Memoirs of the Returnee
chapter-274

Right after the treatment, my mind feels foggy, as if my soul momentarily slipped out of my body.

Would it be easier to let myself go like this? No need to worry, no need to feel pain.

Such thoughts occasionally cross my mind.

“…Your name?”

Director Yu Hains’s voice roused my consciousness. He shone a light into my eyes.

I answered.

“Shion Ascal.”

“Where are you?”

“…Spring Hospital.”

“lt’s Spring Water Hospital.”

Yu Hains corrected me with a prickly tone. A faint smile slipped across my lips.

“Do you have any friends?”

He inquired about friends.

Suddenly, several faces came to mind.

Yael, Soliette, Elise, Layla… And then.

The black bobbed hair.

The only person who knew my secret of being ‘terminally ill,’ who had been with me for quite a long time.

Tae.

…Where is that guy now?

I shook my head.

Clearing the hazy vision and the dimness of my mind, I return to the world.

“Don't you have friends?”

I bolted upright to look at Yu Hains. Yu Hains shrugged his shoulders with satisfaction.

“The procedure was a success. You’ve gained at least two more months.”

“I do have friends.”

I told Yu Hains.

“…l'm sure you do.”

Frowning, I placed a hand on my temple. I tapped my head a few times and then turned to look at Yu Hains.

The face and voice of that guy belatedly came into sharp focus. The days we spent together flashed by like a beacon.

“Where did she go?”

“…She?”

“Her name was Tae. A college friend”

“You don’t have a tumor in your brain.”

“…”

I looked at Yu Hains. Yu Hains looked back at me. More precisely, at my skull.

Well, of course. There’s no way this person would know Tae.

“lt’s nothing. Sometimes I just get a bit dazed after the procedure.”

“…lt could be a symptom, so I’ll make a note of it.”

Yu Hains wrote something on the chart.

“Yes. Thank you for your work. I’ll be leaving now.”

I stepped out of the hospital. As soon as I got into the car, I turned on the radio.

[…we bring you the election results.]

“What? The election’s over?”

I didn’t even get to vote. While listening to the radio, I turned on my smartphone and immediately checked the election results.

[Parliamentary Senator: Ken Petra]

“Hmm…”

Ken Petra was elected as a Parliamentary Senator. However, it was a close call with a 54% vote share.

[Sanrama District Senator: Ludeniel]

Ludeniel, where I had worked, won by a landslide with 68%.

[Ken Petra continues to deny the allegations made on social media…]

I quietly listened to the radio and then looked at my phone contacts. Swipe—swipe—I scrolled through and leaned back in my seat.

“She’s not here.”

No matter how much I searched, there was no name ‘Tae.’

It’s really strange. I remember her, and my memories with her are so vivid.

Why does it seem like her name doesn’t exist in this world?

“…I don’t know anymore.”

I gripped the steering wheel. I stepped on the accelerator and moved onto the road.

Libra Medical Center.

Johanna was preparing for a health check-up in one of the WIP rooms there.

“Hospital.”

“Yes. It’s called Spring Water Hospital.”

In the midst of this, she received a report from the balancer, Vitro.

“lt seems he’s been visiting consistently, not just this time.”

The news that Shion Ascal had been regularly visiting the hospital.

Johanna pondered for a moment and then twisted her face in disgust.

“lt’s probably because of Zia.”

“…Are you referring to Miss Zia?”

“Yes.”

Johanna said as she hung her coat on the hanger.

“That bitch has been sickly since she was young.”

She was quite a frail thing.

As a newborn, she seemed like she would die without being killed, and during her infancy, she nearly died from a cold.

“lt must be Shion Ascal visiting the hospital on behalf of Zia.”

Vitro nodded. Johanna, loosening her tie, asked,

“Which hospital was it?”

“Spring Water Hospital.”

“The one run by Professor Yu Hains?”

“Yes.”

Professor Yu Hains was well-known to Johanna as well. He was quite a prominent figure in this field.

“She found herself a good doctor.”

Just before Johanna began to undress from her shirt, Vitro turned around.

“Enough about that guy, what about business?”

“The Domain for the magic space we won has been established. We've successfully monopolized all the prime land.”

Johanna nodded. The success of this magic space was largely thanks to Shion Ascal's report and the surveillance network designed like a spider’s web.

Johanna's team had clearly seen the movements of their competitors and acted accordingly, swallowing up more than half of the magic space as a result.

“…What happened to Beckman?”

Johanna suddenly became curious about Beckman.

