Chapter 2202: Miss Malone’s Memories

Chapter 2202: Chapter 2202: Miss Malone’s Memories

Miss Malone watched Shard intently, pausing after each word to ask:

"Are you trying to say that I have something to do with that cult group?"

"No, of course not. But I suspect that the lost ’antique’ is related to the Dragon Feast Cult."

Shard said, reminding the witches:

"At that time, the cultists were organizing to sacrifice the lives of the entire ship, possibly including their own. In such a situation, why were so many crew members helping that first-class lady look for something?"

Shard, as an outlander, easily identified this discrepancy. Miss Teresa, who was huddled beside him, understood:

"Do you mean that the object is related to the true intent of their actions?"

"Yes, the antique must not be very large, and it doesn’t have the power that the witches can easily detect. It relates to the dragon, and my first thought was dragon scales, but in fact..."

"It’s not dragon scales, that valuable item is an egg, a dead dragon egg."

Miss Malone suddenly said, realizing her voice was a bit loud after she spoke. She lowered her head in dismay and added in a very small voice:

"I don’t know how, I just suddenly... knew this."

Shard hesitantly nodded to her:

"Then everything is explained, but you’re probably not entirely clear on your memories now, are you?"

"Yes, I feel very chaotic right now, could I... be the baby dragon that was supposed to die in that egg?"

She was seeking help from Shard and the witches, but no one could answer her question. Only Professor Ivins tugged on the blanket draped over him and said hesitantly in the flickering shadow of the flame:

"Normally, even a dragon egg that cannot hatch a baby dragon shouldn’t end up outside. Dragons’ views on reproduction are very different from humans. An unhatched dragon egg usually becomes the first meal for successfully hatched baby dragons. But since that egg really ended up outside, it implies the creature inside truly died. Even if it didn’t, its soul wouldn’t be complete like yours now."

Professor Ivins looked at Shard, who also nodded:

"Yes, your soul is a complete soul. Whatever you are, you are alive."

The black-haired girl looked at her hand, questioning her existence:

"So what exactly am I?"

"You should also be connected to the Radiant Messenger itself; you’ve described details of living on that ship, which the egg shouldn’t know."

Shard continued, and Miss Malone looked at him like she was clinging to a savior, even grabbing his hand under Miss Teresa’s very displeased gaze:

"I’m not a phantom, am I?"

Her lips were somewhat pale, as was her entire face:

"I am a real person, I won’t disappear when you finally reveal the Truth, right?"

"I think you won’t."

Miss Magie Malone, who originally seemed unfamiliar, now appeared to have a face shape surprisingly similar to Miss Eles as Shard saw:

"But regardless, we must find out what you’ve forgotten. Now join us, let us witness your memories, and uncover the final Truth."

The brazier placed in the center of the raft was floated by the witches’ spellcasting, and then the five of them walked together to the edge where the Deity resided. Although Miss Teresa was somewhat displeased with Miss Malone "reaching" out to Shard, she understood that Miss Malone’s identity would determine whether the group could successfully leave here next, so she did not stop the poor girl from holding Shard’s hand.

The witches hid behind Shard, and Shard spoke to the Deity:

"Oh God, I have roughly understood the course of events, and I also know how to rescue that child you asked for help. The final evidence lies in the final memories, please allow me to undertake this last fishing."

The witches cautiously bowed to the Deity after Shard finished speaking. The childish-looking Deity smiled at them and then looked at Shard:

"If you only want to complete the task given by Tree Father, you can leave immediately after this fishing. Rescuing that child is the task I hope you accomplish. You, in my eyes, are also a child, and I must remind you that this is very dangerous."

"I’ve experienced many dangers, and besides, aren’t you here?"

Shard said, and the Deity smiled again, so the fishing rod returned to Shard’s hands.

Miss Teresa and the other two gave "bait" related to their past experiences and wishes, while Miss Malone, who couldn’t remember past events, stubbornly said "no wishes," and eventually provided blood and hair.

Now the blood and hair were in small test tubes, and Shard seriously wrapped the fishing line around them and cast them toward the sea under the worried gazes of the others.

