Chapter 284: The Truth Hidden Within the Fog
As the lights were turned off one by one, Franklin returned to his room. Letting out a soft breath, he sat down on the bed.
His domain expanded, and everything was laid bare before him.
Looking at Tohka, already fast asleep in his room, Franklin smiled faintly.
Tohka's desires were currently extremely low—she only felt an overwhelming craving for food.
And after careful observation, Franklin discovered that the more Tohka ate, the faster her Yin energy recovered. In less than three days, her Yin energy would be restored to a complete state.
He lightly shook his head, suppressing the chaotic thoughts, and then looked toward the others.
Yoshino and Yoshinon were being watched over by Nagisa, the three of them staying together in Yoshino and Yoshinon's room on the second floor.
At this moment, the three were chatting about everything they had experienced over the years.
Kurumi Tokisaki was also very relaxed, sitting at her desk and reading up on the major events that had occurred recently.
At this moment, she keenly sensed Franklin's observation and slightly furrowed her brows.
"Mr. Franklin, if there's something you need, you can tell me directly. Please don't secretly watch me like this—it feels very strange."
"Sorry, I was just checking on everyone's safety. I'm done now."
As soon as the words fell, Franklin directly withdrew the portion of the domain covering Kurumi's room.
Next, Franklin looked toward the others again. Mana and Shido were still immersed in their Sword Dao comprehension, so Franklin didn't pay them much attention.
He then turned his gaze to Kotori's room.
Today, Kotori was acting unusually—she was sleeping alone in her own room.
After confirming that she showed no abnormalities, Franklin let out a quiet breath and turned his attention to Reine Murasame.
After finishing her bath, she had wrapped herself in a towel and come directly to see Franklin.
Her proud figure—nearly rivaling that of Mido Ryouko—was partially hidden beneath the towel, appearing and disappearing, while her impressive upper curves were exposed without restraint.
It stirred Franklin's heart uncontrollably.
After he manifested a delicate chiffon nightgown tailored to her preferences, she also asked for a bottle of specially made red wine.
According to her, it was because she suffered from insomnia, and drinking it at night helped ease her fatigue.
Now, as Franklin looked at Reine Murasame standing on the fourth-floor balcony, his eyes instantly lit up.
She was wearing that translucent, concealing-yet-revealing nightgown, half-reclining on a lounge chair, sipping red wine while admiring the night view of Tengu City.
Red wine, a mature woman, a nightscape—Franklin felt a completely different atmosphere from the girls he had interacted with before.
"Is that you watching me, Lin? If you don't mind, you can come up and chat."
Hearing Reine's words, Franklin didn't hesitate at all and appeared directly on the fourth-floor balcony.
With a light snap of his fingers, another lounge chair appeared. Franklin gently sat down beside Reine.
"So you really were peeking at me, Lin. I thought it was just my imagination. Well? This outfit's not bad, right?"
Listening to Reine speak to him in such a familiar, intimate tone, Franklin felt a bit unaccustomed for a moment.
He let out a soft breath and answered honestly, "It really is very nice. But that's mainly because Miss Reine's figure is perfect."
That expressionless face finally showed a faint smile. Though it lasted only an instant, Franklin saw it clearly.
"Thank you for the compliment, Lin. The red wine is quite good too. Would you like to try some?"
Watching Reine elegantly sit up and pour him a glass of wine, Franklin didn't refuse and accepted it.
"Thank you."
Hearing Franklin thank her, Reine paused slightly, but quickly recovered.
"There's no need to thank me. After all, you prepared it yourself…"
"May I ask why you're always observing me, Lin? Do you think there's something wrong with me?"
Franklin stiffened for a brief moment after taking a sip of red wine, but quickly adjusted himself.
After a bit of thought, he smiled and nodded.
"Your feeling isn't wrong. I really have been observing you, Miss Reine."
Hearing Franklin admit it so straightforwardly, Reine's expression didn't change at all, as if she had already expected such an answer.
"Mm. Can you tell me the reason?"
Franklin smiled, drained the red wine in his glass in one go, then raised his vigilance to the extreme.
"I think you're very similar to Mio Takamiya—the origin of all Spirits, the Origin Spirit. That's why I've been observing you."
Meeting Franklin's gaze, Reine's eyes were still filled with fatigue and weariness.
At this moment, she imitated Franklin, showing a stiff—but genuine—smile and nodded.
"Your guess is correct, Lin. I am indeed Mio Takamiya, the Origin Spirit.
But I'm not complete. I'm only a part of her."
Seeing Reine nod and admit it outright, Franklin felt like his mind couldn't quite keep up.
"So, now that you know all this, Lin, what do you plan to say to me? Didn't you say at dinner that you wanted to find the Origin Spirit?
Why are you looking for her? If you're willing, you can tell me directly."
Only then did Franklin regain a bit of composure.
"You're just admitting it that easily? Then why did you hide it all this time?"
Reine fell silent for a long while. Then she looked at Franklin with an innocent expression.
"Lin, I don't think I ever hid my identity. I just didn't publicize it.
You were the one observing me without ever asking about it. Should I have chased after you and told you I was the Origin Spirit?"
Hearing this, Franklin was rendered speechless. After a long silence, he sighed softly.
"To be honest, I don't even know what I wanted to do by finding you. A lot of my memories are missing. I feel like it has something to do with you.
And I feel that by finding you, I'll be able to recover all my memories."
Reine nodded again. The stoic expression she had worn before completely vanished after acknowledging her identity.
Her current expression was very innocent.
"The memory issue was something you asked me to do, Lin.
You also said that I wasn't allowed to help you recover your memories—that all the truth needed to be discovered by you yourself."
Franklin was at a loss for words.
"Then one more question. What about the ten Spirits? Was that also my arrangement?"
Reine hesitated for a long time before finally nodding.
"It was your arrangement. As for the reason, I don't know.
I remember you saying something like… this was a necessary means to take me away from this world."
At this moment, Franklin's head was full of question marks.
If that was the case, then the true culprit behind Kurumi's hatred should be himself.
He lightly shook his head, sensing that something didn't add up.
With his personality, no matter what, he could never be insane enough to do something like Kyubey from Puella Magi Madoka Magica—creating ten Spirits and then having himself go around 'conquering' them.
That would be far too twisted.
Looking at Reine beside him, her gaze filled with curiosity, Franklin let out a breath and temporarily suppressed the chaotic speculations in his mind.
"My memories aren't complete, so let's restore things to how they were for now.
You continue being Reine Murasame, and I'll continue knowing nothing."