Chapter 238
I was swimming against the endlessly rushing current, the waves that spread infinitely. The storm filled with mana pounded on my body, and a dark mist obstructed my view. The passage of time was far from my mind, taking more effort to track than I could afford.
—.
The tempest roared as waves rose and broke with a force that could split stone. The only light I had was the occasional flashes of lightning. However, for some reason, amidst that sea, I suddenly felt a gaze upon me.
—!
The sea cried again. A vortex swirled below me, catching at my feet and my waist, pulling me down.
Splaaaash-!
The water splashed violently. I sank. I couldn’t breathe properly, but I tried to move, submerged. Something swam up and bit my arm. I pried off its teeth with my bare hands. Then a tentacle wrapped around my ankle. It was an anemone brought up from the deep sea. I cut it away with the wood steel.
“…”
I breached the surface and glanced around the open sea. The rain and wind showed no sign of stopping, and the tall waves covered the sky.
“Hmm.”
It was bigger than anything else I’d seen. Even I was at a loss for words.
Gwooooh…
A wall of water approached, almost like a blue mountain range as it loomed ahead.
“Are you watching?”
It was a disaster that any human would despair of, but strangely, I felt glad. My heart was calm because of the mana of someone that I felt in the waves.
“Sylvia.”
This was the wave she created in a trivial effort to drive me out. I looked through it and said:
“I’ll get there soon.”
I took a deep breath and dove before the waves hit me.
Splaash-!
The deeper the water, the stronger the pressure that blocked my ears, and all sounds faded, leaving only the feeling of aftershocks rippling down through the water. However, there was no problem. The Iron Man’s lungs were comparable in performance to that of a whale so I could survive underwater for hours.
“…”
I descended into the calm depths. Finally, a pretty satisfying system message appeared.
[You gained Enlightenment.]
◆ Attribute acquisition #3333: Swimming gold medalist
Gold medalist. Modern words formed before my eyes and the very next moment-
[Your mental strength overcame new extreme situations. The characteristic has advanced.]
◆ Characteristic development: Mermaid
──「Mermaid」──
◆ Rating
: Rare
◆ Description
: A human who isn’t lethargic in the sea.
: You can move through the waves and currents of the Great Sea naturally, and even if the water is deep, you can move as fast as you can run on land.
: You won’t be bothered by sea monsters.
──────
Unfortunately, I still couldn’t breathe underwater, but I felt the water soften. The flow of the deep sea now felt so familiar that I could almost grasp it in my hand. With that new skill, I dug into the current.
* * *
At the same time, Sylvia was sitting on the beach. She was drawing in the sand with her fingers and looking over the distant sea. She was watching that person as he swam through the waves. He was in that sea now, approaching, and she knew exactly why.
Because the Voice was a product of demons, at that moment, a familiar landed on Sylvia’s shoulder. On her lap, the panda sat.
“Yeah.”
Sylvia nodded her head, petting the two. Now, she might not need him anymore. In this world where her mother was with her, she might not need the person whose name she had forgotten.
“…I don’t need him.”
Sylvia pushed him away. She created rough waves, and a storm appeared.
“Professor.”
The person she always hated and loved.
‘Now I don’t need you. My mom, Sierra, whom I love more than you, lives here.’
“So.”
‘Now leave me alone.’
“—Sylvia.”
Suddenly, her mother’s kind voice reached her. Sylvia looked up with a broad smile.
“Yeah.”
“What were you doing?”
“…Watching the sea.”
“Really? It’s getting dark now. Shall we go back?”
“Yeah.”
Sylvia took Sierra’s hand. They walked together along the rippling beach.
“…Sylvie.”
Hermit crabs crawled across grains of sand glittering under the sun.
“Yeah.”
“He will come. He must.”
“…”
Sylvia’s expression hardened. She came to a halt. Why was she suddenly saying that? She glared at Sierra.
“Why are you-“
“He will protect you.”
“…”
Sylvia frowned. She didn’t know what it meant.
“He’ll protect me.”
“Yeah. He promised. Before I died.”
Swooosh…
A light wave crashed against the shore. In this way, the nature of the Voice still flowed, but Sylvia’s time stopped for a moment. She felt scared-
“…How do you know?”
-that her mother was already dead.
Sylvia asked in a trembling voice. Sierra smiled broadly and placed her hand on her head.
