Chapter 122

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Chapter 122: Return (4)

"……."

"……."

A suffocating silence descended on the pristine white rooftop.

I could feel Sasha's wide-eyed gaze fixed on my face, studying me repeatedly.

"Ah."

Moments later, she finally understood what I had said and smiled brightly.

"You're right. You really do seem like a different person. Compared to before, your personality is much gentler, and your social skills have improved. It's like... you’ve gained a sense of ease, somehow."

"……."

"To be honest, I couldn’t believe it when I only read about it in your letters. But you really have changed. It’s as if… you’re an entirely different person."

Oscar couldn’t say anything.

Because, in truth, he was someone else, and the Oscar Crucian she knew had already died.

That thought alone suddenly filled him with dread.

‘…If Sasha finds out the truth, how will she react?’

She had often talked about how she used to have lively discussions about magic theory with the younger Oscar, sharing conversations and moments of camaraderie.

To her, young Oscar must have been both an intelligent junior and a companion in the pursuit of knowledge.

The realization that he would have to tell her about the death of such a cherished figure felt like a heavy stone pressing on his chest.

"Well, it must be that your personality changed because of amnesia."

"……."

A brief inner conflict flitted across his mind.

That one line was all it would take.

If he said, "Yes, that’s it," Sasha wouldn’t have any doubts, and he could continue keeping this secret.

‘But…’

Now was the perfect time to reveal the truth.

She had just shared secrets about her past that she had kept hidden.

Not revealing his own secret in return would feel like a betrayal.

If the truth came out later, in any other way, she would undoubtedly feel deeply betrayed.

‘More importantly…’

Oscar hated admitting this to himself, but there were advantages to telling Sasha the truth.

A 4th-level mage’s abilities were limited, but with the support of a Tower Master, things could change dramatically.

And now that he knew her feelings toward him were tinged with a frustrated sense of resentment, there was no longer any reason to hide the truth.

"……."

But why?

His lips, which usually moved so easily, felt like rusted bolts, refusing to budge.

It wasn’t hard to pinpoint the reason.

‘…I’m afraid.’

When he conversed with her as the younger Oscar, the arrows of resentment always aimed at Oscar Sage.

This allowed him to take a step back, to listen as a bystander.

But revealing the truth would mean those arrows would now turn toward him.

That’s what scared him.

‘…Am I afraid of hearing Sasha’s direct resentment?’

That’s why he wanted so desperately to run away.

Understanding his own emotions, Oscar gave a bitter smile.

Even now, the fear and desire to escape hadn’t disappeared.

His fists were sweaty, and his arms trembled.

But in this world, there are things you must face, no matter how afraid you are or how much you want to run.

‘Facing those things head-on without retreating.’

The world calls people who can do that "adults."

It was time for him to stand before Sasha, not as the younger Oscar, but as an adult—and as the mentor he once was.

With his resolve firmed, Oscar’s lips finally parted, and his calm voice flowed out.

"Amnesia—yes, that was the most convenient excuse at the time."

"…?"

Sasha’s eyes widened at the sudden remark.

"And it worked well. People simply attributed my changes to memory loss."

"So… are you saying you never had amnesia?"

"That’s right."

"But… you genuinely don’t seem to remember the conversations you had in the past, do you?"

Oscar met her gaze directly.

"Of course not. I’m not Oscar Crucian."

"……."

Sasha, who seemed about to say something, suddenly fell silent.

Moments later, her sharp, narrowed eyes revealed that she had gathered her thoughts.

"If this is some sort of joke, stop it now. I’m starting to get upset, but I’ll forgive you if you stop here."

"A joke…"

Oscar responded to Sasha’s accusation with something far more convincing than words.

"……!"

He released the emotions he had been suppressing, letting them radiate out in every direction.

The change in the air around him must have told her that every word he said was true.

Looking at the stunned Sasha, Oscar confessed calmly.

"The owner of this body passed away on the day he consumed the illegal elixir. His young life came to an end then and there."

"…Then."

After a brief pause, white magic began to emanate from Sasha’s body.

With the white rooftop as a backdrop, it felt as though the entire world was being painted white, and the suffocating sensation intensified.

"The Oscar I’m speaking to now… no, you… who exactly are you?"

Her magic conveyed a clear intent: depending on his answer, she wouldn’t hesitate to attack.

Oscar reached out, gently pushing back the pressure of her magic.

"……!"

Sasha’s magic grew sharp, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Her reaction was only natural.

For her magic to be brushed aside so effortlessly by a 4th-level mage—it defied everything she knew.

‘This person is dangerous.’

She decided it would be best to subdue him first and talk later.

As she prepared to unleash her magic, however—n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"……."

A thread of mana emanated from her opponent.

It was a mana so familiar, so nostalgic, it felt like the scent of long-forgotten memories.

