The current situation was a bit tricky.
To be precise, it was extremely tricky.
But Sophie wasn't surprised by this.
On her way here, she had already been poked by the red health bars floating from several kilometers away.
Hostile faction.
Kaila.
If Miss Hero had gone hostile, then something had definitely gone wrong.
Considering Miss Hero's absurd stats and the bizarre mechanics of this world, Sophie barely had to think to reach a conclusion.
It was absolutely a problem with the curse on Miss Hero.
Boom!
The greatsword of holy light slashed down, pressing the canopy of the Oil-paper Umbrella down by an inch.
Sophie gripped the umbrella handle with both hands, her feet carving two shallow furrows into the scorched earth beneath her. The ribs of the umbrella vibrated subtly in the holy light, and incandescent glare spilled from both sides of the rim, scorching and curling the cuffs of her sleeves.
Kaila's expression didn't seem to have changed.
Nor was there any obvious hesitation in her movements.
She still raised her sword, still pressed forward, and still stared at the Witch behind Sophie with those cold, expressionless Hero's Eyes.
But actually, there was.
Anyone else would probably think Kaila was completely unresponsive.
But Sophie was not anyone else.
When Kaila was expressionless, it wasn't always the same kind of blank face.
When judging a lie, her eyelashes would freeze for a split second.
When confused, her head would tilt a degree or two.
When she didn't want to answer, she would remain silent.
When her name was called, her fingers would tighten slightly.
Perhaps only someone who observed her with extreme care could get along with Kaila.
It was the same now.
Another attack.
The sword was incredibly fast.
But the moment the blade struck the Oil-paper Umbrella, its angle shifted by half an inch.
Only half an inch.
If it were anyone else, they would probably think the Hero was still being completely ruthless.
But Kaila could have been faster, more direct, and could have delivered this strike far more thoroughly.
She was in a daze.
This was a good sign.
She hadn't completely succumbed yet.
“Miaoyue, and Modi, take the cultists and retreat immediately. Leave this to me,” Sophie said quickly as she redirected the force of the blow and backed away.
“You don't need my help?”
“You'll only 'help' things into a bigger mess.”
Miaoyue: “...”
The Saintess was truly annoying when she spoke.
“Fine, then be careful, My Saintess.” Miaoyue pursed her lips, but her gaze swept over the panicked civilians around them, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious for a brief moment. “—But there are still so many people here. Will they be alright with the aftershocks of the battle?”
She wanted to snap back at Sophie again, but when she looked up, she ran right into Kaila's relentless, unyielding offensive.
Well, let this little couple have their lovers' quarrel here then.
What a tragic pair of lovebirds.
She immediately decided to slip away, find a safe spot, and eat while waiting for an opportunity to support. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
“Who told you to forget all your basic magic?”
Sophie blocked Kaila's sword once again, stumbling back several steps as her heels carved two scorched lines into the ground. Without a doubt, the attacks Miss Hero landed on her were significantly weakened by that layer of the Saintess's protection.
Though, she was still ridiculously strong.
Teleportation was a luxury spell that consumed massive amounts of mana for ordinary mages, but to Miaoyue, it was barely worth mentioning.
She shrugged helplessly. “At this point, what else can you even do?”
Shifting her tone, she turned her head to look at the bishop beside her. “Modi, think of something.”
“Goddess, Saintess, this... where do I even begin...” Modi looked utterly bewildered.
“It is the divine will.”
“I've thought of a way!”
Almost before the words had fully left his mouth, a sudden stroke of inspiration hit Modi.
He drove his staff upside down into the ground, and the moment the tip sank into the earth, he chanted in a deep voice—
“With my blood, I seal heaven and earth—High-tier Ritual: Moon's Cage, activate!”
The cultists behind him followed suit, driving their staffs, longswords, and scepters into the earth in unison.
As their deep, orderly chanting echoed in layers, a giant, semi-transparent dome of bright moonlight suddenly materialized. It silently enveloped the panicked crowd, like a gentle yet firm palm shielding all the civilians within its grasp.
