Chapter 380: A Birthday Without Memories (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 380: A Birthday Without Memories (5)
Behind a stoic mask, Alon stared at Magrina, feeling a sense of profound discomfort.
She was smiling with grace.
Her gestures were equally composed.
In short, she didn't look like she was lying. It was as if Alon really had called her that in the past.
Realizing this, Alon fell into a mild state of self-loathing.
It was all because of Seolrang.
Though he hadn't had the chance to ask earlier, Alon had inwardly judged that his relationship with Seolrang might be deeper than he thought, considering the marriage registration she had presented.
Of course, Penia’s explanation hadn't included anything of the sort.
But then again, Penia was a third party when it came to Alon’s relationships with others. If there was a history between Alon and Seolrang that Penia didn't know about, she wouldn't be able to explain it.
...Of course, if Penia or Evan had heard him, they would have said, 'Stop talking nonsense, Marquis.'
Unfortunately, there was no one by his side at the moment to resolve that doubt.
Regardless, in such a situation, Magrina’s remark was shocking. Her words were blatant enough for anyone to interpret them as 'Alon and I have a certain secret relationship.'
And if he calmly accepted and pieced together everything that had happened so far, the conclusion was this:
Thirteen years into the future, Palatio Alon was two-timing the Babayaga of the Colony, Seolrang, and the Elf Queen, Magrina.
'...Just what on earth am I doing thirteen years from now?!'
His mind was filled with utter chaos, but Alon eventually snapped out of it. He had been so flustered by his own supposed romantic escapades that he had momentarily forgotten something.
Thinking back, there was something suspicious.
It was the crystal storage spheres.
At least in Alon’s opinion, if he and Magrina were truly in that kind of relationship, those crystals didn't seem like a good thing.
But naturally, Alon couldn't ask why she had brought the storage spheres. What if he asked and she realized he had lost his memory?
And what if—just what if—this was some kind of... roleplay?
'My future self, just what are you...'
Feeling another wave of mortification, Alon resolved to ask Penia or Evan about this 'issue' once this meeting was over.
He ended his long deliberation and finally spoke.
"...Right, I was a bit distracted for a moment. My lovely Magrina."
...Even as he said it, his skin crawled with embarrassment. But his cringing lasted only a moment.
Looking ahead, Alon’s expression went blank. Magrina, who had been so composed just a moment ago, now had a face so flushed it looked ready to burst.
Then—
"...Magrina?"
When Alon asked in bewilderment, Magrina, who had been silent for a while, suddenly let out a sound.
"Hic—"
She let out a startled hiccup, then immediately stood up from her seat.
"J-Just a moment!"
With that, she bolted out of the office.
Silence instantly filled the room. Alon stared at the door Magrina had run through for a moment.
'Didn't she say she wasn't a strange person?'
He wore a dazed expression as the thought crossed his mind.
Naturally, Magrina, who had rushed out with the words "Just a moment!", did not return.
Feeling awkward, Alon suddenly noticed a bag left on the seat where she had been sitting.
'That's the bag she brought in earlier.'
Recalling the scene of Magrina carrying it, he reached out to grab the bag, which was precariously perched on the chair.
Clatter, clatter—
A shower of storage crystals tumbled out of the bag.
...She said she wasn't strange.
Alon couldn't help but feel complicated.
* * *
"...Hmm, it seems she noticed."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
When Alon recounted the events to Penia after she returned from her errands, she immediately reached that conclusion.
"...How did she notice?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but it seems they are well aware of the information that you've lost your memory, Marquis. As far as I know, neither Seolrang nor Magrina are in that kind of relationship with you."
"They're... not?"
"No."
"...Is it possible there's a relationship you don't know about?"
Penia looked at Alon for a moment before shaking her head firmly.
"No. I doubt it."
"You're certain."
"Because the probability of there being something is remarkably—no, virtually non-existent."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
Though Alon felt relieved by Penia’s firm denial, a part of him felt strangely hollow. It was a relief to know it wasn't true, but hearing such a definitive verdict felt odd.
"I suppose I haven't been close to any women for the past thirteen years."
At Alon’s murmur, Penia looked at him with a subtle expression.
"...Why are you looking at me like that?"
"No, it's just... how should I put it? In a way, you seem impressive."
"In what way?"
"The way you can say that even after experiencing the current situation...?"
"Well, obviously it's because I have no memory."
Penia muttered, "This isn't a matter of memory..." with an even more inscrutable expression, before continuing.
"Anyway, given the circumstances, it seems there's no longer a need for you to pretend you haven't lost your memory, Marquis."
"...I suppose so?"
"Yes, there's no point if you've already been found out. Besides, looking at how things are going... it seems everyone coming today already knows."
"You mean everyone's reaction has been different from usual."
"It's not so much that their reactions were different, but—"
'It feels more like they're all trying to seize something they want by taking advantage of this moment...'
