Volume 5 - CH 3.3

“The ritual location is this way! Follow me!”

Surara led the way as we walked through the ship. We passed several Helper Slimes on the way.

“Oh, It’s Master-san! Hello!”

“Everyone is getting ready for the ritual!”

“If you need any help, just let me know!”

Everyone was smiling at me.

As I walked along with a warm feeling in my heart, I eventually arrived at the place where the ritual was to take place.

The location was at the rear of the ship, near the bar where we had all gone for drinks before.

“I wish we could all talk together again like before.”

Milia said with a somewhat sad look on her face.

“Yeah. We have to win to do that.”

After I answered, I stepped into the ritual area.

It was a very large place.

It was probably more than 50 meters long and wide, and the ceiling was as high as it was.

In the center of the space was a white stone altar.

“Oh. It is a magnificent altar.”

While looking at the altar, King Octo let out a voice of admiration.

“But this place is quite large. …Isn’t it bigger than the ship?”

“Isn’t it thanks to the Spatial Distortion EX?”

“Oh, you’re right.”

I nodded at Iris’s words and looked toward the altar.

There, a large number of Helper Slimes were already moving about busily.

“Hurry up, hurry up!”

“We need to hurry; we need to hurry!”

“I’ll draw the magic circle. Eiieii!”

Each movement was so cute and pudgy that I almost forgot how nervous I was before the ritual.

Soon after, one of the Helper Slimes came over to us and told Surara about something.

“Whispering, whispering.”

“I see! I’ll tell Master-san about it!”

Surara turned to me and said.

“Master-san!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you about the ritual!”

“Alright. Can you tell me about it?”

I answered, and Surara began to explain the details of the matter.

First of all, the purpose of this ritual is, of course, to break the seal on my memory.

For this purpose, it is necessary to use the twilight scroll to unite the power of the Creator God, the Dragon God, the God of War, the Calamity, and the Spirit into one.

I am the [Creation] holder, Iris is a [Dragon God’s Shrine Maiden], Lily is a [God of War’s Shrine Maiden], and Leticia is the reincarnation of the Calamity, so four out of the five powers are naturally fulfilled.

As for the power of the spirits, the equivalent would be the spirit ring I have, so I was going to wear that myself.

But Surara said.

In that case, Master-san would have to control both the power of the Creator God and the power of the Spirits at the same time, so it might be a little too much of a burden! If possible, I’d like to ask Milia-oneesan to put on the spirit ring and join in the ritual!”

“Eh, me?”

Milia answered in surprise but soon returned to her usual smiling expression and said.

“Understood; please leave it to me.”

That was quite a quick answer.

“Milia, you don’t have to do this.”

“No, no, I’ll be fine. I owe Kou-san a debt of gratitude for saving the city of Aunen. Let me return the favor here.”

“Wait, wait!”

King Octo shouted.

“If that is the case, I will do it. Let me help you save the world as a descendant of the God of War.”

“Well, that may be difficult.”

Surara raised his voice as if he was troubled.

“The power of the God of War is in Lily-oneechan’s hands, so if the [Descendant of the God of War], the king, is added to that, the balance will be upset. I’m sorry.”

“I see…”

King Octo muttered regretfully.

“Then I shall leave the matter of this ceremony to Miss Milia.”

“Yes, leave it to me! If Kou-san defeats Zogral, I’ll brag to everyone around me that I took part in the ritual! Hehe!”

Milia said, with a frightened look on her face as she puffed out her chest.

“I want you to lend Milia-oneesan the spirit ring for that reason, Master-san!”

“Alright.”

I nodded at Surara’s words and took out the spirit ring from my [Item Box].

“Speaking of which, this ring originally belonged to one of Milia’s relatives, right?”

“Yes. I have no idea where they are right now.”

“After the battle is over, we can try to find them.”

“Then I will issue a quest for you then.”

“Yeah. Please do.”

After that conversation, I handed the ring to Milia.

“Is everything ready now?”

“Yes! Then, I’ll explain the ritual!”

Incidentally, I had been given the full details by [Full Assist] from the beginning. So I decided to listen to Surara’s explanation while supplementing it on the side.

This ritual is to unseal my memory, but it would be easier to understand if I were to say that it is to enter my mind.