Caught in its grasp, Sasha froze.

Her trembling eyes darted to him.

"This…"

It was the mana she had both resented and longed for—one she thought she would never encounter again.

The mana of a hero to humanity, a mentor who had been more like a parent to her.

Oscar Sage’s mana.

Overwhelmed, Sasha dropped her head.

"……Heh."

A faint mutter escaped her lips as her head hung low.

Just as Oscar was about to speak, Sasha slowly raised her head.

The once innocent and lively face was now filled with a fury more intense than anything he had ever seen.

“How dare you!”

A cloud of magic descended above her head.

Feeling a sudden chill run down his spine, Oscar hastily pulled the cord.

Whoosh!

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Teleporting to another location, he gulped as he stared at the spot he had just been standing.

‘If that had hit me…’

There was no need to imagine further.

The magical force, brimming with killing intent, would have torn his entire body to shreds, leaving nothing but a pool of blood behind.

Realizing this was no joke, Oscar hurriedly raised his hand.

“Wait! Sasha, let’s calm down for a moment—”

“Shut up!”

A piercing voice reverberated through the space.

Sasha glared at him with blazing eyes and issued a warning.

“For the sin of insulting him and trying to mock me, you’ll pay dearly.”

“No, I…”

Oscar trembled with genuine fear.

He had no way of dealing with a high-level mage who was genuinely trying to kill him.

‘W-what do I do?’

All he had wanted was a conversation.

He had envisioned a heartwarming resolution where a priest facilitates an honest dialogue, leading to mutual understanding and reconciliation.

But instead, before he even had the chance to paint the picture, the canvas had turned pitch black.

‘Survival first.’

Until Sasha’s anger subsided, he’d have to keep running and attempt a conversation later.

Oscar began to gather his magic.

“Hah, as expected. So, you’re finally showing your true colors!”

“…”

You’re the one who tried to kill me first!

About to claim self-defense, Oscar was stunned by the incoming gusts of wind.

“Unique Magic: Rippling Wind.”

Countless gentle breezes flew toward him with no sense of malice or warning.

But Oscar knew what those winds truly were.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

Rippling Wind was a magic so powerful that it could effortlessly slice through the bones of most monsters.

And, needless to say, he was far less durable than those monsters.

“Blink.”

Once again, Oscar pulled the cord, teleporting to the opposite end of the rooftop.

Just as he resolved to keep running until Sasha’s anger waned—

“I’ve already seen that trick.”

“...!”

A chilling voice accompanied by a petite figure’s cold gaze pierced him.

In the blink of an eye, Sasha had read his magic and tracked his location, already waiting for him at the new spot.

Thud!

“Gah!”

Sasha’s small fist struck him square in the solar plexus.

Though her hands seemed delicate, they carried an immense amount of magical power.

‘If that lands, it’s over.’

Oscar instinctively realized this and hastily completed a spell.

『Isolation Garden.』

Forced to act quickly, he sacrificed several safety measures, further shrinking the already small range of the spell.

‘But this will be enough.’

Sure enough, Sasha’s fist halted midair.

She stared at the void-like domain surrounding her with a bewildered expression.

“This… is Master’s… How is this possible?”

Isolation Garden was a unique spell created by Oscar Sage.

Naturally, it was a spell that couldn’t exist in the world after his death.

“…Who are you?”

With a gaze filled with indescribable emotions, she asked him.

“Who are you to claim Oscar is dead, and yet so effortlessly use the magic of my late Master?”

It was only natural for her to react this way.

If their roles were reversed, he too wouldn’t have believed it easily and would have been suspicious.

Oscar gave a bitter smile.

And then, for the first time, he said the words he had been holding back, pressing deep into his heart.

“I’m sorry.”

“…?”

Sasha’s eyes widened, unable to grasp the meaning behind his apology.

Then, the sincerity in Oscar’s voice resonated clearly as he spoke.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise to return in a hundred nights.”

It was the last promise he had made to Sasha—one he had ultimately failed to fulfill.

And if he ever faced her again as Oscar Sage, it was the first thing he wanted to say.

“…”

Sasha’s wide, glistening eyes fixed on him.

A whirlwind of emotions surged within her gaze.

Don’t believe it, I can’t trust him.

But I want to believe… This must be a trick… But how could anyone else know that?

Finally, the words she managed to force out were ones of denial.

“…Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Master is dead.”

“Yes, but somehow, I’ve come to meet this crybaby again.”

“Don’t call me… a crybaby…”

The radiant magic around her dissipated into countless particles, scattering like snow and wind in every direction.

Amid the swirling fragments, Sasha rubbed her eyes and began to sob like a child.

“…”

Her body might have grown, but her crying was just as it had been before.

Oscar silently stayed by her side, waiting until she calmed down.

There were so many things they needed to talk about from here on out.

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