Memoirs of the Returnee
Chapter 331: Dream （1）

“The Central Court of Edsilla will now commence the first trial of the defendant, Theia Esil.”

The formal trial of Theia Esil had begun. She sat in the defendants seat, and her lawyer was her former colleague, RegeL He had taken on the defense of Theia, a task everyone else had shunned.

“The jury trial for Theia Esil, charged with murder and treason…”

The judge spoke of the allegations of Holy Knight murder and membership in the Vancheon. Theia looked at the jury box. It was filled with people from all walks of Life, each ready to pass judgment upon her.

“Let us begin with the prosecution's case…”

The trial proceeded, but for Theia, the words seemed to barely register.

She had no other recourse; her guilt was certain, for she had killed her own mentor.

Her only chance for survival was to expose the true face of her deceased mentor…

She quietly closed her eyes.

…Theia.

The still lingering voice was that of Holy Knight Athan's humanity.

—The world is truly strange. There are so many… differences between people.

—Differences? Are you talking about the gap between the rich and the poor?

—No. Its not that issue. Its about the things we are born with. Sometimes, I doubt whether we are even the same species. Some people… yes, people Like us can crush others with just a flick of a finger.

Athan was a beautiful person. Perhaps a seeker. A sage who looked upon providence and a philosopher who pursued ideals.

—If someone strong can eliminate another just because they are stronger, then someone stronger than them can also eliminate them. That's the only Logic that prevents the strong from recklessly conquering the weak. I use society to protect myself from those stronger than me.

The caste system is fundamentally precarious. Its about the "physical power1 that nobles cannot inherit.

If they fail to maintain their talents, eventually a commoner stronger than them will appear, and the entire system could be violently overturned.

Thus, the nobles superficially abandoned the caste system. They advocated for a mere facade of equality.

Thus, nobles became clans, and commoners became citizens.

—This society has operated in such a way. But it's bound to become imperfect. Eventually, a strong individual transcending class… or a villain opposing providence will emerge.

With that, Athan spoke of the need for heroes.

—…I tried to become a hero.

He Looked towards a distant place, like someone who had seen something of the future. He lamented his own gradual aging on the voyage of life.

—Leave it to me, master.

Theia had offered to take the burden, but Athan only gave a faint smile.

Looking back, he had trusted only himself. He believed that he alone must care for the pitiful continent.

That belief, once reaching the limits of his lifespan, had morphed into a misguided conviction, and he ultimately chose artificial Life extension.

Theia could not condone her mentor's actions.

He was meant to die a hero.

“I call Emilia, the daughter of Holy Knight Athan, as a witness.”

At the prosecutor's words, Theia's attention snapped back. She looked at Emilia seated in the witness stand.

“…Miss Emilia.”

“Yes.”

The prosecutor questioned her.

“Miss Emilia, it has been said that in the visiting room, Theia Esil apologized to you. Is this true?”

Emilia looked at Theia. Theia met her gaze.

“Yes, it's true. Theia Esil definitely apologized to me.”

“Hmm. So, you obtained a confession?”

“Objection!”

Regel quickly stood up to object, but the judge dismissed it.

That was just the beginning.

A flood of witnesses followed.

Unknown acquaintances of Holy Knight Athan, those claiming to be his disciples though not officially recognized as such, and more…

Theia was exhausted. She merely sat there, but the proceedings moved on without her.

Then, she noticed the courfs guards.

One of the two knights was Gerkhen. He stood at the courtroom door, clad in the armor of the Parliamentary Knights, his back turned.

“…”

Theia looked at him, pondering. Her mentor hadn't entrusted her with his dream, but she felt that she might be able to take it on.

“…Yes.”

Theia had not yet told the guards about the payment for her lunch.

'A single visit would be enough/

I have been busying myself day by day. First, I recruited the architect 'Barbosa' to build the art gallery. He was destined to become quite famous in the future.

“How do you replace the blueprints from Lord Jade?”

“Hmm… They1 re beautiful. But it seems like the person isn't familiar with the actual site. There are too many impossible structures.”

