~Chapter 107~
7. Memory Loss
Isabel not only declared Axxion Blancia as the main culprit of this incident, but also sent out the knights to arrest him.
But Axxion had disappeared. He never showed himself anywhere.
Even his mansion was empty, as if he had known someone would come looking for him.
While Axxion remained missing, cracks began to appear more and more frequently, forcing Bella to go out to the field every day.
Most of these cracks appeared in busy streets or residential areas, so Bella had no choice but to respond.
Armians, too, had to participate in the monster subjugation unit, and couldn’t just stay idle.
Naturally, the number of times Bella was called out kept increasing.
Since most cracks opened near cities or homes, it became harder and harder for Armians to argue against her going.
So Armians assigned some of his best knights to act as Bella’s escorts.
They were elites who had fought at the frontlines with him.
But before the cracks, they were powerless.
Bella stood in front of them and—
Shuuuk—
Once again, she successfully closed another crack.
“Of course, my Lady!”
“It’s always a wonder to watch!”
“Honestly, Your Highness is too unworthy of her—!”
The knight who had spoken last was immediately silenced.
Every time Bella closed a crack or struck down a beast, the knights would cheer loudly—like a personal cheering squad just for her.
Bella felt a little embarrassed, but nothing more than that.
“Sir Aphella.”
She turned to Camilla.
“I didn’t want to say it because I thought I might be imagining things, but… you’ve been circling around me for some time now.”
The skilled knight never left her line of sight.
“Don’t you think it’s time you explained why?”
As the saying goes, times of chaos bring forth heroes.
As the Empire fell into disorder, new names rose to fame.
Bella was one of them.
But so was Camilla—she had slain more than a hundred monsters herself.
In the Empire, there were no gender restrictions in choosing one’s profession. Just as Camilla had become an imperial knight.
But unfamiliar stares and subtle discrimination always followed.
That was why this crisis was her best chance to firmly secure her place.
The side of a magician wasn’t the right position for her.
Camilla stared at Bella and asked:
“Countess, do you know what day it is today?”
“Hmm… the 10th?”
“It’s the 17th.”
“…”
“In these seven days, you have asked me that same question every day. Do you remember that?”
Bella bit her lip, thought hard, and said:
“…Now that you mention it, maybe I did.”
“I won’t report this to the Grand Duke. Please be honest.”
“You don’t remember, do you?”
Bella couldn’t deny it.
“You should rest.”
But Bella only shook her head with a smile.
“I’m not the only one working hard… Isn’t it better to close even a few more cracks for the future?”
She didn’t even realize that she had spoken the exact same words the day before.
‘But I can’t stop her.’
Camilla was beginning to understand Bella.
If Bella believed something was right, she never bent her will.
But if persuaded gently—like coaxing a child—she would accept a compromise.
“Then don’t go home early, but at least take a nap in the barracks.”
“But…”
“For the sake of those guarding you as well.”
Camilla gestured at the knights.
When Bella turned back, they all gave her pitiful looks.
They had been fighting nonstop for hours, slashing monsters by her side, and were far from clean.
“…Alright, I’ll do that.”
But the more Bella used magic, the more quickly her memories slipped away.
Now, even if she was left alone in the barracks for only a few hours, she would forget what she and Camilla had talked about.
Just yesterday, Camilla had left her in the barracks for a few hours, then sent her home, saying it was time to rest.
‘It’ll be the same today.’
As expected, Bella entered the barracks without resistance, not remembering yesterday at all.
Camilla turned away, unable to watch.
People only knew Bella’s health wasn’t great. They didn’t know she was losing her memories.
Camilla only knew because she had overheard Richard’s words.
Bella herself was already skilled at pretending she was fine.
‘But it can’t be hidden forever.’
Armians had been at the frontlines, unable to see Bella for nearly half a month.
But since they lived under the same roof, he would notice her condition the moment they met.
The problem was that it was impossible to pull Bella out.
The Great Magician who closed cracks—just her presence was already a symbol of hope for the people.
That was why Camilla didn’t send her home early, but kept her in the barracks instead.
People needed hope that humanity would survive this chaos and reclaim the land.
Fortunately, Bella only forgot recent things.
Her name, her purpose, and how to close cracks—those core memories remained intact.
If things ended well, she might still live without major issues.
‘Yes, once this is over…’
Camilla sighed and turned.
A soldier ran up to her.
“What is it?”
“Count Rohiltern is gone! He’s nowhere in the barracks!”
Camilla dropped her sword.
Charlotte, after becoming a beast, gained the ability to see magic.
All beasts were born from magic power, so it was natural.
That was when Charlotte realized the reason for her transformation.
The secret lay in the magic book the Marquis Blancia had given her.
The one who opens cracks will be consumed by the darkness beyond them.
That was why the Marquis, though he wanted chaos, never opened a crack himself—he knew this side effect.
Kiiiiiik—
“You deceived me. The Marquis tricked me.”
But her resentment didn’t last long.
As her beastly instincts grew stronger, her reason faded, leaving only raw hatred.
‘It’s all Bella’s fault! That wretched girl stole everything from me…!’
Even in her hatred, she didn’t dare approach Bella recklessly.
Because she could see Bella’s magic.
It was vast, blazing like the sun itself.
Even watching from afar made Charlotte uneasy. Getting too close felt like she would melt away.
She had torn open countless cracks, sending beasts against Bella to weaken her, but it was useless.
Bella’s magic remained as strong as ever.
Kiiiiiik—
Hunger gnawed at her.
Charlotte let out a long cry, then looked down at a human standing at her feet.
While everyone else ran away in terror, one human stood still, silently holding a staff.
As expected—it was Bella.
Charlotte instinctively tried to back away.
But the moment their eyes met, jealousy swallowed her.
Bella wore a well-fitted robe. Her exposed skin was pale and clean.
‘Why… why me? Why must I be like this?’
Why did Bella have everything, while she had to live with the form of a monster?
Kiiiiiik—!
Charlotte screamed, a terrible sound.
People fleeing nearby shrieked, covering their ears.
Their fear and disgust—once unbearable—now felt satisfying.
‘Yes… they don’t know who I am anyway.’
To them, she was only a monster, nameless and indistinguishable.
‘So it doesn’t matter anymore.’
She had already lived as a monster, killing countless humans.
One more wouldn’t make a difference.
Charlotte stretched out her claws—
But then she froze.
“Charlotte?”
Bella’s voice.
“You’re Charlotte, aren’t you?”
