episode_0082

“I am glad to have a welcome guest. Please sit comfortably.”

Professor Bella said, putting down the teacup on the table. To everyone’s surprise, she floated the glass in the air and brought it back.

Floating an object stably in the air is a fairly difficult technique. However, rather than spilling the tea, Professor Bella moved it straight without moving.

After all, if you become a professor at an academy, this is a piece of cake. His skills are incomparable to those who brag about being wizards.

Well, it’s natural.

Karen and I had just followed the professor to her private lab.

The sight inside… It was very impressive.

A bookshelf filled the entire wall on one side, and all kinds of books were crammed into the shelves. It seemed to be looking solemnly down at us like a guardian statue guarding the temple of knowledge.

Suddenly, I became curious about what a professor-level wizard would read. I took turns looking at the bookshelves on the left and right.

uh… hmm.

My head suddenly hurts. Is it a mental attack? Is there some kind of magic in the book that will cause headaches if an unauthorized person looks into it?

I’ve only read the title, but I feel like I’ve coveted forbidden knowledge.

“Ethan, are you interested in magic?”

Professor Bella asked as she sat down in her chair.

“I’m interested. Among adventurers, there are few true wizards.”

The professor laughed and said, “Hehe.”

“That is correct. Usually, skilled wizards work in the magic tower or under nobles, but do not become adventurers.”

Then I picked up the teacup and took a sip.

“You said Karen is Lord Helena’s daughter, right? I know you have two daughters, but you look too young to be the firstborn, so it seems like the second. Is that correct?”

Karen answered politely, putting her hands together under the table.

“Yes, that’s right, Professor.”

“I used to be very young, but I have already become an adult. As I get older, time passes faster than when I was younger. They can also be abusive.”

Karen asked in a cautious tone.

“Do you mind if I ask how you met my mother?”

“Oh, sure. It’s not that great of a story.”

The professor took another sip of tea and continued speaking.

“Han… It must have been about fifteen years. At that time, I had not yet become a professor. It was the time when I was working at the Magic Tower.

A count once requested support from the Magic Tower to subdue a powerful magic beast that had taken up residence near his territory. Since the territory’s power was not enough to deal with the magical beasts, a messenger was sent not only to the Magic Tower but also to other nobles.

At the request, several wizards, including myself, went out to subdue them, and a subjugation team was formed, including reinforcements sent from other territories.

As you might expect, Lord Helena was there too.

That’s how we were able to join forces and successfully subdue the demonic beast. As we fought together, we naturally became friends. We haven’t seen each other since that day, but we occasionally correspond. Although it became less frequent.”

Professor Bella paused for a moment and moistened his mouth with tea.

“At the time, Sir Helena not only had great skills, but her personality was worthy of being called an example of a knight, so all I could say was admiration. He was a person who made me reflect on my arrogance and look at myself.”

That kind of person is preying on his daughter’s lover. I swallowed the words that came up inside me.

“It was an article whose reputation was lacking compared to its skills. Still, people in the know knew that he was a talented person, so when news of his retirement came, he was mentioned as a candidate for professor. In fact, a suggestion was made.”

oh?

I knew that Helena was strong, but I didn’t know that she would be so strong that she would be offered a professorship at the academy.

He was a greater person than I thought. If this kind of person were a mother, she would have no choice but to be proud of her child.

Unless the relationship between parents and children is bad, it is natural for parents to be happy when they hear praise for their children, and for children to hear praise for their parents… But.

But why does Karen look like she’s hearing this for the first time?

Karen had a bewildered look on her face instead of a proud smile. It seemed like no one had ever heard the story just before.

Really?

As I was thinking of rude thoughts, Professor Bella also looked at Karen with a puzzled expression.

“I’m just asking, just in case, hasn’t Lord Helena ever told you this?”

“That… I’ve never heard of it. At least in my memory.”

The professor sighed and touched his forehead.

“Oh my. You really are an exceedingly humble person, Sir Helena.”

At her words, Karen couldn’t even laugh or do anything and just broke into a sweat.

