Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Magic Empress (1)
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In the not-too-distant future, the evaluations of the Magic Empress were polar opposites.
- The dark ruler who failed to prevent the empire's twilight.
Or,
- The sage king who soothed the pain of the citizens and people, striving in any way to protect them.
She had been forcibly seated on the throne alongside the imperial guard's coup, against her own will.
A powerless Magic Empress might not have been able to stop the great war.
However, it was also true that she possessed precognitive abilities yet failed to utilize them properly, so there were no shortage of people who resented her for it.
Theo's own assessment of the Magic Empress was close to 'no interest.'
In his previous life, he had left his family and was too busy fending for himself to pay attention to politics.
'Still, I had planned to approach her with the idea that if I could coordinate her precognitive abilities from the middle, I could maintain an advantage with future information...'
There was one thing he hadn't considered at the time.
If precognition of the future was possible, might she not 'assimilate' with the version of herself reflected in that foresight?
"You speak casually even though you know who I am?"
The Magic Empress tossed a playful jest at Theo as she looked at him.
"Not really. Anyway, you're Cassandra at 'this point in time' and 'this place'—just a young Cassandra."
Theo scoffed lightly, utterly unperturbed.
The Magic Empress's smile deepened.
"As expected, you're the one who doesn't appear in my foresight of the future."
He recalled that the young Cassandra couldn't see Theo's future.
"Clearly, in my timeline, there was no one like you, Sir Theo... That's probably because you 'deviated' from that timeline. You came to this past era through some method I don't know about, right?"
"......"
"I'll take that as affirmation. Otherwise, you wouldn't know my epithet so precisely."
Cassandra wore an expression that somehow seemed pleased.
The camaraderie unique to those sharing the same secret.
"I once read in the imperial secret archives that the Ragnars of the north often manifest beings with the [Ability of Regression]."
Theo neither affirmed nor denied it.
Instead, he posed a question.
"Was the great war unfolding in your timeline as well?"
"First, let me make one thing clear. Unlike you, Sir Theo, who lived a true life and regressed, I didn't possess the past version of myself after living a true life. The future isn't fixed; it encompasses countless possibilities. I merely transmit strong telepathy to my real self from the 'currently most probable' future among them."
"The you here isn't real?"
"That's right. I have my own life history and memories, but think of me as mere <settings> that can be altered at any time."
Cassandra flicked her index finger lightly and continued.
"For example, like this. In the timeline I remember, you weren't there, Sir Theo. But right now, I'm conversing with you. What effect do you think that has on the real me (young Cassandra)?"
Theo nodded.
"Then the real me (young Cassandra) will make choices different from what I originally intended, and the possible futures branching from that will be immediately revised. And with that, the current me disappears as well."
"Because the <settings> have changed?"
"Bingo. As expected, you're sharp."
"Then why go to the trouble of possessing young Cassandra to change the future? Won't you disappear if the settings change?"
"Of course."
Cassandra's smile turned into a bitter one.
"Because it's better not to usher in the future where I exist."
"......"
"You asked if there was a great war? I'm sorry, but it was far beyond that. In my <settings>, the world itself doesn't remain."
Cassandra stared straight at Theo.
It was as if she were peering into him using her foresight.
'Based on my previous life, is this after the great war, long after the time I lived?'
Theo couldn't even imagine what that place looked like.
"Then, choosing to possess this era through possession must be the most suitable time to alter your <settings>."
"Exactly. Sir Theo, this era where you—the singularity—meet the real me. And this era where you need me the most was necessary for me."
"What can I do?"
"The captain of the death squad. The lost secret art of the old Ragnar family head. Don't you need me to restore that?"
Theo clicked his tongue lightly.
It seemed she knew everything and had come specifically for this.
But there was still something suspicious.
"You said 'Theo Ragnar' didn't exist in your <settings>?"
"That's why I came to this era. The one inconsistency in my <settings> was precisely this encounter with you."
Cassandra clenched her fist tightly.
"Originally... according to my <settings>, I wouldn't be rescued by the Ragnars and would be kidnapped by the Troyvans as is. Then, powerless, I'd be dragged here to this spirit mausoleum just as they demanded."
"The Troyvans are after this spirit mausoleum? Why?"
"They're after the sword mausoleum too, just like you."
"......!"
"Additionally, the Sacred Demon Church uses me to pursue traces of the [Nameless Lord]. To strengthen their doctrine."
"......"
"This sparks the Troyvans and Sacred Demon Church to expand their power uncontrollably. The Ragnars ultimately fall, the world is engulfed in the great war, summoning the [Nameless Lord] to this land."
'A future different from the one I knew.'
The future where this Cassandra existed was simple.
-A world meeting its end by the [Nameless Lord].
A world where everything vanished like an illusion, merely awaiting return to the origin.
On the other hand, it was incomprehensible.
A future where the Ragnars lose?
With Kyle there, that could never happen.
'And if the sword mausoleum holds that much weight, why did the Troyvans lose in my previous life? They must have had it.'
What exactly was the difference between his previous life and this Cassandra's settings?
Doubts piled upon doubts.
