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

49 – 7. The Second Piece (8)

Commonly, what follows excessive emotions includes:

Awkward silence,

Subtle tension,

And a sense of shame intense enough to desire the annihilation of one’s existence.

I avoided looking at Rem, who was fidgeting with his goggles. At the same time, internally, I screamed for the world to disappear.

Oh, for heaven’s sake, what have I just done?

Hugging the guy I like and stroking his hair?

Even whispering sweetly?

Parsley, have I finally lost it?

Does your red hair truly not carry any worries about the future?

“Don’t you think it’s a bit over the top?”

“Uh, what?”

Tension runs down my spine. Unable to face him directly, I sneak a glance at him from the corner of my eye.

Putting his goggles back on, he looks at me with his green-tinted lenses and smiles.

“This is unfair. How am I supposed to repay you after this?”

“Ah…”

…The gift, really touched his heart.

Like overdosing on Melanie’s solution, my lips twitch. Warmth begins to spread beneath my chest.

Well, there’s no way he wouldn’t like it!

The next owner of the next Ma Tat is something I’ve worked hard on for a whopping five months. I’ve even invested all the money I’ve saved up until now!

Who on earth could receive this gift and not be moved!

The favor of a genius is a miraculous law for the culprit, and praise and gratitude are inevitable.

I raised my nose – still unable to look directly at him – and confidently said, “Well, there’s no need to repay. It wasn’t particularly difficult.”

“Huh, it took a long time because I worked on it little by little? If I had focused properly, it wouldn’t have taken even a month.”

Really, Rem is utterly clueless about giving in… What’s the use of showing off?

I felt my cheek puffing up again with dissatisfaction and turned my head abruptly.

“Anyway, you don’t have to repay anything.”

Originally, this is the repayment for that summer night. I swallowed the words that would follow.

“Don’t say that. Do you really not want anything from me?”

However, he seemed to take this matter more seriously than expected.

In his usually unusual serious tone, his face, firm with determination, came into view.

Even though he wears goggles, gratitude can be felt in his gaze.

The sensation of the loosening restraint with the gradually emerging smile.

Suppressing the laughter that wanted to burst out, I pondered the answer.

But no matter how much I thought about it, nothing particularly came to mind.

What I want from Rem.

…Actually, just being together like this is enough.

I raised my head, opened my mouth, and said, “There’s nothing like that…”

A suddenly whimsical idea entangled my tongue.

No, it’s not just whimsical; it’s closer to a foolish idea. The fact that I came up with such a thing alone is enough to make my face burn.

A thought far from reason and morality, an impulsive idea.

But…

I glanced at Rem again with a side glance.

He was trying to hide it, but I, who share his kind, could see it.

The boy who always had bad luck and was at a loss.

A dangerous delight courses through the spine like an electric current. The twisting corner of the mouth was hidden with a hand.

Yeah, coming out with such an attitude, it wouldn’t be polite to just refuse.

So, just this once.

I yielded to the impulse and let my tongue take control.

“Well then, do you have time this weekend?”

***

“You little sparrow.”

“Sir, I’ll say it again, I never had any such intentions. I just wanted to repay the favor…”

“You little sparrow.”

“From the beginning, it felt like a sisterly feeling. I never thought…”

“You little sparrow.”

“No, then, what was I supposed to do? Saying ‘that’s a bit…’ in that situation doesn’t make sense.”

“Be a bit more honest, won’t you?”

“…Damn, who would have thought I’d be this pretty honestly?”

“You crazy little sparrow.”

***

When the first Matapju erected the mast, this place had nothing.

Barren land, harsh climate, and trees with sharp leaves were the only things present. This land was originally unfamiliar territory to human footsteps.

However, when Matap revealed its greatness, people flocked to this land like a swarm. They built houses, constructed roads, met people, and formed families.

Thus, before 50 years had passed, a city was constructed around Matap, and now, 300 years later, it had become one of the most prosperous cities on the continent.

Matap turned this barren land into a massive city.

That’s why, whenever I walked through the city, coming out of Matap, I used to admire the greatness of Matap. At the same time, I would make a commitment to myself.

