Extra in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 100

100 – Forest (11)

“…That it can be changed.”

The words were simple, but honestly, it didn’t feel easy.

The will to do so was there from the start, but I was well aware that it wouldn’t be easy, and I didn’t even grasp what the plan was, or the extent of the ‘organization’s’ power.

“Did you create this situation to warn me of the danger and encourage me?”

While her words were indeed surprising, at this moment, and looking ahead to my actions, if asked whether they would be helpful, I wouldn’t confidently nod my head.

Encouragement might be there, and the information might have some use, but I didn’t think it would directly help.

So, she was just doing all this for that purpose.

Waiting here for a person for years.

It made me feel a sense of regret and pity.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I already knew. I had the intention to prevent it from the start, even without you saying so.”

However.

El, who heard my words, didn’t lose her smile.

“I know. Because I can ‘see’ the present.”

Rather than that, she even tilted her head with a mysterious expression and tried to show it.

“I feel relieved instead. I knew you would appear here, but I didn’t know you would believe my words and act accordingly. But now that I can ‘see’ you like this… I feel like I worried for nothing.”

“‘I can see’ now?”

Those words bothered me a bit.

Until now, I thought that what she had done was based on seeing my future in the past.

However, the nuance she was conveying felt more like she could only see it now, reaching this point.

“…Did you see the future?”

“I told you. I’m not as great a ‘continuer’ as that. I can only see vague futures. It’s very difficult to see the future of someone like you, or the future long after. It must have been quite challenging.”

“Then, how do you know about me?”

Instead of answering, El turned her gaze back to the surroundings.

Then, she faintly smiled at me.

“What I saw is not the future. It’s the ‘past.’”

“…!”

Only then did I realize the truth.

How she knew about me, how she knew about the things I had experienced.

What she had seen was not the future but the ‘past.’

“Is that… possible?”

“If I can see the future, why wouldn’t I be able to see the past?”

With a seemingly indifferent remark, I almost instinctively nodded my head.

Certainly, if you can see the future but not the past at that point, it might actually seem strange.

“If seeing the future is about reading possibilities, seeing the past is somewhat similar to reading the recorded history at the source. Well… it’s not as easy as it sounds.”

El lightly shook her head.

“To read the records, you need to be closely connected to the source. That itself is a difficult task, and it doesn’t end there. To not get swept away by the vast information at the source, you always have to be careful and break through the barriers of the information you want to access. In a way, it’s even more challenging than simply seeing the future.”

Then, she spread her arms.

“That’s one of the reasons for creating this space.”

“….”

If she acted with such intent, it made sense.

Why she went to such trouble for that.

However.

“It’s not exactly pleasant to be looked into.”

Having someone look into my past was not a pleasant experience.

Even though I knew she had no ill intentions, or rather acted with good intentions, it still didn’t feel good.

In response to my words, El let out a small laugh.

“It’s fine. What I can see is just a tiny fraction. The thicker the barrier built by those with exceptional abilities, but in your case, it’s especially thick. I’ve never encountered anyone with a thicker barrier than yours. Thanks to that, despite my efforts, I haven’t found out much apart from a few things you experienced at the lake.”

“Hmm…”

“There’s no need to be so guarded. I’m already dead and only the soul remains. Bound here, unable to go anywhere. Unless in such a situation, I can’t meet anyone.”

El smiled with a gentle, yet somewhat melancholic smile.

“I have another question, may I ask?”

“Of course.”

“You mentioned one reason before. Does that mean there are other reasons as well?”

“That’s right. In fact, that could be considered the main reason.”

After stroking his chin, Eli opened his mouth again.

“Catastrophe, the end is coming too close. And while you have the potential to stop it, time is running out.”

“…”

There was nothing to say in response.

I knew it already.

At the time I left the academy, they already had enough influence to make a difference.

Honestly, I always had the thought that they wouldn’t hesitate to start a war at any moment.

But I was just biting my fingers as I had no proper way to respond.

And even if the organization were to act now, I couldn’t definitively answer if I could suppress it with force.

Even if I were to face the organization now, I wouldn’t be able to win.

I had definitely grown stronger since my first encounter with them, but I was well aware of the fact that I still wasn’t at the level to defeat them.

They were clearly on a higher level than me.

Nevertheless, I had no intention of giving up, but apart from that determination, a cold, rational eye to assess the situation was also necessary.

And when viewed rationally, it was extremely difficult for me alone to stop the organization’s actions.

“I will give you ‘time.’”

“‘Time’?”

“Yes.”

Eli nodded lightly and flicked her finger.

Then.

Whoosh─

The nature of space changed.

“This is…?”

I looked at her with a puzzled expression.

I had noticed that something had changed, but I couldn’t yet grasp what it specifically was.

“I told you. I will give you ‘time.’”

She smiled.

“Right now, the flow of time in this space is significantly slower compared to outside. In fact, it’s almost like it’s frozen.”

“…It’s unbelievable.”

The words slipped out of my mouth unintentionally.

But it was a story that could be believed.

The idea of slowing down time to such an extent.

In this world, there existed vast magic, some of which could interfere with time and space.

However, the level required to manipulate time to such an extreme was among the highest in that field.

Even the so-called great wizards wouldn’t dare attempt it; it was truly a miraculous feat, fitting for the realm of gods.

However, the woman in front of me claimed that she intentionally created such a space.

If all the sorcerers on the continent knew about this fact, they would have shown two reactions.

They would either doubt it as absurd or go crazy thinking a god of magic had appeared.

“So, do you believe now that I was the Empire’s greatest sorcerer?”

Watching her confidently gesturing with a triumphant expression, I swallowed my words.

It’s not like I never believed she was the Empire’s greatest sorcerer.

The space she created was already extraordinary.

But this went beyond simply expressing it with those words.

Even if we brought the greatest sorcerers of the current Empire, Elbrent and Reinberg, they wouldn’t be able to perform this kind of magic.

No, it would probably be impossible even if we searched the entire continent.

That’s how much her level exceeded my imagination.

“Judging by your expression, it seems to have sunk in.”

Looking at my face, she chuckled.

“Well, no matter how, I can’t maintain this space for long. I’d say about half a year is the limit for me to keep this space in this state.”

“…Half a year.”

It’s a time that is long if it’s long and short if it’s short.

“So, why did you go to the trouble of preparing this space?”

“You must have some inkling by now. It’s to provide you with time for training.”

“Training?”

“Yes.”

Nodding, Elle took a step forward.

“You possess unparalleled talent in the world. However… even so, you are critically short on time. You understand that, don’t you?”

“……”

It was a valid point.

I have long known that my talent is far from ordinary, and meeting other Swordsmen of the same rank only confirmed it.

Even the Sword Master described my talent as unbelievable, indicating that there might be no one to match me in talent alone.

Simply put, reaching the level of mastery at my age is a feat that might not be found anywhere on the continent… no, even in history, there might be no one but me.

That’s how special my talent is.

However, even such exceptional talent cannot solve everything.

Take the Sword Master, for example.

While my talent might be ahead of his, the Sword Master has the advantage of time.

He is also a genius with a talent that astounds the world.

That genius poured a time in my life that was several times longer.

The gap between us was not something that could be bridged in a moment.

Moreover, due to the events so far, I had no leisure to focus solely on training.

Even during the time I was saved by Bella, I could only train in my mind, as my thoughts were too troubled to focus purely on training.

Yet, to someone like me, she was offering time.

“So, will you accept?”

At her question, smiling, I replied, “Yes.”

I could only nod my head.