kscans

Chapter 148 - Forgotten Memories and Lingering Feelings

Ariel, realizing the state of the Magic Furnace was clearly abnormal, was beginning to panic. To be honest, halfway through the duel, she had stopped caring about her brother.

The Magic Furnace was deteriorating faster than she had expected.

"What on earth happened while I had no memories?"

When I opened my past self’s diary, it was written that she had kept the furnace running at 100% capacity at all times, and that the king had wanted a new one.

Could it be they pushed it over 100% with extra magic cores and barely did any maintenance?

Moreover, the idea of drawing my blood to convert it into mana. Was that not just harassment, but did they truly believe it could substitute for a magic core?

The shallow knowledge of the Mage Order captain, Rainer, was astounding. How did someone like that become captain?

"Darius, why did Orphen step down as the captain of the Mage Order?" Orphen had been the captain of the Mage Order until just before I joined the Tree Sea Defense Force.

"He went missing. The only report was that he had been removed from the order. After that, the captain changed many times. I tried to investigate internally after becoming supreme commander, but the Magic Furnace is deep within the Tree Sea. It was impossible to take the knights in to conduct a detailed investigation on the mages."

Considering the last I knew of the Mage Order…

"Then Orphen was killed," I said, my voice naturally lowering.

"The Mage Order is a world where only the victorious remain."

"Is that so?"

"It is. I never attacked anyone myself, though. Because I was strong. I only ever fought back against those who came after me."

Even as I spoke calmly, my heart was in turmoil.

The Mage Order was likely so engrossed in their power struggles that they forgot what needed to be passed down, their morals, and their own roles, and simply killed each other.

No, they wouldn't have thought about such things. Because my old self didn't think about them either. I only eliminated what was in front of me. I didn't think of my knowledge of the Magic Furnace or alchemy as something to be passed on. I was just told it was my role and carried it out without a second thought.

But now, I think it’s strange.

"If Orphen had been targeting me, I would have fought back and become captain myself. But we never targeted each other. I didn't need to attack because I was confident in my own strength. On Orphen's recommendation, I became a one-person unit in the Tree Sea Defense Force. He probably felt threatened that I might defeat him. I don’t know what happened after that."

As I lay down, I vaguely wondered why I was telling Darius about my past. Why was this? Did I want him to know me?

"Only a few of the strongest were taught the design and maintenance of the Magic Furnace. And now, there's no one left but me. I think they all died. High-density mana is leaking from the line that connects the furnace to the royal capital. I have to stop it quickly. That's why the capital is even more short on mana."

Darius was surprised at how much Ariel was talking about her past. Well, after she challenged Albert to a duel, he thought nothing could surprise him anymore, but there was still an Ariel he didn’t know.

It seemed that even with his power, it was difficult for Darius to enter the Magic Furnace. He had told her many times that he wanted to go in with her, but she had stopped him with all her might, saying it was truly dangerous.

Every time Ariel went to check on the furnace line, she would return covered in sweat, her consciousness slightly hazy.

He would hurry to cool her down and hold her, and she would fall into a short sleep with a relaxed, melted expression on her face.

It was a repeating cycle.

"Ariel, that’s enough for today. I won’t let you go any further." From Darius’s voice, Ariel seemed to know she was reaching her limit as well.

"I wanted to fix it tonight, but it’s impossible. It’s too hot in there. A Helkaarn’s hide isn’t enough to protect me. I have to cool it down first. I'll get the hide of a large ice-attribute monster on my way to Sacred Peak Mountain. And also some tape that can withstand high-density mana…"

By the time she said that, it was already dawn outside.

"Darius, I… have no memories. But to have survived this long in that Mage Order is something of a miracle. I’m sure you protected me a lot. That’s why I’m a little jealous of the woman in the diary and the woman in the video. They both have memories with you."

Her voice was as small as if she were talking in her sleep. But they were the true feelings that had spilled from the bottom of her heart.

"Ariel…" Darius gently put his arm around my shoulder and whispered in a serious voice.

"Even if you don't have memories, we can just make new ones from scratch. I’ll spoil you rotten. You don’t have to carry everything by yourself right now. I’m not as strong as my brother, but I’m strong enough to protect you, Ariel."

When I looked up at him, his eyes were direct and hot, and my chest tightened.

"I want to make lots of memories with you from now on." Before I knew it, my voice sounded like a child's, pleading.

"Trust me." Darius smiled, but there was a strength in that smile. I gave a soft, weak smile back and nodded slightly. Letting myself be carried away by sleepiness, I let go of my consciousness a little.

"I’ll go to Sacred Peak Mountain. I’ll find a beautiful gem that suits you, too. When I get back, will you let me put it not just on your dress, but on your finger, too? Let’s get married."

Those words snapped my drowsy eyes wide open.

"Is it okay, even if I’ve lost all our memories…?" A single tear traced a path down my cheek.

The truth was, I was envious of the woman in the diary and the woman in the video. I wanted memories of being loved dearly by Darius, too.

"If you tell me what you need honestly, Ariel, I will absolutely protect you. Let's make lots of memories. You don't have to say ‘I'm okay’ anymore. All right?"

I nodded deeply. As if entrusting everything to him, I sank into the depths of my consciousness.