Of course, Jade would be involved in the design. The architect would point out the unrealistic aspects of Jade's plans, and I would mediate to replace a compromise.

That was the plan.

“Could I possibly meet and discuss this directly?”

The architect seemed frustrated by this method, but I smiled faintly and shook my head.

“Trust me. This way is much better. For your safety as well.”

“My safety…”

Barbosa's face turned slightly pale.

Not without reason, as this young architect wasn't accustomed to the polite discourse expected by nobility.

Without sufficient courtesy and protocol, he would surely offend Jade, and even a benign Jade might sever an arm or so.

“Understood.”

“Then, I'll see you at the same time tomorrow.”

“Yes, I'll be there”

“No, Mr. Barbosa, you don't need to move.”

“…H uh?”

Barbosa, Looking bewildered as he gathered his belongings, was a curly-haired young architect brimming with talent and passion but Lacking in money and space.

“From today, this place will be Mr. Barbosa's architectural office.”

I spread my arms wide, showing him the space filled with all sorts of equipment for designing.

“This is a small gift from us.”

“…”

Barbosa was speechless, his mouth half-open, his twitching ears seemingly expressing his emotions.

“Then…”

“Yes. You can continue working here.”

It felt somewhat good to help nurture young talent.

Was this a vicarious satisfaction for my lost continuity?

Well, it's also a financially sound investment. He'll soon become a big shot that money can't buy.

“Th-thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

I stepped out of the office, and Barbosa followed, continuously expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you, Sir Shion.”

His eyes were almost uncomfortably grateful.

In just six years, he would become a renowned architect, and in seven years, he would be gone to me…

“Please stay inside.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you!”

I smiled and sent him back inside, then my gaze sharpened again.

There was a tail.

Someone had been following me for some time. Not just anybody, but a professional. In terms of skill, a master.

And I hadn't noticed.

Grawl was the one who pointed it out to me. He told me a few weeks ago that someone had been tailing me.

'Grawl. Is he still following?'

'Yes!'

'Okay：

I calmly led him on. The trap was already set.

The destination was a secluded ground-level parking lot. There was only one car and no cameras.

I had deliberately created an opening.

I held my phone to my ear with one hand and gripped the car door handle with the other.

With both hands occupied, now would be the perfect moment for an assassin to strike.

A silent sword wind surged.

Noiseless and with minimal presence, a highly concentrated sword strike.

I raised my sword to block it.

Chang—!

The impact was tremendous. My hand shook violently. The assailant charged with the sword wind, swinging a deeply curved blade.

My sword clashed with his. The air burst from the collision scraped my entire body, causing cuts everywhere. In that moment, I was bloodied.

Crack…

I engaged my Severing Sword while still in contact with his blade.

That is, I swung my sword while still clashing with his.

A maneuver impossible by natural Laws, made possible only by the Severing Sword, a technique of impossibilities.

“1”

The startled assailant quickly retreated, but my reinforcements appeared behind him.

“Ha-!”

It was soliette. The assassin raised his sword against her, but she thoroughly dismantled his technique. In this open field, few swordsmen could match her standard.

Such is the hallmark of Arkne swordsmanship.

Aren, superior in one-on-one swordplay to any other martial art.

Clang! Clang!

The assassin was pushed back as he parried with his sword. His arm was slashed, his shoulder was slashed, and his thigh was slashed. Meanwhile, Soliette remained unscathed.

“Damn!”

Realizing his defeat, the man quickly tried to flee, but I had already prepared a barrier.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

He collided with the edge of the barrier, falling over like a bird hitting a window.

Soliette rushed forward, knocking his sword away with her own, then aimed the tip of her sword at his throat.

“Shion.”

“…Yeah.”

I approached him and removed his mask first.

“Huh.”

A smirk escaped me at the sight of his face.

“…”

He glared at me, sighing in resignation.

“Kill me.”

The assassin told me to kill him, but there was no way I was going to kill him.

It had been a long time since I'd seen that face.

Aren.

The disciple of Theia and my colleague before the regression.

As always, hot-headed and impulsive, a man of loyalty without foresight.

“…Why are you doing this?”

I asked him. Aren chuckled bitterly.

