[Main Quest: Time]
There are many branches to a main quest. An independent quest may lead into a main quest, and a main quest may lead into an independent quest.
However, a main quest is “always” connected to the central framework of the story.
“…….”
I looked around. The darkness was thick as fog, and on the road surface, ice crystals seemed scattered everywhere, crunching underfoot with every step.
“Hm.”
First, I checked the condition of my body.
Because I had fallen quite sharply, I had no small number of injuries. If not for 「Iron Man」, my entire body would have been crushed.
“How troublesome.”
I wrapped 「Duct Tape」 around the injured areas to treat them. The bleeding stopped in an instant, and the pain of the bone bruises quickly subsided.
As such, one of the many uses of 「Duct Tape」 was healing. In an age where recovery magic had gone extinct, it was satisfying enough.
Next, I took out the map. It was the map I had received from the soldier before coming here. In other words, it had originally been an ordinary map, one modeled after the northern region, not this crevasse.
However, my 「Midas’s Hand」 grants a magical function to the very category of “map.” Furthermore, in a place like this—an area where mana in the atmosphere surged vividly—my available mana increased by a meaningful amount.
On top of that, if I were to mobilize the mana of the staff as well…….
[Manifesting Stage 5 of Midas’s Hand.]
Even the miracle of consuming five thousand mana with Deculein’s body was not impossible.
Stage 5, in other words, 「Midas’s Hand」 imbued with five thousand mana, exerted power on an entirely different level from Stage 4.
It was a characteristic of this worldview. Symbolic numbers in units of five (五), such as 5, 10, 15, and 20—numbers that put the mind at ease—effectively divided realms.
Crack, crack, crack──!
Sparks surged from my grasp. A flash that bloomed for an instant illuminated the surrounding darkness.
That current of mana soon settled into the map, and the ordinary paper became an Artifact rippling blue.
At this level, it was no different from a mini-map in any other game.
The next level, Level 10, was frankly impossible, but five thousand mana could be used in such a special way.
I looked at the map. The region filled only with darkness was marked in detail. Also, perhaps due to the effect of “reading the path,” a red line guided my way.
I walked exactly as the map indicated.
Crunch— crunch—
With every step, the sound of stepping on some kind of cookie crumbs rang out.
“……?”
And so, while I endured things I could not tell were cold or darkness with 「Iron Man」 and continued walking.
I discovered a source of light swelling in the distance.
It was a brilliant blue crystal tree.
“So this was it.”
Suddenly, a related scenario came to mind. The contents that had been sleeping somewhere in my memory unfolded.
I approached it.
I did not know this main quest itself, but the sanctuary called “Time” played an extremely important role in the story’s progression.
First of all, “Time” was a sanctuary created by the archmage Demakan when he left the secular world behind. A gift Demakan left for the next generation, constructed together with Demakan, his younger brother Murkan, his cousin Rohakan, and Rohakan’s disciple Idnik.
“…….”
I touched the crystal tree. On the surface of the tree, which flickered blue, the members of “Time” were recorded.
One by one, I read through those names.
[Demakan]
[Murkan]
[Rohakan]
[Idnik]
[Dzekdan]
Only familiar and famous names.
However, as my gaze slowly moved downward, there was a certain paragraph that flustered me. One name, carved crookedly, stood out.
[Epherene Luna]
“……Epherene Luna?”
It was a difficult name to understand.
To dismiss it as someone’s prank would be far too unproductive, and this atrocious handwriting was not something easily imitated. Nor could Epherene have come here before me…….
It was then.
—Professor?
A voice rang out like ripples. My eyes widened in that instant.
It was Epherene’s voice I had heard once before, the voice of the future.
“You…….”
—Is that you, Professor?
“…….”
I looked around, but there was no one. Only a single crystal tree flickered blue.
Meanwhile, Epherene’s voice continued.
—Will you answer me?
“……It is.”
I answered briefly. Then a sigh of relief flowed out. It was a breath filled with sincerity.
—Phew…… thank goodness, I’m so glad…….
I could not see her face, but I could imagine her. She was likely going pheeew— pheeew— with a hand placed on her chest.
Before long, the girl gave a small laugh and said,
—Are you curious? About how this happened?
“Yes. As a mage.”
—Hehe. Yes…… ta-da! I planted the fragments of kaidesite left over after dismantling it in Rockralen here.
It was a fragmentary explanation. However, I understood the gist of it.
