Let me put it this way. Shouldn’t I still be able to do that even when I’m injured?

"No. I don’t think it’s that simple," Selene said, cutting off my monologue with a sharp, firm tone.

"Exactly because of your condition, your Return-By-Memory ability unconsciously deactivated itself."

She spoke while crossing her arms in front of her chest. Her gaze was sharp, giving me no room to argue.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember the last time I told you to control that ability. What happened?"

Oh yeah. That’s right.

That time... I nearly killed myself.

"There you go. That means the ability still can’t be fully activated, or maybe it’s being held back by something. Or worse... buried."

"That power will awaken when you recover. Because before you stabbed yourself with the glass shard, the ability activated some kind of defense system—to protect your memory. And all of that happened after our talk about... what was it you said again...?"

"Quantum physics."

"Yeah, that. Whatever that is, because you function as an entity that transmits information while storing data about your past self—based on the memory mechanism theory I explained—there’s been a shift in your existential dynamics."

As usual, her explanation is complex, nearly abstract, yet still... fascinating.

"I honestly still don’t really get it, but like always, you’ll explain more later, right?"

"Of course," she replied confidently.

I myself was still thinking about something too cool to ignore. Something you’d usually see in anime...

Because it wouldn’t feel right for an isekai story to not have a secret council meeting in some hidden place filled with dangerous individuals.

Something like that. But don’t worry, it’s not over-the-top. This kind of moment is actually perfect for a crazy-cool idea like that.

When else would I get the chance to have something absurd yet logical and totally acceptable?

"Oh right, speaking of which..."

"About the secret between you, me, Azalea, and Helena."

"What, you want to form a secret council meeting?"

I just nodded slowly with a sweet smile.

She sighed while still fiddling with her hair—though I wasn’t sure when I started noticing that. Her hands were busy, but her eyes never left me.

"Hah... fine. So, what’s the purpose and background, if I may ask?"

Damn, feels like I’m being asked to write a research paper. For real, her tone was like giving a thesis assignment.

Professor Selene here really doesn’t know when to drop the academic act—even in the middle of a casual conversation.

"Don’t compare me to professors, teachers, or whoever from your world, Kairi."

"Yes, sorry, Prof—eh, I mean, Selene."

I didn’t get to finish, considering the way her eyes stared sharply. Or more accurately... like eyes ready to slowly slice me up.

Is Selene in a bad mood? Or just being snappy? Or both?

"You know why I’m mad. And no, it has nothing to do with the sex earlier or you teasing me on purpose."

"Yeah yeah, sorry. I did it intentionally. It was a gamble—Azalea’s abilities are decent for that, after all."

"Kairi, that was someone’s life. Do you understand the risk if I had no soul left, and she died?"

"Yes, I understand."

It was definitely risky. But at that moment, there really was no other choice—

SLAP!

Silence for a moment. Then the sound of the slap echoed like a metallic ring in an empty corridor.

A hard slap landed on my cheek.

And for the first time, I felt... like I deserved it. No. More than deserved it.

"No more excuses. If I had planned this strategy, it would’ve been way more refined. Not a mess like this."

"Got it?" she said coldly. So cold, it nearly froze my fragile heart—

Wait?

Tears?

Yeah. I just remembered. Physically, I’m still a kid. Not fully grown. And a child’s body... can’t exactly handle a slap like that. Especially from their own sister. Even if mentally I’m an adult, this body doesn’t lie.

Beneath these naive cells... the one who slapped me wasn’t a mentor, friend, or even a sexual partner. It was my big sister.

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

It hurt. It hurt so damn much.

"Eh, Kairi, are you..."

"Hic... do you hate me, sis?"

That annoying little kid voice slipped out of my mouth. My face was a wreck.

Selene immediately hugged me tightly. Gently. She stroked my head, trying to soothe me.

"Sweetheart... I’m sorry. I forgot your soul and body still aren’t synced, Kairi."

But maybe it was too late. Slowly, I felt like I was losing control over my body. I don’t know why...

Was it because of the slap?

I thought, reflecting on my misfortune.

Suddenly, Selene wiped my face, then calmly chanted a spell.

Magically, the pain disappeared. And my body... seemed to accept my adult identity again.

"What exactly just happened?" I asked, needing clarity.

"Maybe it’s the effect of your new body. Remember, you’ve only had a few days to adapt to it."

"And as for its origin... you don’t need to know whose skeleton this body came from. What matters is, there’s no soul left from its original owner."

Terrifying... Selene is seriously scary.

If that’s true... whose body did she steal?

"So... this is the body of the crying child earlier? What did you even do to get a body like this?"

Selene just stood silent. Then exhaled a long breath.

"You already understand how soul modification works, right? Well, that’s connected to who you are now."

"In other words, when you were in my body, that body was like a puppet. A puppet possessed by a demon."

"I’m not a demon."

"Yes, you are. A demon with an angel’s heart—ahhh~!"

I kissed and teased her super-sensitive ear again.

The kid’s got game, I’ll give her that.

I thought, genuinely surprised at how smooth Selene could be with her flirting.

"Enough. So, what’s the explanation? Is that all?"

"Not really. But I think something else is more important. Oh right, how about we continue our secret council meeting?"

"You mean, the purpose and background?"

"Yes, that."

"Why not give it a name too?"

"We can do that later. The place will be here in the Rifter Void."

I didn’t even ask about the place, but alright, damn it. I mean, it’s clearly the safest hideout anyway.

"For the name..."

"How about ’Witnesses of Primordial Scriptures’?"