Professor Bella opened his mouth while looking at Karen.

“There is only one reason why Sir Helena did not tell us that she had been offered a professorship. I can’t say I know her well, but I can guarantee this.”

Another sip.

“It’s definitely because I have a personality that is far from bragging. I guess they thought there was no need to tell others about something they were going to refuse anyway.

I’ve lived like that my whole life, so I understand, but… Still, it’s a bit too much for him not to tell his children. Isn’t that right?”

Karen said with an awkward, yet firm smile that conveyed love and pride.

“Still, I’m proud of such a mother.”

How would such a proud mother react if she found out that she once hugged her future son-in-law at Changgwan?

Professor Bella raised the corner of his mouth playfully.

“Sir Helena was worried that she seemed to be paying too little attention to her two daughters, but now she sees that they have grown up very well.”

Karen smiled shyly.

“Thank you.”

Professor Bella sipped tea, looking at Karen with happy eyes.

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

hmm… .

Umm… .

This familiar atmosphere. I feel like I can’t breathe.

I remember the tea time I had with the manager the day before yesterday. It was the same back then. In the silence that made my stomach ache, I waited for the other person to open their mouth.

From the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to have a quiet personality like the manager. Professor Bella kept raising his teacup, perhaps because he was the kind of person who needed to put something into his mouth as he spoke.

Neither Karen nor I had the courage to open our mouths first, so we drank some unknown tea to soothe our burning stomachs.

By the way, how old is this person? I calmly drank my tea and started thinking about other things.

Just from the outside, he looks like he’s in his ideal early forties. It can be described as ‘an intelligent beauty who exudes the beauty of an older woman.’

Of course, his actual age is older.

Helena, who is in her late forties, looks like she is in her thirties.

Would it be any different if it were a professor right in front of you? There must be a gap between appearance and age.

In my mind, I labeled Professor Bella as ‘older than he appears on the outside.’

Maybe she’s about the same age as Helena, or maybe she ate a little more.

When I thought about it like that, I felt envious all over again. Isn’t it everyone’s dream to grow old slowly?

It would be nice if I never got old too. It would be nice if I could still maintain the good looks of a young man in his twenties even when I turn fifty.

Should I aim to become a sword master from now on?

I heard that when you reach the point of exhaustion, your aging body becomes young again… .

Slowly-

The sound of a glass being set down on a saucer woke me up.

“The two of you… Are you interested in your future?”

Professor Bella suddenly asked us a question. Her eyes shone brightly.

What does it mean?

I often think about the future. But I don’t think she’s asking that.

The professor smiled meaningfully.

“What would you think if you could see your future?”

“Future… What?”

Are you saying you want to take a look at it?

“It’s literally true. future. It’s about experiencing moments in life that haven’t come yet.”

“… Is that possible?”

No matter how amazing magic is, is something like that possible? Doubts sprouted in my heart before faith.

Looking to the side, Karen’s thoughts didn’t seem to be much different from mine.

“Don’t misunderstand. This just shows one possibility.”

I felt like I needed to hear more explanation first.

“The prophet’s foresight realizes events that are likely to occur. It is a very advanced technology, so it is famous for the absolute influence of innate talent.

On the other hand, what I’m trying to do is to allow two people to randomly experience one of the many possibilities available to them.

It could be tomorrow, or it could be decades later. No one knows what kind of future we will see. Just don’t have high expectations. Because most of life is made up of trivial moments.”

And you build up those trivial moments to get closer to greatness. Professor Bella said.

The future. It would be a lie if I said it didn’t appeal to me. Honestly, who can tolerate this?

“So, the future you are showing us is not ‘fate’?”

Karen’s question. The professor nodded.

“That’s right. Even if you see a future where you get hit by a carriage and die, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will come true. You can just accept it as ‘It’s not like there’s no possibility of something like that happening in the future.’ ”

“I see. Thank you, Professor.”

“What are you going to do? Do you want to try it?”

As soon as I asked Karen, the answer came back immediately. I could hear the heat in his voice, as if he was excited.

