Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 282



Only Krnovel

Episode 282

Frequency (2)

A card fortune telling shop decorated to look like it has something to offer.

“I’m releasing an album and I’m thinking about the title.”

I saw Benjamin, who had come as a guest.

It was the real Benjamin.

Benjamin, a singer who heals the heart. A professional who knows how to gently harmonize magic with his voice.

He was quite a star even before his return. I used to listen to his songs a lot too.

“… … .”

I pulled my turban down low and looked back and forth between Benjamin and the manager.

Honestly, it’s strange. The entertainment industry, then and now, has been a bit of a distant country.

“… …Shall I tell you?”

Benjamin took out my CD and asked.

“Okay.”

I reached out and stopped him.

It’ll seem a lot more interesting to guess without listening to the song than to listen to it.

“The title… … does that mean you want me to pick the song that shines the brightest among the songs on the album?”

“Oh, yes. Do you not need to listen to it? Here is the track list for my album.”

Benjamin handed me a small piece of paper. I looked at the list of songs written on it.

A total of 11 songs.

More than half of the songs were unfamiliar, but there were two that were definitely famous.

“Then what about the card store-”

“Ss …

“It’s a surprise.”

I made a strange noise with my mouth and pulled a card out of the air. It was red.

This is Bedundun’s “Card Picking”.

“Huh.”

Benjamin and the manager were startled.

I was shaking the card around for no reason, and then-! It oxidized into smoke. Benjamin laughed in vain.

“What, is it magic?”

“this.”

I pointed to a song, and Benjamin’s eyes widened.

“Brahms… … .”

The manager next to him also looked quite surprised.

Of course, the original title that Benjamin and company had in mind was this ‘Brahms’.

Actually, this was the title.

“Then, the sorcerer should use Brahms as the title-”

“Take it out.”

“……yes?”

Benjamin asked back, dumbfounded.

“Take it out?”

“This song itself has bad luck.”

Bad luck.

This Brahms causes an explosive reaction for a week, but soon becomes embroiled in a plagiarism controversy, and in reality, it is a plagiarism that is undeniable.

“There are different souls buried in them.”

“What is that… … .”

widely-

I pulled out the card again. It was blue.

This time he pointed to a different song.

“this.”

“… … Yesterday?”

Yesterday. The melody line is dull and monotonous compared to Brahms, but it is thanks to this that the song becomes a hit across the continent.

“But it seems like you guys are thinking of excluding this.”

But this Yesterday wasn’t on this album.

Yesterday is a song that Benjamin suddenly wrote after he had been miserably ruined by Brahms and was living like a mouse.

“… … .”

Benjamin quickly looked back at the manager. His eyes were suspicious, as if he had told you. The manager shook his head.

Benjamin said.

“Yes. It’s too quiet and doesn’t fit with the album concept… … We’re currently considering removing it.”

“Put it in. It may be weak at first, but it will surely grow into something great.”

To my confidence, Benjamin looked puzzled.

… … .

On the way back to work, inside the luxury van, Benjamin is scratching the back of his neck.

“Are you crazy? How did you know I was going to take off Yesterday? Didn’t you really tell me?”

“Absolutely not. That’s where Mr. Benjamin was looking in the first place.”

“… … That’s true.”

I’ve never told anyone about this fortune teller, but I discovered it by chance while consulting with a cat influencer.

“Don’t worry too much about it. I just came for fun. Most of the people at work are Brahms.”

“Yeah. I feel even more uneasy because I came here for no reason.”

Benjamin clicked his tongue.

“What does it mean that different souls are buried inside each other… … .”

Different souls. Different souls.

As I was rolling the fortune teller’s words around in my mouth, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

Composers sometimes use the expression ‘soul’ when composing. The composer’s soul is infused into the work─ something like that.

So, what does it mean that different souls are buried there?

“Really? Plagiarism?”

“Huh? Plagiarism?”

“Hey. That Brahms composer was Bellotrand, right?”

“yes.”

He is a famous composer.

So, we didn’t check for plagiarism, that is, we didn’t check for similar songs.

“Just in case, let’s look for more. See if there are any similar songs. And… … ”

Of course, a fortune teller is still a fortune teller. No matter how much magic develops, it cannot predict a person’s future.

So you are free to believe it or not─

“Let’s not leave out yesterday.”

Benjamin’s self-composed song that the CEO and PDs wanted to remove because it damaged the unity of the album.

The entire album won’t change just by adding or removing this one song.

***

“How was it?”

Meanwhile, a famous movie theater in the capital city of Edsila.

Riley asked, placing the popcorn and cola she had just finished eating on the garbage disposal shelf. Dr. Killian next to her smiled faintly.

“Oh, that was fun.”

