NOVEL NEXT Chapter 440
If you start searching blindly without any information, you won’t get an accurate answer.
But the group of heroes had experienced this world twice already.
Once they fought against the Emperor, and the next time they battled the Goddess.
And probably, they went through something similar a third time as well.
“Alright, then let’s review the memories,” Leo said as he gathered the children around.
“First, we fought and won against the Emperor of this country. We also finished the battle with the church.”
Leo jotted down the information on the blackboard.
“In this process, we have two conflicting memories in our minds.”
One memory was of fighting against the Emperor.
It was the memory of uniting all their forces to defeat the Emperor and preserve the peace of the world.
However, there was a hazy part within that memory.
“Claire, how did you survive back then?”
A moment of silence filled the classroom where the children were gathered.
“I clearly remember Claire getting attacked and collapsing. But none of us here—even Claire herself—has any recollection of how she made it back.”
Claire quietly listened with her eyes closed.
“It’s as if… it was erased.”
After finishing his words, Leo glanced around the classroom. A few children nodded.
“It’s not just Claire’s story.”
Each time Leo recounted a story, the corresponding character’s face appeared on the screen.
There was surely a memory of fighting in the depths of Lutetia, yet nobody here had actually gone into the ruins of Lutetia.
During this story, Charlotte, who was sitting with a serious expression, appeared.
It seemed like there had been a war, but there were no traces of it left in the world.
Alice’s face appeared during this story as well.
The situations where they fought against Sophia could also strangely be divided into two types—of course, Sophia’s face was shown during this discussion.
“That’s the situation.”
As Leo finished his tale, Alice raised her hand.
“And one more thing.”
All eyes turned to Alice at her words.
“We all have someone we remember.”
“…….”
“Just be honest.”
Even though it was a serious moment, Alice poked my side with a finger.
“…What are you talking about?”
“Aren’t you incredibly embarrassed right now?”
“……”
I didn’t answer and just pressed the button with my finger.
poke-poke.
“Why are you doing that?”
When I glanced over to the person poking my side, it was Claire, looking at me with a sly smile.
“Are you a bit ticklish? You don’t think we wouldn’t do this if big sis disappeared, right?”
“Please don’t tease me too much.”
Charlotte, who had been listening to the discussion, said with a smile.
“After all, Sylvia is usually quite shy, isn’t she?”
“She’s also very lonely.”
It was surprising to hear Mia say such things.
But you know, I also have my own points to argue about.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for you two to talk about following me to this world just because I disappeared.”
That’s right.
Charlotte and Mia ended up here somewhat unexpectedly while tracking down the three of us who disappeared, but at least Alice and Claire were children who followed me all the way here.
I was quite shocked when I first saw them.
“……”
At my words, Alice and Claire turned their eyes away.
Haha! Imagining it and actually doing it are two completely different things.
Those who’ve actually done it are mocking those who’ve only imagined it, hehe.
“Big sis! Ban them!”
I ignored that and continued to play.
By the way, it seems there are hardly any people left who joke about it even in chat.
Have they come to consider it practically like reality? Perhaps it’s a concept taken from the ‘alternate persona’ idea that celebrities often use.
Even though everyone knows it’s fake, they still want to believe it’s real.
Of course, while we were as genuine as one could possibly be, it was a different matter.
Someone who’s forgotten…
Jake crossed his arms and spoke after a moment of thought.
But, if someone has been forgotten, is there really a way for us to find them? Being forgotten literally means they’ve been forgotten.
It’s only natural that such a statement would surface when asking to find a missing person without any basis or even knowing their name.
…….
After a moment of consideration, Sophia spoke up.
If they were a real person, we might have a chance. After all, souls are immortal beings.
You want to do necromancy or something?
Such a thing doesn’t exist in this world. A soul must cling to the world on its own accord to exist in this world. Even with that, the success rate is slim.
It has already appeared in the game before. Not as a typical mob, but as a named monster. Of course, in a work from before the world changes.
Even if the world changes, only the forms of nations, continents, and history change; natural laws and settings generally remain the same unless we get into very fine details, so that will likely hold true in this work as well.
Is there really someone who would have likely helped us still left in this world?
…….
Nobody could answer Leo’s question.
Is the repository still there?
……It is.
Leo nodded at Claire’s question.
I don’t have any memories, but where is it kept?
In the depths of the imperial castle.
Alice answered. Claire seemed to understand what she was getting at.
But the repository failed to move. Father tried to use me, but it seems the conditions weren’t met. So even if it’s attempted…
We won’t know unless we try.
Claire put a hand over her heart and said.
And at first, I also… didn’t want to think about it.
She then slightly lowered her head.
But the more I try to ignore it, the more I feel a sense of longing. It feels like I have to meet that person. The simple memory is completely blank, yet the emotions feel abundantly intact.
And then she raised her head.
Claire’s face had a resolute expression.
So, I want to try to do something.
…….
Everyone’s eyes turned to Alice.
Alice hesitated for a moment, but eventually opened her eyes and said,
Okay, then. Let’s give it a try.
*
However, even in this last chapter, there remained a dungeon.
Well, it’s a tradition of this series. The main story is completely finished, yet somehow, there are oddly strong enemies left at the end.
What the hell is this…?
Alice said with a perplexed expression.
The place Alice had arrived at was one of the deepest spots of the imperial castle.
The depths of the imperial palace I had once infiltrated long ago in search of a prophecy.
It seemed Alice had hidden the repository there.
Normally, they should have been able to stop the security system and enter by using a key.
But what lay before them was truly a labyrinth.
Walls were rising everywhere, and slight cracks that let some light out could be seen on them; the light resembled that of the Goddess’s radiance from the final battle.
I couldn’t help but guess whose doing it was.
W-when we last checked……!
I know.
Alice cut him off without hesitation.
Such things can’t just be accomplished overnight by anyone.
Alice turned around.
Leo and his companions nodded.
Since something was happening, they must have thought it was time to tie up the loose ends.
“This dungeon is quite complicated.”
I said calmly.
Honestly, if I really wanted to, I could just take a quick look around and finish it right away. As the final dungeon, the chests placed all around would probably contain good items, but I wasn’t sure if we would have time to go for a second run.
But—
“Still, I would like to have a proper look around. Is that alright?”
“Do as you please, big sis.”
“You’re the one who was playing the game in the other world. You probably wanted to see how it ends too.”
“Honestly, it looks like it would be quite fun to play.”
“Maybe it’s because we’ve spent so much time on it; now that it’s ending, it feels a bit sad too…”
Hearing everyone’s agreement, I smiled lightly and said,
“If that’s the case, I’ll play it like I did when I was strategizing.”
Saying this, I pressed the option button to save the game.
*
Who could be the culprit behind this?
Was it Sylvia or perhaps the Goddess?
I thought it might be one of the two, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
……Who are you?
The person holding the repository looked somewhat grotesque.
Their back hunched, arms of different lengths. While their legs were relatively normal,
their long hair covered their face.
Who are you? This is the imperial palace. And this is a place where no one can enter unless permitted by me.
The imperial palace… the imperial palace. Ahh.
“Uh, wait a second.”
Alice, who had been observing the screen, said in a panic.
“Could it be…?”
Hmm, it probably is what she thinks it is.
The first Emperor Fanggriffon.
…Could it be that Sylvia defeated the Goddess and thereby broke the seal on the other side?