(Titus's POV)
"I'm not going anywhere!"
Before me stood a grumpy-looking girl, unleashing a barrage of magic spells. Trisha Fellows, her tutor, lingered behind Olga Marie, attempting to intervene. I signaled Trisha to stand back, assuring her that Olga's attacks were futile. The spells seemed to pass through me, as if I were a mere holographic image.
Approaching Olga, who had ceased her assault, I inquired, "Are you done?"
Olga, visibly perplexed, nodded cluelessly. I motioned for Trisha to come closer, and as soon as she entered the range, reality shifted. In an instant, we found ourselves in a desolate wasteland.
"What...?" Olga, who had been horrified moments ago, now wore a questioning expression.
"Where are we?" Trisha asked.
"We are in what you call the Irish Underworld, the Land of Shadows. For now, that's all I can reveal," I explained, gesturing to Olga. "Watch closely."
Summoning Gungnir, I charged it with pulsating Bifrost energy. With unwavering focus, I hurled the spear toward a towering mountain.
BOOM!
The impact was cataclysmic, unleashing a colossal explosion that tore through the landscape. Debris scattered like chaotic confetti, and the once-majestic mountain crumbled into a symphony of destruction. The air resonated with the aftershock, echoing the sheer power unleashed. It was as if nature itself recoiled, a testament to the devastating force of Gungnir and the released Bifrost energy.
Olga and Trisha could only stare at the sheer power I had just displayed. Debris fell around us, but I conjured a shield, protecting us all. After the dust settled, I walked toward Olga and Trisha, and reality shifted again, returning us to the same room.
Leaning toward Olga, I smiled, "So, have I earned some respect to converse with Miss Olga, or would you like to witness more pyrotechnics?" Tears welled in Olga's eyes, but she quickly wiped them away, nodding with her head down. "I will listen."
"Good," I said, extending my hand.
Terrified, Olga glanced at Trisha, who nodded in approval. She tentatively took my hand, and in an instant, we were whisked away to a park—a sudden shift that left Olga bewildered yet intrigued by the sight of a vibrant theme park.
"Wh-why are we here?" Her confusion was evident, yet the sight of the park seemed to ignite a spark within her.
"Ice cream?" I offered her a cone purchased from a nearby stall.
"When did Mr. Dusklock…" Olga began, but her hands were already occupied with the ice cream.
"Let's find a place to sit. In the meantime, I'll introduce myself," I suggested. Olga nodded, her cheeks reddening. It seemed ice cream had a way of captivating attention, though it felt strangely manipulative.
As we strolled, I introduced myself, detailing my background, mage rank, and the type of magic I practiced. I explained my willingness to mentor her and what I intended to teach. Gradually, Olga began to open up, introducing herself in turn.
We settled on a bench, and finally, Olga voiced a question, "But why did Mr. Titus choose me? Even my father…"
"That's precisely why your father won't acknowledge you, now or ever," I stated, causing Olga's expression to turn grave.
I chuckled, and then reality shifted once more. The same bench, yet a different realm. The sky was dark, but stars illuminated the white expanse of land. And before us hung the blue planet—Earth.
"A-are we on the moon?" Olga's enthusiasm was palpable. Perhaps my skill (Saint's Golden Rule A) was working as intended, putting children at ease when I assumed a guardian or parental role.
However, she quickly realized her childlike excitement and coughed, blushing.
I chuckled and shook my head, "Nope, this is merely an illusion. This is Earth's current state. But it won't remain the same."
In an instant, the serene blue planet transformed into a seething mass. Waters ran red with blood, while land lay strewn with human remains.
Olga gasped in horror, turning to me for an explanation.
"This is the future I strive to prevent," I explained, my gaze shifting upward. "However, there is something here that isn't an illusion."
"What does Mr. Titus mean?" Olga's voice trembled as she glanced skyward, her eyes fixating on the colossal cube suspended in the heavens. Its pulsating energy was undeniable, unmistakably otherworldly.
"This is the Moon Cell, and as my successor, you will learn to control it."
---
Now, let's address some questions.
Why did I choose Olga as my successor and reveal the secret, right? The answer lies in her being the most suitable candidate for the Moon Cell.
Having glimpsed the future with Odin's Eye and running continuous simulations, I discovered that the Whore of Babylonia coveted the Moon Cell. While I could defend this precious asset, Olga Marie became my fail-safe plan. Compatibility tests indicated that she possessed the ideal qualities to master the intricate mechanics of the Moon Cell. The only plausible conclusion was that in an alternate timeline, Olga had been the host of the Alien God, much like myself—a being alien to this world. Having her close allowed me to keep a vigilant eye on her.
In essence, if I were to fail against the Whore of Babylonia, Olga would escape with the Moon Cell. There was another purpose, but that would be addressed later. Moreover, under my guidance, she would be a top-tier director.
And, just to be clear, I absolutely wasn't thinking of her as a top waifu.
I sat in my office, lost in thought when a knock interrupted my reverie. Entering was none other than my soon-to-be-adopted daughter, Olga Marie Animusphere.
"I've decided to be your successor, Mr. Titus," Olga declared, determination in her eyes.
"Great," I smiled. "So, what will you call me? Father, papa, dad, but please, not daddy?" Daddy just doesn't sit right.
Olga blushed before responding, "I won't be using any of those because you can never be my father."
EMOTIONAL DAMAGE!
The arrow struck my heart directly. "P-please, hear me out. You're only 19, so it would seem odd…!"
Wait, I was also 19! Why hadn't I considered this before? Perhaps it was my mentality, where I saw myself as an old man or only perceived individuals under 18 as children.
"Then…?"
