Chapter 46

Three days after the war with Albion ended, Yuuji and Louise were enjoying a brief moment of carefree campus life—though leisure was still in short supply.

Just as Yuuji thought the day was over, a hooded man approached him.

"Excuse me, what's the matter?" Louise greeted politely as Yuuji followed the man to the forest at the edge of town.

"Let's move quickly." The man suddenly drew a dagger, aiming to attack Yuuji.

But the strike was weak, riddled with flaws in Yuuji's eyes. With a swift motion, he chopped the blade and struck the man's head.

Yuuji then noticed the attacker's long golden hair and pointed ears—clearly an elf, but unlike the dark night elves.

"An elf? But why would the native elves attack me? After what the Lich King taught me, I'm not quick to strike blindly," Sousuke said calmly, asking the elf's purpose.

"You've killed so many. I saw it—the look in your eyes. No doubt you're a demon," the blonde woman said firmly.

"So that's why." Yuuji understood he had been influenced by the Lich King, which explained some changes. But now he was clear-headed.

"Believe it or not, I've changed. You can leave."

"No. I want to bring you down first. Only then can I be accepted by my people."

"Boring." Yuuji turned and walked away, uninterested.

"Wait!" The blonde girl rushed after him, blocking his path.

"Let go. You should know you're no match for me," Yuuji said politely but firmly.

"Since you haven't hurt me, that proves your heart is still good. I want to change you, to stop you from going astray." Her eyes shone with determination.

"Oh? And how do you plan to do that?"

"Don't underestimate me." She cast a strange spell, and suddenly Yuuji felt a pounding headache and dizziness.

"What is this?" Yuuji asked, staring at her in surprise.

"I'm sorry. I need to go back now. Sorry." She poured all her energy into the spell and successfully cast it on Yuuji.

"White, don't you need to help your partner?"

"No. This is the perfect chance to awaken the master."

"Alright, I'll trust you this once."

Meanwhile, Louise, still at school, suddenly sensed something was wrong with Yuuji and grew very worried.

"What could have happened? Sousuke is so powerful, nothing should be wrong," she tried to reassure herself, but couldn't shake her concern.

As Yuuji fainted, the blonde woman approached, intending to check on him.

Just as she reached out, Yuuji suddenly sat up, grabbing her hand and startling her.

Before she could speak, Yuuji looked at her with confusion.

"Who are you?"

"Don't you remember?"

"No… I don't remember." He let go and slumped to the ground.

"My magic caused amnesia, and the effect was stronger than I expected," the blonde girl murmured, blaming herself for his memory loss.

"But at least I stopped the demon. That was the right thing." She planned to leave without worrying further.

As she walked away, she glanced back and saw Yuuji still sitting dazed, reminding her of her former self.

In the end, she couldn't leave him behind.

"If you don't remember anything, it's better to come with me for now." She offered her hand and helped him up.

"My name is Tifania. What's yours?"

"I have no idea."

"Then I'll call you 'Numb.' It suits you."

"Alright."

"Come on then, Numb."

Tifania led him away.

"Numb, be careful." She worried silently about how much help he would need.

As they walked, Numb stumbled repeatedly—bumping into trees, tripping over vines—just bad luck, it seemed.

Tifania began to feel sorry for him. How had he managed to survive all these years?

"I don't know. Just take it as it comes," Numb muttered, scratching his head blankly.

"Oh well. Just be careful." Tifania said nothing more and kept walking.

A few steps later, Numb fell again.

"Numb, watch out!"

"Sorry, I'm trying."

Late at night, Louise grew more anxious as Yuuji hadn't returned.

"What the hell happened to Yuuji?"

Her heart refused to calm.

Finally unable to wait, Louise went searching for him.

"So, Yuuji followed a strange person?"

"Yes, Louise," the doorman confirmed.

After asking around, Louise learned Yuuji had followed the stranger into the forest—and hadn't been seen since.

"I can still sense Yuuji is alive, but I can't find him."

"Something is interfering."

"Don't worry, he'll be fine."

Louise planned to return home to seek her family's help.

Meanwhile, Tifania brought Numb back to her home—a modest place that left him confused.

"No one from my family visits. You'll just sleep here tonight—in the living room."

"That's fine. Thank you for taking me in, Tifania."

When Numb tried to sit on a chair, it collapsed from age and wear.

"…I'll fix it," he muttered, embarrassed.

"It's okay." Tifania looked at him with pity.

"No problem, don't mind." Numb settled on the floor, careful not to break anything else.

"Good night, Numb."

"Good night, Tifania."

—

Dream

"Do you remember?"

"What?"

Numb looked at the black shadow before him.

"Do you still remember me?"

"Who are you? Do you know who I am?"

As Numb reached out, the shadow vanished.

"It's not time yet. You can't remember me now."

"Wait!" Numb chased the shadow as it faded away.

"Soon, you'll remember. Soon."

Awakening from the dream, Numb found himself alone—and his heart settled again.

"Who am I?"