The future Epherene had been freed from Rockralen together with the future Deculein, fortunately returned without any mental trauma or problems, then planted kaidesite in the crystal tree of “Time” to realize the “randomness of time”—it was likely that kind of scenario.
“However, I can’t see you.”
—Yes. I couldn’t repeat that flaw of Rockralen again. But because I wanted to, with you, Professor…… no, because of my own greed in wanting to talk with you at least once, I planted kaidesite in this crystal tree and created a one-dimensional “space-time sharing.” I feel like this took ten years off my lifespan, you know?
I shook my head.
Ten years of lifespan. She said it like a joke, but it was probably true.
No matter how great a mage she was, to realize a “magical space” of this level would require at least that much of a price.
“How did you know I would come?”
Epherene answered immediately.
—Because you told me. You did, Professor.
I stood still and looked beyond the tree.
—Because you told me, Professor, I waited.
An empty hollow where no one could be seen.
Her damp voice settled like a lyric.
—That’s all.
* * *
Clop, clop—
The northern dawn, where stars had risen densely. Beneath a night sky as cozy as a blanket, yet in a temperature cold enough to tear the skin, Epherene and Sophien were running.
Clop, clop—
No, the horse carrying the two of them was running.
An imperial steed. Bestowed the magnificent name “Terragon” in runic, he advanced while considering the two women on his back. Though Epherene suffered badly from motion sickness on horseback, thanks to him, she did not feel nauseous in the slightest.
“It seems to be here, Your Majesty.”
When Epherene pointed, the horse slowed. He was so clever it was admirable.
“Here, you say.”
“That is so, Your Majesty.”
A falling star would probably crash near here. According to the documents, at least.
“Good.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Please wait a moment.”
Epherene used 「Reinforcement」 to make two rocking chairs so the sky could be seen clearly, and since the cold weather displeased her, she made a screen as well.
“I think we can sit and wait, Your Majesty.”
“Stop speaking like that now. You may lower the formality a little.”
“……Yeees~ Your Majesty.”
Epherene was imitating exactly the speech of retainers she had once seen in books and plays. Sophien found it cute at first, but after repeated use, it became annoying.
“Oh, right.”
When Sophien sat in the chair, Epherene dug into the ground. Then she planted a single seed inside. It was a roclock tree, which endured cold well.
“Done!”
Now, with this, they should roughly be able to tell how much time had passed. If they went to the future, this seed would have become a tree.
“A fine idea. I shall praise you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Epherene bowed brightly, then sat in the chair beside Sophien. Then she counted inwardly.
One…….
Two…….
Three…….
Four…….
Five…….
When she counted to ten, slowly but accurately.
A single star glittered in the distance.
“Ah! I think that’s it, Your Majesty!”
“I see it.”
The exact time. A falling star descending without even the slightest error. The comet’s mana overflowed as if exploding.
A ray of light seeped into Epherene’s wide-open retina.
Shoooooaaaaaaa───!
The mana of the star and sky spread across the whole world.
Epherene slowly closed her eyes and surrendered herself to the sensation of her entire body floating upward…….
“……Hup!”
She opened her eyes again.
“Uh…….”
Chirp, chirp— chirp, chirp—
The sound of birds singing. And sunlight stabbing her eyes.
She had arrived in the future. Epherene was certain. In any case, it seemed that way.
“Mm. How fascinating.”
“……!”
A voice belonging to someone other than herself. Epherene turned that way and was greatly startled.
Sophien was there. She spread both arms and said,
“How is it? I followed you.”
“Wow…… I thought only I could do it!”
“Hahaha. Luna.”
“Yes?”
Sophien, who laughed heartily, pointed behind her.
“First, look over there.”
Epherene turned around and was greatly startled. The roclock tree had grown large.
“Wow! The tree—”
“No. Not the tree. The object placed there.”
“……?”
Epherene lowered her gaze at an angle. Near the roots of the tree, a wand had been placed.
Judging from its state, on which 「Preservation」 and 「Cleanliness」 magic had been used, it was obvious who had prepared it.
“Hehe~ This Professor!”
Epherene quickly ran over and picked up the wand. But then, a sheet of paper fluttered down.
“?”
It was a note. Probably a sentence left by the future Deculein to her current self. Epherene blinked as she read its contents.
[Epherene. The comet that sent you back to the past before is a twin. It will likely descend again on January 9, so return then.]
Whoooosh…….
Just then, the wind blew. Epherene held back her disheveled hair and read on.
