[LN] Volume 4: Chapter 5.2

Volume 4 Chapter 5.2

Acceleration to Collapse Part 2

Translator : PolterGlast

Central Park after school. It was already dark and rain was beginning to fall.

The usually popular outer perimeter of the park was deserted, and the wooded area was naturally empty of people. Nozomu was sheltering from the rain at the base of a tree in the wooded area, waiting for Camilla's arrival.

With a rustling sound, a girl with short, brown-colored hair emerged from the trees.

"Good, you're here......"

"You have something to talk about, right? I wanted to talk to you too."

A brief silence. Camilla closed her eyes once, took a deep breath, and silently opened her mouth.

"............We don't have much time, so I'll tell you first. About the reason why I was cooperating with Ken."

"We don't have much time?"

"I've been on the Starlight's radar since freshman year......"

"Starlight?"

"This city's intelligence organization. It would not be strange if there was one, would it? It's true that this city has released the results of its research to other countries, but not about criminals and illegal organizations."

Camilla is right.

The question is, why is she being monitored by such an intelligence organization?

Camilla looked downward once, licked her lower lip as if preparing herself, and began to speak eloquently.

"I come from a rather special family. The Empire's ......."

"The Empire's ......?"

The Cremazzone Empire is a gigantic empire that governs the southwestern part of the Arcmel Continent. It is one of the most powerful nations on the continent. On the other hand, it has taken a step back when it comes to the management of Arcazam.

This is because they are wary of the Forsina Kingdom, the Alliance of Small Nations, and the Sumahya Union.

Prior to the Great Invasion, the Empire was the most powerful hegemonic power on the Arkmel Continent, and it made various overbearing demands on neighboring nations.

However, hegemonic nations are prone to internal strife because they lack external threats. The Cremazzone Empire is no exception to this rule, and has always been politically divided, and furthermore, its national power was severely weakened by the Great Invasion.

Nowadays, when neighboring countries unite, since eliminating them single-handedly would be difficult, the empire in its decline has been forced to adopt a course of cooperation with them.

"Yes. According to the school's records, I was born in a free city in the Delta Zone. I did live there, but I actually used to live in the Empire when I was a child."

As a result, many of the Empire's citizens in Arcazam had to leave their homeland for a variety of reasons.

Naturally, some have their own reasons. Camilla was one of them.

"And I have a bit of a history with Lisa, too......"

After saying this, Camilla reached into her pocket. She took out a rainbow-colored comb. It was a side comb, imbued with magic power and clearly a magical tool.

"This's ......"

"A rainbow-colored crown shell comb. This comb is a magical tool that can change the hair color and appearance of the person whose hair is combed through it."

The comb was old and chipped in several places. Camilla began to comb her hair by brushing it to the side.

Then, her brown-colored hair began to turn red from the roots, and gradually turned into a greyish-red color.

The color of her eyes also changed, and her facial features resembled those of someone Nozomu knew.

"That hair color, it looks a lot like Lisa's. Don't tell me-......."

"Yeah. That's right. We are cousins."

Nozomu's eyes widened at the sudden confession, but he took a deep breath once to calm his shaken mind.

"Does Lisa know about this?"

"No. Nor does she know that she has a cousin. If she knew in the first place, she wouldn't want to be with me."

"Why?"

"Because it's our fault that Lisa's father died......"Fiind updated novels at novelhall.comu couldn't comprehend those words for a moment.

He heard that Lisa's father had died before they both met, but he did not know the cause of his death.

However, the presence of her late father was very significant in Lisa's mind and was the reason for her to become an adventurer and to come to Arcazam.

What do you mean by that?

At Nozomu's questioning look, Camilla frowned and cast her eyes downward as she tried to squeeze the words out of her mouth.

"Lisa's father, who was an adventurer, and my mother were brother and sister, and were nobles of the Empire. How much do you know about the Empire?"

Nozomu didn't know much more than what was written in the textbooks.

A superpower that has ruled the southwestern part of the continent for hundreds of years. A land of sand and rock, prairies, and volcanoes. A land that continues to influence the entire continent, both historically and culturally. Also, although it supported the construction of Arcazam, it has kept its distance from it.