—Sylvia. I am your mother. I’m not fake; I’m real.
“…Oh.”
Then something in Sylvia’s heart exploded. She suddenly stopped breathing as streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.
“So, I have no choice but to leave.”
“Why. Why? If it’s true, stay with me.”
“…Shh.”
Sierra put a finger to her lips.
“I’ll tell you the rest when he comes.”
Splaash—
More waves crashed against the beach, scattering the sand like jewels.
* * *
…Meanwhile, Epherene was sitting on the railing of the ship and looking over the sea.
“Ah, ah. Professor. Can you hear me? Over. It’s Epherene, over. If you can hear me, please answer me, over.”
At that moment, when she was talking through a crystal ball connected to Deculein.
Push!
A hand playfully shoved Epherene’s shoulder.
“Aah!”
Epherene groaned and glanced back to see the Deputy Chief of Public Security, Primienne.
“Ahh! Aaaaaaaaah—!”
Epherene glared at Primienne and screamed.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!
“…”
“What are you doing-?”
“Was it that scary?”
“I almost fell!”
Primienne sat beside her.
“I heard Professor Deculein is in that sea.”
“…Yes. He said he would go swimming.”
“Don’t you need to go too?”
“I can’t go. How would I get there?”
There was still a mana storm around the island. Even Zeit, the King of Winter, could die if he were caught up in it.
“Is the professor okay?”
“…Yes. He won’t die.”
Epherene knew. At least for now, Deculein would live…
Wait, did that mean that the future didn’t change? The one where he eventually died? Was it correct that he wouldn’t die now since he would die a little further in the future? No, one way or another, wasn’t it right to change to the future where the Professor died?
Epherene suddenly lost in thought, laughed.
“Of course, it has to change. If it doesn’t change, how could it be called the future? The future is about change.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Epherene pulled the wooden pocket watch out. She still didn’t know what it was used for.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. It has no effect whatsoever.”
“Can I touch it?”
“…”
Epherene slowly put the pocket watch back, staring at Primienne.
“Trust me. I have a knack for hypothesis.”
“…Hypothesis?”
“Right.”
Primienne tapped her temple.
“Multi-faceted thinking is my talent. Except for stocks, everything is under my purview. Stocks are madness, you know.”
Epherene thought for a moment, but well, she would never know what this was all by herself anyway.
“…Give it back right away.”
She handed over the pocket watch. Primienne placed it on her palm. Then, she extracted her thoughts to present a hypothesis by considering all possibilities. Her talent was, in theory, to complete a month’s worth of a person’s thoughts in ten minutes.
Finally, Primienne spoke.
“…It might be a catalyst.”
“Catalyst?”
“Yes. A catalyst that amplifies the magic efficiency of the caster.”
“Then we’re back to square one. That’s what I thought too, but nothing has changed.”
“Or a catalyst that imparts a certain mana to an item.”
“…Item?”
Epherene frowned. Primienne nodded and returned the pocket watch.
“Put anything on this pocket watch.”
“…Anything?”
“Even that crystal ball.”
“…”
Epherene had a slightly suspicious look, but she soon placed the crystal ball on the pocket watch.
“Professor. Can you hear me?”
“…”
“…”
…No answer. Epherene shook her head while Primienne cleared her throat.
“The hypothesis is always right, but—”
—I can hear you.
Epherene yelled, startled.
“Whoa! Have you arrived? Have you met Sylvia?”
—…I am Sylvia.
“Eh? What? Why do you have the Professor’s crystal ball?”
—Because I have it.
“What does-“
Epherene suddenly felt dizzy. She rapidly ran out of mana, and her body went slack. It was something she had felt quite a while ago, in a place where time was intertwined…
“Deputy Chief. This is a bit strange…”
Epherene looked back at Primienne.
“…Eh? She’s sleeping.”
Her head was bent over. The woman suddenly fell asleep.
“Anyway. Sylvia, you-“
For a moment, Epherene stopped. Someone’s voice appeared inside her head.
—…It takes quite a bit of mana to talk to someone in the future from the present.
Epherene almost dropped her pocket watch.
“No way.”
Gulp-
Groping for her thoughts, she stared intently at the crystal ball.
“Sylvia. What’s going on there?”
Maybe this Sylvia wasn’t the current one, but the Sylvia of the not-so-distant future. Could this wooden pocket watch be a catalyst that connected to the future? Sylvia explained.
—I killed Deculain.
“…What? What does that-“
Epherene’s eyes lit up with astonishment. Immediately after, a shock rocked her head.
“Ugh… ouch…”
Foam stained her lips, but she held out, enduring with all she could. She quickly separated the pocket watch and the crystal ball.
“…Gosh.”
At least she didn’t faint. Epherene checked the remaining amount of her mana, but it was almost at rock-bottom.
Drip- Drip- Drip-
She had a nosebleed, too.
“Deputy Chief. Thank you.”
Epherene spoke to the sleeping, no, fainted Primienne. She then infused her scarce mana into the crystal ball. There was no time to remain still.
“Professor! Professor!”
Sylvia from the not-too-distant future said she killed Deculein. Fortunately, she gave her a very good hint.
“Professor! Professor!”
She didn’t know if that was the future or if Sylvia had lied, but she could change it now. The future was about change.
“Professor! I’ll talk to you every minute! If you hear me, answer!”
* * *
I arrived on land. Past the magical disaster, I finally arrived at the Voice’s Island. The scenery was surprisingly peaceful. There was no demonic energy — that is, dark energy.
—Professor!
Chijikjik—
The crystal ball vibrated. It hadn’t worked at sea due to the mana of the waves interfering.
“I arrived.”
—Oh, that’s good! Professor! Sylva said she killed you!
“…”
—Sylvia from the future said so! I learned how to use the pocket watch! But it’s okay. I can change it! So, don’t ever lose that crystal ball to Sylvia!
I memorized Epherene’s words before temporarily turning off the crystal ball. It was because of the person on the other side of the beach, standing upright and looking down on me.
“…Sylvia.”
Sylvia. She stared at me with indifference.
“It’s been a long time.”
I adjusted my clothes and wiped off the water.
“…”
Sylvia still didn’t say anything. She stared at me for a while, meeting my eyes.
“…Follow me. I have something to talk to you about.”
After a while, she responded bluntly. I nodded and took a step forward.
“Isn’t this what you-“
“No. Don’t move yet.”
“And the reason is?”
“This is the Voice’s Island. Many people who have died long ago, and many extinct species are roaming about. There are a lot of fanatics in the Voice, too.”
Sylvia walked to me, one step at a time.
“If they find you alone, they will try to kill you.”
Sylvia stopped a foot away. She had grown quite tall since we last met, as her eye level reached the bottom of my chin… no, it was true that she had grown taller than before, but looking at her closely, I could see she was wearing high heels.
“Don’t die yet.”
Sylvia stretched out her fingers. Then, with her forefinger and thumb, she grabbed me by the hem of my sleeve, like picking up something filthy.
“It’s not dangerous if you’re with me. Stay with me.”
Sylvia spoke in a dry tone, as always. Her appearance was different from a year ago, but her voice was the same.
—Sylvia said she killed you!
Epherene’s warning came to mind. I nodded.
“Okay. Will you give me a tour of the island, Sylvia?”
“Don’t call my name with that filthy mouth.”
She wrapped her fingers around the hem of my sleeve, fighting back in her way. I responded calmly.
“Gladly.”
“Don’t let go of my hand.”
Sylvia walked ahead. I didn’t know if this could be called holding hands, but I followed her. As I came up from the beach to land, another city scene greeted me. Houses with round blue roofs, with spying glances behind windows. However, none of them exuded dark energy.
That was curious.
“Are you hungry?”
“…”
Sylvia’s absurd question. Though her tone was flat, it was certainly a question based on experience.
“Why are you asking that?”
“You swam.”
Sylvia pointed to a store serving hot dogs.
“They’re delicious. Aren’t you hungry?”
She asked with a pure face, holding my sleeve tightly with two fingers. I shook my head.
“I don’t need it.”
“…”
Then Sylvia nodded. Sorrow lasted upon her face for only a moment before it grew as cold as ice.
“Tell me if you are hungry.”
“You guys~. Would you like to buy a flower~?”
Just then, a woman with a flower basket approached us. Sylvia growled as she glared at her. A strange sound came out of her mouth.
“Oh, my, I’m sorry~.”
The woman ran away, scared, then Sylvia glanced at me.
“Don’t look around. Don’t talk to them. Everything is dangerous for you.”
I couldn’t get used to her being friendly.