Chapter 291 : Vortex (6)
Chapter 291: Vortex (6)
Click, click.
A tremendous sound echoed like a reverberation, accompanied by a bizarre sensation as though insects were crawling.
It was the sound made as the final prohibition that had remained in my head was released.
One after another, the sound of something collapsing and shattering followed.
And then.
Ah.
Mother.
Mom.
“…….”
…Everything came back.
Everything began to return to my memory.
As that happened, doubts arose about everything I had done until now, and I began questioning myself and searching for answers.
“…Mentor.”
At last, Lian spoke carefully.
Even though they were using magic to erase sound and presence, there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
So Berenistella quietly placed a finger to her lips as if telling him to be silent, then extended her palm toward Lian.
When Lian raised his palm to meet hers, she tapped his fingers lightly.
At that same moment, her voice rang clearly beside his ear.
― What is it.
― There is something I wish to ask.
― ……Go ahead.
Lian let out a brief sigh.
In the past, Talia Poas had told him that a prohibition had been placed on his mind.
And he also remembered that Berenistella had previously said she was the one who placed a prohibition on his mind.
Because of that, he had unconsciously mistaken the two as being the same thing.
He had thought the reason his memories had not yet fully returned was simply the aftereffects of the prohibition being lifted.
…Yes.
That was what he had believed.
― You said that you placed a prohibition on my memories.
― I did.
― May I ask which parts you sealed?
Lian asked.
― Did you perhaps place a suggestion on me or a prohibition that compelled me to act in certain ways?
― …….
― Mentor?
― ……I appeared in your dreams once.
― Once? No, more importantly—dreams?
― …….
― Mentor.
― ……Twice.
Berenistella answered in a small voice.
― When I gave you the Brand. And I also placed a suggestion that you should keep your distance from the people of the Holy Sun Church.
― And the memory prohibition?
― All memories related to me.
She replied.
― If circumstances had allowed it, I intended to appear before you only once, at the bare minimum, and then disappear. So I believed it would be better if memories related to me did not exist from the beginning.
― Then.
Lian asked again.
― You never placed a suggestion that I should build close relationships with the Heroes… that is, the people who will be called the Seven Heroes in the future?
― That is correct.
Berenistella replied.
― Rather, I do not understand your question. Why would I need to place such a suggestion on you? No—why did you think such a suggestion had been placed on you?
― …….
― ……Could it be.
Berenistella muttered.
Her guess was correct.
― During that conversation just now.
Lian murmured.
― ……The final prohibition that remained on me has completely disappeared.
― That prohibition must have been designed to release itself from the beginning.
― And thanks to that, I was able to retrace my actions until now.
And the conclusion he reached was something he simply could not understand.
Caught in the vortex of the memories he had regained, Lian had no choice but to struggle desperately to keep his footing.
― …….
― …….
The two of them fell silent for a moment.
Meanwhile, the others inside the office still seemed to have no intention of stopping their argument.
“…Fine. Go ahead and do whatever you want.”
With blazing eyes, Manoa glared at her son and at her husband beyond the Crystal Sphere.
“No matter what it takes, I’m going to save my children.”
― Madam.
“I don’t care about whatever ‘long-cherished wish’ your family has. I don’t want to know, either.”
As she said that, she turned her gaze toward her son, Quirian.
Looking exactly like his father, he did not avoid his mother’s stare.
― Madam.
The voice flowed again from the Crystal Sphere.
― You need to calm down right now.
“There’s no need. I’m more rational than I’ve ever been.”
She muttered.
“…Even though I didn’t like it, that person became someone within the same family. I tried to get along with him. But you—the one who forcibly brought him in—let him die that day.”
― …….
“And now you’re trying to kill that person’s son… and my son as well.”
Midway through speaking, Manoa let out a small laugh.
“What comes next? Will you cast me aside too? And abandon Quirian as well? And after that?”
Even as she spoke, her face twisted as if disgusted by the thought.
“I’m going.”
― Where.
“Do I really need to say it? You’ve been hiding it from me all this time anyway.”
As if she had no desire to continue the conversation, she turned and began walking out of the office.
“Mother.”
Even when Quirian called out to her, she pretended not to hear and strode straight out.
Watching her leave, the man let out a small sigh.
“…You truly are acting exactly as Father said you would.”
― Do not try to stop her.
The Crystal Sphere replied.
― If you interfere, she may do something even more unpredictable.
“I understand.”
― More importantly, has there been any reaction yet?
Quirian answered the question.
“No. But I believe he will come soon. From what I’ve seen of him so far… he doesn’t seem foolish.”
― Do not underestimate him.
The voice said.
― He is completely different from when he was within the family territory. A single moment of carelessness will bring everything crashing down.
“Do not worry, Father. I am not foolish enough to make such a stupid mistake.”
Quirian answered confidently.
“Through our investigations, we already know he has many powerful companions around him. That’s why we prepared everything—spirits, magic, Divine Power, even physical methods. In short, we are prepared for every possibility.”
― ……Good. If he heads underground, ambush him at the site as I told you beforehand.
“Yes. I’ve already stationed mercenaries in advance. It cost quite a lot.”
