C190
Terence seemed on the defensive.
"—... conditions?"
"Yes, conditions. You didn't think that going back in time would come with no cost, did you?"
"Liena, in your case, didn't you go back in time without any conditions?"
"In that girl's case, at the moment she was chosen as an apostle, she was dying, so I went back in time and accepted what was given to me."
"Is my case different?"
"As you can see, you're rejecting the role assigned to you and asking God to turn back time. I really don't like that."
"..."
"Besides, I gave you an option at the beginning. 'Should I give you the chance to destroy the world?' You accepted that role and then discarded it."
Terence closed his eyes in silence.
He remained determined even in God's presence, and even in situations where he didn't know what God would ask for in return.
No, I think "he has no choice but to be determined" would be a more accurate expression.
It's not that he can't be shaken because he's strong, but rather that he's indifferent because there's nothing left to wear him down.
How much time has passed since he lost Ethel until he became an apostle of the evil god and destroyed the imperial palace?
His face, reflected in the mirror hung in a corner of the temple, showed eternal depression and fatigue.
Finally, Terence opened his eyes and said,
"Tell me what the price is. I'll give everything I can. If only I could go back to the past."
"I'll take your memories."
"… what?"
"But rest assured. If I steal all your memories from this life, nothing will change. If you don't know anything, you'll act the same way you did in the past, and it's obvious that the results will be the same as they are now."
"So?"
"I'll give you memories to replace yours. These are someone else's memories, but you can use them to gather information before going back."
At that moment, Miella spoke up as if she had come up with a brilliant idea.
"Wait a moment, what if those memories take a different form? However you look at it, having someone else's memories is not natural. There will be great confusion about your identity. At best, you went back in time, but it would be difficult if those concerns held you back."
"Hey…"
"Well, I've got it! How about a novel? You can think of someone else's memories as the content of a novel, so naturally, you'll consider yourself a character in the novel."
"Wait!"
Terence, who hadn't been shaken even a moment ago, lost his composure.
"To hell with the novel and everything! Not my memories! If there has to be a price, take something else!"
"What? Why are you so upset?"
"Would anyone welcome the idea of being recognized as someone other than themselves?"
"Is that so? It's strange. From what I know of you... you're someone who would risk anything if you could save that woman."
"... Say something else you want."
"Is that the real reason? Are you afraid of not being able to meet Ethel?"
"..."
"Forget all the moments you had with Ethel, go back to the past with only someone else's memories. Of course, once you have someone else's memories, you'll act differently than you did in this life. There's no guarantee you'll meet Ethel again as you did in this life. You're afraid of not being able to meet Ethel, not being able to love Ethel, and not being able to protect Ethel."
Terence confirmed Miella's words with silence.
"Of course. The only reason I'm going back in time is for Ethel, so how can I accept forgetting her and have the uncertainty of whether we'll meet again?"
"But the memories I'll give you are Liena's memories. Just with this, you can clearly see how Liena will act and completely overwhelm her. It's also possible to steal Liena's achievements. You'll become a hero who will save the world and enjoy fame and fortune."
"I don't want it. If I keep my memories, I can handle it with my own hands."
"Good for you. But what should I do with this? The price is already decided."
"I said no!"
"You don't have the right to refuse."
"Damn it! If there's a price to pay for it, you can take life or anything else! I'd rather take my own life!"
"Think carefully. It's not a reward, it's a price. There's no way I'll do what you want."
For a moment, Terence looked at the altar with a fierce look, as if he were going to destroy it at any moment.
But unfortunately, as he too was a mere human being, he was no threat to God.
The Goddess Miella said softly,
"Don't think too negatively. It's not confirmed that you can't meet at all, is it? How do you know if Ethel will return to your mansion to ask for a job as a servant like she did this time?"
"... How can I guarantee that? The reason Ethel came to the Freeheiden residence among so many noble families was because of my actions."
"Mmm."
