Chapter 160: Time. (2)
I repeatedly used [Midas’ Hand], relying on the mana recovery offered by the crystal water to apply different effects to first the wood steel, then also my suit jacket, coat, and shoes.
—— [ Geork Suit Shoes ] ——
◆Special Effect
: The foot supports the entire body. So, wearing these shoes makes the whole body comfortable.
: The efficiency of walking increases since the body is well-balanced.
: It easily resists any kind of restricting magic.
[Midas’ Touch: Level 5]
In addition, the jacket and the coat were given anti-magic and protective functions. Multiplication was added to the defensive wood steel, which would multiply it for a short time when activated. For the support-specialized wood steel, Taping arose after combining them with Duct Tape for a self-healing function.
—I’m still amazed by the Professor.
Epherene spoke then. I answered as I examined the results.
“What do you mean?”
—You’re not asking about what happened in the future, nor are you afraid of why you aren’t there.
“Really?”
—Should I tell you?
I raised my eyes to look across from me. The chair remained empty.
—If I tell you…
“Forget it.”
I shook my head. Of course, I didn’t know how this world would progress or how it would continue. It was unknown how the scenario would be twisted by Kim Woojin’s intervention. But, it appeared that there was no need to twist it forcefully. No matter how much I thought about it, this kid’s future didn’t seem too bad, so it wouldn’t be bad to continue the same. In the first place, the worst outcome of the main quest was the collapse of the continent.
—…I can’t tell you~. The future Professor asked me not to. I absolutely can’t tell you~.
Epherene forced a brightness into her voice. At that, another five thousand mana had recovered, and I applied [Midas’ Hand] to the last wooden steel.
Screeeeech—!
The mana sparked, marking the end. I expected it to last for about a week, but I finished it in just two days.
—Are you finished, Professor?
“Yeah.”
I maneuvered each wood steel. No, there was no need to control them directly. The nineteen wood steel moved as naturally as if they were alive.
“At this point.”
I looked into the dark. The monsters had more than doubled from two days ago.
“Those kinds of garbage are easy to deal with.”
—Yes. Good luck, Professor.
“…That’s all you have to say?”
I rose immediately; I didn’t need to wait for my mana to recover. The mana consumed by the wooden steel through Psychokinesis was zero anyways.
—Do you want me to confess? Even if it’s a one-sided love… but still, our bond is not to that point right now.
The words she blurted out were ridiculous. I frowned and looked toward the chair.
“…As long as you know.”
—Yes.
There was no need to continue that conversation any further. I moved over to the darkness where the light of the crystal could not reach. Then, the monsters lying in wait convulsed and rushed me.
—!
Their outcries shook the ground, mixing with their stampede to make it seem as if the world was quaking.
“This garbage.”
I frowned as I warmed up the wood steel.
Gooooo…
All nineteen of them were filled up with mana, moving as one system.
Schwaaaaa—!
They cut through the air. Beyond them, thousands of monsters flooded in, but each piece performed its role in the battle. Some dismantled the bodies of the incoming monsters, some swung and shook the ground to trip them, and some rose like a trap to protect me. Division of labor and specialization; I didn’t need to lift a hand due to this efficient combat structure. Just one step, then another. I moved in between the monsters.
Gaaaaaaaahh—!
The sound of flesh splitting and animalistic shrieking filled my ears. Blood gushed, splattering the corridor with filth. All those disgusting things were completely blocked by Psychokinesis as I cleaned out the garbage…
*****
…Meanwhile, Epherene arrived in the northern village where she met the future Deculein with Sophien.
“I think I can find him here!”
Epherene spoke enthusiastically while Sophien sniffed the air. The future and the present had a different air about them; Sophien could feel it.
“Hmm… let’s see…”
Epherene looked around the market, quickly finding her target.
“That’s him!”
Sophien’s eyes followed to where she pointed.
“Hey, you!”
She quickly ran and grabbed a man’s wrist.
“Herbalist!”
It was the herbalist she met last time. He seemed surprised by her sudden charge, but he nodded when he saw Epherene’s face.
“…Oh, yes. Are you the wizard Epherene?”
“Nice to see you. We meet again.”
“Yes.”
Then, Sophien approached with her hands behind her back. The herbalist glanced at her in her robe before turning to Epherene.
“So, you’re here again.”
“Yup. I have something to ask.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
This herbalist was cooperative as expected. He had an unsociable face, but he was kind.
“Professor Deculein? Do you know where the Professor is?”
“…What?”
Then, the herbalist looked surprised. His eyes, which were as small as a thread, grew large and fixed on Epherene.
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“That… you don’t know?”
“What? What don’t I know?”
Epherene asked back with an unknowing expression. After thinking about it more than necessary, he scratched his cheeks and opened his mouth.
“You see… the Professor….”
He looked at Epherene and Sophien beside her, in turn like he was reading the atmosphere. He looked increasingly reluctant to say anything. But, eventually, he spoke with a deep sigh.
“He’s gone. As far as I know.”
“…Huh?”
Epherene innocently tilted her head, and Sophien looked at him seriously. There was a moment of silence between them. The noise of the marketplace rang a little quieter.
*gulp*
Epherene swallowed.
“He’s gone… you mean back to his hometown? Oh~, to his hometown?”
“No. That’s not… hmm… after traveling to the Reok Kingdom… he came back here, but….”
