Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 1085: The Black Card

"Is that… the card…?"

"Yes."

"So you were invited to her camp?" Kaguya asked with a curious look on her face.

"No, it's not that letter. This one is different."

"You said you are her disciple, so do you have an unlimited access card?" Rudy had a firm idea of the ability of the black card.

"Do you know how I said the patients get the card on the basis of referrals, right?" Vida couldn't hide the grin off her face, and Rudy knew why.

"Yes."

"Don't you wonder how she selects the patients who are truly in need of her treatment?

"Maybe she has some sort of power to know that?" Kaguya guessed and glanced back and forth at Rudy and Vida.

Vida turned to Rudy and asked, "Do you want to guess?"

"Well, you are the one who sends them the letter." Rudy answered casually.

As soon as Rudy guessed that, the grin on Vida's face vanished and her face became emotionless.

"How did you know that?!" she asked with a baffled look on her face.

"The moment you showed the card and called yourself her one and only disciple." Rudy shrugged his shoulders. "Your abilities should be more than what you show. You are obviously more talented than you pretend to be."

"...!"

"You could become a world famous spiritualist if you use your full potential, but you aren't. Your store is in a shabby place to make sure you don't stand out much. I mean, your master is someone extraordinary, and while you may not be as powerful as her, you should be better than most world famous spiritualists.

The reason you don't use your full power is to have free time and do what you are assigned to do— that is, to find the actual needy person. However, I still had one doubt, if my analysis was true, how do you select the patients from all over the world?

Which brings me to your actual power— you can teleport. Your true power is not a spiritualist."

Even though Vida was shocked, she was still impressed by Rudy's analysis skill.

"You are right about everything, except one. My true power is not teleportation— it's space and time— although I mostly use it to teleport."

"That doesn't seem like a name of a power. Does it allow you to freely travel between time and space? How is it different from teleportation?" Rudy wondered. He was genuinely curious about Vida's power, as that could help him understand the logic behind it and potentially copy her power.

"I can travel in the past and future, but the requirements are too much. I once traveled back in time to save a dear friend of mine who had made a wrong choice in her life. I think I saved her, but ever since I used that power, I see shadows in my dream."

'It was for a split second, but I am certain Vida glanced at Kaguya when she mentioned 'dear friend'. Kaguya probably hasn't realized this yet, so I will keep it a secret as well.'

"Sometimes, I even hallucinate and see the shadows when I am awake. They threaten to kill me if I use the power of time and space again. I talked about this to my master and she told me to never use that power again unless she has found a solution."

'Shadows…?' Rudy raised a brow. 'Why do I feel like I know something about it? Man, I should really get my memories back.'

"What do I have to do to get that card?"

Vida placed the black card on the table and said, "I can only give one card since I have given the other two cards already. I was planning to give it to Kaguya after I had finished treating you, but now I am not sure. You seem to be more in need, but I am biased towards Kaguya. I can't make a decision and my master had warned me to not stray away from the path of neutrality. You two can decide by yourself."

Kaguya wanted to find a purpose in her life, and after she told Rudy about her problem, Rudy was understandable. However, Rudy clearly needed it more. But, when Vida mentioned traveling in the past to save her dear friend's life, Rudy was indecisive.

Rudy realized that Vida planned to give the card to Kaguya even if she hadn't visited her store with Rudy. It was to save Kaguya from the impending crisis looming over her.

Without even thinking, Kaguya passed the card to Rudy and said, "I don't need it."

'No, no. You don't understand! You need it!' Rudy couldn't say it out loud because that wouldn't have changed Kaguya's mind, unless he told her the truth which Vida was keeping a secret.

Rudy was contemplating on what he should do. He needed that card, but he didn't want Kaguya to suffer because of him. Kaguya wasn't just a random stranger whom he had met in the hospital. She was his savior who helped him at his worst time in his past life.

Rudy adored Kaguya and he could even die for her. He couldn't choose himself over her, no matter the circumstances.

'If I can unlock my memories, I will become stronger, a lot stronger, than I am now. I know it. I still have no idea why my memories were sealed and why I am living the same life over and over, but I am certain I will get my answers once I have all my memories. Which is why… I must take the black card.'

Rudy had made his decision.

He looked into Kaguya's eyes and, with a solemn look on his face, he said, "I will protect you. No matter what happens."

Kaguya was a bit surprised after hearing that, but it made her heart flutter.

When Vida saw Kaguya's blushing face, she couldn't help but smile and think, 'Yeah, I don't think she needs the card anymore.'

Rudy took the card and thanked Vida and Kaguya for what they had done for him.

Meanwhile, in an unknown location, kid Rudy bit his nails in anger and frustration.

"No, no, no! This isn't how it's supposed to go! He must not get his memories back this soon! I will have to stop him from meeting 'her' at any cost or everything I have done so far will be ruined!'