Wait, What You Mean I Got Reincarnated As A Heroine In Another World?-Chapter 9 - Helena

I still felt that something was off as unease enveoped me by the time I stepped into Professor Helena's room for the first time.

I wondered... What would've been be waiting for me there? The thought crossed my mind again, making me a little anxious about what fate had in store for me.

However, before I could even process this lingering discomfort, the door to her room all of a sudden closed on its own and then vanished, merging with the wall. My heartbeat quickened. I turned around, trying to confirm whether my eyes were deceiving me. But no, the door was truly gone. Only a plain wall remained in its place.

Refusing to dwell on the oddity of the situation, I forced myself to move forward with confidence, following Professor Helena, who walked as if she were on a casual catwalk.

The room was filled with cat-themed ornaments and crystal-shaped jewelry, each displayed so neatly and symmetrically that not a single gap was left.

"Oh? You're not surprised by what you just saw?"

"Uh, not really. I'm getting used to it."

I brushed it off again, refusing to acknowledge the strangeness of this world.

"Alright then." She smirked at me. And then, soon after. something magical happened.

Just as Azalea had mentioned earlier, she transformed into a beautiful young woman. The wrinkles on her cheeks vanished, and if I looked closely, her facial features were quite similar to Azalea's.

"Please don't tell anyone about this, okay?" she said softly, half-threatening. Maybe she didn't want to be assumed the same age as other students, especially Azalea, her younger sibling.

I simply nodded slightly while standing in front of the chair provided.

No sitting before being told to.

I reminded myself to uphold proper etiquette and manners as a student here.

"Come on, what are you waiting for? No need to be shy. Sit down."

Without realizing it, my feet moved forward, I nearly stumbled as I dropped myself into the chair across from her. I tried to maintain a neutral expression, though my thoughts were in turmoil. She only gave me an elegant smile, amused by my politeness.

"The Veylith clan is truly the most well-mannered of them all, huh?" she remarked, referring to my surname, still smirking.

It was true. From what I have had gathered, the Veylith name was famous for its etiquette, dignity, and nobility. Because of that, while we weren't exactly feared, people with the Veylith surname were well-liked across many circles.

"You might be exaggerating. It's simply a tradition within my family,"

I responded politely once again.

"Oh? I see. Well then, let's get to the real topic. Are you ready?"

Her voice was calm, but there was something behind, which is akin to a scientist observing an experiment. I then nodded while gulping. Honestly, I was barely ready, but what choices left, really? After all, the truth comes uninvited and leaves unescorted.

"Good. Now, here's the thing."

She raised her hand, revealing a magical device—a crystal resembling a glass hologram.

Through it, I saw what I could only describe as a 'CCTV footage' from my previous world. In the recording, I stood alone, mumbling incoherently as if working on a spell.

Then, suddenly, the 'me' in the recording glanced toward the device, and everything turned blurry—just like a hacked CCTV camera.

"Well, are you not entertained? This device is called 'Mytheia.' It orbits around beings or creatures that are considered alive and have a soul within them," she explained with a faint smile.

"And as you can see, this device recorded the events inside the Restricted Chamber. This place shouldn't be accessed by all of students and many others, except for the professors."

So, it's something such as a life-radar but shaped like a CCTV with functions akin to body's activity sensor. I pondered upon the idea soon after she finished her explanation.

"Alright, enough with the brief explanation of this magical devil. So, from what you've seen so far, do you understand what really happened there back then?"

I nodded slightly, though deep down, I felt a shiver of unease.

Helena smiled faintly, her fingers interlacing atop the table.

"Alright then. So... Kairi, I want you to be honest when I ask you certain questions. Can you cooperate with me during this interrogation?"

I nodded again, unsure of what else to say.

"For example, do you ever feel like there are gaps in your memory when it comes to your interactions with your friends? As if there's a void you haven't noticed?"

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Feigning innocence, I met Professor Helena's gaze with a convincing expression and slowly shook my head. "Gaps? Void? I don't think so. My memory seems to work fine."

"Is that so? Well then, let's delve deeper. I have some footage from Mytheia that might help you remember," Helena said, her eyes studying Kairi with sharp focus.

"Sometimes, our memories can't be trusted, especially when strange things happen."

I had been so confident before, but now, my fingers unconsciously fiddled with the hem of my skirt.

I couldn't let her uncover the truth. If she did, she would surely discover my real identity.

"Oh, so you still don't quite understand? Alright, I'll explain the situation fully."

She closed the footage and continued.

"A student entered the forbidden chamber, eliminated the mythical creatures guarding it with her ability, and chanted a spell to seal the room. That student was later found in a state resembling unconsciousness but was actually in deep slumber. However, the academy's healer diagnosed it as hibernation, not mere sleep or unconsciousness."

