Why Restore a Non-Party Member's Memories?
One might ask, "What's the point in restoring the memories of someone who won't even join my party?" What nonsense. Of course it's beneficial. How could it not be?
In the dungeon where Sufle's "memories" are sealed, I can farm some pretty decent items based on my recollections. More importantly, once Sufle regains her memories, Millije can grow even stronger through their interactions.
Millije already told me she'd learned a ton from being around Sufle—mana control, output optimization, more intricate spell formulas, you name it—and her grades had improved as a result. Beyond that, just the fact that I helped her recover her memories would make her an ally, even if not a full party member.
In the end, every action I take circles back to benefit me. That's how I always operate.
...However.
There was a variable.
"But... when we go to restore my memories, is it just you and me, senpai?"
"That's the plan."
"Then... can we go later?"
"...May I ask why?"
Why? Didn't she just say she wanted to find her memories?
"Three hundred years ago was an era of war. Death and injury were everyday occurrences. Like you said, senpai... in my current underdeveloped state, I probably couldn't handle it fully. Worst case, I might even go berserk."
I see. She's definitely keen on recovering her memories, but not right now.
Is she postponing it out of concern for my safety?
"It's fine. I can control your rampage."
"I know... I think you could. But... I don't know myself that well. What if something happens and I do something irreversible to you? How could I ever face Millije and the others...?"
She trails off, mumbling.
"Above all... Millije doesn't know I'm from the Ice Witch clan..."
What? That's the reason?
"But it looks like it's too late for that."
At that moment.
"...Sufle?"
"Ah..."
"You, did you just say...?"
Her drink rolls across the floor.
It wasn't like I'd timed her arrival perfectly or anything.
"...I see. So that's how it is with Sufle..."
After hearing the whole story, Millije nodded slowly. No affirmations, no denials, no expressions of disbelief—just listening quietly.
"She awoke in this era after hibernating since three hundred years ago? And all her pre-hibernation memories are sealed away?"
"Yeah. Sorry for hiding it."
"No, don't be. I'm glad you told me now. It's hard to believe, sure, but..."
Millije took a sip of her smoothie, let out a deep sigh, and continued.
"And you two were discussing how to retrieve those memories. Sufle wants to, but she says her current state isn't ready to accept them fully."
"Correct."
"Then don't overthink it. Let's just go get them. Her memories."
Millije declared it resolutely.
Fine by me, but...
"Didn't she say herself it's too soon?"
Millije turned to her side and said,
"Sufle."
"Yeah."
"...Do you really think it's too early to recover your memories?"
"..."
"I believe that when you start thinking it's too late, it really is. Senpai chose today of all days to give you the heads-up for a reason. If we miss this chance, won't you regret it more later?"
As she spoke, Millije gazed into the distance.
"Back during the dorm beast incident, when I was about to drop out, senpai stopped me. He told me not to ignore the truth in my heart. That's how I was able to get back up."
"But, Millije, I might rampage..."
In response to Sufle's words, Millije met her eyes and said,
"If you do rampage."
Clenching her fists. The girl whose Will was once a fragile 5 declared,
"I'll stop you. I'll try. Senpai will be right there with me. You can trust Adrian-senpai, right? Sufle, ask your true feelings. Do you... want to recover your memories?"
Sufle's head nodded faintly.
"Then I suppose the discussion's over. Everyone, grab cold-weather gear from the central district general store, and meet at the north exit tomorrow morning. Sufle, you're exempt."
"Cold-weather... gear?"
"Yes. Thick coats are essential."
Without them.
You die. For real.
North of the academy. This field, dubbed the Eternal Snowfield, is exactly what it sounds like—a vast snowfield. True to its "eternal" moniker, blinding blizzards rage year-round under a pitch-black sky devoid of sun or moon, the entire landscape buried in snow.
The entrance is just a snowy plain with arctic foxes scampering about, but deeper in, crevasses and massive icebergs appear, and at the far end, it's a white hellscape.
Monsters include White Grizzlies reminiscent of polar bears, plus pretty much anything ice- or snow-related. In the "depths," you'll find birds and even dragons made of ice. The perpetual blizzard weather effect prevents campfires, so if you mess up, you're dead.
Before the gate to that snowy inferno known as the Eternal Snowfield.
"Ah, hello."
