Chapter 147

Naturally, my eyes opened.

Even though no one was shaking my shoulder or calling out to me.

“…….”

It’s quiet.

Not because I’m inside a building, but maybe just because this area is unusually quiet…

…Could it be because we’re not on the ground level?

Worthy of being the city of mages, the facilities and conveniences of the City Kingdom were extremely advanced even by Eastern standards.

Just having a sewage treatment facility would already make it qualify as a capital or major city, but incredibly, this city even had a water supply facility.

Thanks to cleverly diverting the river outside the city, there’s no big issue with water distribution despite there being no river running through the city itself.

In other words, this also means you can exit the city through here, though it’s not easy.

Firstly, there aren’t any proper paths or tunnels for people to walk through.

Secondly, without design plans or maps, it’s hard to correctly discern your location.

Lastly, as an important facility, it’s managed very strictly.

However, maybe due to worrying more about the astronomical costs of continuous maintenance rather than its importance, the workforce has steadily decreased. Following the opinion that since it was originally built so sturdily, why bother maintaining or checking every little detail, at some point the workforce was effectively halved.

And this is the result.

They say all sorts of different people hide or stay here in secret.

In fact, they’ve become quite organized.

…Even though Karriel himself has set up a temporary residence in these underground waterways, he doesn’t feel particularly uncomfortable staying here, showing just how much its own ecosystem has started to form.

But still, it’s not a great environment for long-term living.

Right now, that’s not the main concern.

Something woke me up.

It’s not just strange—it’s ominous.

A magical power fluctuation I’ve never felt before.

Though it’s faint, if it can reach even me down here, it must be something extraordinary.

“But…”

As long as you’re here, Father, there shouldn’t be a big problem.

Karriel quickly thought about ways to escape the city, but every possibility he foresaw ended with him getting caught soon after escaping.

Then what should I do?

I need to exploit their psychological weaknesses.

I want to plant the idea that I’ve already left and disappeared.

If it’s just you chasing me alone, Father, there might be a small chance to evade you…

But the ones accompanying you are far from ordinary.

Even though no one told me, I glimpsed some possible futures where various individuals grabbed hold of my collar.

It’s not entirely impossible to evade them, but if you’re determined, Father, it’s still beyond my current capabilities.

-This magical power fluctuation feels somewhat familiar…

“Do you know what it is?”

-In the Demon Realm, there are places with especially vile magical power fluctuations. It’s probably near the throne.

The throne?

-And knowing that place means being able to withstand it, right? So, at the very least, that implies someone at the Legion Commander level or higher.

“Are you talking about that… Barg, or Adedima guy?”

That dull-witted legion commander who nearly killed me once.

-No.

But the Demon King was firm.

-He may be a survivor, but he’s not at the Legion Commander level. And while Grandeous isn’t either, historically, there have been Legion Commanders of his caliber. If we generously consider his abilities, he could rank above that dullard.

“…”

-But isn’t that beside the point?

The issue is such an existence appearing suddenly in the Middle Realm.

-A Demon King can open dimensional gates as a unique privilege. However… it’s only temporary, and it requires staying near the throne.

“So, does that mean a new Demon King has been born?”

-There’s a possibility.

Still, the scenarios we can think of aren’t limited to that, are they?

-Due to this sudden situation and development, we’ve realized one fact.

Originally, Karriel should have been able to leave the City Kingdom without incident.

But for some reason, things changed drastically as soon as he entered.

-Since our appeals no longer work, it seems like they’ve started demonstrating their power in a completely different way.

And it’s completely reversing logic.

“That child believed they came from the future to the past, right? Then…”

-That world shouldn’t have intersected with ours, but it did. But don’t worry, the Middle Realm hasn’t changed or tangled.

The Demon King stated firmly.

And added:

-Precisely, the Demon Realm has flipped. The ripple effects brought them here.

So, the question remains: who made that possible?

