The clock rewound to ten minutes earlier.
That was just after Lin En had followed Shakira to her home. She had shown him all sorts of things that, according to her, he had given her in the past and that held great sentimental value.
"Do you remember? This handmade pendant was the very first gift you gave me when you started courting me! You made it yourself."
"And this-we took this photo together last year, right after we started our second year. I've kept it all this time as a very precious gift."
She kept excitedly showing him one little keepsake after another.
Like a young girl dancing.
And judging by her behavior,
it was obvious.
She still had deep feelings for the original owner of Lin En's body. But whether those feelings could truly withstand a test remained to be seen.
And without exception,
Lin En merely shrugged at every one.
"Doesn't ring a bell."
Because, judging by everything that had happened, he had forcibly descended straight into the body of that boy named Lin Ke, and by the time he arrived, the boy's brain had already been a complete mess.
So these things really could not stir any nostalgia in him.
Then the scene from just now had followed.
Tap-
Tap-
Snow-white bare feet walked across the floor.
"Shakira, calm down. It isn't even dark yet, and didn't you say there were still lots of memories we shared that you hadn't shown me? There's no need to rush, is there?"
Lin En could only retreat step by step.
But there was nothing he could do.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Those dark, fathomless eyes, that long hair, and everything below her neck that Lin En did not dare look at-any guy in his place might have struggled to withstand this.
Until he had nowhere left to retreat.
Thump-
That slender, long-fingered hand shoved hard against his shoulder.
Lin En was easily pushed straight onto the soft bed!
[But how did I end up backing toward the bed?!]
(ΩДΩ)!
Inside his mind, he promptly flipped himself an enormous middle finger.
Lin En! I've finally seen right through you!
You really are a vile old perv! Otherwise, why would you follow her home for no reason? I've already exposed that filthy little agenda of yours! ヽ(#`Д´)ﾉ There's no need for any more excuses. You didn't come here to find your memories-you just wanted to get naughty! You freak!
From the moral high ground inside his head, Lin En had thoroughly condemned himself!
"Lin Ke, do you really... really still not remember our past together?"
Her black eyes were breathtakingly beautiful.
Shakira reached out and crawled over him, bracing her arms on either side of him. Her eyes gazed into his at close range, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall.
Unable to move at all, Lin En stared into her eyes and said wide-eyed,
"That's right. I can't remember anything."
Shakira licked her red lips.
"Then perhaps we could try another way. Maybe it could help you... find the memories we share. What do you think?"
"Wouldn't that... be a bit inappropriate?"
Lin En stared wide-eyed, feeling like a lamb waiting for slaughter.
There was nothing he could do.
When it came to this sort of thing, he really was still an innocent little tadpole spirit!
Shakira looked down at him from close range. Though stunningly seductive, she also possessed a young girl's innocence. Her eyes brimmed with boundless attachment as she said,
"No, this is the best way."
"Have you forgotten? The two of us made so, so many wonderful memories here. That's why I can't stand even a single day apart. Lin Ke, my Lin Ke! You really ought to stay by my side forever. I've always considered you the person I love most of all."
She hugged Lin En tightly, and a tear actually slipped from the corner of her eye.
Hiss!
Holy crap!
Please, no!
Lin En (ヾﾉ꒪ཫ꒪)-
Could I have guessed wrong?
In an instant, Lin En's overwhelmed expression changed back. His eyes opened wide, holding both amusement and astonishment.
Because she had actually cried. But that should not have happened. If she truly harbored malicious intent, what did that tear mean?
And just as she looked over,
Lin En once again put on that wide-eyed expression.
"Do... do you really think I can remember?"
Shakira gazed at him gently, her breath sweet and fragrant. She pressed her lips together and said,
"That depends on how hard you try, Lin Ke. Try your hardest to feel... to experience it... and perhaps... all at once, you'll remember everything you've forgotten. You used to love me most, didn't you?"
She reached out with her slender hand and gently covered his eyes with the blanket.
Leaving him unable to see anything.
But at the very moment the blanket fell, her hand paused slightly.
Her fingers clenched, her knuckles turning white.
Her breathing grew uneven, her chest rising and falling faster, as though she were desperately suppressing something.
She leaned down.
And breathed softly beside his ear.
"Don't look. Feel it with your heart, with everything else... try your hardest... to remember all the memories we shared."
"Because this is what you love most, isn't it?"
[You get this kinky?!!]
Lin En was utterly shocked.
It seemed that even a model young man like him, who had transmigrated from Earth, really could not compare with this actual other world!
The gap was far too great!
But since he had already transmigrated somewhere else and had absolutely no way back, he could only do as the locals did and sorrowfully submit to this other world's reform!
(｀皿´)ﾉ
"Don't move. Just leave everything else to me. You need to remember... think about everything we went through together... and I can tell you everything, too..."
A gentle, radiant smile appeared on her face.
As though she were conquering him.
Outside the window, the wind whipped the curtains.
The blazing sun high above also began to fade, and night descended little by little.
Only the faint outline of the long-haired girl sitting up inside the window remained visible.
"Three years ago, we enrolled together and were chosen together. After finally surpassing everyone else, we were granted special admission to the Arcane Academy, where we are now, and officially entered Upper District society."
"Look how... happy we were back then..."
"Hehe. After all, in a world like this, for people from the lower classes like us, the only way to change our fate is to work hard to awaken our Origin Substance... and then... ah... then successfully join the Exorcist Squad after graduation. For people like us, that's the only way to rise above our class."
She braced herself on her arms and lowered her head to look down at Lin En, her long hair swaying.
"So... so we absolutely cannot make any mistakes... we have to make sure every Sequence we awaken is positive..."
"Because they can still rely on their status and standing to remain at the academy without a care, but we're different... as long as you have a flaw... we'll be cruelly kicked back down to the very bottom of society... never able to rise again..."
"Lin Ke! My Lin Ke! That's why we're so perfectly suited to each other..."
"That's why I've always hoped you could stay by my side forever. Just let me keep protecting you, forever and ever..."
She slowly sat up and raised her head. A crimson, sickly madness gradually spread across her face, and streaks of red light glimmered in her eyes. The extreme possessiveness on her face made her beautiful features seem to crumble, little by little.
"Ah! Lin Ke!"
She slowly raised her hands. Sharp nails gradually extended, and densely packed bone spurs and scales covered them.
She smiled, greedily gazing at that face she adored so deeply.
And at that very moment,
"Lin Ke! Lin Ke! I love you most! I really... really... love you more than anything!!"
Boom-
Her transformed hands instantly smashed down at Lin En's head.
There was a deafening crash.
The entire bed collapsed almost instantly.
Lin En's head became a mangled, bloody mess in an instant.
"So how could you abandon me?! Lin Ke! Didn't we promise to join the Exorcist Squad together?! To graduate from that hellhole together, then become true nobles together?! Lin Ke! Ah! My Lin Ke!! Why did you have to awaken a Sequence like that?!"
Boom-
Boom-
Her hands were like razor-sharp blades, smashing into Lin En's head again and again at lightning speed.
"Why?"
An indescribably sick, deranged expression covered her face. She grinned, revealing white teeth, and that smile grew ever more extravagantly radiant. Bone spurs and patches of decay gradually emerged all over her body.
Blood sprayed wildly.
"Haah!"
"Haah!"
But she kept smashing down, like a snake relentlessly lashing out.
"Why was your third Sequence [Holy Flame], while the one I awakened was [Rot]?!"
"Why did you get to be so lucky, while I had to crawl through this filthy mire? Why couldn't you just keep being my little puppy?"
"And I loved you so, so-much!"
Before you continue