“Were there any errors in the accuracy of the information?”

Riley asked about the authenticity. It was a spy movie with magic and science.

Killian scratched the ball.

“Maybe… … I don’t really think about things like that. I can’t get into it.”

“is it so?”

“Yes. But if I had to point it out, I would say that the design of the direct magic circuit is too absurd. A circuit that transmits magic power without losing magic power cannot exist. Also, the process of calculating the coefficient is… … .”

He says he doesn’t think about such things, yet he talks to himself for almost 3,000 characters.

Riley was amazed at how much he did.

“… … Ah, yes. I see. That’s right. I had similar thoughts.”

“Yes, that’s right. I can definitely communicate with Mr. Riley.”

Killian likes it if you just give him a little bit of encouragement.

He’s an easy guy.

No, am I making it easy?

Back when Riley was just bragging about her self-esteem.

“……uh?”

She met someone on the street.

A blond-haired man. A chaser for a promising intelligence agency.

I hear he’s a strong balancer candidate.

“Mr. Zion?”

Sion Ascal nodded, looking back and forth between himself and Killian.

Riley chuckled.

“What a coincidence?”

“Yes. Nice to meet you. This is Dr. Killian.”

“Oh, you know?”

“Of course. You work in the most important sector of artificial intelligence.”

Zion offered Killian a handshake. Killian shook his hand in return.

“Were you on a date?”

At Zion’s question, Riley smiled strangely.

“Umm… … I brought her here. I’m trying to become friendly with her.”

Zion looked at Killian, as if trying to dismantle every inch of his face.

“Don’t look too deeply into it. It’s a valuable resource.”

“… … Yes. I know. Okay, that’s it.”

Zion turned around blandly. Watching his back as he walked away, Killian asked.

“Is that person Chaser?”

“Yes. I’m a chaser.”

Riley continued quietly.

“If you’re Libra, you’re the most trustworthy.”

Zion Ascal’s activities, achievements, and abilities are dazzling. His attitude of serving only Libra has already become well-known not only in the Hanging Gardens, but also among his direct lineage and even among the elders.

“If it were the other way around.”

Riley looked at Killian.

“It would probably be a disaster.”

Zion Ascal is also a person of interest from [Bancheon]’s perspective. Riley, the third daughter of [Bancheon], is intentionally providing information to Bancheon and Zion Ascal so that their paths do not overlap, in an effort to minimize conflict.

His obsession, obsession, and fanaticism would be a burden to [Bancheon] as well.

“……okay.”

Killian muttered with a bitter tone. As we walked and talked, we soon found ourselves in a parking lot.

“Don’t worry. I told you, if you’re on Libra’s side, you’re the most reliable person.”

Riley pressed the button on her car key. Beeper- she was in the driver’s seat of a shiny luxury car.

“Get in. I’ll take you there.”

… … .

Dormitory at Edsila National University

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I petted and praised the returned Growl.

─No~ It’s hard. It’s fun. Pretending to be human.

Just now, Growl had infiltrated Akane’s doll and pretended to be Killian. It was very natural.

“… … Pretending to be human?”

─Yes.

The black cat Growl yawned and wagged his tail. I said to him.

“You are human too.”

─… … Yes?

Growl opened his eyes wide.

“I don’t think humans are anything special. They are just beings who can communicate smoothly and live socially.”

Growl. He’s a cat now, but he’s a pretty famous influencer on social media and the internet, and he’s an information entrepreneur who sometimes donates his profits to charity, and above all, he’s a good guy.

“You, you communicate well with me. You communicate well in society. You’re safe. You’re kind.”

Growl added, his lips curling into a smile.

─Cute?

“… … Anyway. Then you can become human enough.”

Growl became a monster in the past.

The reason is probably because of his own identity. Because of the confusion that arises from the origin of existence between monsters and humans.

“This time, I’ll play the dying role.”

I will be with the guy. Not as a master-servant relationship, but just as a friend.

─Yes!

“… … So, that’s what I’m saying.”

I put my hand on Growl’s back.

“Even if I die, you live.”

─… … .

For a moment, Growl’s expression hardened.

“I need to start preparing for independence now. You know my condition.”

Growl narrowed his eyes and grumbled.

─You said there are still 8 years left.

“still-”

─Don’t talk too far ahead. Focus on the present. Who knows? A great technology might be invented.

“……but.”

I chuckled.

“That could be true. Well, let’s just live until I’m 50. But you absolutely must become independent before then.”

─Why?

“I should enjoy life too. It’s uncomfortable to be alone.”

I can block the shared vision and telepathy whenever I want, but it’s still quite uncomfortable to be in one body.

─… … What are you going to do? Do you have a lover? Do you have red hair, yellow hair, or blue hair?

