Broken Possessors of Infinite Regression Academy

I immediately returned to the clubroom with Leona and informed them of Aria’s situation.

Karna was not among the usual members gathered there. She was not only a bit distant from Aria, but she was also incredibly busy with the Sword Saint’s work, so she wasn’t even in the clubroom.

“That woman…”

“Hmm…”

Everyone made complicated expressions when they heard that Aria’s time had started to gather. There was 99.5% hatred and 0.5% affection, but she was still a love-hate figure.

“Anyway, we don’t know when she’ll be resurrected, right?”

“Yes. Time is slowly restoring her body, but the speed varies depending on the body part, so we can’t give a definite answer. Forcibly pulling or scattering time is also impossible at the moment.”

“I apologize…”

“It’s not your fault! We also sacrificed ourselves in time, so there’s nothing we can do about it! Well, we’re trying our best, so please don’t be too hard on us…”

The Heavenly God cringed, and the Demon God, who had been confident at first, gradually lowered her voice and carefully watched our reactions. I stroked her head. They had both made sacrifices, so I didn’t intend to blame them.

The Demon God no longer resisted my touch.

“Anyway, now that we’ve come to this, it’s time for us to make a decision.”

“A decision about what?”

“What we’ll do when Aria returns. Of course, it’s not up to me, it’s up to you guys.”

The four of them fell silent. Leona and Latina, who were not part of the decision-making process, took a step back and observed the situation. The Heavenly God and the Demon God quietly entered the Holy Spear.

“What do you want to do? Do you want to kick her out? Or do you want to welcome her normally? Or do you have another idea? Either way is fine. It’s not my decision to make, it’s yours. I’ll follow whatever you decide.”

Although the atmosphere had been relatively good when Aria decided to sacrifice herself in time, it might be different now, 7 years later. At least now, we could make a more objective evaluation.

“……I feel the same way as Mira. Whatever you decide, I’ll follow your opinion.”

Leona stepped forward as I paused for a moment. Leona also seemed to have made up her mind. They had already had enough conversations about the pain the four of them had gone through, and they said they understood.

Leona was too gentle to simply ask them to trust her because they were childhood friends. Whether or not Aria would be forgiven was not Leona’s decision, but theirs.

“If even one of you opposes it, that’s the end of it. I can guarantee that you won’t see her again. You guys are more important to me than Aria. But if you all decide to give her a chance… it wouldn’t hurt to give her one.”

“I’ve made up my mind.”

Rosalia was the first to step forward.

“I’ve made a decision, but I won’t be the first to say it. That’s Laura’s role. After all, she’s the one who suffered the longest among us, isn’t she?”

“I also think that’s the right way to go. The one who suffered the longest should be the first to make the decision.”

At those words, everyone’s gazes turned to Laura. Laura, who was receiving all the attention, hesitated for a moment before answering.

“To be honest, I haven’t made up my mind yet. I haven’t regained all my lost memories, have I? I don’t know what decision I’ll make when I regain my memories, or if I’ll be so broken that I won’t be able to make a decision at all.”

Her fingers caressed the diary on the table, the one that held her sealed memories. I had intentionally asked her to bring it.

Making a decision with her sealed memories in front of her was different from making a decision without them.

“On the other hand, it means that I’m slightly more inclined to forgive her as I am now, without my memories. I’ll have to make a decision after I regain my memories, but for now, Priscilla’s opinion is probably more accurate than mine.”

“I’m fine with forgiving her.”

Priscilla answered without hesitation. Rosalia was surprised at how easily she agreed and asked again.

“Are you sure?”

“It doesn’t matter. In the past, I was sad and hurt, but now those old memories are faint. I can’t even remember them clearly when I try to. I’m happier now than I was then. Maybe even happier than I was before I became Priscilla. And, I met you, Mira.”

Priscilla rubbed her cheek against my hand and smiled happily. Her personality change was also influenced by the regression, but since she felt this way, there was nothing we could do about it.

“But if we hadn’t met―”

“If I hadn’t met you, it might have been different. Maybe it would have been. But we did meet. Since we’ve already met, what’s the point of talking about what might have been? What’s important now is that we can be together.”

“……I understand. I won’t say anything more.”

