Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 319



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 319

Usurpation (5)

Jahanna watched the situation quietly. Zion handed Jedrick a lunch box and sat down next to him.

This distance, where our knees almost touch, is uncomfortable.

I want to leave, but it’s not as easy as I want. My pounding heart is uncomfortable and suffocating, but I want to stay in the same space.

It’s so contradictory

Since some time ago, this guy has been making me so complicated. He has been endlessly tormenting and testing my reason.

──Tiring

The phone notification felt so loud that Jahanna flinched.

“I’ll just report to work for a moment.”

Suddenly, Zion left. Only then did Jahanna come to her senses and glare at Jedrick.

“… … Really me.”

I was eating a lot of meat in the interview room, and I suddenly got really angry.

My bastard uses Zion as a shuttle?

“… … .”

Jahanna silently picked up her chopsticks. At that moment, a murderous look appeared in Jedrick’s eyes.

Jahanna laughed bitterly.

“Okay. Can I have some too?”

“Get out.”

“… … Ah, fuck that.”

Jahanna threw her chopsticks on the table. The two chopsticks flew into the air and then fell back down.

“Even though I’m locked up in a prison cell, my appetite is still the same.”

“It’s not a prison cell, it’s a detention center.”

“Whatever. My older brother has always been like this.”

Jedrick was strangely obsessed with food. One day, he snatched a pudding or something and got hit with a cane ten times.

What Jahanna did to Zia was actually a long-standing harassment that Jahanna had also suffered from Jedrick.

“Shuttle, why don’t you make your balancer, why are you making Sion Askar?”

“If you don’t know, then keep your mouth shut. That guy is bringing it with his own volitional loyalty.”

Jahanna’s eyebrows twitched.

──This is loyalty that Libra should not receive.

Libra, who killed Zion’s father and killed Zion himself, is not qualified to do so.

Jedrick glared at her.

“By the way, can you please just turn away now? Looking at your face, I feel like I’m going to vomit even if I’m eating.”

“For something like that, it’s really delicious.”

“Get out. I won’t say anything else.”

“… … You have tarnished the reputation of your family, yet you still talk a lot.”

Jahanna got up. The purpose of the meeting was to get on this guy’s nerves anyway.

“Go. Take care.”

Jedrick pretended not to hear and focused on his food.

As Jahanna turned around, Sion Ascal returned. He greeted her with his eyes, approached Jedrick, and whispered something to him.

─Operation Teia is ready.

A deep smile appeared on Jedrick’s lips.

… … .

Jahanna came out of the detention center, but didn’t leave. She just hung around, holding the phone to her ear.

“… … .”

He looks at the exit of the detention center as if he has something to say to someone.

“I, Princess Jahanna-”

The attendants who were trying to come to him were bitten off with urgent gestures.

About 10 minutes passed like that.

Zion has finally come out.

“Oh, oh, okay. You figure it out. Okay. Figure it out.”

Jahanna muttered instructions as if giving them orders, and soon Sion Askar was standing beside her.

“Then you figure it out… … Hmm?”

Jahanna looked back at Zion, pretending not to notice.

“Your Majesty Jahanna.”

The guy nodded.

“… … I’ll contact you again later.”

The moment I said that, wiiing──

I actually got a call.

At that moment, Jahanna threw her phone on the floor.

Kkwaddeok──!

“… … ”

Zion looked at it in silence as it was shattered into pieces.

“Ahem.”

Jahanna coughed in vain, pretending not to notice.

“… … .”

“… … .”

And then, there was silence for a while.

“… … .”

“… … .”

In Jahanna’s opinion, her relationship with this guy is ambiguous yet certain.

We know that we love each other.

However, we cannot be together.

That shouldn’t be the case.

Because we will be a source of sorrow to each other.

But, even knowing that… …

“… … .”

“What’s going on?”

Jahanna wants to look this guy in the eye and talk to him. She wants to say one more word, and see him one more time.

“Eat it when you have time.”

Zion handed himself a lunch box. It was a little different from the one Jedrick had been eating, smaller and more modest.

“Which restaurant did you get it from?”

Jahanna got it for now.

“I did it.”

“……you?”

“Yes. I bought it to eat.”

“… … .”

I looked the lunchbox up and down and then put it on my side.

“I hope you like it, Princess Jahanna. That’s all for now.”

“……for a moment.”

