Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Asura Field #03
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"How did you two even kiss? On the cheek? The forehead? No way... the lips...?!! It was just a lip touch, right? Anything more would be a lovers' kiss...!!"
Agnes's barrage of questions painted Shaomei's face with distress and agony.
It was only natural.
Unlike Violet, who selectively associated with people to avoid burdensome stares, Shaomei genuinely found it awkward to form relationships.
Her cheerful smiles and tomboyish side were reserved for a select few close to her. She drew lines firmly.
Shaomei hurriedly glanced at Violet, pleading for help with her eyes.
"It's truly scandalous. Even I was shocked to see it."
"You think so too, right?! A man and woman who aren't even lovers, using their... tongues...!! And forcibly, no less!"
But Violet seemed to side with Agnes, turning the attack on Shaomei.
'No, this isn't the time to watch this spectacle...'
What I needed to figure out right now was why these three had regained their memories.
'Come to think of it, everyone was acting strangely.'
Violet avoiding me despite it being our first meeting.
Agnes quietly returning after disrupting academy order against the student council.
Shaomei teasing me oddly... well, that was normal, but her eyes were different.
Their common thread: deep connections with me in the past.
'Did Jorba know and just pretend not to while watching?'
"Waaah! Save me, Big Brother!"
At that moment, Shaomei, teary-eyed, threw herself at me while I was still bound.
Calling me Big Brother instead of her usual term confirmed she was trying to switch sides by clinging to me.
Of course, the other two wouldn't stand for it.
"Shaomei! I never pegged you for a woman steeped in lust!"
"Don't hide behind Arthin!"
I wanted to watch them scold her longer, but this could drag on forever, so maybe time to stop.
"Scolding Shaomei is fine, but first, I have a question for you three."
"Is scolding me really fine, Big Brother?! Too harsh!"
Seeing her unrepentant attitude made my irritation flare again.
If my arms weren't bound, I'd have smacked her head!
Knowing that, she pretended to hide behind me while pressing her ample breasts against my shoulder, emphasizing their softness.
Cheeky. Just because I'm a virgin doesn't mean a woman's chest erases all anger, does it?
'It actually does...'
Even after that, her full breasts massaging my shoulder calmed my rising temper.
That pre-regression internet saying about a woman's best apology being "Want to touch my chest?" wasn't a lie.
"Don't try to slyly weasel out, Shaomei! Arthin, you enjoy it too!"
Ah, caught by Violet.
"If you're calmer now, I'd like to hear how far back your memories go."
Before the arrows turned on me, I hurriedly changed the subject and asked.
"How far the memories go... um..."
Shaomei, hiding behind me, realized the topic shift was good and frantically recalled to grab onto the lifeline I'd thrown.
"Big Brother holing up in the territory digging trenches... going bald from knight duties... captured by the church... even crossing the barrier alone, I remember all that."
Damn, everything.
Listing events from the 1st to 4th rounds one by one—it was undeniably all there.
"I remember too. You brought all sorts of rare ingredients begging me for a baldness cure."
I hung my head at Violet's words.
No, back then, the hair loss stress was killing me.
At 21, a shiny bald crown like a bald eagle—it felt like a violation of human rights.
"...Um, about that story."
Then, Agnes, who'd been listening, raised her hand and spoke.
"I only remember you being captured by the church and crossing the barrier alone."
"Huh? What does that mean?"
Violet and Shaomei remembered, but why not Agnes?
Something's off, I thought, when a sharp intuition flashed through my mind.
The vague discomfort I'd felt until now.
"Wait, all three of you—tell me everything you truly remember. But first, untie this."
To do that, comparing their memories was essential.
*
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After about an hour of hearing each of their stories, our expressions weren't great.
"So, to sum up, you three only retain memories related to me."
I took it upon myself to organize for the confused trio.
"Shaomei followed me even in the 1st round, and up to the 4th, always by my side, so vivid and plentiful memories. Right?"
Shaomei vigorously replied, "Yes!"
"Violet got close from the 2nd round, stuck together often, so somewhat vivid memories?"
Violet nodded eagerly, eyes sparkling—intrigued by this past-life memory event.
"Agnes, memories start from the 3rd round when I helped with the imperial rebellion, and they're a bit hazy?"
"Yes, like faint dreams, but facing you makes them clearer."
"And commonly... excluding memories tied to me, nothing else?"
All three nodded in unison, as if scripted.
'This isn't some hidden camera prank, is it?'
Organized like this, these memory regressions were clearly tied to me.
