Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Butterfly's Wingbeat (1)
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Even when people in dreams are thrust into the most absurd situations, they rarely notice anything strange about it.
They never doubt their circumstances for a second, simply losing themselves in vivid unconsciousness, desperately chasing or wandering after something.
Only after finally waking up do they realize it was all just a dream.
The memory I'd just experienced felt much the same.
It was so vivid and real that I couldn't easily tell if I'd truly lived through several years and returned, if I'd merely foreseen the future, or if it was nothing more than a fleeting daydream that passed in an instant.
But upon closer reflection, there were subtle clues distinguishing dream from reality.
For one, the density of time.
Looking back, those memories felt like a film with chunks cut out—weeks or months between events flew by in the blink of an eye, everything skipped over except for a few pivotal experiences.
'Especially the mundane daily life stuff.'
If I'd really come back from the future, even those details should have lingered somewhat.
And above all, this was what felt strangest.
'Back then, I never used [Prayer] even once...'
The Radiance Church of the future had already taken in most of Omega Detroit's citizens as believers. By that point, the miracles I could perform might have transcended dimensions.
Yet in those memories, I never used a single one—not even the thought crossed my mind.
The reason was easy to guess.
'A miracle's power is exactly that—a miracle, capable of altering the world's fate...'
Using it while observing the future would create a paradox, changing that very future.
Perhaps miracles were excluded from the scope of possibilities.
Considering it that way, I had a sense of what I'd experienced.
Not a true return to the past... but more like peeking at the future for a brief moment.
"........."
Was this what they called a life-flashing-before-your-eyes moment right before death? It all felt strangely unreal.
Maybe... I'd just seen an illusion for a second.
But gazing inward again at the vessel near my heart...
The inner basin meant to hold faith stood completely empty...
That proved every scene I'd witnessed and returned from was no mere delusion.
'If that truly was the fate we faced...'
It was far too horrific an end.
A city reduced to ruins by the flames of civil war.
Millions caught in the conflict, sacrificed.
The Church's faithful, who believed in God's will and fought to the death.
And among those memories, the one that hurt my heart the most... was parting from the people I cherished.
"........."
A tightness gripped my throat. A familiar sensation.
I steadied my breath and thought again.
'Calm down. We haven't lost anything yet. No one's dead.'
The future could be changed.
The chance to change it had been placed in my hands, so I just wouldn't let regrets pile up like before.
That was when I made the vow.
"Miss Evania?"
A voice calling my name snapped me back to awareness.
Before me was a man's face, looking a bit flustered. He'd been startled when I suddenly shot to my feet.
"Are you all right?"
"........."
I quietly met his gaze.
Ronan Chriswell. The Syneron Medica heir apparent who, in a week from now, would be assassinated.
Why had the future glimpse hit me at this exact moment, facing him of all people?
It wasn't hard to guess.
'His death must have been the turning point.'
Ronan Chriswell was the one who'd rated our Church's growth potential highly and proposed an alliance.
On the flip side, the chairman's eldest son who assassinated him and took over aligned with the established monopoly insurers.
As Eleos Medical's market share grew, friction arose, and Syneron joined the alliance of medical corporations, eventually sparking war with the Church.
We won that war in the end, but it drew the full ire of the city's power brokers.
To check the Radiance Church—which had proven capable of toppling megacorps—their manufactured conflicts and chaos laid the groundwork for the military-industrial megacorp complex's plan to plunge the entire city into civil war for profit.
And the spark for all that flow might have been this man before me—Ronan's death.
"........."
After quickly running the calculations, I sat back down.
Then I spoke to the handsome man, who still looked a little dazed.
"Mr. Ronan. You just invited me to dinner, right?"
He stared blankly at me for a moment before replying.
"Ah, yes. That's right, but..."
Originally, we had no further business.
His marriage proposal hinged on Eleos Medical generating massive profits after dominating the market—a premise we'd both realized was flawed. No room for collaboration there.
In the vision, I'd left quickly.
But now, things were different.
'I know what chains follow from his death.'
Honestly, I still had no personal interest in him.
But wasn't it said that a butterfly's wingbeat could brew a storm on the other side of the world?
Letting Ronan—who would have died pointlessly—live might increase the odds of altering the future just as much.
So I smoothed my expression and said in a gentle voice,
"I'm really sorry to turn down such a kind invitation. I have urgent business tonight. How about dinner three days from now?"
I flashed a practiced smile.
Separate from my true feelings, it somehow came out perfectly natural.
I even instinctively knew that locking eyes and smiling like this exposed a vulnerability in anyone, regardless of age or gender. Petty requests, even major ones, often got approved...