He caught Zion as he was about to leave.

He looked back at himself.

“Your body… is… okay?”

For the first time, Jahanna was worried about someone, and Zion smiled faintly.

“It’s still the same.”

I’m not saying it’s okay, I’m just saying it’s still the same.

He’s always honest.

“How is Princess Jahanna?”

“… … I am too healthy.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“That sounds good… … I’ll go.”

Jahanna left the place in a hurry.

These days, my emotions are often malfunctioning, and if I do something wrong, I might end up crying. I shouldn’t show such a bad side.

She quickly got into the limousine.

“Let’s go.”

“yes.”

I opened my lunch box in the moving car. I smiled as soon as I saw it. The food was quite cute. Especially the octopus-shaped sausage.

“You have a cute side.”

Jahanna took a bite.

“… … !”

My eyes widened slightly. I muttered without realizing it.

“It tastes good… … .”

The admiration was short-lived. Suddenly, her throat became choked. Jahanna clenched her teeth and looked out the window. Sion Ascal was still standing there. A smile came to her face for no reason as she looked at him.

Jahanna laughed as if crying.

… … This is how emotional malfunctions occur.

It seems like he’s ruined me forever, but I don’t hate it all that much.

* * *

The trial of Jedrick was just around the corner. I went abroad on time.

I came to find Emilia, the daughter of Atan, the teacher of Teia Ishil.

“My memory is not certain.”

A simple mansion, a tea table in the garden.

She took a sip of her coffee and smiled bitterly.

“As I said last time, I have no intention of helping Libra with political operations based on my uncertain memories.”

“This is not political maneuvering.”

I shook my head.

“We are the ones who can help avenge our father.”

Emilia frowned slightly.

“… … Don’t lie. Even a passing dog knows that you’re trying to get revenge on Teia Ishil because of AI. You’re treating me like an idiot-”

“Duke Jedric will be punished.”

Of course, Jedrick will be punished more definitely than anyone else.

“Everyone is punished for their sins. That goes for Teia Isil too, Emilia.”

“… … .”

Still, Emilia looked displeased.

She is a very stubborn person, so I can’t convince her on my own.

“There is a witness.”

That’s why Akane’s cooperation is needed.

“… … A witness?”

“yes.”

I nodded somewhere. Akane took a step forward from behind the trees in the garden.

“… … Akane, sir?”

Emilia’s eyes widened.

“……hi.”

Emilia looked at Akane with eyes filled with joy and surprise.

“You… … really don’t age?”

“That’s what happened.”

Akane came over and sat down next to me with a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry I’m so late.”

“I’m sorry… … .”

Emilia touched Akane’s hand. Was it strange that her skin didn’t age at all?

“Ah. More importantly, a witness? What do you mean?”

“……hmm.”

Akane glanced at me and let out a faint sigh.

“I, or rather my doll, saw it myself. That b*tch Teia… …killing the master.”

Emilia’s face hardened.

“… … .”

She quietly lowered her gaze. She quietly muttered while holding onto the hem of my skirt.

“Why did that happen to that child?”

Then Akane picked up my teacup. She took a big sip as if she was gulping down alcohol and said.

“… … That doesn’t matter. Dead people don’t come back. You know that, Emilia.”

… … .

“sorry.”

I apologized to Akane.

Emilia went inside to pack her bags, leaving us alone in the garden.

“It’s okay.”

Akane smiled and asked about the beginning of the year.

“You are just as pitiful as we are. I understand because you are.”

“… … .”

I looked at Akane. There was a shade on Akane’s face that was different from the words.

“Ms. Akane.”

“ok?”

“Does Akane-san have a family?”

“It must have existed, so I was born. But it wasn’t there when I opened my eyes.”

Phew… … .

She raised her eyebrows, exhaling the smoke.

“It’s fortunate. Because of my parents, I have so many close relatives in life.”

I smiled silently.

Akane roughly scratched my hair.

“… … Anyway, it’s a good plan. That girl Teia won’t deny her crimes.”

“Yes, I guess so.”

Teia Isil will now stand trial.

However, she can easily defend her crimes if she wants to.

The Holy Knight Atan fell and became a monster─

Just one word will suffice.

“I will take the blame alone.”

Teia won’t do that.

It was so before the regression, and it would be so in this life.

Because that’s the kind of person she is.

