Chapter 3.28 - Monday, July 18th, 3.49am

When I returned home at 3.49 am, I went to check on that man’s condition before going to bath.

His breathing, pulse, heart-beat, and temperature does not feel unusual. However, he had cold sweat all over his body that night.

A nightmare…? That’s good.

His liveliness means he should be able to wake up by morning.

With that, I took away the magic sealing knife that I placed on him. He feels better afterwards; I wondered why.

I went to bath afterwards, washing off Ruby’s and Dómr’s scent on my body. I don’t want Restia to know that I went to meet them. Well, I don’t think I could hide it from her, though…

At 4.08 am, I crawled into Restia’s bed and slept next to her. This way, she should be able to sleep better with me, giving her a sense of security.

…………………………………

“…brother…!”

…Hmm…?

“Big brother…! Wake up…!”

“Wha— it’s morning…?”

“Morning, big brother…”

With Restia next to me, she gives me a kiss on my cheek as if it was the most natural thing to do.

“Oof!?”

Restia suddenly sits on top of me, on my abdomen.

“………………”

Though she’s staring at me, but she didn’t utter a single word.

“Erm, Restia? What’s wrong…?” I asked.

With her hands pressing my chest, my little sister then looks at me with a tender smile.

…Gulp.

I had a bad feeling about this.

“Where did you went last night?”

As expected, she knew.

“How did you know…?”

“Because you hugged me last night.”

“…I see.”

“Eek…!?”

I grabbed Restia’s hand and pulled her down, wrapping my hands over her waist.

I did this just to make sure she wouldn’t hit me with her fist.

“My cute little sis, I… went to meet Dómr.”

“You said not to leave me alone!”

“I didn’t,” I told her. “That man downstairs is still here with you, isn’t it…?”

“Nghhhh………!”

… It seems like she won’t be releasing me for the time being.

“…Is it true?” Restia suddenly muttered.

“Hmm?”

“Is it true that the Alpha Fenrir Wolf is daddy’s magical beast…?”

“…Yeah. I will also tell you everything I know for the time being.”

I told Restia everything about Dómr and his relationship between his own daughter, the Black Cat, the Snow Leopard Queen, and the White Snake.

I also told her about dad’s test and the appearance of that man.

As for Ruby and her whereabouts, I decided not to told her.

“…You can do it, big brother,” Restia said calmly.

Again, another one who solely believes in me.

What’s wrong with them? How could they have so much faith in me…?

“Papa would never let you do things that you can’t do— that’s all there is to it,” Restia added.

…I get it now.

It’s not only me who they believed… but also dad.

“By the way, big brother…”

“Yeah?”

“I heard screams coming from downstairs…?”

Screams?

“That man— he’s awake…!”

“Kyaa…?!”

Pushing Restia aside, I jumped off her bed and ran straight downstairs in my pajamas.

That man… he’s the key factor to everything…!

BAM!

Opening the door with a slam, I stood by the door, staring at him as I catch my breath.

“Finally…! Someone came…!” That man happily yelled. “It’s about time you untie me from this blasted chain!”

Without another word, I approach him and grab his face with my hands, glaring at him.

“WHO ARE YOU WHAT ARE YOU ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH MY DAD AND WEREN’T YOU SUPPOSED TO SPEAK EASTERN LANGUAGE!!?”

“W-Wha…?” He inadvertently murmured with a confused look. “A brat…? O-Oh it’s you…? Well, erm, uh… sorry for attacking you at the beach by the way.”

“ANSWER ME!”

“That’s what I want to ask, you know?” He replied with a chilled look. “Who the hell are you and who the hell am I?”

This guy… is he serious or playing dumb…!?

“What’s your name your age where do you live what happened to you?”

“No idea no idea no idea and no idea. I don’t even know what do I look like and why is it that my body is aching all over?”

I took a mirror from a shelf and showed it to him.

“GYAHH!!?”

“WAH!!?”

His sudden scream made me surprised and scream along with him.

“What the hell’s wrong with you!?” I yelled at him.

“T-T-T-This, this… is me…?” He asked while stuttering, with the colour on his face drained white. “For God’s sake why do I look like a white rabbit…!? H-How old am I…?”

Huh. He’s surprised by his own white hair…? Plus, that scream is so surreal.

“How would I know?” I replied. “I thought you might be an immortal, but you are a human without a doubt.”

“I can feel that (the pain).” He murmured. “Ugh, what happened to me…?”

“How would I know? You were nearly dead when I found you.”

“I mean before than that.” He said. “When I woke up at that beach, I thought maybe it was you who stabbed me with a knife.”

“I don’t know. Why did you aim at the girl right from the start!?”

“Because she’s the weakest among you three. Maybe she had that powerful mana on her, but I don’t think she’s capable to defend herself. As for the rest, well, you blocked my attack.”

“Do you know why you are tied up now?”

“Because I almost killed you guys?”

“Are you really sure you had memory loss…? You seemed too calm for this.”

“Because I spent nearly one hour just to remember and figure out who am I. The back of my head hurt a lot when I tried to think.”

“Huh…?”

