Chapter 234: Escape (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234: Escape (1)
“Um… could you do me a favor?”
It was immediately after he realized that this was the past, seven hundred years prior.
As Alon was processing the fact with a throbbing head, Ryanga’s voice reached him.
For now, Alon replied.
“Tell me.”
“…Could you take me to Dharma?”
“Dharma?”
“Yes. My family is there…”
Ryanga stole a glance at him, looking hesitant.
However, Alon’s mind was still preoccupied with the fact that they were in the past.
Is there any chance this is a mistake?
He looked at Line.
She was still deep in thought, her expression grave.
He judged that her deduction couldn't be wrong. Excluding the information from the Forbidden Zone that she couldn't access, Line had most of the world's knowledge stored in her head.
So this really is the past, and this girl is the real Ghost King of the past.
Ryanga was still fidgeting with the front of her dress, looking anxious.
Watching her, a new question surfaced in his mind.
She has white hair and purple eyes here.
As far as he knew, the Ghost King originally had white hair.
However, the Ghost King he had seen in the present—before he came to the past—had black hair.
The hair color had changed.
Of course, she looks exactly the same. What happened?
His thoughts grew more complicated.
“I-I’ll give you my soul!”
But before his thoughts could deepen, a shout broke his chain of reflection.
“…What do you mean by that?”
“It’s because of the price, right? If you take me to Dharma, I’ll give you my soul!”
Before he could even wonder what giving her soul meant, Alon’s mind worked quickly as he replied.
“I don’t need a price.”
“Ah…”
Did she take it as a rejection?
A sigh escaped Ryanga’s lips.
Soon after.
Tears began to well up in her purple eyes, which had been trying so hard to appear brave.
Seeing this, Alon hurriedly continued.
“I’ll help you regardless, so don’t worry too much.”
“Uh… r-really?”
“Yes.”
In this sudden situation, helping someone was, in truth, beyond his current priorities.
However, if this really was the past…
Building a positive relationship with the Ghost King was bound to be of significant help later on.
Perhaps it was because of this connection that she helped me back then.
It wasn't certain, but it was a possibility.
Alon lightly patted the girl’s shoulder as if to encourage her.
“So, don’t be so anxious.”
Ryanga’s lips parted as if she couldn't believe it.
“Why…?”
“…?”
“Why are you helping me without taking anything in return?”
Her expression was a mix of joy and confusion.
Alon pondered what to say.
Because in the future, you become the incredibly powerful leader of one of the Four Major Factions, and I’m trying to build up some goodwill by putting you in my debt early.
He couldn't exactly say that.
After a brief moment of deliberation, Alon made his decision.
“It’s an act of goodwill.”
“…Goodwill?”
“Yes.”
He felt a slight prick of conscience, but it was the best answer for now.
He had considered framing it as a debt, but his shallow calculation told him that an act of kindness would leave a more positive impression on a child.
“I-I understand!”
Fortunately, it seemed to work. The girl nodded with a much brighter expression than before and then disappeared.
“T-this is the past?”
As if she had been waiting, Penia trembled in shock.
“Yes, most likely.”
“Wh-what? That shouldn't be possible! According to my calculations, there’s no way we could have been flung into the past!”
“It is definitely the past. The story Rangban just told happened seven hundred years ago.”
“Hieeeeek!”
Penia, whose face screamed ‘We are totally screwed!’, suddenly made a thoughtful sound.
“…Hmm?”
As if something had occurred to her, she called out to Line.
“Excuse me, Line. If this really is seven hundred years ago, isn't this the era when Magi still existed?”
“No, they would already be gone. However… it’s likely that some of their assets still remain.”
At Line’s words, Penia’s eyes suddenly fixed on a single point.
Beep-beep-beep-beep!
Penia began calculating furiously, as if one could almost hear the sound of machinery.
“Time travel plus the products of Magi…? Besides, if it’s seven hundred years ago, it’s exactly the end of the Forgotten Age of Gods when most history was lost. If I can get even a little information about magic here…?”
Ding!
Her calculations finished, Penia’s blue eyes were tinted with a golden hue.
“Haaah…”
Penia stared into empty space, her mouth practically melting into a daze.
Seeing her in such a state of ecstasy, Alon asked.
“Is it that good?”
“It’s not just ‘good,’ per se? It’s more like… a situation with so many possibilities? It’s a feeling that gets me all worked up—a certain vibe, you know? Hehe. Like, I could research and publish papers on time travel or the legacy of magic!”
“…Well, a positive attitude isn't a bad thing. But can we actually go back?”
In truth, Alon had also calculated that they would return, which was why he decided to build a positive relationship with Ryanga.
Just then.
“Ah.”
A low exclamation escaped Penia’s lips.
“Yes.”
Then, an answer came as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“…Really?”
“Are you sure?”
Penia shrugged at Alon and Line, who asked back in genuine surprise.
“Yes, it’s possible! Of course, we have to find a Strange Gate, and it’s based on the assumption that the Marquis can properly control time and space according to my instructions…?”
“How exactly can we return to the future?”
“Ahem. First, to give you a simple explanation… remember how I said before that a Strange Gate is a space created amidst the instability of time and space?”
Penia had indeed said that.
