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You might wonder what help it would be to recover the memories of someone who won’t even be a party member.
What nonsense.
Of course, it will be helpful.
There’s no way it won’t be helpful.
From the dungeon where Suffle’s ‘memories’ are sealed, I can farm some pretty good items from my memories.
Moreover, by Suffle recovering his memories, through mutual exchange, Milige will become even stronger.
#### Translation:
As Milize said, while being with Supple, she learned various things such as magic power control, output, and more detailed magic formulas, and her grades improved accordingly.
In addition to that, for the reason that it helped her recover her “memories,” even if they didn’t form a party, they would be enough to be on her side.
In the end, every action I take revolves around benefiting me.
I, too, always think and act like that.
…However.
There was a variable.
“But, by any chance, when you recover your memories, are you going alone with Senpai?”
“That’s right, but…”
“Then, can’t I go later?”
“…Can I know the reason?”
Why?
Clearly, didn’t I just say that I want to recover my memories?
“Three hundred years ago was the era of war. Someone dying and getting hurt was an everyday occurrence. As Senpai said… With my current mental state, which hasn’t fully matured yet, I probably won’t be able to fully accept that. In the worst case, I might really go out of control.”
Is that so?
Although I’m sure I want to recover my memories, when asked if it’s “right now,” I’m not confident.
Are you suggesting that I postpone it because you’re worried about my well-being?
“It’s okay. I can control your outbursts.”
“I know… I think I can do it, but… I don’t know much about ‘myself,’ so if something happens and I end up doing something irreversible to Senpai… I don’t know how to face Milize and the others…”
After saying that, I hesitate.
“Above all… Milize doesn’t know that I’m a member of the ‘Ice Witch Tribe’…”
Well.
Is it because of that reason?
“But it seems like it’s too late.”
At that moment.
“…Supple?”
“Ah…”
“What did you just say…”
The drink falls to the floor.
It’s not like I called him at the right timing or anything.
* * *
“…I see. Supple’s…”
In the end, Milize, who heard the whole story, slowly nodded.
She didn’t say anything positive or negative, nor did she say that she couldn’t believe it. She just listened.
“From three hundred years ago, you woke up in the present era through hibernation, right? The memories from before hibernation are all sealed.”
“Yeah, I hid them, sorry.”
“No, not at all. I’m grateful that you told me now. Honestly, it’s a story that’s hard to believe easily…”
After taking a sip of her smoothie, Milize took a deep breath and spoke.
“And you were talking about searching for those memories of Supple. Supple wants to find them, but she answered that her condition is not yet complete to ‘accept the memories.'”
“That’s right.”
“Then, don’t hesitate and find it. Remember.”
Milleze said resolutely.
It would be great if it were me…
“You said it yourself. Souffle said it’s still too early.”
Then, Milleze turned to the side and said,
“Souffle.”
“Yeah.”
“…Do you really think it’s still too early to find your memories?”
“…”
“I mean, I think it’s really late when you think it’s late… If you miss this opportunity, won’t you regret it even more later?”
As she said that, Milleze looked into the distance.
“Back then, when I was about to drop out because of the dorm monster incident, you stopped me. And you told me not to turn away from the truth in my heart. That’s why I was able to stand up again.”
“But, Milleze, I might go on a rampage…”
In response to Souffle’s words,
Milleze looked into Souffle’s eyes and said,
“If you go on a rampage.”
Clutching her fist.
The girl with a weak will of determination 5 said,
“I’ll stop you. I’ll try to stop you. Because I have a senior by my side. You can trust Senior Adrian, right? Souffle, ask your heart. Do you… want to regain your memories?”
Souffle nodded slightly.
“Well, it seems like the conversation is over. Let’s each prepare winter gear at the central department store and meet at the north exit tomorrow morning. Souffle, you don’t have to come.”
“Winter… gear?”
“Yeah, thick coats are essential.”
If you don’t have them.
You’ll die.
For real.
* * *
Academy North.
This field, named the Field of Eternal Snow, is literally just a snowy plain.
Like the modifier “eternal” suggests, it snows all year round here, with no sun or moon in the distant sky, and the field is covered in snow.
At the beginning, it’s just a snowy field where Arctic foxes run around, but as you go further in, you can see crevasses and large icebergs, and if you go all the way to the end, it’s just a white hell.
The monsters that appear here include white grizzlies that resemble polar bears, and basically any monster related to “ice” and “snow.”
If you go deeper into the “core,” there are even birds and dragons made of ice.
Because of the weather effect called “blizzard,” you can’t even make a bonfire. So if you go in the wrong way, you’ll just die.
In front of the gate that leads to this snowy hell, the Field of Eternal Snow.
“Ah, hello.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Hello…, Senior.”
“Hmm.”
They’ve arrived.
