[Lily Elbrite (偽) wishes to speak with you.]
As soon as the dungeon cleared and the reward assessment was completed, an unexpected conversation request came.
Moreover, the object of the conversation was the false Lily.
This is Past Lily Elbrite.
[?]
[Ye]
[Is it not over yet?]
[_past Lily reappears lol]
[Give me my reward!!]
[So, what exactly is Lily?]
[Seems the ruins aren’t fully explored, but it’s being counted as cleared already]
[Should we talk first?]
[Let’s have a conversation, I’m curious]
[I wonder what rewards are being offered?]
“Hm… Sure, why not.”
I also had a few questions of my own.
Upon pressing the acceptance button, the world around me began to change.
A blue mist enveloped the surroundings, and in no time, I found myself standing in a stark white room.
Drrrrk—
“…”
“I’ve been waiting.”
Divided by a transparent glass wall stood a single table.
Facing each other across it were two chairs; one occupied by a woman who appeared to be an exact likeness of me.
This was Past Lily.
[Feels like jail]
[Visitation room?]
“It feels like a visitation room.”
“They said this is the only way we can converse. Quite unfortunate.”
I sat in the chair, gazing at her.
On the table lay a small button, and pressing it resulted in a semi-circular opening forming at the bottom part of the transparent glass wall.
Can I pass things through this?
“First, I should explain the current situation. It might be somewhat bewildering.”
Past Lily adjusted her neck while looking at me.
[Look here?]
Precisely put, she was looking at the cameras capturing both her and me.
“I am the past version of Lily Elbrite. So, essentially, your younger self. Or, more accurately, your background.”
“I didn’t know at first.”
“I didn’t know that my future self existed, nor had I imagined I’d ever come face-to-face with her. After all, my life was extremely intense.”
“…”
“Of course, compared to the current version of ‘Senior’, it may seem not that intense.”
[Senior?]
[LOOOOOOL]
[Calling future self “Senior”?]
[That fits, though]
[THERE ARE TWO LILIES… Are we in heaven?]
[Seems like one of those job-related stories, yeah?]
[She sounds kinda fake, like an alien]
I let out a faint sigh.
“…I’m not implying that what you’ve done has been fruitless or lacking. I just feel it’s a pity to give up. Absolutely no intention to belittle your life.”
Naturally, the Lily in front of me was none other than me.
Past Lily nodded her head.
“That’s what I thought. Since it’s me, I do understand.”
“…Hmm. Calling me Senior is making me feel weird.”
“Shall we call you ‘Death Sentence’ then?”
Death Sentence?
“Surely you’re not referring to that, are you?”
“Yes, that’s exactly it. Learned it from the same source.”
[?]
[What did who teach them?]
[Is it some kind of magic master?]
[Is there even a master for Lily?]
[Seems that ‘Lily Elbrite’ herself might have a mentor]
[If they taught magic, there probably is a professor]
[Wouldn’t have a master for nothing]
…
“…It would be troublesome if you say things so freely.”
I’ve never had a master.
More accurately, until I quit being a saintess, I only acquired basic knowledge. Afterward, I have never officially apprenticed under any master.
If I had one, it must have been more of a relationship where I paid a price, not a master-disciple relationship.
“I don’t regard ‘that existence’ as a master either. But…”
“But?”
“Because I think I should create some kind of rapport if I want you to make the better choice.”
Better choice…
Does that mean the dungeon reward Past Lily is offering depends on my decision?
“…Please continue.”
“Before that, the title of ‘Senior’─”
“Let’s just stick with ‘Senior’, please.”
Absolutely no way I can accept “Death Sentence.”
Shaking my head from side to side, Past Lily watched me with an ambiguous smile.
“Meeting you, my future self, made me conflicted. You are my future, and the future comes after the past, so I thought my existence was fake.”
This entire world felt fake to Past Lily.
Hence, abandoning everything she was doing, she clung to my world instead, trying desperately to escape from a false world.
“But meeting you again, I realized this fact. A fake world doesn’t have to end as a fake.”
However, it was already too late.
“I’ve let go of a lot, and the world was indeed barren. You’ll understand what I mean, won’t you?”
“…”
Past Lily,
After spending 7 years trying to catch up with me, an eighteen-year veteran Lily missed many ‘growth’ opportunities.
Even though growth could be pursued continuously with training in a different time-space, important events were missed. Events where I grew both mentally and physically.
The world becomes ever more perilous as it stretches toward the thirtieth year. Missing these growth phases makes it exceedingly difficult to catch up, especially for Lily.
A twenty-five-year veteran Lily, for example, has to fight on par with nameless upper-level celestials or demons.
“So that’s why you did this?”
“It was my last chance.”
