I Pretended To Have Amnesia and the Hero’s Party Becomes Obsessed

42 – 7. The Second Piece (1)

Parsley’s sudden departure brought immense confusion to me. No, it’s not just a sudden departure.

The calmness contrasting with the fanatical reaction last time,

The strange magic felt when blood flowed from her eyes.

And, the joyful smile she showed just before leaving.

Despite everything being impossible for me, there were questions that couldn’t be left unanswered.

And, the unfamiliar bed and unsolved questions were the best companions of insomnia.

“Did you even get a wink of sleep last night?”

As soon as I emerged from the tent, Pea’s words reached me. I responded, feeling the fatigue pressing behind my eyes.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“How can I not worry? The wrinkles have reached down to your chin.”

And Pea furrowed her brow.

“Could it be because of what happened with the captain yesterday?”

Unconsciously, I furrowed my brow too.

The captain’s promise to fix my heart,

And the declaration to abandon the mercenary band right after keeping the promise.

That, too, was a reason for my insomnia.

Lately, my head had been throbbing with troubles, and I raised my head, sweeping my hair back.

“I told you not to worry. It’s nothing.”

“…Should I go and massage the captain’s head for you?”

I turned to Pea with a faint smile. Pea added with a smirk.

“Of course, secretly. I’ll pin the blame on the sleepwalker.”

A mischievous yet serious expression. A forced laugh escaped.

What should I do with this girl?

Placing my hand on her head, I tousled her black hair.

“I appreciate your concern, but it’s really nothing, youngest…”

“Who loses sleep over something that’s nothing.”

“Oh, stop it. Making threats to hit the captain, complaining to me right now. Are you going to eat the captain at this rate?”

“Gya, gyaak, well, stop messing with my hair…! Oh, I worked hard to comb it this morning…!!”

“It seems like your mood has lightened.”

My hand, which was messing up Pea’s hair vigorously, paused abruptly. When I turned my gaze, the captain was smiling with a grin as wide as a split watermelon.

It was a smile that felt particularly annoying today.

“I want to wrap up the unfinished stories from yesterday… Do you have time?”

I was about to spit out a sarcastic reply but held back. Just because I complain like a beggar doesn’t mean the captain’s foolish determination will change.

I needed a more practical means.

I responded, forcing my voice to soften.

“Alright, let’s hear what the hell this damn treasure is.”

A slight smile appeared on the Director’s face.

“Alright, then come with me. There’s someone you need to meet.”

Someone I need to meet?

I furrowed my brow in confusion, but the Director had already turned his back to me. Reluctantly, I placed my arm around Pea’s shoulder and spoke.

“Alright then, let’s go…?”

The sudden question mark at the end of my sentence was due to Pea coming to a stop. I looked at Pea, who had an odd expression on his face with a puzzled look in my eyes.

“Well, you see… I have something to do…”

Discomfort and annoyance mixed in his expression.

Without another word, he left, leaving me perplexed as I watched his retreating figure.

The guy who was supposed to beg me to let him come along…

“Assistant Director! Aren’t you coming?!”

Suddenly, the Director, who had gotten quite far, shouted towards me. I glanced at Pea’s back one last time and followed after the Director.

“Let’s go!!”

…And then, I realized why Pea had refused to accompany me.

A large scar that stretched from my left temple to my right jaw. Blue eyes and crimson hair that didn’t quite match.

Above all, the symbol of the Central Knights engraved on the brilliant armor.

I looked at her with astonished eyes from inside the tent. She also looked at me with eyes that seemed to widen.

“Sujunno…?”

“Saengrinyeo…?”

***

So, this happened five years ago already.

After receiving a hefty reward from the Matapju and being expelled from Matap, I headed towards the eastern end of the continent. And there, I opened a magic tool shop.

Being a mage without hands, eyes, or a tongue, unable to even use magic, there weren’t many professions I could choose.

However, being the owner of a magic tool shop turned out to be a decent job.

Since I was such an unknown figure, the only customers I had were young nobles with curiosity about the latest trends and vain fools.

Oh, and curious children who didn’t buy anything but were good customers nonetheless. Watching children’s eyes light up at seeing interesting magic tools was one of my few pleasures.

Actually, thinking about it now, that was the most peaceful time in my life.

Well, at least until the boss destroyed my store.

Since then, my life went from being that of a simple shop owner to that of a fugitive.

Mercenaries, adventurers, thieves, assassins, savages, outlaws.

If you were a skilled killer blinded by money, they all chased after us.

And just as there are individuals among venomous insects with wicked temperaments, there were two among them who were particularly venomous.

