Chapter 157 - 157. I Can't Stand Stuffiness! (One)

In a room lit by a small candle, a woman with brown hair touched my arm and her strange green eyes examined her wounds.

It was the academy's medical officer, Priscilla.

She came back after killing Ekis, but she was wounded, so as soon as she arrived at the academy, she came to her house.

"I wasn't hurt too much this time.

Priscilla's nonchalant voice, unknown whether it contained worry or not.

It's not that she's not exactly indifferent, but maybe it's that she's used to me coming to her with her scars.

In fact, it was just residual scars.

A wound that was so small that it could be treated with only moderate amounts of herbs.

However, there was something she wanted to ask her, Priscilla, so she came to visit her on purpose.

"Dr. Priscilla, I want to ask you something."

"...What?"

Priscilla, who infused her divine power into my words and used her heel, tilts her head.

"If a person goes through something traumatic... Can their memories be erased..."

"Memory loss."

The truth about the Ludwig clan that Ekis told me right before he died.

It was strange.

It was hard to believe that she had forgotten such an important memory.

She had rather hoped it was a fabricated memory, but that seemed unlikely. It was because there was no loophole in Ekis' logic.

I wanted to hear a clear answer to this from the medical officer, Priscilla, who has medical knowledge.

"...I've heard of cases like that. Was that when you were young?"

"..."

The reason for asking the question seemed obvious, Priscilla asked me so, and I nodded her head.

"Hmm... Human memories are very complicated. Normally, it's not easy to forget traumatic memories, but it will depend on what it is. Every human being has a strong instinct for survival. Especially when it's a child. It's even more so when it's like when a newborn baby who can't communicate needs something to survive so that he doesn't die easily, he cries and announces it."

After finishing her treatment, Priscilla, who had been calmly sitting in her chair and drooling, continued her explanation in a low voice.

"If it is judged that carrying that traumatic memory or being placed in an extremely stressful situation will interfere with one's survival in the future, if it is not related to that event in order not to give up on survival... Although each person is different Even if you do, there are times when you choose to erase your own memories. Maybe it's a very instinctive way to protect yourself."

Remove your own memories to survive.

I kind of understood it.

"..."

Priscilla, who continued her speech, suddenly becomes quiet.

It was like looking back at something.

Soon she opens her mouth again.

"...I don't know what happened, but it seems like there was an opportunity that brought back such shocking memories. Cases like yours aren't uncommon. Especially since your generation went through war as children. The loss and despair experienced as children It's a different law."

"...But my memory isn't perfect yet."

"Anyway, what happens after this is important. There is a possibility that the memory will gradually come back."

"If I come back..."

"...It must be difficult. It must be such a memory. But what you should know is that we do not live in the past, we live in the present. So there is no need to give up the present life or the future because of the painful past."

After saying that, Priscilla smiled bitterly.

Fortunately, contrary to her concerns, she hadn't thought about giving up at all.

Because I've already gone through a lot of giving up and failure.

I knew very well that it was meaningless.

Indeed, why did my family, my family, engrave this curse-like ability on my body, 'return'?

Even at the cost of their lives.

Was there any reason to do so?

I couldn't reach it yet, but I felt I had to find out about it in the future.

I didn't really like the choice of the clan who sacrificed their lives on their own, but...

"...No giving up."

"Then I'm glad."

After that conversation, I got up from my seat.

He said that before leaving the room.

"Thank you, Priscilla."

So Eisel walked forward.

Her truth, which she firmly believed in, collapsed, but like Jeto before her, she walked toward her future.

Humans live with various stories of their own.

"..."

It was the same with Priscilla, who remained in her room and stared blankly at the door Eisel had left.

Priscilla, who had been looking back on her past for the first time in a while, got up from her chair and immediately sought a drink.

I wondered if that drop of alcohol would make her forget, at least for a moment, her childhood when she was covered in blood, and the faces of the pitiful people who stopped breathing in her arms.

"Living in the present... Ha, I'm not talking about that..."

Priscilla herself, who had spoken such words, was caught up in the past and was unable to live in the present.

***

The one contacted through the crystal ball was Bernice, who had treated Zagoras quite hotly.

I thought I'd been out of touch, but I thought he'd already killed Zagoras.

She thought there would be no problem if she left it to Bernice, but she was a little faster than expected.

In any case, Zago Lars, or Delion, was also the vice-captain of a country's knights, so Bernice said that he would not be able to avoid being 'announced'.

Sooner or later, it will reach Eisel's ears.

For her regressor, this would be an absurd event that her future would have changed.

However, no mention of me was included, so I wasn't too worried.

It was an unofficial status that was not good to be known as an honorary knight, and there was no particular source of information provided.

About this, Bernice also said that he had something in mind.

I wondered how she would deal with her inability to lie, but this time I had to leave it in her hands.

Bernice ended her communication by saying that the matter was well resolved, so that she would resolve the matter together sooner or later.

