Free Web NovelChapter 179: Phlegra Continent [3]
Chapter 178
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Episode 42 - Phlegra Continent [3]
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When Lumina lowered her hand, I tilted my head and asked,
"But why are you asking?"
Honestly, having a girl like her mention something about my appearance left me confused.
I don’t think she had ever seen my face, right?
’Now that I think about it, Clementine is the only one who has ever seen my face completely.’
Normally, my face is hidden by two things. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
My bangs cover my forehead, and the bandage covers my eyes, so to other people, only my lips and nose are visible.
’Mhm, Clementine’s reaction back then... well, it was pretty varied, so I don’t remember it.’
The next person to see my face was, obviously, my sister, and that happened just this Saturday.
So why is Lumina asking about my appearance as if she had seen my face before?
’Ugh, this is only making me more suspicious.’
Maybe I really did exist in her previous regression. At this point, even though she hasn’t proven it one hundred percent, there are small clues, like the way she treats me.
’Alright, then let’s assume I existed in her previous regression. What was our relationship?’
Maybe we were friends, teammates, people close to each other, partners in a mutually beneficial relationship because of our goals, or perhaps...
I quickly shook my head.
’N-no, I don’t think that last one was real... no, she doesn’t have time for that kind of thing, and besides, I still need to confirm whether I really existed in her previous regression.’
In any case, I needed to carry out some sort of plan that would make her mention something only I would know and that only I could have told her if I had truly existed in her previous regression.
But then a thought crossed my mind.
’Wait... if I existed in her previous regression... then what happened to me? Did I achieve my goal, or did I end up dying in the end?’
While I was lost in thought, Lumina finally answered my earlier question.
"Because at least you would show your pretty... I mean, you would show your forehead, and it wouldn’t look like you’re deliberately hiding your face."
"....?"
’You know I heard that, right?’
Even though I only said it in my mind, Lumina probably realized it, because her feeling of regret suddenly surfaced.
"Forget what I said."
She muttered before turning around. Then she disappeared in the blink of an eye.
I remained leaning against the wall in silence as I replayed the word "pretty" in my mind.
’Hey, wait a second, why does she say my forehead is pretty?’
I entered the bathroom and stood in front of a mirror, even though I couldn’t see myself.
Even so, I had an image in my memories of what I looked like, so it wasn’t difficult to picture myself.
I even lifted my bangs as if I could actually see myself in the mirror.
"Mhm..."
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find anything logical in her words.
’Can people’s foreheads be pretty or ugly...? How does that even work?’
For the next twenty minutes, I spent my time thinking about something completely pointless without knowing why.
***
I returned to the lobby and met up with Rinna and the others. Then we headed to the restaurant.
Unexpectedly, there was some kind of terrace near the restaurant overlooking the outside.
Several cadets were leaning against the railing.
However, since the food had already been served, we decided to eat first.
Unfortunately, there were no sandwiches, although there was coffee at least.
After eating for a few minutes, we finally went out to the terrace, or whatever it was called.
I leaned against the railing while feeling the cold wind of the Phlegra Continent strike my face.
If it weren’t for mana, I would already be completely frozen.
"There’s something I’m curious about. Do you think you can answer it?"
Standing beside me was Veronica, who was quietly enjoying the scenery.
At my sudden question, she froze for a second before nodding.
"What part of the old Earth was the Phlegra Continent?"
Honestly, I was curious whether any traces of modern humanity from before the Apocalypse still existed.
The current world was so different that I would never have thought it was still Earth in the future.
In response to my question, Veronica answered,
"It’s a combination of the North Pole along with much of Canada and the United States... although there’s more to it, but..."
"It’s fine. I was just curious."
In any case, the Phlegra Continent seemed to have emerged from half of an entire continent.
As I reviewed my thoughts, I suddenly remembered what had happened with Lumina. Then I turned to Veronica and asked,
"Did I exist in Lumina’s previous regression?"
My question was met with silence.
"I guess you can’t answer."
"I’m sorry. I really wish I could."
I sighed. Then I changed the subject and lifted my bangs.
