CHAPTER 172: CONFUSING TIMELINE (1)

They had a plan, but acting on it required far more than just effort. It also needed luck. Fortunately, things were not that urgent yet. The same with the outside world, which did not have important events, and so the two could afford to spend the time with ease.

Rise did not know how long they had been here in their world’s time without any comparison. At least, they had already been in this world for three weeks, excluding the time they spent unconscious or in that blank space or forest.

The day of the raid arrived. Rise and Kamille were among the first arrivals. They only greeted the team a bit before returning to their two-person world.

No one bothered them, except for some curious stares. Overall, it was gearing up for a peaceful team. And they set off once they were complete. Thalia was with them.

"Oh? What’s that?" Rise pointed at the dark place below them. From way up at the aircraft, it looked like a gaping maw, its teeth were sharp around the edges, with smoke rising around it.

"Is that a huge beast?" Rise curiously asked. He was not sure. It could be something else as well.

"No," Thalia answered, sitting beside them. The two looked at her as she explained with a solemn expression, her gaze looking sharply below. "It once was the entrance of a gate. And now, like the other entrances, breached this world and became deeply connected to ours."

Rise frowned, his eyes found Kamille’s, and the two locked eyes. They seemed to be asking the same question with their gazes. Both quickly glanced below and observed the gaping maw.

"That’s an entrance?" Rise swallowed, finding it hard to actually imagine the same happening to their world.

He still underestimated how ruined this world was. When he finally swept his gaze below, no civilization was in sight. Instead, only those dark gaping maws ready to swallow them whole could be seen everywhere. Some were small, barely could be seen, while like the one he pointed out.

It looked monstrous even at this height, the reason this piqued his curiosity. He thought the others were like beasts, attracted by the aircraft.

Thalia nodded, struggling to compose her expression. It looked like, even if she was used to this, the reality of their world’s imminent destruction weighed heavily upon her, seeing those things.

Rise noticed the same with the others, silence descending in the aircraft.

Then, Thalia explained that as a result, the thin line that blurred this world from the gates was destroyed, and monsters ran rampant from these entrances.

They did not have the advantage of the gates anymore. Since technically, gates were still like doors that prevent monsters from completely entering the world.

The whole ride, Rise and Kamille also fell silent. Perhaps, Rise was a terrible human being or someone self-centered who did not care about others except for those he liked, but he was still an esper.

An esper that fights for humanity in the end. Also, it was like a reflection. To the future that would come for their world.

In his first life, Rise would not be able to experience such a future. In fact, if he failed to change the original trajectory of his life, he would still be doomed to die at Epsilon’s hands five years into the future.

Rise wanted to survive and have a future. A future completely different than this.

Unconsciously, Rise’s hands clenched. And if he noticed Kamille observing him, he pretended he did not.

Continue being curious, Guild Leader. Only then will you continue to be interested.

Rise had yet to accomplish his goal. Being intimate with Kamille did not distract him from his plans. Instead, after having a taste of what it was like to be loved by him, it only made him strive harder.

This would not be temporary.

His fight... was just starting.

The aircraft had to make an emergency landing in the end. The mana emitted by the entrance suddenly rose sharply. Even so, they were not far from it.

In this mission, Rise was a Guide and would not be able to use his ability. It seemed in this world, none were recorded like Rise, both an Esper and a Guide.

He eagerly welcomed it with huge open arms. It was not always that he had the opportunity and reason to act like the weak prince needed protection.

Rise hung with Kamille’s arm, being shielded from the strong mana emitted by the entrance. The wind surrounded them, giving a cool feeling.

His posture was the most intimate, attracting glances. The other guides were also shielded by the espers, but none clung to the espers as he did.

In the first place, only one needed to get close, not to be that close. So most of them thought they were bonded and did not find it odd for long, except to others who were disappointed, anticipating Rise to guide them later.

As they got closer to the place, Rise’s eyes gleamed, and his arms around Kamille’s tightened.

"Kamille," he called, in a rare, serious tone.

"Yes, I felt it too."

Their voices were low but not enough to stay just between them. After this confirmation, the two stopped discussing it. A lot of ears around and some even had communication devices on them, ready to report whatever they talked about.

They did not want to tear the facade of cordiality just yet. The current situation was better for now.

If earlier, Rise had not taken this mission too seriously, he had to now. There, somewhere inside that terrifying mouth held a familiar presence.

Though, he could not perceive who it was, the mana it contained was too similar to that they encountered in the past. However, there was also a difference, reason he could not judge clearly.

A Noble.

For some reason, there was a noble lurking inside. Rise did not know if Thalia or the others noticed or if it was their real target, but the situation seemed more dangerous it seemed.

Rise glanced at Thalia walking ahead of them and observed her. Her expression was tense, but she did not appear too troubled.

Wait, do they know this noble?

Rise’s eyes narrowed.

Was this mission a trap? Were they allowed to cooperate because of this?

He might have stared too much at Thalia’s back, causing the woman to turn her head and meet his eyes. Rise was not ashamed of being caught staring but instead gave her a smile that did not reach his eyes.

Thalia stiffened slightly and stopped in her tracks. The others were forced to stop as a result and looked at their leader.

Rise and Kamille did not pause and continued until they eventually surpassed the other. Before they completely passed Thalia, Rise whispered to her.

"Be careful."

His voice was then carried by the wind, lingering in Thalia’s ears.

Somehow, Thalia did not know if it was out of concern or... a threat?