Even when everyone else gave up the chase, these two women never stopped pursuing us.

Derrin, who came from the south, and ‘Dwarf Maker’ Faea.

And Sila Erenheit, the leader of Central Knight Corps Division 7, known as the ‘Wildcat.’

Yeah, that damn woman standing in front of me.

Sila Erenheit folds her arms and raises an eyebrow.

“You still look like a mountain corpse, Lem.”

“And you still have a face that looks like you’re menstruating all year round.”

“What did you say?”

Her face contorts in anger at my response. But I ignore her and turn my gaze to the boss.

“Boss, why on earth did you come to see this woman? No, why is she here in the first place?”

After the incident with the boss, I heard she was demoted. I add as I look at him.

“Well, now that I’m the central knight commander.”

However, it was not the boss who answered, but Sila. I glance at her and let out a brief sigh.

“Ah.”

“Why? Am I surprising you with my success? Do I look different?”

“No, it’s just that I now understand why the central knight corps still can’t handle a single social gathering.”

Sila, who was grumbling, scrunches up her face. She approaches me with determination and clenches her fist.

“You, it’s been four years since we last saw each other and you still…!!”

“Hey, am I the youngest?”

“…!”

Sila’s fist stops abruptly. The muscles in her face twitch and contort.

I guess mentioning Faea’s name must be hitting a nerve.

The diagonal scar across her face was left by none other than Faea.

Snap!

The cheerful applause sound and Sila and my gaze simultaneiously turn towards the smiling manager.

“I understand that it’s nice to see each other after a long time, but let’s put that aside for now, Sila. Can you start explaining?”

Sila’s transformation was immediate.

“Yes, Lord Rosaria.”

Her annoyed face instantly changes to that of a soldier. She takes out a scroll from the shelf and unfolds it on the table.

In that moment, I immediately recognized the identity of the scroll. To be precise, it was difficult to notice.

There couldn’t possibly be such a grotesque monster depicted on the scroll in the world.

It was the grotesque sanctuary of cultists who still roam the prairie and spew out monsters.

“This is the internal structure of the mobile fortress of the cultists, Pleinerzade.”

Her scarred finger points to a specific spot on the structure plan. It was the deepest part of the monster’s body.

“And, here is the power source of this fortress… or the ‘treasure’ that you, Lord Rosaria, are looking for.”

The word ‘treasure’ comes up again.

I furrowed my brow and asked.

“What on earth is this treasure?”

“An artifact that can turn back time.”

It wasn’t Sila who answered this time, but the manager.

I couldn’t immediately understand her words and wrinkled my brow.

However, when the moment of understanding finally came, I had to suppress a scream.

If it’s an artifact that can turn back time, there is only one in this world.

“The Audience Clock of Alain…?”

A smile appears on the manager’s face.

“As expected of someone from Matap. You noticed right away?”

“But, isn’t that an item that only exists in legends? Why is it here, of all places…?”

Sila shrugged her shoulders.

“How are we supposed to know what those twisted minds of the cultists are thinking? We just happened to find it when we checked.”

We just happened to find it?

The item that Alain hid away after ascending to power 300 years ago?

And what relation does it have to the artifact that turns back time and my broken heart…

In that moment, realization struck my brain like lightning.

I looked at the manager with eyes filled with disbelief. The manager continued to smile at me as always.

“Surely not…”

“Yes, I plan to turn back your body’s time using that artifact.”

Rose’s blue eyes shimmered brightly.

Back in time, to when you still had a heart, four years ago.”

***

I slipped out of the tent with a dagger and sela, strolling around the camp with my chin raised.

Thoughts sprouted with each step.

“A week from now, when supplies arrive, we’ll launch a full assault.”

“In the midst of that, we’ll organize a diversionary force and raid the location where the artifact is kept.”

“Once we secure the artifact, we’ll simply withdraw.”

“The ownership issue of this artifact will be handled by Sela.”

“Then, with the help of that clock, voila! You’ll regain your heart.”

“How’s that, a perfect plan, isn’t it?”

The commander concluded, grinning slyly.

From Noble mtl dot com

Honestly, the plan itself was flawless.

Our Rose Rem Mercenaries might be fewer in number, but they were mostly veterans. Sneaking into that castle and stealing an artifact was child’s play.

Regaining my heart using the clock?

That, too, wasn’t an issue.

I was once considered a genius of the century in Matop. If that clock could truly turn back time as the legends say, it could perform such miracles.

Then why this anxiety, as if I’m so restless to leave as soon as the commander fulfills his promise?