"There aren't many noble families that would hire someone without a letter of recommendation. At that time, I often sent servants to weed out spies planted by the empress. She heard the rumor that my mansion always suffered from a shortage of labor, so Ethel came there on purpose."
"But?"
"If I have different memories and my behavior changes, there's a chance Ethel won't come to visit."
"There's also a chance they'll meet again the same way."
"It's not enough to have a chance. No matter what happens, I have to see Ethel. As soon as I meet her, I'll definitely fall in love with her again. I guarantee it. Because Ethel is someone you can't help but love."
"It's really a touching love."
"But it doesn't make sense if we can't meet at all. I have to give happiness to Ethel."
"Alright, I heard your love story. But that didn't change my mind. Now bid farewell to this world."
"You...!"
"And Terence, even if she can't meet you, there's no way Ethel will feel unhappy."
Terence's eyes widened at those words.
"If I can't meet you, she won't have to take poison, and I can have a future where I can get another decent job and live happily."
"..."
"Unconsciously, you thought that Ethel would only be happy if she met you and if you protected her, didn't you?"
"That..."
"In short, it's your mistake. You can find happiness your way, and Ethel can find happiness her way."
"Wait a moment!"
Just as his vision was about to distort, Terence shouted.
"The price has already been decided."
"It's not that. I'll accept the price."
"Oh?"
"However, I also have a condition."
"What is it?"
"The person who will go back to the past and receive someone else's memories is not me, but Ethel."
"What?"
"Give Liena's memories to Ethel. I said a condition..., but more than anything, it's a request."
The goddess fell silent for a moment and then burst into laughter.
"I can't believe the word 'request' came out of your mouth. By the way, do you understand what you just said?"
"Yes."
"Do you want Ethel to come back? As you may have guessed, if she returns, you're obligated to become my apostle like Liena. There's more than one, so you're a candidate."
"I know. Even considering that, I hope Ethel gets Liena's memories."
"Why?"
"Ethel is a strong person who can swallow poison at once even though she knows she'll die. Much stronger than me. If you give her wings, she'll be able to save the world."
"Are Liena's memories the wings?"
"Yes, those memories will give Ethel the strength to escape from the miserable Wallace family."
"The ones you brutally killed."
"And she, has the right to have what that woman, Liena, enjoyed. The girl Cassius originally tried to adopt was Ethel."
"You did your research."
"... Let Ethel return instead of me."
"Is it really okay? If you go back, you'll receive my blessing and your annoying headache will disappear. However, if Ethel receives the blessing, unless you're lucky enough to meet her and befriend her, you'll suffer headaches again. You might consume the devil's claws again."
"I don't care. I realized this after hearing what you said a moment ago. I also want to meet Ethel in the next life. I want to love her. I want to protect her. But what I want most is Ethel's happiness."
"It's funny. It's not an entirely unexpected situation, but I never thought you'd make that decision."
"..."
"You were the one most likely to rebel against me to the end, unable to accept the price. The fact that they live a short life doesn't mean things always go as I expect. That's why it's amusing."
The goddess laughed and made a suggestion.
"Is there something you want to leave for Ethel? I'll allow you only one sentence as a reward for making me happy."
"A sentence?"
"However, Ethel won't know you said that. She won't even know you exist. She'll only know those words. Something like, 'make sure to see Terence Freeheiden' won't work-."
Terence thought seriously.
Words like "I love you", "You should be happy", "Beware of Liena", and "Leave the Wallace family behind quickly" appeared and disappeared between his lips.
It didn't take long before he made his decision.
"When Ethel left my mansion, she left me a letter. One of the phrases written there stayed particularly engraved in my memory."
His lips were soft.
"I hope the prince always walks on a path of flowers. I thought it was a rather interesting expression. Ethel..."
He gently called Ethel's name and spoke to her as if she really existed here.
To the person he deliberately avoided in the past and didn't meet until she left.
"Come back and walk on a path of flowers."
That was the title given to Liena's memories he had read, or rather, that until now he had only thought of as a novel. The novel, <Come back and walk on a path of flowers>.
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