The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 116
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 116. The Forgotten Social Society (1)
The Royal Social Society, which had spanned multiple days.
All of those memories had been completely erased.
Moreover, it wasn’t just my memories that had been forgotten.
“Brother…?”
Seraphia tilted her head in confusion before my eyes.
Seraphia’s memories had been erased as well.
And so she was acting identically to before, thinking identically, and repeating the same events.
‘Is this even possible?’
…I simply couldn’t believe it.
How could such a thing be possible?
This was something even Ian couldn’t do.
The Darkness Lord’s power of oblivion.
‘This was its extent…?’
Only then could I understand.
Why such information had been imprinted upon me.
The mightiest of lords.
An anomaly beyond anomalies, surpassing even the Frost Lord.
And so the vivid sense of déjà vu I was experiencing even now.
It was far too surreal to call it merely déjà vu.
‘Calm yourself.’
I steadied my breathing and suppressed my panic.
I couldn’t be swept away by the situation.
I had to judge the circumstances coldly and grasp the true nature of what was happening.
‘From when…. No, up to which memory has been erased?’
I traced through my memories to understand the present moment.
And so I could discern that this was the point after being released from the Underground Dungeon and learning of Queen Marceline’s plan, before the Social Society had begun.
By date, it was the day right before the tea party.
In other words, all memories of the Royal Social Society had been completely erased.
Then—.
‘Has my memory been erased only once?’
Until just moments ago, I hadn’t even known that my memories had been erased.
And so I was acting identically to before, thinking identically, and repeating the same events.
It meant that the erasure might not have happened just this one time.
There was a possibility that I had already been subjected to oblivion multiple times, and these events were repeating—.
‘…No, that’s not it.’
Currently, I had escaped the power of oblivion due to the Successor’s Will [EX].
And so, judging from the recovered memories….
‘The Social Society occurred only once.’
In other words, the power of oblivion had been activated only once.
But no matter how much my memories have faded.
Acting identically to before, thinking the same way, and repeating the same events—that’s difficult to accept.
In other words.
‘Could time itself have reversed to the past?’
Not a fading of memories, but time itself returning to the past.
Before the Royal Social Society was held.
If so, I would have no choice but to act identically to before, think the same way, and repeat the same events.
Temporal regression to the past.
…In truth, it’s absurd.
An impossible occurrence at that.
According to Iliana, the Grand Mage of the Allied Forces, temporal regression to the past is impossible by any means.
But I experienced it.
I didn’t merely reverse time across 15 years—I ‘regressed’ beyond that.
Would the Darkness Lord find it impossible?
The mightiest of lords, an anomaly beyond anomalies surpassing even the Frost Lord?
‘It’s possible.’
When the impossible is excluded, whatever possibility remains—however unbelievable—must be the truth.
For now, I must keep all possibilities open and calmly assess the situation.
Is it merely fading memories?
Or temporal regression to the past?
The way to confirm it is—
‘…The experience from the Fate Quest.’
The level that rose from it.
Checking that will tell me.
I immediately accessed my 「Player Information」.
==「Player Information」==
[Name] = Adrian Whitewolf
[Title] = Master of the Snowy Mountain
[Level] = 83
[HP] = 10,300
[MP] = 0
[Sanity] = 572/ℵ0
[Stats] = Strength: 85(+5) Agility: 115.4(+19.4) Endurance: 99.3(+19.3) Mana: 11(+5)
[Experience] = 33.12%
【Additional Stats +4】
The +4 level remained exactly as it was.
‘I didn’t go back to the past.’
It wasn’t temporal regression to the past.
Yet it’s premature to conclude that only my memories faded.
My condition simply hasn’t reverted to the past.
What if the situation itself has been reset?
What if the Royal Social Society is starting from the beginning again?
Or… what if the Royal Social Society I experienced never happened at all?
What if it was all just a dream?
Luseria, the Enchantress of Lust.
A Cambion, the bastard child of human and nightmare.
