Confusing Truth (2)

"...."

"...."

Tapping my index finger on the table, my eyes shifted between Aerial and the mysterious numbers sprawled across the paper she was holding. How in the world could she decipher this cryptic language?

"....Mmm." I closed my eyes, pondering. If it were just ordinary numbers, she wouldn't bother, unless these papers concealed a hidden message—a Morse code of sorts.

"....."

"....ugh."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she placed the folders down, meticulously arranging them on the table. Glancing my way, she closed her eyes and inquired, "...what do you want?"

"....!!"

Clearing my throat, I put on a smile and replied, "Ah... Well, I want to join this club." She abruptly halted, processing my unexpected announcement.

Turning her head slightly, she contemplated before asking, "Why do you want to join?" Her scrutinizing gaze moved from top to bottom.

"It's because... ah?"

"You know what, zip it." Before I could elaborate, she handed me a paper—an application for the club. "I already know what your excuse will be. Just fill out this application with your information, and you can start."

...Is this some kind of job interview? Though I pondered voicing my thoughts, I held back. "Ah... Well, alright." I took the papers and a pen from the nearby table.

Moments later, I completed the form and handed it back to her. She gave it a brief glance before stashing it in her bag. "I'll give this to the principal later," she declared, her expression unchanged.

"Please do..." I offered her a forced smile, but she brushed it off.

An awkward silence ensued.

To break it, I scanned the surroundings and inquired, "Hey... Are you the only member of this club?"

While the answer was evident, I posed the question to initiate a conversation. Surprisingly, her response wasn't what I expected.

"...Mmm."

She nodded and disregarded me, producing a peculiar tool from her bag. Initially perplexed, I observed her actions as she approached a machine shrouded in cloth within the cluttered room.

Fuu—!

".....!!?"

Upon unveiling the machine, immediate recognition struck me.

I'm not sure what expression I wore, but it was probably peculiar. As I approached, Aerial shot me a confused glance.

It was apparent that the concealed machine was some sort of portal, and its design was etched into my memory.

Gazing at the apparatus, I unconsciously gulped and instinctively took a step back when a spark jolted through my index finger upon contact.

"Careful... I'm not done with it yet," Aerial cautioned, her left hand resting on a section that appeared incomplete.

This machine... I'm certain it's the same one Athan discovered during his tenure as a scientist, I mused inwardly.

"Just... How?"

"I built this."

"... built?" I turned my gaze towards her.

Meeting my eyes, she confirmed, "Yeah. It's still unfinished, but I hope this baby will function as intended in the future."

I fell silent for a moment before stating, "...Let me guess, this works like teleportation, right?"

"Eh... How did you know?" She withdrew her hand, casting an indifferent glance in my direction.

"Just a hunch..."

I understand now. Sapte Cosmos and Earth... somehow, they're connected.

This portal might have accidentally ended up on Earth in some event. In the past, Athan, that was me, discovered the dungeon where the lab was supposed to be hidden.

If that's true...

I widened my eyes in realization.

Even if this worldline has changed, it's still the same Sapte Cosmos.

Most importantly, Earth and Sapte Cosmos might be the same world...

"Ah! It's getting too complicated!"

Aerial yelped in response to my outburst. "What are you talking about?"

Ignoring her, my focus returned to the portal.

If that was really the case, True Athan's involvement made things happen that weren't supposed to.

It all started when scientist Athan found the portal.

Then, in the 1st worldline of this world, I found the lab where the portal was; the portal looked like it came from a thousand years later.

Now, in this 2nd worldline, Aerial created the portal, and somehow, it ended up on Earth where scientist Athan found it...

And the cycle repeats!

"Fuck! True Athan must've planned everything from the start!" I yelled.

"....!!?"

He created the loop!

If only I could find out how the portal got to Earth, I might be able to stop everything from happening... But then, won't I disappear after doing that?

Ugh, damn it! Isn't this similar to the grandfather paradox?

Everything is connected!!

"...Wait! How did you come up with this?" I turned to her.

She hesitated before admitting, "Well... I dreamt of doing something like this. When I woke up, I still remembered the sketches and information from the dream. I wrote them all down on paper."

After thinking to myself for couple of second, I clicked my tongue.

"Can you show them all to me?"