Chapter 261

I Favor the Villainess . 261

Feb 19 2021

Recovery

“You are…?”

“Hum, It seems that it hasn’t quite broken, but the application was only partly done . ”

From her uniform, it was likely the girl worked for the academy, but I couldn’t remember her .

Her stature was around average and she had medium long hair . Her facial features didn’t particularly stand out either .

I looked at Lily-sama wondering if she knew anything, but she shook her head .

“Do you need something?”

“Ah yes, just out for a minor errand . After all, sparks should be dealt with before they catch fire . ”

“W-wha I don’t understand what you’re saying, but I ask that you don’t get any closer!”

Lily-sama’s made her distrust apparent .

Though I didn’t understand what the girl was saying, for some reason my brain signalled danger as well .

Whoever she was, she felt like bad news .

I pulled out my magic wand .

“Lily-sama, get behind me . ”

“What are you saying! Rei-san, you should get behind me! You’re still recovering, you know!”

Lily-sama also retrieved her wand .

As we had just attended a party with royalty in attendance, it seems she did not have her daggers .

“You two get along so well . If you just allowed yourself to forget, I’m sure you would’ve been happy…”

As though she was enjoying the situation, the girl laughed .

“Forget… you say? So I really am forgetting something then? Would I be correct to assume that you’re the culprit who stole my memories?”

“Yes, that’s not wrong . When I searched for the appropriate magic to falsify your memories, I found the perfect fit, but unfortunately the user was in an unrecoverable state . I went through quite a lot of trouble gathering data about Suggestion . ”

The girl shrugged her shoulders as though to say, good grief .

“Suggestion… were you involved with Salas?”

“Oops, looks like my tongue slipped . However, no, I am not involved with Salas Lilium . However, the magic I used on you should’ve been no different from Salas Lilium’s Suggestion . Though it does seem my data was incomplete, as my application of it also fell short . ”

Salas again?

He continued to be a nuisance even now .

However, didn’t that girl just… say that he was in an unrecoverable state?

From what I heard, it seems that Dor-sama was the one who had dealt with him .

“How convenient, the mastermind has just casually appeared before me . If I defeat you, I’ll be able to get my memories back, right?”

“Yes, that is true . However, I dislike violence . So, I’ll be making use of your trojan horse . ”

Along with those words, the girl’s pupils suspiciously flashed .

Her gaze was directed toward―Lily-sama!

“Khh… Lily-sama!?”

“…”

Lily-sama put me into a nelson hold .

In contrast to how she appeared, she was quite strong .

I had heard that she had trained hard during her pilgrimage after the revolution .

Pilgrimage…?

No, wasn’t she at my side the whole time…?

My memories were in disarray .

“Then, Rei Taylor . This time, forget completely . Forget everything about Claire François . ”

“―!”

The same instant her name reached me, I felt memories burst out from within .

After beginning my life here, I became her maid, witnessed the commoner movement, experienced the ordeal with the Scale of Love, had our vacation, and, and…

“TAIM!”

“Oh? It appears you remembered . As expected of someone who entertained thoughts of an eternal love . ”

“I am different from the Demon Queen!”

“You’re the same . Even you will one day take the wrong path . If I was the administrator, there wouldn’t be such a concern . ”

TAIM’s face was very calm and collected as she spoke those words .

I couldn’t afford to leave her like this .

But, what could I do?

“Now, forget everything . This time my analysis of Suggestion magic is complete . Never again, will you be able to remember Claire François .

“Why… you…!”

“There’s no need to worry . You have already done enough . Just spend the rest of your life peacefully with Lily Lilium . ”

TAIM’s eyes began to light up .

At the same time my field of view seemed to twist and distort, growing vague .

I won’t forget… I won’t let myself forget…!

My memories with Claire-sama, our irreplaceable days together, there’s no way I’d let myself lose them!

I fought to hold on to my consciousness, but slowly a fog rolled over my mind .

“Khh… at this rate…”

“It is pointless to resist . You only extend your own suffering… guh…!?”

Suddenly my field of vision returned to normal .

My memories… were not lost .

I could remember Claire-sama clearly .

“R-rei-san…? Eh…? I, why am I…?”

“Lily-sama! I’m so glad . The explanation comes after, please restrain that girl . ”

“Y-yes!”

Lily-sama and I locked down the arms of the girl who had stopped responding, pushing her to the ground .

“This is… Dor François’ Dream Magic… It appears by perfecting the Suggestion, the conditions for activation had been… I see… I was careless . ”

As her face contorted in pain, TAIM whispered something .

