The journey to the Kingdom of Halflings was silent.
Too silent.
Even Liren wasn't making jokes.
Even Eldarin wasn't giving speeches.
Everyone could feel it.
Kensai was waiting.
Then—
Lira stopped walking.
Shun nearly walked into her.
"...What is it?"
Lira didn't answer.
She was staring ahead.
At the side of the road.
A young man sat there.
His clothes were worn.
His hands trembled.
His face was buried in his arms.
And he was crying.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just quietly.
Like someone who had lost everything.
"...Hey," Eldarin called.
The man looked up.
The moment Shun saw his face—
She froze.
The world stopped.
"...No."
Liren's eyes widened.
"...Impossible."
Eldarin staggered backward.
His sword nearly fell from his hand.
"...Kael?"
The man's expression became confused.
"...Who?"
Silence.
Lira's eyes widened.
For the first time in years—
She looked completely lost.
The man stood slowly.
"I... don't know who that is."
Shun grabbed his shoulders.
"...Stop joking."
"I'm not."
The answer came instantly.
Naturally.
Honestly.
Like he truly didn't know.
"I woke up a few months ago near a river."
His voice shook.
"I don't remember my name."
"I don't remember where I'm from."
"I don't remember anything."
Lira took a step forward.
"...Kael."
The man looked at her.
Nothing.
No recognition.
No reaction.
Just confusion.
"...Sorry."
The word hit harder than any attack.
Lira froze.
Because she knew.
She knew that look.
That wasn't someone pretending.
That was someone who genuinely didn't remember.
Shun slowly released him.
"...No..."
Eldarin's hands shook.
"...This isn't possible..."
Then Liren suddenly froze.
Her face went pale.
Terrifyingly pale.
"...Kensai."
Everyone looked at her.
Liren's expression darkened.
"...I know what happened."
Silence.
"...Tell us."
Liren swallowed.
"When the Demon King granted Ultimate Skills..."
"...Some evolved."
"...Some changed."
Her voice became quieter.
"And Kensai's power..."
"...Began cutting more than space."
A horrible realization appeared in her eyes.
"...She can cut memories."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The wind stopped.
Even the birds seemed to disappear.
Lira stared at Kael.
Then back at Liren.
"...What?"
Liren lowered her head.
"...She didn't kill him."
"...She removed him."
"...Not from the world."
"...From himself."
The words felt unreal.
Kael was alive.
But everything that made him Kael—
His memories.
His experiences.
His friendships.
Gone.
Cut away.
Like they never existed.
Lira stood motionless.
Kael looked at her awkwardly.
"...I'm sorry."
He didn't know why he said it.
But seeing her expression hurt.
Something inside him hurt too.
A feeling he couldn't explain.
Then—
A tear fell.
Everyone froze.
Lira was crying.
Not a few tears.
Not silent tears.
She was crying openly.
The strongest person in the world.
The woman who punched mountains apart.
The woman who defeated Demon Generals.
The woman who conquered impossible battles.
Was crying.
"...No."
Another tear fell.
"...No."
Her voice trembled.
"...No."
Kael stared.
He didn't understand why.
But seeing her cry made his chest ache.
Like something precious had been stolen.
Something he should remember.
Something he wanted to remember.
Lira covered her face.
"...You forgot."
Her shoulders shook.
"...You forgot everything."
Shun looked away.
Eldarin lowered his head.
Even Liren remained silent.
Because there was nothing they could say.
For the first time—
Lira faced a problem she couldn't punch away.
And somewhere far away...
In the Kingdom of Halflings...
Kensai stood upon the throne.
Her eyes closed.
"...You've found him."
A faint smile appeared.
Not cruel.
Not mocking.
Confident.
Because she knew.
Sooner or later—
Lira would come for her.
And when she did—
The battle would no longer be about kingdoms.
It would be about getting back something more precious than victory.
To Be Continued...