Ch.18Chapter 18: The Second Day (1)

After sending Shizu back to her room, I returned to mine, careful not to make any noise that might wake someone.

Though I was alone in the space, I could easily sense traces of Shizu who had stayed here with me until just moments ago.

On the chair pulled out from the desk where Shizu had sat, watching me with concern as I slept on the bed.

And even the lingering scent that filled the room—a blend of freshness and softness that emanated from her body.

To savor these traces of tender affection that felt so intense the moment I re-entered the room, despite having been away only briefly.

“…Hmm.”

Instead of forcing my sleepless body onto the bed, I moved toward the window.

There was no point in trying to sleep when my body and mind, drained from the fierce battle, had already recovered from the forced rest. Lying in bed would only worsen my condition.

As I approached the window, intending to watch the scenery until dawn if sleep wouldn’t come, I was immediately struck by the magnificent view before me.

“…Beautiful.”

All I could manage was a brief exclamation of admiration as I confirmed that the scenery I had seen earlier had become even more beautiful in the brighter moonlight.

“I wasn’t particularly tired, but looking at this view makes even what little fatigue I had completely disappear.”

Though it should have been a dark night, the cloudless sky illuminated by the sparkling moonlight created an atmosphere entirely different from daytime, providing perfect entertainment for someone who couldn’t sleep.

And my window was the optimal spot for enjoying such a pastime.

“For a tomorrow better than today.”

After quietly reciting the phrase I had committed to on this first day of turning back time.

I took in the outside scenery without averting my gaze, capturing every detail with my eyes.

And simultaneously, I carefully replayed the day’s events in my mind.

So much had happened.

Beginning with how, after regaining control of my body from the malice that had consumed it while living an unwanted monster’s life, I had planned.

The memories of this very long day that started with my self-harm to the brink of death, orchestrating the most miserable death possible through the hands of a brilliant being who would restore light to a world on the verge of darkness, consumed by the malice emanating from demon gods.

As I had wished, I had come within a breath of turning to ash upon touching the light of the holy sword that held the brilliance to save the world.

As I collapsed, I felt my heart ache at the cold voice of Shizu, who no longer held affection for me, yet I also felt profound relief seeing her show no lingering attachment to me.

Satisfied that I could leave this world without regrets, I suddenly found myself facing the bright light of a wish-granting ruby that responded to a moment of desperate longing—a longing that arose when I thought of Shizu, who must have faced countless trials and become covered in wounds on her journey here.

Seeing that light, I had cast aside all selfish thoughts for myself and wished desperately only for her happiness, yet the ruby’s power strangely granted my wish by sending me back in time.

I discovered I had returned to the most wretched and worthless period of my life, and I despaired.

I was ready to curse my pathetic reflection in the mirror and rage at the improperly fulfilled wish.

But seeing the kindness shown by you, who still held affection for me, as you woke me after I had collapsed from excessive sorrow and anger.

I could no longer curse the fact that I had returned to this time.

Instead of curses, what carefully etched itself into my heart was a commitment.

The happiness I had desperately wished for you before turning to ash.

Despite being wretched and inadequate, I revealed my desperate desire to fulfill it with my own hands.

“Sigh…”

The scenery outside as I stood lost in thought wasn’t much different from what I had seen in the previous timeline.

The serene atmosphere illuminated by the bright moonlight in the cloudless night sky remained the same.

But perhaps because my mindset had changed.

The window view that had felt only cold and chilly in the previous timeline.

Now felt like a tranquil scene preparing to face a tomorrow better than today.

#

The moonlight that had brightly illuminated the window when I first returned to my room had given way to the dawn’s sunlight as I spent time lost in various thoughts, and that warm morning blessing now shone down on me standing by the window.

Feeling the morning’s arrival as the sunlight warmed my face with just the right amount of gentleness when I briefly closed my eyes.

“Hmmmm!!”

I started my day by stretching—the best posture to greet the morning sunlight after gazing at the outside scenery all night.

Though I hadn’t accumulated fatigue, my body had stiffened from standing motionless by the window until dawn, but a single stretch loosened it up and filled me with new vitality.

“Yaaawn.”

Though I wasn’t tired, a yawn naturally escaped as I stretched.

After quickly finishing the stretching that had begun naturally as I moved my body while stretching, I turned my head toward the wall where the clock hung to check the current time.

6:00 AM.

The time when some of the diligent students of the Cradle and most of the staff begin to wake up and start their day.

Which means.

From now on, I could leave my room and carry on with a normal daily routine without any major issues.

I could go to the dining hall for breakfast.

I could attend various theory classes held by designated professors in designated classrooms at set times.

Or even if I didn’t attend theory classes, I could spend the day honing martial arts suited to my aptitude at outdoor or indoor training grounds.

The day had begun at the Cradle, where one could do anything to become a hero as long as they didn’t violate the established rules.

As I realized the day had begun, the first thing I needed to do today came to mind.

