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

31 – 4. The End of Obsession (6) [revised]

We left the Papal residence on a snowy day.

The sky was completely white, and it felt like if you threw a stone into the sky, snowballs would pour down.

Perhaps that’s why Clara’s appearance, seeing us off, seemed even more precarious.

At any moment, it seemed like she would disappear into that white.

I looked at Clara’s hands and eyes with an uneasy expression.

More specifically, her eye patch and prosthetic hand.

“Are you really not going to fix them?”

Clara’s face showed a bitter smile.

“…It’s evidence of my sins.”

Clara’s white hand touched the eye patch and prosthetic.

“Even if everything was Ivan’s scheme, the fact that Rei got hurt because of my carelessness doesn’t change.”

Suddenly, a sad expression appeared in Clara’s eyes.

“And, when I thought you had lost your memory, it was my undeniable mistake to lie and forcefully bring you to the Papal residence.”

“…”

I made a groaning sound in agreement and pain.

I was the one who knew better than anyone the difficulties of not having hands and eyes.

I didn’t want to make Clara go through such difficulties.

“Don’t worry. I won’t remain a burden forever.”

Clara added with a confident smile.

“When the day comes that I feel my atonement is finished… and the day comes when I can face you with pride, I will fix them. Definitely.”

…What can I say when she speaks like that?

Besides, Clara was originally a girl who didn’t listen to other people’s words.

I sighed inwardly and rubbed my head.

“On the contrary, I will bring him water. Does Rem truly have no intention of staying at the Holy See to recover his body?”

Suddenly, a retort came flying.

I looked into Clara’s pitiful eyes.

“You may not believe it, but this time we will properly go through the procedure for treatment. You don’t have to take on the role of the Saint’s companion, just…”

Clara suddenly pursed her lips shut.

Perhaps it was because of the expression I unknowingly made.

“It…won’t work.”

Clara’s eyes lowered.

“I’m sorry, miss.”

Avoiding eye contact, I tightened the scarf around my neck. I barely managed to say the heavy words.

“As I’ve said before, the person who can’t be without me…”

“It’s okay.”

Clara smiled softly. It was a smile that could melt like a snowflake when touched by a hand.

“It’s what you like, isn’t it? Lord Rose.”

For a moment, I didn’t understand her words. Because of that, I allowed her to continue.

“A person’s heart can change at any moment. I’m satisfied having received that love once.”

“No, wait, something…!”

“Vice Commander!!”

A cry echoed from a distant carriage, cutting off my words. As I turned around, I saw the dwarf sticking his head out of the carriage, with his hair tied up in leather.

“Stop fooling around and come quickly!! That barbarian woman is anxious to kill me…Aaah! Vice Commander!! Come and help me!! The barbarian woman is trying to kill me!!”

I sighed while looking at the swaying carriage.

How do they manage to avoid accidents for even one day…

“Go check it out quickly.”

I turned to Clara.

Clara was smiling brighter than ever before.

“It’s really okay now.”

I opened my mouth, but…

Quickly, I closed it without any strength.

I simply bowed my head and said.

“Please take care, miss.”

“Yes, and if there comes a next time… please let go of those words. We’re friends now, truly.”

There was an unmistakable sadness in Clara’s words, one I could easily discern the intention behind.

“…Yes.”

But I turned away.

I approached the suddenly quiet carriage and climbed aboard.

As the carriage started moving, its rhythmic sway against my back began. I surrendered to that rhythm, contemplating.

Yes, perhaps this is for the best.

The reunion of the boy and girl, leading to a happily-ever-after in marriage, is a tale found only in fairytales.

Reality always brushes past us, cold and indifferent.

After all, she was a noble maiden, and I, a lowly mercenary. Almost closer to the undead than a person.

Surely, discord will arise.

And that discord might bring about another tragedy.

Furthermore…

I placed my hand on my chest.

A steady vibration instead of the thump of a heartbeat.

Yet, somehow, it felt slightly weaker than yesterday.

The realization that I might collapse and die at any moment filled my mind once again.

Yes, this is for the best.

No matter how many times I reconsider.

…

“Sir…?”

Yes, it’s bound to be that way.

Why can’t I take my eyes off Clara?