What if the visions I saw through her mental intrusion were nothing but illusions—literally a ‘dream’?
What if I was actually discovered during my initial infiltration?
What if I was caught by Luseria and we’ve been sharing the same dream ever since?
I need to keep all possibilities open and verify them.
And the way to verify those possibilities is—
“Brother! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?! Were you tortured?!”
Seraphia’s voice suddenly pierced through.
Her worried face and expression.
In that instant, clarity flashed through my mind.
“Bring me the dress.”
Seraphia’s dress.
The dress I had mended for her.
If the situation had been reset, Seraphia’s dress would have reverted to its original state.
Similarly, if the Royal Social Society restarted from the beginning, if what I experienced never occurred—
If it was all just a dream—
Seraphia’s dress would have returned to normal.
But what if only my memories were erased?
Then Seraphia’s dress would remain exactly as I had mended it.
“…Pardon? The dress?”
“The dress you’ll wear at the Ballroom. You brought it, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yes. I did bring it, but…”
“Go fetch it.”
“Now? So suddenly—”
“Hurry!”
At my shout, Seraphia flinched with a gasp.
Then she scurried into the room.
A rustling sound echoed from within for a moment—
—Huh…?
Seraphia’s bewildered voice reached my ears.
“What is it?”
—Well, you see…
Seraphia carefully opened the door and stepped out.
“The dress has changed.”
“The dress has changed?”
“Yes.”
Seraphia nodded softly and showed me the dress.
The dress I had mended for her.
It remained in that exact condition.
“How strange… I have no memory of bringing such a dress with me.”
Now I could finally be certain.
‘Only the memories have been erased.’
The Royal Social Society had taken place.
The events that occurred beforehand had certainly happened.
Yet all memory and awareness of those facts had been utterly ‘forgotten.’
‘What in the world is this…?’
It was nearly impossible to believe.
But the situation before my eyes was an undeniable reality.
As I steadied myself against the shock, Seraphia tilted her head in confusion.
“…Where did this dress come from?”
Her face and expression screamed complete bewilderment.
It was only natural—her memories had been entirely erased.
“Ah…! My brother must have…!”
Seraphia suddenly cried out as if remembering.
But her face quickly clouded with confusion as she continued.
“…Wait? Did my brother buy this for me?”
Seraphia examined the dress from every angle.
And then she blinked, her eyes widening.
“…No, my brother would never be that thoughtful— Eek!!”
Seraphia startled, covering her mouth in shock.
Flustered and bewildered, she tilted her head back and forth repeatedly, as if her memories were in turmoil.
‘She’s putting up some resistance?’
The Frost Lord’s authority and the authority of oblivion.
Even if the Darkness Lord was the mightiest of lords, it seemed they could not completely suppress the Frost Lord.
‘If this continues…’
I might be able to restore Seraphia’s memories.
Bond Skill, Mental Empathy [E].
Since only her memories had been erased, she should still possess this skill intact.
◆Mental Empathy [E]
: When this skill is activated, the player becomes mentally and emotionally connected with an individual at the “Bond Stage.” Through this connection, the player can intuitively understand and perceive the thoughts and intentions of that individual.
As the bond strengthens, the effects of Mental Empathy increase, making it possible to detect the individual’s past memories and suppressed emotions.
However, if the player empathizes with excessively intense emotions and consciousness, mental stamina consumption may increase significantly.
Indeed, the skill existed.
Its rank was [E], which denoted Epic grade.
A considerably high rank.
Considering Dragon’s Wrath [E], Epic [E] meant a tier capable of dealing damage even to a “Lord”.
If I establish a mental connection, the Successor’s Will [EX] would influence Seraphia as well.
And there was Seraphia, who possessed some resistance to the power of Oblivion.
The possibility of recovering her memories was substantial.
◆Using Bond Skill, Mental Empathy [E]!
Words materialized before my eyes.
Seraphia’s body trembled slightly.
“Ah? Ah… Ahhhhh?!?!”