A few vampires reacted instantly, baring their fangs and lunging at the civilians inside the dome.
But at the exact moment they made their move—
Weapons forged from solid moonlight struck first, precisely skewering their heads.
That was the signature technique of every New Moon Bishop.
Moon's Cage.
Those within the cage are all lambs; anyone who harms them will suffer backlash.
“As expected of my bishop. Under my careful guidance, you thought of a way so quickly,” Miaoyue, ever the credit-seeker, nodded in satisfaction.
She cast another glance at Kaila, who was still tirelessly and relentlessly trying to tear her to pieces, before her figure froze and dissolved into a ripple of red moonlight, vanishing into thin air.
“We are willing to die for the Goddess!!”
The cultists behind her were already weeping tears of gratitude, shouting in unison with eyes full of tears.
...
Not far away.
The Green King frowned deeply.
He stared coldly at the New Moon cultists who had popped out of nowhere to disrupt his plans, as well as the unfamiliar white-haired woman whose hair fluttered in the wind.
He turned his head to look at the vampire Ancestor beside him.
“Don't you have any backup plan? The Witch is about to escape—keep her here!”
“Don't worry,” the vampire Ancestor's voice was as deep as an ancient well. As his fingers danced, the massive blood-colored magic circle began to gather and hum once more, condensing the killing intent of the next strike. “She won't get far.”
Thirty seconds.
Just thirty more seconds.
And the victor could be declared.
...
The Witch had vanished.
Kaila's movements stiffened.
“Miss Hero, wake up. The Witch is already gone.”
As Sophie spoke, the rim of her Oil-paper Umbrella was still pressed against the greatsword of holy light.
Kaila did not answer, only raising her unfocused eyes.
Now that the Witch had vanished, the target of the Hero's identity judgment began to shift.
Calamity, vampires, civilians crying for help.
In this altar that the Green Mist King and the vampire Ancestor had painstakingly constructed, the last things they lacked were calamity and cries for help.
First, kill the vampires who posed a potential threat, and destroy this ominous magic circle.
Tsk.
Sophie clicked her tongue softly.
As expected, it wasn't that simple.
The current Miss Hero would not respond, nor would she think. She would simply choose the target with the highest priority among all those judged to be part of her duty as a Hero, and slash through them.
This was bad.
Very bad.
But it wasn't time to give up yet.
Don't panic, she still had her trump card.
Sophie's crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
She had to bring her into the mysterious farmhouse.
To do that, she had to find a way to make Kaila show some emotional fluctuation.
But the problem was that she was currently exhausted from defending, constantly trying to block Miss Hero.
Kaila's sword was too fast, and her footwork was too steady; any openings only existed the moment before Sophie could even perceive them.
By the time she realized there was a weakness, Miss Hero had already corrected it.
Sophie couldn't see any stats; she only saw hard work and sweat.
It was completely unreasonable.
If only she could make Kaila pause for just a single moment.
Sophie concentrated fully, blocking Kaila's path once more.
In the next instant, Kaila's figure vanished from where she stood.
It was a thrust.
Holy light condensed into a single line in her palm as the blade thrust straight toward Sophie's chest.
The speed of the strike had been slightly adjusted, just barely allowing the Oil-paper Umbrella to pivot in time.
Sophie stared at the light.
She let go of the umbrella.
Pfft.
The greatsword of holy light pierced through her chest.
Sophie's body shuddered as the fabric of her back was torn open by the blade of light. Before blood could even gush out, it was vaporized into a thin red mist by the searing holy light.
Pain surged, making Sophie's vision go black, and a foul, metallic taste of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
But Sophie did not back down.
Instead, she took a step forward.
The blade sank even deeper into her chest as she locked Kaila's sword-wielding wrist firmly with both arms. Sophie crashed straight into Kaila's embrace, her forehead almost touching her shoulder, her bloody breath falling upon the nun's robes.
“Caught you.”
Sophie smiled through gritted teeth, wrapping her arms around Kaila without hesitation.
Then, she slammed her head hard against Kaila's.
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
The days of the past.
The past.
Please remember the past in this world, Miss Hero.
October 15th. Meeting Miss Hero in the dungeon of the New Moon Sect, camping in the wild.
Back then, she had just transmigrated, and her body and stats were extremely low.
Without Miss Hero, she wouldn't even have known the most basic rules and common sense of this world.
Without Miss Hero, her overly weak self might have been "protected" by Shironaka Fueno.
The memory of being pinned against the wall by Miss Hero, the memory of taking a bath with Miss Hero.
Please remember them.
Sophie looked at Miss Hero with expectation.
The holy light piercing through her chest was still helping her recover health. As she grew healthier, Sophie hugged her even tighter.
She could feel Kaila trying to pull the sword out, but Sophie had already turned her own body into a lock.
You're not allowed to leave.
Headbutt!
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
Blood and holy light sizzled faintly in her chest.
October 16th. Arriving at Silvervein City with Miss Hero, wiping out several bandit camps along the way.
Just as she had requested to accompany Miss Hero, Miss Hero had bid her farewell.
“Don't go! If you leave, what am I going to eat?”
Back then, Sophie, who had no stat protection, was completely dumbfounded.
Their perfect duo was clearly dominating everything—Sophie was responsible for the cheering, and Kaila was responsible for the slaughter. Why was her golden thigh running away the moment they entered the city?
“Aren't we supposed to be in a party for life?”
October 16th, noon. Meeting Miss Hero again after her two newly recruited lackeys were eliminated by Miss Hero.
Miss Hero had said that she wasn't truly saying goodbye. If Sophie gathered enough clues or needed her help, she would definitely appear.
Sophie really needed help back then.
She had always needed it.
“Then it's a promise. Once I investigate the clues about the New Moon Witch, Miss Hero must appear.”
“Of course. It's a promise.”
Those were Kaila's own words.
It was a promise.
Miss Hero had promised it herself.
Don't forget something like that.
“Headbutt!”
Sophie slammed her head heavily against Miss Hero's forehead.
The intense pain felt like it was going to cause a concussion, and it was surely a bloody mess.
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
Standing on the Central Clock Tower of Silvervein City with Miss Hero.
The wind was strong, and the setting sun was huge. Sophie's long hair blew all over her face.
Miss Hero stood behind her, braiding her hair.
She asked Sophie if she would find a long life boring when she spent most of her time doing nothing.
Of course not.
Because Miss Hero was there.
“As long as Miss Hero is always by my side, I'll never be bored, hehe.”
Miss Hero's hands were very steady. They were steady when she braided hair, and they were steady when she cut people down.
The most reassuring place in the world was half a step away from Miss Hero.
“Headbutt!”
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
October 18th. Waking up in the tavern room with Miss Hero.
To be precise, only Sophie woke up.
Miss Hero hadn't slept at all.
When Sophie woke up in the middle of the night, she found herself completely wrapped around Kaila, who was sitting there with her eyes quietly open.
She even remembered that Sophie had slept for three hours, twenty-six minutes, and fifty-three seconds.
This was terrifying.
Extremely terrifying.
The most terrifying place in the world was the bedside where Miss Hero sat with her eyes open, counting how long you slept.
But Miss Hero didn't throw her out.
She didn't get angry, she didn't mock her, and she didn't treat her as a shameless vampire accessory.
She only said, “The sun isn't up yet. You can sleep a bit longer.”
October 18th. Not being in the same place as Miss Hero.
Miss Hero went to do a commission, while Sophie, with dark circles under her eyes, went to find Modi to set up a ritual room.
That day, she drank a lot of supplements, got a lot of Gold Sun coins, and accepted Elizabeth's ritual duel.
Miss Hero wasn't by her side.
But the Oil-paper Umbrella was.
The umbrella Miss Hero gave her had blocked the maid's sword and the scythe of the vampire phantom.
Even when Miss Hero wasn't there, the things she gave were still protecting her.
She couldn't forget this either.
October 18th, noon. The tomorrow she had promised to spend with Miss Hero hadn't arrived yet, but Sophie was already thinking about that date.
The ritual duel was a hassle.
Elizabeth was a hassle.
The chants of the Moon Rite were also a hassle.
But the Gold Sun was very warm.
Sophie thought back then, It's fine, Miss Hero. I'll steal money from the rich lady to support you.
Although Miss Hero would probably never accept such an improper way of being supported.
But thinking about it wasn't against the law.
“Headbutt!”
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
October 18th. Standing with Miss Hero on the edge of the Witch battlefield outside Silvervein City.
The wager with Elizabeth had spiraled completely out of control, and in the end, she had directly called for backup.
Fine, if she calls for backup, so will I.
So Sophie summoned Kaila.
But somehow, it had ended up turning into a massive battle between Miaoyue and Shironaka Fueno.
She wanted to flee with Miss Hero, but Miss Hero wanted to go and die alone.
Spouting pedantic arguments that Sophie didn't want to hear at all.
What a hassle.
Isn't it good to be alive? Only by staying alive can girls happily snuggle together.
Don't just shoulder everything all by yourself.
“Miss Hero promised to go on a date with me tomorrow. I don't have the habit of breaking my promises.”
“Trust me.”
October 18th. Retreating from the Witch battlefield with Miss Hero.
The Witches were still fighting in the distance, tearing heaven and earth apart, yet Miss Hero still wanted to go back.
A Hero cannot turn a blind eye to a Witch.
Nor can a Hero abandon the weak who are in desperate situations and begging for help.
Sophie understood this rule.
And for the first time, she began to seriously learn how to snatch Miss Hero away from her identity as the Hero.
That day, Sophie didn't take Kaila away by force.
She relied on asking for help.
She relied on their promise.
She relied on the fact that Miss Hero couldn't just ignore her.
She had to remember this as well.
“Headbutt!”
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
October 19th, early morning. Continuing to travel with Miss Hero through the night of Solitude.
Back then, the moon was still hanging in the sky. The tavern, the streets, the eaves, and the curtains were all pressed down low by the curse of this land.
Miss Hero wasn't afraid of solitude.
She could stand in the night alone, do commissions alone, respond to calls for help alone, and walk into danger alone.
But Sophie didn't like that.
Miss Hero could be strong, reliable, and always stand in front of others.
But she shouldn't always be alone.
October 19th, early morning. Temporarily parting ways with Miss Hero.
After daybreak, Miss Hero left to do a commission with a look of apology in her eyes.
Sophie stayed in the tavern to handle all those messy troubles.
Miss Hero was always like this.
She wouldn't say many pretty words, nor would she leave behind any exaggerated promises.
She simply left when she had to, returned when she should, and saved people when needed.
But Sophie had already learned to read her expressionless face.
She knew Miss Hero wasn't devoid of emotion.
She merely hid many things in very, very small movements.
October 19th, morning. Not being in the same place as Miss Hero, but Sophie was still organizing her status panel.
The Oil-paper Umbrella was by her side, and the Holy Light Irradiation given by Miss Hero was etched in her memories.
When Sophie cataloged her skills, resources, and future plans, her mind would still wander back to Miss Hero.
Miss Hero had given her high-strength defensive items.
Miss Hero had given her steady health-recovery resources.
Miss Hero could even carry her and fly.
Looking at it this way, Miss Hero was practically Sophie's most important basic mount in the current version.
Please remember, Miss Hero.
You are not just the Hero.
You are also Sophie's friend.
My friend.
October 20th. Making an appointment for an afternoon date with Miss Hero.
Sophie was stuffing her Oil-paper Umbrella into a cultist's mouth in the wilderness, very seriously wiping out cultists.
Miss Hero departed in a flash of white light, then returned in another flash, just to remind her of one thing.
“Don't forget our date this afternoon.”
“Of course not.”
Miss Hero was secretly giving her special treatment.
She had thoroughly let that cultist know what the Moonlit Shadow Hand meant back then.
“Headbutt!”
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
October 20th. Walking with Miss Hero down the afternoon streets of Silvervein City.
Miss Hero had pulled out her notebook.
The thing she had prepared was called the "Inspection and Accompaniment Plan for the Livelihood of Silvervein City".
It sounded very official, but it was actually just shopping, buying snacks, watching street performances, enjoying the view from high up, and having dinner.
It was clearly a date guide.
Miss Hero wouldn't admit it.
Sophie, of course, couldn't accept that.
“Admit that this is a date.”
“It's not.”
“Miss Hero.”
“It's not.”
“Kaila.”
In the end, Kaila crossed out the original title and wrote down a new line.
Date with Sophie.
Followed by parentheses.
(Commission Nature).
Sophie was very happy to see that.
Extremely happy.
“Headbutt!”
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
October 20th. Going on a date with Miss Hero in Silvervein City.
Sophie carefully planned the classic dating tropes.
A date had to involve holding hands, feeding each other delicious food, having harmless misunderstandings over trivial things, showing unconditional protectiveness in the face of danger, and enjoying the view from high up together.
Sophie had said it with complete confidence.
Miss Hero had listened very attentively.
Later, Sophie suggested holding hands.
She had originally prepared a whole set of flawless date-camouflage theories to pressure Miss Hero.
Yet Kaila simply nodded.
“Okay.”
No build-up, no checks, no choices, no branches, no event confirmation windows—she directly agreed.
A Galgame wasn't supposed to be like this.
But that was exactly how Kaila was.
Later, Kaila took the initiative to reach out and hold Sophie's left hand.
Having zero actual experience, her mind had gone completely blank.
Palm overlapping palm, warmth seeping in, fingers sliding into the gaps, fingers interlocking.
Miss Hero's hand was very warm.
The warmest place in the world was in Miss Hero's palm.
Back then, it was Kaila transferring her presence to Sophie.
Now, it was Sophie's turn to forcefully shove the things she remembered right back in front of Kaila's eyes.
“Headbutt!”
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
October 20th, night. In the tavern room with Miss Hero.
Sophie wanted to hug Miss Hero to sleep.
She had a perfectly valid reason.
It shouldn't be a big deal for friends to hug while sleeping.
Miss Hero refused.
It was just because she had accidentally called her a scrub. Miss Hero was really too petty.
Sophie asked her to punish her severely, as long as she could hug her to sleep after the punishment was over.
Miss Hero took this request very seriously.
And then she threw Sophie into the bed, covered her, pressed down the blanket, and tucked in the corners.
“Sleep.”
Back then, Sophie was wrapped up like a worm without any dignity, and even her attempt to reach out for Miss Hero's clothes was caught.
Miss Hero sat on a chair, keeping watch through the night.
She wouldn't come closer.
Nor would she leave.
She was simply there.
She had to remember this as well.
“Headbutt!”
Thud!
【Log: You have performed a non-lethal attack. [Great Memory Erasure Technique (Reversed)] check in progress... Check successful.】
【Log: You have cast [I, Without Fear of Forgetting (Special) lv.Max].】
October 23rd. Parting ways with Miss Hero at a street corner in Silvervein City.
By the stone steps of the street corner, a child was squatting and sobbing.
Sophie stood waiting nearby, and, completely lacking any moral baseline, used the child as bait to lure Miss Hero.
Kaila came.
She squatted down first, asked about the child's situation, and then pulled Sophie aside.
“If you want to find me, just call me. I will come to find you.”
Those were Kaila's own words.
Then came the forehead flick.
Then came the thirty seconds.
Then came the refusal to travel together.
And then came that sentence almost swept away by the night wind.
“Come back.”
Kaila hadn't looked back.
She herself seemed to have been momentarily dazed.
Hehe, she already couldn't live without her.
Capture progress: 99.9999%.
So.
Refusal was fine, but forgetting was not.
Sophie would absolutely never allow such a thing to happen.
“And now, I'm back.”
“Please remember me, Miss Hero.”
...
Rate on N.U.