“Can the Sacred Tree of the Demon Realm do something like that?”

-The World Tree or the Sacred Tree of the Demon Realm? We know very little about these things. They existed long before human history.

Perhaps they’re the embodiment of another civilization in the form of trees, or another facet of God, or even more than that.

-If these trees maintain the essence and identity of our world, couldn’t they also adjust the opposite?

“…Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?”

-I don’t know, but one thing is certain: after you tampered with the World Tree, the Sacred Tree of the Demon Realm began targeting you.

A sigh escaped.

“I should try to connect with the World Tree as soon as possible.”

Next, I’ll have to settle things with the Sacred Tree of the Demon Realm.

Even though the seizures, terrifying nightmares, and body-wrecking phenomena have almost disappeared…

Now that I know I can affect not just myself but also those around me, I can’t ignore this anymore.

-Look at it positively. It means you’ve grown. And it shows that you’ve become resilient enough that simple attempts won’t shake you. There’s nothing bad about that, right?

“That much… will just make things around me more troublesome.”

Hopefully, it’ll just stop at being troublesome, but that’s unlikely, isn’t it?

-How about aiming for the most perfect future?

“There’s no such thing. You know that, right?”

While I’m no longer doomed to a fixed future like Grandeous,

On the other hand, I risk falling into the swamp of choices.

I can glimpse all possibilities, but that doesn’t guarantee the best results.

And by avoiding decisions, another terrible variable might kick in.

-It sounds like staying put here isn’t the best option either.

“I’m doing my best. Not choosing the best.”

I’m not that amazing yet.

Besides, I nearly lost consciousness when I forced myself to travel through shadows just to leave.

Short-distance travel is fine, but long-distance teleportation is a whole different story.

I hurriedly made that choice not only because there were no other options…

But also because my gut told me that even a few seconds of hesitation could get me caught.

So, I pushed myself a little.

-Isn’t peering into the abyss interesting?

“…I might be fine, but others aren’t.”

Venus is unconscious, so she’s okay, but Minette is different.

I already bear her burden, which adds extra pressure.

-Then let’s summarize. What we’ve understood from the current situation and what you need to do next. Just a brief outline.

“…Whether or not the World Tree can do it, the Sacred Tree of the Demon Realm can influence the world as an observer. Moreover, it can also potentially transform the world, as we’ve seen from this situation.”

The Middle Realm itself hasn’t changed.

However, the changes in the Demon Realm indirectly affecting me directly is, according to him, the essence of this situation.

The child who said they traveled from the future to the past—originally, they were heading from the Middle Realm to the Demon Realm… meaning they were from the future based on their original world’s timeline.

But here and there, whether future, present, or past… they’re entirely separate worlds.

-If we categorize it as parallel, multiple, or diverse worlds… this is parallel.

And it’s the world with the least variables and burdens.

-The majority of futures and possibilities you glimpse are based on parallel worlds. But once you go that far, it stops making sense.

Anyone can imagine and replicate the same world, making it increasingly realistic as it becomes more detailed.

But that isn’t reality. It isn’t truth.

Then is it false?

Can we classify imagination as false? What criteria defines falsehood?

Initially labeling hypothetical worlds as false—is that appropriate?

“Seeing, judging, and acting are all separate things.”

Just because you see something doesn’t mean you accept it as truth or falsehood.

Referencing it, acting upon it, ignoring it—all are separate actions.

Even if you decide to move forward after foreseeing the future and making a decision…

What if unforeseen circumstances force you to retreat unwillingly?

-So, in a way, it might be useless.

But once you become the sovereign, the story changes.

-When you make the world revolve around you, foreseeing future possibilities… becomes infinite possibilities.

…That’s easier said than done, though.

“Let’s leave that discussion there.”

Dominatur.

Through meditation, purify the mind.

It’s a simple meditation without any specific incantations, but…

That simplicity holds meaning.

