"Phew... managed to brush it off somehow..."
As March's figure disappeared from view, Lynelle and Evernight let out simultaneous sighs of relief.
Unlike Lynelle, Evernight wasn't particularly bothered by the idea of March seeing her and Lynelle in... that kind of situation.
If anything, March's expression earlier—flustered, curious, face steaming like a kettle—had actually been quite endearing to Evernight.
However, as March 7th's "shadow," she couldn't reveal herself this early.
She existed to protect March, and the current situation clearly had nothing to do with danger—well, except for the risk of social death, of course.
"Even though I think it should be fine now, just to be safe, I'll ask one more time... In March 7th's memory, something like this won't happen again, right?"
"It won't," Evernight replied with certainty. "After March 7th left that segment of memory, I sealed it off. It's not impossible to peek into that memory, but there's one little prerequisite..."
"Prerequisite? What is it?"
"Beat me in a fight," Evernight blinked. "See? Simple, right?"
"Sim... simple?" Lynelle fell silent for a moment.
"So it's foolproof then... That puts my mind at ease. But I have a feeling that after leaving the Divination Commission this time, little March is going to look at me strangely for quite a while..."
"Hmm... Isn't that nice too?" Evernight tilted her head.
--+--
On the other hand, March, who had left the area representing Washtopia, had already joined Fu Xuan in easily clearing out the Distortion elements in the Belobog section.
"Even though you've been reluctant to talk about it, this one is still a little curious..."
Watching as the terminal controlling the next area—the space station—appeared in the memory space, Fu Xuan couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened back there in the Washtopia section? Why... did this one sense a trace of the Aeon of Remembrance's power from outside?"
"The Aeon of Remembrance... so it really was those Memokeepers up to no good!"
If Fu Xuan hadn't brought it up, it might have been fine, but mentioning it immediately made March's mind uncontrollably replay the image of Lynelle and herself tangled together, and... the squelch squelch of wet sounds.
"Those guys, fine, they can't beat us, but to resort to such underhanded tricks behind our backs? Trying to make this girl lose herself with that kind of... that kind of weird stuff? As if! I'm totally immune to that sort of test!"
"Sounds like your experience just now was quite... eventful..."
Watching the suddenly indignant pink-haired girl, Fu Xuan fell silent for a moment before teasing, "But this one didn't see you looking particularly immune when you came out earlier."
"That spring-blossoming maiden expression of yours... even this one has rarely witnessed such a sight..."
"Master Diviner, please stop teasing me! Those darn Memokeepers, just wait till I get my hands on them, I'll definitely... Huh? Master Diviner?"
Before she could finish her sentence, March, who had touched the space station terminal and shifted scenes again, was surprised to find Fu Xuan's figure had vanished from her side.
"What's... going on?"
The sudden disappearance of her companion threw March into a momentary panic.
However, after dealing with the previous incidents, she had become quite adept at clearing memory distortions.
So, even though she didn't know where Fu Xuan had gone, March followed the usual method.
Guided by Dan Heng's memory-avatar, which showed almost zero distortion, she tracked down traces of the others.
Only this time, March 7th discovered that the factors involving distortion seemed to be... a bit more numerous.
"March, you are the sole surviving descendant, the last princess, of the Diamond World, Adlivun. That star was burned into an obsidian hell the moment Nanook ascended..."
This was the past described to March by Arlan, head of the Space Station's Security Department.
"March, you were once a Galaxy Ranger. You and your comrades fought desperately against the remnants of the Swarm. You rescued worlds on the verge of being swallowed by black holes. You shattered the meticulously woven schemes of Dr. Primitive..."
This was the past described to March by Asta, the Space Station's Lead Researcher.
"Hey, hey, that's enough! Aren't these all just stories I made up for myself? That despicable Memokeeper actually dug all this stuff up!"
After dispatching two distortion elements in a row, March huffed and puffed, turning her gaze to the last person before her—a Herta puppet.
As the most formidable figure in March's mind, she was also curious: what kind of past would Madam Herta fabricate for her?
"March 7th, a member of the Nameless aboard the Astral Express. After being found by Himeko, she was released from the Six-Phase Ice that sealed her body. She lost all memories of her past."
Like a pre-programmed routine, the Herta puppet spoke in a voice full of mechanical resonance.
"For she has no past to speak of. She was once an Aeon. Aeons have no past; the moment they ascend, their past and future are drowned by fate."
"The transgression March 7th committed was losing the authority that belonged to a deity."
"...Wow, I'm really something, huh? I had no idea I had such a grand origin story," March 7th's expression was one of utter disbelief.
"So when I ascend to become an Aeon, will there be an endless supply of Immortal's Delight tea for me to drink?"
"Whatever, let's just clear these distortions quickly and check out the final location. If I'm guessing right... the last distortion point should be there."
Casually clearing the distortion element from the Herta puppet, March hurried toward a familiar direction in the memory.
After activating several mechanisms in a row, a hidden little room appeared before her—the place where Stelle was "born."
"Just as I thought—"
Seeing that the room didn't contain the familiar figures of Stelle and Lynelle, but instead a strangely dressed Memokeeper, little March instantly switched to battle mode.
"I knew it! It had to be the Memokeepers causing trouble!"
"That is correct. I am an emissary of the Garden of Recollection, Miss March."
However, the emissary didn't seem to understand why March was so furious.
Looking slightly puzzled, she continued, "Leave the Divination Commission and return to reality. The past is not worth your exploration; it will only bring you harm."
"No way!"
March whipped out her bow.
"Just now you were meddling with my memories, even... even making the memory-me do such embarrassing things, and now you expect me to trust you?"
"Just now? Embarrassing things?" The emissary was utterly confused.
"But... I just arrived. Might there be some misunderstanding between us?"
"Save your breath, take this!"
"Please, calm down, Miss March..."
In a battle within memories, March was obviously no match for a Memokeeper who could navigate the Memoria with ease.
However, to her surprise, this Memokeeper also seemed capable of reading her surface-level consciousness.
This ability couldn't read memories, but it was very convenient for lie detection—and upon discovering that March didn't seem to be deceiving her, the emissary became utterly furious.
"How dare they! Who dares to alter Miss March's memories under our name?"
The emissary casually erased the arrow March had shot, then spoke with a grave expression.
"Miss March, we can set aside the matter of investigating your past for now. Please allow me to take you to that sealed memory segment to see the truth for ourselves."
"I want to see exactly who has the audacity to bypass us and lay hands on you!"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.