Chapter 231 - Day 31, Month 8, Year 597 (back alley of a city)
“Wait, what, a paradox?”
Before I could even listen to Aracelli’s answer, the android’s lightsaber flew towards my neck.
Wooosh-!!
Immediately after activating the ether blade to block it, the two light-based swords resonated and pushed each other away.
-Discovering an unknown kind of technology.
-Attempting to collect information.
My ether blade was not purely made out of science. It functioned on a completely new energy obtained from monsters called ‘ether’. Since it did not work off electricity, it gave a slightly different form even though it was a byproduct of science. Therefore, it must have been an extremely unfamiliar technology to the android, which comes with the knowledge of future science.
-Information uninterpretable. In accordance with Article 179 and Article 1109 about ‘Unknown Technology Encounter’, we will try to absorb the enemy’s technology. If unable to do so, we will eliminate the enemy.
And so the android let out a dry mechanical sound and rushed towards me. In its right hand, it held a lightsaber which radiated an ominous light while its leap, which was helped by the thruster on its back, was quick.
‘What is this?’
However, for me who had reached SS rank, his leap was at a snail’s pace. On top of it, it was only an attack which relied solely on raw power, with no special technique or swordsmanship.
I dodged the lightsaber by taking half a step to the side, before brandishing my sword towards the android.
Swiish-!!
The android’s right arm was severed as I swung my ether blade. In a split second, I changed my grip on the hilt and rotated the ether blade like a windmill and lopped its head off.
Tung-!!
-Dangerous….Operation… Failed…..
The battle was over in an instant.
The android was obviously quick, strong, and powerful, but it didn’t even pose a threat to me, who had learned various swordsmanship techniques, as it lacked any finesse and skill.
-Woah… Well, it is an android which was made to specifically hunt magicians, so of course it would not be a match for you, Professor.
Aracelli’s form appeared from thin air. Then her eyes followed the back of the little boy who had already run away.
“You really don’t want me to kill him here?”
-Yes. If Professor had already witnessed the incident in the future and stopped it, it would be okay. But as of now, you shouldn’t do that.
“Why?”
-For a time traveler, witnessing a particular event is by no means an ordinary feat. It means that the history that will happen in that time period is completely fixed.
“What… how is that possible? If I could turn back time…”
-That’s impossible. You’re a time traveler, and at the same time you’ve witnessed a kid receiving something from an android. Do you have any memories in your head right now where ‘the future’ Yoo Seodam appeared, stopped the android and killed the little boy?
“No, of course not.”
-That’s why Professor can only do it if you went back to the past once again.
That’s right, If this incident had been prevented, there should have been no such thing as a failed memory in the first place. Because the present me must have witnessed the future that must have come and prevented the incident.
But what if… I go back to the past after witnessing the success of my future self?
Or what if I don’t try to go back to the past?
-That’s the time paradox. Time travel is intricately intertwined with cause and effect, so no matter who you are, even if it’s you, Professor…. It is a natural flow of the world that has nothing to do with probability or story progression.
“That’s right, it’s a pain in the ass.” I sighed. “Then what should I do now? Where the hell are you?”
-That…
-Let me explain about that.
At that moment, another form of a woman appeared next to Aracelli. She was about 10 centimeters taller than the petite Aracelli, and unlike Aracelli’s black hair, she had silver hair.
She was looking at me with a fox-like smile.
“E-Empress Sahar?”
-That’s right. It’s been a long time. I wish I could kiss you again, but it’s a pity that I can’t.
-K-kiss? You can’t…
-Why?
-Anyway, you can’t…
Never in my wildest imagination would I have thought that I was going to see her here, so I could only put a bewildered expression as my response.
Sahar smiled widely. It seemed like she liked the expression I was making.
-It’s nice to see that face after a long time… I finally feel like I’m alive.
It was quite a burdensome word, but thankfully I could hide my expression this time since I’m pretty used to those words now thanks to Aracelli.
“Yes. It’s good to see you after a long time.”
She gently landed on the ground while still maintaining her whitish-foglike figure. Then, with her bare feet, she slowly approached me. At that point, I even felt that this dirty alleyway was being cleansed.
Princess Sahar caressed my cheek, but I felt nothing. Then, she said with a sad expression.
-You can’t even feel my touch even after meeting me again… What a cruel reality…
After that, Empress Sahar told me her story. In short, she renounced her faith in the goddess, gained divine powers of her own, and became a time traveler.
“Time traveler, huh…”
-What are you so surprised about? Aracelli had told me that you can time travel too. In addition, you can travel between dimensions whenever you want.
“…”
Well, not really. I can only do that thanks to the system. Moreover, time travel is only possible with the power of probability. Compared to me, Empress Sahar, who defied time with her own abilities, and Aracelli, who transcended the boundaries of space with her own effort, was more amazing.
<They reached that point to just meet one person.>
‘…you don’t have to tell me that…’
<But it is true.>
‘You are noisy.’
I sighed and said. “Anyway, the fact that the event has already occurred means that the future has been set, right?”
-That’s right. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to change it back. If we can prevent other events that we and you have not yet observed, we can change the future.
“What about other incidents?”
-History records several decisive events that led to the destruction of magic by science. If you can find the time frame and block it, the future will surely change.
“Okay.”
But, how can I move to those time frames?