He scratched the back of his head. Then he snapped his fingers like he suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, that’s right. When I asked him what he was doing, he said he was waiting for someone here.”
“Waiting?”
“Yes, probably…”
The herbalist looked at Epherene. He didn’t finish the thought, but it was enough to understand the situation.
“…”
Epherene’s mouth opened blankly and foolishly.
“Lies?”
“…I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
“Ah… hey.”
Epherene recalled the Deculein she met last time, his heart no longer beating. But he said he would live for a hundred more years, and he told Epherene not to worry…
“No way. You told me you’d live for a hundred more years? You’re not the type to lie.”
“Hundred years? I don’t know what you mean… Count Yukline came in person.”
“…”
Due to her momentary dizziness, Epherene stumbled while Sophien remained still beside her, sniffing the air. And a little later, she realized the difference between the present and the future.
“…Is that it?”
Sophien possessed near-miraculous senses. Therefore, the presence or absence of some humans could be distinguished only by the smell in the air. The greater the human presence, the clearer it was. So, there was no sensation of Deculein in this world. Probably, from the moment they arrived.
“Luna.”
Sophien called out to Epherene. She turned with a pout to regard Sophien.
“Thanks to you, I found out something important.”
At that moment, Epherene couldn’t help but be surprised. The expression Emperor Sophien wore right now was frighteningly stiff.
*****
“Hmmmm…”
In the distant future, Epherene was fiddling with the cube made by Deculein. She was rolling it around with one hand to match the colors. It used to be a toy that didn’t suit her personality, but she was smiling a little now. She quickly completed the cube and examined its surfaces carefully.
“…It’s done.”
Satisfied, she placed her chin in her hands and looked around the empty sanctuary of Time. Some time ago, she met Idnik here, Murkan, Demakan, reunited with Sylvia, and confessed to Deculein…
So many memories passed her by. But now, this place was no different than a ruin. The life of the crystal was almost spent, and there was less time left in the space.
Only her, Epherene Luna, remained. Alone.
“…”
Epherene recalled memories from Locralen and her days with Deculein. Those times felt so vague; she was so happy and so cold-hearted. It was hard to remember those times, even as an Archmage…
The moment she left Locralen, she forgot more than half of what had happened.
‘I was so discouraged I cried for days. I was sad to the point of death. It hurt like my heart was getting ripped out.’
“…Professor.”
Epherene put her face to the crystal and called out to him. But she could no longer hear his voice or see his face. Locralen was the last time Epherene had seen Deculein in person.
…What happened there would remain a secret forever.
—Here.
An answer suddenly came. Epherene was surprised but soon smiled happily.
“Are you done?”
—I killed them all.
“…As expected of the Professor.”
She put her hand on the crystal as she said so.
Rustle— rustle—
A blue leaf fell on top of her head. There wasn’t much time left to be connected to the past.
“Professor.”
—All right. Say it.
Listening to the most beautiful tone in the world, she promised to herself not to forget it until she died, then Epherene smiled.
“Take care from now on. I’m so happy to meet you again.”
—…
“Also, listen carefully.”
Epherene still had something to say to him. It was very, very important. If ever the future changed… no, if there were a possibility it would change even just a little bit. It would probably be because of this.
“This is going to be the last one.”
Epherene slowly opened her mouth.
“Please listen carefully. ‘לפנ ■■שאור ■■אל עוזב…”
*****
…לפנ ■■שאור ■■אל עוזב‘
The future Epherene left those strange words. Even I couldn’t interpret it in the rune language, and there was no foreign language that I didn’t know of, so it was only appropriate to think of it as the world’s interference.
“I’ll remember this.”
I saved that voice and her pronunciation in my mind and sat back in my chair.
“Epherene.”
I called her name. But, no matter how long I waited, she did not answer back. The connection between time and space had been cut off. She spent 10 years of her life in just two days.
“Hmm.”
I looked at the surface of the tree that glistened like a crystal. Suddenly, I repeated what Epherene had said.
“I don’t exist in your future?”
What would happen to me in that kid’s future? It would be a lie to say I wasn’t even a little bit curious.
“Did I die? Or…”
I stopped talking for a while and thought carefully. But, no matter how many times I thought about it, there was only one conclusion that I could come up with.
“…I must be dead.”
Death. My lifespan was much shorter than I expected. Considering the volume of the main quest, it didn’t matter if I thought positively; I wouldn’t last for more than 3 years. In those 3 years, I would die, and this kid was still running after me?
“What an unfortunate fellow.”
I didn’t know if she was the unfortunate one or if it was me. The moment when I concluded like that-
—.
Somewhere, not too far away, there was a small presence like a bird.
Rustle—
Fragments of stone rained down, then the sound of someone’s breath catching in surprise. All nineteen wood steel reacted to my gaze as I turned toward the sound.
Whiiiiiing——
They resonated and moved closer to the noise, but after confirming who this uninvited guest was, I raised my hand to stop them. It was someone I didn’t have to be wary of.
“…This is unexpected.”
I spoke to her. She didn’t seem to have planned on being discovered, but when she was, she looked at me with confidence. But, her fingers were shaking. Maybe she overheard my conversation with Epherene.
“Nice to see you.”
I greeted her with a faint smile.
“Sylvia.”
Beyond the fog covered in darkness, she was staring at me.