"This might sound completely ridiculous, but... is my forehead pretty or something?"
Even I had to admit that my question was stupid, but I couldn’t help asking because of Lumina’s words.
They simply wouldn’t leave my head and were starting to bother me.
"...."
Veronica looked at me expressionlessly. Then, suddenly, her lips curled into a teasing smile.
"If you try to laugh, I faithfully promise that I’ll throw you off the airship."
Her lips stopped curling, and her expression returned to neutral. Then she replied:
"I don’t know what ’pretty forehead’ means, so I don’t know how to answer your question, older brother."
"...?"
I took my hand off my forehead and leaned back against the railing, but suddenly...
"I think you look better."
The one who said that was none other than Clementine, who had come over to my side.
It seemed she had heard my question and walked over.
I froze, not knowing what to say.
’She really heard my question.’
The strong wind made the voices of anyone nearby inaudible. How was she able to hear my question?
As if realizing what I was thinking, Clementine smiled mischievously and said:
"Maybe if you changed your hairstyle and showed your forehead, you’d attract the attention of several girls."
"Stop, wait..."
"Now that I think about it, you should also take off that bandage covering your eyes..."
"Alright, you win."
Clementine stopped talking about it, and I finally let out a sigh of relief.
’Ah, at least she was the only one who heard me...’
"Oh, Adel, I think so too."
"....?!"
Rinna’s voice made my thoughts vanish.
***
Back in the lobby, I sat at a table a little away from the rest of the cadets.
Professor Ashly and the other professors were going to make a brief announcement before the airship started moving toward our destination.
In any case, the strong cold winds outside had caused all the cadets on the terrace to return to the lobby.
Around me, Rinna, Julian, Charlotte, and the others were chatting.
I had been ignoring them because I was currently focused on one particular person.
"...?"
Suddenly, her head turned and her eyes settled on me, as if she had noticed that I had been "looking" at her for quite a while.
I didn’t move my head or even try to hide it.
I rested my elbow on the table and then my cheek against my hand.
Then I "looked" at her, and she, just like me, stared back, but suddenly looked away.
Her emotions wavered, but then quickly stabilized.
’I remember she has some Trait that keeps both her mind and emotions calm.’
I clicked my tongue. I had only just remembered that.
I guess it’ll be difficult to figure out what she’s thinking.
The person I was currently focused on was none other than Lumina.
Honestly, I didn’t even care about hiding it anymore and was now "looking" at her without turning away.
’I want to know whether I really existed in her previous regression, so I’ll look for every possible way to find the answer.’
I wouldn’t stop. Somehow, I would find a way to get the answer directly from Lumina.
Of course, Lumina never told anyone that she was a regressor.
Not even when the player managed to save her; she always remained secretive about revealing her regression.
’It’ll be difficult, but I need an answer no matter what. I want to know what happened to me if I really existed in her previous regression.’
For now, the only thing on my mind was whether my question would be answered with a "Yes" or a "No."
Lost in thought, I suddenly felt someone touch my arm.
I turned my head. Then Diana, who was sitting beside me, stared at me and spoke in a voice so low that only I could hear:
"Is something wrong?"
At her question, I shook my head, though it was only half-heartedly.
"Mhm, no, I was just... thinking about something. They’re just thoughts."
Diana tilted her head. Then she raised her hand, pressed a finger against my forehead, and said:
"Because of this."
".....?"
"No, that’s not it..."
So she had heard it too. Why do I feel like only the girls heard the question I asked Veronica?
Diana nodded and said:
"Okay."
I nodded, and shortly afterward, I focused on Lumina again.
Minutes passed.
Then, suddenly, Professor Ashly appeared, drawing the attention of all the cadets.
"It seems everyone has finished breakfast, right?"
The cadets nodded.
"Good. In that case, I’ll tell you where we’re headed. You will be following strict rules in this place, and keep in mind that we professors can only observe, not act."
"The place we’re going to was once known as the Ancient Battlefield of the Apostles. Nowadays, it is known as the Abyss Containment Unit, or simply a knight base."
In simple terms, the place we were heading to was like a military base.