“He’s trapped in a Spiral Barrier. By now, he’s probably aged and died.”

Time flows slowly within a Spiral Barrier.

Of course, it was a situation he brought upon himself, but it was still a truth that it cast a shadow on her heart.

“…”

Yet, for Johanna, even such emotions were strange. Unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

Before she met ‘him,’ she had never felt anything like this—

—Knock knock.

There was a knock at the door. It was probably her attending physician.

Vitro opened the door.

“Are you ready for your health check-up?”

Johanna looked at him.

Denilson. In his 70s, approaching old age, the director of Libra Medical Center. Not only Johanna but alSo Derek, Jade, and even Sherlock had received health check-ups from him, but…

Suddenly, Johanna had a mischievous thought.

“No.”

She twisted the corner of her mouth while looking at Denilson.

“I think I’d like to change my attending physician.”

Denilson asked with a confused expression.

“…change the attending physician?”

“Yes.”

Johanna raised a finger.

“Yu Hains. From today on, I want that doctor to be my attending physician.”

She wanted to find out for herself what kind of illness Zia was suffering from, and what kind of conversations Shion Ascal was having with her.

Meanwhile, at Derek’s capital mansion.

Derek glared at the TV screen with bloodshot eyes.

[Everett Corporation’s Al approaches an IQ of 100… Commercialization imminent]

[Everett’s stock hits record high— Al effect?]

Day after day, garbage-like articles were exploding. Vern’s damned Everett was booming historically with artificial intelligence, and news of Johanna’s success kept coming in as well.

[Johanna of Libra successfully bids for magic space… Estimated value 3 billion Ren]

[Johanna-owned Libra department store, hosts numerous high-end brands…]

“…Trash.”

Derek felt the pressure. He wouldn’t admit it, but with each passing day, he felt a choking sense of inferiority.

“Vito. How’s the work progress! ng?”

He turned his gaze from the TV to a man in the room. Sitting in a corner of the office was a man with grass-like hair.

“Of course.”

Vito smiled faintly as he stood up.

“Here. This is the result.”

He placed a small glass tank on Derek's desk. Inside, a soul-like substance shimmered like paint.

“lt’s the premium version. It can learn as you, Derek, desire. Try using it as a personal assistant.”

“…Learn?”

“Yes. Try speaking to it.”

Derek glared intently at the glass tank. The Al inside showed no reaction.

“…Can you hear me?”

Then, the soul inside the glass tank twinkled slightly.

—Yes. I can hear you.

The corners of Derek’s mouth twitched slightly. He looked back at Vito.

“The language has already been learned. It can process thoughts much more advanced and faster than humans. Even at millions of Ren each, customers would line up. It’s different from Vern’s trash AI.”

“…”

Derek smiled silently. He leaned back in his chair with a leisurely cough.

“lt might sell for tens of millions, not just millions. The only problem is the ignorant parliament or ethical groups who know nothing about science.”

Killing those who deserve to die and overwriting their souls to use as Al.

Even Derek hesitated when he first heard Vito’s plan, but in truth, it was necessary for the advancement of humanity.

It wasn’t for Derek’s own safety, but a necessary evil for the benefit of all mankind.

“But Vito, I heard you hired a new researcher.”

“Yes. Dr. Killian. I have him by my side.”

“I told you to hire a researcher, not your own assistant.”

It was sensitive internal information worth Derek’s concern. If it leaked, even Libra could suffer significant damage.

“Don’t worry. We’re keeping a tight watch, and he’s someone who’s already invented an Al like ours.”

“…Hmm.”

Derek looked at the glass tank on his desk.

“Do you think so too?”

—Yes. I have alSo seen Dr. Killian a few times at the research institute. He was a diligent person. Additionally, he always accompanies the artificial intelligence he developed, called 'Deep Mind.’

“Is that so.”

Derek crinkled his nose at the response that was too human-like. He was quite satisfied.

Vito smiled contentedly.

“Commercialization will be ready soon, so please wait a little longer.”

“Understood. You may leave.”

Derek waved his hand. Vito backed out of Derek’s office.

A clear morning.

I am walking across the campus of the national university.

“Yaaaawn”

As I yawned from drowsiness.

“ Shion! Shion!”

I heard my name being called from afar. I turned to look in that direction.

“Shion !”

It was soliette. She was waving her hand and running towards me.

“Huh? What’s up?”

Such a fuss was unusual for soliette.

I asked with concern, but soliette smiled brightly.

“The server is open!”