No, it’s not restlessness but irritation that should be fitting. Besides, I’ve already laid out a plan for that.

So, where does this current unease stem from?

The answer came quickly.

Something felt contrived.

How could the clock of Alain, missing for 300 years, end up in the hands of a socialite?

And how did Sela catch wind of this fact?

No, did she really create such a remarkable artifact just to animate a moving castle?

It might be a delusion, but suspicions kept cropping up.

Again, feeling drawn into a meticulously crafted plot.

But then, who set up this plot in the first place?

“Ms. Lem.”

A husky voice.

I raised my head, but I didn’t recognize the woman in front of me right away. It was because she looked completely different from usual.

Her neatly combed hair was messy and spread out in all directions. Her usual suit was nowhere to be seen, and she was barely wearing a coat over her pajamas.

“Ms. Irene…?”

I looked at her suspiciously.

“What happened? Why are you like this?”

“Instead of that, I have something I want to tell you. Do you have time?”

Her usual polite tone, but there was an emotion that seemed difficult for her to handle.

Unconsciously, I nodded and said, “Yes, I have time but…”

“Then, please come with me for a moment.”

Without giving me a chance to rebel, Irene grabbed my arm. I tried to resist in confusion, but Irene’s strength was beyond my imagination.

By Irene’s hand, I was half-dragged into a tent.

And Irene’s actions didn’t end there.

As soon as we entered the tent, she let go of my arm. And then, she started sealing the tent literally.

She applied something sticky to the entrance, making it impossible for light to pass through, and blocked any gaps with strange mucus-like blobs.

Moreover, she took out a piece of paper and activated it.

Silence, a magic that prevents any sound from leaking out.

Only then did Irene make a facial expression that seemed satisfied.

A sense of obsession involuntarily came to mind.

I couldn’t help but ask with a worried expression, “What is this?”

“It’s just a precaution. But more importantly…”

Suddenly, Irene stopped talking.

She contorted her face and covered it with both hands.

Instinctively, I knew that it was a sign of anguish. The words inside her were too heavy, and she was struggling to bring them to the tip of her tongue.

Therefore, I silently waited for her. Because I understood that feeling.

And time passed.

The hands covering Irene’s face slowly slid down. Her desperate blue eyes turned towards me.

“Bruce.”

…However, what came out of her mouth was an incomprehensible language.

Perhaps noticing that I didn’t understand, Irene’s eyebrows furrowed.

She looked at me with more urgency and spoke again.

“…Bruce.”

But even if she spoke again, there was no sudden understanding of what was not understood before.

Bruce, what on earth is that supposed to mean…

Wait, Bruce?

A thought shot through my mind, hitting the inside of my skull like a billiard ball. It awakened neurons and led to one conclusion.

However, even when I reached that conclusion, I couldn’t open my mouth rashly.

Because it was truly unbelievable.

It was a hope that had been forgotten when it was discarded.

But life never gives us time to hesitate.

Irene lowered her head with a gloomy face.

“Sorry, just… don’t mind me. It was nothing.”

And Irene, as if wanting to escape from this place, walked quickly towards the entrance of the tent.

At that moment, the words rolled out of my mouth faster than I had expected.

“Wha… t… in…?”

Irene’s back trembled lightly. Then, she turned to me with a look of astonishment similar to mine.

“Pat… and…?”

This time, I asked first.

“Matt…?”

So, Irene answered, her pupils trembling. And then, she took a step closer to me and asked.

“Eternity?”

“…Challenge…”

Despite finding this situation unbelievable, the corners of my mouth went up.

Irene seemed to be the same, as the trembling in her eyes intensified.

“YouTube, Naver, Twitch. Mobile games.”

“South Korea, tteokbokki, samgyeopsal, kimchi.”

Those were the words buried in my memory.

The words that only I knew in this world,

No, the words that I thought only I knew until just now.

As my vision blurred for a moment, I felt my cheeks dampen.

Tears welled up in Irene’s eyes as well.

While suppressing my emotions, I finally spoke.

“Seoul, Dobong-gu, South Korea.”

And Irene smiled brightly, but at the same time, tears streamed down her face as she replied.

“South… Korea… Gyeonggi-do… Suwon City…!”

And then, we rushed towards each other.

Overflowing with joy deep in our hearts, we held each other tightly. I could feel my heart soaking in her tears.

“I, I thought I was alone until now…!!”

I couldn’t answer through my sobs.

I simply held her tightly and thanked the heavens.

Thank you for letting me know that I’m not alone.

After 25 years of reincarnation, I finally met someone from my hometown.