― Good.
The voice muttered in satisfaction.
― Just make sure he has enough time to read the documents first. …If you can secure him alive, that would be ideal, but even if you cannot, it does not matter.
“I will not disappoint you, Father. If that happens….”
― Yes.
The voice from the Crystal Sphere said.
― Once our long-cherished wish is fulfilled… your position will also be prepared. So do not worry.
“Thank you.”
With those words, the light of the Crystal Sphere faded.
The communication had ended.
“Then….”
“Shh.”
Before Quirian could say anything more, Berenistella reached from behind and grabbed his head tightly.
Just that alone froze him completely, as if he had turned to ice.
“Do you have something to ask?”
“Yes. Just one thing.”
Lian nodded.
He stepped forward and deliberately met Quirian’s eyes.
Then he spoke.
“Did you ever consider me your younger brother?”
“I regarded you as a member of the family. Mother and Artiac protected you far too much.”
At his immediate reply, Lian let out a small, mocking laugh.
“For someone who says that, you seemed to have no hesitation about letting me die.”
“It was inevitable.”
Quirian answered instantly.
“For the greater cause, a small sacrifice is always necessary.”
“…That’s enough.”
As Lian nodded, Berenistella immediately began searching through Quirian’s mind.
Not long after, she let out a small sigh and flicked the back of his head.
Smack.
…It seemed slightly more emotional than necessary.
Thud.
Quirian collapsed instantly.
As Lian stared at him, Berenistella spoke.
“…I did not kill him.”
“I know.”
Lian lifted the unconscious man and propped him up on the sofa.
“Hmm.”
Berenistella finished organizing the information she had gathered from his mind and spoke.
“At least our next destination is decided. …I truly dislike it, but that woman was right about everything.”
“Where is it?”
“The place where your family resides.”
At her answer, Lian took a slow breath.
“…I can roughly guess the reason, but may I still ask?”
“What reason is there not to?”
Berenistella replied.
“Just like they say—the darkest place is under the lamp.”
She muttered in disbelief.
“Your father and your half-brother… those two are Cultists of the Evil God.”
“….”
It was exactly as he expected.
Lian quietly nodded.
“And they worship Dahaka.”
“The Evil Dragon.”
“That’s correct.”
“Then that means….”
“Yes.”
Berenistella nodded.
“An Evil Dragon’s temple is hidden within your family’s territory.”
Then she added in a complicated tone.
“…And they are trying to restore that creature’s power through human sacrifice.”
The territory of the Gwendil Count family lay in an extremely remote location.
Not that it was some naturally blessed stronghold, nor was it rich in resources.
It was far removed from the kind of places that appear in stories.
Simply put, it was nothing more than a rural backwater.
A count’s territory located in the middle of nowhere.
That was all.
Fortunately, the Merchant Group’s business had succeeded.
If it had not, Lian and the Gwendil Count family would have lived lives little different from commoners, because their land was that barren.
“It would be better to walk from here.”
After teleporting to a place a short distance from the Gwendil territory, Berenistella let out a small breath and spoke.
Still shaking off the unpleasant aftereffects unique to Spatial Distortion Magic, Lian asked,
“Is it because we might be detected?”
“That too, but if there is a temple, then the surrounding area is practically their territory. We cannot head into such a place carelessly.”
“I understand.”
Lian nodded.
“It seems we’ll be traveling together like in the old days again.”
After examining the terrain for a moment, he looked toward a distant village and murmured,
“That village is definitely… then we should reach our destination in about a day. It will be a short journey.”
“…….”
“Mentor?”
“…Ah? Oh, it’s nothing.”
Berenistella waved her hand.
Then, pointing forward with exaggerated enthusiasm, she said,
“Come, let us go. I placed a suggestion on them, but we never know when we might be discovered. We should move as quickly as possible.”
“Before that.”
Lian spoke.
“I have one request.”
“A request?”
“Please examine my mind once.”
“…….”
Lian looked at Berenistella in silence.
“Now that my memories have returned, something must have changed.”
“…Is that truly necessary?”
“I barely remember my mother. She passed away when I was very young.”
He continued.
“Talia said that my mother—my maternal side—was an incredibly powerful mage. I also remember that she told me many stories about spirits and beings from other worlds. And…”
“And?”
“I still cannot remember the last words my mother said to me on the day she died.”
Lian pleaded again.
“I must remember that. Mentor, please.”
“…Very well. It cannot be helped.”
Reluctantly, Berenistella reached toward Lian’s head.
“It will not be a pleasant memory.”
“I know.”
“Very well, then…”
Berenistella saw the back of a woman.
The woman was gently stroking Lian’s head, and Lian leaned into her touch like a small child.
“What on earth is happening?”
A soft voice.
The woman murmured quietly.
“This is truly strange.”
“…What is, Mother?”
Lian asked.
“Isn’t it obvious, my dear?”
The woman answered with a gentle laugh.
“I will never be able to meet the you who has grown up like this.”
“…I’m sleepy.”
“Yes. Go to sleep, my dear.”
She whispered softly.
“Mother needs to speak with a guest.”
Then she turned her head.
Berenistella and the woman.
Their eyes met.