Chapter 215

“Isn’t it a side effect of the Dimension Research Institute’s time regression project…?”

“Specifically.”

How was I supposed to know something like that?

“I don’t know.”

“That’s right. I don’t know either.”

“…?”

What was I supposed to do, was the thought that came to mind.

“Probably Nerjin and the Star Child don’t know either.”

“…”

“As for the World Tree on Fog Island, well, I can’t be sure. In any case, the previous World Tree couldn't read the future either and fell victim to a Time Chaos Dungeon.”

“…”

I was faced with a fundamental question.

“The Time Chaos Dungeon, through what process did this disaster occur?”

“…”

“No, in the first place. Was it really caused by an accident?”

“…”

“Couldn’t it be the intention of some transcendent being?”

“…”

“If it’s a disaster that even the great cosmic order, Cosmos, and the World Tree can’t do anything about, wouldn’t it be more reasonable to think so?”

“…”

It was a perspective I had never once considered before.

I had figured out that there was a correlation with the Demon Lords of hell a long time ago, but….

“Is there… any proof?”

“If you want to create proof, anything is possible. But Cosmos wants to hear the opinion of the possessor he chose, not some outdated oracle who has served her purpose.”

“…”

“You have a guess, don’t you? Know-It-All and Wild Instinct are pointing to something in your head, aren't they?”

A sigh escaped me.

As expected of the Oracle.

Did she mean the Director?

“…Actually, there is one thing that bothers me. I felt it when I entered the Time Chaos Dungeon. That… power similar to the Martin of the apocalypse.”

It was when I was fighting the apocalyptic Martin to master Wild Instinct.

Martin, who had appeared not as an apostle of Cosmos, but of his antithesis, the great cosmic chaos, Chaos, had told me.

Since I couldn't become the apostle of the apocalypse, someone else around me would.

That fate has inertia and a tendency to return to its original state….

“…Chaos.”

The Star Maiden’s face became serious at once as she listened to my story.

“An apostle of the apocalypse, chosen by Chaos, exists…?”

“This didn’t happen in the original story, did it…?”

That’s how everything had been lately.

The King of the Underworld, Angel Medic, the restored Time Chaos Dungeon, the apostle of Chaos.

None of them had even shown their faces in the original story.

“…Of course, the causality is established.”

“Causality?”

“He exists on this continent now, doesn’t he? I went to the extent of deceiving the world by gritting my teeth and hiding my identity, but the Star Child didn’t.”

The living legend of the Cosmos Empire who had lived for hundreds of years.

“He didn't appear in the original story either, did he?”

“…!”

Was that it?

Did the apostle of Chaos appear because the Star Child, the apostle of Cosmos, was alive…?

“Originally, the world would have been destroyed even without Chaos intervening. But with you and the Star Child stepping onto the stage, the scales even tilted.”

“So Chaos had no choice but to step in.”

The Star Maiden nodded with a grim face.

If so, then back to the main topic, the relationship between the Time Chaos Dungeon and Chaos.

“Then the Time Chaos Dungeon is also…?”

“Well, that. The Stellar Force of Cosmos and the Stellar Force of Chaos are opposite powers, but they have something in common. But I didn’t feel any Stellar Force in the Time Chaos Dungeon.”

The same went for me.

“But you never know with these things. I’ll look into this part for sure.”

“I’ll be counting on you.”

Since it had come to this, I also told her about the self-proclaimed King of the Underworld and Angel Medic and asked for her help, and the Star Maiden nodded.

And just as I was about to go home, I turned around and asked.

“More importantly, are you really going to be okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I was the only one who knew that the Director was the Star Maiden.

“Wouldn't it be okay with the Star Child? If you plan with him…”

“I can’t. The Star Child is too famous. The causality of the entire continent, hell, and the celestial sphere is intertwined with him. If someone like that recognizes me, Chaos will recognize me too.”

Her power was incomplete right now anyway.

Since she, the Star Maiden, wanted to remain as a hidden card, I had no choice but to respect her wishes.

Strategically, that seemed better too.

Just as I stood in front of the door to leave, the Star Maiden called out to me.

“Hey, Kim An-hyun.”

“Yes.”

“Please take good care of the Star Child.”

