"Um..."
I was at a loss for words.
I had thought I was finally unsealing Ageha, but as soon as the barrier broke, she turned to me and asked a single question.
"Do you happen to know who I am?"
"Are you... suffering from amnesia?"
"Amnesia... Yes, looking at the situation, I suppose that’s the right way to put it."
Amnesia.
I had heard of the condition before, but this was the first time I had ever witnessed it firsthand.
"I know your name. You're Ageha Tsubaki."
"...Ageha Tsubaki. For some reason, it doesn’t quite ring a bell. So, where are we exactly?"
"We're inside a dungeon."
"Dungeon? What’s a dungeon?"
"Uh, a dungeon is a labyrinth where monsters live."
"Monsters...? And what are those?"
"Monsters are... well, they're like beasts that attack humans."
Having to answer a question about every little thing was starting to get exhausting.
"Hmm. It sounds like I’ve wandered into the world of a game or something. Wait, am I being pranked?"
I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
"Actually, it's a bit too elaborate for a prank. I guess this is reality after all," she said, idly patting the dungeon walls as she spoke.
"So, what’s your name?" she asked, turning back toward me.
"Kiska."
"Kiska, huh? You know, Kiska is a cool name. You're actually kind of my type."
When she looked up at me and said that, an involuntary shiver ran down my spine. To be honest, I really didn't want her to take a liking to me.
"So, Ageha, have you forgotten everything?"
"I wonder... I still remember how to speak, obviously. I just can't remember who I am or what I was doing."
"Do you know anything about the Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer?"
"...Parasitic Sword: Puppeteer."
She repeated the words slowly, as if testing them.
"I know that name," she whispered.
"R-really?" I blurted out, my voice rising in anticipation.
"Wait, hold on. When I say I know it, I just mean I feel like I’ve heard the name somewhere before. I’m sorry. I don’t actually know any of the details."
"I see."
"But, let’s see... Puppeteer. I feel like I'm forgetting something very important, but I'm sorry. I just can't remember it."
What was this "important thing"?
If that memory happened to be the key to turning Puppeteer back into a human, then this could work out in my favor. If I could be sure of that, I’d be more than willing to help her regain her memories.
"Anyway, Kiska. There's no point in standing around here forever. Let's get going."
"I suppose you're right."
With her taking the lead, we began to make our way through the dungeon.
As we walked, I weighed my options.
Was continuing through the dungeon with her really the right choice?
It was optimistic to hope her memories would reveal something about Puppeteer, but I didn't have the slightest clue how to restore someone's memories. Even if she did remember, there was no guarantee she knew a way to make Puppeteer human.
Rather than staying with her...
"Maybe I should rely on Vampire Eudite instead," I muttered under my breath.
Ageha glanced back. "Did you say something?"
I shook my head. "Nothing."
If Ageha truly had amnesia, there wasn't a one-in-a-million chance she would attack Vampire Eudite even if they met.
In that case, seeking out Eudite was the most certain path.
Quietly, I began to solidify my plan for the future.