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

11 – 2. Cowards (1)

“Sorry, but I’m not feeling well… I’ll go on patrol first.”

I left the camp hastily, leaving behind the disappointed looks of the hero party, which I ignored.

*Sigh*

And only after I had moved far away from the camp did I sit on the ground, deeply sighing and hunched over. Clutching my head, I muttered.

“Why are they acting like that…”

The atmosphere just now, without exaggeration, made it seem like they would freeze to death anyone who dared to touch one side of the food before the other two.

No matter how exquisite the feast, how can one eat in such an atmosphere.

And this atmosphere was not limited to just now, it persisted even while we were moving on the carriage.

I clenched my hungry stomach and made a determination.

For the sake of my mental health, I will quickly resolve this issue related to memory loss.

“Right… right…”

I turned my head and found the face I had expected to see.

A woman with a strangely audacious look on her calm face, Irene.

She was gently stroking the head of a white dove she held in her hand.

I always thought she only had a cold or tired expression, so it was surprising to see her smile.

After hesitating for a moment, I walked towards her.

“Do you have the book I ordered?”

“…!!”

Irene’s confusion ended when she confirmed my identity. She quickly composed herself and nodded.

“Yes, I will report to the client and give them a progress update…”

I could tell from Irene’s vague words and dark expression that the reason was triple the original agreed-upon employment fee.

Considering the additional expenses she had incurred here and there, it was already a confirmed fact that Irene was in trouble with the person who acted as our financier.

“But can we send the book in broad daylight? The Commander’s sorcerers will surely notice something suspicious and follow us.”

I asked a question prompted by a sudden doubt. It was also a subtle warning.

We couldn’t let our location be exposed because of the book.

“It’s okay. This book is special.”

However, Irene’s response was nonchalant.

She tied a note to the book and sent it flying into the sky.

And just when I wondered how much time it would take, it disappeared into the blue expanse.

Bewildered by the eerie sight, I turned to Irene. She explained with a smile.

“It’s an invisible book dove. A rare species that occasionally appears in the southern country.”

“… Irene, you have many incredible things.”

Come to think of it, she did.

From the spatial pockets that ordinary people couldn’t even witness,

to the potion that saved me when attacking the hiding place of the Commander’s sorcerers,

and now the invisible book dove I had never even heard of.

Irene had an astonishing collection of strange and fascinating objects.

“Well, for now, I may just be a porter, but I am also a member of the hero’s party.”

… Is the hero’s party even extraordinary for a porter?

So, indeed, the high-ranking official was thinking the same. Suddenly, I realized there was one thing I had completely forgotten until now.

However, I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was an appropriate question given the current situation. But situations like this, where we could be alone again, didn’t seem to happen often.

I eventually opened my mouth with a weary expression.

“That night, did you discover the hiding place of the commander sorcerer, using the power of some mysterious object?”

Irene’s eyes widened. After rolling her eyes for a moment, she smiled mischievously.

“…Yes, that’s right. You’re quick to catch on.”

…The brief silence felt uneasy, but it didn’t seem like she was lying. After all, the possibility of her being a spy was already almost nonexistent.

I decided to put aside my suspicions of Irene.

“Putting that aside, since I asked a question, would it be alright if I asked one as well?”

A question? I looked at Irene with a puzzled expression.

“So, where exactly is the ‘Shortcut’ that we’re going to use located?”

Ah.

“You mentioned it exists, but you didn’t explain exactly what it is, just that we should go in that direction.”

Certainly, my mind was cluttered, and in the cold atmosphere, I had forgotten to explain that part.

No one in the hero party had asked about it until now.

Realizing my mistake, I simply pointed to the answer rather than explaining. The mountain range that divided the continent into north and south,

And, the obstacle that had been the biggest during the journey to Ahorlot.

Galla Horn.

“We will pass beneath that mountain range.”

Originally, the best shortcut is underground.

***

“So, is this the entrance to the secret underground passage of the dwarves that leads under the Galla Horn mountain range?”

Parsley seemed to be trying hard to soften her tone, but unfortunately, she wasn’t successful. Deep suspicion lingered in her words.

But I didn’t blame her.

I thought the same thing when I first saw it.

I gazed at the passage, more like a slightly larger hole than an entrance. Due to the shading from the sunset, it appeared smaller than it actually was.

“You may find it hard to believe, but this is indeed the entrance. Considering the height of dwarves, this size is just right.”

Irene’s face brightened.

“…So, does that mean we’ll have to bend our waists throughout the journey under the mountain range?”

“No, you don’t have to worry about that part because the passage widens significantly once you get past the beginning.”

And I looked around at the reactions of the party members.

Parsley still couldn’t erase her suspicions,

Clara continued to show me a constant smile,

Irene extended her thumb as if measuring the size of the passage,

And Amy…

“…”

Just like when we first started, she stood there with a blank expression.

