The Strongest Brother Lost His Memory-Chapter 55

The letter was from Zahid.

I read his neat handwriting over and over again.

It was exactly the same script he used when he taught me how to write.

I smiled faintly and skimmed through the letter’s contents again, even though it wasn’t anything special.

It made me happy—seeing something that was exactly like the Zahid in my memories.

“The Academy? Meh. It was boring and dull.”

“Zahid... is there anything you don’t find boring and dull?”

“Coming here?”

“There’s nothing here but iron bars.”

“You’re here.”

What would it be like to attend the Academy with Zahid?

“Well, getting close to that guy Ray Lavendal—that was pretty nice.”

If Zahid said he was a good guy, then Ray must be a good one too.

I wanted to meet them all. I wanted us all to be close.

There would be plenty of kids my age at the Academy. Maybe I could even make some new friends.

“Still, if I get to attend the Academy with you... I think I could enjoy every day. I’m gonna stick by your side the whole time.”

I think his ears turned red when he said that.

Zahid.

If only you had your memories from before regression too.

Then maybe you’d be just as excited about going to the Academy as I am.

Thinking such silly, sentimental thoughts, I read Zahid’s letter once more.

* * *

“Huhk!”

Zahid jolted awake from a doze, startled by a dream.

“...Ah...”

Lately, he’d started having dreams from time to time.

They were wistful, tinged with anticipation—and yet also painful.

In those dreams, there was a woman who looked about twenty... and Fire.

The woman’s figure was always blurry. So he could never remember her clearly.

“I’ll tell you a secret.”

In the dream, he was gentle but eerie, polite but sinister.

“It’s not so bad sometimes... being the only person you can meet.”

The woman was fast asleep inside the iron bars. In the dream, he stroked her hair and whispered,

“I think I’d feel really awful if I ever saw you with another man.”

His voice was soft, but there was no doubt it was twisted.

“I’m trash, huh? Not something I could ever say to your face.”

Fire barked from inside the cage. He probably agreed.

“Ah, seriously.”

Trying to shake off the remnants of the dream, Zahid violently shook his head.

“What a complete piece of shit. Saying that to someone who’s locked up? Goddamn bastard...”

His vision was still blurry.

The sedative did dull the pain—but it also left him slightly dazed.

It was different from divine power.

Completely different from the divine power Rosie had infused him with...

“Damn it, what am I even thinking?”

Zahid shook his head harder.

Sure, they’d resolved an incident together at the Noart estate!

And maybe they’d grown a bit closer because of it!

And maybe he couldn’t look away when she stood firmly in front of a maid without hesitation!

And maybe his chest had ached strangely when she trembled and said she wasn’t trash or a bug!

And maybe hearing that she was experimented on by the Temple had filled him with uncontrollable rage!

But still! She was a girl he’d only met twice!

He had to think rationally.

She had metaphorically chained him with sedatives, and even planted close aides within the Duchy.

And the Noart Count Family had actually gained political benefit from the engagement.

Sure, the Count and he shared similar views, but still...

“Don’t fall for someone so easily, Zahid.”

His still-short legs dangled in mid-air.

“I have something I need to protect.”

From beneath the boy blowing out a sharp breath through his nose, Fire yawned widely.

Lying at Fire’s paws was the official admission form for the Academy.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

* * *

The Academy was bustling with preparations for the once-every-three-years session.

A young man with light brown hair and blue eyes was diligently organizing the list of new students.

His name was Theo Noart—the youngest of the teaching assistants, which meant this sort of task naturally fell to him.

Theo was laboriously collecting applications and compiling the enrollment list when—

“Theo.”

A young man with shining blond hair and green eyes approached his desk, holding a cup of coffee.

“Sorting the incoming students tough?”

“Ah, Assistant Yuta. I’m fine, thank you.”

Theo jumped up with a polite smile and accepted the coffee.

Yuta Orgon, Theo’s senior and another teaching assistant at the Academy, gave a light smile.

“When are you going to change your speech style? People are gonna think this place is some kind of brutal knight order.”

“This way is comfortable for me.”

“Well... I guess. You talk like that to everyone, after all...”

Yuta then glanced at the list on Theo’s desk.

“But this upcoming class lineup is kind of wild.”

Yuta had a gentle, almost puppy-like face, and he spoke slowly and lazily.

With a grin, he tapped the list with his pen, pointing to each name one by one.

“Zahid Dyfenril... Didn’t think he’d make it, but they started supplying sedatives again, so here he is. Ah, Ray Lavendal. The Water Heir—I figured he’d come.”

“Ah, but we haven’t gotten a reply from Lady Idra.”

“That one... probably not coming.”

“She’s not coming? But when the Duke of Idra visited last time, he clearly said the Lady would attend. I’ve already assigned her dorm room...”

“Well, just leave it. Still doesn’t look like she’ll come. Just keep it in mind.”

Theo simply nodded silently at Yuta’s words.

Yuta Orgon.

The Temple-appointed foster son of the Duke of Orgon.

Rumor had it his divine power was exceptional, fitting of someone raised by priests.

The Divine Beast of Grass hadn’t accepted him yet.

But once the Duke of Orgon died, the Divine Beast would have no choice but to acknowledge him.

No one knew why the Temple’s cherished Orgon heir remained at the Academy as a mere assistant.

Still, being from the Temple, it was assumed he must be working on some grand scheme beyond anyone’s understanding.

Which would also explain why he knew the secret circumstances of the Idra Duchy.

“Ah.”

Yuta’s eyes curved as he spotted a name on the list.

“Your cousin’s here too, Theo.”

“You mean Rosie Noart?”

Theo tilted his head as he lifted the enrollment list.

“I really thought she wouldn’t come...”

“Why?”

“Her brother’s ridiculously overprotective. And I heard she’s so timid, she never left the annex. I figured she’d definitely stay home.”

Theo received letters from Monica every single day.

She constantly complained about Rosie.

She said Rosie had a twisted way of speaking and no manners.

That {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} she had a pretty and innocent-looking face that drove people insane...

As Theo tilted his head, Yuta asked with an equally innocent, pretty smile,

“So you don’t really know what kind of person she is?”

“No. I’ve never seen her face. But if she looks pretty and innocent, I guess she doesn’t take after that brother of hers. That guy looks like some thug leopard—real sharp eyes and everything.”

Theo yawned and downed his coffee in one go.

“I don’t know anymore. You know how I feel about the Noart family...”

“How would I know that when you get daily letters from their estate?”

“Their obsession is what I don’t like. I’d rather become part of the bricks of this Academy than go back there.”

“The bricks of the Academy... Got it. I’m glad I finally understand your true dream. It’s a tough road, but I’ll always support you. Fighting.”

“Please don’t say things like that with such a merciful face.”

Theo shook his head and set down his empty cup.

Seriously—Yuta had that angelic face, but the way he casually said such infuriating things was unreal.

“Anyway, I don’t really know her, and I doubt we’ll get close. We’ll probably just spend those two months quietly and go our separate ways.”

“I see.”

Yuta grinned again and tapped the name “Rosie Noart” on the list.

“Still, I’m looking forward to it.”

As Theo rubbed his eyes and sat back down, Yuta whispered to himself with a playful smile—

“It’s been a long time, Rosie.”