The Broken Possessors of the Infinite Regression Academy - Chapter 179



Chapter 179 – Aria – 5

“Revenge? Of course I want to. But how can I do it now?”

Of course I would do that if I could, but the problem was that I didn’t know how.

Even though it was only a little better than before, I still had to use all my strength to breathe. Whenever I said something a little long like I did just now, I would inevitably gasp for breath.

It was safe to say that he couldn’t move a finger unless he stopped the power from draining away to Aria, the root cause.

“Recall her actions. What she said. She took your power, and she spoke of the seal, but she disappeared without releasing it. She left you open to it. What do you think is the reason?”

“… …Because I can’t absorb it all?”

“That’s correct.”

Masin calmly agreed. He said it after recalling the words he said at first when he tried to swallow my power and almost died, and it seemed like that was the right answer.

“I could have accepted the remaining half after sealing it. However, that woman’s body is still far from being able to accept all of your power. If I could have done that, would I have done something like leaving your power behind?”

“no.”

Aria disappeared, saying that she could achieve her goal with just the power she had just absorbed. That also means that she left the rest behind.

Considering that he would obviously know my past better than I, whose memories were sealed, it would be more accurate to say that he was unable to do it rather than that he didn’t do it. There’s no way he could leave room for anxiety.

Especially since I let my guard down at the end and got stabbed in the shoulder.

“I don’t know how to stop the power flowing into her. But I do know how to make her give up on her own.”

“Like when you tried to swallow it at first but couldn’t stand it and gave it back?”

“That’s right. Once you spit it out, it will come back to you.”

Rather than doing something separately here, is the idea to make it so that you can give back the power yourself?

It seemed possible. If you don’t want to explode and die right before you reach your goal, you have to do it.

“Since I have unlimited power anyway, what if I just try to do what I originally wanted to do?”

“Manipulating the world is a very delicate task. Don’t worry, you can’t do it while leading a body that feels like it’s going to burst at any moment.”

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

After answering like that, I tried to get up, but fell back down. It seemed like it was still too much. I gave up and just raised my head again, lying face down.

“You know how, right?”

“Of course. Even though it turned out like this, he was still a god in the past.”

“However, it is not without problems.”

The goddess suddenly intervened.

“We can release the seal, but it is up to you to retrieve the memories of your past from within. That means facing your past head-on, and you will also have to resolve the safety device that woman has put in place on your own. Can you do it?”

It’s a memory from the past.

To be honest, there was no way I could have known how horrible the memories sealed inside were. It was only natural, since those memories were sealed.

Right now, I just kill all the humans I come across, and I kill all the demons, that’s all I remember. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel uneasy.

But for now, this was the only way.

“I guess I should try it. But, what if you call it a safety device?”

“I don’t know the details, since I only heard what she was saying. However, you said that you put in place the most secure safety measures in case you ever figure out the method and try to break the seal, so I think it’s clear that you need to be careful.”

It’s the most reliable safety device, so what on earth makes them so confident?

“All right.”

Even if I just stay on the floor and writhe like this, there’s no point. I nodded. The voice became a little closer.

“Okay, I understand. You seem determined, so don’t ask again. Remember, there will be no next time. This is our last chance, and from now on, all we can do is watch.”

“It’s up to you from now on. Best of luck, human out there.”

My thoughts were cut off. My consciousness slowly began to sink, along with the sensation of something flowing into my body. Soon, my vision went black.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a cold space. It seemed like I had succeeded.

‘Where is this, d-‘

As I was looking around to check the situation, I froze when I saw a woman appearing nearby.

A woman who had been kneeling on the seat, holding something that looked like a crystal ball in her arms, slowly raised her head. As soon as I saw her face, a chill ran through my entire body.

‘So that’s why it’s called a safety device… … .’

Latina.

Latina Glacia.

A woman who, although she could not be called a saint, was worthy of being called one.

The woman who cared more for humans than anyone else, but was betrayed by them and died, and who made me lose hope in humans and think about making a deal with the Demon King, was looking at me.

“… … .”

The blue crystal ball in his right hand was either the memory itself or the key to finding the memory, but he didn’t care. His legs gave out. He just sat down on the floor.

The blurred memories became clear again.

The weak voice that urged me to run away, the red puddle of blood that was gathering around my body, the eyes that were losing focus on me, and the feeling of my hands gradually cooling down as they lost blood and died.

All those memories came flooding back the moment I saw Latina.

“Haa… … Haa… … .”

My breathing started to get faster. I felt nauseous. Was this how Leona felt when she met Elisier? I was clearly breathing, but my head was not getting enough oxygen. My vision was blurry.

As oxygen did not come in, my breathing rate became faster and faster, and as my breathing rate became faster, it became harder to breathe. It was a vicious cycle. But even so, my body just would not listen.

“Keukheuk… … gasp… … .”

The phantom pain that I thought had faded away came rushing back more intensely than ever, and endless pain surged into my left arm. My arm snapped. My body swayed violently as my strength left my body.

My head kept falling down. My consciousness was gradually fading away. Thanks to that, I didn’t notice that someone was approaching me or that someone was crouching down in front of me.

Someone placed a hand on my shoulder as I lay half-dead, hyperventilating and making a sound that was almost croaking.

“Are you okay?”

“… … Cough, gulp! Cough!”

As soon as I heard the voice, my breathing returned to normal. The oxygen that came in through my nose and mouth spread to my dying internal organs and extremities. I barely managed to raise my head, panting.

“You don’t look very happy.”

“… … .”

