Chapter 161: Time. (3) (1/2)

She was expressionless as usual, with a cold complexion and darkened eyes.

“Sylvia.”

Looking at the still young Sylvia, I imagined Sylvia in the distant future. This child was a key Named in this world, a talent that could become an Archmage who would lead the continent. I didn’t know who would be first between Epherene and Sylvia, but the future was certain to some extent.

“Long time no see.”

Sylvia said nothing, standing still there like a doll. I slowly rose. At that moment, mana surged all over Sylvia’s body, manifesting into a sharp aura filled with murderous intent.

“Don’t come.”

Sylvia spoke. I paused for a moment. We remained still in that place where the glowing tree served as the only source of light as she lost herself in thought. I had a lot of things I wanted to ask Sylvia, like how she came here and why, but I didn’t intend on questioning it.

Step— step—

I approached her again. The air now felt congested, but it wasn’t because of Sylvia.

Step— step—

The sound of my footsteps was clear, and Sylvia raised her hand to stop me.

“Stop.”

I didn’t listen to her. Rather, I spoke to push ahead.

“You stop.”

Whiiiiiiiing—!

The wood steel moved, revolving around me and warming up their mana.

“…”

Sylvia stared at me with eyes full of hostility. But the problem right now wasn’t her. The death variable… the dark red energy glaring behind her.

“Shh.”

Now Sylvia felt the murderous intent but immediately thought it was coming from me. So, the odd but definite energy of death wriggling in the darkness was…

“Don’t come any closer.”

Sylvia, who misunderstood my movement, mobilized her mana.

Boom—!

She sprinted forward, kicking off the ground and shooting like a bullet toward me. I immediately used Duct Tape to suppress her.

“…”

“You still have a long way to go, Sylvia.”

She had great talent, of course, but it was a hard task for a wizard to surpass me in actual combat. Unless you had overwhelming power like Adrienne or Rohakan or were physically much stronger than me like Julie, it was impossible.

“Someone is tailing you.”

“What…?”

Sylvia, about to retort, closed her mouth. She was still expressionless, but she looked quite surprised. I pointed to the darkness behind her, to the man scattering death variables. He was a strange human. No, saying he was human was too much.

He possessed a large body almost 3 meters long and a wide mouth like that of a shark. His skin was corpse pale, and his eyes glimmered red. I had seen that visage before.

“Is that the ghost that you made?”

He would be a quite troublesome jerk given he was able to exert death variables toward me.

“…”

Sylvia ground her teeth.

“Release me.”

“Now, you’re speaking informally.”

“…”

Sylvia creased her brow and twisted her arms. But, even opening her mana would be hard because of Duct Tape. Even if it were Sylvia, magical analysis of the structure of Tape would need at least three minutes. Still, Sylvia shook her arms around. She was about to break her wrist.

“Are you losing your temper?”

“No.”

I dismantled [Duct Tape]. At that moment, Sylvia faltered, and the ghost suddenly stuck its sharp tongue out.

Clang—!!

The wood steel moved to defend. Friction sparks sprayed off the steel as it deflected the monster’s attack.

Goooooo…!

It was followed by Sylvia’s magic that ate into the space. The whole area quickly turned into sandy open terrain as she flaunted her flawless magical ability.

“You’ve grown.”

“I don’t want any compliments from you.”

Sylvia’s eyes were busy glancing between the ghost and me.

“Good. Then, work hard.”

“…”

Sylvia frowned. Her eyes darted to me again, revealing her confusion.

“It’s an opportunity for you to fix your own mistakes. If you tame that ghost, it will become a great help for you.”

There was no need for me to help. Of course, that ghost was a death variable for me, but that didn’t seem to be the case for Sylvia. It had deliberately aimed for me and evaded Sylvia. And, above all, even if I helped her out, I would only interfere with Sylvia’s growth.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

The wood steel gathered under my feet.

“Go.”

I nodded.

“I trust you, Sylvia.”

“…Why would you?”

Sylvia stared at me with an expression like one wronged. At that time, the wood steel became a stepping stone and rose in the air while the ghost extended its tongue towards me. But, his attacks scattered into dust before drawing near to me. Sylvia’s magic was the most basic and powerful manifestation of three primary colors, Eraser.

*****

…At the most luxurious restaurant in the North in the future, called the Deer Antler’s Tea House, Epherene was sitting with Sophien. Having been entrusted by Her Majesty to choose a meal, she eagerly looked over the menu, but that faint feeling of depression wouldn’t leave her.

That bad temper matched the noble before her.

“…”

Sophien’s expression was sour, to put it mildly. But, this was why she was a little different from Epherene. Even if Deculein died in this future, it didn’t matter much. She could commit suicide and regress.

“…What a fucking environment.”

Therefore, Sophien didn’t like this environment right now. Sophien had lived for almost 200 years in the Imperial Palace, where everything was adjusted to her liking. No matter how luxurious the chairs and tables were, they couldn’t match up to the Imperial Palace, so Sophien felt a strong suicidal urge. It would be better to go inside the snow globe. At least the air was perfect over there.

“What? What did you say?”

“…Nothing.”

She felt itchy. Sleepy. Annoyed. Uncomfortable. She was suffering the biggest hardships in her life, but she tried not to show it.

“By the way, why did Your Majesty come with me?”

Epherene asked the question after she finished ordering.

“Because this world’s evidence is me.”

At first, it sounded like self-conceit, but Epherene naturally nodded and asked again.

“Do you have something more to say?”

“No. That guy is probably…”

Sophien stopped and smirked. No matter how intelligent an animal was, horses couldn’t come to the future. But, she remembered all of this moment. Therefore, one guess was possible. That herself in the future sent the horse personally.

“Hmm?”

Sophien’s eyes suddenly widened as she looked out the window. Epherene tilted her head.

“…What are you doing?”

“Look. There’s a game of Go.”

On the other side of the restaurant, in the cold park, a great game was taking place. A war between the black and white stones.

“Oh, I see.”

Sophien smiled. Certainly, the game of Go had been properly passed onto this future. Something worthwhile had appeared for Sophien.

“…Here is your meal.”

At that moment, the food Epherene ordered arrived. One, two, three, four, five, six… almost a dozen plates were set before them.