Well, it's unlikely that the saintess and her knights will be able to drink alcohol, but to the point of eating delicious food.

At that time, I thought it would be okay to have a conversation that I couldn't finish. She still had a lot to hide from Bernice, but she seemed better off talking about Sierra.

She hadn't forgotten about Rey and Petty either.

Even if Zepetty didn't know, I thought it would be better to inform her saintess about Ray, her warrior, in advance. In a way, she could become a colleague to go catch the demon king together someday.

There is just Bernice's 'power', so the key is how to explain it.

That's how the communication was completed and the 'analysis' ended just in time... I was able to face Petty, who was wiping the blood from her face.

What was left after the analysis was without fail my share. It was such a horrific sight that I didn't want to keep it in my eyes, but I had to resist the urge to vomit because swallowing something with a shadow required more concentration than I thought.

Fortunately, the analysis went well.

I've found some clues. Zepetty said that it would be better to analyze the stronger demons next time.

There was no problem with the demons.

It will be solved if I go out with her as soon as I have time again.

As a result, it could be seen that it was one step closer to 'manufacturing anti-demon weapons'.

However, how will the 'other species', who have been defeated even by desert warriors who deal with mana normally, change to be able to fight the demons?

I wouldn't be able to create a divine power that is in conflict with the demons... I couldn't picture the anti-demonic weapon well in my head.

Well, it would be better to leave complicated techniques to Zepetty.

After that, it went back to normal again.

If there is one thing that has changed in my calm daily life, it must be the skipping of 'Kaen'.

Originally, Kaen was supposed to show off her skills during the main exam.

Unexpected choice. Because she was curious about Kaen's intentions, she asked at some point, but the answer she got back was vague words such as 'I just happened to...'.

I think I know the reason, but there's nothing good to point out right away. Still, it wasn't a problem in particular, it was just that the timing had sped up, so I decided to watch it for now.

Anyway, Eisel's expression wasn't very good today. He had a sullen expression as usual, but there was a slight energy in his eyes.

A negative aura of untouchability spread around her.

Zagoras, that is to say, the official announcement of Delion, vice-captain of the Knights of the Golden Lion, has yet to be announced, so that shouldn't be a problem...

'...What did I do wrong?'

I slowly recalled what had happened with Eisel earlier.

She told Aisel that she liked her, and Aisel, who blushed a lot, hurriedly ran away.

Since then, they have been treating each other as usual.

'Is it a problem to treat you as usual?'

However, Zeppetti said that it seems better to postpone 'dating' as much as possible until a proper framework is established.

'If you can secretly date without being noticed by anyone, you might want to try it, but would it be dangerous? If you do something wrong, Zeto may be torn into several pieces. A woman betrayed by love is a scary thing.'

He knew what it meant to be torn into many branches because he had already suffered from Sierra.

Literally, my whole body was torn apart.

'It's embarrassing.'

Who could talk to Eisel with a face like that?

Then, with her hands behind her back and her waist bent, Kaen cautiously approaches Eisel.

"...Cadet Eisel, by any chance can we see that... Her spear change just one more time?"

"...Uh?"

It was during her class, so Eisel, who was standing by her window, let out a questionable cry from her.

Watching the scene, I touched my forehead.

'Somehow, from earlier, he sneakily looked out the window...'

It was an act like Kaen who doesn't care about cool things.

"Clap!"... I thought it was really cool to change..."

"Ah, uh..."

Eisel, who couldn't overcome Kaen's madness as she struck back with her nonchalant voice, reluctantly folded her spear and opened it again.

"Oh oh...!"

"..."

Kaen's eyes twinkled in admiration, and Eisel scratched her head as if she was still unconcerned.

'Honestly... I can't stand it.'

It was Eisel's spear that was cool even looking at it again.

In any case, it might be because of Kaen's madness... The shade was slowly disappearing from Eisel's face as he listened to Kaen's praise.

It must have been a feeling of embarrassment without a chance to feel bad.

It didn't look too bad, so she was smiling softly.

"Hey, Jeto..."

At some point, Yuri, who came next to me, whispered to me.

I immediately turned her head to look at the glass.

"Yes, Miss Yuri. I'm listening."

Yuri's expression as if she was worried about something.

In her hand was the Orb of the Red Dragon that I had given her before, or 'Orb'.

"I have a problem, can you listen to me seriously?"

"Yes, how much?"

"That... The orb you gave me before.

"Is the orb talking?"

"Yeah, a voice echoes in my head."

Yuri nodded her head with her most sincere eyes, she said.

Did the orb have such a function or effect?

At least as far as I remember, there was none of that.

In the first place, even when I was holding the orb, nothing like the orb talking to me had happened.

[A voice echoes in her head... Is it a similar feeling to the original woman? ]

Just in time, Sierra's voice echoed in her head as she was listening to Yuri's conversation with me.

