[Alright, the last chapter was well received, we’ll continue to test this series out to find the proper cost efficiency for the workload. As of now, we are able to commit to 12-16 chapters (55,000~ words) per week. If the participation increases by 20-25%, we can aim for 20-21 chapters (76,000~ words) per week. That’s 220,000-304,000~ words per month! During the test, there will be 2 free chapters per upload day. If we reach the 20 chapter goal, there will be 3-4 free chapters per upload day. If demand dies down, we’ll go back to 8 chapters per week via Community Unlock. There are 6 chapters today and at least 7 on Saturday.] [Active: I recommend reading till 103, dang.]
Chapter 98: Locralen (5)
‘…Goodbye, My Professor.’
The trembling voice of a child could be heard from a distant future. That mysterious tone lingered in my ear like an echo and before dispersing. It reverberated through me until it filled me fully.
I blinked. The world was turned upside down in that instant.
“…”
There was no one in the basement where she had been. The wind gently brushed past me, the cold air caressing my skin. There was only silence to be found there. In this space where nothing changed, my time continued uninterrupted. However, 385 years must’ve passed between that time and my own.
“…You’re cheeky.”
Anger and contempt flashed inside me; it was an unavoidable part of Deculein’s personality.
Flutter—
Suddenly, a piece of paper caught my eye, caught under my foot. I lifted it with Psychokinesis.
[To Professor Deculein –
Hello, this is Epherene.
By now, the Professor I know must be furious. Wouldn’t you have already muttered something along the lines of, ‘You’re cheeky’? ]
“…”
Without realizing it, I looked around. There was no one to be found, however. I reread that sentence, noting her cursive handwriting.
[I’m sorry, Professor. But, this is up to me.
And this is just ‘time.’ The mana and the air are stagnant here, making training impossible.
It’s a meaningless time where the only thing you can do is to think. It’s a time that repeats, sweeping back and forth like waves on a beach. Huhu.
Well, I… I had a lot of things I wanted to say to you. What happened in the future, and what the future was like. However, it proved difficult to convey the knowledge of the future to the present. In particular, your future was impossible to see, even if I poured all my magic into it.
So, with just one line of incomplete information, just a single word to convey the facts. What I want to say to you is…]
“…?”
That was the end of the letter. I looked at the backside of the page, but it was blank. Whatever happened, her writing had suddenly stopped.
“Professor!”
The door swung open, and a slightly younger voice greeted me. I slid the note into my pocket before looking back.
“W-Was it successful?! Locralen’s disposal?!”
Epherene. She clenched her fists while speaking urgently. I nodded.
“Oh!”
“However, the complete disposal is a matter of the future. The Kaidezite has been dismantled, but this Locralen timeline will be maintained for now.”
Locralen’s disposal was still a matter of the future. Locralen itself would remain until the day Epherene became an Archmage.
“Then… then, what about me?”
I looked at her and thought of the future Epherene, imagining her enduring those 385 years completely alone. Even the thought was enough to anger me. She looked down on my abilities and pride, and rejected my will. She was cocky and stubborn.
She wasn’t the kind of person who could withstand such a huge amount of time alone.
“….”
I approached Epherene. She hesitated but didn’t back away.
“Ugh!”
I placed my hand on her head. It was small and light.
“You still have a lot to put into your head.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
Epherene narrowed her eyes.
“Epherene has returned to the future where Locralen has been destroyed, so you will never see each other again.”
“…”
Her sorrow was plain to see in her eyes, but I climbed out of the basement without a word.
“Huh, Deculein! You bastard!”
I met Rose Rio on the stairs walking back. She wasn’t even aware that she had been stunned.
“Do you dare betray me?!”
“Follow me. Everything has been concluded.”
“…What? It’s over?”
When we reached the lobby on the first floor, almost everyone in the society had already gathered. They were standing around awkwardly after being released. Among them, I noticed the president of the society, Locralen. Confused, he fiddled with his necklace, a chain around his collarbone, with a blank look.
“…Huh, Professor Deculein!”
“Professor Deculein. Did you solve it?”
“I-I believed in you.”
The members of the conference arrived a moment later. I beckoned to Rose Rio.
“Rose Rio, open the door.”
“Okay.”
Rose Rio dismantled ‘Ductility.’
Rumble-!
The blocked-off conference exit was exposed, allowing bright sunlight to beam in.
“Whoa… it’s been three days since I’ve seen the sun. Professor Deculein, I’m sorry I misunderstood you.”
Rose Rio murmured while some of the wizards went outside, glancing back at me. They didn’t know about someone’s sacrifice, so they could only show this kind of reaction.
“…Ah, ah. This is the president of the Society, Locralen. This conference will be suspended due to an unfortunate incident.”
Locralen spoke using loudspeaker magic.
“Everyone, please head back to the hotel and rest. The check-in procedure will be conducted tomorrow. Everyone, please head back to the hotel and rest.”
Epherene glared at him, pouting.
* * *
The next day.
Drent, struggling with the aftermath of magical exhaustion, managed to recover to some extent, but all other conferences were canceled. Locralen claimed that he would need time to reorganize, so it was time for them to leave.
“Reorganization. Couldn’t you just destroy the entire society now? Then this won’t happen again.”
It was an extremely reasonable question from Epherene, but I shook my head.
“There is no evidence. Even if there were, Kaidezite is a threat from the future. On the Floating Island, they will ask if the remaining time will be okay.”
An island crazy about magic, knowledge, and mystery. The outer surface of the Floating Island offered the image of rationality and intelligence, but the inside was rather savage and brutally cold.
“Ah…”
“Professor~ I already packed everything!”
“Me too. I’ll go on crutches.”
Those responses came from Allen and Drent, respectively. I nodded and opened the door out of the room. For me, I had a lot to think about later. Starting with the 「Advanced Attribute Catalog」 obtained as a quest reward.
“Professor, are we going to forget about today when we leave Locralen?”
Epherene raised the question in the hotel elevator.
“It depends on your mental strength, but for you, it will probably remain like a faint afterimage. Even if you don’t completely forget it, you won’t be able to recall the specifics.”
“…”
Epherene nodded with slight disappointment.
Ding—
The elevator reached the first floor. The hotel lobby was full today, with people trying to leave Locralen. They greeted me, but I didn’t bother to respond. We went straight out of the hotel and down the street.
“I’m sorry, assistant Professor. I’m quite heavy, right?”
“It’s okay~. We’re on the same team.”
Drent, still unwell, was being supported by Allen.
“I passed out like a fool… I didn’t think I would pass out with just one word.”
“That’s true. It was kind of weird.”
Their words stirred my thoughts. I felt embers burning in my brain.
“Professor! Professor–!”
A loud voice echoed from behind. Locralen was approaching, waving his hand. As soon as Epherene saw him, she puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms. I stared at him quietly as he rapidly drew closer.
“Hahahaha, are you leaving already? You should have dinner before going. I will be ready soon.”
Locralen didn’t even seem to remember that he was the Kaidezite’s host.
“It’s fine.”
“Oh~ okay. Still, I’m here to thank you. Thanks to you, the academy is intact.”
“Humph. Intact, my ass.”
Epherene grumbled. Locralen glanced at her, then pointed at Drent behind them.
“Haha, I don’t think I’ve seen him before?”
“He’s the wizard I mentioned before, the one who fainted with one word.”
“Oh~, what a shame. But, I guess you were really tired, huh? To faint with one word, that must be impossible.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Drent bowed his head, causing a bitter laugh to rise from Locralen.
“…Wait.”
The fire in my head ignited, rising from a small flame into a blaze in an instant.
“Locralen.”
“Yes?”
“You said there’s no way someone would faint with just one word.”
“Yes. Theoretically, yes. No matter how low your mental strength, with one word…”
“But this guy passed out.”
I pointed to Drent, who covered his face as if guilty.
“Well. He must have been tired at the time-“
“Tell me another condition.”
“Yes? Another condition?”
“If this guy passed out, it was probably the one that spoke that had a problem rather than him.”
“…I don’t know.”
Locralen rubbed his chin as he pondered.
“It’s probably a difference in mental power… rather than magical power, I guess? Either he had a conversation with a future wizard possessing an incredible mental strength… or maybe he was exhausted.”
That was enough.
“I see.”
I remembered the moment when I, no, we, first entered Locralen. That day, a wizard in a robe had passed by us like any other. Drent had unconsciously greeted them. And…
[So, with just one line of incomplete information, just a single word to convey the facts. What I want to say to you is…]
… Epherene’s unnaturally halted letter.
“Professor? What’s wrong?”
When she was contemplating her words and her own time, something happened that surprised her. I imagined Epherene writing the letter. She was someone who poured her heart, line by line, out onto that small note. She was so surprised that she couldn’t even finish the letter.
No, there was no need to end it. Because…
“Because what will happen will always happen.”
“Yes?”
Everyone turned to look at me.
“That cheeky bastard…”
“Who?”
Instead of answering her, I pointed at Epherene with my chin to Allen. Allen, taking the hint, forcibly dragged Epherene away.
“Epherene~ Let’s get going first~.”
“What? Why, why? No, wait…”
Letting Epherene be dragged away, I turned back to Locralen.
“Locralen. Call me in the not-too-distant future.”
Locralen smiled brightly.
“Oh~ of course. No one can be invited twice, but the conference will also be held in December—”
“No.”
I cut off Locralen and sharpened my gaze.
“Don’t put my name on the invitation list.”
“…Yes?”
“Call me secretly.”
My name should not be on that list. Only then would I be able to deceive his eyes.
“Ah, that’s a little bit hard. According to Locralen’s rules-“
“Do the rules matter now? Because of you, we almost died.”
I put my hand on Locralen’s shoulder. Confused, he tilted his head.
“T-That could be a big risk. I say this for your own sake. If your name is not written on the list, later when you try to enter-“
“I know. Rather, that’s why I’m asking for this.”
I met Locralen’s eyes. His pupils were moving randomly, avoiding my gaze.
Gulp-
After a moment, Locralen swallowed hard and stroked the back of his neck, wiping away a layer of cold sweat.
“S-So, when do you want to?”
“It doesn’t matter when.”
I turned to watch Epherene leaving. She kept glancing back at us.
“When I’m ready, I’ll come on my own.”
At that moment, the sun was shining down upon the domed glass of Locralen, the light bending gently around it.
“You just need to open the door.”
“…Yes. Yes. All right. But why…”
I smiled and shook my head.
“There is no need to ask why.”
The passerby in a robe that Drent met. There was probably only one person in this world to have the mental power to stun him with just one word.
“From the beginning.”
I knew who he was.
“Because this was what was going to happen.”
…Deculein von Grahan Yukline.
* * *
…Last night: Epherene’s time while Deculein was stunned.
“Done!”
Epherene successfully disbanded the Kaidezite, causing it to dissipate by releasing a tremendous amount of temporal energy throughout Locralen.
“Whew…”
Now what she had to do was simple. She had to endure 385 years, or 140,525 days, or 3,372,600 hours, in this limited space.
“…It’s fortunate that I have something to see, though.”
Epherene looked at the stunned Deculein. His appearance didn’t age in the slightest as ever or now. His paranoid cleanliness and refinement would be eternal despite the chaos and passage of time.
“I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Epherene, who spent a little while watching him, climbed the basement stairs. After passing by Rose Rio and Epherene, who was sleeping soundly, she arrived at the lobby on the first floor.
“…Phew.”
She let out a small sigh as she checked their stunned faces. She didn’t miss a single one.
“Oh, right.”
Epherene, who was going to check the second and third floors, turned around and went back down into the basement.
“I almost forgot the letter. I’ll just write it now while I’m still full of energy.”
Deculein was still stunned. Epherene looked at him and pulled out a blank sheet of paper.
“Let’s see…”
[To Professor Deculein –
Hello, this is Epherene.]
She wrote with magic, not a pen. The carbon magic he invented was formed into ‘graphite’ on the page.
[I’m sorry, Professor. But, this is up to me.
And this is just ‘time.’ The mana and the air are stagnant here, making training impossible.
It’s a meaningless time where the only thing you can do is to think. It’s a time that repeats, sweeping back and forth like waves on a beach.]
“Pfft.”
As she read the words, she smiled, and something sprung up from within. Was this what they meant by transmitting your heart? Epherene scribed down each letter with that sort of feeling.
[So, with just one line of incomplete information, just a single word to convey the facts. What I want to say to you is…]
—However.
Thump.
Epherene’s ears perked up sensitively. Her eyes went wide as she lifted her head.
Thump.
It was the sound of a foot falling, a sound that she couldn’t and shouldn’t hear.
“…”
Epherene’s hand stilled.
‘No way. Is there someone I haven’t stunned yet?’
The entry and exit records were the same. She even made sure that Drent was stunned. At that moment, as she looked toward the entrance with chills running down her spine.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“…!”
A voice pierced her ears. It was too familiar but in an impossible tone.
“You’re too sloppy….”
Whether or not he knew her surprise, the voice continued sarcastically until a man in black robes appeared from the dark.
“How can you say that you are my disciple?”
She just looked at him, rebuking her. Tears were already welling up in her eyes, and she was choked up, so she couldn’t say anything.
“You are still stupid.”
The only one who could call her an Archmage, stupid. The only person in this world. Watching him take off his robe, Epherene covered her mouth with both her hands.
“Ah…”
It was Deculein. More precisely, the Deculein of the Future. He wore a smile that was a little warmer than the current Deculein.
“You should have been more thorough.”
Then Epherene’s eyes drew a faint smile. At that moment, transparent tears fell from her eyes like a rainbow.
“I know, right.”
Epherene wiped away the tears with the cuffs of her robe.
“I was too… stupid.”
She lifted her head again and looked at him, crying as she laughed. Professor Deculein didn’t like people who cried, but she couldn’t help it at this moment. Her heart was pounding like crazy, her emotions now out of control.
“I should have been a little more thorough….”
…And behind her, the small piece of paper fluttered and landed gently on the floor. A note that began with the shy sentence, “To Professor Deculein—.”
“I am so stupid…”
Epherene didn’t end her note. That man was on the other side. He had come to her, so she didn’t have to.
“…I’m sorry, Professor.”
Concentrating on this moment, Epherene felt a wave of guilt.
“And, thank you.”
The years she was determined to handle alone. It seemed so infinitely satisfying…