episode_0068

“… … .”

The person who opened the door stood still in the doorway and looked in this direction.

Because it was dark, I couldn’t see everything clearly, but based on the size, it appeared to be a woman.

Normally, he would have been able to see through this level of darkness, but his eyes had not fully recovered yet and he was unable to use magic, so his face was barely recognizable.

“I woke up.”

However, it seemed like they realized that I had opened my eyes.

‘Who is it?’

It’s the first time I’ve heard a voice.

The body shape is also unfamiliar.

Looking at the situation, it seems clear that that person helped me, but no matter how I look at it, it’s not someone I know.

Then why did that person help me?

That question arose.

But there were still too many things I didn’t know to ask such a question straight away.

The situation wasn’t even properly understood.

While I was organizing my thoughts, a woman came into the room.

Then he came to the side of the bed and looked down at me.

Only then could I see the woman’s face clearly.

What should I say about that impression?

‘… normal.’

Yeah, it was normal.

It was a face that was neither outstanding nor lacking, to the point where there was nothing else to say.

but.

‘too… normal.’

I felt a sense of foreignness in that face.

Even if it is ordinary, it is too ordinary.

The eyes, nose, mouth, everything that makes up the face is normal.

It seemed like an ordinary thing at first glance, but it was anything but ordinary.

A person’s impression is determined by a number of complex factors.

Even if you are beautiful or handsome, if you look at their features one by one, there are very few people who are perfect.

Conversely, the same is true for ordinary people.

It is truly rare for a person to have all their facial features so plain.

In most cases, an ordinary impression is created because there is something angular somewhere.

However, everything about the woman before my eyes was ordinary.

Eyes, nose, mouth, everything.

Therefore, the impression was both ordinary and very faint.

It’s a vague impression that I wouldn’t even remember if I had encountered it at least once.

I felt a strange sense of heterogeneity in that strange ordinariness.

However, there was something more important than that right now.

“You… Did you save me?”

No matter what the woman’s impression is, resolving my questions comes first.

It’s clear from the circumstances that she was the one who helped me, but I still need to confirm.

“… yes. That’s right.”

When I asked her question, she looked at me blankly and then nodded slightly.

‘… also.’

It seems like she saved me after all.

After solving the first question, many more questions arose in the future.

Where am I, how much time has passed, and how did you save me?

However, there was clearly something that had to take priority over that.

“I don’t know what happened… Thank you.”

I owe her a big debt.

If she hadn’t helped me, I probably would have died.

She is the benefactor who saved my life.

However, it was incorrect to ask questions without even saying a word of gratitude.

Of course, I couldn’t repay the entire debt with a simple thank you, and I had no intention of doing so.

“… … .”

The woman looked at me with slightly shaking eyes for a moment at my thank you.

“… Haha.”

I sighed and sat down on the chair next to the bed.

“… How is your body?”

Then he asked.

The tone and atmosphere felt noticeably lighter than when I entered this room.

Has there been some kind of change of heart, or is this his true self?

Although I couldn’t really tell.

“… Thanks to you, it’s okay.”

For now, we decided to continue the conversation.

“Lies.”

I didn’t expect those words to come back right away.

“… Yes?”

“I know for sure that you’re still not in good health, but would you believe me when I say you’re okay? It’s not a joke, even now, people are freaked out when they see it.”

“… … .”

Clearly, my physical condition is not normal.

It must be difficult to say that it’s okay, even if it’s just empty words.

Although his condition is definitely much improved compared to when he fainted, he is still seriously injured.

I knew that well too.

However, should I say that it is just a courtesy statement? … .

A complete stranger, not even an acquaintance of mine, helped me, so I can’t shamelessly reply, ‘It’s still not very good.’

However, it was awkward to explain the words I had already said with my own mouth, so I couldn’t say anything and just hesitated.

“… Hehehe.”

At that time, a small laughter was heard.

When I looked over, I saw a woman with a faint smile on her face.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing at you. just… The look on their face that they don’t know what to do is a bit funny.”

“… hmm. It’s okay.”

That’s not an empty remark, it actually didn’t feel that bad.

The woman’s expression definitely looked far from ridiculing.

On the contrary, I felt fortunate that the woman did not find me awkward.

The woman, who had been laughing like that for a while, calmed her smile and spoke to me.

