〈 Chapter 433 〉 No. 13
After Tiyalmisof and Anna Helmenius left,
the first thing No. 13 did was to cool their flushed face.
The second was to check their body.
Once the flushed face cooled down, and the rising dirty thoughts dissipated,
No. 13 thinly spread mana around the bedroom, enveloping it.
The bedroom imbued with mana emitted no sound outside.
Moreover, the remaining mana that wrapped around the room also swirled around their body.
This way, No. 13 confirmed through mana both spiritually and physically if anything had changed or if there were any differences.
Though No. 13’s body was explosively recovering mana, the original owner of this body lost consciousness due to mana depletion.
The magic that depleted the mana was a time magic used by future No. 13.
It was a spell that future No. 13 had to use to reach this timeline.
As a result, the newly arrived future No. 13 took control of the consciousness, and the original owner of the body, No. 13, retreated into the subconscious.
By then, No. 13 could understand the situation.
There were two souls in No. 13’s body.
In essence, they were the same soul but distinguishable because they had experienced different histories.
Both souls could take control of the body.
Just like now.
“Thirteen…?”
Aslan spoke from right behind.
Given that he didn’t lower his voice, it seemed he had realized what kind of magic was cast on the room.
“Which one are you?”
He asked, and as soon as he did, he corrected himself as if realizing something awkward.
“No, how is the body? Any memories…?”
Having dual consciousness coexisting might be a rare best-case scenario, but realistically, there was no guarantee how things would turn out.
That’s why Aslan hesitated, and No. 13, out of habit, started to respond but suddenly stopped, eyes widening.
Because at the moment her tongue moved to utter words, she felt mana rising from her heart to her mouth.
So No. 13 approached Aslan as she was in her pajamas.
As she got closer,
she naturally reached out and clasped hands.
When Aslan tried to interfere with mana, she said,
“I’m the No. 13 who has mated with Aslan.”
Her face turned red after speaking.
Aslan was speechless at the explicit statement instead of terms like ‘future No. 13’ or ‘No. 13 from the fallen world.’
“That… you’re the future No. 13.”
“Affirmative.”
Did the consciousness devour and take over the body?
Aslan momentarily wore an uneasy expression at the ominous possibility that arose, but No. 13 shook her head vigorously upon reading his expression.
“No. The original consciousness of No. 13 still controls the body, just unconscious.”
Is that really true? Isn’t this just to reassure Aslan?
Such thoughts briefly crossed Aslan’s mind, so he didn’t answer immediately, though he wasn’t doubting No. 13 entirely.
“Well, that’s fortunate.”
Doubt was always Aslan’s habit.
Ever since he first woke up in this cold land, he had wondered if he was actually dead and hallucinating.
The man confirmed the truth a little later.
Ah, No. 13 let out a cry.
“No. 13 is waking up. Now… switch.”
Is switching possible?
Aslan watched as No. 13 tightly closed her eyes, opened them again, and flinched when she saw the hand she had grasped.
She withdrew her hand as if shaking it off and looked around with a slightly bewildered gaze.
She appeared scared and was trying hard to grasp the situation.
Aslan stepped back, and No. 13 stared blankly at him retreating before muttering.
“No. 13 requests explanation of the situation.”
A voice tinged with confusion bordering on slight anger.
She bowed her head while speaking, seemingly avoiding looking directly at Aslan’s face.
Not exactly angry, but unable to look at Aslan directly due to the intermingling memories of No. 13.
Unaware of this, Aslan thought it must be quite unsettling for the current No. 13 and understood.
“What should I say… Do you know The Immovable One?”
“Affirmative.”
“Do you know that the high priest of The Immovable One can manipulate time?”
“Negative…”
“In that case, I’ll start from there. The high priest of The Immovable One basically exists from another possible future or past…”
Aslan explained about the desperate pattern of the high priest of The Immovable One.
About the power that cuts through time, bringing other possibilities of the player to serve vertically.
And how a more skilled high priest wielded this power differently than the previous one.
The consequences exceeded expectations.
What appeared was the future Aslan, the failed Aslan who had become an evil deity.
And meeting himself, being helped by future No. 13 living in the ruined Geladridion.
Furthermore, with the help of future No. 13, he managed to defeat the evil deity version of himself and return.
Initially skeptical, No. 13 listened intently, her eyes sparkling with interest by the end.
Was it because it touched her dreamt-of adventures, or was it surprising that future No. 13 was so powerful?
Whichever it was, it seemed to be a positively perceived situation, so Aslan relaxed.
Moreover, he was confident that the current No. 13 wasn’t merely acting as future No. 13.
She was too naïve for that.
Seeing this naivety, Aslan somehow felt a strange sense of relief.
A sigh escaped him involuntarily, and without realizing it, he sat on the bed.
He felt as if he had finally returned.
When he first fell into the destroyed world, there was no guarantee he’d return, which filled him with despair.
But now, Aslan was in the Geladridion he had fought and built.
Relief was followed by a sense of relaxation, and Aslan slumped onto the bed.
Although it didn’t seem that way to No. 13.
“…Use.”
Upon hearing No. 13’s sudden voice, Aslan looked up, and No. 13 was watching him with a mixture of fear.
“Hope…?”
Confused, Aslan blinked several times.
Just sitting on the bed shouldn’t make her think of using “it,” especially since he had told her otherwise.
Aslan assumed there must be another reason, and the answer quickly came to mind.
“Oh.”
Aslan had merged bodies with future No. 13.
It was quite animalistic, the kind of act someone might mistake for domestic violence if witnessed.
