Chapter 130

Is the future changeable?

Or was it always meant to be this way?

“…No.”

Deep within the locked recesses of his subconscious, Carriel stared at an entity that had shown malice toward him.

Save me.

Rescue me.

Why must I suffer alone?

Eventually, the pleading deteriorated into resentment.

If you won’t save me…

Then you…

And your world too…

I’ll destroy it all for you.

“…”

If one observes a predetermined future…

Even if there’s a chance you catch a glimpse or observe it…

The moment you witness it, you become nothing.

Just a mere actor playing their part in a play.

Or a lowly puppet in some crude puppet show.

That’s why Grandeous lamented endlessly after confronting this truth.

But eventually, he began to accept it as his choice.

Because even within that, there were things he could still do.

But Carriel didn’t want to be like that.

Maybe that’s why he couldn’t foresee a situation like this.

‘It’s not that I didn’t check.’

The Demon King once said something like this before.

Imagine putting a cat and a poisoned dish inside a box.

Then seal the entrance.

Now guess whether the cat eats the poison and dies or survives.

But guessing isn’t the point.

You won’t know until you open the box.

So, as long as the box remains closed, the cat is neither alive nor dead.

What nonsense is this?

The Demon King explained it was a thought experiment, not reality.

Thought experiment?

[Observation works like this.]

Observation.

If interpreted literally, it means observing and measuring the state or changes of natural phenomena through eyes or tools.

Or understanding certain circumstances or conditions.

But the Demon King’s definition seemed to encompass more, sounding almost higher-level.

For instance, by me looking, it exists and gains presence.

In other words, by me recognizing, it exists.

…But doesn’t this feel vague and detached from reality?

Even if I close my eyes,

Even if I die,

The world will still exist.

Just like mana and elements continue to exist regardless of my perception.

[Is that really so?]

But the Demon King sneered and countered.

After you die, does the world really exist?

Have you died yet?

Back then, Carriel, perplexed by her statement, immediately retorted.

And what about you? Have you died, so you know?

…Back then, what did she say?

“Did I happen to visit just as the water was about to overflow? Or did my visit cause the overflowing? If we go by your logic, my coming here caused this incident. My interference made it happen. Is that what you’re saying?”

-Isn’t this like asking which came first, the chicken or the egg?

The Demon King swam through the air, arms crossed, legs dangling lazily.

-Does it matter? The event has already happened. What matters now is your next attitude and plan.

“Attitude…”

Minette feared her existence might spark incidents and accidents.

So, she avoided getting involved as much as possible.

Still, when necessary, if she had to prove her power and abilities, then…

She wouldn’t hesitate. That’s what she said, right?

-If knowing the future could have prevented this crisis, and if that regret created your current regret, then all I can say is you’re overthinking it again.

We’ve already delved deep into this topic. Do we need to discuss it again?

For example, a confirmed future cannot be changed.

Even though Grandeous himself warned about its dangers, you’re still troubled by outside events and falling into stupid worries.

-Maybe…

True, but because of this aspect, despite being worn out and tired,

You still cling to your humanity.

Weak compassion.

Fragile altruism.

Pointless consideration.

Excessive empathy.

Oh dear.

Ironically, thanks to these, the kid hasn’t lost himself.

Rather, they shine brighter now than ever.

Like a plain stone.

As it gets chipped away, it shines brighter.

Becoming a jewel of high value.

-So, what will you do?

“…”

What to do?

The answer was decided long ago.

====

Dad said:

If you want something, don’t give up.

Don’t sit down until you get it.

Absolutely, never give up.

Dad said:

Don’t be disheartened.

It’s only tough now.

This too shall pass like a gentle breeze.

But if you feel overwhelmed and sit down,

Dad will be truly sad.

His heart will hurt.

Even without money, we shouldn’t despair.

We have a hopeful tomorrow and shining dreams.

So, our future will sparkle like the stars in the sky.

Dad said that.

…But Dad,

No matter how much I imagine and wish,

Even after praying and praying,

…nobody listens, do they?

Nobody.

Nobody.

Nobody…

…

“Alright.”

As if waiting for this moment, Carriel responded.

A small child entered the room where he was staying, with a different gaze than before.

He was ready to move, fully prepared.

A human dark as pitch-blackness.

Yet, his eyes shone like stars as he looked down upon the world.

An incredibly noble being.

…Why did I feel this way?

The child stared at him for a while and asked:

“Why did you save me?”

“…”

Carriel answered straightforwardly.

“Do I need a reason?”

“Yes.”

Immediate response.

“One needs a reason to help someone.”

His tone changed.

The clumsy expressions from before, the restless body movements, the wandering gaze—all gone.

Now everything was refined, calm beyond measure.

Not childlike.

…That itself was the answer.

And this child seemed to have no intention of hiding it.

“Reason, huh.”

Correct words.

Some out of sympathy.

Others for personal satisfaction.

Drunk on their own righteousness.

There are all sorts of reasons.

Good intentions or bad.

Specific purposes.

Though, maybe there was no thought at all.

“If I hadn’t saved you and that child, this city would have turned into a sea of fire.”

That child.

The child quickly understood what he was referring to.

“My only friend.”

Already.

Thanks to resting and eating something, the child seemed fine now.

A puppy wagging its tail clung to the child’s leg, looking up pitifully.

That fierce barker looked so innocent now.

“A sea of fire. Yes. After that happened… I’ve been fixated on it ever since.”

Being burned alive is the cruelest and most brutal death.

So, it had to be returned.

The suffering my friend endured.

The suffering I endured.

All of it. Every bit of it. Nothing left.

“Can you see the future?”

“…No. I just have good instincts.”

Not a lie.

“You ask no questions.”

