The head of Yukline, Yeriel, was sitting in her office and sorting out family matters, moving her hands at great speed.
There was really a lot to do. Reports on the success of the various enterprises of Yukline, the Order of the Knights and the Tower of Magic, plans for the future, budget allocation, as well as fines and punishments…
Yeriel carefully checked all the information so that there was not a speck on Yukline's reputation, so that Yukline would preserve and increase their greatness. The head of Yukline was very difficult to deal with, because she was always irritated. Her sensitive and demanding personality made even the commander of the Imperial Knights, Delric, wary of her.
Since the catastrophe, the official story circulating was that [Outworld] was a demonic magic that Deculein manifested with the Altar, resulting in everyone being trapped and that they only survived thanks to Sylvia's magic.
It was a false story that irritated Yeriel a lot.
Yeriel looked ahead, tapping her fingers on the table.
"Well, nothing can be done about it" said Lia, who was sitting in front of her and knew what was happening inside her head. She smiled bitterly and scratched the back of her head.
– Because the professor himself wanted it.
-… yes, that's right.
Yeriel pouted her lips.
– In any case, you still haven't found him?
– Not yet.
– If you can't find him, then no one will.
In the history of the Empire, only one team of adventurers, the Red Garnett Adventure Team, received official recognition from the imperial family. Yeriel and the Empress entrusted them with a task that would make them heroes of the continent.
They had to find Deculein.
Where the hell did he go?
Yeriel grunted and looked out the window, contemplating the most fertile land and the most commercially and scientifically expanded province with the second largest imperial metropolis after the capital.
All thanks to Deculein's legacy. Thanks to the knowledge he left on his lighthouse.
– If he died…
– He's alive.
Lia interrupted Yeriel's worries.
Glancing at Lia, who radiated such confidence, Yeriel licked her lips.
"Then where the hell is he?"
– What are you going to do if the professor is still alive? Ria asked.
Yeriel replied immediately:
– I want to be with him in his last moments. I want to show him that I didn't let him down and that the Yukline family is thriving.
Lia smiled slightly. Seeing her like this, Yeriel raised her eyebrows.
– And you?
– What?
Yeriel pointed her finger at Lia.
– What will you do if you meet Deculein?
-…
Lia thought for a moment without saying anything, and then suddenly stared into space. At least to Yeriel, it seemed like a void, but a notification was displayed in front of Lia.
[Victory]
The main quest ended with the disappearance of the final boss and the ticket was the reward.
What was this ticket for? Lia didn't know for sure but she had a vague idea about it.
– I… I don't know. there are a lot of things… that I want to do and that I want to ask him about.
– What?
Yeriel narrowed her eyes. Suspicion crossed her face.
Lia stayed silent.
– Hmph, okay. What will you do after that? Will you still be an adventurer? Yeriel asked.
-…
Lia smiled bitterly without saying a word. Yeriel blinked.
– Hm? Do you have other plans?
– Yes. I need to think about it. Because the person I love may be somewhere nearby.
In Lia's mind, Deculein's image was still clear. His face, so similar to Kim Woojin's, flickered before her eyes.
– The person you love?
– Yes. If I find it…
If he really was Kim Woojin, and if he was really dying…
"Then I want to give him something."
* * *
A desert where winds blow endlessly.
A place where thick sand binds the feet, a place where hot air with mana mixed in it warms the skin, a place where even human footprints remain only for a short time on the barren sandy hills.
Step by step, Kreto moved further along the surface, which seemed to be melting from the heat.
-…
Without saying a word, he walked forward, but suddenly stopped and looked around. The distant sun and the same distant horizon.
FSHSHSH!
At that moment the wind blew. It was an air current containing mana. It flickered like starlight, revealing a small house made of wood.
-Are you inside?
After asking, Kreto opened the wooden door.
The door creaked, and a pleasant interior without a single speck of dust opened up.
Kreto hung his thermostatic robe and turban on a hanger and sat down in a random chair.
– You came?
Kreto turned around at where the voice resounded and smiled.
Before him was the worst evil of this era, a man in a black suit with glasses on the bridge of his nose, reading a book. An accomplice of the terrible Altar, written in the textbooks as the enemy of the entire continent, a villain worthy of death…
– Long time no see, Deculein.
Deculein von Grahan-Yukline.
No, he was no longer a noble, so apart from the name, everything else was superfluous.
– Yes, it's been a long time indeed, Prince Kreto.
However, he still looked handsome and relaxed.
With a body that was about to die, in a continent where everyone hated him, he was waiting for his last day, but he still looked nobler than any other person.
– What happened to Quay?
At Deculein's question, Kreto smiled bitterly.
– He died.
He protected Kreto when the continent was collapsing. The puppet he used turned into a pile of debris and ashes and Kreto scattered his remains over the sea.
– When he died, I felt empty, as if I had lost a part of myself. But the look on his face at the very end made me proud. He seemed to have finally found peace.
"I see,"
Kreto thought for a moment, and then said:
– What do you think is this feeling?