She seemed doubtful of whether she heard me. However, instead of asking her, I quickly changed the subject.

“For now, since the sun is about to set, how about we start preparing for camping? Sir Knight?”

“Ah…”

Only then did Amy’s eyes regain their light. She glanced at me for a moment and nodded slowly.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

…And so, we prepared for camping and just before the sun went down, we all went into the tents to rest.

And as some time passed,

When the bright moonlight covered the world like frost.

It was only then that I realized it was time to take action.

Despite the late hour, I approached the tent where the light was still on. And in a voice loud enough to be heard inside, I spoke quietly.

“Are you still awake?”

The reaction was immediate.

The light inside the tent flickered, and then came the sound of rustling.

After a moment, the tent door opened, revealing a bewildered pair of red eyes.

“Rem? Why at this late hour…”

Clara, my biggest headache.

I hardened my expression and opened my mouth.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

***

What is the best way to solve a riddle?

It goes without saying, but it is to ask the person who made the riddle.

That way is the quickest, there is no chance of getting the wrong answer, and it can prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.

Therefore, the sole purpose I set upon joining the warrior party was one thing.

To stand out among them.

…In truth, it was also what I desired from the moment they avoided me.

At first, it was unattainable because they evaded me, and when they didn’t, I was preoccupied with the military mages.

However, upon joining the warrior party, I gained some spare time. Late nights became optimal for sincere conversations.

Moreover, thanks to Irene’s peculiar tools, we didn’t need to start a fire.

One could argue that my actions from this camping onward were somewhat inevitable.

And the fact that Clara was my first counterpart in standing out was certainly not a coincidence.

As far as I remember, Clara was among the warrior party members, if not the most…

No, she was one of the most stubborn girls I had ever met.

To be precise, she wasn’t dim-witted. She just seemed to have forgotten how to use her head while growing up.

Anyway, because of that, I believed even if she tried to avoid my questions, she could provide the most clues.

Clues about why all these bizarre things were happening.

“…It’s a bit messy, isn’t it?”

…But the moment I entered Clara’s tent, I began to question whether my judgment had been wrong.

The days spent with Clara were the most beautiful in my life.

Of course, I’m not saying my life was beautiful. I’ve never allowed such an adjective in my life.

The beauty I’m referring to here is purely visual.

Clara was the princess of the cathedral where I was at the time.

She brought whatever she wanted into her room.

And like most greedy individuals, her aesthetic sense was remarkably exceptional for her young age.

I can still vividly conjure her room.

Mirrors adorned with jewels.

Dolls meticulously handcrafted by artisans.

Silk blankets, pillows, and beds.

Purple curtains embroidered with golden thread.

And in the midst of it all, a fair-haired girl.

But, returning from the past to reality, the sight presented a stark contrast.

Nowhere could I find gold or silk.

No, strictly speaking, I couldn’t find anything at all.

Even if it’s called Ayongyong’s tent, it’s sure to have the bare necessities.

Sleeping bags, simple cushions, charms, decorations, just anything.

However, in Clara’s tent, there were books, scattered papers on the floor, pens and ink, and nothing else.

There wasn’t even a pillow or a blanket in sight.

Even the papers scattered on the floor had barely recognizable sacred text scribbled on them, adding an eerie and somber atmosphere.

Where did the girl, Clara, who used to complain that she couldn’t sleep without a silk pillow, disappear to?

“For now, please sit here.”

I barely woke up from my daze at Clara’s voice. The spot Clara pointed to was a place with fewer papers scattered around.

I cautiously sat down, looking at Clara, who sat cross-legged with a somewhat vacant expression. Clara spoke with a soft smile.

“So, why have you come here? Rem? Is there anything I can help you with?”

Finally, I could fully gather my thoughts.

It’s finally a time when only the two of us are present.

Moreover, it’s a confined space where I can’t escape from questions.

Now is the time to find out what happened to Clara.

And also, why she feels guilty towards me.

I took a deep breath, preparing the question I had resolved to ask.

“I want to know what happened between me and the prospective saint in the past.”

“…!”

Clara’s eyes trembled.

In them, I read a clear sense of fear.

However, I didn’t choose to step back.

“Please don’t think about deceiving me.”

I stared directly into Clara’s eyes.

“Your reaction already indicates that something definitely happened.”

Clara’s eyes trembled so much that she avoided my gaze. I noticed her tightly clenched fist shaking.

“Please tell me. What happened?”

Clara’s eyes eventually lowered. After trembling for a while, they finally closed.

“Fine. I’ll tell you.”

…!

I couldn’t help but be bewildered.

“Is it really that easy to explain?”

Then why, in the first place…

No, let’s think positively.

It’s because we can quickly resolve doubts.

I quietly awaited Clara’s response.

Clara hesitated for a while, then finally spoke.

“Rem… you are…”

And, as if sighing, she continued.

“In fact, you’re the fallen son of a noble family.”

…What?