Chapter 317 - Memory Restoration

I woke up to find that it had already been a week since my brother lost his memories.

"...Oppa?"

In the living room of our house during midday.

Seo-eun, who had come there, tilted her head as she looked for Da-in. He's not here. Where could oppa have gone?

While she was wondering, a sound came from under the sofa.

"Da-in... is on the balcony."

At those words, Seo-eun quickly turned her head to see Seo Ja-young unni lying on the sofa.

With her purple bob haircut resting against a cushion, she was lying on the living room floor as always.

Whenever Seo-eun saw her blending into the living room while staring blankly at the ceiling, she suspected that unni might have some kind of protective coloration.

"Thanks, unni."

"If you're thankful... bring me a Twist ice cream on your way back..."

"I didn't buy any."

"...Ah."

Leaving Seo Ja-young muttering something like "why must such tragedy befall me...", she quickly walked toward the balcony.

Then she saw her brother's figure on the balcony outside the window.

Seeing Da-in leaning against the railing, feeling the breeze while looking at the open view in front of him.

"Ah..."

For a moment, she was about to open the balcony door and approach him but stopped without realizing it.

'...Oppa.'

Since losing his memories, Da-in oppa would sometimes show this appearance of being lost in thought while looking at the scenery outside.

In fact, he used to stand outside and think often before, but he did it even more after losing his memories. Seeing that, it seemed this habit had been there from before.

"..."

So Han Seo-eun stood there for a moment, staring blankly at his figure deep in thought.

...Even this side of oppa is cool... No, that's not it! Hmm, anyway.

Han Seo-eun shook her head and unconsciously recalled her recent thoughts about Da-in oppa.

The past week. Oppa without his memories felt different from usual.

Of course, he was still kind and caring, but...

'Somehow, he seemed a bit colder...'

That's not to say he was cold because he lost his memories.

Even though he was awkward, he treated her and the other Ego-stream members kindly after hearing they were colleagues. ...Though he did maintain more boundaries than usual.

However, what she wanted to express was something more fundamental.

That is, compared to his usual self who laughed and joked a lot while being serious when needed, he now showed a face with fewer smiles. Something cold and unapproachable?

'Before meeting us, oppa was originally like that...'

Han Seo-eun didn't know. Because the Da-in she knew approached her with a smile from their first meeting. No matter how coldly she pushed him away, he kept coming.

...And naturally, she preferred the oppa who smiled so easily compared to now.

'Come to think of it...'

It seemed like oppa's personality had changed quite a bit. While living with them.

Of course, one common trait between the usual oppa and the current memory-lost oppa was that he would never tell about his past no matter what.

What he did before meeting her, and what kind of life he had lived—he would never tell. He would only repeat the unbelievable claim that he was an ordinary college student, which no one believed.

Actually... to be honest, she had once tried to hack and investigate what Da-in oppa had been doing in the past.

What she found out was.

'...There are no records.'

That there were no records of oppa anywhere in the Republic of Korea.

No matter how many times she checked, she couldn't find any records of oppa anywhere. Just like herself, who had no records after living as a test subject of the Han-eun Group.

...So, she thought she might be able to discover the secrets of Da-in oppa, who always seemed to be hiding something, but.

'Not a chance.'

As expected, even with his memories lost, oppa was still oppa.

No matter how subtly she asked, he absolutely sealed his lips about his past, like an iron wall.

She had sometimes wondered what he had done in his past to know so much, but it seemed unlikely she would find out this time.

Still, there was some gain this time.

'...Hehe.'

That's right! Oppa became conscious of her!

Seeing him blush whenever she got close, unlike before, she couldn't help but smile.

Especially when he treated her like an adult and spoke formally to her—it was very different. Yes. He had gotten too used to her from being around her so much, but she was now a grown adult...!!!

Anyway, with that hope, she resolved to work harder. Didn't unni Na-eun tell her once that men are meant to be won over? Of course, she was too young to understand what that meant back then, but now she felt like she did.

Anyway, besides that...

"....."

Now, the promised week was almost over.

That meant it was time to return the diary so he could regain his memories and become the usual oppa again.

"Oppa!"

"...Hm? Seo-eun-ssi?"

With those thoughts, Han Seo-eun approached Da-in with a bright smile.

Since this would probably be the last moment she'd see the memory-lost Da-in.

To learn more about him.

***

That night, more than a week after I lost my memories.

Finally today, I sat in my room holding the diary, ready to regain my memories.

'...Oppa, and this wouldn't open for me? I think only you can open it.'

After receiving the diary from Seo-eun, who looked at it regretfully as she handed it to me.

I was in my room, quietly looking at the diary in my hands.

Currently, all our Ego-stream members were sitting in the living room waiting for the result.