To avoid disgracing his master, Atan, and to avoid causing further harm to his daughter, Emilia.

Will sacrifice himself.

“What are you pretending to know? You’re not even close to that girl.”

Akane gave me a look.

I looked into her eyes and replied.

“I’m sure you’ll know as well as Akane-san.”

“……how?”

“I’m a fan.”

“That crazy guy.”

Akane chuckled.

Emilia came out at that moment. She had both hands full of suitcases, and her face was burning with determination.

“Let’s go! Let’s catch the murderer!”

“… … .”

At her appearance, Akane and I exchanged slightly bitter glances.

* * *

The end of autumn, the beginning of winter. A day when the wind blows, carrying fallen leaves, as the seasons change and coexist.

Teia Isil is walking down the university street with her disciple while preparing for trial.

“Whew. Jedrick is finished. The evidence is too strong, he should be sentenced to life imprisonment or the whole country should be ruined.”

Despite her disciple Aren’s assurances, Teia did not let her guard down.

I know full well how great the power of the nobility and the family is in Edsilla.

“But, Master. That guy Gerken. He’s already been scouted by the council.”

“… … in the parliament?”

Teia raised her head.

Aren nodded in admiration.

“Yes, from the Knights of the Congress. I told you they really came.”

The Knights of the Parliament are the most elite knights assigned to the Parliament, and are considered one of the most elite knights on the continent. They are not just knights. About 10% of the Knights of the Parliament are actually selected as members of the Parliament.

In other words, it is a bridgehead that can advance to the National Assembly.

“We’re telling him to go right now, but for some reason he seems hesitant.”

“I have to go. Of course.”

The hurdles to becoming a Knight of the Parliament are extremely high. Even for a commoner, it is so high that only two out of 200 members can be admitted.

But Gerken, a commoner, is scouted there?

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Why is Gerken hesitating?”

“They say something is suspicious, but I don’t know the details. Ask them yourself.”

When we were talking about various things.

Countless vehicles gathered around Teia Isil and Aren.

Squeak──! Squeaky-squeaky──!

The sound of tires screeching was loud.

“Oh my gosh, what are these?”

Teia stood still, and Aren drew his sword.

A man with a fishy look got out of the car.

“What are you?!”

Aren thrust his sword. The man raised his hand with a surprised look on his face.

“Hey, hey, hey. Don’t do that. Put your sword away.”

“Who are you!”

“It’s our public authority. He’s not a strange person.”

He smiled faintly and showed me his ID.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Edsilla Prosecutor’s Office, ‘Al Ras’.

“… … Inspector? Even the deputy chief? No, why is the deputy chief inspector coming to see us? Isn’t it forgery?!”

Aren asked back, still in an aggressive tone.

“Oh, that’s it.”

Al-Ras, who had been grinning, coughed in vain.

──And.

“Sacred Knight Teia Isil, you are under arrest for the murder of the previous Sacred Knight Atan and for treason.”

“……what?”

Aren opened his eyes wide, and Teia quietly shifted her gaze and looked somewhere.

Beyond the vehicles surrounding him, there is a man standing among the bushes, staring this way.

Zion Ascal.

“You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.”

Suddenly, he smiles faintly, and a fire burns inside Teia.

“You have the right to a lawyer, and if you cannot afford to hire one, the state will provide one for you. Do you understand?”

“What the hell are you talking about!”

Aren drew his sword. The other people who got out of the car also hurriedly drew their weapons.

Alras reached out.

“Hey! If you resist this, you will be charged with an additional crime! You will be dragged to prison too!”

“You crazy kid. That doesn’t make any sense. What, Holy Knight, murder, are you crazy? Don’t you know who Teia Isil is?!”

“I know. Why don’t you know?”

“But what!”

“Aren.”

Theia stopped Aren, who was growling while raising his sword.

“Come out.”

“No, Master! This inspector is talking nonsense!”

Teia stood in front of Alas. Alas smiled.

“As expected, Professor, you are very sensible. Let’s go and prove your innocence first, shall we?”

“… … Aren. Go back first.”

Aren made a strange expression. It was a face that said he couldn’t even understand.

“no……”

“I told you to go.”

“… … .”

Teia got into the inspector’s car, leaving Aren behind. Inside, she looked towards where Sion Ascal had just been standing.

He was still there.

As if he was kindly asking, ‘How about this?’… … .