“Other paths…”
“None exist. There wasn’t a single normal continent.”
[What’s with all this?]
[LOOOOOOOL]
[Why are you two speaking in riddles?]
[???: Ah, it seems I understand now… everything is clear]
[Your tone is super annoying]
[Lily, I’m getting mad]
Clap!
Past Lily clapped her hands together, gathering everyone’s attention.
“It’s a simple story. While chasing after you, I missed out on the timing to become stronger and became powerless against the looming threat. With no alternative, I made a choice.”
“What choice?”
“If I cannot survive in this fake world, I thought I should at least reach another real world.”
To the real divine maker of this fake reality.
The Forgotten Emperor, still asleep, was sought out. She even created a ten-floor underground ruin centered on him.
The ruins mimicked as closely as possible what her future self saw.
Then, provisions were made so the future Scorpio could fully master the powers, and a proposal was given.
“To send me to that place.”
“Even if I cannot return, I no longer wanted to stay here. Surprisingly, the god accepted my proposal.”
“…The system?”
“Yes. In the form of a ‘reward’ choice.”
Zzzziiip!
A half-circle opening appeared in the transparent glass wall.
Through the gap, Past Lily handed over three parchments.
Long rolled parchments.
“Is it okay if I look?”
“Of course.”
I opened one.
[Lily Elbrite (偽) offers you a reward.]
[You may pick one of three rewards.]
[First reward is a quest.]
[Job Change – Holy Mage (?)]
Objective – Defeat Lily Elbrite (偽).
Reward – 4th Ascension in Holy Mage, Mastery of Spear (Restricted).
[If the quest fails, World Boss ‘Lily Elbrite (偽)’ will appear within the world.]
“…This.”
4th ascension, huh?
[?]
[O s*b]
[??????????]
[4th here?]
[Let’s go all out!]
[What if you fail the clear?]
[LOLOLOL]
[World Boss Lily reappears!]
[What’s the Mastery of Spear?]
[Likely challenging once?]
[Okay 100%, let’s just pick]
As my gaze kept switching between the parchment and her, Past Lily gave a bittersweet smile.
“This is not what I desire, but if you succeed, it might bring about the result I want.”
“Is Deoen where you’re headed?”
“Even though I’ll remain there, it turns out well. There’s nothing left here anyway.”
“…”
Not that bad.
Ignoring the insane quest, getting 4th ascension is good.
Though limited, the 18-year veteran Lily is still relatively strong compared to me, but it’s not something impossible to defeat.
If I fail… I’ll gain nothing, and there will be a world boss running rampant across the continent.
“…That’d be unfortunate.”
“Let’s see the second one first.”
As I folded the first parchment and opened the second one…
[The second reward is Skill – Divine Descent.]
“Divine Descent?”
“It’s a simplified version of the Crown of Succession. A penalty-free technique, albeit with reduced power.”
Inside the parchment was a blue circle with a pure white hammer inscribed.
[Not bad?]
[Looks like spec inflation]
[Divine Descent is the king]
[If 4th ascension is inevitable, this one seems better]
[Still curious about 4th]
A simplified Crown of Succession.
This is not bad either.
Since the Crown of Succession is sealed, it’s questionable whether one can easily capture the extreme-tier world boss required for 4th ascension.
The soon-to-arrive Kraken may be an extreme-tier, if not, reaching 4th will be impossible before then.
In such a case, obtaining Divine Descent immediately isn’t bad at all.
“…”
It seems Past Lily also hoped for this option.
“What about you if I choose this second reward?”
“Divine Descent is a part of my power. Once you take it as a skill, all my strength will vanish, and I’ll disappear.”
“…Do you truly wish for such a thing?”
“Yes.”
Past Lily didn’t answer and quietly waited instead.
Could it be that she has a hidden promise?
Not asking, I opened the next parchment.
As soon as I opened the parchment, a hollow laugh slipped from me.
[Third reward is a quest.]
[Job Change – Holy Mage (?)]
Objective – Salvation of the Forgotten Emperor.
Reward – 4th Ascension in Holy Mage, Saintess Path (Restricted).
[If the quest fails, World Boss ‘Complete Forgotten Emperor’ will appear within the world!]
“What’s this?”
“…Because he is pitiful.”
“Of the celestial?”
“Senior, I don’t recommend this one either. The god only gives multiple choices.”
Challenging opportunities and forgetfulness for those who have learned the truth.
Compassionate grace for the abandoned child.
“…”
“The choice is yours, Senior.”
[All seem good]
[4th ascension as a saintess]
[Lily’s saintess awakening?]
[Do we just save him then?]
[What are you thinking of doing?]
Three options to choose from.
“I…”
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