Recovering Memories, Accepting the Past

Tighnari recalled his interactions with Scaramouche, knowing that while his tongue was sharp, his heart was not truly evil. This was likely why Nahida was willing to keep him and guide him toward redemption.

The Sky Screen continued its display, showing the Traveler finding the amnesiac Scaramouche and bringing him to the Surasthana to meet Nahida.

Nahida had originally lost her memories of Scaramouche due to the alteration of Irminsul, but she had prepared for this, using a fairy tale to rewrite and back up his data.

Following the Traveler's reminder, she rebooted the backup and recovered that portion of her memories.

The Sky Screen also revealed the fairy tale Nahida had written.

[A monster draped in fox fur mingled with a pack of foxes, living with them day and night, calling them friends, and getting along happily.]

[Sometimes, the monster would shed its fox skin at night and mutter to its reflection in the water: "I am so grotesque, yet they cannot see through me. How foolish, what a pity."]

[However, the monster soon felt relieved, for it was not the only anomaly among the foxes; there was also a small cat carved from white wood that had been abandoned by others.]

[The little cat also wanted to become a fox. Unfortunately, its tail was too thin and it lacked colorful fur, but when the other foxes saw this, they comforted it: "Even so, you are still our companion."]

[The monster loathed this harmony and set a great fire in the forest. The animals were thrown into a panic; to extinguish the blaze, someone had to make a sacrifice.]

[A gray fox stood up to speak with the monster. He said: "You are so clever, you must be able to find a solution."]

[The monster smiled, led the gray fox to the fire, and killed him, turning his heart into a clear, beautiful, and pristine water droplet.]

[The monster handed the droplet to the little cat and told it: "Your companions have already decided that you are to be the sacrifice. Take this and go die for your companions."]

[The fire was extinguished, the little cat left that place, and lived with a bird that had a broken wing.]

[They promised to rely on each other, but the bird's life was far too short, and it died suddenly. The little cat buried it and left that mountain.]

[He never loved another leaf or animal in the mountains again. He wandered every night, grinding his teeth against the moonlight.]

[He wanted to swallow the moon, chew up all the moonlight, and let everything return to darkness so that he could finally feel calm and happy.]

[I will become the new moon, the only one for everyone, so that no one will ever know that birds, foxes, and cats once existed, and certainly not that they were ever different.]

In the story, Scaramouche appeared in the form of a cute cat, while the monster naturally represented Dottore.

Watching the story unfold on the Sky Screen, Scaramouche's mouth twitched. It couldn't help but remind him that in Little Durin's eyes, he also seemed to be a stray cat—and a rather heavy one at that.

Scaramouche's appearance was already striking, and combined with his tragic past, it was all the more capable of touching the hearts of sentimental women.

Now that his cat form in the fairy tale was so adorable, it only made him more popular with them.

Even Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu of the Shrek Seven Devils felt quite favorably toward him.

If Scaramouche wanted to start a fan club on the Douluo Continent, the numbers would undoubtedly be massive.

He could even use the fanaticism of these fans to gather faith and ascend to godhood once more, though he had little interest in such things now.

The only things that could pique his interest were likely mincing Dottore into meat paste and slapping Fate across the face.

The images on the Sky Screen continued to advance, with Nahida using her authority to show the amnesiac Scaramouche his past through a first-person experience.

Because these were scenes already shown, the Sky Screen flashed through them quickly.

Finally, the image settled on the battlefield where Nahida and the Shouki no Kami had fought.

"Lesser Lord Kusanali, do you consider me evil?"

"If you acknowledge that those 'yous' are indeed you, then yes, it is evil."

"In your eyes, what is the difference between a human and a puppet?"

"Do you think there is a difference between your 'former self,' or even your 'other selves,' and who you are now? If there is none, then what difference is there between a human and a puppet?"

"Those who endure the cold and warmth of the world, tasting joy and sorrow, are human; those who cry, scream, and rage over birth, aging, sickness, death, love, and hate are also human."

Scaramouche sighed.

"I understand. I have watched enough of the past. If it is possible, I should shoulder that sin from before."

"No matter what, I will not evade the accusations and sanctions against me. What is deserved, let it happen."

"Recovering your memories means you will return completely to the position of your 'former self.' The emotions you once discarded will all return to you. Are you truly prepared?"

"I have lived with that emptiness in my chest all this time. The one who created the puppet did not need me. After I woke, I wandered everywhere."

"It was not until I met you all that I understood: it was that lost sin that was the catalyst for me becoming 'me'."

Having understood Scaramouche's intent, Nahida returned those memories to him.

Just as Scaramouche accepted those memories, the Shouki no Kami appeared.

The attack from the Shouki no Kami was about to strike Scaramouche, and at that very moment, he completely integrated his past memories and fully accepted his former self.

It was also at this time that a Vision appeared; the heartless puppet became one gazed upon by the gods.

Scaramouche gripped the Vision and looked at the Shouki no Kami with the gaze that had always belonged to him.

"Die!"

Using the power of his newly acquired Vision, Scaramouche defeated the Shouki no Kami within the dream, finally ending this journey to find his past.

Escaping the dream, Scaramouche returned to the Surasthana. Having regained his past memories, he retained more of the speaking habits he had as the Balladeer—rather sharp and biting.

"Everything seems futile, yet it is not without meaning. At the very least, there are truly many who have forgotten me."

"But that does not mean the past you carried has vanished."

"That is only natural!"

"You must also remember that changing the world, changing history, and changing the fates of others is no easy task."

Scaramouche looked at himself and nodded in agreement.

"Lesser Lord Kusanali, you left the information about the Irminsul intentionally, didn't you? Why do that? Are you trying to win me over?"

"You could say that. You are a useful individual to Sumeru now, but if the truth I presented to you were merely for the sake of utility, there would be no difference between me and Dottore."

"Heh, as expected of the God of Wisdom!"

"Since you have already discarded the name 'Balladeer,' you should choose a new name for yourself. I can give you a codename to use for now—let's call you Scaramouche."

"Suit yourself!"

The image gradually faded to black, and at this moment, Scaramouche's voice rang out once more.

"Although Niwa's death could not be changed, at least he is now a hero of Tatarasuna, rather than a traitorous sinner."