Since Souffle is immune to the cold, she’s just wearing her school uniform.
Milije tightly wrapped herself in a fur-lined hoodie, and I, too, wore the same fur coat over my uniform.
Of course, in my hands, there was a staff of a spirit tree that couldn’t fit in my arms anymore.
“Now that we’re all here, shall we set off?”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
And so.
The three of us passed through the exit and headed towards the field where snow was pouring down.
The snow was so deep that our feet sank in, but no one complained as we walked.
“Sufle.”
“Yes.”
Up ahead, the ‘White Grizzly’ that had blood on its lips and was pacing around suddenly looked our way and ran towards us on all fours, howling “Kwoooong.”
With a gesture from Sufle, a polar bear emerged from the ice spikes rising from the ground.
Sufle tore through the polar bear.
Passing by the body of the White Grizzly, we shared a conversation.
“Senior. Can I ask a question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why… do you know about the ‘altar containing my memories’ in the field of Selenium?”
“The Ice Witch’s tribe were comrades who fought alongside my ancestors and the former Emperor in the great war 300 years ago.”
“I see…”
“Selenium Academy is a royal academy. Moreover, I am a descendant of Repelheight. Everything, from those times to the present, is recorded in the family’s library. Among that information was everything about the ‘last member of the Ice Witch tribe.'”
Of course.
Such information is not found in Repelheight’s library.
It was made up on the spot.
“Do you… know the location of the altar?”
“Of course, starting from the exit of the academy, go left at the entrance, and you’ll find it if you keep going. They say it’s made in a place where no one comes.”
Of course, it’s just an empty cave if you go there. In the first place, nothing ‘appears’ if you just go there.
That’s why.
To enter this dungeon, you have to ‘accompany Sufle,’ have her ‘declare to retrieve memories,’ and then go straight to the ‘left of the entrance of the eternal snowfield.’ The dungeon will automatically ‘appear.’
From the previous ‘fireball’ farming, even if the Selenium saga has become a reality, it seems to be maintaining the underlying mechanism.
“There.”
“Oh…”
“Ah…”
A small flower unnaturally blooming in the snowy field.
“Is that flower on Sufle’s hairpin?”
“It’s under permanent preservation. Below it, if you dig through the snow, there’s an entrance leading to the dungeon. It’s disposable. Once you retrieve your memory, the dungeon automatically collapses, and you can’t enter again. Sufle. I’ll ask again. Do you really want to retrieve your memories?”
Having come this far already.
If Sufle didn’t have the determination and saw the flower that wouldn’t bloom otherwise.
The words that followed from Sufle were predictable.
“Yes, I have to find them. I realized it after seeing that flower. There’s something I must not forget…”
Kneeling down, she touches the flower with her hand and speaks.
“Compatriots, already scattered with the dew of a distant past battlefield… I must carry on the memories and mission of our compatriots, alone.”
It was a conversation heard just before entering the dungeon.
It was a memorable scene.
“Help me.”
The snowstorm scattered, and the icy-colored curls of Supple fluttered.
In the midst of it, there was a girl gathering her hands, looking in this direction.
“Help me retrieve my memories.”
* * *
They enter the dungeon.
A dungeon deep underground. Of course, there are caves and scattered ice everywhere, and above all, it’s cold and piercing.
Just breathing brings out breath, and despite wearing thick winter gear, the cold seeps through to the core.
“No monsters are coming out.”
“Of course not. This is not a typical dungeon.”
Of course.
This is just like a boss room. At the end of this path, there is an ‘altar’ and the sealed ‘Supple’s memories’ are on top of it.
And after clearing this entire dungeon, including the equipment, you can farm quite good things in the clear room that opens.
There’s nothing on the way.
“There’s something ahead.”
“It’s the entrance to the altar.”
Saying that, they approached.
At first glance, it looked like a huge wall, but it was a door. From the slightly open door, cold air was flowing out visibly.
Reaching out and pushing it slightly, it opened.
Creeeak….
The cold turned into a gust of wind, brushing against the cheek, and frost-mixed mist rose from the open door.
Large icicles are hanging from the ceiling, like upside-down windows.
They took a step forward.
In front of them, a huge altar appeared.
“Wow….”
“Oh….”
“Um….”
The entire space was filled with purple stones, and sharp icicles were rising from the gaps in the floor and ceiling.
In the center.
An altar made entirely of purple stones.
On each side of the altar, there were two pillars.
In the middle.
“Supple, your memories are here.”
“My… memories.”
Saying that, Supple looked up at the altar.
In the center of the pillar.
There was another ‘Supple’ tied with iron chains, with long hair unlike the short-haired Supple, bowing its head and kneeling.
That, is his memory.
And.
“Separated from the original, you have become another you, acting on your own will.”
Clang, accompanied by the sound of rattling chains.
The maiden at the altar raised her head.