Is it because Aria set it up that I say the same thing to her as when we first met in the first world? Or is it because I simply don’t look that good?

I stared blankly up at the sight. Latina also stared blankly at me, then lifted the sleeves of her habit up to her palms. Soon, the slightly stiff fabric touched my face.

“You are crying.”

Only then did I realize that I was crying. I lifted my trembling right hand and touched my cheek. It was damp. Latina, with her expressionless face, carefully wiped my eyes and cheek.

And I had to stay like that for a long time. When my right sleeve got soaked and unusable, I had to hold the crystal ball in my other hand and wipe it with my left sleeve.

After some time, my blurry vision returned to normal. Our eyes met because our faces were on the same line. As soon as I saw the gray pupils, my mind went blank. I didn’t know what to say.

Is this really Latina, or is it just a safety device, what to say if it is, what to do if it is not, does she remember her death, and if she does, will she be troubled by it… … .

All those words came to mind and disappeared repeatedly, dozens of sentences per second.

“Are you the owner of this sealed memory?”

“ah…….”

A sigh escaped my lips reflexively. It was as if he spoke in a tone that made it seem like he didn’t know me at all.

I smiled bitterly at the phantom pain I felt in my arm. I had expected it to be likely, but it was not easy to accept it when I actually encountered it in person.

Yes, this isn’t a real Latina. It’s just a safety device, to prevent the seal from being broken, as the goddess would say. But still, I felt like I was going to die from the suffocation.

When I was left speechless, Latina tilted her head.

“You’re not? I heard that no one else can enter this space.”

“No… … That’s right. That’s my memory.”

I nodded my head weakly. Then Latina held out the crystal ball she was holding in her right hand.

“I’m glad you got it. Here, here’s what you’re looking for.”

I looked back and forth between the crystal ball and Latina, who was thrust at me with my eyes wide open. Latina tilted her head again.

“You clearly said it was yours. So why don’t you accept it?”

“… …Why, are you giving this to me? That… … side, is trying to protect this-”

“Although I am weak and frail, I am not so stupid as to not fully understand the situation. Why would a frail woman like me be forced to guard this sleeping object that is so suspicious? Since I cannot stop it, I think it is to prevent something that will come looking for it. Perhaps my very existence is important.”

“… … .”

Latina slyly raised the corners of her lips at me.

“Until now it was just a guess, but looking at you, it seems to be true.”

“I am…….”

I tried to say something, but then I kept my mouth shut. I felt like whatever I said wouldn’t fit the situation.

“What on earth are you so afraid of that you hesitate? A good person like you.”

“… … You said he was a good person?”

“Yes. You are a good man. Even though you are torn by storms and wandering, the lighthouse’s light is still firmly standing. I can see it clearly in this weak and incompetent body. But the one who ordered me to guard it was not like that. When I looked deeply into the world covered with light, I saw that it was seething with fire and brimstone.”

This time it was the same. It was exactly the same explanation he gave me when we first met, except for the addition of Aria.

“My arm hurts. Would you please accept what I offer as soon as possible and relieve this poor woman’s suffering?”

Latina waved her arm holding the crystal ball. I scrambled to catch it.

“Yes. That, ah. I… … I’m sorry. I’m late.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. Oh, of course, if I had delayed a little longer, I would have acted badly and almost harmed you as I originally intended.”

“yes?”

“Why are you so serious about this? It’s just a joke.”

Only then did Latina tap the shoulder on which she had been holding the crystal ball as if to take a breather, and I stood there blankly, looking at her. Then I was startled.

My body began to fade from the tips of my toes. Latina, who noticed my reaction, said calmly.

“Don’t be surprised. It is only natural that this should happen, since my purpose in existence has been lost.”

“Th, that… … Well, if you could give it back to me for a moment… … .”

“How can I get back what I’ve already given? Don’t talk nonsense.”

My hand, which had lost its way, wandered in the air for a moment and then dropped.

“Obviously, a human born from human parents cannot exist in this spiritual world, so I am probably a being who was reborn on my own. If that is the case, then this is the natural course of things, so you do not need to be sad.”

“… … I still have something to say… … .”

There was so much to say. If only there was enough time, no, even if there wasn’t enough, it would have been fine. Just time to say a few things would have been enough. But as I watched my body disappearing more and more, I couldn’t think of anything.

Latina put her hand on my head like that.

“You have a lot of time left, but I don’t have any time left. Let me speak first.”

From noble mtl dot com

I quietly shut my mouth. Our eyes met. The gray eyes looked at me just as they did in my memory.

“Whatever happened between us in the past was not your fault. So… … go, my dear. Go and do what you have to do now.”

-As always.

“… … .”

The hand on my head fell. I looked at Latina, and Latina looked at me. A large crack appeared in the space behind me.

The world that was created solely to seal my power and memories was slowly collapsing.

“… … Yes, Sister.”

I quietly got up. Calling her by her first name, not her name. I suppressed the chills that enveloped my entire body and the phantom pain that was still eating away at my left arm, and turned around.

A voice came from behind me.

“You said you had something to say, but you’re leaving without saying it?”

“… … .”

Stopped walking.

I had a lot to say. A lot. A lot. Even at this very moment, they were all coming to mind randomly.

“… … It was an honor to be able to work with you, Sister.”

But, I really wanted to say this.

“… … You don’t call me by my name.”

A quiet murmur was heard.

“Still, I’m glad you look okay.”

The fading body soon dispersed into the air. The last words echoed between those lips.

“Thank you. For not breaking down.”