Pavel, unable to see Jeremiah's expression, continued his explanation.
"Usually, when consciousnesses are mixed, they leave a big mark on each other's consciousness. This can also have a side effect, where the other person's memories can occasionally come to mind as if they were your own, and this can often cause major problems later on."
Pavel frowned, saying that in such cases, it would be quite a headache to resolve.
"At first, I was in a hurry to wake up Madam, so I couldn't explain these side effects in advance..."
He looked a little embarrassed as he realized something while speaking.
"Ahem, since you're divorced and won't be seeing each other anyway, it doesn't really matter, right?"
Pavel coughed and asked, hiding his embarrassment. If Jeremiah were in his right mind, he would have said that seriously. But he was too busy trying to understand the horrible memories he had just seen to pay attention to Pavel.
'Those things I saw... those horrible and horrific scenes, were all Karina's memories?'
Jeremiah couldn't help but be shocked that what he saw in her consciousness wasn't a dream or a delusion. He could still hear the many voices that contained crude accusations and blatant mockery directed at Karina. The maids who ignored and looked down on her, and Caroline who openly looked down on her. And most importantly. His own indifference to her and his distrust.
'All those horrible scenes. Those horrible memories. Are they real past experiences she had?'
Jeremiah's breathing became ragged.
'This is ridiculous. How could this be? This is absolutely ridiculous.'
In reality, such a thing never happened. It couldn't have happened, and it shouldn't have happened. So what on earth is her memory?
'It has to be a dream. If it isn't, then if that's really what Karina had to go through... it's just too...'
His thoughts didn't continue until the end. He felt as if his heart was being cut into small pieces by a sharp, pointed blade.
'I... No way would happen.'
In his memory, he left Karina to suffer amidst accusations and jealousy. He even went so far as to drive her out, expressing anger and disgust.
'No.'
Jeremiah shook his head as if shaking off the memory.
'That wasn't me. There's no way I would have done that to her.'
Her memory was clearly flawed. But. Even now, the scene was vivid. The sadness and despair she felt. He raised his trembling hands and wiped his bloodless face.
'Why on earth does she have such memories?'
He couldn't figure out why Karina had such a looked frightened at first glance memory. His eyes were filled with confusion.
"Are you okay?"
Pavel, not knowing why Jeremiah was acting that way, looked at his condition with a puzzled expression.
"Your complexion is so bad?"
Then he said with a knowing expression.
"Well, since there's a crack in the once strong soul, I guess it's not going to be in good shape."
Pavel looked at me with a pitiful expression.
"Before I go back, I'll see if there's anything I can do to help you."
As soon as Pavel finished speaking, a call came saying that the meal was ready.
"Go down."
Jeremiah and Pavel headed back to the room where Karina was.
"I brought you food."
Max came in carrying two trays of plates. Mikhail took one.
"It smells good. The amount is just right. Good. This amount won't be too much for an empty stomach."
He nodded, saying that he had passed. The plate contained a smooth soup made with finely chopped vegetables and minced meat.
"I'll eat well. Thank you."
Karina nodded and tried to pick up the spoon.
"Just a moment."
Mikhail's actions were faster. He scooped up some soup on a spoon and held it out to her mouth, blowing on it.
"Yes, say 'Ah'."
"...!"
Max, who was still in the room, looked dumbfounded at the sight. Karina's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. And at that very moment, Pavel and Jeremiah returned to the room. Jeremiah saw the two people. Mikhail was trying to feed Karina soup. If it had been normal, it would have been a situation where he would have reacted coldly. However, Jeremiah seemed to not have seen it, and he was in a daze and didn't react at all. He just stared at Karina with a dark expression. Mikhail noticed this and furrowed his eyebrows. In the meantime.
"I can eat it."
Karina quickly brought the spoon and soup plate from Mikhail's hands to her. Mikhail looked a little disappointed, but soon smiled and said that it was nice to just watch her eat.
"You too, sit down and listen comfortably."
Pavel nodded to Jeremiah.
"..."
Jeremiah nodded dryly and sat down at the next table. However, even while eating, he did not take his eyes off Karina. In a strange awkwardness, Karina quickly emptied her soup, while Jeremiah barely ate. The two of them shortly ended their meal.
"Yes, now I'm going to ask you a few questions, so I'd like you to answer in as much detail as possible."
Pavel opened the door in such a hurry. Karina nodded in agreement.
"What kind of contract did you make with the dragon?"
"... Yes?"
Karina, who had expected the topic to be about her physical condition, was shocked by the unexpected question.
"Oh, you don't know anything at all. Then, how do I explain this..."
Pavel, more confused by her reaction, scratched his head and began to explain the situation in detail for her understanding.
***
"A contract with a dragon..."
Karina was told about her current state of soul and circumstances. She was told about the contract with the dragon and the Inferred from the book. After hearing all the explanations, she looked at a blank expression.
