From beginning to end, Grin could hear Dolores’s thoughts.
In 【Retrospect】, the Dolores in the memory was not like the Dolores in 【Punishment】; she could keep things hidden.
Perhaps, as she said, she had indeed forgotten many things due to various accidents.
The Dolores in 【Punishment】’s memory, when they met, noticed the abnormality in Grin and always kept her thoughts well concealed.
But the one in 【Retrospect】 had even forgotten that he could hear her thoughts.
In 【Retrospect】, Grin obtained far more information than in 【Punishment】.
But he couldn’t be happy at all. The Dolores of the past always appeared reliable, but the one he had just seen was truly like an insecure child.
She could disguise herself, had a sense of responsibility, and had convictions. If Grin couldn’t hear her thoughts, he would probably have been fooled.
But precisely because of this, Grin felt something akin to pity and compassion for her.
Even a Dolores like this was still thinking for him. He could tell that she had paid many costs to persist until now.
All of this was to pave the way for him.
Did he really deserve to bear so much of Dolores’s kindness?
Grin walked out of the room. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but outside was still pitch black, with the moon already past its midpoint.
He wandered into a garden, but most of the flowers there hadn’t bloomed, with only a few scattered purple-white dots decorating the area.
Stone tables and chairs were placed in the center of the garden. On this night without rain, only a gentle breeze occasionally blew.
This place was originally a remote area used as guest rooms. After the Dragon Calamity, the shortage of staff had also reduced the occasional patrols here.
Grin sat down where he had talked with Dolores in the memory and fell into a long silence.
He asked the System in his mind if there was a way to help the Dolores in the memory, or if he could try to bring her out.
The biggest difference between the Dolores of 【Punishment】 and 【Retrospect】 was not memory, but attitude.
The Dolores in 【Punishment】 was clearly more mature. She wouldn’t consider living; she gave off the feeling of the King of Suklan who walked out from under The Hollow and faced the distance, with a resolve to die.
Such a Dolores, after knowing she was a memory, had only guidance and interpretation of love left for Grin.
But the little Dolores in 【Retrospect】—perhaps due to missing memories or the influence of her age—she didn’t have the same release and rationality as 【Punishment】.
She would really be like an ordinary child, afraid, and hiding that fear while pretending to be strong.
When she realized she was part of a memory, she would become uneasy.
When she found it hard to answer Grin’s questions, she would panic and stutter.
When she realized it was time to part, she would both be reluctant to separate and relieved that she no longer had to hide.
She was like a living little girl trapped in a memory.
Grin narrowed his eyes slightly. He hadn’t expected the System to reply to him in the first place. In his view, the System was no different from the mechanical creations of ancient civilizations, only reacting and responding according to fixed settings.
[After completing the special task for Dolores’s 【Unswerving】 phase, you can independently choose a branch series task for retaining slices.]
The System’s response surprised Grin. He asked in his mind again:
“Do you mean there’s a possibility for me to take her away?”
[Yes, but this will occupy your final choice.]
“I didn’t expect you to answer my question. Usually, at times like this, you fall silent. I thought you were like a cold machine… or a rule. System, do you have self-awareness?”
After Grin asked, the System went silent again.
But he had already gotten the answer he wanted. Indeed, there were many things he had no clue about or couldn’t do, all of which had changed because of the System’s appearance.
No matter when he returned, he could never find a way to save Viseliane.
Nor did he have any means to truly meet the Dolores of the past, distinguish between their conversations, and understand their real thoughts.
If it were only rebirth, he might reach a higher position in this life, but some regrets would still remain unfulfilled.
He had stubbornly believed the System was the power of a demon, because the power bestowed was too vast and inconceivable.
Until Dolores’s words dispelled these concerns.
While Grin was thinking, footsteps came from a distance. He followed the sound and saw Alberke stretching like a cat.
The little golden-haired girl was still yawning.
Alberke seemed to sense something, walked over a few steps, and greeted, “What a coincidence. We meet again, Mr. Grin.”
“Why are you heading this way?” Grin was also puzzled about why Alberke would appear here.
“I chatted a bit with Dolores about everyday things. Hilberu is the Saintess—full of energy and doesn’t need rest—so her sense of responsibility drove her to treat the injured Royal Knights. As for me, I’m an ordinary person, so of course I need to find a place to rest at night.”
Alberke curled the corner of her mouth into a mischievous smile.
“Earlier, I always entered the Royal Palace through a secret passage. Meeting you at first was intentional. Rather than bothering Dolores to arrange lodging, I’d rather just pick an empty room here and stay.”
Quite free, Grin thought.
Then Alberke turned the topic back to Grin.
“As for you, Mr. Grin, we’ve been apart for over four hours. Why are you sitting alone in the garden late at night?”
Grin gave a wry smile and then asked Alberke, “Alberke, you know Dolores and have seen those prophecies, so you should know about the 【Punishment】, 【Confession】, 【Retrospect】, and such that the System gave me as task rewards, right?”
Alberke nodded lightly, admitting it easily, and guessed, “So bringing this up now means you just entered 【Memory】 and couldn’t sleep, so you came out for a walk?”
Grin nodded. Alberke walked to the seat in front of him and sat down—the same spot where the little Dolores had sat in his memory.
“So you heard something that stirred your emotions. If you want my advice, you can tell me what happened.”
“If you just want someone to talk to, I can stay up a little longer to keep you company. You’re our most important combat power tomorrow; you can’t be too gloomy and affect the upcoming battle.”
Alberke clapped her hands twice and then laid them flat on the table. Her emerald eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation.
Even she couldn’t guess what was in the memory or what Grin would see.
Grin began, “I just entered the 【Retrospect】 memory and saw Dolores as a child. The Dolores of this life, not the previous one.”
This life—so that was the “original owner” before Dolores’s transmigration? It sounded a bit bad. Was this the part she hadn’t had time to fill in?
Could Grin have seen something bad in this memory?
What would the original owner, who didn’t know Grin, say when meeting him?
Alberke’s brow furrowed instinctively, but Grin’s next words interrupted her random thoughts.
“The young Dolores of this life is the same Dolores who betrayed me in the previous life. She was reborn earlier than me, already here as a child…”
Alberke’s expression gradually twisted, and then she let out a puzzled sound:
“Huh?”
What are you talking about? This part wasn’t even designed by me, the writer. The original owner… no, could it be that because I didn’t set who the original owner was, something like this happened?
A Dolores who was supposed to be avenged transmigrating earlier than the hero seeking revenge…
Alberke sighed and then said, “This is somewhat unexpected. If you don’t mind, I hope you can tell me what you saw in the memory.”
Grin nodded.
“I will,” he said.