Editing Tosho Meikyuu:Volume1 Chapter2 (section)

===◇◇◇639 Pages until Memory Loss===

"…Alright, that’s all for today’s lessons. Any questions? "

Teacher Yuzu puts down the shortened chalk onto the teaching table, and looks back to talk,.

At that moment, you awaken from a deep and speedy torrent of thoughts.

(—Huh!? What did I just do?)

From your subjective memory, it appears an hour’s worth of lessons ended in an instant, and you look up in astonishment.

You falsified your own memory and concentrated your thoughts to the utmost limit of your central nervous system, your brain cells, and thoroughly thought of a strategy to counter the murderer.

(Ti-time just flew…it didn’t remain in my mind, but the tactics are still swirling in my mind…!)

Your memory cortex is unable to keep up, probably because of the excessive release of neurotransmitters, and you are unable to realize all the countless tactics one by one…

It appears there is a profound ocean of knowledge formed in your subconsciousness that creates countermeasures against the murderer.

(This is the power of memory tampering…!  I can even defeat the murderer's magic now…!)

''"Fufunn? Thanks to the assistance of this High Daylight Walker, this really is a decent tactic, now...?There is a side effect to it though. It appears that you have garnered quite some attention."''

"Eh?"

After hearing what Arteria says at your ear, you lift you head up to see your classmates averting their eyes from you unnaturally, trying to put away the notebooks in their hands…it appears they have been looking at you.

(…E-erm, did I do something wrong?)

''"On the contrary. The manner in which you unexpectedly answer the teacher’s question, along with your extreme concentration in thinking of how to counter the murderer, seem to have everyone assume you are a capable person."''

The extreme state of concentration caused by memory tampering can draw out the limits of human thought process. To the other students, your vigor shows how strong your willpower is. Well, it is good that you are using the lesson time to develop your tactics…

(…Too much attention will only increase the risk of me being exposed as a vampire. I got to be careful …)

"We’re done with today’s lesson then. Make sure you revise everything, okay?"

Teacher Yuzu smiles as she says so, and you can hear a bell chime far outside the window.

The tension in the classroom eases up, and the sound of stationery, along with idle chat, start to fill your surroundings..

''"Umu. It appears class is over."''

(…The problem now is what do I do next…)

''"In any case, you cannot act reckless with all the attention on you. Do step out into the hallway first... "''

"H-Hey…!"

Ueeh!?"

Before Arteria can finish, someone taps you on the shoulder.

You turn behind in surprise to see a small boy with a somewhat doggish appearance.

"Eh, ah, erm…?"

Okutsuki…is fine, right? You’re amazing, where did you learn all that knowledge?"

"Eh? Ah, ac-actually, I studied a little while I was away from Library City Alexandria, you know?"

Someone suddenly speaks to you, and you stammer in response. Naturally, this is a lie you come up with in the spur of the moment, but the male student continue to ask questions curiously.

"Heh~ you say you haven’t been here in five years…ah, you probably forgot how the ‘Apothecary’ looks too, right? We’re going to the cafeteria, would you like to join us?"

"Eh…cafeteria? Together?"

Once the dog-like boy glances as a signal, a few boys and girls smile at you. It seems your classmates are interested about the true identity of this mysterious transfer student.

(…I-I’m unfamiliar with how the ‘Apothecary’ is structured. It’s great if some people are inviting me for lunch …)

For you, who have lost your memory, the interior of the ‘Apothecary’ is pretty much a small-scale Labyrinth, so to speak. You would have gladly accepted this invitation if it hasn’t been the murderer…but at this moment, your utmost priority is to eliminate the enemy. You don't have time to enjoy lunch.

(….If I’m going to have to fight the murderer, I have to do it during this lunch break. …!)

''"Mm, it is of utmost priority to eliminate the murderer, but you cannot act rashly with so much attention. Perhaps you can accept this dog’s invitation?"''

"…Can I?"

"Why not? I’m the one inviting you. I'll tell you about some lowkey cafeteria out there. Shall we go eat thought?"

The canine boy replies briskly, perhaps misunderstanding that your reply to the bat (Arteria) is directed at him.

