Memoirs of the Returnee-Chapter 342: Crystal (1)

Akane’s [Selfless Coffin].

I laid out the materials I had retrieved from the underground library before. It was the hundreds of volumes I had memorized in the fNotepadJ , materialized through mana stones.

There were some side effects, but it was a way that left no evidence.

“……Hmm. From the looks of it, it’s research data.”

Akane said, twirling her pen.

“You guys have been to many research labs, haven’t you? It seems like you’ve been storing all the discarded materials from those labs in the shadows.”

Then soliette tilted her head.

“lt’s strange. Why would they put them in the library instead of disposing of them? They seem like quite important pieces of information.”

“Because they might use them again in the future. Technology needs to be preserved to avoid being lost. Physically storing them is much safer than a computer network that can be hacked, and if the guards are Shadows, the risk is almost non-existent.”

“……Ah.”

“Above all.”

Akane looked back and forth at soliette and me with a rather serious expression.

“…lf it’s kept there, even the direct descendants won’t find out.”

It was a peculiar statement.

A secret that one wouldn’t want to be discovered by the successor who would follow in their footsteps.

“Anyway. I found this guy who seems to be Knightmare.”

“Huh, where?!”

Soliette quickly reached out to Akane.

“Here.”

Akane handed her a page. Soliette, with wide eyes, read it aloud.

“The result of a coincidence. A knight who dreams of nightmares……”

I glanced over from beside her.

[A knight who was administered with the crystal experienced nightmares. His nightmares did not end until the host died, and in the end, it manifested. The host’s soul had transformed into the nightmare itself.

The host of the mutation failed to survive, but the soul had a strange property of parasitizing others. Broadly speaking, it had the conditions for immortality. It was a significant result from the perspective of the continuity of the soul.

It was decided to preserve all related information.]

“……Broadly speaking, it had the conditions for immortality.”

At my words, Soliette gritted her teeth. Akane chuckled.

“These old folks, they’re very interested in im mortality.”

She then picked up another piece of data.

“However, this Knightmare had a friend in the laboratory. A colleague, so to speak.”

Akane handed over a file. I read it.

[Another peculiar property manifested from the nightmare. The host of the nightmare became extremely violent, but when they encountered a certain low-ranking knight of Libra, they regained their usual temperament. The test results showed a strange frequency flowing from the soul of the low-ranking knight. There was a high probability of another mutation.

It decided to preserve all related information.]

“……Who is this low-ranking knight?”

Soliette asked. I closed the file and answered.

“Dale Ascal.”

Soliette’s shoulders flinched. It must be because of the surname Ascal.

“He's my father.”

“……”

My father and Knightmare. Two mutations that appeared in the same laboratory.

I had thought there must be some connection between the two. After all, that was also the reason soliette and I became friends.

She must have known something before the regression.

I got up.

“I… I’ll go to work.”

“Yes. Shion. I’ll contact you if we find any significant information.”

Soliette spoke sternly, as if she was determined to unearth everything. I nodded and left the [Selfless Coffin].

Zia moved her residence. It was a basement annex on the continent’s island, outside the Aerial Garden.

“lt’s a bunker.”

A place Shion had personally modified for protection. Zia planned to stay here for several months. Until Derek's downfall, and the end of any potential aftermath.

“Don’t tell anyone about the location.”

In response to Shion’s request, Zia answered softly.

“Okay…”

“There's plenty of food, so take it out when you’re hungry.”

“Okay… But will you come by sometimes to cook?”

At that, Shion smiled.

“Of course. Well then. I’ll go right away. Contact me if there's any problem.”

“You too.”

Zia stopped me as I was about to leave the underground bunker.

“lf my sister says anything or something happens, let me know.”

“…Yes.”

He left the underground bunker with a faint smile.

The space was empty, but the design is quite beautiful, and there’s a garden decorated like a lakeside, so it isn’t emotionally unsettling.

