Tia was already the captain of the Royal Palace Knight Order’s third division, as explained.
Since I recited their oath when she first joined the order, Tia and I had been familiar faces for a long time.
I had seen her since her days as a regular knight. I comforted her during the battles against the Demon King’s army, when she had violent seizures just from getting blood on her hands. I also congratulated her when she finally overcame her fears and awakened as a proud knight.
In my previous world, my priorities were Menelapie and Teresa, but that didn’t mean I ignored others; I tried to embrace everyone.
That’s how I ended up developing feelings for Tia.
I really shouldn’t have, and I should have stayed away, but Tia became too close for comfort.
The moment the hunger pangs hit me, she was the first to rush over and stop me, only for that to cost her dearly, as I devoured her alive.
After the first hunger episode, where I feasted upon her and many others, guilt and despair weighed me down, and I couldn’t engage in any outside activities for a while.
I couldn’t even attend the funerals of those I consumed.
What right did I have to honor their spirits?
At some point, I realized that those I had devoured were with me, but my guilt didn’t lessen.
Guilt.
Guilt.
I considered it the most unnecessary and worthless emotion, yet since becoming the Mangja Seongnyeo, it took up permanent residence within me.
And the guilt that had lived only in my mind materialized before my eyes.
“Huuuuh…!”
[It’s okay; it’s okay. Please calm down.]
Thanks to that, I cried my heart out from the morning.
Tia looked flustered and fidgety, but my tears overflowed like a broken faucet.
“I… sniff Huuuuh… I killed you… sniff…”
[I don’t understand what you’re saying. Please calm down first…]
“Huuuh, Huuuh!!! I’m sorry… sniff I’m sorry!!”
After about ten minutes of wailing, I could finally gather my thoughts a bit.
[…Are you feeling better now, Seongnyeo-nim?]
“…sniff Huh… sigh…”
I didn’t even know what mental state I was in when I spoke to Tia.
Do you remember me?
I killed you.
I ate you.
How are you even here?
How did you become a Returnee?
Do you remember me?
Do you remember the day I devoured you?
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…!
I begged for forgiveness, but Tia, looking like the undead, wiped my tear-streaked face with her stoic expression.
[Please calm down a bit.]
Her expression didn’t change like a mask, but the subtle kindness in her tone made me feel another wave of sadness.
[I heard your story, Seongnyeo-nim. But to put it simply, I don’t know who you are.]
“…sniff… How can that be…”
[I’ll tell you about that, so please listen slowly.]
With that, Tia placed her helmet on the table.
It seemed a long story was about to unfold.
[I’ve never told anyone this, but even though I was treated as a Returnee, I’m not actually one.]
“sniff What do you mean?”
[It was ten… or was it thirteen years ago? Anyway, during the Second Great Rift, I woke up and found myself here. I barely remember anything before that. All I had were this body, armor, and sword. Initially, due to my appearance, I was mistaken for a monster. But as I protected other hunters and people, their perception of me changed.]
Well, now I’m treated as a unique Returnee.
As she added that, Tia shrugged her shoulders.
[There are cases among Returnees where memories have vanished. I fall into that category. Although I managed to obtain a resident ID as a Skeleton Knight and adapted to this world, I’m still quite a unique case.]
At first, Tia was misunderstood as a monster, but she stood on the side of humans and, through her hunter activities, gained recognition as a unique Returnee.
Protecting people while being a hunter wasn’t too difficult.
The undead body is immune to most physical attacks. She doesn’t feel pain or fatigue and has no limits on stamina.
She retained very few memories from her living days, but somehow, Tia still had the ability to wield a sword.
[Hmm, I see. So that’s what happened. I was someone named Tia Lauria who lived in your previous world… It doesn’t feel real, but it’s a strange feeling.]
“Euh… sniff… So, I really don’t remember…?”
[I’m sorry. Like I said, I have no memory at all.]
I see…
[And the fact that you killed me—was because of that hunger episode, right?]
“Euh… yeah… Speaking of which, you were a witness during my third ethics review…”
[Yes. I only came along with Yujin, so I couldn’t greet you properly.]
Yeah, right…
I felt empty.
Somehow, I felt a sense of emptiness, as if I couldn’t express this feeling at all…
I met someone from my past again, but that person didn’t remember me, leading to a reunion that was different than I had imagined.
[Seongnyeo-nim, please don’t make that face. Even though I don’t have memories of you, it’s not like you killed me on purpose, right?]
“…Just because of that doesn’t justify what I did.”
[It may not justify, but it could be considered mitigating circumstances. And forgiveness is possible too.]
“…Forgiveness…”
[I don’t know what my past self told you, but at least current me forgives you.]
It was the word I had only heard from the epitaph of my soul…
But somehow hearing the word “forgiveness” from the reality that is Tia felt profoundly different.
[However, it’s strange. Is there something between us, as you said…? Since becoming undead, I haven’t felt warmth, but oddly, being near you feels like getting close to a campfire.]
“…Is that really true?”
[I thought it was just my imagination, but if that’s the reason, then it makes sense. I wasn’t an emotionless undead knight.]
“So, does that mean I can return your soul…?”
[Not yet.]
“W-why not?”
[Well, I feel that it’s not time yet. I can’t explain it well, but it just feels that way.]
Of course, I could understand why.
Basically, ‘eating’ doesn’t just mean a physical consumption; it’s more about devouring the essence and soul of the target.
Thus, whatever I consumed, even using Great Healing to reconstruct the body, the soul would not return, meaning they were essentially dead.