In this case, everyone who will participate in the ritual─Iris, Lily, Leticia, Milia, and Surara─will also see my memories.

“This is like peeking into Kou’s privacy. …Is that okay?”

Iris asks me shyly.

“I don’t mind. Rather, I’m uncomfortable looking at memories I don’t remember alone.”

Again, I myself am not aware of any missing memories. Conversely, I have no idea what past memories might pop up.

Considering that, it would be helpful to have Iris and the others with me.

“When push comes to shove, let’s just drink and forget!”

Indeed, Milia is right.

Fortunately, there is a bar in Blaznir, and if the shock of the situation becomes too much for me to fight in the future, I can get drunk and forget about it.

“If you feel uncomfortable telling the ladies about your past, you can talk to me about it. If Kou-dono is not in perfect condition to fight, the world will be destroyed.”

King Octo said jokingly.

“What kind of past is it that makes it so hard for Kou-san to tell about…?”

Lily muttered with an innocent look on her face.

“That’s umm…”

King Octo frowned in annoyance.

“It’s possible that he’s actually been playing with a lot of women.”

Leticia muttered mischievously.

“I’ve been traveling with him for a while now, and I’ve noticed that he’s quite used to women, but in a good way.”

“I certainly think so.”

Milia nodded her head and said.

“Or that he’s played with so many women in the past that he’s completely bored with them already.”

“No, that is indeed not true.”

At least my memories of the time when I was in modern Japan are clear.

And I have a clear memory since I came to this world.

So, my guess is that there is a memory gap somewhere between modern Japan… and this world.

“Well, we’ll find out when the ritual begins.”

“That’s true.”

Iris nodded.

“Well, I’m kind of curious to see Kou’s love story.”

“It’s not that interesting.”

I looked at Surara.

“So, when do you think we can start the ritual?”

“Let’s see…”

Surara started to ponder.

On the side, Iris and others were whispering, “He avoided the conversation,” “Yes, he is,” “He avoided it,” “That’s right.”

I mean, King Octo, you’re mixed up in the conversation just like normal.

He shows his charisma when he has to, and he is frank when he doesn’t.

This might be one of the human virtues.

When I was thinking about such a thing, Surara said.

“We’ll be ready in five seconds!”

That was fast.

Five, four, three, two, one, ──.

Surara said when he reached zero.

“Then we will start the ritual!”

We left King Octo there and headed for the white stone altar.

“First, place the twilight scroll in the center of the altar!”

“I understand.”

I took out the twilight scroll from my [Item Box] and placed it in the center of the altar, just as Surara had told me.

“Everyone, line up around the scroll.”

So, clockwise from me, Iris, Milia, Lily, and Leticia formed a circle around the scroll.

Around us, all the Helper Slimes lined up in a row.

“Let’s start the ritual!”

“Twist the magic power!”

“Neerineerii. Koonekoneee!”

The slimes repeatedly became vertical and flat as they moved around us in a circle.

“They’re kind of cute, aren’t they?”

Iris giggled.

“I could watch them forever.”

“Indeed.”

Unfortunately, however, we couldn’t just sit and watch the slimes as part of the ritual procedure.

We clasped hands with each other and kept our eyes down.

Surara’s voice rang out.

“Then, next, Leticia-oneesan, you’re up next!”

“Understood.”

This ritual required everyone to unite their hearts.

As an intermediary, Leticia’s unique ability of [Domination] was to be used.

Immediately after, the voice of [Full Assist] echoed in my mind.

We have detected the arrogant dragon factor.

This time, we allow infiltration without blocking.

Ah, no problem.

Immediately after, a warm sensation flowed in from my right hand, which was connected to Leticia.

It eventually spread to my left hand and then to Iris.

“It’s kind of warm and fuzzy.”

“It’s true.”

“It’s warm.”

It seemed to permeate into Milia and Lily as well.

“The preparations are complete, aren’t they? What’s next?”

“Please chant the spell after me!”

Saying this, Surara took a deep breath and began chanting in a high voice.

“──O you who have come from faraway lands, release your memories. The distant past, the hidden past, the concealed past.”

We followed suit, chanting the incantation in unison.

Immediately after, the voice of [Full Assist] echoed.

Execute the memory release process with the twilight scroll.

And with a fluffy floating sensation, my consciousness was swallowed by the darkness.