This concept of persona isn't something one acquires out of the blue.
"Eh?"
There are four conditions that must be met.
"There is an incident where a Calamity Object can manifest as another person with no way of knowing that it is them."
First is individuality. The awareness of who you are. That is, recognizing that you're a different existence to others. Also the capacity to self-reflect when you make a mistake, being critical of yourself.
"What are you implying by that…?"
Second is ownership. The first thing our persona takes control of is our body. Humans are not controlled by our bodies, but instead, our bodies are controlled by our persona.
After all, the claim 'only human commit suicide' derives from the idea that psychological pain is worse than physical pain.
"Let's say that, if such a thing happens to be an ongoing occurrence in our group, do you think that anyone would notice?"
"Of course, they will! A random person might be appearing out of nowhere, but all of us exist before the Ordeal of the Dusk started, and no Calamity Object can manifest outside of the ordeal!"
Third is uniformity, also known as consistency. When our words or behavior lack coherence, we are not recognized as possessing a persona.
If a persona has multiple 'personas' yet they are all inconsistent, it is open to debate whether they are really personas.
"What if they didn't exist yet, and all of you are just imagining it?
The last one is responsibility. A persona is something possessed by the responsible. Those who lack responsibility are not recognized as having a persona.
"... Ahahah, Narcissus, what are you talking about?
Only when those four conditions are met, a persona or a 'mask' can exist.
"I'm saying that, what if the Calamity Object implanted a fake memory into all of you, just so that it can naturally mingle with everyone as if it was their friend from the beginning of the day, or even beyond that."
Right now, I'm wearing the mask of Narcissus.
My awareness reminded myself of my true nature. That was my individuality.
My mind was in the possession of this body and not the other way around. That was my ownership.
My act stayed true and doesn't meaninglessly overlap with my other masks. That was my uniformity.
And to play the role given to me as Narcissus and put an effort to it. That was my responsibility.
As such, at this very moment, I'm trying to bait the Wandering Imposter into shedding its mask if it has one.
"Don't tell me that you are…"
And even if it didn't have one, I wanted to ensure that it would be on our side until the very end.
"Yes." I widened my smirk into an eerie grimace in front of the Wandering Imposter. "And there are certain conditions that will lead me to brutally murder you, Verina, and Lupina without any remorse."
"Aha… ahahah…"
Tahlia's eyes were wide and unblinking, pupils dilated as if trying to absorb every detail of the surrounding threat.
His breath became shallow and rapid, almost a series of gasps, with the chest heaving in rhythm to the panicked heartbeat thudding like a drum.
The hands trembled uncontrollably, fingers clenching and unclenching as if seeking something to hold onto.
The skin became beads of cold sweat forming on the forehead and temples. The entire body seemed coiled, muscles tense and ready to either flee or freeze, betraying the primal instinct to survive at all costs. The voice, if it emerges, was shaky, cracking under the weight of terror, often reduced to a whisper or a stuttered plea.
That was not the sign of an ownership, a proof that betrayed the second condition to possess a persona—the total control of the action of the physicality.
His reaction took control of itself. His body was confirming to the threat as a direct input to his nature, removing the possibility of an aware and uniformed mind controlling his vessel like a doll.
The Wandering Imposter's persona was none other than itself. What the information screen referred to as 'persona' turned out to be the identity and nature of the manifested fake person.
"I know that you're afraid of me." I took a long step forward, widening my smile. "After all, you have seen my capability. My speed. My calculative demeanor. My creativity. All of them infused into a single magnificent guardian and murderer.
"You're wondering that, I would have killed all of you if I could. But just like the majority of Calamity Objects, I might be bound to my gimmick, and you're assuming that you might have started the first phase of the gimmick right now."
[The Ordeal of the Midnight will be approaching in 5 minutes_]
Oh right, I didn't have much time left.
"Well, you can be at ease for now." I chuckled, all while moving my body to harvest the fallen tree and haul them to the wagon. "The condition for me to end this bastion is met when you, Tahlia, my chosen gimmick subject, happen to devastatingly harm either me, Verina, or Lupina.
"But seeing you in person, I doubt that you will do that~"
I gave Tahlia a gentle and reassuring smile, removing him from the state of stagger and distress.
I tapped Tahlia's shoulder just to ensure that he was broken out of his trance. "Come on, we don't want to make those two wait, can we?"
"R-Right… Ahahah…"
Unless that there was any kind of shitty gimmick where the Wandering Imposter suddenly acts out of its predetermined character, Tahlia should be an amazing pawn to increase our survivability for the Ordeal of the Midnight.
Of course, if Tahlia was smart enough, he should be able to realize that there was no way for him, Verina, and Lupina to make the fortress, ballistas, and the Fortcracker by themselves.