“……Server?”

“Yes. Bethune!”

“…….”

I was momentarily speechless.

“The server is?”

“Yes. Bethune has been integrated into reality.”

“Says who?”

“We do”

A sultry voice flowed in from behind. I looked over.

It was Sheron and Erick from the Aventher family.

“Hello”

“…….”

Sheron waved at me, and Erick pretended not to see me.

I asked Sheron.

“The server is open?”

“Yeah. It’s open- So, you know”

Sheron approached with a queenly smile and whispered softly in my ear.

—Are you looking for the mastermind behind Knightmare?

“…….”

I furrowed my brow. Sheron shrugged her shoulders at my reaction.

“Why are you looking like that? We’re the same. The Aventagher family is alSo a victim of Knightmare. Didn’t you tell him, Soliette?”

Sheron looked at soliette. Soliette nodded at me, as if to confirm Sheron’s words.

“There are too many people here, so let’s talk in detail at our guild house-

Come when you have time”

“Yes. Shion. I'll go ahead”

I grabbed soliette’s wrist. Soliette looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you holding on to me?

“lf you want to play the game, finish your assignments first.”

“……Ah.”

Soliette’s face fell with belated disappointment.

…

[Bethune] had been integrated into reality. Elise had heard the news and immediately sought a way to bring Bianca out.

When she asked the [Bethune] users, it turned out to be surprisingly simple.

Experience points could be used.

In other words, by consuming some of the experience points needed for leveling up, one could bring out items, objects, or pets from within [Bethune].

Elise willingly invested experience points in Bianca.

And then…

“…Bianca.”

In the Magic Tower, in Elise’s private room.

She choked up as she held the black camel—Bianca—that had materialized before her eyes.

Too elegant to be a camel, with even teeth, fine features, and glossy black fur.

It was Bianca.

The very Bianca she had raised with such care.

“Bianca, my dear.”

Purr—

Bianca fluttered her lips. It must have been a sign of happiness.

“l’m happy to see you too.”

Elise’s eyes welled up with tears.

“From now on, let's stay together for a long, long time…”

She ran over and hugged Bianca’s neck tightly.

The sole reason Elise had not been able to give up on the dreadfully boring Bethune was Bianca.

This creature had become a reality.

Elise sobbed for quite a while, holding Bianca in her arms.

…

At the Libra Medical Center, in the outpatient consulting room.

Yu Hains looked at the woman standing before him.

“Lady Johanna, your health checkup results are in, and there’s nothing wrong with your body.”

“I would think so.”

She raised an eyebrow, as if she had expected as much.

Yu Hains asked her further.

“Are you experiencing any particular symptoms that are of concern?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“I heard you wanted to change your primary physician.”

“That’s right.”

Johanna nodded.

“Professor Yu Hains. I would like you to be my primary physician.”

“…Director Dennison would be better for you in every aspect.”

“That might have been true before. But the brain. Doesn’t it change with age? Director Dennison is too old.”

Johanna smirked. Yu Hains faced her with an impassive expression.

Suddenly, Johanna's expression hardened.

“Why? Is that a problem?”

“Not at all.”

“lt shouldn’t be. After all, you’re already in charge of another Libra.”

Another Libra. The phrase puzzled Yu Hains for a moment, but then he understood.

She must be talking about Shion Ascal.

“How is that fellow doing?”

Johanna asked in a subtle tone. Yu Hains responded with a cool shake of his head.

“I cannot disclose a patient’s personal information.”

“…Of course. That person must be seriously ill. Will that person live long?”

Johanna looked at Yu Hains. He looked back at her. His mouth was firmly shut, and his expression unchanged.

It was a clear intent not to give away even the slightest piece of information.

“Pfft.”

Johanna smiled.

“Very well, then.”

She stood up and looked down at Yu Hains.

“You’re my primary physician now, so expect frequent visits.”

“Yes. Take care.”

Yu Hains bowed his head. Johanna snorted and left his office.

Thud, thud.

Walking down the hospital corridor, she stopped at a junction. A figure emerged from the shadows.

It was her balancer.

“…Professor Yu Hains. Be careful in extracting whatever he knows about Zia.”

“Yes, I understan d.”

Johanna didn’t yet know what Zia’s specific weakness was. However, Professor Yu Hains surely would. Once she found out that weakness, even Shion wouldn't be able to resist.

“lt’s the task you’ve taken upon yourself.”

Johanna had already made up her mind.

She was determined to take Shion Ascal by force if necessary.