“Yes. Where can I do something like this? In times like this, I have to do it. And, honestly, I’m curious too.”

“Okay. Then let’s do it together.”

okay. If you come to the academy, you should experience something special. Karen is absolutely right.

The professor clapped his hands.

“Good. It looks like we’ve both decided, so let’s get ready to leave for the future.”

She got up from her seat and took a crystal ball and two glasses filled with some kind of liquid from under the desk.

… No, really, where did you get it from? Do you have space to store it?

Professor Bella placed the crystal ball in front of her and then pushed two cups towards us.

“Sip it all the way. It was manufactured based on an elixir handed down from desert shamans. It’s harmless to the human body, so don’t worry.”

The cup contained a thick liquid. The color was very subtle, but it was very far from looking appetizing.

Karen and I looked at each other, took a deep breath, lifted the cup, and drank the contents in one gulp.

“… … !”

Wow!

It’s not delicious!

It tasted so disgusting that my body instinctively wanted to vomit it out. I couldn’t help but swallow the nausea and almost looked terrible.

“Yeah.”

I barely swallowed it all, but it was so terribly tasteless.

I looked to the side and saw Karen with an arrogant expression on her face, shaking her neck.

“Hehehe.”

When Karen completely emptied the cup, the professor opened his mouth.

“Now, place your hand on the crystal ball in front of you.”

Huh.

Huh?

I don’t know when I got it, but there were crystal balls like Professor Bella’s, one each in front of me and Karen.

Surely it wasn’t there?

“When on earth… .”

“Don’t worry about that, just place your hand on the bead.”

I followed the professor’s instructions, feeling mildly dizzy.

“Good. From now on, you will go to the future. Whatever you see there, don’t get too carried away. What you see are just a few twigs extending from the trunk of a huge old tree.”

Now then… .

Open your eyes.

With those words, I opened my eyes. No, it was floating from the beginning… . Were you winding it?

Before I could understand the situation, I heard someone’s voice. It was an unfamiliar voice.

“Sir Ethan Grace. What are you thinking like that?”

kyung? I’m not a knight right now?

The moment that thought crossed my mind, my mouth opened without my will.

A voice filled with absurd laughter flows out.

“What is your tone? Anyone who sees it will think you are my boss.”

“Haha, I was imitating our leader, but I guess it wasn’t very good?”

“I told you so, Rowen. You are not good at acting.”

Rowen? It’s my first time hearing this name.

I turned my head towards the owner of the voice. This, too, was not an action of my own will.

It seemed that the present me could not interfere with the future.

“By the way, are you coming tomorrow or not?”

… Helena?

“I don’t know yet. I think I’ll have to wait a while.”

The woman who said that looked so similar to her that for a moment I mistakenly thought she was Helena.

If you look closely, they are younger and slightly different, but they are still surprisingly similar. Like twins. Or… Like a child.

“I’m looking forward to Karen tomorrow, but she’s not coming?”

“It’s not a situation where you can go wherever you want. You know it too.”

Rowen slumped his shoulders. Looking at it again, it looks really similar.

“Still, Hailey goes. It seems like you’re looking forward to it a lot.”

Hailey? Who was it? It’s definitely a name I’ve heard of.

The answer came to mind right away.

Oh right. That navy-haired knight. He was clearly Princess Mary’s escort.

But where are you going? What is Karen expecting? And am I a knight now? In Quien?

I didn’t really understand what was going on. Not knowing the context and circumstances, this was really frustrating.

I said. Strictly speaking, it’s not what I said, but it’s true what I said anyway… Oh, I don’t know. Anyway, I said it.

“Haley? It’s a bit awkward to be alone with that older sister.”

?

What are you doing?

Rowen said.

“Then Karen can join in as well.”

“Three of us? There is still some time left until the day when the chastity belt is scheduled to be released.”

affection… What? Release what?

“Ah, she’s still my wife. You can look at this much.”

“Oh, you’re taking my younger brother’s side just because you’re an older sister?”

Was she Karen’s older sister? No, but what kind of conversation is this?

What on earth is going on?!