Zia suddenly took out a crystal ball from her pocket.

It’s a perfect means of communication, impossible to track or eavesdrop on. This crystal ball is connected to a single other crystal ball, and she can converse with the person on the other side.

The recipient is ‘Belingham Kantar'.

“…”

Thus, Zia was gauging herself. Calculating everything to the end. What is beneficial for her, and what is harmful…

She infused the crystal ball with magic.

“Hello.”

…Yes. I’m listening.

Belingham’s response came back quickly.

“l've moved to the bunker…”

-That’s fortunate. I would have done the same. Could you tell me the location of the bunker, just in case?

Belingham asked for the location. Zia hesitated for a moment.

The ‘just in case’ he was talking about meant if Derek figured out the coordinates of this bunker and surrounded it.

If she could get Belingham’s help in such a situation, her chances of victory would increase significantly.

However…

“…Later. I’m not even sure how long I’ll stay here.”

Zia said. Belingham was silent for a moment, but soon responded with a smile.

-Understood. For now, please rest comfortably.

“…”

Zia’s calculations are endless. Because Belingham knows her plans. Because it would be quite troublesome if he turned to Derek’s side.

Therefore, Shion and Belingham.

If she had to choose one of the two, she had to walk a tightrope.

She must choose which one would be most beneficial to her, and hold onto it at the most decisive moment.

At least… Zia’s 'head’ thought so.

Today, Belingham Kantar met a man in his office. A tall knight of the Parliamentary Knights. A man who would lead Edsilla, and beyond that, the future of the continent.

Gerkhen Kal Doon.

“A good choice.”

He handed Belingham a box containing evidence. Belingham, who received it, smiled with satisfaction.

It was in a state where magical residue lingered heavily, it allowed for thorough component analysis and scene reconstruction.

Belingham had obtained the evidence. Now, Theia Esil would not be able to avoid the death penalty.

“Mr. Gerkhen, there’s an election next year. Certainly, you’re aware?”

“…”

Gerkhen showed a slightly surprised expression.

“Why are you so surprised? With your charm and character, it’s not too late to run in next year’s election. Even losing is a part of the career.”

Belingham didn’t think Gerkhen would be elected immediately. But within five years, he was definitely a product with the potential to become a star-quality Senator.

“I will speak well of you in Libra. So ”

Belingham handed him a document.

“There's a front forming in the east. Monsters and beasts are swarming. Not only here, but the number of monsters are rapidly increasing, spreading the front line wide.”

Gerkhen took it. The location and types of the frontier was described.

“lf you move quickly, it’s an opportunity to build your career. You can also shake off the darkness in your heart.”

Belingham looked at Gerkhen. Gerkhen, who had tucked the documents away into his coat,, also looked at Belingham.

“Mr. Gerkhen, you’ve done the right thing. You’ve submitted evidence of a criminal’s crime.”

Belingham smiled, and Gerkhen nodded.

“ln the future, you will become a greater person.”

Even as he said this, Belingham was still suspicious of Gerkhen. However, this evidence was enough to lead Theia Esil to the death penalty.

Even if the betrayal was false, it was okay as long as it could kill Theia Esil.

“Yes, I’ll be on my way.”

Gerkhen rose from his seat, and his destination was easily inferred. Surely, he would rush straight to the front lines.

“…”

Left alone in his office, Belingham looked at the crystal ball on the table. There had been no voice from Zia since that day.

He wasn’t anxious.

Even now, Zia could be swayed by her trivial emotions, but if she learned all the details Sherlock had prepared for Libra, she would eventually have to choose him…

…Chirp, chirp. The birds outside the window sang through the day.

Johanna was at work, but it was uninteresting. The old passion she once had could no longer be revived.

Perhaps, the meaning of life had completely changed for her.

Ding-

A notification came on her laptop. After reading the message, Johanna got up from her desk. With her hands behind her back, she walked and pushed open Zia’s room.