Tia’s case was no different.
I had devoured the malicious entity and soul residing within her human body, so even if her body was revived, her soul could not return.
That’s why I had lost so many people due to my hunger episodes.
Anyway, even if she had lost her memories, Tia’s current self, post-Second Great Rift, had built her own experiences, memories, and personality anew.
If I were to implant her original soul into her, I had no idea what kind of consequences might follow.
The existing personality within the body of Skeleton Knight might devour her original soul, or vice versa.
No matter what the outcome, it was something I had to handle with care.
“Then, how about Great Healing…?”
[Umm… As an undead, I might just dissipate.]
“Wha…?”
[Please accept my feelings, Seongnyeo-nim. Now, I should get up. I’ll contact you again soon, so don’t worry too much.]
“…How about we grab a meal before you go?”
[I’m sorry. I really have things to do today.]
With that, Tia stood up and I could only watch her leave.
I had so much to say, but I had spent so long just pondering how to apologize…
Yet here was Tia, forgiving me even without remembering.
Is it really okay to forgive someone so easily after being devoured?
[By the way, Seongnyeo-nim?]
“Why…?”
[I may not remember much, but there’s one memory that remains.]
With that, Tia glanced at me.
[Undead have masters, you know that, right?]
“…That’s right.”
In my case, I was my own master, but fundamentally, all undead have a master—the one who resurrected them.
[My master’s name is… Teresa Kaitlyn.]
“…Oh..!”
[Beyond that, I don’t remember anything more, but if I think of something else, I’ll let you know.]
With that, Tia left.
And after she was gone, I remained sitting there for quite some time, unable to do anything.
Drip, drip, drip…
“…Ah… sniff…”
I couldn’t distinguish whether the liquid flowing from my eyes was blood or tears.
If it were tears, then I really was a blubbering saint with pitiful emotional lines.
But oddly enough, I felt sadness mixed with joy.
I didn’t understand why Tia was here.
Our timelines seemed to be distorted.
It looked like Tia had her own reasons for pretending to be a Returnee and not remembering me, yet I felt happy nonetheless.
I ought to be happy merely for the reunion and grateful for the forgiveness I received.
But hearing Tia’s last words made me selfish.
I… I might have been a burden…
The fact that Tia’s master was Teresa implied that Teresa had somehow resurrected Tia’s corpse with black magic.
And here I was, immediately thinking about that upon meeting Tia—a person I had eaten.
How selfish could I be?
Ah, perhaps I am not qualified to be a saint.
Living, repaying my sins and misdeeds should be enough, yet it felt shameful and humiliating that someone who should have died is freely roaming under the skies…
Menelapie… Teresa…
Even after facing my past sins again, I couldn’t help but feel an inkling of joy at the thought of seeing them again, a joy I buried deep within.
Of course, I wasn’t skilled in magic, nor did I understand the principles of the miracles manifesting from my own hands. So, I had no idea how to meet Menelapie and Teresa again.
I couldn’t even ask Tia more since she had no memories.
There were no clues left. I didn’t know how Tia came to this world.
But even so, I was happy.
Even a tiny possibility, as small as a dust speck, gave me a chance to hold on to the hope of reunion.
[I’ve already forgiven you.]
And from the epitaph of my soul, Tia called out to me.
“…But, I can’t forgive myself.”
[I have said it multiple times, but you are still as stubborn as ever. In that aspect, you seem to resemble His Majesty the Emperor.]
Strangely, her words made the corner of my mouth twitch.
Ah, I can’t help but feel delighted to hear such a thing…
[Then don’t be sad; just be happy. Cherish that emotion, Seongnyeo-nim.]
“Is it really okay?”
[Stubborn Seongnyeo-nim. We, or rather, I have been saying this for a long time.]
You are forgiven.
I wish for your happiness.
You deserve it.
With those words, I felt as if the epitaph engraved in my soul was fading away.
“…Thank you.”
That’s all I could say…
Just one simple thank you.
○○○○○
[We have detected danger.]
[We have sensed anger.]
[Fragments of the God have appeared.]
[Some of us have already been obliterated by that being.]
[This should not have happened.]
[This world has too many potentialities.]
[There are too many impurities in this world.]
[Because of these impurities, they must be purified by our hands.]
[We must. We have to.]
[But, the forgotten fragments of God have descended upon this land.]
[Have they come after us?]
[No.]
[I don’t know.]
[We cannot ascertain this.]
[In that world, we have suffered a complete defeat.]
[I will cease operations.]
[If discovered, I will be obliterated.]
[The puppets cannot contend with the fragments of God.]
[However, new beings will come soon.]
[Will we willingly hand over some of us?]
[I cannot involve myself.]
[I won’t take part either.]
[Puppets have limitations.]
[Rebels have limitations too.]
[That being has already formed a power in a short time.]
[We cannot defeat it in our current state.]
[Are we afraid?]
[It’s fear. This is the fear of death.]
[That being is far too alien. Even more than us.]
[Then, isn’t it simple?]
[Demand an explanation.]
[We cannot win. Even combined, we cannot win against this being. However, there are entities who can win against fragments of God.]
[How?]
SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1ZDFOMXdIclFMRW1PbHovbzljQVJlMk9Fa3l3Ty9WbUlsU0lpQVJPRjRiag
[It’s simple.]
[We do not need to intervene.]
[What we must do is create an opening.]
[A very small opening.]
[A very small opportunity.]
[And we will let parts of us cling to it.]
[In doing so, the fragment of God will obliterate itself by its own hand.]
○○○○