'...Wait, how do I even know that?'
Residual memories from when I'd led a force rivaling city hall?
One of the interpersonal skills I'd mastered back then?
I wasn't sure. In any case... the casual smile I'd flashed on reflex seemed effective enough.
Ronan nodded with a somewhat vacant look.
"...All right. Dinner three days from now..."
======
The interminable meeting finally wrapped up, and I stepped out.
Esty was waiting in the hallway to greet me.
"Good work, Lady Eve."
I stopped short for a moment and gazed at her quietly.
The beautiful woman in her immaculate suit, as always. It suited her refined features perfectly.
Her perfectly maintained appearance—no stains or wrinkles—mirrored her flawless character... but it felt a touch off somehow.
Maybe because it wasn't the battle gear stained with blood I'd seen constantly in my memories.
"........."
"Lady Eve?"
Without a word, I walked straight to her and pulled her into a tight hug.
A slightly flustered voice leaked from above my head.
"L-Lady Eve?"
I knew what I'd seen was just a possible future, not the current reality.
I knew it could be changed—that was why I'd returned to the past, and it absolutely wouldn't happen.
Even so... the despair from back then felt too vivid. I just wanted some comfort.
Seeing the face of the one friend who'd stood by me until the very end, I couldn't help throwing myself into her arms.
I knew it was rude, but I couldn't bear to let go of that warmth.
So I murmured softly in her embrace, like a spoiled child.
"Esty... just for a moment. Please let me stay like this."
She'd been a little flustered at first, but then she seemed to sense something.
She asked nothing more, just carefully hugged me back and patted my back.
Wrapped in that familiar warmth, my trembling heart gradually calmed.
"........."
After a long while like that, I slowly pulled away from her.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I feel a bit..."
"Lady Eve, are you all right? Did that man just now try something foolish—"
Before I could finish saying I'd calmed down, Esty asked with worried eyes.
A chilling killing intent crept into her voice. I hurriedly waved my hands.
"No! Nothing like that! I was just... a little tired."
After saying that, I glanced around the unfamiliar luxury hotel surroundings.
Lowering my voice, I whispered,
"Esty, I'll tell you everything once we're back at the cathedral. So for now..."
Then I stopped in my tracks.
Something had come to mind. With slightly trembling hands, I pulled my communicator from my pocket.
I barely managed to say to Esty,
"Esty, give me a second. Can I make one quick call before we go?"
"Of course, do as you please."
The communicator trembled in my grip.
I found the contact and initiated the call. A short ringtone followed.
Even those few seconds made my heart ache. What if he didn't pick up? What if, just maybe, like in the future I'd seen...
Then the ringing cut off. And a voice so familiar rang out.
["Well, what brings my goddaughter calling first? What's up?"]
"........."
Hearing that voice, my heart plummeted. Strength drained from my body; even standing felt hard. Something welled up inside, choking my throat. I couldn't speak.
A puzzled voice came back.
["Eve?"]
"G-Godfather..."
["What's wrong with your voice? You sound off... Did something happen?"]
That kind voice I'd thought I'd never hear again.
No blood between us, yet until the last moment, he'd cherished me like true family, like his own daughter. Genuine.
I realized that gratitude too late. Regretted it over and over. But not this time.
As I vowed that, the godfather seemed to guess something on his own.
["Come to think of it, isn't today that appointment day? Don't tell me that Syneron punk was rude to you? What did he say? He didn't try anything weird with my Eve, did he?!"]
The voice over the speaker flared up in an instant, startling me.
["If he did, I'll make him pay! I thought he was a decent guy, but daring to lay a hand on my girl...!"]
His attitude flipped in seconds from the high regard he'd held him in as a protector and marriage prospect.
I smiled a little belatedly.
The marriage he'd proposed back then was purely out of concern for my well-being.
Not just words—he always treated me like family, putting me first.
Knowing that now, truly...
"No, Godfather. It's really nothing like that, so I'm fine."
I cleared my throat and calmed him down late.
Dispelling his furious misunderstanding took a bit, but it wasn't any trouble.
A laugh bubbled up instead. My heart tickled warmly.
That only firmed my resolve more.
No matter what it took, I'd never... lose this precious bond again.
"Yes, yes. Thank you for worrying, Godfather. I'll call if anything comes up. Thanks."
The call ended like that.
"........."
I stared at the communicator for a while, slowly wiping the smile from my face.
Then, in a heavy voice, I said once more,
"Esty, the moment we get back to the cathedral, summon every single heresy inquisitor."