Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts Are Heard
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I was eating my meal in such discomfort that I couldn't even tell if the food was going into my mouth or my nose.
"Seeing you eat the food I prepared before yours… it must be because you truly regard me as the real one, so even in such trivial matters, there's a difference."
"Don't you feel that your baseless speculation lacks credibility even as you say it? My past self was truly a person with no sense of shame."
That's because the two Victorias were engaged in a battle of nerves, each trying to put food into my mouth. They were even making absurd claims about who was the real one based on whose food I ate first. For me, who couldn't let my guard down anyway, fearing that Memoriam might be hiding nearby, it was close to torture.
"Victoria 1, don't be jealous over such a trivial thing. I'm also giving a lot of thought to which of you is the real one."
I deliberately chewed the tough lizard meat noisily, making my displeasure clear. Truthfully, I thought the Victoria who had lost her memories was more likely to be the real one because I could hear her inner thoughts…
'…But to recover her memories, I might need the help of the other Victoria.'
I judged that if Victoria 2 were to run away somewhere or die, she might never return to her original state. After all, if Memoriam could steal memories, it should be possible to transfer them back as well.
"Victoria 1? Calling me that makes me sound like an object. Your naming sense is the worst."
"Then what should I call you? Both of you look the same and have the same name, so saying 'Victoria' just causes confusion."
"Weren't we lovers? Shouldn't we have some special pet name we agreed on… or at least a nickname?"
The Victoria who had lost her memories was grumbling slightly at me, speaking in a tone tinged with regret. Come to think of it, we didn't really have anything you could call a pet name between us. Except for when Victoria occasionally dropped the honorific 'nim' when calling my name.
"Not really. It hasn't been that long since we started dating for real, beyond our contract relationship."
I spoke as if it were nothing. Expressing feelings of love didn't require fancy words or sentences, nor did it require money or wealth.
"Then how about we decide on one now? Taking the first two letters and calling me 'Ria' sounds cute, I think…"
The other Victoria—that is, Victoria 2—looked up, pondered deeply for a moment, then suggested a cute pet name and chuckled. If Victoria hadn't become two people like this, it might have been a suggestion I'd happily accept. But right now, I couldn't be sure who was real, so I remained silent. Because, contrary to my expectations, it was possible that both the one who lost her memories and the other Victoria were real.
"…Astal-nim? Is something wrong? Your expression doesn't look good."
"No, let's just not decide on pet names right now."
I was trying hard to maintain my expression while watching Taryon and Anima leave the restaurant. Their faces, looking happy even while eating tough lizard meat, reminded me of a memory I'd seen somewhere before. My first date with Victoria after we started our contract relationship had been just like that. Even though the Demon Realm had little to offer for entertainment, the flutter I felt while eating lizard tails together back then was one of the best memories of my life.
"…Memoriam doesn't seem to be here. Let's keep following Taryon and Anima."
I deliberately pushed my chair back forcefully as I stood up and hurriedly chased after my other companions. If I looked directly at Victoria's face now, I felt I'd just get annoyed about why there were two of her.
"Astal-nim? You're sweating… Are you sure you're really okay?"
Truthfully, I thought it wouldn't matter if she lost her memories. I could just work harder to make Victoria fall in love with me again. There were real cases where a husband with an amnesiac spouse tried again and proposed anew. Considering everything I'd been through, a problem of that scale felt like nothing.
But I hadn't expected a Victoria with only the memories of the past year to appear like this. It was irritating how she kept trying to shake my heart, but I hated myself for being unable to easily shake her off because she wore Victoria's face.
At that moment…
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Hey, Astal. Got a minute? I think we need to revise our plan." The Hero Kyle grabbed my shoulder and asked if I could spare a moment, keeping the Victorias at a distance.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Seeing that Victoria had become two, the Hero Kyle suspected that perhaps Memoriam was testing Astal.
It wasn't a conclusion reached through rational thought.
It was a conclusion born from his innate sense and intuition, so Kyle was keeping this from his other companions, but…
"…Alright. At this distance, even Victoria shouldn't be able to hear our voices."
Seeing Astal's expression hardening in real-time and the uncomfortable atmosphere flowing from his relationship with Victoria, his suspicion was gradually turning into conviction.
"Do we really have to do this? Wouldn't it be more advantageous against Memoriam if Victoria also heard the plan?"
Astal looked at the two Victorias standing at a distance with uneasy eyes.
Normally, he was the one who made the coldest and most ruthless judgments regarding demons or monsters. But now, towards a fake wearing his lover's appearance, he was showing a side that was far too soft.
"What if both Victorias are fake? What if your real lover has disappeared somewhere, and Memoriam placed these dummies to learn more about humans?"
Kyle deliberately uttered words that would provoke Astal's feelings. A true friend should be able to speak harsh truths.
"…Kyle, your words are harsh. Even between comrades, I believe there are things you should and shouldn't say."
Astal's expression twisted as he spoke in a cold tone.
Seeing the ends of his hair and robe tinged slightly red, it seemed he had barely restrained himself from transforming.
"Honestly, I think the current you is not like your usual self. Normally, you'd be saying we should hunt down Memoriam immediately and would have chased after her."
"Victoria's memories were held hostage. And there's the risk of others being consumed…"
Astal was drawing out his words slightly. His inability to hide his uneasy expression seemed far from his usual confident self.
"When have we ever not been in danger? Have you forgotten we've always fought demons and monsters, teetering on the edge of life and death?"
"……."
Kyle could understand to some extent why Astal had changed like this.
If it involved Stella, his childhood friend and lover back home, he too might have procrastinated and hesitated, putting off the decision.
But even so, they now had the fate of needing to eliminate the Four Heavenly Kings in advance to defeat the Demon King.
"…You weren't like this when we fought the Chameleon Dragon last time. Astal, haven't you actually figured out which one is real?"
Kyle continued to throw aggressive words, trying to get Astal to properly gather his wits.
He'd rather Astal grab him by the collar or get into a fistfight to vent his pent-up anger and regret, and then make a rational decision.
"What are you trying to say? You must have a reason for deliberately getting on my nerves."
As if aware of Kyle's hidden intent, Astal clenched his fist tightly, then let out a long sigh and asked back.
"I think that if one of them over there is truly the Victoria you remember, then the moment she's convinced she's the fake, she should hand over her memories to the real one."
"……."
"That's the right thing to do, and the best way to not tarnish the memories you and Victoria shared."
Kyle was reiterating what the other Victoria had said earlier.
Memories were an important part of a person's identity, so it was a decision she, with a year's worth of memories, could reasonably make.
"Are you telling me not to get attached to the fake? Or to guide the real one to receive the memories…?"
The situation had changed because Astal was now showing a subtle reaction, agonizing over whom to choose between the two.
"Well, it's funny that I'm meddling in your love life… but at the very least, don't make a decision you'll regret later."
Kyle spoke impassively, looking at the Victorias glaring at each other in the distance.
In the worst-case scenario, even those two could be fakes connected to Memoriam.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ At that moment, while Kyle was trying to persuade Astal, keeping some distance…
The two Victorias were glaring at each other as if they wanted to kill one another, straining their ears to hear what the others were discussing.
"What on earth are they talking about so secretly…"
"It's probably because of you, the fake. If you're ultimately a clone of Memoriam, then all our plans could have been leaked."
"…What did you say? Have you said everything you wanted to say now?"
The two Victorias spoke without reservation, openly expressing their hostility toward each other.
Ultimately, the thought that only one person could win Astal's affection had taken root, so unlike at first, the two women were now engaged in a battle of nerves.