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 outstanding achievements over the past year have earned her this award from the National Group

'How useless...'

a bright smile, Melissa hugged the certificate to her chest and

sounds of the audience who stood up from

finally

her head one more time and thanked the

'Finally...'

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

"Congratulation—"

"Take it."

certificate to Rosie, Melissa moodily stormed

"Wahh!"

hooked her hand over the papers and supported the bottom with

"Wait up!"

on top of the

early? I heard

"Not interested."

Melissa snapply replied.

would want to participate in a party filled with perverted old men that leered at her with

it is a great chance

them. I have plenty

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

sight of the large car waiting outside

"Welcome young miss."

stepped out of the vehicle and opened the door for her. Melissa glanced at

Clank—!

me, young

side was Rosie. She looked rather tired as she still

at her, Melissa

don't have more time to

"O..okay."

her, Rosie put on her

Knock. Knock.

the car. Within

few minutes were spent in uncomfortable silence as Melissa stared at the

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

was the certificate of today's

[NGS National Award Certificate]

teeth, Melissa crumbled the

'Useless.'

Rather than feeling any sense of accomplishment from

I don't think you

body, Rosie carefully picked

are many people out there that would be very envious

have it for all

ever-changing scenery outside. A low whisper

anyone else cares

their greatest accomplishments in their life, but to Melissa, it was

one that nobody else she

that no one in her family knew she had won the award, and even if they

In her family, science and technology were

not been for her father's influence, Melissa would've probably already been thrown out of her

it wasn't as though her own parents liked

it's a

unwrinkling the whole paper, she carefully placed it on top of the stack

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

"Shut up."

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

them. You will only end up souring my already

a good couple of seconds before she nodded

"As you wish."

silence following her words, a tense atmosphere

Riiing—! Riiing—!

Furrowing her brows, Melissa took out her phone and

[Ren Dover.]

"Oh fuck."

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

realized that ignoring Ren would only lead to

was as persistent as

"Ugh."