Growl asked with a suspicious tone.

“Be quiet.”

─Ugh!

I hit the guy on the tip of his nose.

Tiring ringing-

A call came in on Libra’s phone. It was Zia.

Big. Hmm.

I cleared my throat with a cough and then accepted.

“hello.”

─… … Yeah. Zion.

“Yes. What’s going on?”

─Libra’s annual meeting… is just around the corner.

“ah.”

Libra Annual Meeting.

Libra has a bloodline gathering once a year. Not only the direct line, but also the elders. It is a very important event, so the direct line must attend.

─I chose you… as my bodyguard.

On that day, only Libra’s bloodline is allowed to enter, and even then, only one bodyguard can be chosen.

─Are you okay… …?

“Of course it is an honor. Then, Your Majesty, Jahanna, will come too.”

─Yeah… … He’ll probably come to harass me… … He always does that at every annual meeting… … He’s stressed… … .

“Bullying… … .”

Suddenly, a good idea occurred to me.

A plan to keep Jahanna from harassing Zia and make a little more progress.

“Leave it to me. Nothing will happen.”

Also known as the cliché operation.

***

Libra’s Hanging Gardens.

Jahanna is busy with work these days. Royal Casino, department store, magic space, new city project, etc… … She is handling it all herself.

As soon as he was discharged from the hospital, he started working hard as if he was obsessed with something.

“Thank you for your hard work at the meeting today.”

The construction of Edsilla’s new city. This is the project that Jahanna is currently engrossed in.

The rich want a place where they can live as rich people, so they build and sell suitable residential spaces, department stores, hotels, swimming pools, golf courses, and resorts.

I’m investing all the cash I’ve accumulated.

“What’s next on the agenda?”

Jahanna asked Vitor.

“It’s a garden in the sky.”

“… … Hanging gardens?”

“Yes. The next day is the family gathering.”

“crazy.”

Jahanna bit her lip.

House meetings are the most detestable event. Meeting Jade, Jedric, Zia and the likes right now is already a fucking chore, but then I have to meet the elders who are eighteen times more fucking than them.

“Is it that day already?”

“Yes. I will leave right away.”

“… … .”

Jahanna sat down in her chair without saying a word, pressing her throbbing temples.

Coloc─

Suddenly, a dry cough rings in my ears. I see drops of blood falling onto the sandy floor.

It wasn’t just simple hemoptysis. There was a clump of blood falling out of his mouth.

Jahanna keeps thinking about that scene.

I’m worried.

Even when someone dies, or when you see someone already dead, or even when you kill someone yourself.

I’ve never been this annoyed before.

What on earth did Zion Ascal get injured?

Why do you work without resting even for a single day on such a topic?

I keep thinking about it.

The fake hospitalizations were over, but now it seemed like a real hospitalization was needed.

“……frustrated.”

The professor was right.

He himself must stay away from that Zion Ascal gnome.

There is nothing good about keeping something close or being close.

The best answer is to get away from him… … .

“We have arrived.”

Meanwhile, they arrived at the Sky Garden. Jahanna took the direct elevator and entered the mansion in Sector 0.

“Are you here?”

The maids greeted her.

“What about the rest?”

She asked about other direct lines.

“Jade Lord is in the garden, and Jedric Lord is working in his office.”

“There’s one more.”

“Miss Zia is in her room.”

Jahanna entered the mansion. Thump, thump—she took rough steps.

“… … Where are you?”

She used to harass Gia at every annual meeting.

Jia is a great sandbag for relieving stress.

She was thinking of doing the same today.

[ Jia ]

“hey!”

Jia’s room. The moment I opened the door like before.

“… … .”

Jahanna stopped. All thoughts ceased.

Inside was Zion Ascal.

But his upper body was open.

In other words, he took off his shirt.

“… … ”

His body was solid and beautifully carved.

However, there was a scar on his chest. There were traces of multiple gunshot wounds.

──Thump.

Suddenly my heart shook violently. It was a sound close to pain.

Jahanna swallowed, deliberately holding onto something as if it were a weapon to hide her agitation.

“… …Why are you here?”

“I’m sorry. I was just changing into my security uniform.”

“Why is it in Gia’s room… … .”

Suddenly, the answer occurred to me.

This guy is Gia’s bodyguard.

“… … The young lady told me to change my clothes here.”

“i get it.”

Jahanna quickly went out and slammed the door.

He leaned against the wall and absentmindedly checked his condition.

“… … .”

Your body is hot, you’re sweating, your heart is pounding, and the image of the thing you just saw is burned into your retina like a painting.

“crazy.”

Jahanna moved her legs, distorting her arrogant expression.

First, you need to cool down your body that has suddenly become hot… … .