Chapter 62: Human? (8)

Human cells were almost entirely replaced after approximately one year, with only a few exceptions. This raised the issue of whether an individual remained the same person as they were a year ago. The concept of replacing something while considering it identical to its original form aligned with Theseus’s Paradox, which examined the relationship between change and identity.

At this moment, the situation before Ketal mirrored the Ship of Theseus perfectly. The only differences were the removal of the concept of death and the acquisition of unique abilities. From the perspective of the people who were taken over, these differences were likely as trivial as growing taller, nails lengthening, or hair growing.

Adamant did not fully deny Ketal’s comparison. “It is similar, but there is one important difference. A ship does not have a sense of self, whereas I do. I am human.”

“And who can verify that your sense of self is truly that of the original Adamant?” Ketal said, shrugging. “You consider yourself human based on the continuity of your memories. However, that continuity is not evidence. Ultimately, it is your subjective belief. What truly matters are the observations of those around you.”

Adamant found himself momentarily speechless.

“If something possessing your memories, abilities, and habits replaced the original you and continued to live as you, it would be difficult to prove that it is not you,” Ketal continued. “If a replica of you appeared and claimed to be Adamant, and if that replica genuinely believed it was Adamant, it would essentially become Adamant. Would you accept it as such?”

Adamant’s expression shifted into one of clear confusion. “Are you really a barbarian?”

The Tower Master’s surprise matched Adamant’s. Ketal’s approach extended far beyond intelligence or logical reasoning. He was examining the essence and perspective of existence itself, using a philosophical method.

A philosophical barbarian seemed utterly contradictory, and Adamant regarded Ketal as if he were something out of the ordinary.

“A barbarian applying philosophy is something I never expected. Honestly, you are stranger than I am,” Adamant said.

“I simply possess a great deal of knowledge,” Ketal replied, shaking his head.

The Ship of Theseus was a well-known paradox. Most people with an interest in such matters were aware of it back on Earth. On modern Earth, accessing all available information required only a moment’s effort. A small spark of curiosity and action could uncover the accumulated knowledge of great scholars.

This world, however, lacked such accessibility. Without substantial education, individuals were left to acquire philosophical knowledge on their own. This was why both the Tower Master and Adamant were astonished by Ketal’s insight. The immediacy of his response indicated that he had given considerable thought to the topic in the past.

Even Ketal, though, was just as surprised. Adamant claimed to have realized, without assistance or external verification, that he had been taken over. He understood this solely through his own senses.

Ketal began to wonder whether such capabilities were what defined a Transcendent.

Adamant could not offer any rebuttal. He still considered himself human and believed he was Adamant. However, he could not say with certainty whether he was the same Adamant as before. He understood that if a perfect replica replaced him and fully believed it was Adamant, it would essentially become Adamant.

Despite this, Adamant narrowed his eyes and spoke with conviction. “In that case, the situation becomes simpler. The princess you are protecting is in the same condition as I am.”

“That is true,” Ketal agreed.

“If that’s the case, it is logical for those who may have been taken over to remain together. That should also provide you with some reassurance.”

“That does not matter to me,” Ketal replied indifferently.

“What did you just say?“Adamant asked as his surprise was evident. “If your logic is correct, then we are all unknowingly replacements, essentially no different from doppelgangers.”

“What's wrong with that?” Ketal tilted his head slightly, appearing genuinely puzzled.

Adamant struggled to find a response. In this world, all races exterminated doppelgangers whenever they were found, effectively driving the species to extinction. This was due to the deeply repulsive idea of a creature disguising itself as one of their own without their knowledge.

All beings harbored a natural hatred for anything that imitated their form. If Ketal’s words were true, then they were no different from doppelgangers. Any normal human would instinctively react with disgust and a desire to destroy them.

Ketal, however, showed no reaction. Instead, he regarded them as if they were entirely ordinary.

Adamant muttered under his breath, “You seem far less human than I do.”

“I am human,” Ketal replied without hesitation.

Adamant did not linger on the comment and instead focused on the immediate issue. “In that case, why are you stopping me?”

“As I have already stated, I do not care about what you are. I am stopping you because it is my duty to protect my client.”

Ketal was a mercenary, and the client’s opinion was the most important thing. He glanced at Elene. Feeling his gaze, she flinched and trembled slightly.

“Elene, what do you think?” Ketal asked.

“But I’m a monster imitating Elene,” she replied quietly.

“To me, you are the real Elene,” Ketal said without hesitation.

“What?”

“I never knew the previous Elene in the first place. The only Elene I know is the one standing before me now,” he added.

Elene’s eyes widened in surprise. Ketal was right; he had never met the Elene from before her transformation. The only Elene he knew was the one who had become a monster and sought refuge in the Barcan Estate.

“The one I signed a contract with and agreed to protect is you, not whoever you were before. To me, this isn’t a particularly significant issue,” Ketal stated lightly. “If you wish to return, I will let you go. If you don’t, I will keep protecting you. I am your mercenary.”

Elene lowered her head once again and murmured softly. “I don’t want to go back...”

“Then that settles it,” Ketal said with a broad grin as he raised his axe. “Patrick, keep them safe.”

“Got it,” Patrick responded, guiding Elene and Aron further back.

“So it has come to this,” Adamant muttered with a deep sigh. He raised his staff and pointed it at Ketal. “You seem to be enjoying this, barbarian.”

“I am enjoying it quite a lot,” Ketal admitted with a grin.

