“F*ck.” Sora swore as he had a sudden realization. “She entered this game before me?”

Crayford nodded silently.

Sora’s POV

Now that I think about it…if Enma was a girl – it all makes sense. I mean, in my memories everything that Enma did appeared so ‘girly’.  And then there is the matter about the ‘looks’ he used to give me which I mentioned way in the beginning; those creepy-crazed-I-am-in-love-with-you like looks. When I think of Enma as a ‘guy’, it’s too creepy. However, if I think of Enma as a girl…I feel okay with it?

*Sigh*

This is so depressing. Basically, if I admit this, it would mean my memories have been tampered with….

But why did I not think of this sooner?

If everyone forgets about the person who plays this game, then why was I the only one who could remember Enma? That in itself should have been a paradox.

Actually, now that I recall I had already thought of this question. At the time, I believed I didn’t forget about Enma so that I could remember about the game. There had to be a way to propagate the game, right? So believing that only the ‘invited’ individual (me) would not forget the inviter (Enma), I had never really considered the possibility that my memories could be tampered with in such a way….

*Sigh*

This really is too depressing. I can’t even begin describing how violated I feel on so many levels.

I mean why did they have to go through so many levels of tampering? Why not just completely erase Enma from my memories? Why specifically do a gender-bender number on me?

When I get out of this game, I am going to kick some *serious* developer butt.

***

“I find it funny, that in my memories another person took the place of your sister. Wouldn’t it be easier to completely wipe her clean from my memories like the way I have no recollection of you?”, Sora asked.

“Although, I am no expert of memory alteration, I have studied memory related magic.” Crayford began answering Sora’s question. “When memories are erased, most of the time the brain fills the gaps on its own. It is because your own brain fills those gaps, you can never realize your memory has been partially erased. However, there are certain events or people which bare too much significance in the person’s life. If those memories were to be erased, then the brain cannot fill in the gap. If one forcefully, tried to fill the gap then there is a high chance of causing damage to the brain or the entire erase being undone. I am not surprised your brain created memories of ‘someone else’ to fill in the role of Oneechan. After all, she had a significant impact on all our lives…”

“This game is seriously twisted.” Sora said as he looked at the worried Crayford. “I have no memory of you. I have no memory of your sister. The only disciple, I ever remember having is Enma Ikeda. And now I am wondering did such a person even exist?”

“…what did you say, Skeleton?” Claire asked in an aggressive manner. In an instant, she had readied her bow. The arrow was set and pointed at Sora.

“Claire!” Crayford shouted. “That is not how you speak to my Sensei! Lower your weapon!”

Claire grudgingly lowered her weapon. She could not disobey her Master.

Everyone was looking at Sora as though he had spoken the forbidden words. The four disciples were boiling in anger.

Did I say something I shouldn’t have? Sora wondered.

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“I have no memory of Crayford.” Sora repeated – confused.

“Sensei, could you please repeat the name.” Crayford politely requested. Crayford slowly stood up.

“Enma Ikeda?” Just by mentioning the name, Sora could feel the killing intent of the three warriors and woman, rise.

“Sensei….do you know who he is?” Crayford asked; his expression grew grave by the second.

Sora was troubled. This wasn’t the first time people reacted adversely towards Enma’s name. Sora remembered his experience with the Abbe in the Blue Rose Inn. Just at the mention of the name Enma, people turned hostile.

“I heard something about him….he is this world’s villain?” Sora laughed. “I have only heard vague details about him.”

“It seems Sensei is not very knowledgeable about this world.”  Crayford said, easing the atmosphere slightly with his voice. “Maybe Sensei, hasn’t been in this world for too long. Have you just gotten here?”

“Just gotten here?” Sora thought about it for a while. “Maybe it has been seven months?”

Crayford frowned. “Surely, Sensei must be joking. Seven months and you haven’t heard a whisper about Enma? Ah! Could it be, you have spent your entire time here in this dungeon? Were you born in this world as a Skeleton Gatekeeper?” Crayford asked hopefully – if that was the case, it would explain everything.

“Nope….I just appeared in this massive desert. That is where I spend most of time in this world.”

“To survive several months alone in the Great Arid Desert…as expected of my Sensei. Now it makes complete sense why Sensei is not very knowledgeable about this world.” Crayford spoke with pride.

“I wasn’t alone.” Sora corrected Crayford. “I had my guardians…. And I did spend a day in the city called Feladonia. I guess, it was around then my Guardian told me about Enma….though it wasn’t very detailed….Honestly, my guardians haven’t been very helpful. Are yours like that too? I find this whole Guardian system rubbish, especially given how unhelpful they are.”

Crayford looked at Sora as though he understood nothing. “Sensei, if you trust me. Please tell me, how did you come to this world?”

Sora thought about it for a minute and then spoke. “Why do you keep referring to this as a different world. Isn’t this just a game?”

“A game!” Tulda blurted out in astonishment. Was this skeleton insane? What part of this world looked like a game to him?

Even the others could not hide their surprise.

“I see…” Crayford muttered in a soft voice. “This is really that bad….Sensei….could it be possible, you played a game to get here?”

Sora stupidly nodded.

Crayford took a deep breath. “Sorry Sensei. This isn’t a game. This is another world.”

“….” Sora stared at the silent Crayford. Then….

“pfttt…..Hahahahahahaha….” Sora began laughing very loudly. “That is a good one…..oh my god….another world….so funny….you had me there for a second…..haha…”

Sora stopped laughing when he noticed Crayford’s serious expression did not change. He also noticed the other four were looking at him as though he were crazy.

“F*ck. This is another world. Isn’t it?” Sora asked in a low voice.

Crayford nodded pitifully – he could imagine the mental damage Sora just received - it was over 9000.

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