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

41 – 6. First Piece (5) [Edited]

Have you ever woken up and felt that something was terribly wrong?

The dampness on the corner of your mouth.

The cheerful sound of birds coming from outside the window.

And a body that feels unusually refreshed.

I cautiously sat up on the bed. I took out a pocket watch and measured the ominous angle formed by the hour and minute hands.

The current time, 10:50 AM.

And, the deadline for submitting the midterm assignment is 11:00 AM.

Being late means disqualification.

“…!!”

I screamed silently in my mind as I forcefully pushed myself up from the bed. I clenched my head and desperately rotated it.

It was too late to go back to the dormitory and retrieve the magic circle. Redrawing the magic circle within 10 minutes was also impossible. Oh Alain, what should I do…

“…!”

My wandering eyes suddenly fixated on one place.

On the table, there were a familiar scroll and a note.

The note, written in Lem’s handwriting, said:

[I brought it just in case. It was in the first drawer of your room.]

May the blessings of the gods be with you!

Feeling ecstatic, I grabbed the scroll. There was no time to check its contents. I rushed out into the hallway.

If there was a magic circle, there was still hope. If I could just demonstrate it as it was…

Wait, did I even complete the magic circle?

Suddenly, that question brought back vivid memories and despair.

The 38th magic circle was an incomplete object, not even worth activating with magic power.

And, even if he arrived within the time limit, it meant I would be disqualified.

However, I quickly shook my head to dispel the gloom.

There was still time before submitting the assignment. I could modify the magic circle during that time. I just had to modify the pathways so that it functioned.

Of course, it would be difficult to make it top-notch, let alone second place…

No, I still couldn’t give up.

I am a genius of the century.

I moved my legs as fast as I could.

And, I arrived at the classroom.

At the same time as opening the door, I checked the clock.

3 minutes before assignment submission.

A sense of relief washed over me.

3 minutes were enough.

Since there was no time to sit down, I immediately leaned against the wall and unfolded the scroll. I took out a highlighter and aimed it at the scroll.

Simply bypassing the route…

“It’s time to submit the assignment! Everyone, detach yourselves from your scrolls!”

Wait, what?

This can’t be happening!

Surely, there are still three minutes until the assignment submission…!

Checking the clock displayed in the classroom, I froze. Unlike the wall clock, the hour hand of that clock was already pointing to 11.

A slight discrepancy that could exist in every clock.

A chill ran down my spine.

Desperately, I raised my hand and shouted.

“Professor! I’m sorry, but just a little more time…!”

However, the professor’s demeanor remained impassive.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the scroll slipped out of my hand. Like the scrolls of other students, it stacked neatly on the desk.

The professor confirmed the count and decisively exclaimed.

“Well then, let’s confirm if it actually works! Those called, come forward and activate the magic circle!”

It was over.

The tension released from my legs, and my body swayed. Barely, I clung to the chair and looked at the professor.

In order of attendance numbers, the professor called out the novices, scoring them as they came forward to activate the magic circle.

Disqualified, 87 points, 62 points, 54 points, disqualified, and disqualified again.

And then, my turn arrived.

“Parsley!”

I tightly closed my eyes. I moved my feet that refused to budge by sheer force.

The truly cursed ability humans possess is imagination.

With each step, horrifying imaginations surfaced. They were imaginations starting from the moment the professor declared ‘disqualified.’

The novices would mock my downfall. The disdain in the eyes of the professors would criticize my disappointment and arrogance.

And my mother.

What would be her reaction when she hears that I’ve been disqualified?

Certainly, she would scold me. She would scold me with her stern voice, piercing my ears again. By doing so, she would criticize whether I could become the next master witch.

No, it could be even more dreadful.

What if my mother ignores me? What if she doesn’t even acknowledge me as her daughter?

I could endure anger, but I couldn’t endure being ignored.

“Infuse it with magic.”

When I came to my senses, I was suddenly in front of the professor. I reached out towards the scroll, feeling my eyes welling up.

Simultaneously, I thought.