"Please be my mentor… teacher," Olga said, her cheeks flushed.
"Hmm, that works fine," I smiled. "Then, Olga Marie Animusphere, from today, you will be my disciple."
I strolled to the hanger and donned my coat. "Marie, would you like to go somewhere?"
"Where are we going?"
"To meet the immortal old geezer who's been avoiding my calls."
---
---
(3rd Person's POV)
Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg is a revered magus, renowned for his mastery of the Second Magic. Enigmatic and scholarly, he transcends conventional magi, wielding the arcane power of the "Kaleidoscope," granting him the ability to traverse and observe parallel worlds. His wisdom and unparalleled understanding of the multiverse make him a legendary figure among practitioners of magecraft.
In a spherical chamber, described as a "completed world," Zelretch conducted his observation of Parallel Worlds. The room, jet black and adorned with star-like lights, responded to his dictates about each world. These lights swiftly twirled as he flipped through a book, detailing observed world traits.
At the room's heart floated a wooden chair, said to exude gravitational significance merely by its presence. Its refined appearance avoided ostentation, contrasting with elite-owned furniture. The chair's significance was such that an unsophisticated individual would be obscured by its weight.
Seated upon this chair, Zelretch wielded a hovering book, akin to an encyclopedia but infinitely more agile. Its pages flitted through thousands in moments, inscribing and erasing real-time information on diverse worlds and intricate individual specifications.
As usual, he was observing a timeline when he sensed something unusual. In the next second, the entire room quaked with a shockwave.
"Impossible!" Zelretch gasped in horror. In other parallel worlds, some individuals could breach the security of his room, but no one could shake this place.
At that moment, Zelretch heard a voice.
"Old geezer, I know you can hear me. Stop avoiding me and come out, or I know some nasty gravitational spell to force a rabbit to come out of its hole."
"Damn, it's him," Zelretch muttered, massaging his temples until he sighed and rose from his chair. He closed his eyes and, upon reopening them, found himself in the meeting hall of the Clock Tower, with only two individuals present.
One was a little girl with white hair. Zelretch recognized her – a troubled girl with a fate as messed up as anyone in the main cast.
The other person had brown hair and eyes. He should have been a background character, a complete nobody, yet for some inexplicable reason, he had become a crucial figure. He was the only person whose past, present, and future Zelretch could never determine. Titus Dusklock was his name.
"Welcome, Mr. Old creepy pervert. Let's start our meeting."
---
(Titus's POV)
For a couple of minutes, the room fell into silence. Some might argue that one shouldn't be arrogant in the presence of a legendary figure in the Nasuverse. However, for me, he was nothing more than a headache. Since the awakening of my system, I had tried to contact him from day one, but he never made an appearance. I was convinced that if anyone in this world should be aware of the Whore of Babylonia, it would be this geezer.
"Don't be stiff around him. I might have less experience than this ancient relic, but I have the same power," I reassured Olga Marie, who was fidgeting, clearly excited in the presence of the great lord of the Clock Tower—a mage's dream encounter.
"What do you want?" At that moment, Zelretch broke his silence.
I didn't know why, but I felt like he wasn't meeting my eyes, as if he were scared of me. Did I bully him in the past?
"Can you tell me in which time the Whore of Babylonia is maturing?"
"This, I cannot tell. The only clue I can give you is she is not in the current timeline. She wasn't in my time, so she must be somewhere before my birth."
"Singularity?"
Zelretch smiled for a moment. "You are sharp."
"And I am guessing that the reason you are not telling me her whereabouts is because I have a chance of victory if I were to search on my own."
"That is true. But the chances of your victory are only 1%," Zelretch said. "Titus Dusklock, you are the one who has brought that beast into this world, so only you can stop her."
"Sigh. I know that." I sighed. A 1% chance of victory, huh.
"But know that the 1% chance is only about your victory. This world will be destroyed at all costs."
I widened my eyes and gritted my teeth, but I soon calmed down.
"Hmm, I have a plan for that. I won't let that happen."
"Unless you can become a god…" Zelretch paused, coughing. "So, do you want any help?"
"Can you send me coordinates to a future timeline where humanity survived?"
"Oh, there is one. Now that I think about it, you might be able to resolve that issue," Zelretch muttered, then turned to me. "I'll send you the coordinates of a potential future in a few months, but the only one who could assist you is the guardian of the fifth magic."
"You mean, Aoko Aozaki?"
Come to think of it, she did mention meddling with a timeline in an attempt to save her boyfriend or something.
"Thank you for the info," I said, rising to leave. But before exiting, I turned back to Zelretch, "Have we met in the past?"
Zelretch immediately shivered and coughed, "I-I don't think so…"
"Neat!" I grinned and walked out.
While walking, I noticed Marie looking despondent. I playfully poked her cheek.
"Ah," She glanced at me, blushing. "Sorry, I was distracted."
"Still thinking about what he said?"
"Hm," Olga nodded, "I haven't seen this Whore of Babylonia, but from the deductions and explanations, I'm guessing the means of defeating her are beyond the possible."
"Indeed, let alone me, even if every mage in the world fought that beast, they would undoubtedly lose."
The Whore of Babylonia was an entity with two saint graphs, the dominant one being Whore of Babylonia (Nero), and the lesser one being Amaterasu (Tamamo-no-Mae). Both were beast candidates, and even if we defeated both, she was also an alien.
In simple terms, she existed in two worlds—ours and an alien one. So even if we killed her in our world, she would grow and strike back from the alien world.
"But don't worry, your teacher has a plan, and for that, I'll need a lot of help."
"Yes, I will help."
===
As promised, a bonus chapter!
Thanks for the support.