With that, I lift his head with my hands and check for any injuries.

“Ugh, yup. Your head is swollen on the back.” I said to him.

I suspect that he had Post-traumatic Amnesia (PTA). On top of that, it’s a severe one.

However, I can’t really make myself to believe him. He doesn’t show any signs of agitation, confusion, disorientation, or restlessness.

He’s just so chill— like a cucumber.

“I knew it.” He uttered while staring passionately at me. “You are the one who saved me from the poisons.”

“How do you know it’s not one but many…?”

“I just happen to be half-awake most of the time.”

This means he’s been awake and knew how I carry out the procedure on him.

“Then those coughs and blood spurting that always happened right on time…”

“It’s a coincidence.” He replied flatly.

“Really?”

It makes me doubt him.

“I will tell you if you untie me.” He said.

He’s quick-witted.

“Oh, uh, the keys…” I murmured. “Where did I put…?”

I purposely looked around. I knew the keys are with Restia. I said this on purpose just to test him.

“Oh, come on. It’s hot and stuffy here…! Let me out already!”

He’s trying to wiggle his way out from the chains. What is he, a kid like me?

…PTA patients had behavioural disturbances. There are occasions where they might have a child-like behaviour.

“H-Hey, look out…!”

C-CLANG— BAM!

He fell from the sofa with his face smacking to the floor.

“O-Ow…! God damn it— IT FREAKING HURTS…!!! MY FACE IS RUINED…!!!” He yelled while rolling around the living room.

…PTA patients also may shout, swear, or behave in a disinhibited fashion.

“Big brother…! K-Keys…” Restia said to me as she enters the living room and places the keys in my hand.

I know she had been peeking on us.

“Thanks,” I said.

After removing one chain on him, I stared at him with a doubtful look.

“So, is it really a coincidence?” I asked.

I was hoping he would reply.

“Uh, huh.” He looks at me with a confused look. “What are we talking about again…?”

It doesn’t seem like he’s faking it.

“…Your coughs and blood spurting.”

“Oh, right.” He murmured. “I will tell you if you untie all these chains. Like I said, it’s hot and stuffy here.”

…He doesn’t seem to have any problems to recall the recent events.

After setting him free, he carefully stood up with his wobbly legs.

“Ugh, I feel awful.” He inadvertently murmured. “Also, tell me where’s the toilet, kid! FAST!!!”

“Go out, make a U-turn to the right.”

With that, he rushes straight to the toilet while slamming the door.

“…He seemed like a good person,” Restia said to me.

“Any PTA patients normally would become a good person unless he is born a devil,” I replied.

I was wholly convinced that he’s a PTA patient now.

…This is bad.

This is really bad…!!! Now who will be stopping Dómr!?

“Big brother…!”

With Restia shaking me, it pulls me back to reality.

“We still have time before Dómr goes on a rampage, isn’t it…!?”

“Tsk…” I clicked my tongue. “We don’t have much time. As soon as we are done with breakfast, we need to head out immediately to the White Snake…!”

“White Snake…?” That man suddenly murmured at the door. “What snake…?”

“…Where should I even start…?” I murmured.

…Seems like I had a lot of explanation I need to do.

…………………………………

I told and explain everything to him exactly like what I did to Restia.

“…In other words, I might be your dad’s friend that came here to evaluate your given test arranged by your dad and to cure his contracted Fenrir Wolf named Dómr, from brainwashing— but I had an accident, so there’s no one to free him from the brainwashing, and he might go on a rampage.”

“I guess so.” I unsurely replied. “You can choose not to believe me— after all, this is just a theory… You might be just a random bystander. I know its hard for you to digest all of this information given your current condition…”

“Nah, I accept your theory.” He said while scratching his head as if he has gotten a headache.

“W-WHAT!?” I inadvertently blurted.

…It really surprised me.

“Ehem.” I coughed to brush off what I did just now. “May I know why?”

“It’s pretty simple. I just can’t think of a reason why would I even come to this island in the first place.”

…That’s true.

“Also, don’t expect my help. I’m just an outsider.” He told me. “If it’s a test like what you told me, I think your father would be expecting you to finish it alone.”

…That’s also true.

“Don’t worry too much.” He added. “Just do anything you can before the time limit. Until my memory returns, I’m sure I will be staying with you two little brats. If anything happens, you still can count on an adult like me.”

Saying that, he reached out his hand to seek an agreement with a childish grin.

“…Then, I will be counting on you for the time being…” I said as I reach to shake his hand. “Err… Erm… Mr White Rabbit— GYEHH!!?”

Without another word, he flicked off my hand and grabbed my neck with both of his hands.

“DON’T YOU FREAKING CALL ME A WHITE RABBIT YOU STUPID BRAT!!!”

“G-Gah…!”

I tried to break free by grabbing his thumb and slap his arm. But he had such a tight grip…!

“Let go of big brother…!”

BAM!

“OWWWWWW…!?”

With Restia landing a sharp kick on his shin, he crumpled into a ball on the spot, cradling his shin.

“Big brother, are you okay…?”

“Yeah. Thanks, Restia.”

Ugh, his PTA syndrome.