Seeing her not forget the grace from 100 years ago, I thought she was truly a Star Maiden.

“I understand.”

“…He is… the Star Child is the loneliest person in the world.”

The Star Maiden’s last words melted into my consciousness like a lingering echo.

* * *

‘Ah, I want to rest.’

The Angel Medic that Bianca told me about was connected to the King of the Underworld that Anette brought up, and the suddenly restored Time Chaos Dungeon led all the way to Chaos through my conversation with the Director.

All of that happened just yesterday.

“Everyone, take your seats~. I’ll start the closing assembly!”

I even had a scheduled appointment today.

As promised with Principal Lukfels yesterday, I was scheduled to visit Matthew’s house.

Even seeing Teacher Hailey’s lively face at the thought of leaving work didn’t cheer me up.

“Now, you all know it’s Christmas Eve today, right?! Santa Claus will be coming soon! So everyone be careful! He doesn’t give presents to crying children, and bad children get coal, you know that, right?!”

‘Ah, it’s already that time of year.’

For a moment, I had been living a complicated school life with the appearance of variables that didn't appear in the original story.

As the end of the year slowly approached, I finally faced this day.

It seems that in this world, Santa Claus really exists, but… I’m not so sure.

Actually, I had asked about it in casual conversation several times.

I first asked Lilac.

“Santa Claus? Yes! He’s a kind person who gives me presents every year. Last year, he gave me a hand mirror!”

Surprisingly, she had actually received a gift….

I also asked the Star Child.

“Huh? Santa Claus? When I turned 500, he left me a letter saying it was his last gift because he was tired too…? Hey, I didn't know he only gave gifts until you’re 500. I’m still young for my age. That old man has no heart.”

I also asked Adela, but she suddenly got angry.

“Tsk! That insolent old geezer, what do I care!”

Then Luri teased her from the side.

“Eeeh~! Princess Adela only ever got coal!”

Leaving the two of them to fight, I also asked Anette.

“Hmm? Ah, I used to get them often too. It’s a mystery how he finds my hideout in the underground waterway and breaks in every time…, but I plan to hang a wool sock and go to sleep this year too. Of course, I plan to write in advance, ‘Thank you for the Nine Kingdoms Genuine Plus DLC Series’?”

I would probably get a lump of coal.

“Alright, let’s wrap up! Everyone, bow!”

As soon as Bord stood up and bowed, I got up from my seat and headed to the train station.

After waiting for a short while on the platform, the party I was waiting for soon arrived.

“Cadet Martin!”

A handsome man with curly blond hair and slitted eyes approached.

It was Teacher Faris.

But his hands didn't look light at all.

“…Excuse me, Teacher Faris. What are all those things in your hands…?”

“It’s boring inside the Mana Train, you know.”

He smiled brightly and showed me.

“Haha, this is the popular Nine Kingdoms these days. I also prepared lunch boxes. I didn't know what you’d like, so I bought a lot. And this is a good book to read alone.”

“…Was our trip a train journey…?”

“No? It’s a trip to Petrak that will take a few hours.”

Figuring that a long explanation would just be a waste of breath, I boarded the Mana Train with Faris.

The train ride with Faris, who offered me a lunch box, was more peaceful than I thought.

We ate first, then played a round of Nine Kingdoms, and then read a book.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the Petrak Kingdom.

As soon as we got off, we went to the ecological park and arrived at the Animas family mansion located in the center.

“Welcome.”

Camp Leader Willow.

Matthew’s mother was waiting for us, drinking tea.

We also sat down around the tea table.

“…You look troubled.”

Teacher Faris broke the silence.

Willow, who had always been a dignified leader, had a poor complexion.

“It’s been over a week since I’ve seen Matthew’s face.”

Willow sighed deeply and touched her forehead.

“Do you think this makes sense…?”

“…”

“…”

He wasn't going out to work, but they lived in the same house and hadn't seen each other for a week….

But from Willow’s reaction, it didn't seem like anything serious had happened to Matthew.

“Is he skipping meals… or anything like that?”

Willow nodded her head at my question.

“Fortunately.”

We drank tea and talked about Matthew.

As we spoke of hopeful things, her expression softened.

