Chapter 380
Chapter 380
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 380
Chapter Title: 2-2. I'll Be Back
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There's a saying that people freeze when they're too startled.
From my experience, it's a pretty apt description.
Adeshan had frozen solid after that surprise kiss under the aurora.
Professor Baren had done the same back when I handed him the club activity proposal.
Even now, that little shrimp Asel goes rigid like he's been struck by lightning whenever I suddenly call his name.
But I had a hard time relating to the expression.
No matter how shocked I was—hair standing on end—my hands always moved on reflex.
"Sarente."
Same thing this time.
Instead of freezing or welcoming him with open arms, I swung my sword at the suddenly appearing Sarente.
The blade halted right in front of his throat, a single leaf's width away.
"......"
Brigia's blood stained the sword.
Blood droplets had naturally splattered onto his neck.
It must have been a chilling experience, but the old elf's eyes didn't waver.
I slowly lowered my sword as I faced him.
"You're real. I thought you were an illusion like last time."
"Last time?"
"There was that incident. Glad to see you, Sarente."
"I'm glad too. That reaction confirms you're the real Ronan."
Sarente smiled.
His gentle, nostalgic smile stirred old memories.
Everything was just as I remembered, aside from his bizarre outfit.
This was the elf who had served me tea himself in the temple of the Vaidian Mountains.
"I have... so many questions."
But it was confusing.
The Sarente I knew was still petrified as a stone statue.
He had briefly appeared before me after the war with Nebula Klazie ended, but that hadn't been Sarente—it was Seniel in disguise.
And Brigia was definitely a woman whose head I'd severed with my own hands.
She couldn't be alive.
I still vividly remembered burying her in the misty rain of the Vaidian Mountains.
Sarente nodded deeply.
"I understand. But if possible, may I summarize and explain? Time is short."
"Time's short?"
"Yes. I'll be sent back to my original timeline in just a few minutes. Brigia's involvement shortened my stay even more. I wanted to have a proper chat with you from this era, but alas."
"What the hell is this bullshit?"
I couldn't make heads or tails of it.
Sarente calmly wiped the blood from his neck with a handkerchief.
I frowned as I mulled over his words.
"So... you're saying you're from the future?"
"Exactly. You catch on quick."
"This is insane. Can you prove it?"
"Of course. I have to convince you no matter what. First, take a look at this."
Sarente pulled a small orb from his pocket.
Its fist-sized surface was densely engraved with tiny letters.
Fwaaah!
"What...!"
"Didikan Corporation's new product. Glad it can convey future events perfectly."
The familiar name was mentioned, but I didn't respond.
The scene unfolding in the projection was impossible to accept as reality.
I barely managed to speak as I watched the devastation.
"...So, this is the future?"
"Yes, Ronan."
"If this is a joke, stop now. I might let it slide with just a broken nose."
"I'm not frivolous enough to joke about this."
Sarente gave a wry smile.
Truth be told, I knew as I asked.
No one could laugh at something like this.
My eyes stayed glued to the projection even as we spoke.
- Kyaaaaak! Run!
- Gatling fire commencing! Hold out until the Dahinhar Legion arrives!
The city was under attack.
Skyscrapers lining the boulevards and neon signs hinted at the passage of time.
Terrified people screamed as they fled.
Winged giants circled above them.
- Elkinesh enacts judgment.
- All according to His will.
Every spear of light that pierced down triggered massive explosions.
A hemispherical barrier was holding off the attacks, but it wouldn't last long.
Troops armed with future weaponry fought desperately.
On the ground, zealots in pure white robes encircled the city.
"No way."
I nearly gripped my sword hilt on instinct.
Those pale, squid-like baldies were unmistakably the invaders.
The people of this planet had shat themselves exterminating them.
It was impossible.
I had exterminated them for sure.
By destroying the source of their race's power myself, I'd even freed the souls they held captive.
How?
What was I doing in that timeline?
The projection ended before long.
As the orb's light faded, darkness fell.
I stared into empty space and spoke.
"Sarente."
"Yes, Ronan."
"Where am I in the future? No sign of me. What about Adeshan, Asel, Schlieffen?"
"That's......"
Sarente trailed off.
After staring into my eyes for a long while, he finally averted his gaze without answering.
Like a spy refusing to crack under harsh interrogation.
A massive weight crashed onto my heart.
"No."
"...They're all still alive for now. Asel and Erzsebet are the ones who sent me back. But if this drags on, I don't know how long they can hold."
"Still?"
"Yes. We're outnumbered badly. Their numbers are far greater than before. And without the Savior this time..."
Sarente sighed.
I didn't press for details on the future's fates.
Hearing the truth might shatter my composure.
"Fuck."
My head spun.
Nausea churned in my gut.
Happy days flashed through my mind.
The clearest was just days ago.
I'd been lying on the floor, head pillowed on Adeshan's lap.
My right ear pressed flush against her belly.
She'd stroked my hair softly and asked if I could feel the kicks.
Even though it was too early for fetal movement.
- Come on, I told you I can't hear anything.
- Still, listen closely. You never know.
- If it kicks now, that's no baby—that's a monster.
Then we'd chatted about expectant parent staples.
What to name the kid, who it should look like more—trivial stuff.
I'd kissed her still-flat navel mid-conversation.
Adeshan had giggled, saying it tickled.
"Hoo... haa...!"
Breathing was hard.
Her giggling echoed in my ears.
One thing was certain: neither of us doubted a happy future awaited.
"...Is there a way to stop it?"
"Yes. That's why I'm here."
"Good. Tell me."
My vision narrowed.
My heartbeat thudded heavier than usual.
I swept a hand down my face and muttered softly.
"Feels like my body's gonna explode."
"......!"
Sarente flinched.
For a split second, the forest seemed to shake, then thousands of birds burst into flight.
Silence descended.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Sarente's temple.
"......Right. If it's alright, could you calm down a bit?"
"Huh? Oh."
Only then did I realize I'd lost control of my emotions.
A few deep breaths quelled the killing intent.
I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.
"Sorry. Acted like a damn kid."
"No need. It makes sense why they sent me to you from this time."
Sarente smiled.
His kind face was slick with sweat.
Traces of struggling not to pass out from my aura.
He continued.
"Ronan. Do you know the concept of parallel worlds?"
My eyes flashed at the term.
I'd discussed it with Asel just hours ago.
"...Heard the basics."
"Ah, that simplifies things. The giants you saw came from parallel worlds."
"What?"
"There are three parallel worlds like ours. All destroyed or doomed by Nebula Klazie. Gates connected to them opened."
I just blinked.
I wanted to probe deeper, but it'd never end.
Assuming his words true, I asked.
"...Fine, parallel worlds. But why exactly three?"
"Simple. Your wife—Adeshan—regressed three times."
"What the fuck?"
The curse slipped out.
Rude, but unavoidable.
Who wouldn't swear after a brick to the head?
"I get it's shocking. It's not public knowledge. Adeshan only revealed she was a regressor after this Nebula Klazie invasion, to help investigate. Scholars concluded it after deliberation."
"So Asel was right? Time rewinds don't erase worlds—they shift to new parallel ones."
"Half right, half wrong. Precisely, each regression by Adeshan created a new parallel world. She died, spawned a new world, moved there, lived anew—defeating Nebula Klazie."
"I can't believe... that was real?"
I was genuinely stunned.
The delusions plaguing me lately had turned true.
No salvation in the world Adeshan vanished from.
The abandoned world gasped like a beached whale, awaiting its end.
Maybe already a cold corpse.
Sarente pressed on.
"So those parallel worlds lack Adeshan. Post-death worlds. Your task: traverse the three parallels, destroy the future-linked rifts, find and kill Akasha."
"Akasha?"
"Ah, I forgot to mention... The root of this evil."
Sarente's brow furrowed slightly.
Hatred flickered in his steady eyes.
"The calamity that appeared in the future. History's first mage to manipulate parallel worlds. Master of other magics too."
"Sounds like a psycho. Asel can't do that, right?"
"Correct. Mage Asel and Erzsebet exhausted their mana to send me back but couldn't touch the parallels. Impossible without Akasha—even entering rifts."
Sarente ground his teeth.
He seethed over being toyed with by this Akasha.
I tapped my sword hilt, listening intently.
"He's flitting between parallels now, creating rifts wildly. Pure disaster. In the future where the planet's attacked, no one's left to hunt him."
"If you could send one back, why not assassinate or educate Akasha before he starts?"
"We would have if we knew his identity. But impossible despite efforts. All we know: he's an unimaginably powerful mage."
Sarente licked his lips.
Impossible to prune a calamity whose birth they didn't know.
They lacked even his goals or exact appearance.
Akasha, always in full robes and mask, was a nightmarish, unreal entity.
"But timelines don't match? Akasha's from the future. Can't meet to kill."
"You can. Parallels are fixed in separate timelines from ours."
Sarente said entering any point, the parallel's time synced.
Complex explanations followed; I nodded at fitting moments.
What mattered: could I blow Akasha's head off?
"We'll drive Akasha into the parallels as much as possible. Tough, but thank you for catching him in the net."
"Damn big net."
"Got it now. You came to me because rifts linking worlds are magic, despite only Akasha entering?"
"Precisely. A diversion only you can do. Future you destroys rifts and blocks giants there; current you shatters parallel rifts."
"Understood. Then hurry... Hm?"
I paused, narrowing my eyes.
Sarente's body seemed faintly transparent.
Brigia's charred corpse too.
"What? Why's your body like that?"
"Ah... Time's almost up. Let's hurry."
Sarente pulled out a small vial.
Inside sloshed blood-red liquid.
"This is Akasha's blood we barely obtained."
"What the fuck. Real blood?"
"Yes. Akasha uses his blood as catalyst to open parallel rifts. Vicious magic. Rift opens where blood touches. He's splattering it everywhere."
Akasha's blood morphed into dimensional rifts on air contact.
Mages, with Sita and vampires' help, extracted it pre-transformation.
"Hard-won. Sita shone. Just enough for one rift."
"Wait. Can you just open—"
Before I finished, Sarente uncorked it.
The blood evaporated instantly.
An indescribable smell spread, then a white crack etched across the space ahead.
As the crack exploded outward—
Kwangchang!
Like shattering glass, a rift barely wide for one person appeared.
Its blinking interior gleamed pure white.
"Ronan. I know it's bewildering. What is this?"
Sarente said.
He was far more transparent now.
The forest scenery showed through him.
"You know it well."
"Forgive us for this choice. Future folk judged only you from this time hold the key to saving the world. Sorry to burden you before even sharing joy of reunion."
"That's my fate. I get time's short, but one question."
"Hm? What?"
"Can the future really change?"
A serious question.
Sarente froze, unable to answer immediately.
As he opened his mouth—
I swept back my bangs and shook my head.
"No. Don't answer. Better not to know."
"But..."
"Pointless question anyway. What matters: you asked me."
An unchanging creed through two lives.
Do what must be done.
No needless doubts.
If I was the only one who could save the world, then so be it.
A faintly sad smile touched Sarente's lips.
He removed his coat and handed it to me.
"Take my coat. Specially treated—not like me, it won't vanish."
"What, parting gift?"
As I took it, the coat solidified, transparency halting.
Too much info; needed to sort thoughts.
"Recap: Destroy rifts, kill Akasha."
"Yes."
"How back to original world?"
"Inner coat pocket: another vial of Akasha's blood. Keep safe, open after done."
Rummaging confirmed another identical vial.
Needed utmost care.
Break it, and we're fucked.
"If I'm alive in a parallel, seek me out. Might help."
"Got it."
Glancing back, the dark forest loomed.
No voices calling me—Asel still asleep.
Might never see this sight again.
If so, it'd be sad.
Losing happy present chasing uncertain future.
"What bullshit happens."
Still, my resolve held.
I wasn't certain I could change the future.
But Asel and Erzsebet sent Sarente because only I could.
One choice in this mess.
Trust my friends.
And trust myself as they do.
I donned Sarente's coat.
Night breeze fluttered it like Sita's wings.
Fine fabric—nice feel.
"Light. Nice."
"Good. Made with future tech."
"Yeah, burden's heavy—clothes should be light. I'll wear it well."
Sarente was nearly invisible now.
His final voice echoed in the forest.
"Waiting in the future."
I turned to the rift.
Blinking faster, urging me.
"Hoo..."
Time to go.
Before stepping, I looked back one last time.
My gaze stopped toward Phileon, where Adeshan waited.
I greeted the woman who'd be my wife and the life dreaming in her womb.
"I'll be back."
Then stepped forward.
Hoping the world beyond wasn't total shit.
The white rift swallowed me.