“…No one’s here.”

There was no one.

She must have run away somewhere. Preparing for the impending disaster, perhaps.

But the one she was trying to meet was not Zia. Johanna moved to the Aerial Garden.

She was thinking of finding someone else.

Just now, the message that came to her laptop was as follows.

[Balancer Shion Ascal has entered the Aerial Garden.]

A notification that always pops up for the direct line.

But no matter how much she moved, she couldn’t find him. Johanna revived her old tracking skills and followed his scent.

He was not there.

As if he was avoiding her.

“…”

Johanna was slightly angry. With a sulky face, she walked down the corridor, her hair standing on end.

Then she ran into someone.

It was Belingham Kantar.

“…“Isthere something wrong?”

He asked her that. He chuckled awkwardly, as if intimidated by her fierce expression.

“Have you seen Shion Ascal?”

“Ah… Yes. Should I call him?”

At the word ‘call’, Johanna got even more irritated.

“What right do you have to call him?”

“…I meant I could contact him for you.”

Johanna tapped the ground with her foot for no reason. Belingham, who had smiled faintly, sent a message to someone on his phone.

“He says he’s in his office.”

“…His office?”

“Yes. Perhaps you might consider using text messages?”

Thinking about it, she had never exchanged text messages or any other form of contact with him. It made her feel a bit awkward, her neck began to itch, and her fingers fidgety.

Suddenly, Belingham asked.

“Lady Johanna, you seem to have changed a lot.”

“…”

She seemed to have changed a lot.

In fact, she had changed a lot.

Johanna did not think that her past self and her present self were the same person. She was a completely different person.

“Humans always change.”

“…Haha. Is that so? That’s unfortunate.”

Belingham had a slightly different thought in mind.

The current Johanna seemed to have changed a lot.

However, in the end, she would not be able to change. At the most decisive moment, she would revert back to her original self.

The ‘golden rule’ of the direct line was prepared for that…

“Anyway. Is Shion Ascal in his office?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Bang!

Johanna opened the door to Balancer Ascal’s office. Shion was sitting at his desk.

“…Lady Johan na?”

He stood up with a puzzled face. Johanna approached him and asked.

“Why are you avoiding me? Why didn’t you come to me?”

“….”

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Shion didn’t make excuses even when asked why he avoided her. He was always honest. Even the lies he had once told her were because of his sincere heart for her.

She liked this about him.

“…lt’s to forget.”

He whispered in a low voice. Somehow, it seemed to pierce Johanna’s heart.

“To forget?”

“Yes.”

It must be because of that day.

The day when he couldn’t stand it, and she couldn’t stand it either, under the bright moonlight.

…Crack.

Johanna’s teeth clenched.

“Shion. Can you really forget that day?”

She approached him as if to scold him. He didn’t step back. He faced Johanna with a somewhat sad expression.

“lf I cannot forget, then I must try to forget, mustn’t l?”

At his poetic words, Johanna paused for a moment. She quietly looked into his trembling eyes.

Indeed, his eyes were as clear as crystal.

Looking into them, she naturally began to think sad thoughts. She had to muster courage. She had to prepare herself.

“…lt’s okay.”

The more she was with him, the more she would hurt.

It would be so painful that she couldn’t even breathe.

But.

“There’s no need to forget.”

Now, being apart from him was more torturous.

She had fallen in love with him to the point of no return.

Therefore, rather than being unable to spend the rest of her life with him because she was afraid of the despair of the future-

“Whether we forget or not, we will suffer enough.”

She would rather suffer from the moment he was alive.

She would suffer until he died, but she would not leave behind regret or lingering feelings.

The result of countless thoughts and torments that Johanna had pondered over and over again.

“…You don't have to endure.”

She wrapped her arms around Shion’s neck. She pressed her lips against his first.

Their moist emotions touched each other.

Last time, he had initiated it, so this much retaliation was absolutely necessary…