Rosalia quietly stepped back, realizing that Priscilla’s decision was firm. Priscilla continued to rub her cheek against my hand with a happy expression. Elysier, who had been watching them, opened her mouth.

“I’m against it. I was trapped in the body of the Demon King for hundreds of years, against my will, and I saw too many horrible things. Unfortunately, those memories are still vivid in my mind. I’ve just gotten used to them.”

“Then―”

“But.”

The red irises briefly turned to me and then to the space behind me, where Leona was standing.

“I can’t say I don’t understand Aria at all. She also suffered in a time-stopped world for longer than I did. I can’t say I fully understand her, but if we kick her out now, it would be too cruel. I can’t forgive her, but I’m fine with keeping her by our side.”

“Are you sure?”

“If you have something to hide, you should know better than to stick your neck out. I don’t have a hobby of tormenting people like that. Unless you’re being stubborn, of course… We’ll have to see how that woman turns out when the time comes.”

With Elysier’s half-hearted approval, only one person remained. Everyone’s gazes naturally turned to the last person. Rosalia snickered.

“You know what I’m going to say, right?”

“Didn’t you change your mind after seeing us?”

“Why should I?”

No one had any reason to doubt her, so their gazes naturally shifted away. Leona heaved a sigh of relief, while Latina patted her on the back.

All I could do was stroke Priscilla’s head.

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“…Are you really okay?”

“If you make me say it again, I’ll hit you. How many times do I have to say I’m fine?”

Even after Mira left, Laura kept checking on Priscilla, and it was only after such words that she finally seemed to relax completely.

I wondered if she was so broken that she couldn’t even realize how twisted she had become, but since she seemed content with the way she was, I couldn’t say anything more.

Laura didn’t know what Priscilla used to be like either. No matter how many sincere conversations they had while Mira was away, it was still based on what the current Priscilla had told her.

There was no way to know if something had been distorted or twisted, just like with the memories of all other humans. Laura tightly clutched the diary she had kept in her inner pocket.

“Now I should be the one worrying about someone else. Are you ready?”

“Yeah… I am.”

Rosaria nodded, her face full of tension. Priscilla shook her head.

“I don’t think so.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Very.”

Anyone could tell that she was nervous just by looking at her. Priscilla offered her own form of comfort.

“It’s fine. With your body and face, you’re already on par with the lewd nuns in the doujinshi we showed you. Look, even though you’re wearing a nun’s habit now, your chest, hips, and butt are all sticking out. That’s a natural talent, so all you need to do now is change your mindset. It would’ve been nice if we had a hypnosis app or something.”

“Are you calling that a compliment?”

Rosaria was speechless. Only those two, who had been otaku even before their possession, would find it pleasing to be compared to the lewd nuns in those R-rated media.

The other two, who were no different themselves, were the strange ones for enjoying such a comparison.

“Leave her be, Priscilla. In the end, it’s her decision. I’ve already chewed it up and fed it to her, so if she spits it out now, I’ll personally put a chastity belt on her lower half.”

“It’s fine. Rosaria will definitely do well. It’s a cliché that the morality committee or the head of discipline are the most lewd, and that nuns become the most lewd once they’ve tasted it, right?”

“I understand completely. A splendid explanation.”

“Understand what?!?”

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“…It’s bigger than I thought.”

I looked up at the pointed spire that rose from one corner of the Belium Academy grounds. The intricate details and elaborate decorations showed that the believers had put their heart and soul into building it.

But why did they make me come in the afternoon when the event was over in the morning? I wondered as I stepped inside.

“Welcome, believer.”

Rosaria sat demurely in the spot where the afternoon sunlight shone the brightest, her hands folded and her eyes closed. She welcomed me with an orange silk cloth covering her entire body.

Because she was wearing a saint’s robe, there was more exposed skin than covered, and the orange silk made the exposed skin shine even brighter.

“You didn’t wear that all day, did you?”

“…Do you think I would…?”

Her reply came through gritted teeth. Rosaria took a deep breath to calm herself and closed her eyes again.

“Believer. Now is the time for you to confess your sins.”

“Confess my sins? What do you mean by that?”

Her index finger moved quietly.

It pointed to a small confessional booth in one corner of the church.