Yes, let’s go to mom and beg as soon as I’m disqualified. Promise never to do this again in the future. I’d rather ask to be slapped. So please, don’t ignore me like before…

“Indeed, excellent work.”

I lifted my head, feeling tears streaming down my cheeks. Beautiful magical runes floating in the air and the professor’s admiring face appeared before my eyes.

“Huh…?”

This can’t be right.

I definitely didn’t complete the 38th magic rune.

“It’s perfect, Parsley.”

“Uh, th-thank you…”

I returned to my seat, bewildered, trying to understand this impossible situation. Could it be that I completed it in my sleep? Is it because of the side effects of Melania’s potion that I completed the rune and can’t remember?

What on earth is happening?

“Disappointing, Rem.”

Unconsciously, I raised my head and looked ahead. Suddenly, Rem was standing in front of the professor.

“Even with a week’s time, you couldn’t complete a single magic rune.”

The professor tore apart the scroll Rem had submitted, wearing a cold expression. Fragments of a strangely familiar magic rune scattered on the floor.

“Of course, you’re disqualified. Return to your seat.”

“Yes.”

However, Rem returned to his seat without a trace of injury. It seemed as if he didn’t care at all that the magic rune was torn.

…!

At that moment, the clues that had been separated clicked together, forming a single conjecture with a clicking sound.

My magic rune, which I had no memory of completing, was activated.

Rem’s magic rune, incomplete even after a week.

And Rem, who left the magic rune on the desk.

I looked at Rem with trembling eyes. Just then, Rem, who was returning to his seat, met my gaze.

And.

With a snap-

Rem squeezed his temples and stuck out his tongue.

Like a child mocking someone.

***

I entered my room, slamming the door behind me. I poured cold water into my throat, trying to quench the burning sensation.

However, the heat inside me refused to subside.

I couldn’t overcome the heat, and I paced around the room restlessly, biting my nails and muttering.

“Unlucky, unlucky, unlucky…!!”

It was an unbearable humiliation!

Did he genuinely think that such concessions could make me happy?! Even concessions born out of sympathy?!

Shame! Shame! Shame once again!

He had tarnished our sacred rivalry! He had proven his superiority in the most despicable manner!

A vile scoundrel! The worst of cowards! A man with no respect for his competitors whatsoever!!

I will never forgive him! I will definitely repay him!

Today’s events will surely…!

“…!!”

My thoughts came to a sudden halt as something caught my eye.

It was a full-length mirror tucked away in the corner of the room.

Every morning, I would admire the beautiful girl inside that mirror.

But now, the girl reflected in it looked incredibly pitiful.

Her eyes were on the verge of shedding tears, and her disheveled hair stuck out like thorns.

Above all, her entire body was flushed as if afflicted by some illness.

From the tips of her ears to her neck.

Like a description of insects in a certain novel.

Because of that, I averted my gaze and forced my face into a contorted expression, trying to summon non-existent anger.

“No… luck…”

However, the pounding of my heart in my ears showed no signs of stopping.

And my flushed face showed no signs of cooling down, even though the moon had risen.

***

Soft, clinking sounds.

I felt my vision turning red. Along with the pain, I sensed a hot liquid trickling down my cheek.

“So, Marian… said to me…”

“Here.”

Rem stopped speaking at my words. He looked at my face, his eyes widening.

“Parsley-nim, there’s blood in your eyes…!”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I raised my hand to stop him from coming closer. With my other hand, I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away the flowing blood.

“It’s just a side effect of magic. It’ll stop soon.”

And, with a smile, I added.

“By the way, it seems like more than just a partial memory has come back, considering there’s no hesitation in your storytelling.”

“…!”

Rem’s eyes widened. Then, avoiding my gaze, he spoke in a hesitant voice.

“Yes.”

And then, with a determined look, he looked back into my eyes.

“In that sense, there’s something I must say. My tongue and Parsley-nim have no relation whatsoever…”

“Let’s stop here for today.”

I shook my head. I smiled mischievously at his confusion.

“It’s already late at night.”

As if on cue, the sound of crickets could be heard from outside the tent. Rem’s expression grew blank.