Something I needed to do before going to wake up Shizu, who loves to sleep in.

“Let’s go see the Director.”

The highest authority of the Cradle.

A living history who has endured 1000 years in a human body.

And one of the greatest pillars supporting humanity, who has maintained his position as the greatest hero since the first hero, Lumen Ranos, ascended as light after leaving descendants.

I need to meet Director Belpheus.

I had heard through Shizu that he had requested I stop by the director’s office today without fail to confirm some matters related to yesterday’s events.

If I needed to meet him, early morning when he was just starting his day would be much better than midday when he would be swamped with work.

“Then let’s quickly get ready and go see the Director.”

After organizing my thoughts, I quickly washed my face at the sink attached to the room and made the light preparations needed to go outside, while considering appropriate answers to Director Belpheus’s questions about yesterday’s events and questions I wanted to ask him afterward.

The content of his questions would be obvious.

Questions about the demon with the Bloody Pentagram that had penetrated the Cradle’s strict anti-demon barrier.

And questions about how that demon was defeated.

He would most likely ask these two main questions.

“…The key is whether he’s asking to confirm what he already knows or if he truly doesn’t know.”

Though I scratched my head as I spoke, the answer had already formed in my mind.

Most likely, during yesterday’s temporary complete stoppage of time within the Cradle due to Laplace’s scheme of hijacking Dan’s body and recklessly drawing on his potential.

Professor Grace and Director Belpheus, who have endured 1000 years as heroes, would certainly have maintained their own time even within the influence of this stopped time magic.

Especially in the Director’s case, I could be certain.

In the previous timeline, there was an incident when Dan Augustin, facing the overwhelming forces of malice that had invaded the Cradle, used a frozen time spell at the cost of his own life to buy time for all staff and students to escape from the Cradle that was in grave danger.

Though he knew how to use it, Dan’s own capacity was insufficient.

So he used his life as a catalyst to deploy an incomplete frozen time spell throughout the Cradle, and it was Director Belpheus who moved effortlessly within the influence of the frozen time and saved Dan, whose life was in critical danger due to the incomplete use of the magic.

“Most likely, the Director must have been watching everything yesterday.”

If it’s the Director, he would certainly have detected the sudden anomaly yesterday and observed the situation from his space, carefully deliberating whether it was time for him to step in.

Had I not miraculously gained power and defeated the fiend sent by the demon god when Shizu—his favorite disciple whom he publicly acknowledged reminded him of his friend from 1000 years ago, and who is called the reincarnation of Lumen Ranos—was in mortal danger.

Perhaps the Director would have stepped in earlier to defeat Laplace.

With that thought, a single judgment dominated my mind:

‘He might have called me just to confirm through my own words what he already knows, so I should answer truthfully without exaggeration if he asks anything.’

Including the fact that the fiend had transcended time to intervene here with intent.

Telling the truth wouldn’t disadvantage me in any way.

Conversely, there was no need to arouse unnecessary suspicion from a great hero like the Director by being caught in a lie.

“Well… this should be enough preparation.”

By the time I finished organizing my thoughts, I had also finished preparing my appearance for going outside, so I went to the mirror to check my attire once more.

As a student, I was impeccably dressed in the formal uniform that proved my enrollment at the Cradle, rather than the comfortable combat attire that students could wear during combat festivals like yesterday.

With neatly arranged hair and skin showing no trace of having stayed up all night.

And eyes that had softened slightly thanks to the mellowed heart from yesterday’s events.

Confirming that there was nothing to fault even when facing the Cradle’s highest authority, I nodded slowly and moved toward the door of my room.

“…Now let’s go.”

Before going out, I turned my head to check the clock, which showed 6:15 AM.

Just as I was about to turn the doorknob to head to the Director’s office.

-Hmm… Ready so soon. You’re well-prepared.

A dignified voice resonated throughout the empty space where I was alone.

A very familiar voice.

One I heard often even at this time.

And one I had heard to the point of weariness in the previous timeline.

“Dir—!”

I tried to call out to the owner of the voice, but.

*Snap*

Along with the clear sound of fingers snapping that resonated throughout my room.

My vision instantly went dark.

“Thank you for saving me the trouble of waiting, young Ranos.”

Soon, the dignified voice that had resonated throughout my room was clearly heard right in front of me.

Along with the voice, my darkened vision returned to normal.

And at the edge of my restored vision.

A man with green hair, whose appearance combined elegance and dignity, making it impossible to gauge his age by looks alone—though he appeared to be just before transitioning from youth to middle age—was sitting with his arms resting on a mahogany desk, greeting me.

It was a face that no student of the Cradle could possibly fail to recognize.

“Director. Greetings. I, Cal Ranos, young descendant of Ranos, pay my respects.”

I bowed according to proper etiquette and offered my most respectful greeting to Superhuman Champion Belpheus, the closest friend of my ancestor and the highest authority of the Cradle.