Chapter 31: Disappointment

When Melorin heard Kathy say that, she suddenly crawled forward and hugged Kathy’s leg tightly, her voice urgent and desperate.

“Where is it?

Where is it?

The Akashic Records… can you tell me?

Please… tell me!”

Kathy was startled by her almost frantic behavior.

She frowned and raised her hand, knocking Melorin on the head with a dull thump.

“Idiot!

Wake up!

The Akashic Records are just a legend.

How could they really exist?

What are you freaking out for!”

Pain shot through Melorin’s head, and her whole body trembled violently, as if that blow had dragged her back to reality.

She loosened her grip and sat kneeling on the ground.

Her breathing gradually slowed, and the chaos in her eyes faded, clarity returning little by little.

Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Kathy softened her tone.

“Feeling better now?

Don’t lose control so easily.

Your body is already weak as it is.

If you keep pushing yourself like that, you really will collapse.”

Melorin lowered her head and gently rubbed the spot that had been hit.

The corners of her mouth lifted into a faint, forced smile.

“…Thank you, Kathy.”

Seeing that she had regained her senses, Kathy smiled as well, a little embarrassed as she scratched the back of her head.

“What are you thanking me for?

I just saw you running around like you’d lost your mind and was worried you’d hurt yourself.

After all, you’re the Demon King’s precious treasure now.

If something happened to you, the Demon King would definitely be heartbroken.”

Melorin tried to stand, but her legs suddenly went weak.

Her knees buckled, and she nearly fell again.

Kathy immediately reached out and supported her, firmly bracing her shoulder.

“Don’t force yourself.

Come on, I’ll take you back.”

Supporting Melorin, she walked slowly along the corridor.

Melorin leaned against her shoulder, breathing weakly, while her thoughts churned endlessly.

She turned her head and looked at Kathy’s face, still smiling as ever, and finally couldn’t help asking.

“Kathy… how did you end up… in the Demon King’s castle?”

Kathy’s smile widened.

“I came with Mom Irina, of course.

She’s the most important person to me, and my guardian now.”

Melorin’s heart jolted.

Her fingers tightened unconsciously.

“Mom Irina…” she repeated softly, while a storm raged inside her.

“So… Kathy has been completely brainwashed too.

Not only was her identity changed, even her perception was reshaped…

She truly believes she has a mother?

And that mother is Irina?”

She couldn’t help thinking.

“If even Kathy can be changed so completely…

Then my memories, my identity…

Were they erased at the root long ago?”

The more she thought, the more afraid she became, her body trembling faintly.

Kathy noticed her silence and assumed she was envious, so she began to boast happily.

“Well?

Aren’t you jealous of me?

I knew it!

After all, Mom Irina loves me the most.

Every time I make a new invention, she’s the first to test it, and she always pats my head and says, ‘Kathy is amazing!’”

As she spoke, her eyes lit up, her tone filled with pride.

Melorin forced a smile.

“Kathy… then what kind of person is Irina… really?”

Kathy stopped walking and thought seriously for a moment, then smiled.

“Mom Irina—she’s incredibly strong.

She’s meticulous in everything she does, never careless.

No matter what problem she faces, she solves it perfectly.

She never panics, never lies.

Every word she says and everything she does makes people feel… completely at ease.”

She gazed ahead, admiration shining in her eyes.

“She’s the most reliable person I’ve ever met.

As long as she’s around, I’m not afraid of anything.”

Hearing her speak so sincerely, Melorin’s heart churned with complicated emotions.

On the surface, she simply smiled gently and asked softly.

“Kathy, could you take me back to my room?”

Kathy froze, tilting her head in confusion.

“Not going back to the library?

You just ran all the way out from there.”

Melorin slowly shook her head.

Her voice was light but firm.

“No… take me back to my room.

Lilith already finished today’s lesson.

Right now… I just want to rest properly.”

Kathy blinked, then broke into a bright smile.

“Really?

That’s great!

Melorin, since you don’t have class anymore, come play with me!

I just finished making a new toy.

It’s super fun!”

Hearing her innocent invitation, Melorin’s lips curved slightly, tinged with exhaustion and bitterness she couldn’t hide.

“Kathy… I’m afraid I can’t.

I ran for so long just now, my body feels like it’s falling apart.

I’m barely able to stand.”

Only then did Kathy notice her pale face and trembling hands.

She smacked her own forehead.

“Ah!

I’m such an idiot!

I completely forgot how weak you are right now and still wanted to drag you out to play…

I’m sorry!”

She showed childlike remorse, then firmly supported Melorin’s arm.

“Alright, alright, no playing.

I’ll take you back to your room first.

Lying down and resting properly is what really matters!”

With Kathy’s support, the two slowly made their way toward Melorin’s chambers.

Melorin stopped at the door, gently freed her hand from Kathy’s, and turned to smile at her.

“Kathy, I’ll come play with you tomorrow.

How about that?”

“Really?!”

Kathy’s eyes lit up instantly, her voice excited.

“You can’t lie to me!

You have to come!”

“I won’t forget.”

Melorin replied softly, her tone gentle, as if soothing a long-waiting friend.

“Yay!”

Kathy bounced in place with joy, her cheeks flushed, her tail swaying unconsciously.

“I’ll be waiting!

Don’t make me wait too long!”

After waving goodbye, she turned and hopped away cheerfully.

The moment the door closed, the smile Melorin had forced onto her face shattered like ashes, crumbling and falling away.

She leaned back against the cold wooden door and slowly slid down to the floor.

Both hands clamped tightly over her mouth, as if trying to block the sobs from escaping her throat.

But the tears still spilled uncontrollably.

One drop after another soaked into her clothes, leaving dark, spreading stains.

“Why…” she finally whispered, her voice broken.

“Why… did things end up like this?”

She sobbed, her shoulders shaking violently.

“Why wasn’t taking my body enough…

Why did they have to take my identity too?

Take my name?

Take away my right to know who I once was?”

She desperately searched her mind.

The feel of gripping a sword…

The shouts on the battlefield…

The voices of her companions…

But those memories were shrouded in mist.

The more she tried to grasp them, the more blurred they became.

“I remember… I clearly was…

So why…

Why do even I not believe it anymore?”

She curled into herself, her nails digging deep into her arms, using pain to remind herself she was still alive.

“Is this who I am now…

Just a demon, and nothing more?”

“Lilith says I’m Melorin…

Kathy says I’m Melorin…

Even the world tells me…

That I have always been her…”

Despair washed over her like a rising tide, slowly drowning her breath.

She murmured softly, as if trying to persuade herself.

“…Maybe… I should just accept it.

What’s the point of resisting?

My body, my name, my past…

Everything has been rewritten.

I can’t even say who I am anymore…”