"Also, the fact that religiously, they don't worship spirits like other countries, but rather Dragon Slayers ......."

The main religious belief on this continent is animism centered on the spirits of the six attributes: earth, water, fire, wind, light, and darkness.

However, the Empire is different. Since its founding, humans, known as Dragon Slayers, have been deified rather than spirits.

This is because the first emperor, a Dragon Slayer, had conquered various tribes that were in rivalry for power, and as a result, the empire prospered.

He had children with many women and gave each tribe a role and privileges.

As a Dragon Slayer himself, Nozomu was curious about this country, but he chose to listen to Camilla's story for now.

"Originally, Uncle was a rather curious person, and as an aristocrat, he didn't care much about his status. That's why he didn't get along with his family and left home as soon as he came of age. After becoming an adventurer, he met Lisa's mother, whom he married and had a child with."

A yearning for the outside world. Nozomu felt that his father was very similar to Lisa in this respect.

"My mother and Uncle were very close. Even after my mother came of age and married into another family, they still secretly exchanged letters about their lives. But ......"

Camilla's voice sank and her gaze cast downward.

"My mother left the Empire a few years after I was born. I don't know exactly what happened, but there is no doubt that she lost her place. I heard that after my mother gave birth to me, she became unable to bear children."

The Empire is a nation that places great importance on bloodlines, and aristocratic women are expected to bear many children.

Therefore, the status of women who could no longer bear children tended to be relatively low. Camilla's mother was apparently one such woman.

"I don't remember much about my time in the Empire. But I do remember my mother desperately running away from her pursuers in the desert under the cover of darkness. I also remember the man who helped us ......"

A dream that should have been beautiful. But it disappeared at some point and became an excuse for him to escape.

But because he noticed his escapism, tried to face it once more, and then confronted the reality, there were new feelings that welled up in his heart.

"I...... we came here to support Lisa's dream. But if, on the other hand, we're an obstacle to her, then-......"

We should destroy it. This false, lie-painted relationship. Completely.

"What do you think Ken's going to do now?"

"I don't know. But I'm sure he won't do anything good. He's abnormally obsessed with Lisa. Especially after he lost to you in the forest, he is getting extremely impatient......"

Ken had nothing but contempt for Nozomu, but after his defeat in the Spasim forest, he began to lose his composure.

According to Camilla, there is no telling what he will do. He seems to be as dangerous as or more dangerous than cornered criminals.

"...... Anyway, we need to restore Lisa's altered memories."

"But, how......?"

"There is a way. Let's ask for Shina-san's and Razward's help. With their regained powers, maybe they could restore Lisa's memories."

"Ah......"

Ken, who was accompanied by a non-standard existence called a spirit, would certainly be a rare existence in the academy.

But now there's Shina and Razward.

Although Razward said he was not as good as Mefi when it came to mental manipulation, Nozomu had other friends he could rely on, including Tom, Irisdina, and Tima.

"There is still some hope. No need to despair. So Camilla, will you help me to save Lisa?"

Transcending past conflicts, Nozomu looked straight at Camilla and held out his hand.

A single tear trickled down from her eyes, which were staring petrified at the outstretched hand.

"Ugh, *sob*...... I'm so-, sorry......."

While covering her mouth, she broke down in tears. Nozomu watched silently as she let out an overflowing sob.

Eventually, Camilla slowly raised her head. Her eyes, while retaining some of the gloomy darkness from earlier, shone with the light of a certain will.

"When it's all over, Lisa will definitely cut all ties with me."

"Don't worry. I'll probably be beaten as well."

"Thank you, Nozomu. For listening to my feelings......"

A past that cannot be undone. Still, she should do what she had to do now. With this renewed determination, Camilla grasped Nozomu's hand back.

"Then let's move now. We don't have much time."

"Yeah, you're right."

They didn't know how severe the memory alteration done by the spirit continued to weigh on Lisa's psyche. On top of that, there were Ken and Starlight working together with him. So they had to move quickly.

But at that moment, a voice echoed through the darkened wooded area.

[I can't let you do that~~]

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