'I can't leave the Empire, and I have to stay with Jeremiah?"
Karina swallowed a laugh inside.
A huge variable has been added to the plan to 'live my own life Independently after divorce'.
No, the plan wasn't the problem at the moment.
"So, you're saying my soul is in pieces right now?"
"Yes."
As expected, Pavel's answer did not change even when asked again.
'How can this be?'
Karina felt a sudden surge of anger as if someone was playing with her life. It was like a bolt from the blue.
'It might be a bolt from the blue. It could be because I've already died once.'
“Ha.”
Karina sighed in vain. Then Mikhail, who was next to her, spoke in a soothing voice.
"Don't worry, Karina. I'll find a way so that the medium doesn't have to be you!"
Mikhail's expression was determined. However, the situation was so unrealistic that it was uncertain whether Mikhail's promise would come true.
'It's clear that the dragon has something to do with my regression...'
It was frustrating because she didn't really know anything.
"So what did you see in your consciousness?"
As Pavel continued to ask questions, Karina's expression hardened a little. If she was going to say that she had seen memories of the past, she would have to tell them about her regression. However, Karina originally had no intention of telling anyone that she had regressed. Especially not to Jeremiah.
After thinking about it for a moment, Karina only told them about the dragon.
"I saw a black dragon with a huge body. It had golden eyes. It looked at me and said I was its contractor."
"Hmm. A dragon with a black body and golden eyes. Judging from its appearance, it seems to be the dragon that is said to have blessed the empire."
Pavel muttered, rubbing his chin with an embarrassed expression.
"It's clear that you have a connection to dragons, but you don't remember making a contract with one. This is really difficult..."
"..."
Karina hesitated about whether she should tell him about the wishing potion. She had already asked the Dark Statue to find out information about it. However, looking at the situation, it seemed like there was more information to be gained here.
'If you're the owner of the Magic Tower, he might know more details...!'
Even if she already knew the state of her own soul, she decided that it would be better to just confess and get as much information as possible.
"I drank something called the 'Wishing Potion' a while back. Could this have something to do with it?"
"Wishing Potion?"
Pavel's puzzled expression gradually became grim.
"Could it be "that' wishing potion?"
The reaction became increasingly intense.
"Oh my! Madqm drank that?"
"Yes."
'You know something about wish potions!'
Karina swallowed dryly and nodded. But the answer she got back was completely different from what she had expected.
"Oh my. I'm sorry about this."
Pavel apologized with an embarrassed expression.
"Huh? What is it?"
Karina asked back, at a loss for words at his sudden apology.
"Karina."
The answer came from Mikhail.
"That 'Wishing Potion'. It's actually just a simple fatigue recovery potion that a few of our magicians secretly made to make some extra money."
"What?"
Fatigue recovery agent?
"Not granting wishes?"
Mikhail nodded and continued.
"It only has the effect of relieving fatigue a little. They package it as a magic essence or a wishing potion and sell it at an absurd price."
"Then, with the dragon..."
"I can assure you that it has nothing to do with dragons."
"..."
Karina was confused when she learned the truth about the wishing potion.
'But I'm sure I drank it and went back to the past!'
It was frustrating. She was wondering if she should reveal now that she had drunk it and gone back to the past.
'I have no idea what it is other than the wishing potion.'
Karina was getting impatient. If the wishing potion came from here, then this was the place where she could find the information she wanted. And she thought it would be the same for dragons and returning. But... She glanced at Jeremiah next to her. He was still staring at her with blank eyes as if she couldn't tell what he was thinking.
'Even if I have to say it, I don't like it when Jeremiah is around.'
If she revealed the truth about her regression, she would have to bring up all the pasts where she was treated coldly and abandoned by him. Her past where she was left miserably without getting even a shred of sympathy from him despite her desperate pleas and clinging to him.
'I absolutely hate it when he finds out.'
She didn't want to go back to that time when she was only hurt and in pain, and she didn't want to repeat that horrible past again.
'I'm finally trying to forget everything and ignore it and leave.'
There was no need to scratch it and make a mess.
'If I can just somehow resolve this issue...'
And then suddenly.
'I saw something so horrible. It was so absurd... it was so vivid...'
When she came into consciousness, what he had said came to mind. At the time, she thought he wasn't the real Jeremiah, so she stopped asking. But if he was real...
'What on earth did you see?'
Suddenly, Karina felt a pang in her chest. It felt like a thick, long needle was piercing her heart.
'Come to think of it.'
Jeremiah had not spoken since he came back from his unconsciousness. He just kept his mouth shut with a sullen face. Even now, instead of concentrating on Pavel's explanation, he was staring at her. He seemed a little absent-minded. It wasn't like his usual self.
'Did you really see my past memories?'
When Karina realized that fact, her mood sank as cold as ice.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment