Chapter 124: Chapter 123: The Case of a Pixie’s Altered Memories

I was able to clear my mind of those thoughts after eating some of the breakfast the inn keeper brought to us. No, it was better to say my resolve was hardened from those thoughts, especially after I linked the Arch Imp’s perception to the Demon King watching me. Calling my ‘biggest fan’ one of the Demon King’s spies was a heavy accusation that couldn’t be confirmed through gut feelings alone. I needed some proof that she’s involved with this somehow, and I had just the plan to get some hints.

<So you think Sue might be the one who altered my memories?> Nyra asked me as I was going over my plan with her throughout our meal.

<It’s only a feeling I have right now,> I explained, <I don’t have hard evidence to prove she’s the one yet. I want to gauge her reactions throughout my talk with the others and see if we can base anything off of those. That’s why I need you to observe her and report your findings to me. Can you do that for me, Nyra?>

<You got it, Jinma! I’ll keep my hypothetical eye on her like a Harpy stalking her human male prey!> Nyra exclaimed. 

I didn’t fill Ume in on the plan through [Telepathy] because it would be bad if I had a Dragon sic on an Arch Imp over a misunderstanding. A part of me also wished Sue wasn’t actually one of the Demon King’s spies. We had only met yesterday, but so far her excitement and affections toward me seemed genuine. Nyra could even vouch for me on the legitimacy of my fangirl’s feelings. Nyra also hadn’t come across anyone holding an item, skill or ability that could fake their emotions yet, so it’s hard to say whether such a thing even existed. It can’t be denied that such things existing could possible, however, so we couldn’t cut corners on this last-minute investigation.

With that said, I executed my plan, starting by telling everyone the news of Nyra’s memory issue.

“Remembering something that you shouldn’t remember … how does that work? Is it even possible to have something like that be ‘misplaced’?” Tyvera asked first with a raised brow.

“I am not familiar with the details, but I have heard of Null Spells that might fit that description,” Kalline answered, “Moreover, Pixies like Nyra were said to be an empathetic race that specialize in Psyche Magic, a type of magic that is said to be hard for even those with the Sage class to learn. I would not doubt Nyra if she felt something off with her memories, and it would not be hard to imagine a Psyche Magic spell that manipulates memories could exist.”

<That isn’t possible,> Nyra intervened in my mind, <Psyche Magic allows the caster to read their target’s emotions, communicate and send messages through the mind, to clear away the fog that clouds memories as well as sharing them with others, and even share the mutual feelings they’re experiencing at the same time. There are spells that induce fear in others through illusions and we could lock memories away as a method to heal mental wounds, but we can’t change a person’s memory or erase it from existence. I’d say having Null Spells that do both of those would be more likely to happen than the work of Psyche Magic. Personally, I think this type of magic should be forbidden to use.>

I relayed what Nyra informed me to everyone at the table. Ume, having the most experience with magic out of everyone here, agreed with that statement, but it left the others looking uneasy.

“A spell that manipulates one’s memories …” Tyvera trailed off, terrified.

“If all my memories involving Master suddenly went away … I don’t even want to imagine how I’d turn out,” Ren commented, looking down at her finished plate with folded ears.

<What’s the status, Nyra?> I asked her in my mind.

<Ohhhh we are definitely onto something here! Sue’s been growing more anxious and stressed since we brought the subject up, far more than anyone else on the table! She even experienced stomach cramps before taking medicine for it! Sue may have hid the pain well on her face, but she definitely can’t control the rest of her body’s functions!> Nyra reported.

I wanted to feign I wasn’t paying attention to Sue as I went over the news, so I kept my eyes off her while having Nyra watching her for me. The fact that she has stomach pains from stress is a huge tell that something’s on her mind. My plan seems to be working so far and things weren’t looking good for our Arch Imp, but I needed to keep this going to ascertain the truth.

“Since this seemed to happen late last night, I would like to hear what everyone was doing and whether they noticed anything strange during that time. That includes those who weren’t in the room with me. Ume, why don’t you start?” I asked her.

“I did some of what you call ‘pillow talk’ with Ren and Tyvera for some time last night while Kenaka just slept the whole time,” Ume explained, “Both of them then slept later on while I continued with my research through the rest of the night, taking restroom breaks in between. I didn’t notice anything strange during that time, but I could have been too engrossed with my research to not worry about my surroundings … oh, but Ren and Tyvera did step out briefly before going to sleep.”

