4-10: Verbal Onslaught (3/4)

4-10: Verbal Onslaught (3/4)

The boy dropped such cruel words as though it were small talk, but Johann had no way to refute them, and he found himself breathless, utterly shocked.

Despite that, he raised his voice, perhaps in an act of desperation to maintain his composure.

Impossible! I should still have time! I still remember! I havent forgotten Filia! Theres no way! Its impossible

What were her first words?

Huh?

What was her first spell?

W-What are you

What was the first present she received? What was her favorite prank? What was her favorite book? What was her pet phrase? What subject or subjects did she struggle with?

Uu, ah Ahh

Johann couldnt say anything, and that in and of itself was a confession that he could no longer remember.

Impossible I remember! I should remember, so why!?

Those were memories of his beloved daughter, memories that he should have easily been able to remember, and yet they were vague, difficult to recall.

He loved his daughter and was terribly shocked when he lost her. That much was clear, but everything else was hazy. The boys rapid succession of questions wasnt particularly difficult.

So long as Johanns relationship with his daughter wasnt too bad, he should have been able to answer at least one question.

After all, his questions concerned everyday life within the palace things that Johann should have seen, heard, and known. But that was all he knew that he should have known those things.

It cant be true! No, it cant be!

Johann shook his head like a child pleading for something not to be found out, but the boy merely sneered in response.

Really? Then can you tell me when you last saw her smile?

He cares too much

Joy, apologetic, frustration Even if they could understand his reasons, their reactions varied widely. None of them blamed Shinichi however because they could understand how he felt to some extent, and there was no denying that they had been helpless.

Thats why they instead blamed the perpetrator(victim) since they didnt care about him at all.

Uu, ahh, gah!?

That perpetrator screamed incessantly like a toy that had been broken, but as though even that hadnt been permitted to him, he was grabbed by the hair and forced to look straight into that crescent moon smile, causing him to scream from the fear, which for better or for worse, temporarily brought him back to sanity.

Pathetic. Once the great Sorcerer King, now but a depraved old man obsessed with bringing back his daughter from the grave. Yet you dont even remember her.

Were Shinichis hands free, he might have actually clapped for him, but they werent, so he just laughed at him instead. Truly, it was becoming more and more a mystery who between these two was the villain, but of those present, not one sided with Johann.

Stop it! I should still have time! My soul shouldnt have deteriorated so quickly! Damn it, why!? Why cant I remember!? Filia, Filia!!

The deterioration of the soul?

Stop wailing, its noisy.

What!?

The father wailed as though in yearning for his daughter, but Shinichi just indifferently slapped him shut as if to mock the intensity of his pain, and his chilling voice that seemed even greater than the agony the man felt quickly shut him up.

You reap what you sow. You were the one who chose to go down this path despite understanding the consequences. Soul Transfer may have certainly been the optimal solution for extending your lifespan without changing yourself, but A soul that has left its vessel cannot remain for long.

That was an immutable law of life, an irrevocable decree. Body and soul shared an intimate bond. One part alone would render the other half incomplete.

The soul existed because of the body, while the bodys existence was made meaningful by the inhabiting of the soul.

And with few exceptions, there was no changing that.

Once separated, regardless of the means, the soul would begin to deteriorate.

Guardian spirits of ruins or equipment harboring the souls of heroes are still fine. Though their consciousness is spread out, their ego remains asleep, emerging only when need, so they can endure the passage of time and last for centuries.

Its for that reason that you created a body so young. You wanted to trick your soul into believing that it was still in its youth and in so doing suppress deterioration, but in the end, the body you created was merely an imitation of your physical form. It has long reached its limits.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om