It was strange.

To see her, the camp leader who had not flinched at the sandstorms and quicksand of the Eudialyte Desert, have her mood swing with just one thing concerning her son….

“Then let’s go see Matthew soon.”

There was travel time by train, so if we delayed, we might end up returning at dawn.

“Hmm, let’s do that.”

Willow, having finished her mental preparation, led the two of us to Matthew’s room.

‘…What is this?’

Strange information was being gathered.

From my five senses and my sixth sense, I could feel that the air was different from when I last came.

A strange smell.

I whispered so that only Faris next to me could hear.

“…Don’t you smell something strange?”

“Hmm? Really…?”

He couldn't smell it?

Then, what about the withered plants on the wall?

“…The ivy on the wall is very withered.”

Willow answered that.

“It’s because the mental strength of the Animas family members has weakened…”

Both Matthew and Willow were going through a tough time.

The weakening of their communion abilities seemed to affect the plants and animals that protected the family….

‘Is it really that simple?’

Willow gave a wry smile, as if embarrassed.

“Even I can’t help but be shaken. After leaving the field and returning to the family, and with no outsiders visiting for a while, I guess I’ve just been overthinking.”

No outsiders had visited.

Then what was this?

The messy footprints in this hallway that my Wild Instinct was picking up…?

But Willow and Faris didn't seem to have noticed anything, as I saw them silently preparing themselves and approaching Matthew’s door.

“Hah, I’m counting on you.”

Finally, Willow knocked three times.

Not on the door, but on her son’s heart.

“Matthew, son. Teacher Faris and Cadet Martin are here from the Academy.”

‘…Wait.’

- Wild Instinct (Master) detects an anomaly! It senses something that shouldn't be here!

- Know-It-All (Master) has analyzed the information! Stop her! Whatever happens later, for now, stop her immediately!

As Wild Instinct put all the nerves in my body on edge, time slowed down, and the future that Know-It-All had created by combining tens of millions of pieces of collected information appeared before my eyes.

The strange smell coming from Matthew’s room.

Sweet.

Too sweet.

It felt like my nose was melting.

It was terribly hedonistic.

My head was spinning.

It was obscene.

And what about the dead plants on the wall?

They had died in agony.

They looked as if they had died writhing in pain, begging to be saved.

They must have been affected by the source of the smell coming from inside Matthew’s room.

The person who brought this foreign thing was definitely the source of the footprints that weren't there before.

But Willow had just said that no outsiders had been allowed into the mansion.

‘Ah.’

Willow opens the door.

The scene inside is a den of vice.

In other words, a drug den.

I could see Matthew’s ruined appearance.

Willow faints from the shock.

The moment I blinked, I returned from the future to the present.

I saw Willow, her hand outstretched and just about to touch the doorknob.

“Wait!”

I immediately reached out and grabbed Willow’s arm.

Startled, Willow looked at me.

“What’s, the matter?”

Faris also looked surprised.

“What’s wrong, Cadet Martin? Calm down.”

“Perhaps, Camp Leader Willow. Have you ever… been inside Matthew’s room?”

Faced with the blunt question, Willow hesitated for a moment before answering.

“…Unfortunately. I don’t know what you’re intending, but yes. Matthew never opens the door if someone is in front of it.”

“I see. I understand. I apologize for suddenly grabbing your arm. Then…”

I took a step forward and blocked the door.

“Would it be alright if only Teacher Faris and I go inside? It would be best if you could be somewhere else in the meantime.”

“…”

“I know you must be perplexed. But please, trust me just this once.”

This was unplanned.

I thought she would be flustered.

Watching Willow, who had narrowed her eyes and fallen into thought, Faris asked.

“Martin…? What’s wrong?”

“If you’re curious, please go inside first.”

“No.”

Willow lowered her hand.

Then, turning around.

“I trust you both.”

She walked down the hallway, pretending to be calm and moving away from her son’s room, but her heart must have been burning with anxiety.

After she turned the corner and disappeared from sight, and even the sound of her footsteps faded into the distance, I finally grabbed the doorknob.

“Martin.”

Faris called my name, but.

“Teacher Faris, please don’t be alarmed.”

It was more urgent than that, so I threw the door open.