“Tyvera and I also went to the restroom before settling for bed,” Ren said, looking up in thought, “If I don’t count Master’s smell of sex, I didn’t notice anything strange … wait, actually, we ran into Lady Kisaki stepping out of it by herself before we went in. No one else was inside.” 

Tyvera nodded in confirmation to Ren’s statement, “It’s as she says, Chief. Putting your … smell aside, I didn’t notice anything strange, either.”

I could make do without the suggestive commentary, thank you. Still, Kisaki was outside on her own, huh? Like Sue, I can’t read her status or her location with my skills, so that really leaves her without an alibi. If I don’t find anything here, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to her when I have the chance.

“I was … very tired after spending time with Milord last night,” Kalline testified, blushing and looking to the side, “All of my attention was directed to him and he put up a [Soundproof] spell to not let noise in or out, so I could not notice anything strange outside the room. Before I realized it, I fell asleep, and I didn’t wake up until this morning when I found myself in a spare pillow and blanket. Mametama, Erizora, did either of you notice anything?”

“I grew tired and fell asleep before any of you, strangely enough,” Mametama explained, “I was like that until Milord woke me and Kenaka up for early-morning training.”

“I was busy pleasing Master with my body, so I didn’t notice anything either,” Erizora bluntly stated, “I can’t remember when I fell asleep, but I thought I was on the floor with Kalline. I woke up in bed with Sue this morning.”

“Ah, that’s because Sue and I put you there before we went in ourselves. Right, Sue?” I asked her.

“Yes, that’s right,” Sue answered with a nod.

… Huh? Wait a second, why does this feel ...

Erizora flushed and scratched her head in embarrassment, “I-Is that right? To put my master and his fan to work like that, I’m so embarrassed.”

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“Uh … it’s okay, it was pretty crazy last night—”

<HOLD IT!> Nyra screamed, startling me enough to make me jump in my seat.

“Jin? Is something a matter?” Ume asked with a raised brow.

I had to quickly collect myself to answer, “N-Nothing, it was a … bug, that I thought was on me. It surprised me a little.”

“Ah, well it looks like it went away now, so you’re good,” my wife said while patting my back in comfort.

“Thanks …” <Nyra, what is it that made you startle me like that?> I asked her through [Telepathy], slightly annoyed.

<Jinma, what was that last thing you said to Erizora?> Nyra then asked me sternly.

<... That it was a crazy night?>

<No! Before that!> she exclaimed.

<Uh … that Sue and I put Erizora to bed before we went in?> I said with uncertainty.

<Yes! That! Are you absolutely sure that was what happened?!> Nyra asked, growing hysterical.

<Y-Yeah, I’m sure of it. I even remembered how heavy Erizora was.>

<OBJECTION! There is a contradiction in your testimony and it’s a fucking big one!> Nyra rebutted.

<There is? But I … remembered it so clearly?> I asked, too surprised at what Nyra was hinting to even call out that Phoenix Wright reference she made.

<You get where I’m going with this, do you?> Nyra asked, <You may have remembered it clearly, but I never saw that happen, and I know that for a fact because that was around where my original memory was cut off!>

<You don’t mean …> I trailed off.

<It wasn’t just my memories that were altered last night, she did it to yours too!> she exclaimed.

My mind was drawing a blank. Up to now, I only knew Nyra’s memory was altered when she mentioned it to me. I didn’t even consider the possibility of the perpetrator doing the same to everyone else’s memories to legitimize it as the truth. Unless the perpetrator could also alter their own memories, they would be the only one who knew what really happened.

<I don’t even need to use my memories to prove it, either,> Nyra continued, <You felt it back then, didn’t you? That something felt wrong with a certain person’s statement, even though you knew in your own mind that it was supposed to be true.>

If I had to describe what the [Intuition] skill kicking in was like, imagine a bell going off in your head, but you can’t hear it ringing. Or maybe it’s more like fuzzy vibrations in your head? Anyway, the skill gauges how big of a lie someone’s statement is through different intensities of ‘rings’ in your head. The skill’s higher levels allow you to better pinpoint where in the statement seem the most suspicious, as well as the likeliness to see through lies formed from the [Deception] skill. I do not know what happens when both skills are at max level and are used against each other.

My [Intuition] skill kicked in at its earliest when that person confirmed my supposedly ‘true’ fact played out in my falsified memories.

For the first time since the start of discussion, I glanced over to the Arch Imp sitting next to me, whose face was stiff as stone, but her hands tightened into clenched fists. Her wings also quivered, even her tail curled around the back of her chair and gripped on it for dear life.

Sue … no. Why?

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