NOVEL NEXT Chapter 697: -139- Disordered Memory
Badak's reaction surprised Charlotte.
Looking at the former City State Legion Commander, who appeared completely bewildered, Charlotte couldn't help but ask,
"Badak, do you… not remember Lilith?"
Badak shook his head,
"Lord Cain, the name Lilith is not uncommon, but… after thinking it over, I don't seem to recall anyone by that name."
Hearing Badak's words, Charlotte's expression became slightly stern.
"Do you really not remember? Who was the one who led you to establish the Free City State Alliance?"
She couldn't help asking further.
Badak's expression became even more confused,
"The person who led us to establish the Free City State Alliance? Wasn't that… you?"
Charlotte fell silent.
She sighed and tried a different approach,
"Then… do you remember Haral? Who is Haral's sister?"
"Ha…"
Badak faltered slightly.
He hesitated for a moment, not daring to mention the name, and instead looked cautiously at the sky, asking with some trepidation,
"Do you mean… the one above? Does He… have a sister?"
Charlotte's heart sank, and an ominous feeling intensified.
"Badak, who were the people who led you to establish the Free City State Alliance?"
She looked at Badak with a serious face and asked again.
"Wasn't it… you? You rescued us when we were in a crisis, leading us in rebellion against the Elves, blessing us with a new life…"
Badak stated matter-of-factly.
"Only me?"
"Could it… not be?"
Charlotte: …
Watching the girl's increasingly serious expression, Badak also started to appear hesitant.
He hesitated for a moment before asking,
"Lord Cain, could it be that… besides what happened later, I've forgotten something else?"
Charlotte remained silent.
"You say you lost your memory, so… what exactly is the memory you lost?"
Charlotte pondered for a moment before asking in a different way.
Badak respectfully answered,
"It's the memories after the Dawn Battle, during the 'Dawn Battle' where we clashed with the elf army, I was severely injured and fell into a slumber, and when I woke up, I was already in the tomb of the Nais Clan."
"I've communicated with the members of the Nais Clan, and they told me that it was I who helped the Stargazer Cosy establish the Nais Clan, that it was I who supported Cosy in his rebellion against the merciless and tyrannical Blood True Ancestor, and that after the Blood True Ancestor disappeared, I led the Nais Clan towards true freedom…"
"But, I have no memory of these events, I even find it unbelievable that Cosy could have become mythical, after all… in my memory, he was just one of the new Descendants you later selected to expand the legion, his strength… was too weak back then…"
Charlotte fell silent again.
She exhaled lightly and said,
"Badak, tell me everything from our first encounter to before you fell asleep, exactly as you remember it."
Badak looked anxiously at Charlotte's serious face, nodded, and began to recount his memories from the beginning…
…
Badak recounted a segment of memory that seemed familiar yet starkly different from Charlotte's.
Similarities were there, like rebelling against the rule of the Elves, establishing the Free City States, and opposing the Old Gods and the Elves…
But the differences were, in Charlotte's memories, Haral and Lilith were replaced with herself.
Badak didn't remember Lilith; he had no memory related to Haral either. From the beginning to the end, it was only Charlotte who led them.
The deeds in Charlotte's memories belonging to Lilith and Haral had all become her own, even the death of Lilith had turned into a near-death experience where Charlotte awakened the power of the Bloodline and became the Ancestor of the Bloodline.
Meanwhile, Badak's memory stopped at the conclusion of the Dawn Battle.
In his words, the Dawn Battle was a major conflict between the Free City State Alliance and the Elf Alliance, a crucial battle for the dominion of the western mainland between the Elf Clan and the Bloodline.
What happened afterward, the severely injured Badak didn't know.
It wasn't until he awoke once more, baffled, looking at the Nais Bloodline, who bowed before him, and then learned about his own "great achievements" from the Nais Clan.
After hearing Badak's account, Charlotte sank into thought.
Honestly, she did not believe her transmigratory memories were false.
She had verified through "Been there, done that" that she indeed had traveled through time, and she indeed had met "Lilith" and "Haral," becoming their teacher.
She indeed had bestowed powers upon "Lilith" during her previous travels; her memories should be true, at least regarding that.
