Her outstanding ability to expand the playing field, just like the war victories that led many wars, was remarkable.

“I don’t know how much you foresaw, but anyway, you’ve come face to face with Matapju like this.”

“……. ”

“If you’re waiting to return, I’ll gladly lend you a hand. Even if not, right now…”

“I only have one question.”

In the rough tone that couldn’t be heard in front of Sharti, Matapju slowly closed her mouth when Ren spoke.

“What is the connection between ‘Gwendhill’ and me?”

“…Hmm?”

Matapju blinked. It was when she felt that Ren’s state in the darkness was extraordinarily threatening.

“If you’re here to see me off, I’ll gladly lend you a hand. Even if not now…”

“I have to ask. What is my relationship with ‘Gwendhill’?”

“…Huh? This isn’t acting, is it?”

When Matapju, looking confused, burst into forced laughter with eyes that couldn’t comprehend, dark turquoise eyes flickered in the darkness. In an instant, Ren rushed towards Matapju, attempting to grab her neck.

Startled, Matapju simply stared at Ren, only being caught by the neck without resistance.

“Originally, you should ask in the opposite way, shouldn’t you?”

“Answer me.”
Ren roared without paying any attention to the ice spears that seemed to pierce his flesh from all directions.

Matapju looked at Ren emitting hostility up close and raised the corners of her mouth.

“Something seemed off. Were you too unharmed?”

Whether by chance or miracle, the forbidden magic used by the enemy failed to take the life of Leodelt Gwendhill.

Instead, it took away the memories of ‘Leodelt Gwendhill.’

“This is truly an unexpected turn of events.”

Magic that tampered with a person’s mind was naturally considered forbidden magic.

Moreover, it was related to ‘memories.’ This was something unimaginable.

“But what about this enemy?”

Matapju took back her smile and observed Ren’s expression. He was furious.

Moreover, he held animosity towards the name ‘Gwendhill’ even to the point of wanting to kill.

“Could it control not only erasing memories but also manipulating perception?”

To erase memories related to ‘Gwendhill’ from the head of Duke Gwendhill, and furthermore, to sow hatred towards ‘Gwendhill’ using forbidden magic. A sense of unease, unprecedented and eerie, crept in.

Matapju looked at Ren with a stern expression.

If Ren was under the control of forbidden magic, manipulated by the enemy, then he needed to be cleanly killed right here.

‘I need to confirm.’

Ren still didn’t emanate the aura unique to a Sword Master.

His attempt to grab the neck was as simple and rough as a novice knight holding a sword.

“Do you want to kill ‘Gwendhill’?”

Matapju whispered discreetly to Ren.

“Do you feel an impulse to kill as soon as you hear the name ‘Gwendhill’?”

“Answer the question asked.”

Matapju shrugged her shoulders when she saw Ren dismissing her words as nonsense.

“Well, it’s an inseparable relationship with ‘Gwendhill.’ Very close, indeed.”

“……. ”

When Ren gritted his teeth, veins appeared on his neck.

“Damn it.”

Ren cursed and pushed Matapju away with vigor.

Matapju, seeing Ren’s fierce expression revealing all his emotions, tilted her head with an awkward posture.

Ren’s reaction was strangely different from what she expected.

“Do you want to know why ‘Gwendhill’ is in danger because of you right now?”

“……Danger?”

Ren looked at Matapju.

Seeing his reflective gaze, Matapju suppressed a burst of forced laughter.

“So, everyone is looking for you, including me.”

“Are you going to take me away?”

Ren stepped back warily.

Matapju shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, I’m looking for someone, and they must know ‘Gwendhill.'”

Otherwise, the situation would become more complicated.

Moreover, those who checked the condition of Duke Gwendhill might feel the effect of forbidden magic and might try to manipulate other events.

“I don’t know what ‘Gwendhill’ is.”

“Can you hate something so intensely without knowing what it is?”

“……. ”

Ren pondered for a moment.

Matapju toyed with the rings on her fingers.
‘If there’s no reason and no cause, but you instinctively feel hostility…’

Preventing the transformation of the War Fiend into a Murder Fiend was crucial.

Matapju’s gaze coldly settled.

“The woman I like… hates you.”

“…………?”

Matapju’s posture crumbled with a slight tilt.

Struggling to support herself against the wall, Matapju looked at Ren with vacant eyes.

Ren, clenching his fist, had a furrowed brow.

“To think that I’m close to someone who never wants to meet me in her lifetime. …It’s horrifying.”

Matapju blinked at the revulsion on Ren’s face.

It was an unexpected situation.

That was why.

“Oh, it was a lie.”

“……What?”

Without blinking an eye, Matapju smoothly uttered a lie.

“You are close to her, but somewhat… a sinner? Right now, you’re a sinner to ‘Gwendhill.'”

“…….?”

“Whenever the name ‘Gwendhill’ comes out of your mouth, it’s as if you’ve committed a tremendous crime, almost like being sent to prison.”

Matapju wasn’t sure how to deal with the man in front of her. So, she skillfully concealed the truth in her explanation.

Thanks to that, Ren’s despair and self-loathing began to diminish.

“Didn’t they say they were looking for you too?”

“That’s true, but, uh… well, who knows.”

Matapju realized that all her assumptions had been off the mark until now. It was due to the insufficiently gathered information.

So, she needed to reevaluate each piece of information.

“For now, it doesn’t seem like I need to find the person I’m looking for over there.”

Matapju sensed who the ‘woman he likes’ that Ren mentioned might be.

The doctor who covered her face with a hood and was infinitely cunning.

‘Right. There could be a doctor who tampered with people’s memories.’

Matapju looked at Ren, whether he stared suspiciously, spoke, or smiled, she grinned.

“Although I said it’s a conversation, it feels like I’ve been talking about myself too much. Let me talk for once. Where, to what extent, and when did abnormalities arise in your memory?”

“Why should I believe and talk?”

Matapju immediately pulled out a magic contract.

Matapju swore not to take direct actions against Ren’s will, not a direct oath to take him away.

“Well, tell me. I might be able to help. After all, I’m called Matapju.”

With a whispering laugh, Matapju murmured softly, which would make Viretta cringe and avoid her if she saw it.

“Hurry up. Your beloved master is probably waiting for ‘Ren’ right now.”

Naturally, Ren, who had no trust in others, felt a dubious sensation but had no choice.

Since he found a vague connection with ‘Gwendhill,’ Ren couldn’t stay idle.

Matapju opened her mouth slowly.

“…The first place I opened my eyes was inside a cave.”

From the moment Ren opened his eyes, he briefly recounted the memories he had lived as ‘Ren’ to Matapju.

A little later, when Matapju was left alone, she couldn’t hide her bewildered expression.

“Good heavens.”

It wasn’t brainwashing.

It was an undoubtedly genuine love.

However, Matapju still needed information.
“That’s the emotion of the person called ‘Ren.’ It’s false.”

The next day, Matapju went to visit the owner receiving fake love.

“Oh, my~ Miss~ A doctor, right~?”

She changed her appearance to avoid suspicion and see the inner thoughts without being doubted.