That I would become the Matapju and make the history of this city even more glorious.

So, someday, I would stroll through this city, laughing with my mother.

However, today, I had to let go of that commitment.

In front of the fountain in the main square,

I raised the hand mirror for the 132nd time and checked my appearance.

In the mirror that had now become completely critical, a girl with a stiff smile was reflected.

The always-worn blue robe was nowhere to be found, replaced by a white fur coat befitting a noble lady. The always messy red hair was neatly tied up. Even makeup, which I had never tried in my life, was applied to the white face.

An incredibly awkward appearance.

I still couldn’t believe it.

I put the hand mirror away and started walking towards the Mattop. I needed to return to my usual attire – this was the 132nd time.

However, I stopped again just two steps away. I turned around and muttered to myself as I went back to my original spot.

“I see… because Marian prepared it so well…”

Marian’s magical design skills were a few notches below mine, but when it came to costumes, she was several notches above me.

I decided to trust her skills and just wait.

…

But could I really trust her skills?

I checked my reflection in the hand mirror, which was the 133rd one.

It was still too much.

The date outfit didn’t look that great!

I couldn’t accept that.

But was it really a date?

That was a rather insulting term for the intelligence and experimentation spirit!

This wasn’t a date now!

It was just an experiment to check if my ‘gift’ to Lem could function properly outside.

And yet, there I was, using a word like ‘date’ to describe the deranged behavior of those who couldn’t even reach the level of insanity…!!

“What’s going on?”

“Huge mistake!”

I turned around, half-jumping.

Of course, it was Lem.

He had my ‘gift’ on his head, and an embarrassing expression on his face.

And his outfit… it was perfect, just like usual.

In fact, it looked even more disheveled than usual.

I felt a sense of disappointment filling my chest for no reason. I averted my gaze downward, trying to look at his clothes without drawing attention to it.

Yes, his outfit was reasonable.

He hadn’t gone out to have fun, but had repeatedly insisted that it was an experiment. He had no fault.

…But wasn’t he wearing a torn-apart robe with a missing sleeve?

I felt the air flowing into my lungs as I looked at his sleeve. Lem’s face was filled with innocence.

“Is there any problem?

“…It’s nothing. Let’s just move quickly.”

I passed him with a frowning expression for no reason.

He was foolish.

But more than anything, it was myself.

While the other person had no thoughts, I was getting excited alone, putting on makeup since dawn. I came out one hour before the appointment time and waited…

That’s the epitome of foolishness.

Suddenly, I wanted to go back and throw away all these stupid clothes. No, I just wanted to pretend that this date never happened.

“Hey.”

I looked at Rem who had suddenly stuck by my side. Unusually, he had a deeply hesitant expression. After hesitating for a while, he finally spoke.

“What… Your outfit looks pretty. It suits you well.”

Then Rem turned his gaze to a distance. Thanks to that, I could confirm that his ears had turned bright red.

In that moment, I felt a light blooming in my heart. Once again, the sensation of the corners of my mouth loosening.

Yes, this was natural.

Unless he was a blind person, there was no way he couldn’t recognize my beauty. And now, Rem had eyes.

But how could he not blush?

“Well, anyway, where are we really going?”

Rem asked without even looking at me. I felt the corners of my mouth rise and answered.

“Just follow along like a sleepyhead. I’ve prepared everything.”

***

This date…No, the test plan for the ‘artwork’ could be called the ultimate plan.

For the past few days, I had sacrificed sleep, selected the location, and designed and allocated each step down to the minute. Not only that, I had even received editing from Marian.

It was the great plan that the two geniuses had come up with after much contemplation.

And the very first step of this great plan was to visit the Winter Garden.

The Winter Garden, a place that proved magic’s supremacy over nature.

A place where every flower in existence on the Ea Continent bloomed, regardless of the season.

With snow falling as the backdrop, the breathtaking view of dazzling flowers showing off their colors could only be witnessed here.

That’s why many lovers also come to this place.