"Hello... senpai."
"Mm."
They'd arrived. Sufle, immune to cold anyway, was in her uniform as is. Millije was bundled in a hooded coat lined with wool, and I wore the same over my uniform. In my hand, of course, was the spiritwood staff that no longer fit in my pocket.
"Everyone's here. Let's head out."
"Yes!"
"Okay."
And so, the three of us passed through the exit, advancing into the blizzard-swept field. Our feet sank deep into the snow, but no one complained as we trudged on.
"Sufle."
"Yeah."
A White Grizzly prowling ahead, blood dripping from its maw, spotted us, let out a guttural grroooar, and charged on all fours. With a flick of Sufle's wrist, ice spears erupted from the ground, skewering it into grizzly kebab.
Sufle shreds polar bears.
Passing the carcass, we chatted.
"...Senpai. Can I ask something?"
"Go ahead."
"Why... is the altar holding my memories in Salenium's field? And how do you know about it?"
"The Ice Witch clan fought alongside my ancestors and the first emperor during the great war three hundred years ago."
"Oh..."
"Salenium Academy is an imperial institution. And I'm a descendant of Repelheit. Our family library records everything from that era through its aftermath—including full details on the 'last survivor of the Ice Witch clan.'"
Of course, there's no such info in the Repelheit library. I made it up on the spot.
"Even the exact location of the altar?"
"Naturally. From the academy exit, head left at the entrance and keep going. It's built in an uninhabited spot."
Of course, just heading there leads to an empty cave. It doesn't even "appear" unless certain conditions are met.
To enter this dungeon, you must bring Sufle, have her declare her intent to recover her memories, then go to the left side of the Eternal Snowfield entrance—and the dungeon manifests automatically.
From the previous Fireball farming run, it seems Salenium's saga keeps its core mechanics even in this reality.
"There it is."
"Ah..."
"Uh..."
A single tiny flower blooming unnaturally in the snow.
"That flower... it's the same as the one in Sufle's hair clip?"
"It's permanently preserved. Dig under the snow below, and you'll find the dungeon entrance. It's one-time use. Once the memories are restored, the dungeon collapses and can't be re-entered. Sufle. One last time: Do you really want to recover your memories?"
We've come this far. And that flower, which only blooms with Sufle's resolve...
Her answer was obvious.
"Yes. I have to. Seeing that flower made me realize—I have things I must never forget..."
She knelt, touching the flower gently.
"My kin, who perished long ago on ancient battlefields like morning dew... Their memories, their mission—everything falls to me, the last one left."
This was the pre-dungeon dialogue. Iconic scene.
"Help me."
Snow whips through the air, tousling Sufle's ice-blue locks. Amid it all, a girl clasps her hands, gazing at us.
"Help me recover my memories."
We enter the dungeon. Deep underground. Naturally, it's a cave laced with ice patches—bitterly cold and piercing. Even breathing produces frosty plumes, and despite our heavy cold-weather gear, the chill seeps into our cores.
"No monsters so far."
"Of course not. This isn't a typical dungeon."
Yeah. It's more like a boss room setup. At the end of this path lies the "altar," holding Sufle's sealed memories. Clear the dungeon fully, and the clear room unlocks with solid loot, gear included.
Nothing spawns along the way.
"Something ahead."
"The altar entrance."
So saying, I approached. It looks like a massive wall at a glance, but it's a door. Frigid air visibly leaked from the slight gap. I pushed lightly, and it opened.
Creeeeaaaak...
A blast of icy wind grazed my cheek, and frost-laced mist billowed from the floor. Giant icicles dangled from the ceiling like an inverted spear array.
I stepped forward. Before us loomed a massive altar.
"Wow..."
"Oh..."
"Hm..."
The cavern was vast enough to take in at a glance, jagged ice protruding from floor and ceiling gaps. At its center.
An altar carved entirely from purple stone. Flanked by two pillars.
And in the middle.
"Sufle, that's your memory."
"My... memory."
Gazing up at the altar, Sufle murmured.
At the pillars' core. There, arms bound by iron chains, was another "Sufle"—long-haired unlike the bobbed original, head bowed, kneeling.
That's her memory.
And.
"Severed from the original, it's another you—gained self-will and acting independently."
Clink. The chains rattled.
The girl on the altar lifted her head.