Sometimes, if you shun others just to hide the fact that you were converted to a vampire, it may have the opposite effect and create suspicion. Now that you have attracted so much attention, you may need to actively behave as a human.

"Say, you’re going, right? I’ll introduce you to the others in class!"

(…No choice. I guess the fight against the murderer will have to wait till after school…)

"Yes, thanks for inviting. Let me put away my notes right away. Please wait a moment, will you?"

"Alright! Those who want to eat with Okutsuki, gather up!"

You decide to accept the male student's invitation. You tuck the ‘Last Prayer’ beneath your shoulder mail. Cautiously ensuring not to exchange looks with the murderer as you stand up.

"Alright, I’m done! Let’s go to the cafeteria together…"

You turn to the male student, and try to give a cheerful smile—

[[Image:ToMei_v1 Illustration 05.jpg|thumb]]

"Too bad."

But someone grabs you by your left shoulder.

"Okutsuki-san has plans for lunch with me."

"It tickllesssss!!"

Crack! Your shoulder blade creaks. You feel very ticklish, and turn behind to see the blond murderer standing there, wearing a smile of absolute zero.

"Mu-Murderer, you…!"

"Say, that was the plan, wasn't it? We were supposed to have a long lunch break alone, just the two of us, right? Don't worry, I know a secret place where we won't be seen."

The murderer says so to you, showing a smile so perfect that it is unnerving. Her expression is akin to an executioner urging the condemned to repent.

"! Did you guys hear that!" "No way…is partner is that steel faced…no, that stone faced girl""

"Then, their argument this morning was…!" "I have a feeling it’s the start of a romcom!"

The class hears the murderer's words, and at this moment, tensions are rising high.

Just by interpreting the words literally, it may sound like a jealous girlfriend who is interrupting because she doesn’t wish for her dear boyfriend to be taken away, In fact—

*Main voice* "You aren’t breaking your promise with me, right?"

*Secondary voice* (I did say that I’ll kill you after class ends. Prepare for a splendid death.)

She’s just declaring a death sentence! Your nearly crushed left shoulder is proof of that!

"Eh…Erika? Do you and Okutsuki have ''that kind of relationship''…?"

"That kind of relationship?…I don't know what you're talking about, but for me, and this man…I guess we have a suck and stab relationship."

"A ''suck'' and ''stab'' relationship!?"

The classroom commotion grows louder. They have twisted the interpretation of the murderer’s words as ‘a relationship where you suck (lips) and stab (that thing)’. Some of the girls blush as they squeal away.

(…What do I do now!? Do I do as the murderer say and fight her?)

But your brain has switched to battle mode due to the itchiness on your shoulder, along with the threat of death. Naturally, you can't interpret this as anything other than a relationship of sucking (blood) or stabbing (stone spears).

(Since she’s scared of revealing her identity, she probably won’t attack me at a place with many people! It’s safer to accept this boy’s invitation though…!)

"Say, Okutsuki-kun, shall we leave? I know a very nice place (for assassination)."

(…But she may be related to Father’s enemies and that truth five years ago.)

You clench your sweaty palms.

The murderer’s magic is a fearsome threat…but if you can defeat her and absorb her blood, you can use the ability you inherited from the High Daylight Walker to find out about her true identity.

Perhaps you may even find out information about your father’s enemies, and seek out the truth from five years ago.

(…I came back to Library City Alexandria after five years to recover my memory and magic, to get back the ‘truth’, and to became a mage like Father…! I can’t run away from an indiscriminate murderer if I wish to inherit Father’s legacy…!)

"…Yes, I was expecting you to invite me."

Determined to fight, you grab the murderer by the wrist and slowly stand up.

"Let's go. You know of a secret place where nobody can see us, right?"

"Yes, look forward to it. You’ll love that place (the graveyard)."

"I’ll be waiting. Let’s suck and stab (with bloodsucking fangs and stone spears) all we want where nobody else will disturb us."

Once again, cheers erupt in the ‘Apothecary’ classroom.


<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Tosho Meikyuu:Volume1 Chapter1|Library Labyrinth]]
| Return to [[Tosho_Meikyuu|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Tosho Meikyuu:Volume1 Chapter3|630 Pages until Memory Loss]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>