Leaving him be, I stood up from my seat. Holding onto the entrance of the tent, I turned to look at him.

“Well, I’ll come by again tomorrow.”

And then, I walked out of the tent.

Once outside the tent, it was indeed night, just as mentioned.

The night sky over the moonless plains was adorned with shining stars. They seemed as if they would spill down like rain with just a tap.

I walked while looking at him and closed my eyes.

More precisely, I turned my gaze inward.

Past the storm of magic in the lower part of the brain, toward the center where memories are stored.

Towards the magic circle similar to what is in Rem’s mind.

Against the magic circle of my mother that distorts my memories.

Barric 102 Type 9 Form B, commonly known as ‘Memory Manipulation Magic.’

This triple-layered spell, developed by the mage Sage, is the only magic in existence that can interfere with memories.

It seals existing memories and overlays new ones on top,

Therefore, the person under the spell finds it difficult to even realize that they are under a spell.

However, this magic has a significant flaw.

Sealing is not equivalent to erasure.

For everything that is locked away, there exists a key.

In other words, when something is sealed, it means there is a way to undo it.

And the solution to this magic is simple yet difficult.

The caster of the spell must recognize the set keyword and speak it aloud.

However, the keyword is thoroughly hidden by the caster,

and the person under the spell cannot perceive the keyword by themselves.

Yet, even a third party, not the caster, cannot discern the keyword.

That keyword must be closely related to sealed memories.

Thus, there exists only one way to discover this keyword.

Listening to the stories of someone who shares the same past and finding contradictions within one’s own memories.

And based on these contradictions, deducing the keyword.

…That was why I asked Rem to tell me about the past.

Among those who shared a similar past as mine, only my mother and Rem were alive.

However, to be honest, I wasn’t certain. Rem’s memories were also manipulated and altered by my mother.

If Rem’s memories were altered just like mine, contradictions wouldn’t be found. Therefore, guessing the keyword itself would be impossible.

So, I listened without much hope. Simply thinking it would be the last time I hear Rem’s voice before seeking “salvation.”

Yet, Rem’s memories seemed less manipulated than mine.

A word I heard for the first time in Rem’s story.

But a word I couldn’t possibly not know.

I felt the magic circle react as I spoke.

“Melania Solution.”

Crackle –

One of the three-layered enchantments enveloping my memories shatters. Sealed memories pour into my mind, erasing false recollections and revealing the true past.

Memories that tormented Rem out of jealousy, now became memories I unknowingly admired his talent for.

Memories where Rem always held the senior position now shifted to when he gracefully handed it over to me at a certain point.

The memory that stood me up every time I saw Rem,

A memory that involuntarily flushed my face every time I saw him.

“…!!”

Once again, blood flows from my eyes. The pain, as if someone is stabbing my eyes with a knife, assaults me.

However, it was a pain of ecstasy.

At first, when I learned that my mother had also intervened in my memories. When I returned to the tower to investigate the method of memory manipulation magic and coincidentally found him.

I was engulfed in intense anger.

I wanted to confront my mother and ask why she did that while choking her throat.

But now, I am grateful that I didn’t.

More importantly, I thank Alain for coming here to find the ‘salvation’ I’ve been searching for since seven years ago.

Again, I met Rem.

And I saw the possibility.

I opened my eyes again.

The stars that were barely hanging in the sky finally poured into my eyes. They pierced through the cornea and rooted in my chest.

If Rem’s memories are not real, and even mine is not real.

If that’s truly the case.

Isn’t my sin also not false?

I recalled Rem’s face, smiling as we talked about Clara’s story. It was a beautiful smile that made my chest tingle.

Could that smile also be mine?

I bit my lower lip. The impulse to run to Rem again, listen to the remaining story, and unlock all the seals of memory burned within me.

However, I deliberately moved towards my tent. Otherwise, my brain might not be able to handle it and burn out.

I just looked up at the sky again.

Even after pouring out so much from my eyes, the stars still filled the night sky. They seemed to be singing, twinkling as if singing a song.

About the shining future,

And the beauty of hope.

I walked slowly towards tomorrow while listening to the song of the stars.