The Worldline Without You (3)

Shaking black pupils. The man mutters in disbelief.

"......How can you spout such nonsense?"

As if I'd just talk. Don't ignore the Natural Enemy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠relationship.

As I've said time and again, the massive boost in combat power in Arcana carries enormous implications!

A combat power increase means exactly that—every numerical value related to battle surges upward. Of course, that includes life force regeneration. And on top of it, the First World Tree's Blessing began applying to his mangled flesh.

The Grandfell from 'that day,' covered in wounds, was coming back to life.

To sum it all up in one word:

In the end, Grandfell did not drown in heavy pride.

I gazed at the man before me. His black pupils shook even more violently.

Because he was prey. And because, as a predator, I had hunted countless prey before, I could tell. He was utterly terrified.

As if to prove my hunch, a message appeared.

Still lacking comprehension of the past, huh.

I couldn't pinpoint the man's exact name. But it didn't matter. He was no longer Claudy—no longer kin.

That snapped the chains binding Grandfell, who loved his blood so fiercely.

At this point, I was certain.

'This hunt will not fail.'

And with that certainty came one question.

If I succeeded in hunting this bastard down—what would happen to the present?

The butterfly effect isn't just some empty phrase. And who else has experienced it firsthand more than me? A tiny misunderstanding, one slip of the tongue, ballooning into full-blown legend—I've felt it time and again.

'Who knows.'

So predicting how flipping the past 180 degrees would rewrite reality? Impossible.

But one truth remains unchanged: Before pride, the butterfly effect is utterly trivial.

I left the terrified Claudy demon behind and stepped forward. Toward the loyal retainer who had breathed his last moments ago, still worrying for his lord's safety to the end.

"I have grasped thy pride."

I closed his eyes, which I hadn't even noticed until now, and declared:

"I shall inherit that noble pride."

I took the sword he had gripped tightly even in death. And the crossbow fallen to the floor.

No Soul Eater at my belt in this past timeline. Compared to it, these were shabby weapons at best.

But they would suffice.

"......Impossible."

To hunt prey gripped by fear.

Clack—

Clack—

Clack—

This time, I approached the prey. Unlike cornered quarry, a hunter's lips stay light and unburdened by chatter. And our prideful Grandfell wasted not a single motion.

No value in squandering precious time—like afternoon tea—on mere prey.

That was why I was so sure the hunt would succeed.

But.

Really.

Damn it all.

Ever since entering the curse, those incessantly blinking system messages finally caused trouble.

Damn. The sensation of the past pushing me out grew stronger by the second. The noise rippling in my vision swelled, threatening to engulf it entirely. As if refusing any further interference.

In the end, the message appeared.

A familiar sensation washed over me.

……

Mage Tower's office. My mind returned.

I realized anew what a mad thing I'd done.

'It wasn't a level issue.'

This curse. Far more dangerous than I'd thought.

I swallowed a belated sigh of relief. If Baal's swing had connected……

'Just like I interfered in Grandfell's past.'

Baal could have interfered with the present me, erasing my existence entirely……?

Part of me wanted to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whoop with joy at cheating death. But this mouth of mine wouldn't allow it.

"Both of those fools pull the same tricks."

Two fools? Obviously Baal, whom I missed in the curse, and the Claudy demon.

Whichever it is, if we meet later…… I'll have to end it for good.

Especially.

'That nameless Claudy.'

Though I was bounced from the curse, I didn't leave empty-handed.

I learned plenty about Grandfell's past I didn't know. Especially the full story of 'that day.'

But……

Just 10%?!

Grandfell, you endless onion of a man—peel after peel, no end in sight.

Now that I'd felt the curse's danger firsthand, who would welcome diving back in—especially into Grandfell's past?

But this mouth blabs on, heedless of my feelings.

"If you think they've fully escaped, you are mistaken."

Meaning we can re-enter. Meaning we can hunt again.

Ready to leap right back into the curse this instant.

'What can I do? It's all in my hands.'

In that sense…… I was unexpectedly grateful for his obsession with procedure.

Unable to tolerate a demon's survival. Yet equally unwilling to let mere demons disrupt procedure and schedule. A contradiction.

But thanks to that contradiction, I could catch my breath and live somewhat humanely.

Like now.

Thud.

Amid the chaos, my schedule popped up reflexively. I grabbed the papers from my desk and left the office.

My steps led to Topaz Hall, where interviews for selecting the vanguard were underway.

Clack—

As I climbed the Mage Tower stairs……

"......Huh?"

Suddenly, a presence in the passing corridor.

"Grand Commander……?"

In the Mage Tower, my title was Chief. Lee Hoyeol Chief, Chief Lee, Chief—this Chief, even 'Sir.'

Four main ways to address me.

'Grand Commander? That means an outsider.'

No need to turn my stiff neck. I knew who it was. The only outsiders in the Mage Tower right now were them.

"Your condition has improved beyond recognition, Wolf."

The Shadow Mercenaries, recovering in the healing school's annex.

But even 'improved' feels like an understatement—too improved?

'No, past improved—overdoing it, aren't you……?'