"So, my mission is to ensure the sword mausoleum falls into your hands."
"For now... I get it."
Theo didn't probe deeper.
If the future was going to change anyway, it was best not to think too deeply.
He didn't want to constrain his actions with half-baked information.
"This must be the place."
-Oh, you've arrived?
-That girl is the one who'll restore the sword mausoleum...!
The ghosts awaiting Theo all brightened up.
An attempt that might swiftly restore the secret art.
It was to borrow Cassandra's ability: the power of prophecy.
『An idea based on time being a <circle>, I see?』
'Yes, exactly.'
If time was a circulating circle, and the prophetic ability peeked into vanished previous eras within it.
And if the sequence of past-present-future was meaningless here.
Then, naturally, following the rotating circle might allow peeking into the 'past' automatically—that was Theo's thought.
Above all, Theo had once accidentally glimpsed a similar foresight through Cassandra's eyes.
'The Wheel of Death... That person among the dead souls must be their captain, right?'
Though his face was obscured by shadow.
Theo had felt familiar upon seeing him.
'If my guess is right, that person's identity is...!'
And as if affirming Theo's conjecture, the future Cassandra had appeared thus.
Theo suspected this point was likely the most crucial branching point determining Cassandra's future.
"Nice to meet you, elders."
Cassandra greeted them politely, in a manner unfit for her nine-year-old body.
Proof that, unlike the current Cassandra, she was deeply ingrained with imperial etiquette over many years.
-Eh?
-Can she hear our voices?
-Is she a Ragnar too?
-Huh? She looks too frail for that.
-A blind girl. Can she see us?
"Using prophetic abilities appropriately yields effects no different from sight."
-Oh, is that possible?
-Fascinating. We've roamed the narrowing world, but never seen a young lady like you.
-From the imperial side?
Instead of answering, Cassandra smiled and deftly changed the subject.
"If it's not rude, elders, I have one question I'd like to ask."
-If you can truly restore the sword mausoleum, ask away.
"What you desire to know—is it your forgotten lord's 'face,' or his 'name'?"
A completely unexpected question.
The ghosts flinched in surprise.
-......Are those two different?
"Yes. They are. Your lord was cursed by the [Nameless Lord], his existence erased from the world. I will wind the wheel of time to peek just before the <deletion> occurs. Seeing his face there is easy. Just look."
-Hmm!
-I see.
"But the name is not. It requires 'recognizing' his existence. This defies the [Nameless Lord's] will, so I might receive the curse in turn. Likely, after attempting it, my possession will end regardless of success."
The ghosts silently exchanged glances for a moment.
Face or name.
But their deliberation didn't last long.
The representative ghost gave a wry smile.
-Young lady, you're too mischievous. Even we shameless old fogies wouldn't ask a living person to sacrifice herself.
The ghosts all nodded in agreement.
-To glimpse the name requires bracing for the curse—no, it's almost certain to rebound. Then the little lady's existence would be deleted too. Right?
Theo looked at Cassandra in astonishment.
This was something he hadn't considered.
Cassandra bowed deeply.
"If it felt like a cruel prank, I apologize. If you truly wished it, I was prepared to comply."
-You asked if there was a great war? I'm sorry, but it was far beyond that. In my <settings>, the world itself doesn't remain.
-Sir Theo, this era where you—the singularity—meet the real me. And this era where you need me the most was necessary for me.
-That's why I came to this era. The one inconsistency in my <settings> was precisely this encounter with you.
Theo recalled the words Cassandra had spoken while walking the dark path.
Her claim of willingness was probably sincere.
To prevent a world that, after the great war, met its end by the [Nameless Lord]—that must have been her wish.
If sacrificing herself could avert it, she would see it as a worthy trade.
At the same time, a flicker of regret crossed her face, leaving Theo's heart conflicted.
-In the end, the captain and we are all equally dead.
-Why force finding a name? It won't bring us back.
-A memory of us, a single grave—that's enough.
-Let her see the face. Then we can witness the dance she envisions, and the sword mausoleum overlaid upon it.
"Yes. Understood."
Cassandra lightly gathered the hem of her skirt, bowed her head, and steadied her breathing.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, wind swirled around her feet, and blue light began to flicker.
The prophetic ability.
A young Cassandra could only glimpse instantaneous future visions, but the Magic Empress could peer into 'all' timelines from distant past to future along the circle—not just foresight.
The quest's blue light shone more brilliantly, shattering beautifully and rustling Cassandra's hair.
Then, when she snapped open her closed eyes.
['Skill: Hatchling Synchro' forcibly activates, peeking into the timeline seen by Magic Empress Cassandra.]
Flash!
With a burst of light, Theo's vision flipped as well.
And the world that settled again.
It was identical to the foresight Theo had seen before.
-A being standing nobly amid the dead souls.
The souls' faces gradually morphed into those of the spirit mausoleum's ghosts, their ragged forms transforming into splendid armor and weapons.
And the black shadow encircling the leader slowly lifted and vanished.
The revealed bare face was, as Theo predicted, familiar.
It was Rezé Ragnar.