Of course, our reason for going there was not so conventional. We just needed to adjust the saturation of the ‘artwork’ and see various colors.

My desire to walk through the beautiful garden together was not reflected at all.

…Probably.

Anyway, I set off with Lem to the winter garden, my heart filled with anticipation. And the winter garden welcomed us with joy.

[Under construction]

… A rusty metal plate with those words.

“… It looks like the door is closed.”

Lem glanced at me after seeing the firmly closed door. His eyes were filled with doubt and unease.

Because of that, I declared with a fake confidence in my voice.

“I-I’m fine…! We still have plenty of places to go.”

.

.

.

The second step of the plan was to go see a magic performance troupe.

These magicians, who sought pleasure rather than truth, offered sights and experiences that couldn’t be imagined elsewhere.

When it came to the Matap, it was considered a must to see their performance, almost like a principle.

That’s why I really wanted to show Lem this performance.

And even the culprit, when they came to the Matap, it was unthinkable for the Matap magician not to watch this performance.

But it seemed like misfortune never comes alone.

“… There’s no performance today?”

A receptionist woman bowed her head apologetically.

“Yes, I’m sorry. One of our members suddenly fell ill, so the performances have been canceled since last week…”

“… I see.”

Feeling my shoulders slump involuntarily, I turned around. Lem, who was yawning, glanced at me and raised an eyebrow.

“Why, is there no performance here either today?”

“Uh, yeah…”

My voice faltered unknowingly. I slapped my cheeks and regained my composure.

“I-I’m fine! We can just go to the next place.”

I repeated myself, but there are still plenty of backup plans left. There are enough opportunities to make up for it.

.

.

.

The third step of the plan was to go to the aerial garden.

The garden manifested through affluent magic, where the aesthetic sense of the pavilion was never inferior…

“I’m sorry. The garden is currently under maintenance…”

“…I see.”

The fourth phase of the plan involves the aquarium…

“I’m sorry. Due to financial issues, the aquarium is currently not operational…”

The fifth phase of the plan…

[Temporary closure]

The sunset cast the long shadow of the pavilion over the city.

The distant sky gradually shifted from blue to red, and people wrapped in coats were slowly heading back home, one by one.

And there I sat in front of the fountain, just watching them.

Vague thoughts floated through my mind.

My plan was unbelievably foolish.

Would it be akin to a ship wrecked on every possible reef it could hit?

I had surely met in the morning and begun to move, yet by the time the sunset arrived, I only had memories of wandering.

My foolish plan had completely ruined the day.

…Even a day with Rem.

No wonder Mother doesn’t bother with me.

It feels pathetic, thinking that, yet my eyes involuntarily welled up. I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head; I just stared at my own feet.

I just wanted to disappear from the world like this.

“Is it okay to stop the experiment here?”

“…Huh?”

Unknowingly, I looked up at Rem. He took off his goggles and spoke.

“Well, there doesn’t seem to be any visual distortion, no temporary loss of function due to magical interference, but, ah, I think we should reduce the weight a little. Is your neck hurting?”

I couldn’t understand any of the words flowing from his mouth. Narrowing my brow, I asked.

“What does that even mean…?”

Then, Rem narrowed his brow even more than me and retorted.

“Didn’t I call you to test your ‘creation’ today? That’s why you kept circling around the streets.”

“Ah…”

Only then did I realize that he had approached this matter with completely different intentions than me. And of course he did.

After all, I had called him with such an excuse.

Because I didn’t have the courage to ask him out on a date, that’s why I said that.

But why does that fact send a chill down my spine?

Irrational. Illogical. Incomprehensible.

I don’t even know what I wanted, or if I even wanted anything anymore.

How did I end up becoming such a clueless person?

“Anyway, is this the end of the ‘experiment’?”

“…Yeah, it is.”

I weakly nodded my head. At this point, I didn’t care what happened with the experiment anymore. I just wanted to lock myself in the room.

“Well then, let’s go out.”

Confused, I raised my head and looked at Rem. He playfully smiled and said to me.

“Since we’re already out, why not have some fun instead of just doing experiments?”