# 112. Let's Not Carelessly Peek at Others' Memories (5)
I knew I had forgotten something important.
I felt a sense of emptiness and hollowness in my heart.
But...
"I can't believe I forgot about Minerva..."
No matter what, Minerva is a goddess.
A person who accounts for half of my abilities.
How could I have forgotten someone as important as Minerva?
That fact shocked me.
"I remember the side effect mentioned at the end was a minor loss of memory... but this is way worse than what was written in the book..."
The book said that while the side effect would cause memory loss, the effect was minor and would return with time.
However, looking at the current situation, the effect was far from minor.
*If I fight the Demon King in this state, I'd lose all 1,000 times out of 1,000 battles.*
Did the book contain incorrect information?
Or perhaps the book's "standard" for what counts as minor is different.
The meaning could vary depending on interpretation.
But I knew someone who had the answer to this situation.
"I'll get the answer if I ask."
I entered an alley and checked the form of the doors.
Minerva must have been quite angry—she had changed every door in the alley into ones leading to the library.
A very inefficient action.
"...She only needed to make one, but she's wasting her energy needlessly."
My memories are gradually returning now.
Who does she think she's fooling?
Indulging my petty pride, I opened a door leading to the library.
As I entered through the door, that stupid owl was glaring at me.
It had been a while since I'd seen it, but it was still a creature I couldn't warm up to.
"Hoo- Hoo-"
"When you talk to me, use human speech."
"...Hoo-"
I passed by the library's librarian and walked toward the interior of the library.
Walking through this place again, forgotten memories began to resurface, and many scenes flashed through my mind.
Mostly good scenes remained in my memory.
"Looking back, these are pretty good memories—"
"Hmph, getting lost in pointless sentimentality."
"..."
As if this wasn't a place for reminiscing about memories.
Sitting in a chair with her legs crossed, Minerva cut off my words with a petulant voice.
"Does the library look like a place for someone to reminisce about memories? Huh? Who said you could get all sentimental?"
"...Why are you sulking again, Minerva?"
"Try being in my situation! You heartless kidnapper!"
Hiss- Hiss-
Minerva seemed thoroughly angry.
With her arms crossed and legs folded, she was making it clear that she was thoroughly twisted up.
*It's not my fault I lost my memory,* I wanted to say.
But it seemed like that goddess would only get angrier.
I sighed and said,
"Haah... Are you angry because I lost my memory?"
"No, I'm not angry about that."
"...Then why are you angry?"
"Losing your memory is okay! But why! Why didn't you think of this goddess even once after losing your memory?! Are you even my apostle?!"
"Ah."
So that was the point of anger.
Perhaps because I was too obsessed with information about Aina.
She must have been too angry that I didn't even show an effort to remember her.
I sat in the chair next to Minerva and spoke calmly.
"I'm sorry for forgetting."
"Forget it! I'm not giving you choices anymore! No more reading books! You're banned from the library! You're a traitor just like the Saint!"
A traitor.
That's harsh.
But speaking of traitor...
I made eye contact with Minerva.
"Minerva."
"Wh-what are you staring at me so intensely for...!"
"Sorry is sorry. But I'm curious about something. Why is Estia a traitor?"
"...Th-there's a reason!"
Minerva seemed to be hiding something, turning her head away to avoid answering.
Then, looking awkward, she approached a bookshelf and casually pulled out a book.
"Here, read this."
"What is this?"
"Just read it!"
Is she still not over being upset?
After saying that, Minerva returned to her seat and crossed her legs again.
The atmosphere suggested I shouldn't talk and should just read the book, so I opened it without a word.
"Hmm..."
To summarize the book's contents:
It described the process of how my memory would return to normal over time and the cause—that this happened due to Estia's lack of mana.
"Soul damage. It's because of insufficient Divine Power."
"Right, we restored Jun-woo's broken soul, but...! There was a problem with your memory because of insufficient Divine Power. At least you're recovering now, so that's fortunate."
Fortunate.
Minerva's expression as she said that looked somewhat uncomfortable.
It almost seemed like she would have preferred if I hadn't regained my memory.
More than that.
"Minerva, what am I supposed to do after reading this summary?"
"I'm organizing it for you since you forgot! Why are you making me so angry today!"
"Because my head hurts."
"...I suppose that's understandable."
Understanding.
Minerva nodded.
"Hmph, the reason I called you was just to see your face and check if your memory returned well. And I wanted to give you one warning."
"A warning?"
"Yes, Jun-woo, you absolutely must never! Never let your soul be damaged again! You must keep this!"
"The reason is."
"J-just, it's not good to receive too much Divine Power! Definitely protect your soul!"