As if memories were being injected into her, Seraphia’s expression twisted strangely.
“This dress… this… this is…!”
Stammering, Seraphia brought both hands to her head.
Her face contorted with confusion.
But only for a moment.
“How is this possible?!?!”
As if all her memories had returned, Seraphia cried out.
* * *
Soft morning sunlight cascaded gently across the Royal Garden.
The tea party venue brimmed with subtle elegance.
The attendees were dressed in lavish attire.
Women adorned themselves with resplendent dresses and exquisite jewelry, while men presented themselves in immaculate formal wear and uniforms, adding an air of refinement.
The tea party venue thrummed with vitality, each person radiating their own charm and fragrance.
“Have you heard about Count Emberin’s mining contract negotiations this month?”
“Of course. But I heard he’s monopolizing the mining rights… do you think there’s room for negotiation?”
“It won’t be easy… though I heard the young lady of the Emberin Family is attending this social gathering.”
“I should try approaching her.”
The nobles were absorbed in calculations, each pursuing their own agenda.
“There are rumors that the specialty goods from Belgard Territory are quite popular.”
“That’s wonderful news, but the problem is transportation. With the recent ogre sightings, the roads in the central region have been in poor condition…”
“What about collaborating with our family?”
“The Grayven Family, you mean?”
Our family head has recently been investing in establishing new trade routes. Why don’t you meet with him directly?”
“Hmm, then perhaps we should discuss it.”
Mutual interests and vulnerabilities.
And as they probed for exchangeable resources, covert dealings and conversations flowed back and forth—
“It’s the same…”
It was identical.
“Those actions and conversations, everything is the same as… back then.”
The tea party that Seraphia remembered.
Everything was exactly as it had been.
Then Adrian asked.
“You remembered all that in such detail?”
“Huh? Oh, well….”
Seraphia scratched her cheek as she continued.
“By listening to the nobles’ conversations, I can grasp the kingdom’s political situation, and I can also glean important information from within those discussions.”
“I see.”
“More than anything, I wanted to be helpful….”
“Helpful?”
“That is… oh, it’s nothing!”
Seraphia waved her hand dismissively.
It was at that very moment.
A sudden silence descended upon the gathering.
All the cheerful chatter of the tea party vanished in an instant.
When had it started?
Every noble in attendance had turned their gaze upon Seraphia in unison.
They smiled with twisted grins.
Their eyes gleamed pitch-black and glossy.
And their mouths slowly opened wider.
“””Identical??”””
The nobles began transforming into grotesque forms.
Their bodies contorted, their limbs stretching unnaturally long.
And then—
Kiiieeeeeek──!!!
They shrieked and lunged forward.
Tangled together, falling and stumbling, yet never stopping.
They clawed at the floor, reaching their hands toward Seraphia.
Their speed was as if they were tearing through the very air—swift and razor-sharp.
“Hyaaaah!!”
Seraphia screamed and stumbled backward.
But the grotesque creatures’ speed was far too fast.
Their hands drew ever closer.
The sharp sound of claws scraping the floor.
With a whoosh, hands stretched toward Seraphia.
And then.
Crack!
A sickening sound of flesh tearing.
Seraphia’s vision lurched violently.
What unfolded before her eyes next was—
“Come to your senses.”
A back so impossibly broad.
* * *
A noble suddenly rushed toward Seraphia.
…No, not a noble.
Something grotesque that could hardly be called human.
The moment I activated Predator’s Instinct[S], information about those grotesque beings materialized before my eyes.
==【Entity Information】==
Entity: Gremlin
Classification: Demonic Phantom-Class Illusion-Order Specter-Family
Gender: Non-binary
Age: None
Characteristic: Formless
◆Formless
: The entity possesses no fixed form or shape. It lacks a defined structure and can transform into various configurations.
Gremlin.
A demon that sows fear and chaos.
The moment I confirmed this—
‘So that’s what it was.’
I could finally discern the true nature of this social gathering.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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