“GIve it up, TAIM . ”

“Have you forgotten, Rei Taylor? To me, this human is but a vessel . It’s impossible to capture me . Well then, until next time . ”

Leaving only those words behind, TAIM closed her eyes and lost consciousness .

“Khh…”

“What is going on, Rei-san?”

“That was the true mastermind . They are able to possess a variety of people, so even if we capture this girl, it’s meaningless . ”

“Mastermind…? Just who was that?”

“The explanation will take some time . ”

Now that I’ve remembered everything, there was only one thing for me to do .

Take Claire-sama back from TAIM, and defeat it .

“Then at least for the moment, we should return―”

“Sorry . For certain reasons I can’t―no, I don’t want to . ”

“… Rei-san?”

“I made a promise . When I return home, it will be together as four . ”

“… And that… wasn’t with Lily, was it?”

Lily-sama put on an ephemeral smile .

“I’m sorry . ”

“It’s fine . In that case, let’s call it here for tonight and plan to talk tomorrow . ”

“Yes . If possible, I’d like to talk to everyone who was involved in the Demon Queen… ah, the battle with the Three Great Archdukes . Could I ask you to gather them?”

“That might be… a little difficult . They’re all busy dealing with the aftermath . Tonight’s celebrations were a bit of an exception . ”

“… Is that so . ”

“Ah, but, perhaps we could send letters? Rei-san is already a hero . I’m sure they’d read it with high priority, and then―”

“That’d be too slow!”

Unintentionally, I had raised my voice .

“… Rei-san…”

“I’m really sorry, Lily-sama . But I must save Claire-sama as fast as possible… Even right now, at this very moment, I have no idea what Claire-sama is being put through…”

To accomplish its goals, it would stop at nothing―in fact TAIM had already managed to erase Claire-sama from the memories of everyone in this world .

There was no telling what it was doing directly to Claire-sama .

The frustration I felt over having forgotten Claire-sama, animosity toward TAIM, worries of Claire-sama’s safety, I was so close to jumping overboard .

What stopped me from drowning in my own negativity, was a gentle embrace .

“Lily-sama…?”

“Rei-san, first, let’s calm down . Let’s think about what to do in order . I understand that you’re panicked, but this isn’t the Rei-san that I know . If you’re like that, even things that could go well might not, you know?”

Though Lily-sama was on the smaller side, as she spoke those words to soothe me, she had the presence of a mother .

A long time ago now, in my previous world, when I had first started skipping school… I recalled that my mother had done this for me .

Suddenly my tears began flowing .

“I… forgot…! Even though it was something that I could never allow myself to forget…! My memories with Claire-sama… I forgot them…!”

“There… there…”

“Even though I have to go help her… I… don’t know anything…! If TAIM pulled out all the stops, I might never… be able to see Claire-sama again…!”

“It’s alright… It’ll be alright…”

Everything that gushed out from within me, slammed straight into Lily-sama .

From Lily-sama’s perspective, it must’ve felt like her lover had suddenly started puking nonsense .

To top it off, her lover was calling out the name of some other woman .

There’s no way that she didn’t feel hurt herself .

Even then, she accepted it all .

“Rei-san, I’m sure it’ll be alright . Let’s do the things we can, little by little . Lily will help too . This time, it’s Lily’s turn to save Rei-san . ”

As she looked straight in my eyes and smiled, she really did appear as a saint .

Though normally she could seem unreliable, at her core, she had a very strong heart .

Until I calmed down, Lily-sama continued to comfort me .

“… Sorry, I really lost myself . ”

“Fufu, to think I’d get to see this side of Rei-san, this was quite the perk . ”

“Uhm, about Claire-sama, if you could keep…”

“Fufu, I know . It’s our secret . ”

“I’m sorry . ”

I mean, I do think it was completely out of my control, but I don’t feel good about it .

“Tomorrow, tell me about everything, okay? About Claire-sama―Rei-san’s important person . ”

“Yes . ”

“Let us consult the Pope as well . I’m sure the Pope will lend her strength to us . ”

“Yes . ”

From then until we parted ways, Lily-sama continued to encourage me .

By the time that I reached my room in the treatment facilities, my feelings had calmed down quite a bit .

“Lily-sama… thank you . ”

One day, I must somehow repay her .

In order to do that though, first, I must take back Claire-sama .

As I renewed my resolve, I sank into a deep sleep .