Penia thought this to herself but didn't voice it.
"Wait."
Alon, who had been deep in thought, spoke up.
"What is it?"
"Thinking about it, there's one problem."
"What problem?"
"...Do you remember what I said? About Seolrang bringing a marriage registration."
"Ah...!"
Penia let out a low gasp as if she had also realized something important. But it was only for a moment. She soon began processing documents with a calm expression.
"Well... don't worry too much about that part."
"...Don't worry?"
"Yes."
"...If Seolrang returns to the Colony with that signed marriage registration, I'll suddenly find myself married, won't I?"
"That probably won't happen."
"Why...?"
Alon asked, unable to understand.
Penia gave a somewhat self-deprecating smile and turned her gaze toward the window.
"...Because she'll likely be torn to shreds before she even leaves the territory..."
She spoke in a distant voice. And just as Alon was about to question her again...
Outside the Marquis Palatio’s estate.
"..."
"..."
Yutia and Seolrang were facing off.
* * *
Yesterday, when she heard from Magrina that Alon had lost his memory and began ambitiously preparing her plan, Seolrang didn't have any grand expectations.
While it was true she wanted to get a signature on the marriage registration, she inwardly knew it was an impossible task.
Of course, she thought the probability was higher this time than others, but she didn't truly expect it to work. Someone would surely interfere.
Thus, Seolrang had headed to Alon with a light heart.
She had presented the marriage registration with a light heart.
She had received the signature with a light heart.
And she had left with a light heart.
"..."
Seolrang looked down at the marriage registration.
She had obtained it so easily that she found herself thinking, 'This actually worked?' The document was now in her possession.
Only after leaving the estate did she truly process the fact that she had received the signature, and the corners of her mouth had quirked up into a grin.
Yes, they had quirked up.
And the reason that expression was now in the past tense was...
"...Yutia."
"Seolrang."
Because of Yutia.
Even though she had realized she needed to be careful and had snuck out of the estate, Yutia was blocking her path as if she had been waiting. Seolrang felt a surge of tension.
As long as Yutia was blocking the way like that, Seolrang wouldn't be able to protect the marriage registration. Therefore, Seolrang decided to try negotiating first.
"Let me go, Yutia."
"Hmm? I never said I was blocking you."
"Really?! Then I can go?"
"Of course—"
Yutia tilted her head with a smile. Seolrang smiled back, but...
"Just leave that behind."
"Uuugh—"
At Yutia’s following words, Seolrang’s face crumpled into a pout, thinking, 'I knew it.'
Yutia, who had been staring at her, suddenly let out a light laugh.
"I'm joking."
"...Eh?"
Seolrang’s eyes went wide in bewilderment. However, Yutia maintained her smile.
"I'm not actually going to stop you."
"R-Really? You won't take it?"
"Of course not."
She nodded.
Still, Seolrang couldn't easily shake her suspicion and kept glancing at Yutia. Without a change in her expression, Yutia urged her.
"Go on, then."
"T-Then I'm going...?"
"Yes."
"I'm really going?"
"Yes."
Yutia affirmed once more.
Seolrang couldn't understand it at all—Yutia’s intentions, her thoughts, nothing. She stared at her blankly for a moment, then...
Zap!
As if seizing the opportunity, she vanished in a flash of golden light.
Watching her go, Yutia’s smile deepened... into something quite meaningful.
* * *
After Seolrang fled from Yutia like an arrow, and as the late afternoon began to set in...
To get straight to the point: Alon met Ryanga and felt a certain sense of wonder.
Unlike Magrina, Ryanga was someone Alon had seen many times in Psychedelia as one of the Four Major Factions. Furthermore, knowing Ryanga’s personality in the game, the fact that she was someone he could actually hold a conversation with felt incredibly strange to him.
But above all, the thing Alon couldn't get used to was...
"...What is it, Boss?"
"No, it's just—"
The fact that Ryanga was sitting on Alon’s lap.
"...W-We used to do this all the time when it was just the two of us, didn't we?"
When he stared at her, Ryanga stammered her response. Naturally, Alon couldn't help but realize her words were a lie.
Unlike the others, Ryanga was acting strange from the moment she sat on his lap. It was plain to see that her face was flushed so red it looked like it might explode.
"H-Hurry up and pet me... l-like you... always do."
Not stopping there, Ryanga demanded he stroke her head. Alon agonized over what to do.
Eventually, he cautiously raised his hand.
At that moment.
"Sigh—"
Penia entered the office with a heavy sigh.
"I looked into it a bit, and it seems everyone knows you've lost your memory, Marquis, just as we suspected. So, everything that happened to you today was just everyone trying to pull a stu—"
And then, she saw it.
Ryanga, sitting on Alon’s lap, her face as red as a beet.
"—...And it seems they're still at it."
The moment Penia’s words fell with a dazed expression, silence descended upon the office.
It was a heavy silence.