By recognizing and keeping it in mind…

To prevent consciousness and rationality from being drawn into that absurd, transcendent nonsense.

To keep emotions, thoughts, and concepts from being entangled unnecessarily.

“Next, I need to leave here and head to the ruins of the Fire Giant.”

Currently, there are two things I lack.

One is within Rutania.

The other is exactly there.

My body’s balance is still off.

Unlike mana, my current state leans heavily toward dark magic.

Precisely, it’s not that it’s filled with it, but rather my affinity and compatibility lean that way.

Something from the ruins of the Fire Giant is needed to restore that balance.

…I don’t know exactly what.

Grandeous mentioned that going there might provide answers.

Does that mean even he isn’t sure?

“Preparing supplies for the expedition seems inconvenient now.”

“Who is this human talking to? Are you in the habit of conversing with walls or shadows?”

…Did I let my guard down because the door was closed?

No.

It was my foolishness to assume someone would knock and enter properly.

However, the other party clearly acted outside common sense.

After all…

…they passed through the closed door to enter.

“Wasn’t that a question?”

“You seem unfamiliar with this language.”

“Imperial language? Then I’m comfortable too.”

Who’s boasting about using the eastern goat kids’ language?

While saying this, the girl snapped her fingers with a cheerful laugh.

The extinguished candle lit up instantly.

Still, the interior remained dim.

“Planning to visit the Scorching Lands, strange human?”

The candlelight faintly illuminated the girl, who wore quite an antique outfit.

“Aah, troublesome.”

She snapped her fingers again, and this time a red light sphere formed above her hand.

“Since everything I’m wearing looks the same, you can’t see it, can you?”

“…”

Her red eyes, lighter than blood, gleamed with interest as they reflected my figure.

Somewhere between feminine and masculine attire—layers of black and white harmoniously combined—looked more stylish than cute.

Her fiery hair glowed faintly under the red light, adorned with a butterfly-shaped hairpin combining blue and red wings with black outlines.

“Hmm, let’s see.”

The girl pulled something from her waist—a small golden chain.

She then took out a golden circular object, unfolded it into two halves, and nodded thoughtfully after examining it.

“It’s not too late. Not too late at all.”

Her muttering seemed slightly eccentric, but her delicate gestures somehow suited her.

“Since we’re meeting for the first time, introductions are necessary, right? The commission came from Ruperth of Snake Eyes, but seeing you here confirms you’re the right person?”

“…”

You sure prepared this well without being asked.

Even though I momentarily lost consciousness due to exhaustion, deciding to stay here briefly was entirely my judgment.

…Is foreseeing a confirmed future this advantageous?

“Then, I am Zora Asubnara, affiliated with the Edenlevan Legion, co-head of the Blood Sharing Family Peace Association, deputy commander of the 3rd Mage Legion, and former leader of the Chromatic Exploration Team. Call me Zora.”

Several familiar-sounding words caught my ear.

“What’s your connection to Prince Fielbar the Second?”

“…I’m the third princess, but how do you know that? Who are you?”

“…”

Exactly.

Who am I?

The name Carriel is fine, but is it appropriate to reveal the surname Brendiar here?

Or should I use Baron Lutia?

“…”

“She introduced herself, so it’s only fair you do the same, right?”

Kariel hesitated, then reluctantly responded.

“Carriel.”

“…Is that all?”

Why should I reveal my surname if I don’t want to?

“Am I a commoner? There’s no shame in it! I don’t discriminate! After all, the blood flowing in human veins is all the same, right? Though, taste-based racial discrimination exists, but that’s just personal preference, so don’t take it too seriously. And we don’t randomly steal others’ blood, so no need to panic… Oh, wait, do you know what a vampire is? A batfiend?”

…Caught in a bizarre misunderstanding.

And a completely absurd one at that.

She assumed I’d definitely recognize her.

This vampire girl in front of me might have fallen into a similar misconception.

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