Volume 6 Chapter 38 Forgotten Memories
The world changed its colors.
One truth, revealed by Senri, deeply pierced Shikin's mind.
"——Ah."
What happened?
In the next moment, a flood of information flooded in Shikin's head. Suppressed memories burst through the dam.
For Shikin, who had been detached from the secular world and continued his training, this was a shocking situation that could be called a bolt from the blue.
In just a few seconds, Shikin's consciousness flew back to the past, beyond a long period of time.
It was a memory that shouldn't exist. The beginning of his distorted life.
"Are you alright?"
A woman looked at Shikin. She was a petite and lovely girl with her black hair tied up in a bun.
"Ah, umm, it's nothing."
Words unconsciously came out of his mouth. It was a voice that didn't seem like his own, unreliable and soft.
(What... is happening?)
When he looks down, he can see a body wrapped in simple clothes. It is not a body like a heavily trained giant tree, but a thin and muscular body.
(Is this me?)
Ignoring his confusion, the woman nodded with a slightly skeptical expression.
"Yes, that's good then. I was surprised because you suddenly went silent."
As the woman said that, the cries of a baby could be heard.
"Well, well, just wait a moment. I wonder if it's time to breastfeed."
While watching the woman approach the basket where the baby was lying, Shikin tried to grasp the current situation.
Is this woman his wife? And the crying baby is probably his child.
(Do I have a family...? Such a foolish thing.)
Shikin has lived for a thousand years. Naturally, there are many memories that he has forgotten. However, those are just trivial things that don't need to be remembered.
But he cannot forget such an important memory. As long as he doesn't try to forget it.
"Dear, please watch for a while."
"Ah, okay. Understood."
Shikin stood up and approached the basket.
From inside the basket, a child wrapped in soft cloth looked up at him. He didn't know what expression to have. After all, he has never needed to know how to interact with a baby before.
Still, when he cautiously touched the child's round cheek with his finger, the baby's face twisted.
He tensed up, thinking that he had made the baby cry, but then he realized that it was actually laughing.
"Ah, ah, ahh..."
The small fingers grasped Shikin's finger. Such a weak existence that could be killed with just a little force.
Scary, yet adorable.
Shikin, overwhelmed by this new emotion, continued to gaze at the baby's face without being able to move his hands.
And then, time flowed at the speed of light.
His youthful wife became a calm woman, and their son grew into an energetic boy.
During their life together, their relationship as a couple also underwent changes.
"Ah, n, ahh!"
In the darkness, their fair skin bounced. Their sweaty bodies pressed tightly against each other, their breaths mixing.
Shikin and his wife trained together to master the path of Sendou (Way of Immortal).
In this era, "Way of Immortal" was one of the recognized philosophies since ancient times. Although there were minor differences in factions and ideologies, it was not something exclusive to only a few individuals.
For Shikin and his wife, it was a means to seek health and longevity.
The breathing exercises they did individually and the s*xual techniques they practiced as a couple enriched their modest lives.
"I love you, dear."
They exchanged kisses and whispered words of love to each other.
Beloved wife and beloved son. Shikin's life may have been poor, but it was happy.
However, a shadow was cast over their lives, a continuation of memories not too far away.
"A rebellion?"
"Yeah, we might receive a conscription notice for volunteer soldiers here too, eventually."
The city where Shikin lived was far from the border and had little connection to war.
However, news of rebellion started to reach their ears. The cause was famine.
Droughts and locust infestations had occurred in various places, but the government remained indifferent to them.
The effects, like tightening a noose, had begun to erode Shikin's city as well.
"Is this all for today?"
Seeing the meal on the table, their son pouted.
It couldn't be helped. Their daily meals became poorer with each passing month.
"Don't complain about the food. Come on, let's thank your mother."
Shikin always served only a small amount on his plate, conscious of his son and wife being able to eat. Without even knowing the full meaning of it.
Among them, the daily training of "Way of Immortal," which was a routine for Shikin and his wife, was also changing. It changed from something aimed at longevity and health to something more authentic, leading to "Enlightenment of the Emptiness".
It was because the unclear anxiety and fear of death had become a clear image.
If one could reach "Enlightenment of the Emptiness", even if they were to face death, their soul would be saved.
