"Is there a drug that can make people lose their memories?"
Agnes Tachyon, who was in the middle of her research, heard those words and wondered if her eardrums were vibrating abnormally.
Setting down the vial she'd been shaking, she turned around, narrowed her eyes, and scrutinized the black-haired girl before her, missing no detail.
"...What is it?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to make sure you're the Manhattan Cafe I know."
Her dull, dark red eyes swept over Manhattan Cafe's figure.
"Finished looking?"
"Yeah, judging by your stance and posture, you're definitely the Cafe I know."
After pouring the remaining chemicals into a beaker, Agnes held it up to the light, observing the color change, then asked, "So then, why the sudden interest in a drug that causes memory loss? It can't be that you want to take it yourself, can it?"
Manhattan Cafe hesitated, unsure whether to answer.
"Could it be the Central lot?" Agnes speculated. "Don't tell me you're planning to slip it into their water supply and make the whole bunch lose their memories."
"Theoretically, it's possible. Sneak into the Central building, mix the drug into their water tank—but I wouldn't recommend it."
Noticing the liquid change color, Agnes took out a glass stopper and sealed the container.
Her eyes devoid of emotion, she explained, "Right now, it's not just a Central issue. The media fallout, the spread of information—these uncontrollable factors are spreading further and further through sound and text. Even if you made everyone at Central lose their memories, it wouldn't solve a thing."
"Unless you could make everyone who's heard or seen the information lose their memories too."
That meant everyone at Central, in the regions, across all of Japan.
To pull that off, you'd need enough of the drug to contaminate every river in the country.
Not only that, you'd have to wipe all traces of the news from the internet and destroy every physical newspaper.
Only then could you completely erase the truth that had shaken the entire Central public.
But even that wouldn't be foolproof.
Some information might have leaked abroad and could easily find its way back to Japan unintentionally, so you'd have to eliminate it overseas too.
But then you'd have to consider dosage, ocean currents, climate patterns…
Agnes couldn't devise a feasible plan on such short notice.
"I never said I wanted to drug them."
Why would you jump to such an absurd idea!
And from the sound of Agnes's voice, she really might carry it out without batting an eye.
She probably thought a worldwide mass amnesia would be valuable research data.
But Cafe wanted no part of it!
"Never mind… I shouldn't have brought this up with you."
Any longer, and the conversation would veer into dangerous territory.
Just as Cafe turned to head back to her room, Agnes called out, "Wait a moment."
She took a vial of clear solution from the shelf.
From the very start, Agnes hadn't denied having a drug that could erase memories.
"This solution interferes with neural signals in the hippocampus."
The human brain is like a computer, and damaging the hippocampus is like burning the data in its memory.
Depending on the dosage, it can affect memories to varying degrees—from a few days to several years.
Agnes estimated that consuming the entire vial could completely scramble all electrical signals stored in the hippocampus.
Simply put, it's like a data wipe, reducing an adult to the mental state of a newborn.
Given its danger and unpredictability, Agnes hadn't started actual testing yet.
But she wouldn't mind someone else testing it for her.
"Too small a sample size—I can't guarantee the side effects—but it definitely causes memory loss."
Hearing this, Manhattan Cafe stiffened slightly.
"Still, before you use it, at least tell me who it's for. Otherwise, as the researcher, if I can't find the test subject, the experiment would be a failure."
Manhattan Cafe remained silent.
There were too many people she wanted to use it on…
Copano Rickey, wandering the campus studying feng shui.
Gold Ship, pestering her to perform the shadow clone jutsu again.
The crowds stirred up by the wave of discussion around the advance letter.
Central, furious and determined to fight back against 'Friend.'
In just a few months, Manhattan Cafe's world had been turned upside down.
She wished the whole world could forget these few months and start over.
She longed for the peaceful, undisturbed days she once had.
Manhattan Cafe pressed her lips together.
She knew about the advance letter from 'Friend.'
Why would 'Friend' do such a thing?
Was it anger over Central's slander?
Or just pure revenge?
When Cafe asked, 'Friend' calmly told her:
'To reach even greater heights.'
Greater…
Cafe's eyes widened.
So 'Friend' was never satisfied with the present.
She was still pursuing greater speed.
Cafe felt conflicted.
She felt that, in many ways, she might not be able to keep up with 'Friend's' pace.
So, if there really were a drug to lose memories…
"I'd want to use it on myself, to forget all those unpleasant experiences."
The hand that had been offering the vial withdrew.
"Hoh?" As usual, Agnes rested her chin on her hand and looked at Cafe.
"I see. So, Cafe, it seems you can't accept the changes happening now."
Returning the vial to the shelf and sealing it, Agnes asked:
"Have you heard of the term 'institutionalization'?"
It refers to a certain ideology.
People's dependence on certain things stems from their own thoughts and habits.
When they break free from old constraints, they seek the old structures within the new rules.
Right now, Cafe's behavior gave Agnes that impression.
She was searching for the old 'institution.'
For a researcher, 'institutionalization' is absolutely unacceptable, because research itself is about breaking existing rules.
Dare to question, dare to argue, dare to criticize, dare to innovate.
On the surface, Cafe seemed quiet, unfazed no matter what happened.
But in reality, she had her vulnerable spots.
Like now—all sorts of sudden changes had worn her down.
She was searching for that old sense of security.
"I was hoping to observe the results of this experiment without interference, but it seems if I leave things as they are, the experiment will fail…"
Agnes murmured to herself.
"Is 'she' not with you right now?"
"She?"
"Your 'Friend'—the one who acts with you, your assistant."
"The library… She always goes to the library at this time every day."
"I see." Agnes nodded. "Then, once your 'Friend' returns, it's time I formally meet her."
"What are you… planning to do?"
"Continue the experiment, of course. But this time, I'll be laying down the test strips myself—"
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.