Sudden full armor?!

But apparently, I wasn't the only one questioning it. Presences stirred behind Wolf.

"No, I mean……!"

"Yaaawn. Can't you explain it simply?"

"At least when you were down, you were quiet……."

"Hey, old timer, don't push yourself and just stay baack—?!"

The Shadow Mercenaries chatting away, then spotting me and jumping in shock.

Especially Rackid, freaking out the most. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soon learned why.

Wolf asked politely.

"Have you fully returned now, Grand Commander?"

……Fully returned?

I'd been swept up in a whirlwind of passion from the curse, sure. But I hadn't run off like some runaway teen.

What was this about? Then I noticed the incongruity.

'......Come to think of it?'

The Mage Tower was eerily quiet. Recalling back, climbing the stairs—only the Shadow Mercenaries encountered.

The tower, which should be bustling for vanguard interviews, felt deserted.

I flinched, checked my smartphone, and froze.

……What the hell? Six days already?!

Life is so damn ironic.

Elder mage Yugweed let out a wry smile.

"Feels like just yesterday the Dragon-Demon War's grudge stepped into Crystal Hall. Chasing truths in the distant unknown when we couldn't even predict tomorrow—we were so arrogant. Makes me realize anew just how presumptuous the Mage Tower was, Tower Master."

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

The docile giant, Yugweed. Shwaaah—her manifested Gaia Golem cleaved through the Pacific on two legs.

Atop Yugweed's shoulder rode the cat, Tower Master, balancing herself.

No answer from Tower Master, so Yugweed asked again.

"Are you really okay with this, Tower Master?"

Yugweed knew. Tower Master was never truly lazy. Least of all one to forget her duties and dump them on others.

Yes, the reason Tower Master yawned excessively now, collapsing into sleep at every chance—there was a cause.

Tower Master finally replied.

"At least it was worth enduring, Yugweed."

No lingering regrets in life. Just one wish.

To see Jessie ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grow into a proper mage.

So she got greedy. Unintentionally burdening Chief Lee Hoyeol, little Chief Marcelo, and you, Yugweed.

"The previous Tower Masters won't envy this, will they?"

But Tower Master realized: Her term-limited life wasn't granted to watch Jessie's growth.

A Tower Master's life must be devoted solely to the Mage Tower.

Tower Master perked her tail.

"Dragon Breath for cremation— no grander funeral than that."

Human life isn't eternal. Regardless of bodily wounds. Just the day allotted lifespan ends, eyes close.

Stroke—Yugweed reached out, petting Tower Master's back.

"Impudent, Yugweed."

"You've worked so hard all this time."

"Listen, Yugweed. You hold not a shred of hope for me. Fair enough—past Mage Towers couldn't endure dragons, let alone the current one. Especially not in my state."

Tower Master looked down at Zero Mountains.

Apprentice and skilled mages mixed among adventurers, staring into the sky.

Her gaze shifted to Chief Marcelo and senior mages floating beside the golem.

Enchantment senior Kiko Armin spoke.

"Shining dragon wings...... That's the white outer wing. Only Chief Lee Hoyeol wielded it freely in the tower—definitely!"

Banggrit and Bensy muttered.

"......Why does a dragon have the magic tool Chief Lee lent out? Senior Banggrit, do you know?"

"Chief Lee is the tower's chief, revered as Black Dark Dragon by dragons too. Surely some circumstance we can't grasp."

"Oh dear."

Total evacuation. Every mage except Chief Lee Hoyeol had evacuated.

Yet one absence loomed so vast.

As Tower Master reflected anew, Kiko continued.

"As some know, the white outer wing's power varies sharply by user. With sufficient ability to draw it out, it can unleash a hundred spells at once……!"

That was Kiko's worry.

"I can't even imagine. Dragon-Demon War records say one breath swallowed hundreds of spells…… If it unleashes a hundred Breaths via the white outer wing in one go……!"

Tower Master posed the question to herself. Could the Mage Tower block that attack?

The answer wasn't hers to give. Elder Dragon Yunak Seus. It depended on that dragon's whims.

And soon.

Yunak Seus halted flight.

Howling toward the Mage Tower, Holy War Alliance, the world.

As if proclaiming as king of all things.

Unleashing Dragon Fear.

"......!!!"

Everyone realized.

That day, when over a dozen dragons cried out for the Black Dark Dragon— what they unleashed wasn't Dragon Fear.

Humanity survived that day solely because of one man. Lee Hoyeol.

"......How do we even......?"

A reality without him.

Raced toward ruin.

No different from the Arcana continent.

Soon, Yunak Seus's white outer wing glowed.

Crimson flames blazed from the wing.

Dragon Breath poured toward the world.

Despair blinked before players' eyes.

"E, ev, everyone, dodge!!!"

That was when.

Hop!

A single cat soared into the sky.

The cat's tiny body taking the Breath.

That marked the prelude to the Second Dragon-Demon War.

And at the same time.

Years later.

"Well, looks like we're both rags. Dragon dear?"

The start of the legend to be etched as equals in strength.