After the battle with the Sixth Rank that attacked the school, the cleanup crew arrived almost immediately. Initially, only five people came, but as they realized that nearly every student at the elementary school had been affected, the number of responders increased rapidly.

Police officers, paramedics, and other people in the know—including memory manipulation specialists—all gathered, filling the school grounds. Skilled handlers, undoubtedly experienced with various types of monster aftermath, struggled as they transported the students to the hospital. I watched it all, silently, as Nina held onto my hand.

The two of us sat on a small ledge at the edge of the schoolyard, observing the scene before us as if we were watching a film. The whole time, I stayed quiet.

I had no idea what to say to Nina after she had told me, “All I need is you, Itsuki.”

Any response that came to mind—”That’s not right,” or “Just me isn’t enough”—felt insufficient, even meaningless. If my words could have reached her, she probably wouldn’t have said that in the first place.

So, I was at a loss for words. Each time I found myself in situations like this, I cursed my past life. Why had I gone out of my way to avoid meaningful communication?

Perhaps what I had done in my previous life wasn’t truly communication at all—just bland conversations that didn’t matter who they were with, meaningless exchanges that could have been with anyone. At school, at work, all I did was make small talk; had I ever genuinely connected with someone?

If I hadn’t avoided connecting with others back then… would I have words that could reach Nina now? Pointless thoughts, I knew, but they filled my mind anyway.

While I was lost in my own scattered thoughts, Nina continued to hold my hand.

Just as she always had when we faced monsters, as if saying she’d always stay by my side.

I have no idea how long we sat like that. The crowd had thinned to half, and a group of onlookers had begun gathering outside the school gates when I spotted a woman walking toward us.

I recognized her immediately without seeing her face. It was Irena.

She approached us with sure steps, stopping in front of us before bowing her head deeply.

“Thank you, Itsuki.”

Before I could respond, Irena continued.

“So, ‘Muppet Lappet Marionette’ was here.”

“Ma… what?”

I hadn’t quite caught the name, so I asked again, and she pointed to my chest pocket. Following her gesture, I looked down to see a small orb—a relic, red, white, and green interwoven—that peeked out from my pocket.

“That’s the monster’s name. It killed Edmond… Nina’s father, and caused the ‘Hundred Demon Carnival’ in England.”

“It’s the monster that led to Nina’s memory being sealed, right?”

“Yes. And now… she’s remembered everything, hasn’t she?”

Hesitating, I tried to think of the best way to convey the situation. Rather than recalling it all herself, it had been forcibly dredged up.

But as I hesitated, Nina spoke softly.

“…Everything.”

That single word told Irena all she needed to know, her expression turning bitter as she continued.

“Nina. I know it must be difficult, but for now—”

“No, it’s not difficult at all.”

Nina’s clear, firm voice cut off Irena’s words. Her tone was surprisingly strong, and I couldn’t hide my shock. In a lighthearted voice, she continued.

“I’m okay because Itsuki is here.”

“…”

Irena was silent in response. But she quickly regained her composure and spoke again.

“I understand. But, Nina, let’s go home for now. You can’t stay here.”

“No, I’m not going home.”

“…Not going home? So you intend to stay at school?”

“No, I intend to stay with Itsuki.”

At Nina’s words, Irena furrowed her brow in contemplation. But Nina continued, as if she’d known her answer all along.

“Itsuki protected me. He saved me. That’s why I don’t need anything else anymore. I don’t need my home. As long as I have Itsuki, that’s enough.”

At that, Irena closed her eyes. After a moment’s thought, she opened them, reached out a gentle hand toward Nina, and murmured a short incantation.

“Sleep.”

At once, Nina’s body slumped forward, but Irena caught her. Nina’s grip loosened, her hand slipping from mine as her body went limp.

“Thank you for everything, Itsuki. I apologize for Nina’s behavior.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m okay. But… what about Nina…?”

“It was a drastic measure, but I think it’s best if she rests for now. The sudden recollection could trigger panic.”

“But she seemed calm…”

Unable to imagine her in a panic, I voiced my doubts, but Irena shook her head softly.

“A heart in shock can become numb, overtaken by something larger than itself. For Nina, that something was you, Itsuki.”

Was that really the case?

“Pain can surface later, seeping in over time. That’s why I sealed Nina’s memories. Though I doubt it can be done again.”

“Why… can’t it be done again?”

I asked reflexively, puzzled by her resigned smile.

Was it that the magic couldn’t be used again, or was there some other reason?

“Memory seals don’t work well on children. They have fewer memories than adults, making it difficult to hide a painful one in the sea of forgetfulness. For adults, well… they forget things naturally over time.”

With that explanation, Irena turned on her heel, still holding Nina in her arms.

“And once someone breaks through a memory seal, they’re more likely to do so again in the future. It becomes a habit.”

“Then… Nina…”

“She’ll have to stand on her own, without magic.”

“…”

Isn’t that… cruel?

I thought so, but I couldn’t put it into words.

“Itsuki, if I may, I have a request, though it may be rude of me to ask.”

“A request?”

“If Nina tries to stand on her own, could she rely on you for support?”

I didn’t hesitate, nodding vigorously, even though she wasn’t facing me.

“Yes! If there’s anything I can do, I’ll do it!”

“Thank you… so much.”

With that, Irena left the school grounds, carrying Nina.

Left alone, I lingered for a moment in the quiet schoolyard. Then, realizing there was no point in staying, I headed back to the classroom to pick up my school bag.

For the first time in a long time, I arrived home with a feeling of unease in my chest. That feeling of unease remained with me until I received a call from Irena the next day.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep