Chapter 466
Chapter 466
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Beyond Hardship, Toward the Stars
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"Alright. Screw it, let's give it a shot."
Akasha hopped down from Ronan's arms.
She toddled over and patted Asel's shoulder.
"Grandpa."
"Yes, Akasha... Whew, are you heading out right now?"
Like the other mages, he had collapsed in utter exhaustion. It was the backlash from tampering with time magic.
Akasha nodded vigorously.
"Yeah. I came for one last check. I've read it a million times, but I'm still a bit nervous."
She rummaged through her inner pocket and pulled out a small book.
The cover, worn to rags from endless readings, bore the endlessly straightforward title My Parallel World Grand Adventure. It was the paperback version of the story Ronan had written for her.
Akasha skimmed through it before continuing.
"First things first... the most important part is gathering Seniel's life force from each parallel world. But we destroy the Seniel from the first one. It's too damaged there to restore anyway."
"Right. It's an unavoidable choice to reset the ecosystem. That was the only parallel world that had fully fallen to the giants' colonies."
"Seniel won't disappear completely, right?"
"Correct. We've already cross-verified it with Seniel herself, so rest easy. The star's soul doesn't vanish unless the planet is physically shattered. By the time time passes and civilization rises again, a rock worthy of being called Seniel will reappear."
"Phew, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
Akasha let out a sigh of relief. She already knew all this, but anxiety was anxiety.
Soon, she would embark on an unprecedented adventure.
Her role: the villain.
The worst of all villains, bearing the grandiose title of "Calamity from the Future."
Her mission boiled down to three key tasks.
First: Eradicate all the giants across every parallel world alongside the Ronan of the past.
Second: Craft an arcane device capable of rewinding time four times and hand it over to Ronan.
Third: Never reveal her true identity while carrying out the mission.
She had to succeed without fail. Failure in even one would unravel the history they knew.
The foundation for this absurd plan was My Parallel World Grand Adventure, the very book Ronan had written for his granddaughter.
Akasha adored it. She empathized deeply with the villain who shared her name, rereading it countless times.
And in the year she turned five, while playing in the garden, Akasha awakened to the power of traversing parallel worlds—just like in the novel. What had been dismissed as mere fiction was elevated to the status of an unprecedented prophecy.
'I was shocked at first. My abilities matched the villain's in the story perfectly.'
There were four parallel worlds in total. Their states aligned almost exactly with the book. The world Adeshan had abandoned upon regressing and its people were hurtling toward tragic ends.
Akasha informed her family of this discovery.
After lengthy deliberations, the geniuses of the era reached a shocking conclusion: Leaving the parallel worlds as they were would make their current world impossible.
Ronan receives the orb from the Grand General, who had regressed three times, and regresses himself. The Ronan who gives the orb to the Grand General—who has never experienced regression—is the one who completed the parallel world journey. And the one who helps that Ronan obtain the regression orb is his granddaughter, Akasha.
A paradox-ridden loop, but this cycle was what allowed their current peace to exist. Ignoring the parallel worlds would prevent the loop from starting. Yet, natural questions arose.
Why must it be the Ronan right before his proposal?
Why didn't Akasha, with her abilities, solve it alone?
Could events in the future truly alter the past?
Questions with no clear answers.
Asel dubbed this bizarre, inconsistent phenomenon a "time paradox."
'We might never know the true answer.'
Regardless, the problem had to be solved. No one wanted to lose their lives.
After much deliberation, they decided to fulfill what was called a "self-fulfilling prophecy." Chillingly, humanity could recreate most of the events from Ronan's novel at that time.
Akasha rubbed her dry eyes and spoke.
"The time-rewinding orb... Think I can make it properly?"
"You'll nail it. We've run simulations hundreds of times with no errors. You're the only one on this star capable of such a feat."
"Poor Seniel. According to the book, we'd have to shatter almost all of them."
"I feel for her too, but it's unavoidable. The only energy source powerful enough to fuel time magic right now is the star's soul. Sending Sarante back briefly took an enormous amount of life force. Rewinding the world's time four times would require incomparably more. No matter how I crunch the numbers, this is the only way."
"Guess there's no choice then. Might incur divine wrath, but I'll give it my all."
"She'll forgive us. The star's soul is merciful. After today, time magic will be sealed forever, so no more cause for anger... Ahem, and Akasha?"
Asel cleared his throat awkwardly.
Akasha tilted her head at his uncharacteristic stutter after so long.
"Yes?"
"Um... a personal request. Don't torment my parallel world self too much. My younger self was pretty timid... Meeting him now embarrasses me."
"Pfft, why would I torment you, Grandpa? I'd never."
"Right? My granddaughter's such a good girl..."
"Might tease you a little, though."
"Tease?"
"Yeah. You're just too cute, Grandpa Asel. Honestly, you still seem my age."
Akasha poked his cheeks. His face paled.
Freed from time's wheel, he retained his youthful appearance. Compared to Marya, now an elegant noblewoman, the difference was stark.
"Oh, right. What about Grandma Marya?"
"Training as usual. Zaifa's overseeing it."
"She's really planning to break through time's barrier, huh."
"Yeah. Doesn't look easy, though."
Asel smiled faintly, a touch of sadness in it. Unlike himself or Ronan, freed from aging, Marya was still growing old. Unless she reached bone-cleansing rebirth, she'd have to accept mortality.
Akasha said,
"You'll succeed for sure."
"I think so too. If Marya fails, I'll accept time's flow myself."
"Give up immortality?"
"That's... Erk, I shouldn't have said that."
Asel covered his mouth.
"Don't worry, Akasha. Marya won't give up. Even if she fails rebirth, there are ways to live long—like becoming a vampire like Braum."
"Ah, the Northern Marchioness? Grandpa said something similar once."
"Oh?"
"Overheard you two talking. Grandma asked what you'd do if she grew old and died. You casually said you'd live three more days and go. Said there's no fun without her..."
A memory from her snot-nosed days, but crystal clear.
The three-day reprieve was to bury his wife and shed tears. Ronan's words—that he'd follow once his tears dried—had made young Akasha burst into sobs.
"I still remember. Grandpa called it a joke to console me, but it wasn't."
"That's Ronan for you. He loves Sister Adeshan that much."
"Yeah. But that won't happen now."
Akasha smiled. Adeshan had overcome aging three years ago.
The blessing of reversing time wasn't just for swordsmen or mages. After grueling effort reaching the pinnacle of shadow mana, she could live eternally young like her husband.
Akasha thanked Asel and returned to Ronan.
"Grandpa. I'm off now."
"Damn it, you're really going. Need help with the suit?"
"Nah, it's so well-made, it's easy to put on."
Ronan held Adeshan's hand, ready to see Akasha off.
His sharp eyes brimmed with worry.
He knew it had to be done, but sending off his precious granddaughter didn't sit right.
Especially since he'd have to clash with his past self throughout the mission.
As Akasha donned her special suit, she snapped her fingers.
"Oh, one thing I'm curious about."
"Curious?"
"Yeah. Why that exact time? Sending Uncle Sarante a bit further into the future would've let a much stronger you handle it."
"Time paradox. It's inexplicable from the start."
"Still curious. Sarante went there just to follow the book's events and prevent history from changing. But you might be the only one who knows. If you wrote this as a book, your role is the first sentence."
"Fair point. Let's see."
Ronan shrugged at her incisive question.
She was right. Compared to his past achievements, that era's Ronan was a mere sword-wielding monkey.
Why then, of all times?
Why did future him—current him—choose the eve of his proposal as the fateful turning point?
Silence didn't last long.
Scratching his head, Ronan spoke.
"Probably because it was the perfect time to get screwed over."
"...Pardon?"
"Achievements are always buried at the end of hardship. Life's like that overall. You savor joy's sweetness most after choking down the bitterest pill."
Akasha narrowed her eyes. It was hard to follow.
Bitters? What was this refined man suddenly on about?
Ronan continued undeterred.
"Looking back, I overthought everything then. We'd saved the world somehow, but new problems cropped up. Adeshan was pregnant with your dad, and my dumb brain was fretting over parallel worlds on top of proposal plans. Then Sarante shows up begging me to save the future. How bewildering was that?"
Ronan chuckled dryly. Even now, it felt like a dream.
That era's him had been as inwardly tormented by his world's-saving fate as anything.
"That's why, I think. Sent to a weak, arrogant me with big dreams— the moment overcoming every hardship would yield the most rewards. That adventure let me realize how much I love my wife, how beautiful our world is... Changing the abandoned parallel worlds' fates impacted my life as much as regression. The dawn—world's realization—came during that adventure too."
"So, interpreting... The time when it'd hit hardest dramatically was then?"
"My granddaughter's sharp as ever. Though, you call it 'hitting hard' these days?"
"It's a bit outdated slang, honestly."
"Tough keeping up... Anyway, you're right. I felt a lethal dose at journey's end. That emotion fueled me, birthing the book and my present self."
Ronan nodded. A different adventure timeline meant no book.
Lanse might've been born somehow, but linking with Sechika? Maybe Aria instead, or lifelong bachelorhood.
Even if Akasha was born through variables, no book meant no foreknowledge of the future. No trigger for parallel world rift awakening. Even if awakened, much later. History would've diverged.
But it was all moot.
The story could start because Akasha linked the Grand General and me.
Time paradoxes were shitty indeed. Inconsistent, convoluted.
Yet, stripping away complexities, one certainty remained.
Ronan said,
"Akasha. My conclusion: This was simply our fate."
"Grandpa."
"That's enough. No need for perfect understanding. It'll be the same in there. Even if you mess up unintentionally, it'll become what I experienced. Even if you shit your pants from nerves, I won't notice—no such memory."
"I won't pee myself."
Akasha stuck out her tongue.
In her special suit, she'd grown into a 3-meter monstrosity. Maskless, her pale face floated disembodied. Everyone had gathered to see her off.
Ronan looked up at his granddaughter.
"Now, go teach that cocky sword-swinging punk a lesson."
"Hoo... Can I really do it? Even with practice, against Grandpa..."
"Don't worry. You'll thrash me harder than you think."
Ronan cut her off firmly.
He still occasionally dreamed of getting pummeled by parallel Akasha.
Especially that final punch—without Seniel's fragments, instant death wouldn't have surprised.
"What if I lose midway?"
"Won't happen. Not now, but back then, I wasn't worth your pinky toe. Why so certain? This body taught you how to throw down."
"True enough? Magic's advanced so much over time too."
"Obviously. Your spells not cutting me will shock you senseless. Aura too. Get cocky? Feed him that world-shattering vista."
Ronan cackled. The magic he'd personally honed in Akasha wouldn't yield to past him. Though she'd grow during the long adventure.
Akasha clenched her fist.
"Yeah. I'd use it just to prove a point—after all that special training reshaping worldscapes..."
"No helping it. A villain's vibe clashes with blue skies. For secrecy, go full apocalypse."
"Agreed. Oh, what about Lutansie in the first world? Book says I kill her."
"Flying squirrel... If she seems promising, spare her. Hack off a leg or so and toss her. Navardoje's fine there; she'll reattach it."
"Nice idea."
Akasha nodded.
Ronan now knew the first parallel world's Lutansie survived.
It was truly time. Everyone hugged her goodbye.
As Akasha took a final deep breath, Ronan tossed her something.
"Catch."
"Whoa?!"
Her long, slender fingers snatched it. Akasha's eyes widened.
It was the final piece of her special suit: the mask. Durable, comfortable, and equipped to distort all lines into villainous roars.
Admiring it, Akasha tilted her head.
"Huh? What's with all these stickers?"
"Call it everyone's well-wishes... Taunt and good-luck charm. Failure ends us all."
Akasha's mask was plastered with emblems from famed groups and individuals.
Dawn Spire, Full Moon Spire, Imperial Knights, Rorhon's Twilight Spire crest at center.
Torn off by mission collaborators, it looked like post-victory spoils. Eerie, but it'd stun past Ronan into submission—mission accomplished.
Akasha beamed.
"Don't worry. I'll succeed for sure."
"I know. Rest if tired—come back anytime."
"Yeah, I'm off, Grandpa."
Bowing deeply, Akasha kissed Ronan's cheek.
Cheers shaking the grand plaza wished her success.
She waved to all, then donned the mask.
『■■■■■■■!』
A grotesque modulated voice echoed.
Akasha swung her finger; space tore, birthing a massive rift.
Blood-red waves crashed on white sands—the first parallel world, giant-overrun. Without looking back, Akasha leaped in.
『■■!』
The rift sealed.
Amid the crowd, only Ronan smiled.
He already knew she'd succeed.
****
And so, the story ends.
Not a full stop, though.
Time magic is eternally sealed. No more regressions. Akasha declared parallel world trips done forever.
The moment she returns having tied the threads, an unpredictable future begins anew.
"Lucky me..."
I muttered, hands in pockets.
The emptying grand plaza felt desolate. Only a few lingered, including Adeshan and me, pacing like strays. I fretted over my granddaughter, but most mulled future anxieties, delaying homeward treks.
'Hilarious. One person dipping into the past for minutes, and now everyone's panicking over no more.'
Their anxiety was simple.
Brief time control banished vague future fears. Even irredeemable blunders could be fixed by future or past saviors—that hope.
But contrary to expectations, no more meddling with time or parallels. Everything's perfect—why risk it? Our world and four parallels got happy endings. Further wishes? Earn them ourselves.
Like it or not, fate marches on. Toward untrodden vastness.
'Won't be easy.'
Of course, claiming no fear would be a lie.
Uncertainty will screw us often. We'll grieve unexpected woes, panic, tremble, even sob. Winged baldies from rifts might pale against worse invaders someday.
Still fine. Good times balance it. As always, fight and win.
Achievement's ecstasy lies at hardship's end; sweetness peaks right after swallowing bitterest gall.
Suddenly, Adeshan pointed skyward with her index finger.
"Dear. Look at that."
"Hm?"
I looked up. Twilight sky unfurled like an observatory dome.
Purple-melting sunset heralded day's close, night's dawn. Wind tousling my bangs carried wildflower scent.
An everyday vista, yet more beautiful for it.
Made me think we saved the world for this.
"Yeah. Killer view."
"Good no rain. Perfect send-off weather."
Adeshan leaned her head on my shoulder.
The downpour forecast gloriously missed.
I grinned and shouted skyward.
"Sita!"
"Pyak?!"
Startled Sita landed before us.
I scooped Adeshan princess-style onto Sita's back.
Almost instantly, Sita soared. Rare drive. Long tail and wings stretched straight; the world shrank rapidly.
"W-What the sudden?!"
"Great day. Let's view from higher."
"You and your impulses..."
Adeshan giggled bashfully. Flustered, but not displeased.
Her long black hair streamed gracefully. Her face—unchanged since accepting my proposal—glowed red in sunset. Stunning. We kissed without precedence. Parting, we saw the sun dipping horizon-low. City lights flickered on below.
Then, something utterly novel caught my eye.
"What's that...?"
Empire's west. Backlit by sunset, pitch-black.
Three massive paper-airplane-like objects trailed white exhaust, ascending. Glowing bright—like stars returning home.
Adeshan raised a brow.
"Starships. All that fuss, and they launched."
"Oh, today was the day?"
"Yeah. First stop's the moon, I think."
I vaguely recalled.
Starships, clues from ancient Dainhar ruins.
Opponents decried becoming bald giants; proponents called grounded wings a sky-betrayal. Daily brawls.
Seemed proponents won. Akasha's parallel op kept perfect secrecy partly thanks to these attention-grabbers.
Didn't expect this soon, though.
We'd vaguely dreamed of other stars someday, but...
'Yeah, that's life.'
One corner of my mouth lifted.
Maybe the future started already.
Sunset-traversing contrails were gorgeous.
Staring blankly at the starships, a hoarse whisper escaped my lips.
"Come back safe, Akasha."
An unknowable tomorrow—thus exciting future.
I could wait with a glad smile.
Academy's Genius Swordsman Part 2 Complete.