Deculein smiled at him.
– Why are you asking me this question when you already have the answer?
Kreto's brow furrowed. Deculein continued:
– The name of Your Highness Kreto (Creator), and the life you will continue to live, will be your answer.
Quay had no other reason to save His Highness.
Kreto became lost in thought. For a while, only the wooden floorboards creaked in the hut, and the sandy wind rattled against the window. And then Kreto chuckled.
– Haha. So that's how it is... If one day I have a child, and I lose it, will I experience the same feelings? Kreto asked.
Deculein shook his head.
– I don't know.
Kreto nodded and looked at the table where the wand with the spells engraved on it lay.
Suddenly he remembered something.
"Are you going to Locralen now?"
The promised day had arrived, and now Deculein had to go there. Locralen's president will let him in.
After that, everything will happen exactly as everyone remembers.
This knot will be tied without a single mistake.
-Yes.
Deculein smiled faintly.
* * *
Epherene was in Locralen.
She was getting rid of the Kaidezites, the microbes that were contained in the meteorite. They were a dangerous threat that could devour timelines by absorbing mana. If they managed to escape this place and reach the outside world, they could destroy the continent. She had to spend 385 years in Locralen, that is, 140,525 days or 3,372,600 hours.
For such hardships, only one award was intended for her, or rather one meeting.
– Thank you, professor.
"You don't need to thank me," Deculein said.
Epherene was struck by such nonchalance.
"Do you know how many years we will have to stay here?"
– Who cares?
That rude tone, and the way he behaved and acted…
All this was the same as before.
She missed him so much that tears welled up in her eyes.
– Where have you been all this time? No, what time period did you come from?
"You don't need to know that," Deculein said.
He was still lurking in her time, but now Epherene didn't care. Now he was here, next to her.
She followed on the heels of Deculein, who was busily heading somewhere.
– What are we going to do during these 385 years? she asked.
Deculein stopped and turned to her.
– We'll find a way to shorten that time.
These words confused her. Of course, this answer suited Deculein best of all, but still…
"…it will be difficult," Epherene muttered softly.
– Difficult?
Decline frowned.
– Yes. When it comes to disintegrating the energy of time, I know better than you. But even for me it is almost impossible.
– You're right. Alone, this is not possible.
Deculein put a hand on Epherene's shoulder.
It was only the touch of a hand, but Epherene's heart began to beat faster.
– Abolishing such a magical space is no joke, so I need your help.
But despite his encouraging words, Epherene seemed hesitant. Seeing that, Deculein was perplexed:
"You are not really thinking of spending 385 years here, are you?" Deculein asked.
Epherene silently pursed her lips.
– It's impossible, Epherene. No magician can endure this and come out of it unscathed. If you spend 385 years here, you would return to a world that hasn't changed a single second. Will you be able communicate with the people of that world the same as before? It would be like an ederly trying to communicate with a newborn. You will not belong to this world anymore. I came here so you wouldn't be like this.
– And yet, Professor, if I'm with you… – timidly replied Epherene.
Deculein smirked.
– It's 385 years old, Epherene. Make no mistake. No human remains constant for 385 years. Your feelings for me will definitely change.
– Haha…
At that moment, Epherene involuntarily laughed and looked at Deculein. While he narrowed his eyes, Epherene took a deep breath and shook her head arrogantly.
– They won't change, I assure you.
Deculein was slightly surprised by this statement. Taking advantage of his momentary carelessness, she moved closer to him and buried her face in his chest…
"Let go…" Deculein said, looking down at the top of her head.
Waiting for no answer, Deculein sighed.
– So what are you going to do? he asked after a moment's silence.
Epherene raised her head.
– What do you mean?…
To her cautious question, Deculein replied calmly:
– I can wait for you.
-…
– Think as much as you want. I will spend this time with you.
At this moment, Epherene's face flashed with a bright color…
After a while, her composure returned, and she asked, looking into Deculein's eyes:
– As much time as I want?
Decline nodded.
– Until you're ready.
After another moment of silence, she finally said:
– Professor, you don't have much time left, do you?
Her voice was filled with sadness.
Deculein, on the other hand, smiled brightly.
– Yes.
Epherene gave him a displeased look, then sighed and hugged him tighter.
"…one year," Epherene said. – I think a year will be enough for you to put forward a theory that I am implementing.
-…
– Let's start without delay. Let's make the most of this year.
1 year.
Compared to 385 years, this was too short a period, but that was why these moments would become even happier and more precious.
Decline said:
– Are you sure?
– Of course. If I say 100 years, you will hate me.
Epherene smiled broadly.
"I don't want to wait until the professor hates me."
-…
"Instead, during that year, I just want you to give me at least a little attention.
Even if he didn't love her like she loved him, she wanted to leave an imprint on Deculein's mind. Not as a student, not as a sweet girl, but as a woman.
– Is it possible?
At Epherene's question, Deculein sighed and smiled.
– I will try.