– I’ll give you the time coordinates. Would you be able to move with your abilities with that?
<If we have the coordinates, it should be possible..>
‘Oh, really?’
<Yes. It is less burdensome to go to the future because we are already in the past, and the cost of time travel is reduced when the coordinates are clear.>
‘The cost is my lifespan right?’
<Yes…>
I glanced at Aracelli with the corner of my eyes. She was flying to the entrance of the alley, probably sightseeing.
I slowly approached her and asked. “This era, how long has it been since you left this world?”
-Ah… If the current year is 597, it’s about 70 years after I left.
The city was beautiful. Although it was the most difficult town to live in the whole Vivienda Empire, the world that had not yet perished was still overflowing with vitality.
“Would you like to walk around?”
-Yes… Thank you.
I walked through the city with Aracelli and Empress Sahar. The streets were full of life as it was crowded with people who stopped on the stalls at the side of the road.
-It’s not very different from when I left…
“…”
Aracelli left her hometown and wandered around other worlds. She abandoned this beautiful world only to find me.
Has she ever completely forgotten her hometown? Of course not. After all, the reason Aracelli became a 9 circle magician was to save her world. Therefore, she must have loved Vivienda more than I loved Earth.
After walking for a while, a huge square appeared. This square, which was called the cultural street, had a familiar name attached to it.
[Aracelli Square]
A woman more beautiful than any other goddess, angel, and fairy all over the world was there in the form of a statue. The woman was looking up at the sky. That statue depicts the figure of Aracelli after she becomes an adult, something I had never seen before. Having only seen Aracelli in her young form, I had no idea she would be that mature.
-Hehe… Before I left, I told the people that if they want to make a statue of me, they have to soften my eyes.
“Really?”
-Yes. However, they softened it a little bit too much. Thanks to that, I look like a goddess of love and family. It’s embarrassing.
“That means there are a lot of people who like you.”
-Undeservedly, it seems.
No explanation was written on the Aracelli statue. Perhaps, it was because she was famous to the point no explanation was needed about her. Afterall, she’s a hero who has fought against the demons and saved the world.
-You know, Professor… In the future, there are still people waiting for me.
“Waiting for you?”
-Yes. They believe I’m still alive, and they always hoped I would come to help them.
“…”
But she couldn’t listen to their wishes. By the time she returned home, it was already too late. The world has been occupied by machines, and there is no way to save the world that has been destroyed.
“Don’t worry, I’m here..”
-Professor…
“Just like you’ve helped me without expecting anything in return, I’ll help you too.”
Time travel costs a lot of lifespan. At least 1000 days had to be paid for one jump. But, as long as you have the lifespan, it can be used continuously. Therefore, I didn’t hesitate even for a second to burn through the lifespan of mine, which was obtained by a dirty and filthy way of hunting other humans, for the life of Aracelli, who was more noble and lovely than anyone else.
“Once we save your world and when my work is done in my own world… Let’s travel together.”
-Ah…
There were a lot of beautiful places in the countless worlds. We can go there and relax after all of this is over.
“It’s a trip to another world”
Aracelli looked into my eyes for a long time with her transparent, blue eyes. Then, her eyes finally sparkled, and she smiled brightly.
-I like that! Let’s make sure to travel together.
“Okay.”
-By the way…
Then, Empress Sahar interrupted and said:
-Aren’t you forgetting me? Rude…
“Oh, no. Of course, I also included you in our plan.”
– Hmmm… Your bond is already very strong, and there seems to be no room for me to intervene. It’s really burdensome for me.
After saying that, Empress Sahar smiled softly.
-But… I traveled through time and space, making the impossible possible. I look forward to the future. Really.
-…
Aracelli bit her lip, and Sahar smiled slyly. I thought I was lucky because the two of them seemed to have a really good relationship.
“Okay, so let’s move on. Please tell me the coordinates of the next time zone.”
-Let’s do that.
Princess Sahar said so before opening a thick old book.
-You should go to Day 19, month 1 in the year 607 of the Rinekal calendar. A particular law was amended that day: magical support to many lower-class people would be cut off, resulting in a lot of people complaining about their suffering.
“Then…”
-Around that time, a man armed with scientific equipment appears. The man’s name is ‘Partellian’. He spread the convenience of science to the lower classes.
“Convenience of science?”
No matter how much I think about it, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Isn’t magic more convenient than science?
-That’s right. Science is so weird. Even if you don’t use mana, everything could still be done. With only a few tools, an ordinary man could be proven to be more effective than a magician. After all, unlike magical devices, which need a magician to activate it, science could be activated even by ordinary people simply by pressing a button.
“Oh, I see. I understand.”
That was definitely true. No matter how convenient magic or magic tools are, without mana, it was only a piece of useless junk.
But science was different. Even if someone was not a magician, they could still enjoy something close to magical power, and even if they cannot train mana due to their limited talent, they still could be armed with powerful equipment.
-Yeah, so you have to go to that date and stop people from being instigated by science. Can you do it?
“Uh, I have to try, I guess? For the record, I am a believer in science rather than magic.”
Even if I can’t do it, I have to. If it was to save the world of Aracelli, I was ready to do anything.
-That’s a good attitude. Let’s leave right away
As soon as Sahar finished speaking, a message came to mind.
[Moving 10 years into the future.]
[1000 days of lifespan is consumed.]
Comments