Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts Are Heard
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I had thought something was dangerous from the moment the fake Victoria grabbed the fragment of Memoria.
Memoria had sent the fake to drive a wedge between us or for some vile form of observation. Could such a thorough and sadistic person have failed to predict this situation?
If she had been afraid of being traced back, she would have instead taken a fake Victoria possessing only the memories of the past year as a hostage, or used her as bait.
That would have been an easier and simpler way to draw out our anger and make us doubt the real Victoria's identity.
"...It's come to this after all. Everyone, arm yourselves and prepare for battle."
I couldn't help but frown, sensing the anomaly visible through my mana-seeing eyes.
I could see the two split magical circuits becoming tangled together, merging as if becoming one person.
If the fake Victoria miraculously regained control from Memoria, it would be a happy resolution for everyone.
"Victoria has been possessed by Memoria. It's highly likely she won't recognize us now."
In reality, such luck rarely happens in life. How could a fake Victoria, merely a part of Memoria, possibly resist the main body?
I showed her the respect she deserved one last time, calling her by the name Victoria without mentioning she was a fake or Memoria's avatar.
It was a choice only Victoria could have made.
Even if she was a fake, this sacrifice was an action only the real one could have taken.
"Lord Astal...? What on earth are you saying? I think you're jumping to conclusions too much."
The fake Victoria was laughing awkwardly, trying not to reveal she was being controlled by Memoria, but...
"...Even if you're wearing my appearance, aren't you just terrible at lying?"
The real Victoria saw right through her mask and pulled out her hammer with a slightly angry face. It was a rare reaction for her, who usually had little emotional expression.
"This is annoying. I thought I could at least say goodbye to you..." Perhaps she had grown attached after having sincere conversations with the fake. In life, there are things one can only confide to oneself.
"Oh my, looks like I've been found out. I was hoping to stab you in the back when you let your guard down..."
*Creek—*
The fake Victoria's neck bent vertically, moving as if it were a boneless creature.
Watching that sight, a feeling of disgust surged within me. Even if she was a fake Victoria created from Memoria's avatar, it felt like trampling on her determination and will.
It was distinctly different from dealing with the Chameleon Dragon. Those creatures had pretended to be Victoria from the start with the intent to kill me, while she had tried to help us more than anyone.
"...To be honest, I find this outcome quite surprising too. I only gave the memories of Saint Victoria Everhart to a slime, yet even knowing she was fake, she tried to put me in a difficult position."
Memoria seemed to find this situation very enjoyable, humming a tune as she looked at us.
Her lips, curved up like a clown's, and her empty eyes showed little emotion. The face that had been so full of emotion just moments ago had vanished somewhere.
"......"
No one here was rashly making the first move. They were probably afraid Victoria Everhart's memories might be damaged.
I had to be the one to break the starting line.
To shoulder the responsibility as Victoria's lover, to ensure the fake's determination wasn't in vain, I charged at Memoria, who had revealed her true form.
"Ah-ha...! If I'm damaged, you'll never be able to recover Victoria Everhart's memories. Are you really okay with all the memories you shared with your lover disappearing forever?"
*Clang—!*
A heavy, sharp metallic sound rang out as Memoria blocked my Coresword with the handle of a hammer.
She had created the same weapon Victoria used from her slime body. It bent like a soft object, then grabbed my Coresword, immobilizing it.
When I attacked Memoria first, my comrades finally began to join the offensive.
"So you don't care. I see. Human fighting spirit is still something I find hard to understand. If it were me, I would have surrendered or negotiated unconditionally..."
However, no matter what, Memoria was a mage of higher attainment than me, a being who had mastered hundreds and thousands of combat techniques.
No matter how we tried to find openings, Memoria was utilizing the unique physical characteristics of a slime and the memories and abilities she had absorbed in just the right places.
*Crash, Bang—!*
With just a few kicks, she sent Kyle and Anima flying to a distant wall, using magic to continuously bind us.
"...Because the last time we fought wasn't my best. If I made the difference in strength too overwhelming, you might have run away in fear, right?"
Memoria deliberately mocked me while wearing the fake Victoria's face. Like someone anticipating how I would react.
"More depraved than I thought."
"Thank you for the compliment. Though I still think I'm far behind compared to humans."
I spread droplets in the air, trying to control the space with magic that would freeze when Memoria approached.
This method had the advantage of being difficult to dispel since the magic circle activated upon contact.
"You always say you want to resemble humans, but in the end, you're nothing more than sugarcoating wickedness, aren't you?"
*Crash—!*
Victoria struck Memoria's head hard with her hammer. Watching the enemy fly far away from the tremendous force, even she seemed slightly dazed.
"Thanks to Lord Astal fixing my body, I'm producing power beyond comparison to before... It's amazing." The current Victoria had lost her memories, so after removing the flowers, she hadn't had a chance to test how much of her latent power remained.
"...That's sophistry. Aren't humans often depicted as more evil than demons or monsters? Among the people I've absorbed, none were without flaws."
At that moment, an irritated, heightened voice came from within the dust cloud.
As if a nerve had been struck, Memoria shouted at Victoria with a hostile attitude.
"Ah, so that's how you shift responsibility? If you truly wanted to understand humans, you should have learned understanding, tolerance, sympathy, and consideration."
Victoria spoke in a straightforward, provocative tone, aiming to make Memoria show an opening.
Only Victoria, with her sarcastic side, could take such action, and Memoria's attacks were now blatantly focused on her.
"Why on earth should I do that? That's foolish behavior. As the child who saved me showed, rash sympathy and consideration don't necessarily return as goodwill."
*Bang, Bang, Bang—!*
As if looking in a mirror, the two hammers targeted each other in a contest of strength.
Memoria made various efforts to introduce irregularities, like extending her arms or pulling out other weapons, but...
"...If you're going to spout that kind of nonsense, you're still far from understanding humans."
Taryon and I assisted Victoria, helping her deflect Memoria's attacks.
Even if the current Victoria had lost her memories and couldn't coordinate well with me, I could simply change my magic according to her fighting style.
"How laughable. Aren't you all just going to be absorbed by me, losing your memories and abilities?"
Memoria distorted her expression and scattered slime mucus all over the floor. It gradually grew in size until it became large enough to swallow me and my comrades.
"...You talk nonsense so well. From now on, you'll regret touching Victoria more than anything in this world."
At that moment, I let my anger erupt without restraint at the scene unfolding before me, inducing transformation.
The Idea created by my other personality manifested this time, clinging to me like armor for protection.
"Ah-ha, so you're going to use Idea twice? Quite a clever judgment. But won't your comrades get caught up in this?"
Memoria was drooling as she looked at me. For someone who absorbed human abilities and memories, she must have liked special things like Idea.
She hadn't shown interest in the previous Hero parties, but her obsession became clear after we defeated two of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings.
"...I know that too. So I decided to take a slightly different approach."
I spoke while clenching my fist tightly. Since this wasn't the main body but an avatar, directly hitting her with Idea had its dangers.
Strangely, the Idea used by my other personality didn't require my comrades' power, but for me to use it again, I needed Kyle, who was lying far away.
Moreover, since Memoria was a mage of higher attainment than me, if I kept showing Idea, it could be countered.
"And what method is that...?"
I needed to buy time so the other Victoria could reveal Memoria's location.
"Just beating the crap out of you, simple and crude."
*Smash—!*
I chose to punch Memoria hard in the face.
Then, the thousands of magic circles imbued in the Idea used by my other personality touched the enemy, exploding in a spectacular display of flames.