That's what they believed. If they didn't believe that, if they didn't have hope, they couldn't live.
Famine is an invisible monster.
In a war, you just have to defeat the enemy. If it's a disease, you would search for a cure.
But you can't do anything about hunger. They had exhausted all the food they could find in the past year.
Even if they were to rebel or become thieves, everything around them was the same. The things to steal and the power to steal them were lost before they even realized it.
Eventually, the power to move also diminished, and Shikin's daily routine became mainly focused on breath training that could be done without moving.
With the dream of a future where something would turn for the better, when Shikin opened his eyes, he was faced with reality.
"――, ――"
His wife and son had become motionless.
Their once smooth skin now just bones and skin, making him doubt where the flesh had gone. When he lifted them, their bodies felt light as if their souls had escaped.
In fact, they no longer had souls.
They had left him behind and gone to the other side of death, without ever reaching "Enlightenment of the Emptiness."
At that moment, he truly despaired.
Even if he were to reach "Enlightenment of the Emptiness" himself and achieve salvation for his soul, the two of them would not be saved.
For eternity, his wife and son would continue to be trapped in the suffering of death.
"Gu, uuuaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!"
Shikin scratched his dry head, pounded his chest, and rolled on the ground.
But his misfortunes did not end there.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Shikin had talent as a magician. In other words, he was imperfectly attaining longevity in the Way of the Immortal.
Despite this, he endured hunger and continued his daily routine of meaningless training.
The city had fallen into a profound silence, a stark contrast to the bustling life it once knew, now replaced by the pervasive suffering of death.
Shikin was already aware that there was no meaning in being the only one saved. With his only hope resting on the great will of nature, which might reunite his soul with his son and wife, he continued to gaze into the distance, day and night.
It was only when the city had been reduced to ruins for several months that the mysterious man appeared.
"Sorry, I seem to be late."
"..."
When Shikin raised his face that had turned into stone, there was a man with a strange appearance standing there. He was different from any human being Shikin had seen so far. Perhaps this is what they call a "Sennin" that appears in fairy tales.
"W-what..."
His throat, which hadn't eaten or drunk for months, didn't tremble well.
"You are the only one who has survived. If I had come a little earlier, the outcome might have been different. I'm sorry."
"Nothing... has changed. My wife and son... are dead. I also have to go soon."
"I see, your wife and child... But you have survived. There must be some meaning in that, isn't there?"
"There shouldn't be such a thing."
Shikin sneered. It was not the man, but his own foolishness. There is no longer any way for those two to escape the agony of death.
"Master (Nushi-sama), what will you do?"
Shikin didn't notice that there was another person beside the man. It seems that a girl was standing next to him.
"Well..."
The man thought for a moment and kneeled down to the ground, making eye contact with Shikin.
He was a beautiful man. Shikin had never seen such a beautiful person before.
"We finally met like this. I don't want you to die. If you take my hand, I promise to do everything I can to fulfill your wish."
"My wish..."
"Yeah. No matter what it is."
Shikin closed his eyes.
All he could remember was the smiles of his wife and son. He was willing to accept any outcome. He would accept the suffering of life and the fear of death.
"I want to save my wife and son from the pain of death. Is that possible...?"
The man listened to this and nodded.
"It is possible. I may not have that much power right now, but I promise to fulfill that wish. If you believe in that, please take my hand."
Strangely, Shikin was able to trust the man's words, even though they had just met and knew nothing about each other. There was something about the man's presence that instilled a deep sense of faith.
So, Shikin took the man's hand.
To assist the man who became the main character, the longevity of "Way of Immortal" is essential. However, Shikin, who realized the futility of "Enlightenment of the Emptiness," could no longer maintain it.
Therefore, he devised a plan.
He manipulated his own memories through suggestion, making it so that his previous training was always for the sake of Master.
The existence of his wife and son is deeply connected to his memories of the "Way of Immortal".
To overwrite the memories of the "Way of Immortal" means that he must also erase the memories of his wife and son.
For the sake of the Master and his own purpose.
He decided to seal away the most important memories in order to save his loved ones.
And thus, the nameless practitioner of "Way of Immortal" was lost, and a magician named Shikin was born with the "Mukyuuren (Infinite Forge)" ability.
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