Only after firmly refusing their offer to stay by my side in case something happened was I able to open this alone. Of course. This diary would contain all my secrets.

"...Sigh, let's read it then."

I'm not sure how the memories will return, but since it's a method I set up, it should work properly. Surely it can't be as simple as just reading the diary?

After a week of sufficient self-reflection, it's time to read the diary.

With that thought, I placed my hand on the diary.

Then, the magic circle drawn on the cover glowed, and the diary opened.

"Good..."

And so, I began to read the diary slowly from the beginning.

And.

After some time had passed.

"Hmm....."

Having finally finished reading the entire diary, I closed the book again.

The diary contained detailed records of everything that had happened so far and my feelings at those times. From the first day I fell into this world, to the day I planned to kill the Moon Light Cult leader and enter Carceris.

What I felt while reading was that I had really gone through all kinds of hardships in this world for several years before meeting Seo-eun, and that I tend to lose rational thinking when it comes to Stardust? Since I still don't understand her feelings.

Apart from that, except for occasional headaches while reading the diary and vague memories from the past surfacing, there wasn't anything special. Surely it can't end like this...?

As I was thinking that.

Thump.

"Ugh...!"

Suddenly my vision blurred, and something flashed in my head.

At that moment.

'Hello, I am Egostic!'

'Stardust-ssi, you can do it. Stop the plane from crashing.'

'Oppa, oppa! Oh. What do we do. Oppa!!'

'....Will you really help me? ...Why? I'm just a monster...'

'...Did you say your name was Da-in-ssi?'

'Everyone, today's surprise event. The Moon Light Cult cleanup ends here. Did you all enjoy it?'

'Then this is the most certain way. ...Not allowed?'

Memories from the past few years began to flood into my head like a tidal wave.

In that wave of memories, I momentarily lost consciousness.

*

*

*

"...ppa. Oppa! Can you hear me?"

"Urgh... Hm?"

A dark place.

After losing consciousness, I opened my eyes to a familiar voice.

"Uh... Seo-eun?"

"Oh! Unni! Oppa's awake!"

"Da-in-ssi, are you okay? Do you remember me?"

"Yes, Su-bin-ssi... Of course."

I sat up, holding my throbbing head.

Opening my eyes, I found myself in our house's living room. And around me were our Ego-stream members.

That means...

"...Did I succeed in capturing the one who grants wishes?"

"Yes. You mean that monster, right?"

"Phew. That's a relief."

I said as I sat down.

...My head is still dizzy, but it seems the plan was successful. And it looks like I've regained all my memories.

"Hmm..."

As I was thinking, I suddenly realized something.

'...Wait.'

I had decided to enter Carceris prison to catch the wish-granter...

...

'...But I don't remember anything after that?'

I felt bewildered for a moment but decided to let it go.

Well, it probably doesn't matter. It's probably not an important memory anyway.

With that thought, I spent some time reuniting with my colleagues before going to my room.

...It doesn't really matter, but I'm curious about what I did while I had lost my memories.

So I opened my laptop and found documents written by the memory-lost me.

I was slightly surprised to see that the memory-lost me had organized what I had done up until now. It seems I was doing checks and reflections. As expected of me. Even after falling into another world, my workaholic nature hasn't changed.

While thinking that and skimming through the comments, I suddenly found a strange sentence and chuckled.

[Stardust seems to like me.]

"...What's this about."

Asked to do analysis and he's writing down his wishful thinking. Is this the level of my past insight...?

With that thought, I closed the document without much thought.

I'm hungry. I should go eat.

...And at that time, I didn't know.

That I shouldn't have made that choice.

***

At that same time.

"Haah..."

In the home of S-class hero Stardust, Shin Ha-ru.

Shin Ha-ru lay on her bed, her blonde hair spread across the pillow as she stared blankly at the sky.

It had already been a week since she parted with Egostic.

During that time, she had consistently been in this somewhat dazed state.

The reason was, of course, because of Egostic.

'...Egostic.'

Is he okay? Has he regained his memories?

After parting with him like that, she couldn't focus on anything else because of these thoughts.

...Until now, she thought things were going well. Why did it end up like this?

Recently, when going to bed.

Somehow feeling his absence. Lying alone on the empty bed hugging a cushion, Stardust thought blankly.

...Yes. Still, he definitely said he would regain his memories. If she knew Egostic, he would have thought of a way.

Surely, he would remember everything and appear with a smile again. ...Yes. That's definitely what would happen.

So, if he just regains his memories now...

Since they had gotten much closer in Carceris prison. Since they shared many moments together. Since they got to know each other better.

Surely, they could become even closer in the future, right?

Yes, that's right. That's what will happen...

With such expectations, she closed her eyes early.

...Without knowing at all what was happening.