With her white attire and hair, Clara wasn’t drifting away but seemed to melt further into my sight. It was even more apparent as she waved her hand.

Like another snowflake fluttering down from the sky.

When spring arrives, the snowflakes will inevitably disappear.

“Come on, for heaven’s sake.”

“Sir, what’s wrong…?”

I pushed open the carriage door and leaped out.

Clara’s body in the distance stands stiff and upright. Eyes filled with astonishment are fixed on me.

In a way, it seemed as if she might be frightened. Perhaps it was the posture of someone preparing to escape.

However, such things, you don’t know unless you face them and talk face-to-face.

I began to run with all my strength towards Clara.

And Clara did not move.

Until I wrapped my arms around her waist.

“Wait…!”

And until I kissed her lips.

The icy gaze melts, brushing against her flushed face.

The scent of lavender filling my nose,

Mixed with the salty smell of tears,

Her body gradually calming down,

And the red eyes that I once loved.

I released my lips.

“Rem…?”

Looking at Clara’s face, now as foolish as before, I bluntly spat out.

“Do I really have to say it again this time?”

“Wait, Rem, I don’t understand the situation, what on earth…!”

“It’s not like that between the captain and me.”

“What…?”

Clara’s face becomes foolish again.

Sighing inwardly, I spoke.

“Wait for me.”

I snatched my lips and forced a half-smile.

“I’ll come back this time, even if I have to crawl on my teeth.”

And then, I turned my back and began to run towards the carriage as fast as possible.

So that my ears, burning to the limit, wouldn’t be visible to her eyes.

And so, on a day when snowflakes fell heavily, we exchanged kisses.

***

Let me briefly tell an old story.

It was something that happened in the past, not too far away but not too close either.

It has been exactly 15 years since I was reincarnated into this ridiculous game called “Tzuguuru Yagem”.

And those 15 years were filled with anger.

Just my luck, I was born as the daughter of a noble who didn’t even appear in the game, and suffered for 5 years because of it.

Another 5 years were spent in a desperate attempt to revive a fallen territory, using my knowledge from the original work.

And then, for 5 years, I spent 6 hours each week sleeping and gathering talent and resources in preparation to see the ending.

Since my previous life, my life has been a never-ending cycle of anger.

The angrier I became, the more I acted out, and the angrier I got.

Every day, I could test the limits of my patience.

But I swore to Buddha and Allah that today, out of those 15 years, would be the only day I would be this furious.

I crumpled the paper in my hand and ground my teeth.

“…What nonsense are you spewing now, Irene?”

The girl, who was dressed in men’s clothes, spoke from across the seat of the carriage. She added while painting her brush.

“Haven’t you already met that ‘potential saintess’ as you pleased? Pouring in a hefty donation at the end.”

I suppressed my anger and spoke with a gentle tone.

“Yes… I did meet her. But, Betty? That’s not the issue.”

“Then, what is the problem? Did the potential saintess not turn out to be as pretty as you thought? Well, she does look a bit too gloomy…”

I couldn’t help but burst out.

“The saintess has perfectly fine eyes!!”

Betty glared at me, as if her ears were about to fall off.

But I paid her no mind and stood up from my seat, walking around the carriage.

“This is unbelievable… It really doesn’t make sense…! Clara’s eyes should have been blinded at this point in the original work…!”

“Irene, stop ranting by yourself and tell me what’s going on, would you?”

I turned my head sharply and glared at Betty. However, Betty simply shrugged indifferently.

“If I know what’s going on, maybe I can offer some help?”

I restrained myself from throwing a cushion at Betty and sighed.

Then, I humbly accepted that she had a point in her words.

“Fine. I won’t repeat it twice, so listen carefully.”

I sat back down and proceeded to tell Betty the story of the Tzuguuru Yagem game that I knew, “Jimgoon’s Story”.

“Ivan, isn’t he a completely crazy bastard?

…And Betty showed the exact reaction I had expected.

As she swept back her navy hair, she burst into a cynical laughter.

“No, you mean that Archbishop sent an 11-year-old girl to blind the Grand Knight just because she became a nuisance? “

“To be precise, he instigated the Grand Knight for that purpose. It was to make Clara rely on him. Blinding him was probably not part of the plan, right?”

Blinding him might have pleased him even more, but I added.

