopii, but nothing surprising.
This infuriated Kopii the most, when this voice changed the topic of conversation too quickly. And this voice could make him feel stupid afterwards.
«How did it manage that?»
Kopii decided to return to his previous tactic and simply ignore it.
— Are you ignoring me again? You know this will be punished, Kopii, because I don't need sleep. I'm not a pathetic creature like you.
Hearing this, Kopii's mood worsened. He wanted to wake up rested.
— Shut up, — he hissed, watching as the customer left, casting a strange glance at him; she left the pharmacy.
— Well, Naaza, I came to give you the money, — approaching Naaza again and placing the pouch on the counter.
Nodding to him, she put the money away.
— As I understand, Miach isn't here? — looking at the stairs, he said.
— Yes, he's not here.
– Hey, hey, Kopii, look at her little tail! Just imagine how soft it is! You've always wanted to touch it, come on, Kopii!
– Come on!
– Come on!
– Come on!
— Well, Naaza, I'll be going, I won't bother you. Bye, — waving his hand, he went outside. Immediately, Kopii's smile fell from his face.
— You keep setting me up for some kind of perversion.
— Why? I perfectly understand what I want and I don't hide it. You should learn from that.
— Well, let's not waste time, — he said, heading to the "Benevolent Mistress".
— I wanted to ask, — but the voice in his head interrupted him.
— No way! Kopii himself decided to ask advice from someone like me? Impossible, is it going to snow today?
He was a little irritated by this behavior, but decided that right now it was not important.
— What do you want me to call you? Let's call you Kopii Two. I think that's a very good idea, — striking his chest, proud of it.
— Are you mocking me?! — his voice said indignantly.
— What, you don't like it? I think it's normal. I like my name.
— Go to hell with that name! Your name is total shit! — he shouted, interrupting Kopii.
— Then what name do you want?
— Call me Kane. Understood? Kane! Not that shit… What the hell? Our parents had no imagination at all.
— What, my name is normal.
— No! This name is total shit! It's the worst name of all possible. But my name, Kane, even sounds noble.
— Kane is shit, not a name!
— Just accept that your name is shit! Accept defeat with pride, Kopii!
— Enough, stop talking about this… Kane.
— Well, fine, Kopii, since you asked so nicely, I can't refuse you, — a victorious note could be heard in Kane's voice, which irritated Kopii even more, but he could do nothing about it.
— Kopii.
— Kopii.
— Kopii.
— What do you want from me?
— Let's go to the "Benevolent Mistress".
— Why?
– So that you can eat something tasty.
Hearing this, he doubted Kane's motives.
– Hm. I'll think about it.
— Hey, you agree?! I was starting to doubt you.
But some time later…
– Hey, hey, Kopii, we passed it! You deceived me! You bastard!
— I didn't deceive anyone.
— There will be consequences for this deception, Kopii!
But both fell silent, looking at the golden hair in the distance.
«The Sword Princess!»
Turning into an alley, flashed through his thoughts.
— Hey, where are you going? What, scared? Maybe it wasn't even her? Do you think only she has golden hair? And even if it is her, why are you avoiding her? Damn, how can we be one whole? — Kane said in disappointment.
«But really, why am I avoiding her?» — he thought, stopping and turning back towards the alley exit.
— Just tell the truth, Kopii, why avoid her, as if she's some kind of monster.
«Yes, that's right.» – For the first time, he agreed with Kane.
— Well, she's probably gone. It's pointless to look for her in the crowd, — taking a step forward, but suddenly he bumps into something. Falling on his backside and raising his gaze, he saw the one he had not expected.
«The Sword Princess,» — Kopii thought, getting up.
— Finally, I've found you! — grabbing his arm, so that he definitely wouldn't run away.
— Hey, let go!
But she ignored his words, squeezing his arm even tighter. He tried to pull his arm away, but he could not even move it.
— I want to know! Where did you learn that!
— Learn what? — he decided to simply toy with her a little. He watched as she pressed her lips together, pondering her next words.
– Look, Kopii, yes, isn't she a goddess? In memories, she looked beautiful, but in person, she is even more beautiful! Her cute face, her gorgeous figure! It's simply perfect!!!", — Kane rambled admiringly in Kopii's head, like a madman, unrestrained in his praise of the Sword Princess's beauty.