“Now, you have a lot of questions, right? Ask.”

“… … .”

I was already planning to ask, but since I was in a position, I was guessing the timing, but hearing this from the other side made it easier for me to open my mouth.

Feeling a little gratitude, I asked the second question.

“… Why did you save me?”

Of all the questions I had been feeling and lingering in my mind, this was the most powerful one.

Why on earth did she help me?

Why did you save me?

I was secretly expecting her to be one of those who came after my bounty.

This is where the mess occurred.

There’s no way there was an ordinary person, and even if there was one, they should have noticed something suspicious a long time ago and ran away.

Even if by chance she really had nothing to do with the incident and was just there by chance, and she happened to see me and helped me with good intentions, there is still a catch.

There must have been at least dozens of people targeting me nearby, but putting aside her ability to protect and save me from those people, I didn’t think there was any reason for her to risk doing something like that.

As I said before, we don’t even know each other.

That’s why I looked at her with questioning eyes.

In response, the woman said.

“… hmm. I don’t know.”

With an expression that could not be read, he lightly lowered his gaze and looked at the floor.

After some time passed, her mouth opened again.

“To be honest, I don’t know either.”

“… Yes?”

… What is this sound?

As if the absurdity was evident on her face, she continued speaking immediately.

“I don’t know either. Should I just say that it happened that way… … .”

At first I thought it was just a joke.

However, there was no smile on his face and no wavering in his eyes, so it did not look like a joke at all.

‘No then…’ … .’

Are you saying you helped me for reasons you don’t even know about?

In that situation?

Could it be that you are in danger too?

Even though I had received help, this was quite absurd, so I just stared at her.

“Oh, and I think you misunderstood something. It’s not our first meeting.”

“… Yes?”

And, I was once again taken aback by the words that followed.

What does this mean again? Is this not your first meeting?

Startled by that sudden sound, I quickly looked at her face again.

However, no matter how much I searched my memory, I had no memory of meeting her.

I wondered if it wasn’t memorable because the impression was so ordinary, but I can’t easily forget the feeling of strangeness that comes from those overly ordinary facial features.

If you’ve met him somewhere, you probably remember him.

but.

“Memory… Isn’t it working?”

The woman looked visibly depressed, as if she was upset that I didn’t remember her.

Her eyes were so bright, it looked like she was about to shed tears at any moment.

“Well, that’s… that… … .”

I felt like I should say something, but I couldn’t think of what to say, so I hesitated.

“… Phew!”

Suddenly, she burst out laughing.

Only then did I notice.

It was all her acting.

“… … .”

“Don’t look at me like that. I was just joking around.”

She said with a faint smile.

… This person may be more playful than you think.

It means that he is a bright person, so it may be easier to talk to than someone who is just stiff and heavy, but honestly, it felt strange because I felt like I was always being swayed by something.

Anyway, looking at her with eyes filled with such subtle emotions.

“But it’s not a lie to say we’ve met before.”

“… … .”

Again, I wondered if it was a joke, but this time his expression was serious.

Considering my acting skills from before, I thought it would be possible to just make facial expressions… What can I say, the atmosphere was different.

‘… ‘You’ve actually met me?’

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t remember it.

If we had met in the distant past, there is a possibility that we wouldn’t remember… … .

“Well, it wasn’t like this back then.”

“… yes? What is that─”

The sudden words came out of her mouth again, before I could even react.

She raised her hand first and stroked her face with her palm.

OK.

Her face became a completely different person.

With a face that is too natural to be considered a simple disguise.

Even that face.

“… Huh?”

It was a face that gave me a feeling of déjà vu.

I clearly remember seeing it somewhere.

For sure… Yes, this was the face I encountered in the city I stopped by on my way to Lakenwood during last summer vacation.

The woman I met on the street that night when I left the dorm because I couldn’t stand the atmosphere of the group.

A woman who got caught up in a bully’s life and had a difficult time reacting.

And, a woman who at once exuded a fierceness that surprised even me.

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure, but I guess I remember.”

As a result, I was not able to confirm whether the life I felt really belonged to a woman, but since it is rare for me to have such an illusion, it still remained in my memory.

But I never thought I would be reunited with that woman like this.

I never thought she would save my life.

No matter how much I was, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

Under my trembling gaze.

“It’s been a while.”

The woman smiled.