Upon hearing these words, Betty raised her head, unable to hide her disgust.

“That crazy man, if he wanted to gain the favor of an 11-year-old girl, he could have just given her a few gifts.”

“What he wanted was not favor, but reliance.”

I retorted, recalling Ivan’s setup.

Ivan, who taught the beggars the scriptures and died after having his eyes gouged out, was once the lover of the would-be saint Glaya.

But in reality, Glaya did not die.

She was simply abandoned on the street.

Knowing this fact, the young priest rushed to find the place she had been discarded, belatedly.

However, what he found were the lover who had been prostituted by the beggars, and a newborn baby in her arms.

What did that man feel for the child he held? Was it love or hatred?

“But still, he remains a crazy man.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

I shook my head and stared back at Betty with piercing eyes.

“What’s more important now is that the original story has been distorted. By this point, Clara will have already lost both her eyes and her taste.”

I said seriously, but Betty’s response was indifferent. She yawned and shook her head.

“What’s the big deal if the original story gets changed a bit…”

“Betty…!!”

“Alright, I got it, I got it! The original knowledge is divine, and I am invincible, okay?”

And Betty sighed deeply, looking at me with tired eyes.

“So, are we going back to our territory now? Can I finally rest?”

“No, there is one more place we need to visit?”

Betty’s face showed a displeased expression. However, it couldn’t be helped.

“Originally, I didn’t want to go there because the incident hadn’t happened yet. But the original plot has already deviated twice. We need to confirm if at least that place is following the scenario.”

“…So, where are we going?”

“Matop.”

I turned my eyes to the window.

Beyond the ridgeline of the distant mountains, a faint black line rose.

“We need to make sure Parsley is still sane with her mother.”

If the original plot deviates again this time, I’ll hang myself.

I thought to myself.

***

And this is a future event not too far from now.

Parsley, removing her wide-brimmed hat as always, looked at the door in front of her.

It wasn’t a splendid door like those of the Crystal Palace or the Imperial Palace. Rather, it was an old wooden door that looked rough on the outside.

But any proper wizard would feel awe in front of this door.

Parsley reached out and swept the door.

At the same time, blue magic circles appeared on the door and began to rotate rapidly.

The prelude to a security spell.

However, no matter how much time passed, the spell did not manifest. The magic circles just kept rotating.

Such phenomena repeated wherever Parsley’s hand touched.

Magic circles shining with magical power, but not manifesting, just repeating rotation.

And, after a while, the ordinary wooden door was filled with these magic circles.

Parsley placed her finger on the center of the door with those circles, and chanted.

“Peno.”

Kwaang-!!

The door shattered, and wooden fragments scattered everywhere.

At the same time, the blue hat that had been in the girl’s hand was blown away by the pressure.

The hat flew like a swarm of butterflies and landed on a desk.

More precisely, in front of a woman wearing the exact same hat.

The woman looked at the hat, then turned her gaze towards Parsley beyond it.

Looking at Parsley, the woman soon shifted her gaze back to the document she was reading.

“Parsley, your way of entering the room is quite rude. You could have just knocked…”

“Oh, Mother.”

Her eyes trembled at the unfamiliar title, and then turned back to Parsley.

And then, for the first time, the woman felt discomfort from Parsley.

As if she had stayed awake for several nights, there were dark circles under her eyes. Her once lustrous red hair was also disheveled.

The woman’s guess became certainty when she discovered the needle marks on Parsley’s arm.

The woman frowned and glared at Parsley.

“You…!”

“I won’t ask why.”

“…!”

Parsley’s cane pointed toward the woman.

However, the woman couldn’t think of any defensive spells, let alone any thoughts, as Parsley stared at her as if she were about to kill her, tears streaming down her face.

Parsley said, almost spitting out her words.

“But, you must pay the price.”

“P-Parsley… I, I…”

Parsley didn’t listen any further.

She simply closed her eyes and shouted.

“Urnb!!”

And everything was engulfed in flames.

.

.

.

The next morning, the residents of Map Tower received the newspaper and all fell into panic.

The reason was because the contents of the newspaper were truly unbelievable, and it was even written on the front page.

The headline of the newspaper read as follows.

‘Sage of Map Tower, dead.’