So… it was clear now.
The problem likely wasn't with her but with Badak.
Badak's memories about Lilith and Haral had been erased by some force, or rather… modified.
However, Badak still remembered the Divine Lord Haral of the Holy Royal Court.
What he didn't remember was Haral, the founder of the Free City State Alliance.
But for Lilith, her existence was almost thoroughly "erased," with all related memories replaced by Charlotte.
What in the world is going on?
Why are Badak's memories different from hers?
There are others of the Bloodline... Charlotte had turned many pages but found no mention of "Lilith," and both Albrecht and Yulster seemed to have no recollection of this name either.
Charlotte had thought that perhaps Lilith had concealed her real name for various reasons, but it now seemed not to be the case; her existence had been "erased" from the memory of the Bloodline.
It appeared that the only traces left were in Charlotte's own memory and the signature in Lilith's handwriting on the title page of the Blood Holy Scripture.
The more Charlotte thought, the more confused she became, and the more she pondered, the more alarmed she felt.
Clearly, in true history, Lilith had already become a God.
Then what kind of power could erase the existence of a God?
And Haral...
Lilith was one thing, but Haral's existence was clearly still known. So why had his memories been altered too?
Who did this?
What conspiracy is this?
Does this also relate to her?
No...
The replacement of memories related to Lilith with her own must inevitably concern her!
Or maybe, does this memory disorder also relate to her crossing?
Charlotte's expression grew somber.
She only felt that in these jumbled memories, an unseen hand seemed to be manipulating everything covertly.
And this could very likely relate to the "madness" of Lilith in true history.
"Cain, Lord, the members of the Nais clan tell me of events after my slumber; the Blood True Ancestor they describe... is it really you?"
Badak hesitated and then asked.
Charlotte glanced at him,
"What do you think?"
Badak shook his head repeatedly,
"No, it can't be you; the Blood True Ancestor they described was so cruel and ruthless, I can't believe it's you."
"To provide us our own homeland, you even spared your bloodline's essence. Such benevolence... You would never slaughter the Bloodline further!"
So... were you just speaking up for me in front of those Nais Bloodline descendants?
Charlotte's feelings were mixed.
Honestly, Badak's memory had confused her with Lilith.
The experiences in his memory where the True Ancestor did whatever it took, even sacrificing their power for the future of their clan, were not those of Charlotte, but actually of Lilith.
Of course, various signs indicated that the "cruel and ruthless" Blood True Ancestor is very likely to have been Lilith.
"Cain, Lord, I... must have forgotten something crucial. Can you resolve my confusion?"
Badak requested.
His expression was anxious, seeming quite unsettled.
Looking at this former Third Legion Commander, Charlotte paused for a moment and then said,
"You indeed have forgotten some crucial things."
"I did bestow the power of bloodline descendants to mortals, but... leading you to establish the Free City State Alliance, leading the Bloodline descendants to truly rise, was not me."
"At least... from what I currently 'recall,' that wasn't me."
"Not you? How is that possible? Are you saying my memory has been altered? Have all the Bloodline's memories been altered?"
"That's... impossible, I have already checked my memory, I indeed have forgotten some things, but my memory has definitely not been tampered with! Even gods, if they alter memory, would inevitably leave traces!"
"What... if the one altering the memory wasn't 'human'?"
Charlotte countered.
Badak went slightly pale, his eyes widening in shock.
For a while, both were silent.
After a moment, Charlotte sighed and said,
"Badak, let's not dwell on the memory issue for now, I will gradually figure out the truth. Of course, I'll need your help in this process."
"Naturally, you are our Ancestor, the great Blood True Ancestor; following your command is my duty."
Badak answered as if it was a given.
Charlotte paused, emotions more complex.
She sighed and said,
"In that case, start by integrating the power of the Nais clan for me. Since the Nais clan respects you so much, I think... you can help me, get them to let down their guard against me, and swear their allegiance to me."
Badak nodded,
"I will follow your instructions."
"Additionally... do not reveal our conversation today to anyone."
Charlotte thought and then added sternly.
Badak's expression grew serious,
"I understand."
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Make up for last night