“Are you asking me why I'm doing this?”

“Yes. Doing this won't help your master.”

“Fuck off.”

Aren flipped me off. Soliette furrowed her brows.

“Shion, who is this person? He's quite rude.”

“…Hey. Daughter of Arkne. Do you even know who you're helping?”

At Aren's words, Soliette retorted with the same phrase.

“Fuck off. Asshole.”

“…”

Aren blinked and then looked back at me. It seemed he thought it pointless to converse with soliette.

“Hey, hey. Just kill me already.”

He urged his own death in a flustered tone. I shook my head.

“…I won't kill you.”

Aren looked at me bewilderedly, and I added another line.

“Also, your master won't die either.”

“…What, what?!”

Aren's head shot up at my words.

“You'll replace out the reason soon.”

I withdrew soliette's sword tip. I deactivated the barrier. I gestured Aren to leave.

“G0. IHL overlook today*s incident.”

“…”

Aren still looked confused, but he soon backed away from the parking Lot.

Soliette puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

“…ls it really okay to let him go? He seriously tried to kill you, Shion.”

“lt didn't hurt much.”

“You look terribly hurt. Shion, you should Look in a mirror.”

Soliette showed me her sword blade. I saw my reflection in it. My face and body were covered in blood.

“This is his Spectrum. It doesn't hurt much, th0ugh…”

「Radiate」-the sword wind spreads Like actual blades. Essentially, my body had just been put through a blender.

Still, it really didn't hurt.

I couldn't use Magic Body, but thanks to my inherently tough body.

“…lt does look a bit bad.”

Hmm. I wiped my face first with a handkerchief from my pocket.

On a clear weekend afternoon, in the visiting room of Bellaros Detention Center.

Theia saw Gerkhen who had come to visit her. Gerkhen was dressed in casual clothes, looking more mature than before, having Lost some of his baby fat.

“Professor. Here are the books you requested.”

Gerkhen handed over three thick volumes of humanities texts that Theia had asked for.

“Thank you.”

A bitter smile spread across Theia's lips.

Gerkhen asked her, concern evident in his voice.

“…Are you alright?”

Considering his usually stoic demeanor, this Level of expression was not bad. In fact, it was almost touching.

They had been together for about four years.

It seemed they had grown quite fond of each other during that time.

“Gerkhen.”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember what I told you about memories?”

Theia asked him. Gerkhen scratched his temple, appearing to think.

“You've said quite a Lot… Which statement are you referring to?”

“…I did talk a lot.”

She handed Gerkhen a piece of paper. He took it.

“There's evidence there.”

“Evidence… you mean?”

Theia looked away silently for a moment. Her gaze was inscrutable. Gerkhen quickly grasped her intention.

It meant there was 'surveillance' by Libra.

“Yes.”

“…What do you wish for?”

Gerkhen tucked the paper into his pocket.

“Find the evidence at the location written there…”

Theia spoke softly.

“And destroy it.”

Destroy.

The accent on that word was strange. Gerkhen quietly looked at her. Theia met his gaze.

Tick-tock—tick-tock—

The second hand of the clock in the visiting room passed between them.

“…Didn't I tell you before?”

Theia subtly reminded him of the past.

There was something she had once said to Gerkhen.

“lf I ever replace myself in the worst possible situation…”

That worst situation was 'now'.

She was bound to lose in the trial. No matter how much she thought, deliberated, and agonized, she couldn't confess her mentor's crimes herself.

She couldn't tarnish him, the man who had helped continue her Life, the man who had shaped her current self.

She couldn't bring down the entire beautiful Life of a saint named Athan because of a very brief lapse in her later years.

“…ril Leave the rest unsaid.”

A simple smile appeared on her lips, and Gerkhen stiffened.

Just then, the visiting time was over.

“Go now.”

“…”

Theia Esil Left first. She soon disappeared from Gerkhen's sight.

A bit belatedly, Gerkhen stood up and turned around.

Shuffling, staggering out of the visiting room, Theia Esirs voice echoed in his ears.

“lf I ever replace myself in the worst possible situation…”

“Then, you'll be able to become a Senator.”