"Due to the lack of evidence and the uncertainty of diagnosis, the aforementioned student was sent home to be treated by their father. Their father was the most renowned healer of Ains Ein Doa, recognized internationally for the effectiveness of his treatments. He then claimed his child had been cursed, and soon after diagnosing her, he used 'Primordial Recovery' to prevent the curse from spreading while isolating them. He left to find for the cure... and never returned."

In my attempt to digest everything she said, despite new terms I have just had been encountered by now, I found myself still confused about one thing.

Wasn't that student... technically me?

I pondered, trying to make sense of Professor Helena's explanation. It seemed like as if she was trying to prove something about me. But what exactly?

"You don't remember anything, do you?"

"I do remember bits and pieces of these."

"Don't lie to me. You've already been caught. Don't even try to evade this."

I was slightly taken aback, my eyebrows raising. Could she by any chance know about my true identity? I simply nodded slightly before replying.

"Alright, I truly don't know anything. But maybe I can help you solve this case."

"There is no 'maybe.' I need your full co-operation. So, are you truly serious about this? Because this concerns the reputation of Aethelgarten—and you as a student."

"You might not remember anything, but I know for certain that something as miraculous as this can't happen by chance. And I don't care for who you are right now. Whoever you are, this is definitely connected to that incident at the chamber."

Miraculous, huh. I thought magic already was one.

I murmured to myself as she was emphasizing something crucial about me. After a brief contemplation, I tried to clarify what she was trying to imply.

"What do you mean? Isn't it obvious that I am Kairi?"

"Don't bluff. I've noticed strange things by the time you first entered this academy."

"You're not the real 'Wicked Witch,' are you?"

Suddenly, the room felt colder. My breath hitched.

I stared at her, searching for any cracks in her expression.

Wicked Witch? What does that mean...? Just what kind of weird ass title is that?

Was this just a test, or did she truly know something?

My thoughts were in chaos. Her gaze remained sharp, as if trying to slice through my lies like a blade slowly but sure peeling away the thin layers of truth.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't understand what you're talking about."

Professor Helena didn't answer immediately. Instead, she picked up Mytheia from her desk. The small crystal in its center pulsed, displaying a certain reaction, fluctuating unpredictably. And upon my observation, it's clear that its light was unstable.

"Interesting. This result is... must I say, unusual."

"What do you exactly mean by that?"

"Of course, you won't understand at all. As you see, according to Mytheia, the original owner of your body should no longer exist. And if they do, they must be inhabited by another soul immediately. Or, if I were to define it myself, it's as if it's been altered to be recognized by a body that isn't its original owner, yet not fully erased."

My muscles tensed. So, this wasn't a mere wordplay—she really was testing me.

How could all of these happen? What should I do next?

I, remain composed as ever, was unwittingly revealed what behind such politeness.

"Okay, I may not understand, but I'm not stupid. So, explain this 'Wicked Witch' to me."

I said, as my voice edged with defiance, attempting to falter her.

"Ah, so the polite mask eventually slips, as you dare showing your true nature. No longer relying on scripts you've been following? I see that you're no longer pretending. How... revealing, I suppose. And of course, very well... I'll indulge you this time."

"The nickname is addressed by myself only, a label I have given to her. In this academy, she's known for her kindness, generosity, and an uncanny ability to solve everyone's problems. But beneath that façade, lies a 'wickedness' that rejects the rigid strata and hierarchy of kingdoms in general. She scorns those who believe that their status as what really defines them. I call her 'Wicked Witch' for her sharp intellect and the sheer arrogance with which she dismisses the wizards of Aethelgarten, this academy included. Wholeheartedly, she's determined to overturn all of these, even at the cost of her life."

Hold on. Isn't that... rather admirable? Nope, not just that. Was it too noble, even?

"Admirable? Noble? Perhaps yes, yet I will have to say somewhat in a twisted way. After all, such an attitude violates and contradicts the existing norms of magic. Had the International Magic Association found out, she would've been sentenced to death."

"Now, back to the matter at hand. Your memories, along with those of everyone around you, have been manipulated subtly, not overtly. Only the information about you has been altered, making your presence and behavior seem perfectly normal to us, magical beings. As if everything related to you is accepted as it is. I first noticed this anomaly when you attempted to show no surprise upon entering this room, a supposed place that you—and the original inhabitant of your body—have never been before."

"I refrained from inviting 'you' due to her... you know, atrocious tendencies. Yet I still can't recall her name. However, she deceived us all, Kairi. You are no exceptions."

After her lengthy explanation, I risked uttering the name haunted my thoughts.

"Does 'Selene' ring a bell? I mean, is that name familiar?"

I attempted to clarify the English phrasing I have just used, clearly aware of my unfamiliarity on language barriers within the Norse linguistic customs.

Yet, a deeper question remained, a gnawing unease. Who am I, really?