“…”

The child stared intently at Del and Carriel for a long time.

“Didn’t we meet somewhere before?”

“The question is wrong.”

Carriel corrected the premise.

“You saw me, or someone similar. But that person isn’t me now. Especially not in this place.”

“Do you know… that I know the future?”

“That premise is also wrong.”

Carriel corrected it again.

“You don’t know the future. You experienced the future in a world similar to this one.”

“…Huh?”

“The Demon King calls it a parallel world.”

Demon King?

The child, Del, needed a moment to process his forward-thinking words.

“So, are you saying I didn’t come back from the future?”

“In this world, if there’s one absolute truth: Time can never, ever be reversed. This is the unchangeable truth even an omnipotent god can’t alter.”

“…How can you be so sure?”

Nonsense.

I clearly came back.

Probably, I’m not the only one.

Our lord surely…

“Therefore, I’m talking about a different world similar to this one.”

“That makes even less sense!”

“All truths except the unchanging ones make sense.”

…Is this guy making stuff up or does he actually know what he’s talking about?

“If you truly traveled from the future to the past, the past should remain unchanged.”

“What… does that mean?”

“It’s plausible that only memories return to the past, but at that point, it’s neither past, present, nor future. It’s an entirely different world.”

“Why are we having this conversation?”

“Because you wanted it.”

…Me? Why?

“In your future, I probably didn’t exist. Ignorance aside… it doesn’t seem reasonable.”

And you wanted to confirm that.

“At some point, you harbored hostility towards me. Despite me being your savior. Why? However, that hostility wasn’t directed at me. So, who was it aimed at?”

The answer was obvious.

“Hatred towards my father.”

“…”

Impressive.

So this is what it means to be the child of a hero.

But…

Isn’t he Elimion?

Before that, I heard Carriel had a brother…

Yet why does he feel so familiar?

“Perhaps your father. Yes. In the future… it could include my younger brother. Or even… their descendants.”

Carriel continued speculating.

For someone who insists time can’t be reversed, his thinking seems quite flexible.

Still, the child wondered what gave him the confidence to claim this.

“If time can be manipulated, well… it falls under my domain.”

But…

“Time and space, when viewed broadly, are ultimately one. Reversing time or space is akin to…”

Ripping apart the universe itself.

“A tiny part of the universe might disappear that way. Ah… yes. That’s probably it.”

Carriel smiled faintly, as if realizing something.

“Subjectivity. Observer. Ah. That’s what it meant.”

“…”

“Sorry. I got sidetracked.”

Finally,

With even brighter eyes, he faced Del directly.

“My name is Delica.”

If what you say is true, then in a world similar to this future…

“…I was likely the last queen who brought ruin to this nation.”

Even that was nominal.

Truthfully, to set the country ablaze, I had no choice but to become the queen.

Ultimately, after losing the throne, Faceulan, named after the city, disappeared from history as both a Mage Kingdom and City Kingdom within half a year.

“Is that so?”

Carriel nodded, finally rising from the edge of the bed.

“What will you do with me now?”

“…Nothing.”

Carriel passed by Delica indifferently.

“Just doing what needs to be done.”

What needs to be done?

Radiant bloodline.

Loathsome beings.

And…

Our lord’s enemy.

That lord’s father was also…

Delica’s benefactor.

Ultimately, the inheritor of radiant blood and the Knight of the Holy Grail.

Elimiun, son of Ruelde.

I heard he was killed by him.

“You…?”

But among the Radiant lineage, there’s no one like him.

Thus, as he said,

If this world isn’t the one Delica knew,

If this isn’t the past she remembered,

Then this world must have deviated significantly in some unknown way.

“There may be great chaos outside, a ritual to summon a Great Demon.”

Delica hurriedly followed behind him, explaining.

As they stepped out of the building, the dark sky loomed above them, a faint crescent moon barely visible against the pitch-black heavens, pressing down on them.

Why am I even telling him this?

I don’t know.

Or maybe I fear my benefactor will die meaninglessly?

“Great Demon?”

Why does it sound strange?

As soon as the word “demon” was mentioned, a smirk crossed Carriel’s face.

“When did demons start calling themselves ‘Great Demons’?”

Those guys.

“They’re just leftovers who can’t die properly, aren’t they?”

“?!”

That.

The very essence of demons.

Their core meaning was pierced by that statement.

After staring into the void for a moment, he casually asked:

“Courage. Boldness. If we bundle courage and boldness together, that’s number 22, right? Courage arises, leading to boldness, and fueled by anger and emotion, it burns—this commotion happening now fits perfectly.”

“You… do you understand their essence?”

Those undead creatures.

Sometimes objects of fear, sometimes faith.

“If there’s an upper form of parasites, those would be it.”

They take shape based on how those who perceive them desire.

They form from someone’s strong will, recognition, or understanding.

However, they’re often distorted, shaped, mutated, evolved, and advanced by the majority, the masses.

“And knowing this, you still intend to proceed? Even though the entire city might serve as their foundation?”

“Not bad.”

If you understand their true nature and essence,

And you know that such a ritual is occurring here now,

Why wouldn’t you run away?

Why not? What gives you the confidence?

“It’s the task given to me.”

Since the stubborn malevolent intent and the original concept of the Demon World Tree tricked me this way,

Knowing this, how could I possibly ignore it?

There’s no father here to handle this, nor anyone capable of dealing with it.

At best, Minette might suffice, but she lacks the capacity now.

‘Ultimately.’

It’s my responsibility.

The proper trial bestowed upon me.

But on the other hand,

If this is the festering darkness of this nation reaching its breaking point,

Then this is a justified process in its own right.

Right now.

The droplets falling onto the vessel have finally gathered enough to spill over its edges.

This, simply put, is the story.

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