Minerva said this while blocking the desk with her body.
I caught a glimpse of a book on the desk titled "Lee Jun-woo's Future."
*It seems to be related to my future...*
Definitely protect your soul.
It must be related to my death.
Even when Minerva lies, she does things that help my future.
So for now, I decided to quietly follow her words.
For now.
"Is that the only warning?"
"There's nothing more to say... no, wait! One more thing!"
"What?"
"Estia! Punish that traitor! Don't... kill her! Just punish her! She has no respect for the goddess! She's a traitor! Traitors need to be taught a lesson! Got it?"
"...I'll decide after hearing the story once."
"You don't need to do that! Just punish her—!!"
Still noisy as ever.
Though some of my memory had disappeared.
The fact that Minerva is noisy seemed to be deeply embedded in my memory.
"Then, I'm leaving."
"Okay, that's all I have to say. Be careful with your head."
I bid farewell to Minerva and decided to head home.
However, before opening the door to leave the library.
Minerva grabbed my collar and muttered.
"...Don't ever forget me next time."
"Okay, I won't forget."
"Without you... I'm as good as gone... So don't forget."
Tug-
Minerva muttered with her head lowered.
*Well, aside from me and Meowng, she has no other apostles...*
Being forgotten might only be a matter of time.
There isn't much information about the goddess Minerva in the world either.
It was natural for Minerva to feel fear about being forgotten and disappearing.
I placed my hand on Minerva's head and said,
"I absolutely won't forget next time."
"...Promise. If you forget, I'll kill Jun-woo with a choice. Understand?"
I just won't choose it.
But it means she's asking me not to forget that much.
I chuckled and turned around.
"Then, I'm really leaving now. I'll come again next time. Go back inside."
"..."
Nod-
Minerva nodded slightly and returned inside the library.
"...Don't forget until you return."
"What? What does that mean—"
"..."
Minerva muttered to herself at the end.
But she didn't tell me what those words meant and went back.
*What on earth does that mean...*
I returned home while pondering those cryptic words.
However, no proper answer came.
Only a severe headache rose in my head.
It was a dawn filled with many thoughts.
The next morning.
I automatically opened my eyes and got up from bed.
Though I hadn't slept much, my eyes opened on their own.
"...Thinking about it, I used to wake up at this time every day."
The next action would be...
Go to the bathroom and wash up.
Head to the dining room to prepare breakfast.
And start cooking.
Following this series of actions, I saw the kids already preparing food in the dining room.
"Luna, Hare. You're up."
"Ah, Mister! G-good morning! Haha...!"
Luna smiled awkwardly.
Did something happen?
I could sense awkwardness in her face, expression, and gestures.
"...Something definitely happened yesterday."
"N-no! Nothing happened! Really nothing!"
"Sure, nothing happened. I'll believe you."
"Really?"
"No."
"..."
Luna's pupils shook violently from side to side.
Hare, who was trimming vegetables next to Luna, looked at me and asked.
"B-but... Mister...! Did you... regain all your memories...?"
"Not all of them, but they'll come back with time. Don't worry."
"...I see."
Tsk-
Hare quietly clicked her tongue.
*Why does everyone seem disappointed rather than worried?*
Luna, Hare, Minerva.
These three seemed angry that I hadn't lost my memory.
*Anyway... I'll need to wake everyone up to hear the story.*
I placed my hand on Luna's shoulder and asked.
"Luna, could you go upstairs and wake the sleeping kids?"
"Y-yes! I'll wake them and come back! Ha, haha..."
Luna, drooping unlike her usual self.
She shuffled out of the dining room.
It was behavior unlike Luna.
*...As I thought, something definitely happened among the Hero Party last night.*
All the testimonies point to Estia.
I decided to focus the conversation on Estia.
I picked up a kitchen knife and decided to prepare breakfast.
"There are enough ingredients... This should be..."
Chop chop chop-
Just as I picked up the knife to prepare food.
From outside the dining room, I heard someone shouting and running.
"Huff... Huff... W-wait! Mister!! Mister!!"
"What's wrong, Luna?"
"Haah... Wh-what's that! Why are there locks on those two people's rooms!? D-don't tell me you're awakening your kidnapper instincts again!? Is that it!? They're both shouting that they want to go to the bathroom!"
"..."
Right.
I had forgotten.
I hurriedly headed upstairs before the two of them had an accident on the floor.
Fortunately, no incident occurred, but...
"I... maintained... my dignity..."
"You almost did it again, Oppa...!! What are you doing...!!"
"Again?"
"N-no, that's not it! Hehe...!"
Estia's word "again" bothered me a little.