The campfire was set here, illuminating a corner at the edge of the floating board. The light and shadows swayed and leapt with the wind and waves, and just as a sudden surge almost pulled Shard into the sea, Miss Teresa hugged Shard’s waist, while Miss Maxim and Miss Ivins each grabbed Shard’s hands. Together, they pulled up the thing tangled in the fishing line from the sea.

This time, it was a beautiful glass goblet entangled in the fishing line. When Shard picked up the goblet, it automatically emitted a glimmer even without the Deity’s gentle caress.

But this time, the phantom was completely different from before. The witches and Shard did not see a past scene appearing on the floating board. After a flash of white light, the sunset surprisingly illuminated everyone’s faces.

"What’s going on?"

The sunset wasn’t glaring at all, but because their eyes were accustomed to the darkness over the Sea of Darkness, its sudden appearance made them instinctively close their eyes. Upon opening them again, they found themselves standing on the deck of a massive yacht. The setting sun cast a glow on the deck, which appeared almost luminous due to its cleanliness.

Except for Shard, they all recognized where they were:

"The Radiant Messenger!"

"Is this yacht really so big?"

"Meow~"

The outlander, who had never seen such a sight, and the cat looked around in amazement. Of course, the cat was probably just surprised at how quickly the sun had appeared.

Miss Malone, who should have been with them, was nowhere to be seen, but at the bow stood a girl with a silhouette similar to hers.

However, the girl’s body was almost entirely transparent, and the sunset passed through her as if to dye her in its amber hues. She held a goblet in her hand, which faintly revealed her hair color to be sky blue, differing from the black everyone was familiar with.

"Go ahead."

Although uncertain about the situation, Miss Teresa tugged at Shard’s sleeve. Shard nodded and went up, standing shoulder to shoulder with the girl, only to find that her face was not Miss Malone’s. It was similar, but not entirely the same.

She paid no attention to Shard, who had approached her on his own, and continued gazing mournfully at the sunset with her goblet. So Shard took the initiative to ask:

"Madam, you’re not lamenting life here, yearning to leap down because you’re being forced to marry an undesirable wealthy boyfriend, are you?"

The lady with the goblet still did not glance at him, but at least she spoke:

"Is this a new way of flirting...can you see me?"

"Yes, am I honored to be the first human to converse with you?"

Shard asked again, and though the graceful figure did not reply, it was apparent Shard had guessed correctly.

"You seem troubled?"

He continued to inquire, and the girl with blue hair and eyes swirled the goblet in her hand and then lightly nodded:

"I don’t know what I am, nor do I understand why I exist. I don’t even know what my existence means. Before this conversation started, I wasn’t even sure if I was just someone’s dream. After all, no one can prove I’ve ever been here."

She tossed the goblet, whose origin was unknown, overboard:

"Even this sun has its purpose—rising and setting, illuminating the Earth—but I remain clueless."

"Meow~"

Perhaps because it had stopped raining here, the cat struggled out from under the clothes. It deftly climbed onto Shard’s shoulder, its wide eyes fixed on the distant setting sun. This felt like an illusionary realm, yet also seemed real, possibly a genuine memory.

"Unsure of what you are? Would you like to hear my story?"

Shard continued to smile at her, understanding her feelings:

"I come from a distant, distant place, and upon waking from chaos, I realized I could never return to where I belonged. In an unfamiliar city, I was immensely lonely. The seemingly friendly people around me were, to my perception, not my kind at all. At that time, I had similar thoughts: what do I mean to this world?"

The girl with blue eyes paused. On this yacht, no one could lie to her; she could sense the thoughts and emotions of everyone aboard. Though this telepathy did not apply to the man before her, she nonetheless felt there was no falsehood in his words. Thus, she made a request:

"I thought you just wanted to capture me and study the reason for my existence...can I feel your heart?"

Although unsure of how she intended to do this, Shard guessed she wanted to resonate with his emotions:

"Of course, if that’s what you wish."

So she reached out to hold his hand, turning under the sunset, at the ship’s bow, facing him. After a few seconds of their eyes meeting, the girl with blue eyes leaned forward slightly, her forehead meeting Shard’s.

Both closed their eyes as a wave of loneliness and confusion, like the tide, surged towards Shard. Simultaneously, the blue-eyed girl holding his hand felt his emotions, too.