People who remembered trivial details about me couldn't recall their own martial arts ultimate techniques, exact demon lord contract methods, or imperial rebellion leaders—it was too awkward.
'Last round... did the Demon King's curse hit during the castle backdoor?'
First guess, but unlikely.
I didn't fully awaken the Demon King, couldn't kill it for lacking qualifications, got surrounded by executives, drank poison, and died—no curse.
"Jorba seemed clueless?"
"Yes, even asked me if Big Brother seemed weird."
"What? When?"
"When we were training alone!"
Damn, worrying already how to fool that sharp, clever guy.
"Strange. Excluding Shaomei, Jorba was closer longer than Violet. He remembers nothing?"
"Right! He truly blanked. Watching Big Brother without knowing differs from us!"
The difference with him and the girls? Gender alone...?
Or some emotional trigger...
'And the most likely culprit is this.'
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: [?] 💨 Agility: [?] ✨ Magic Power: [?] 💪 Stamina: [?] 🍀 Luck: [?] 🛡️ Endurance: [?] Name: Arthin Ludwig Titles: Academy's Red Madman [Open], Bronze Who Beat a Knight [Open] Race: Human Age: 17 Level: Mage Lv.2, Martial Artist Lv.3 Potential: Awakened – You've broken through a wall one step further with training beyond limits. Traits: 『Regression』[Open], 『5th Regression Privilege』[Open], 『1st Stage Mana Essence』[Open] Status: Mana regeneration and physical recovery enhanced by potion effects. Third son of the Ludwig Family. Having boldly defeated one of the empire's famed powerhouses, everyone is reassessing you. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Trait: 5th Regression Privilege [Open] This trait cannot be viewed yet. Satisfy conditions or acquire qualifications to view this trait! 'This 5th Regression Privilege is the problem.'
A new title aside, this privilege trait had always been suspicious.
Present since the 1st round, but never once viewable.
'What conditions or qualifications? No hints, just tossed like this?'
Name changed per round; unknowing, I'd ignored it. But now, most suspect.
'First, uncover memory regression conditions, or can't resolve this.'
Women around me inheriting memories vividly, timelessly.
Means Violet and Shaomei will eternally hold my shames post-regression.
'Can't let that happen.'
One way: resolve, force regression, restart.
My earnest goal set this instant.
"Got the gist. For precision... one person to approach."
"Person to approach...? Who, Arthin?"
Agnes puzzled, but Violet and Shaomei nodded knowingly.
"Someone like Jorba, Violet, Shaomei—handled tons with me. Maybe deeper ties than you three."
"...What! You had someone before me, Arthin???"
If a lover, I'd say so.
Similar existed, but irrelevant, unreachable now.
"More foe than lover. You know well, Agnes?"
"Me? Among those I know excluding you three..."
After heavy hints, Agnes gasped realization.
Hard to forget. Just unseen, easy to overlook.
"Kaiyen Silversword. Academy hero who attempted Demon King subjugation twice with me."
The foe who kept me virgin entire 4th round, fed me maximum sweet potatoes.
And comrade who fought life-or-death together.
"Let's check once."
Planned to meet powered up, but need his intentions for regression conditions.
Only I could do it.
"No one here close to Kaiyen besides me?"
Silent trio; I sighed, stood.
'Two original heroines, yet no close friends?'
Less human than novel. Original at least didn't block side romances.
Wait, this tied to privilege too?
Ignoring leads, obsessively blocking me like chasing.
Thought my actions caused cracks; now everything suspect.
Likely sadistic author's petty revenge pulling strings—henceforth, suspect all maximally.
"I'll meet tomorrow and check. Starting school tomorrow anyway."
Hated direct meet, but set for tomorrow.
"For now, back to rooms. No weird stuff till confirmation."
Preempting suicide holds, Violet and Shaomei nodded.
Dusk now visible in dimness.
Looking around my prison: external warehouse storing Bronze dorm facilities.
'In original, Agnes and protagonist flirted here...'
Ex-girlfriend flirting with foe here—odd feeling. Not real events.
Or original is 'real'?
"Ah."
Shaomei, leading and stretching, turned back remembering something.
"We left the broken window and fainted night guard as is?"
"...Huh. Now that you mention..."
What the hell?
I swallowed in bewilderment at their bizarre talk.
"No one cleaned up?"
"Realized now—midway, knocked out witnesses for memory wipes... left them."
Memory wipes? Witness knockouts?
"Going back now, total chaos."
"...What to do? Can Princess Agnes handle?"
"She'll try, but must say where Arthin was..."
After their chatter, all three stared at me.
Why me?
'Me clean this mess again?'
Driving me mad.