“First of all, there’s nothing wrong with my hypothesis. However, the one thing I failed to calculate was the possibility that the space created when time and space broke would change.”
“That the created space wouldn't change?”
“Yes. Didn't I tell you? Since we were inside the created space, we wouldn't be affected.”
As Alon nodded, Penia continued her explanation.
“That assumption was the problem. I thought that even if time and space broke, the remaining space wouldn't break, so we wouldn't be affected.”
“…I understand that much, but how do we get back?”
At Alon’s question, Penia held up a finger.
“It’s simple. We just have to break time and space arbitrarily and then manually adjust the settings of the Strange Gate.”
“Is that… possible?”
“Normally, it would be impossible. But?”
Penia let out a chuckle and squared her shoulders proudly.
“I told you, didn't I? I investigated how much the Strange Gate would react to the Marquis’s magic when we were there.”
“…Don’t tell me.”
“Bingo! That means I have the exact spatio-temporal values created at that moment perfectly stored in my head!”
Penia tapped her head triumphantly.
“Oh…”
As Alon let out a cry of admiration, Penia cleared her throat, her mouth curling into a smug, cat-like grin.
“Anyway, as long as we find a Strange Gate, going back is as easy as pie!”
However.
“That is indeed good news… but what if there are no Strange Gates?”
“…Eh?”
At Line’s sudden question, Penia, who had been so full of herself, froze instantly.
“Th-that part… I didn't account for that…”
She spoke while stealing glances at them.
“Finding a Strange Gate must be our priority, then.”
As soon as Alon finished speaking.
“I have returned.”
Rangban came back.
* * *
“Regrettably, I do not know much about ‘Strange Gates,’ but I do know of a similar phenomenon.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
Alon heard an interesting story from Rangban.
“It’s similar to the ability Baarma uses?”
“Yes. I do not know if it is a Strange Gate, but when you enter the portal, a world that is entirely purple appears. Also, as far as I know, there is someone in the Alliance who can use that power.”
“…Who is it?”
“A person named Yongrin, who was one of the five gods of Cargunias. I believe she can use a power similar to Baarma’s.”
Cargunias.
Hearing that familiar name, Alon was once again reminded that this was indeed the past.
“Then, if we head to the Alliance, can we meet this god named Yongrin?”
“That is correct, but… returning to the Alliance at this point is virtually impossible.”
“Why is that?”
“This was originally our tribe’s territory, but it is now close to the heart of Baarma’s domain. In other words, to leave this place and reach the Alliance, we have no choice but to break through the front-line forces…”
“And we lack the manpower?”
Rangban nodded at Alon’s words.
“It would be great if there were a secret path, but as far as I know, there are none. Even if there were, they would all be blocked.”
Furthermore, moving without knowing how the situation at the front was unfolding was too dangerous.
While Rangban sighed, Alon asked.
“So you’re saying there’s no way to cross over to the Alliance side right now?”
After a moment of thought, Rangban spoke cautiously.
“…There is one way.”
“What is it?”
“It is to rescue the demi-humans held at other sacrificial altars.”
“Are there other altars?”
Rangban nodded.
“Yes. I know of more than ten. If we can supplement our numbers to some extent from those places, it won't be impossible to break through the front and escape toward the Alliance.”
‘Besides, with the power you’ve shown, Marquis, breaking through shouldn't be difficult,’ Rangban added.
This time, Penia, who had been quiet, chimed in.
“Are there any factors to consider in executing that plan?”
“Time, mostly. There are no strong believers at the altars right now, but if problems continue to arise at the altars, the Fanatic Knights or Apostles dispatched to the front lines will likely gather here.”
“Then has it already begun?”
“Realistically, I don't think they would come down just because one altar was destroyed, but taking that into account…”
Rangban thought for a moment before answering.
“I believe we have about a month.”
After some thought, Alon nodded.
“…That seems to be the only way.”
* * *
As Rangban suggested, the plan was set to rescue people from the altars and escape to the Alliance.
To this end, Alon set two main goals.
First, move toward the Alliance, meet the god named Yongrin, ask her to use her power related to the Strange Gate, and escape from the past.
Second, treat the Ghost King—Ryanga—as well as possible and build a good relationship with her.
There was nothing to lose by befriending her, as she would become one of the Four Major Factions in the future.
Beyond that, he thought it would be good if he could form relationships with those among the Longevity Tribe who also appeared in Psychedelia, but he didn't make it a specific goal.
This was because he didn't think any of the figures he knew would be held at the altars at this point in time.
…Or so he thought.
“Thank you, truly. For saving me, and my sister… truly…!”
Two days after the plan was made.
Alon moved immediately, dealt with the believers at the next altar, and looked down at the boy he had rescued.
The boy was sobbing, hugging a girl tightly as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
Alon had rescued the girl just before she was about to be raped by them.
The boy’s face, drenched in tears, was covered in dense, strange tattoos.
And the boy Alon had saved was—
“…May I ask your name?”
“Nangwon. It’s Nangwon.”
“…”
“Thank you, thank you so much…”
In the future, he would be the leader of one of the Four Major Factions.
The man who would become the head of the curse-users.
…Why is he here?
Alon thought blankly.