Well, fortunately, Yuri is not the only one who has someone else's voice ringing in her head.

So, as she wished, I was able to listen to her story seriously without any doubt.

"...So what does the orb say?"

"That, that's..."

Yuri blushed at my question and stuttered her words.

***

A few days ago, the night we fought the demons in Edward's fantasy in a joint battle.

Yuri couldn't sleep because of her worries about what had happened in Edward's fantasy.

"There's something..."

Yuri, who couldn't get rid of the feeling that Eisel and Jeto were having a close conversation, muttered that while lying on the bed.

It was then. A harsh and vicious voice sounded in her head.

[Stuffy bitch... If you take the guy's body first, things will be solved neatly...]

The strange voice that clicked on her tongue, heard out of nowhere, alerted Yuri and lifted her up from the bed.

"Who is this?!"

As Yuri hurriedly inspected her room, she couldn't see anything that could be called an intruder.

"..."

There was no noticeable change in her, no one other than herself. It was her own room, familiar to her eyes.

"What...?"

A voice echoes in her head once more at Yuri's question.

[Oh, can you finally hear my voice. My master ]

"Master?"

[Although it's a frustrating year that I don't want to call myself the owner...]

"What is your identity..."

Yuri, who was on high alert, asked.

It was communication to be an auditory hallucination, and the shape was invisible to be an intruder.

To Yuri, who had goose bumps all over her body, her voice kindly informs her of her true identity.

[ It's here. Here. No, not that one. Left... Yes. ]

Guided by the voice, Yuri's eyes reached the place.

"...Isn't this an orb?"

It was none other than the 'Orb' that Jetto had given him before, placed in a corner of the room.

[It's not just an orb. This body is definitely a dragon. ]

"Dragon?"

[Tsk... It's because the old owner is so frustrating. ]

Orb, who claimed to be a dragon, was quite annoyed.

However, it was not a glass that could pass through this finely.

"Oh, is that so? I'm sorry for being frustrated."

Yuri, who replied in a sarcastic tone, turned her head away.

Did I go crazy because I stayed up all night?

Or are you already asleep and dreaming?

'What can I do? Jeto gave it to me as a gift, so I can't throw it away...'

It was around the time when Yuri was thinking about it, even if Orb was talking to him, he didn't need such an annoying guy.

Orb speaks again.

[ ...So when are you going to eat it? ]

"Eating...?"

[That's Jetto. Jeto. ]

"...Wait, how do you know that name?"

[That's because I can read your thoughts. Didn't you think of that in the first four years? ]

"I-I never thought of that...?"

[Didn't you even imagine marrying my Tora and seeing her grandchildren? ]

"That's never happened...?!"

[It is useless to deny it. I know everything about your years. ]

"What do you mean, you know me...! And! What does it matter if I ate my own food or not?!"

[Hey, stupid bitch... What's the use of telling me now? I wouldn't be able to do that either. ]

"This is real..."

In the end, Yuri, who was heated by the orb's rude language, fought with the orb in the middle of the night, screaming recklessly.

In the end, Yuri tried to squeeze the orb, but his hand hurt, and he couldn't do any damage to it.

Yuri eventually gave up fighting him only after dawn.

It has been like this ever since.

She was about to ask a question, wondering if Zeto, who gave her the orb, would know anything about this.

She thought that she might look like her crazy bitch, so she thought a lot before asking her question. Fortunately, Jetto in front of her eyes was really listening to her story seriously.

"...So what does the orb say?"

"That, that's..."

Yuri couldn't give a direct answer to Jeto's question to try to resolve her situation.

[Fuck me! I mean cover! ]

The voice of the orb she held in her hand was still ringing in her head.

"Hmm... It's just useless chatter...? He said it was a dragon..."

Thinking that this should never be conveyed as it is, Yuri tried to cover it up somehow.

"Hmm... A dragon. If Miss Yuri's words are really true, I think the orb contains the dragon's soul or consciousness."

Orb, who heard this, mumbled something like 'What about small talk...', But Jeto's solution was immediately followed.

"Miss Yuri, can you give me some time today?"

"Time? I have time... Why?"

"Because I have a dragon that I am close with. When it comes to things about dragons, I think dragons know best."

Jeto raised her finger and replied in a calm voice.

'I'm familiar with the dragon...?'

Wouldn't it be difficult for an ordinary human to even glance at the dragon's shadow throughout his life?

Yuri couldn't understand what Zeto was doing on a daily basis so that he could say things like that as if it were nothing.

[ Dragon...?! ]

On the other hand, Orb, who had been arrogant just a moment ago, was expressing bewilderment.

[Lord, Master... It must be a bluff... Dragons... No dragons...]

For some reason, Orb was extremely reluctant to meet other dragons.

Soon, Yuri, who noticed the suspicious feeling from her, raised the corner of her mouth and nodded her head as she answered Jetto.

"I like it."