257 – Past Promise
“Franken is you.”
For a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears.
I thought over the girl’s answer several times to make sure I had really heard it correctly, but the more I tried, the more confused I became.
“What does that mean?”
Hayang tilted her head as if she didn’t understand the intention of my question.
That innocent expression told me that he was just giving a literal answer.
She firmly believed, without any metaphor or hidden meaning, that I really was Franken.
“What the hell is this…”
I held my forehead and gathered my thoughts at the information that was so difficult to accept.
In times like these, you need to remain calm.
Shocking content means that it is unconventional enough to overturn the data obtained so far, that is, it is a very important clue.
They say that crisis and opportunity come at the same time. Maybe now is the time.
Franken is me.
Let’s interpret this word from Hayang logically. After much thought, several faint possibilities came to mind.
First, I was literally Franken.
In fact, this was a scenario so groundless in many ways that I shook my head as soon as I thought of it.
If I were really Franken, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed it myself.
Looking back on the past, ever since I possessed this body, the flow of memories has never been interrupted.
Even if I have another personality like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it is normal to feel a sense of discomfort when he takes over my body and moves.
Therefore, this is an option that does not need to be seriously considered, but the guess that naturally came to mind had a quite plausible possibility.
Second, ‘Cro’ before possession was Franken.
I didn’t take it seriously because it was just an extra with no significance in the original work, but in fact, I had little information about the past of Crow, the original owner of this body.
Therefore, it is not completely absurd to say that he is actually Dr. Franken, who has been leading a double life while hiding his identity.
However, there is one fatal flaw here.
The very existence of Sharon completely denies such a possibility.
Based on the information gathered so far, Franken treated Sharon, whom he created himself, like his daughter and even lived with her.
In other words, she is one of the people who knows Franken best. If Cro is really Franken, then of course he should have recognized his face the moment he first encountered him at the academy.
Of course, there is a possibility that Franken has completely hidden his true identity.
But even so, Cro’s physical age is only that of a boy in his late teens. It is so unrealistic that a boy of the same age as Sharon naturally takes on the role of his father from a very long time ago.
In short, the second possibility may be better than the first, but the basis is still very weak.
So, a third scenario with a completely different direction came to mind.
When Hayang called Franken’s name for the first time, a huge sound suddenly came.
A subtle sense of discomfort that I felt from then on.
I spoke to her carefully to confirm my hypothesis.
“···Hayang. “Can you call my name again?”
“Franken.”
That unpleasant name that is spoken without any hesitation.
I barely straightened my frown and opened my mouth.
“Other than that name…?”
“······.”
Hayang did not answer.
No, he couldn’t answer.
It’s like I completely forgot her name, Crora, that I told her.
There is no way I simply forgot.
Even when she started talking, she casually called my name.
In the first place, it made no sense for a time transcender to forget her memories in such a short period of time.
Clearly abnormal situation.
It’s not that Hayang forgot my name, it’s that it was completely erased from her memory.
More precisely…
I guess the name Cro was replaced with Franken.
Third, in Hayang’s eyes, I turned into Franken.
I didn’t feel good. It was so unpleasant that words like that wouldn’t be enough.
Because the memories I made with Hayang became like being played by his pranks.
Has Franken prepared it in advance in some way?
When your name comes out of Hayang’s mouth, can you manipulate her memory?
Rather than how something like that was possible, I was more curious about why it was like that.
What advantage does Hayang get from recognizing me as Franken?
“···Is that so?”
After thinking about it for a moment, the advantage Franken gained was quite clear.
The girl in front of me is the person she relies on and is closest to. Franken has become the most important person in Hayang’s heart.
Of course, Hayang will treat me in the same manner as before.
The only thing that happened to her was that her name was replaced with ‘Franken’ instead of ‘Cro’.
A name defines the essence of a thing. The fact that Franken took my name means that he will become ‘me’.
In other words, Franken will definitely appear again. At least he will definitely appear in front of Hayang.
Only then will there be meaning in taking my name.
Of course, we can’t just let things happen quietly. You can’t just stupidly cut your nose with your eyes open.
“Hayang. “My name is Cro.”
“···Croa?”
First of all, we need to get the name back. Even though Hayang now recognizes me as Franken, if I continue to use the name Cro, it may naturally return to its original state.
“Please call me Cro from now on. Certainly.”
“Yes. “I’ll call you Cro.”
Although Hayang was taken aback by my sudden request, she nodded her head obediently.
This alone does not give us peace of mind.
This is only a temporary measure, but if Franken appears before White recognizes me as Crow, a difficult situation will undoubtedly arise.
Before that, I have to find him first. No matter what happens, you must not let Franken encounter White.
“···Hey, just in case, I’m asking, do you remember before you stayed at the clock tower?”
“Before my stay…”
Hayang seemed to understand my question perfectly now. Although his tone was a bit sloppy, he was able to answer without any problems. So now it was time to ask the question in earnest.
Although there was a brief setback due to Franken’s sabotage, nothing has changed.
In fact, it may be a better situation for digging up information. Because they recognize me as Franken, they will be able to recall encounters with the previous guy without hesitation.
“You met me once before, right?”
It was terrible that I had to pretend to be that guy myself, but I had to endure it for now.
Luckily, Hayang slowly nodded and opened her mouth, as if all the effort had paid off.
“Yes. “I met you.”
“Where did we meet then?”
Answers were encouraged in a natural tone, as if sharing memories.
“Clock tower.”
I paused for a moment at the unexpected answer and quickly gathered my thoughts.
If you recall what the head of the agency said, the Goddess of Time was also present when Hayang and Franken were doing business. In other words, there is no way the transaction could have taken place here in the mirror world where she could not intervene.
So, the clock tower probably means a different clock tower in reality, not here.
If the area is limited to the interior of Britannia, the number of clock towers is not as large as you might think. If I wanted to, I could search for them all.
“Do you remember what we talked about there?”
“Franc… “Kro asked me to make a deal.”
I tried to say Franken, but she belatedly remembered my request and changed the name to Cro.
When I asked for help, I guess I was asking for the power of time acceleration to use magic engineering.
It’s not important because you already knew it. The information we need to hear now is what Franken gave Hayang in return.
If it had been a one-sided relationship, the expression “Transaction” Would not have been used. Because I was just asking for help.
“You lent me the power of time acceleration so that I could develop magical engineering.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“And I didn’t forget what I said I would give you in return, right?”
The most important question. Franken’s purpose has been hidden in the labyrinth until now. It was time to reveal his true intentions.
For the first time, Hayang answered my question with a slight smile on her lips.
“He said he would come back.”
“···Huh?”
“Saving the world. “I told you to wait because I would definitely come back.”
The girl’s pure white eyes were filled with me. As she approached me, I could feel the affection and joy that could not be hidden on her face.
“Cro. I’ve been waiting this long. Until you get here. “As promised.”
Hayang hugged me tightly while I was dazed and whispered as she buried herself in my arms.
“Did you save the whole world? “I don’t have to wait any longer?”
I couldn’t possibly understand this situation.