Realizing that the present No. 13 shared some of future No. 13’s memories, Aslan understood why she had backed against the far wall of the bedroom.
Her body trembled with caution, fear, and a hint of anticipation.
Aslan struggled to find the right words to explain.
When morning broke, the first thing Aslan did was contact Lewena via the Abyssal Sword.
[Are you really okay?]
“Yeah, truly fine.”
[Next time, if you fall into the future, let me know beforehand.]
“…If possible.”
Though he didn’t think such a situation would arise again, even if it did, he doubted he could give prior notice.
Lewena knew this.
Thus, her joke was unexpectedly effective, and Aslan realized she hadn’t worried as much as he thought.
Rather, she trusted him.
Returning the Abyssal Sword to his waist quietly, Aslan knocked on the gate of Anna’s mansion.
Shortly after, the door opened on its own.
The long trail of mana leading from the open door.
As if he hadn’t visited this place recently, Aslan followed the trail.
Technically, it was his first visit since he had arrived via the window of the topmost floor bedroom, gliding down to the ground and walking to the gate.
Advancing while stepping on the pristine carpet, Aslan soon reached the indoor garden.
“You’re doing surprisingly well today.”
There stood No. 13 and Anna.
Tiyalmisof was presumably busy with research and wasn’t visible.
However, recalling the unexpected revelation Tiyalmisof had made yesterday, Aslan thought it might be better not to meet her.
“A, Aslan. Please come in.”
“It’s been a while since I last visited.”
“Has it really been that long?”
Had it? Due to spending a long time in the future, Aslan felt like he had met Anna a long time ago.
“I thought I’d drop by often to see the progress of No. 13’s magical training…”
Trailing off and making excuses, Anna tilted her head curiously.
Sensing something amiss, she gazed at Aslan for a while in deep thought.
“No. 13, is there something you don’t know?”
“…Ah, what is it that you don’t know?”
At No. 13’s response, Anna turned her head with a softened expression.
Turning her head, Anna answered No. 13’s question.
Seeing No. 13 glance at Aslan subtly, it seemed she was considerate enough not to embarrass Aslan.
Silently grateful, Aslan closed the distance.
Then No. 13 averted her eyes, confirming to Aslan that this was the original owner of the body.
She still found Aslan difficult to face.
Well, anyone would feel that way after suddenly seeing themselves from the future engaging in intense sexual acts.
Aslan forced a smile.
“Then, since it’s come up, shall we take a look before you go?”
Anna, having finished her explanation, spoke directly to Aslan.
“No. 13 has worked really hard. Though not exceptionally talented or quick to understand, her comprehension of magic is good enough to call her a prodigy.”
Her excited tone was akin to saying, “Look how well our child has grown! Isn’t she amazing?”
While listening to Anna’s words, Aslan maintained his forced smile.
‘No. 13 isn’t a child or my daughter… It feels a bit odd seeing her treated like one.’
But such thoughts wouldn’t reach Anna, and Aslan soon nodded.
“Alright.”
“Great! You’ll surely be surprised.”
Anna smiled cheerfully, turning her head to look at No. 13.
“No. 13? Let’s start with the simplest magic as usual. We’ll gradually increase the difficulty from there.”
Nodding, No. 13 agreed, and Anna waved her hand.
Following her gesture, mana moved and formed a shape due to a simple hand sign.
Crack!
Suddenly, two stones rose from the ground.
They served as targets.
Upon recognizing the targets, No. 13 picked up her staff while avoiding Aslan’s gaze.
Mana flowed.
From the core of mana in her heart, through her fingertips, and into the staff.
Zap! Lightning sparked at the tip of the staff.
The magic she used was a low-level manifestation school magic called Lightning Arrow.
It was the first magic No. 13 learned from Anna and was favored by manifestation school wizards because it couldn’t be avoided, given its nature as lightning.
Of course, a priest might negate it, but the Lightning Arrow used by No. 13 alone was a sufficient threat, making it a good choice.
Thus, she had learned it well and put it to good use.
Future No. 13 had done the same.
As the drawn-up mana from No. 13 moved from her heart toward her hand,
a voice suddenly echoed in No. 13’s consciousness.
‘I’ll help you.’
It was No. 13’s own voice.
Startled, No. 13 widened her eyes, and the magic she was casting split.
Zap, Zzzzap!
Instead of flowing from her heart, the mana originated from her head, swirling at the tip of the staff in the form of forked lightning.
It shot forth instantly.
Clearly, as two separate bolts of lightning.
“Huh?”
Anna was confused, and Aslan’s eyes widened.
The two lightning bolts shot out and simultaneously destroyed the two rocks.
One was pierced, and the other shattered completely.
The more precise use of mana was on the right side.
Watching a superior magic compared to her own, No. 13’s eyes widened.
“Child, how did you do that just now?!”
Anna approached No. 13, hugging her in confusion yet excitement.
Unable to break free from the embrace, No. 13 simply met Aslan’s gaze.
While Anna exclaimed about genius and the certain changing of magical history,
Aslan and No. 13 understood.
This was future No. 13 using magic purely through consciousness.
Moreover, No. 13’s brute-force powerful magic doubled.
Realizing this, Aslan opened the system window in confusion.
With Anna mussing No. 13’s cheeks, causing her hair to tousle and frown, No. 13 followed Aslan’s rapidly blinking eyes to the numbers.
[No. 13]
[Level: 8]
[Strength 1] [Agility 3] [Health 2]
[Mana 34] [Willpower 1] [Luck 5]
[Mana 40]
[Mana 34]
Above No. 13’s stats, the mana kept fluctuating continuously.
*