The living embodiment of the Ship of Theseus stood before him. He found it fascinating to observe how they thought and acted. Seeing something that had previously existed only in theory play out in reality was nothing short of thrilling.

Since this is a fantasy world, I thought it would be possible to discern the truth through the soul, but it seems that’s not the case,

Ketal thought.

“No matter how I look at it, your way of thinking is far from human. You seem more like a monster than me,” Adamant said with a wry smile.

“I am human,” Ketal replied firmly.

“Enough nonsense. For the sake of the world, I must bring you down. This works out perfectly, as the princess crossing into another kingdom would cause a serious diplomatic issue,” Adamant declared, his eyes flashing with killing intent.

“Sounds like a good plan,” Ketal said with a smile.

A mage was someone who could perfectly manipulate the Myst. To fight such a being was exhilarating for Ketal.

While the one called Kartos had also been a mage, his death had been too abrupt to leave much of an impression.

This time, Ketal was up against a proper mage. His excitement surged, making his heart feel as if it could burst.

As Adamant raised his staff and began summoning his magic, Ketal moved swiftly. According to every book and game description, the first rule when fighting a mage was to kill them before they could cast their spell. Ketal adhered to this time-tested cliché. His axe hurtled toward Adamant’s neck with lightning speed.

However, the axe sliced through empty air. Ketal’s eyes widened in surprise. Adamant had evaded the attack, reappearing behind a nearby tree.

He realized that Adamant had reacted to his speed, something even a Swordmaster had failed to do. Ketal was momentarily stunned, but Adamant looked even more startled.

“What... did you just do?” Adamant exclaimed.

The Tower Master, observing from afar, muttered, “It’s reaction magic.”

Sluggish mages should not have been able to respond to such speed. Reaction magic was a type of prearranged spell. When a specific condition was met, the spell would automatically activate.

It seems Adamant set it up to trigger random teleportation whenever someone approaches at a certain speed,

the Tower Master thought.

Since it activated automatically, a mage’s actual skill mattered little. However, from Ketal’s perspective, it seemed as though Adamant had deliberately reacted to his attack with magic.

“Interesting,” Ketal muttered, tilting his head.

Without hesitation, he raised his axe again. Adamant hurriedly raised his staff, but he was too late. The axe was already inches away.

At that moment, a spell activated with a deafening sound.

A shield of ice formed to protect Adamant, but it was meaningless. The axe cut through the shield, the staff, and Adamant himself in one clean stroke. His severed head fell to the ground.

“Wow, he reacted to my attack again,” Ketal noted.

Although the defense had failed, it was clear that Adamant’s magic had activated in response to Ketal’s attack. Ketal became certain that this mage’s spells were tied to his movements.

Under normal circumstances, the fight would have ended there. A being whose head was separated from its body would no longer be able to function.

However, something unusual occurred. Adamant, along with his severed head, staff, and clothing, disappeared entirely. Moments later, he reappeared in the exact same condition as before.

“So, this is how it works,” Ketal muttered, his eyes gleaming with interest as he watched.

As Adamant had said earlier, it wasn’t so much regeneration as it was a return to his original form.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Adamant spat curses the moment he reappeared.

He couldn’t see Ketal’s attack. The reaction magic he had meticulously set up for defense had proven completely ineffective.

Ketal raised his axe once more, and Adamant clicked his tongue. There was no way for him to counter Ketal’s attack. He couldn’t react, and there was no further reaction magic to rely on.

In that case, he resolved to attack instead. Before he could act, Ketal moved, and Adamant’s neck was severed once again. Yet, as before, his body promptly returned to its original state.

Adamant immediately activated his magic. A sharp cracking sound filled the air. Arrows of frost materialized, hurtling toward Ketal with astonishing speed.

Ketal sidestepped effortlessly, dodging them.

The frost arrows slammed into a tree, piercing through it, and shattered a boulder behind it. Part of the forest was destroyed in an instant.

Ketal whistled, clearly impressed. “That’s powerful.”

An explosion erupted with a deafening roar. Flames flared violently, followed by blades of wind that surged toward Ketal.

With a grin, Ketal swung his axe in a wide arc. Another thunderous boom echoed as the sheer force of Ketal’s swing obliterated Adamant’s magical attacks.

Adamant flinched but didn’t stop. He placed his hand against a nearby tree, which began to tremble. Its leaves fell, transforming midair into razor-sharp blades that launched toward Ketal.

Hundreds of leaves sought to pierce Ketal. He leapt in the air, dodging them. The leaves struck trees, boulders, and the ground, shattering and destroying everything they touched.

The once-vibrant forest was reduced to a barren wasteland in seconds.

Adamant swung his staff violently, conjuring a concentrated gust of wind. The wind coalesced into a massive form, which hurtled toward Ketal like a bomb.

Ketal evaded it with ease, leaping aside. The moment he landed, however, the wind bomb exploded right next to him.

Shards of wind struck against Ketal’s entire body, yet he simply laughed. Nature itself seemed to bend to Adamant’s will. Unlike a spirit, which harmonized with nature to become one with it, Adamant was forcing nature to submit and obey his commands.

This was magic, the quintessential part of a fantasy world. It was a force that could twist the very laws of the world.

Ketal felt deeply moved.

The Tower Master, watching from a distance, had a different thought entirely.

Is he genuinely moved by the fact that his opponent keeps resurrecting, even after being killed?