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.

in the field of research and development. Her outstanding achievements over the past year have earned her this award

'How useless...'

to her chest and bowed her head toward the cameras pointed

clapping sounds of the audience

for ten minutes, before it was finally time for Melissa to finally leave

time and thanked the President of the NGS. A bright smile adorned her face the entire

'Finally...'

the stage was Rosie who immediately jumped at the opportunity to congratulate her. In her hands was a large stack

"Congratulation—"

"Take it."

the certificate to Rosie, Melissa moodily stormed off the

"Wahh!"

Rosie quickly hooked her hand over the papers and supported the

"Wait up!"

putting the certificate on top of the

so early? I heard that there is an after

"Not interested."

Melissa snapply replied.

she would want to participate in a party filled with perverted old

is a great chance to make

don't need them.

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

large car waiting outside and she started

"Welcome young miss."

exiting the building, a man dressed in black stepped out of the vehicle and opened the door for her.

Clank—!

me, young

car, entering from the other side was Rosie. She looked rather tired as she still held onto

Melissa

in, I don't have more

"O..okay."

papers beside her, Rosie

Knock. Knock.

knock on the glass door signaled the driver to start the car. Within a few seconds, the car

silence as Melissa stared at the ever-changing scenery

the silence, on a sharp turn, one of the

certificate of

[NGS National Award Certificate]

Melissa crumbled the paper in her hand before throwing

'Useless.'

the reward. Rather than

don't think you should throw

body, Rosie carefully picked

people out there that would be very envious of

it for all

A low whisper

not like anyone else

greatest accomplishments in their life, but

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 even if they did, they would

her family, science and

her father's influence, Melissa would've probably already been thrown out of

it wasn't as though

it's a

voice echoed inside the car. Finally unwrinkling the whole paper, she carefully placed it on top of

a scientist, doesn't mean that there are people out there that don't accept you for

"Shut up."

her hair behind her ear, Melissa glared at Rosie from the corner of

talk about them. You will only end up souring my already bad

at Melissa for a good couple of

"As you wish."

following her words, a tense

Riiing—! Riiing—!

sound of Melissa's phone ringing. Furrowing her brows, Melissa took out her phone and looked

[Ren Dover.]

"Oh fuck."

Melissa's face twisted as she stared at the user ID. This was probably the last person

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

was as persistent as a

"Ugh."