The Author's POV

The deeper the memories that I altered, the greater the mana consumption. In the same way, the more I changed, the more mana I consumed.

If it wasn't hard enough already, I could only alter the memories of those who were incapacitated or had their minds unguarded like Kevin not too long ago.

Still.

This was the perfect skill for me at the moment.

'If possible, I might be able to alter some of my memories from the time that I was back in the Monolith.'

In choosing this skill, my main goal was to solve all the mental issues I had been experiencing ever since I returned from the Monolith.

They had never stopped and had only gotten worse.

It was about time I finally did something to solve this issue, and this skill was probably the key.

That said, I did see a problem in this method.

'What if in the process of changing my memories, my personality also ends up changing?'

This was a very real problem since my experiences at the Monolith were the things that made me who I was today. Thankfull, I had a way to restore my memories, and therefore, could experiment a couple of times.

"That aside, I should probably call Melissa."

In memory of my earlier conversation with Douglas, I skimmed through my contacts until they paused on a particular profile.

[Melissa Hall]

"She might be able to help me make an arrangement with Octavious."

My chances of getting in touch with him by myself were rather slim considering our situation.

Thus, I had no other choice but to call her.

"Haaa..."

Letting out a long sigh, I pressed on the contact and called Melissa.

'I might regret this.'

***

'So bright...'

With her eyes squinting, Melissa had trouble keeping her eyes open while camera lights flashed before her and shutters clicked all around her.

Click. Click. Click.

'So annoying.'

Waving in front of her, Melissa forced herself to smile.

—We would like to once again congratulate Melissa Hall for her exemplary research on [Mana dissemination amongst beasts]. Thanks to her research, humanity has once again advanced several steps! As expected of her!

In the meantime, a loud voice echoed throughout the large auditorium as a man dressed in a black suit handed her a certificate. He was the president of the National Group of Science.

The largest scientific community in the human domain.

"Thank you."

With a bright smile, Melissa thanked the president, and reached out for the certificate.

'How much longer do I have to do this for?'

After taking the paper, Melissa glanced at it casually.

research and development. Her

'How useless...'

bright smile, Melissa hugged the certificate to her chest and bowed her head toward the cameras

loud clapping sounds of the audience who

persisted for ten minutes, before it was finally time for Melissa

sure to bow her head one more time and thanked the President of the

'Finally...'

the end of the stage was Rosie who immediately jumped at the opportunity to congratulate her. In her

"Congratulation—"

"Take it."

to Rosie, Melissa moodily

"Wahh!"

losing her balance, Rosie quickly hooked her hand over the papers and supported the

"Wait up!"

on top of the

are you leaving so early? I heard that there is an after

"Not interested."

Melissa snapply replied.

in a party filled with perverted old men that leered

a great chance

need them. I

the corner, Melissa entered the venue's lobby. As Melissa gazed around, her eyes soon landed on the enormous

large car waiting outside and she started walking toward

"Welcome young miss."

a man dressed in black stepped out of the vehicle and opened the door for her. Melissa glanced at him briefly before entering the

Clank—!

me, young

was Rosie. She looked rather tired as she still

Melissa

don't have

"O..okay."

papers beside her, Rosie put on

Knock. Knock.

the driver to start the car. Within a few seconds, the car had

in uncomfortable silence as

midst of the silence, on a sharp turn, one of the papers fell down toward Melissa's

the certificate

[NGS National Award Certificate]

crumbled the paper in her hand

'Useless.'

stared at the reward. Rather than feeling any sense of

you should throw away

Rosie carefully picked up

people out there that would be

it for all

replied as she continued to stare at the ever-changing scenery outside. A low whisper escaped her

anyone else

greatest accomplishments in their life, but to Melissa, it

of many, and one that nobody else she knew cared

accurate to say that no one in her family knew she had won the award, and

was ruled by strength. In her family, science and technology were considered nothing but a

her father's influence, Melissa would've probably already

then, it wasn't as though

it's a

whole paper, she carefully placed

your family doesn't accept the fact that you are a scientist, doesn't mean that there are people out there that don't accept

"Shut up."

glared at

about them. You will only end up

stared at Melissa for a

"As you wish."

in silence following her words, a tense atmosphere

Riiing—! Riiing—!

the silence was the sound of Melissa's phone ringing. Furrowing her brows, Melissa took

[Ren Dover.]

"Oh fuck."

face twisted as she stared at the user ID. This was probably the last person that

considered her options, she realized that ignoring Ren would only lead

persistent as

"Ugh."