[Also, from this time onward, you likely will not be able to meet me, so do not bother trying to find me. It would be best if you returned with my gift.]
“What do you mean, return?”
She was not going back until she saw his face.
For now, Epherene examined the wand in detail.
“……What is this now?”
There were strange letters on the rod of the wand as well. They were eerie, like some kind of hieroglyphs.
At that moment, Sophien said,
“Before long, you too shall come to know. Time is on your side, so always receive and strive forward.”
“Huh?”
When Epherene turned around, Sophien smiled faintly.
“It is the runic written on the wand. Thanks to that runic, the wand has become no different from an artifact in and of itself.”
“……Ah.”
“It seems Deculein has left you a fine gift.”
Sophien clasped her hands behind her back and looked at Epherene’s wand. Almost instinctively, Epherene hid it in her arms.
At that innocent action, the emperor burst into laughter once again.
“Hahaha. In any case, Luna. Deculein does not seem to be here. No, it seems he will not meet you.”
Sophien spoke. At that, Epherene’s face drooped. She looked as if she would burst into tears at any moment.
“Shall we travel the future together?”
“…….”
“What, do you dislike it? This is a proposal from the emperor of the Empire.”
Epherene, cheeks puffed out fully, looked up at Sophien. Then she wriggled her fingers and said,
“I want to go look for the Professor, Your Majesty.”
“…….”
Sophien’s expression stiffened for a moment, but soon she gave a small smile.
“It cannot be helped. Good! Now, Terragon!”
Neeeigh—!
A horse appeared from afar. It was Terragon, who had carried her just now. Epherene flinched in surprise.
“Uh, what? Did he come to the future too, Your Majesty? How is this possible, Your Majesty?”
“How is this possible, Your Majesty? There is no such manner of speech. Do not ask too much and get on. If we are to find Deculein, there is no time.”
“……Ah, yes!”
Sophien leapt up lightly and settled onto Terragon’s back, and Epherene likewise took her place behind her.
Neeeeigh——─!
A loud cry, quite different from just before.
Terragon, who had somehow become more macho, began to gallop the moment the two women climbed onto his back.
* * *
……The sanctuary of Time.
As I looked around this mysterious yet empty space, I made a table and chairs. The answer returned from somewhere I had not expected.
—Ah, thank you. A table and chairs suddenly appeared.
“…….”
I had made them for myself to sit on, but anyway.
I made one more chair and sat down before it. I could not see her, but I could hear her voice.
—Are you in front of me right now?
“Yes.”
—Wow. This is fascinating.
“I find it more fascinating that you created such a space.”
—Hehe~ Whose disciple do you think I am?
As I imagined the girl laughing like a child, I shook my head.
“Epherene. What is it like there?”
—It’s all right, thanks to you, Professor.
“It seems I’m not there.”
If I were, she wouldn’t have said something like, “I wanted to talk to you at least once.”
—……Yes. That’s right.
Epherene answered like a sigh.
—That fact is so hard for me now. If only I could meet you one more time. Facing you, Professor…… Would it be possible if I changed the future or the past?
“No.”
I cut her off firmly.
It was utterly impossible, something that should not even be attempted. A magically specified taboo.
“Even if the future changes, there is no prospect of you and me meeting. Rokralen was dismantled after your time period, and even if you changed that through effort beyond reckoning, it would not be your world. To change the future, you would have to change the past from the future, but no matter how great a mage is, there is no way to go back to the past and revive someone who no longer exists.”
I don’t know what sort of bond this girl and the future me built. I don’t know what happened in that future. Nor do I know what will happen.
The “timeline” does not match.
Therefore, I do not know the yearning she holds, and above all, the future never changes.
If, in that girl’s future, I died—or if I “left” for reality.
Whatever it may have been—
—……Damn it!
Boom———!
A great tremor shook the road surface. It was probably Epherene’s magic.
“Epherene. Are you trying to break the ground?”
—That wasn’t me. The timing just matched. Like you said, Professor, how could magic from the distant future interfere with that past? It doesn’t make sense.
Her voice sounded a little angry. I calmly asked back.
“Then?”
—There are probably a lot of enemies near you, Professor. Monsters that you alone have to face. You could call it the entrance exam for “Time.”
I looked to the right side of the crystal tree. Before I knew it, quite a number of monsters had gathered.
Grrrrrr……. Grrrrr…….
The sight of them flicking their tongues as they watched this way was filthy.
