The Weapon Master's Transmigration 125 The Window To The Presen

Once Cole exited out of the window, he was greeted with another black void, although this one had furniture in it. The kind that you would usually find in any regular home. On one of the sofas with screens floating was Steward. Cole crossed his arms and said to him.

"So, this is what my 'present' currently is?"

〔Well, the present is ever-changing. And your present right now is that you're here.〕

"In the dream, you made for me?"

〔Yup.〕

As their conversation went on, Cole walked closer to Steward and Steward was finis.h.i.+ng up with whatever work he had to to do in Cole's mind. Cole sat down across of him and drilled a thousand holes through Steward's face.

It wasn't because Steward had done something, Cole's true main focus was the person behind him. Feeling Cole's stare, Steward scratched his chin and his eyes started moving to his side.

〔...Well, I had a little bit of help.〕

「h.e.l.lo!」

Libra popped up behind Steward's sofa and the two of them started talking about how they were able to construct the entire thing.

Steward had their frivolous smile like he always did while Libra wore their mischievous one. Cole thought that the two of them looked like siblings that way. The two of them started to joke and bicker with each other in a way that clearly showed their closeness.

Cole knew that they would eventually meet each other but...

'Strange.'

Cole thought. It was Steward that using Cole's face since they didn't have one of their own. He was the one that was an A.I, an artificial intelligence. Something that was made an manufactured and not born.

Yet, Cole felt that...

Steward was a lot more human than he was. He had a stronger sense of self and personality. If Cole was asked what kind of person Steward was, he could find a clear answer for that.

Cole knew exactly who Steward was. He didn't wear masks because he didn't need to and it's not like he had to.

'Magic is usually concerning a person's personality. If you have a fiery temper, then you'll probably have Fire Magic.'

Cole's eyes widened at his realization. If that was how it really was, then does that mean when he had〔Chaos Magic〕, it was because his mind was in a chaotic state? It would make sense when Cole thought about it.

Why he acted a bit weirdly when he had first arrived. But then what did being 'Hollow' mean? Cole sat down on the sofa across of Steward and took a cup of tea laid on the coffee table.

"Hey, Steward, Libra."

「Hm?」

〔What?〕

Their faces clearly showed that they were more than ready for whatever Cole was to talk about. This gave him the feeling that this segment was only so that they could have a night-long chat session with him since he barely did so.

"...I sometimes think that people have sh.e.l.ls."

「Sh.e.l.ls?」

〔What do you mean by that?〕

Cole started talking as Libra sat on the edge of Steward's sofa.

"Their outer sh.e.l.l isn't the masks that they wear but the hideous or, "evil", feelings they harbour for people, society and other things. It doesn't have to be pure hatred, it can be small things like being slightly irritated or being dissatisfied with your life."

"And inside is all the good things they feel. It's because sometimes it's really hard to show genuine goodwill to other people. But if magic is about your personality..."

Libra and Steward leaned in as their curiosity was peaked. Cole spoke in a way to make it sound like a sort of inquiry into the human heart, or mind if that's what you preferred. It could sound depressing depending on how it was said but it wasn't in the slightest.

"Does that mean I don't have any goodwill to give to people? Is that what it means to be 'hollow'?"

Cole was aware of his distrust of people since a long time ago. It was fine back then considering he needed to be cautious. He had wanted to change that or at least be able to have some semblance of trust with the people he'd be seeing every day.

Even though he was giving out quite the depressing question, he wasn't saddened at all. Rather his eyes and voice were tinged with curiosity.

But Steward and Libra didn't see it that way. Steward's eyes quickly became covered in worry and Libra's eyebrows furrowed.

"I wasn't even having fun with my former self in the past. I just wanted to see how my dream's self would react."

Cole took a sip of his beverage with a new sparkle in his eyes. Cole saw this as a hint to be able to fully understand himself. Unfortunately, he was being severely misunderstood by two people that shouldn't really have this problem.

One was literally inside his brains and could scan his brain waves to provide the treatment to possible mood swings and emotional lows. Well, or just give him a pep talk.

And the other could see the emotional balance of people as well as overall life balance and use that knowledge to a.s.sist them in their daily lives. That way the people of the world will be able to have a happy life and will have lower chances of becoming a Ghost or Cursed Spirit when they die.

As the two of them were formulating plans and strategies to start comforting Cole, he placed his cup on the coffee table and realized that he had the perfect chance to ask Steward something that's been stuck at the back of his mind ever since he had come here.

"But on the topic of my past self..."

All of a sudden, the comedic atmosphere disappeared as some form of invisible pressure enveloped the room. Sweat started dripping down Libra's face and Steward's back.

"Answer me this, Steward...."

Cole's shoes let out a 'tut tut tut' as he walked closer to Steward. It was as if there was a strange hypnotic rhythm to his footsteps. He stood right in front of Steward and let out a smile. Cole leaned in, causing a shadow to fall over his face.

It was the same voice, tone, mannerisms, and smile that he used that would get anyone talking. This meant that he seriously wanted an answer this time around.

Even though Steward had Cole's face, he wouldn't be able to recreate such a smile.

"How did I really die back in the〈Avant Zone〉?"

Steward flinched but quickly let out a sigh. He knew that Cole would ask him this someday. But he still wanted to move the topic for another time so he at least tried.

〔Eh? What are you talking about? You died by tripping, right?〕

He tried to play it off that it was just that but Cole wasn't letting him off the hook.

"Do you honestly think that I, a man who is renowned across the galaxy for being able to weaponize LITERALLY everything, actually died to the reason of losing their balance?"

The glare in Cole's eyes strengthened making Steward let out a sigh again. He rested his back against the sofa.

〔Ha... To be honest, I'm not entirely sure myself.〕

〔Your body's motor functions just stopped all of a sudden. And then you somehow got here. With me included.〕

"How about the rest of the attendees?"

〔While you blacked out, I was only able to stay active for a few more seconds. But everyone else seemed to have done the same.〕

"I see..."

Cole put a hand to his chin and thought.

"Do you think it was some kind of attack?"

〔I doubt it. A war had just ended, do you think someone is stupid enough to start another one?〕

"No. It was a meaningless question."

Cole crossed his arms and thought of the possible reasons. It still could have been some kind of attack but it would have to be done by a race that lived outside the Milk Way. Their technology would also have to be a lot more advanced.

'Magic? It's a bit farfetched but the world I live in right now is already farfetched enough.'

Cole kept on thinking and thinking. If he couldn't come to an answer today, that was fine. He had a lot of time after all and there was no way he could find the real answer in just a few seconds.

"...Steward. By any chance, do you think that the day I died and the day that dimensions collapsed was the same?"

〔Hmm... It's not impossible. But we don't have any kind of confirmation for that.〕

"I'll go ask Aries or any one of the other Department Heads. They might know something. If they don't I'll just go ask my Lucille. It's as if she has all the answers nowadays."

Cole felt that he was probably about to wake up soon but he noticed that Steward still had something to say.

〔Umm... Cole?〕

"What?"

〔Do you have no intention of going to the〈Avant Zone〉to find out yourself?〕

"Maybe one day. But I was pretty sure that I had already shown my clear desire to not go there as of now."

Steward seemed to be a bit disappointed at Cole's answer. Seeing Steward's face like that, Cole let out a sigh and patted his head. He saw Steward as some kind of weird twin so he couldn't let him be like that.

"Ha... Let's talk about this another day. I'll be going now."

With that, Cole's body disappeared, leaving only Libra and Steward in that empty void.