But they did not dare come closer and only watched from a distance. Perhaps this crystal tree was magically blocking their entry.
“It’s fine.”
—Really?
“I was planning to stay here for about a week anyway.”
Taking into account this space’s special characteristics, which meaningfully increase my mana capacity and amplify my recovery speed, it is well worth staying for a week.
—Could it be…… because of me, Professor?
“No.”
Not at all.
It is for the sake of granting 「Midas’s Hand」 up to stage 5 to all my equipment, including my suit.
—……You really can’t even say something polite. Well. Well then~ I admit it.
I took out one piece of wood steel and waited for my mana to fill. The ones glaring with red eyes from over there were annoying, but they were all things I would clean up in a week anyway.
“Epherene. As a mage, is there nothing you need to do?”
I asked while waiting for my mana to recover. Epherene did not answer.
“Epherene.”
When I asked again, a sullen voice came back.
—You told me not to change it, Professor. The future. No, the past.
“…….”
—Then there’s nothing for me to do. I just lost my goal in life…….
A tone as if she were sulking. I shook my head.
“How unexpected.”
—Hm? What is unexpected?
“Were you the sort of person who listened so well?”
—…….
At that moment, the conversation cut off abruptly. It seemed she had been rendered properly speechless.
Just then, all 5,000 mana filled up.
It was all thanks to this crystal tree. Recovery speed +300%. I had never heard of, much less seen, such insane performance.
In any case.
I scraped together all my mana and granted 「Midas’s Hand」 to the wood steel. However, I added one condition in the process.
This wood steel would be “attack-specialized.”
──!
The mana in my veins raced through my entire body as if setting it aflame, then crackled violently and connected outward. That mana, the flow of that trait, dwelled wholly within the “wood steel.”
“Mm.”
The change was certain. Even its exterior had turned blue.
—Professor~ What did you just do?
Epherene asked right then. I gathered myself and said,
“I have something else to do, but I have to wait for my mana to recover. If you have anything you’re curious about in the meantime, ask.”
—……Hehe.
Epherene laughed. As if she found it ridiculous—no, as if she found it cute. The latter displeased me even more.
She said,
—Professor. There is nothing I don’t know.
“How arrogant.”
—……Ah, cancel that, cancel that. There is one thing I don’t know.
I fiddled with the wood steel. I even tested it by controlling it with 「Psychokinesis」. As expected, it had a sharpness that seemed to tear through space.
—I don’t know you, Professor. Even now.
Those words from Epherene made me stop. I looked across from the chair where she sat—or rather, where I presumed she was sitting.
“Are you bored?”
—No. No, Professor. I’m so happy. Right now, I’m so happy I feel like I could cry.
“……It seems you are bored. Do this, then.”
I made a cube and placed it on the desk. No matter what future it was in, if I left it here, it should be delivered.
“Did you receive it?”
—……Yes. I got it. A cube suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Play with it.”
—What do you mean, play with it…….
Words that sounded like grumbling. However, there was nothing after that. Epherene said nothing at all.
Or perhaps she could not.
She only let out the occasional breath. Her voice trembled like a leaf soaked in moisture.
—…….
She might have been crying, but I did not concern myself with it.
Emotions are things one must resolve alone.
Because telling someone not to cry does not stop tears, and telling someone to laugh does not make them laugh.
“The trait is taking well.”
I merely focused on mana recovery and 「Midas’s Hand」…….
──「Ecstatic Map」──
◆ Information
：A map artifact that records the surrounding region.
：It possesses a special effect due to 「Midas’s Hand」.
◆ Category
：Rare Magic Item ⊃ Map
◆ Special Effects
：Automatically charts terrain and objects within a 500m radius.
：Displays the owner’s location and the movement of living beings within a 300m radius.
：Reads the path.
[ Midas’s Hand : Level ５ ]
────────
[Main Quest : Time]
◆ Join the Sanctuary “Time”
： Shop Currency +1
： Mana + 100
[Status Effect : Essence of the Crystal Tree]
◆ Mana recovery speed +300%
──「Wood Steel」──
◆ Information
：A magical armament made of wood steel.
：A cherished item that has communed with Deculein. Caution is required if used by someone other than Deculein.
：All performance has been amplified due to 「Midas’s Hand」.
◆ Category
：Magic Item ⊃ Weapon
◆ Special Effects
：Pierces magic.
：Autonomously learns combat and acts.
：Destruction-specialized.
[Midas’s Hand : Level 5]
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