Why does only my time pass as it pleases? (3)

Epherene flopped onto the basement floor.

"…"

Her mind went blank. Of course, it was because of the past she had seen.

She raised the pocket watch without saying a word.

Click—

The past came back to life with that sound, and Deculein and the publisher reappeared.

—…I'm sorry, but this is the first time they sent someone directly from the Floating Island, so I have no choice but to ask…

—Because even such an unsettling and forbidden book might be of help.

Epherene knew who he was thinking about.

—…Someday she will steal it.

It was a completely different tone from how he spoke when he looked down on her research and dismissed it, saying it was stupid. Epherene looked closely at his face. He was smiling faintly too…

However, the past soon disappeared, crumbling away like sand.

'…I don't care.'

Epherene picked up the pocket watch again.

Click—

Time rewound to that moment.

—Because even such an unsettling and forbidden book might be of help.

—…Someday she will steal it.

Epherene snorted. She was stealing it right now, just as he said.

"…"

The past crumbled away again, and Epherene grabbed the pocket watch.

Click—

—Because even such an unsettling and forbidden book might be of help.

—…Someday she will steal it.

Click—

—Because even such an unsettling and forbidden book… she will steal it…

Click—

—She'll steal it…

Watching the same scene dozens of times drained almost all of her mana.

Epherene sat down, exhausted.

"…Why?"

She still found it difficult to understand. Why did Deculein do this? Why did he risk leaving this forbidden book for her?

"You said it was stupid research."

He looked down on it, saying that it was a stupid study that ruined the face of the Imperial Magic Tower.

"…Don't you hate me?"

Epherene's voice trembled.

"That's interesting."

She recalled that day in the Magic Tower. She recalled what she had said to Deculein on the personnel committee. She said that he used to criticize her father and steal his work, accusing him of being a plagiarist…

"I wanted you to hate me."

Epherene, who stole all the equipment from his lab. Epherene did nothing but immature bullshit while standing next to him.

Epherene lowered her head.

Tick—

Then, the pocket watch moved. Epherene turned her gaze to it.

"Were you the one who showed it to me?"

Tock— Tick— Tock—

Epherene grabbed it and stood up.

"Then, now let's go…"

To the tower. Before even saying that, their location changed completely from the basement of the publishing house to a hallway in the tower.

Tick—

The pocket watch ticked on.

—Did you have to kick her out? Wasn't she just borrowing trouble?

She heard Louina. Epherene looked around.

—…Wasn't that an exaggerated measure?

Louina and Deculein. The two were talking to each other while looking down from the window on the 77th floor of the tower.

—I couldn't leave it like this.

At Deculein's response, Louina furrowed her brow. Epherene slowly approached.

—Why?

—Because it's dangerous.

Dangerous. Epherene now realized his meaning from Deculein's gaze. She understood when she saw the person he was looking at.

—…Dangerous?

A wizard kicked out of the tower with a box following them with Psychokinesis. It was Epherene. Deculein was watching Epherene.

—She was too hasty. Even if she may be recognized in the distant future, the Floating Island will not accept it now. It is appropriate to discipline her.

—Isn't it better to protect her?

Louina asked, but Deculein shook his head.

—It would be more dangerous to be involved with me. If she's alone, the Floating Island can ignore it as it is the work of an arrogant young wizard, but if I embrace her-

—Are you afraid that the Floating Island will consider it a big deal, thinking that Yukline is behind it?

He didn't have to answer. Understanding his silence, Louina shrugged.

—Hmm… so that's that, and what about your reputation? The kid went off with kind of a big bomb.

Epherene flinched. Because of what she said at the personnel committee, Deculein was insulted as the plagiarism professor for a while, and the factions inside the tower split up.

—I don't care.

Still, Deculein said that. Strangely, with a rather proud look.

—…Really?

—It is right to make it look like we cut off our relationship. She will continue her magic on her own without me. She is a talented kid…

…Epherene returned to the stopped present at that moment.

"I see."

Epherene nodded. No matter what strange things she did, stealing equipment and acting like a fool, he was the same. He feared that she published the paper too hastily, putting herself at risk. He was afraid it would catch the attention of the Floating Island and their purge officers. He-

'To protect me first rather than the Floating Island…'

Tick—

Once more, the scenery changed. This time it wasn't far in the past. No, it was just a few days ago.

—…Shh. It's the purge officers.

When Epherene was having dinner with Sylvia in the Magic Tower Restaurant.

—That's enough. Who permitted you to check the magicians of the tower at your leisure?

Deculein restrained them.

—I didn't allow you to do it like this. It is unacceptable to treat all wizards in the tower as criminals.

The purge officers stepped because of Deculein's scolding, and Deculein left the restaurant after telling the students to eat.

—Eat up.

—…Phew.

After breathing out a sigh of relief, Epherene started eating again.

"That idiot…"

The present Epherene frowned while looking at herself. However, she was curious about why she was seeing this scene.

Epherene ran after Deculein.

—Etheric Deculein. We can feel Epherene's mana inside there.

A purge officer protested against Deculein in the tower lobby.

—I have told you the tower is under my jurisdiction. Also, I am more familiar with Epherene's mana than you. If Epherene was here, there's no way I wouldn't know.

Deculein was tough. His eyes were like a wild beast's as he tore down the purge officers.

—That is the rule. Organizations from the Floating Island cannot exercise coercion in the Magic Tower. The Imperial Magic Tower belongs to the Empire, and the Floating Island is just the Floating Island.

—You are a wizard, Etheric Deculein.

—Hmph. You're a fool. I'm a noble before a wizard. Sometimes you misunderstand that the authority of nobility does not reach you, but that is when you are in heaven.

As he jabbed a finger into the officer's shoulder, Deculein smiled deeply.

—Actually, it's thanks to us that you're even allowed to live in the sky you're so proud of for the rest of your lives.

—…Etheric Deculein.

—Shut up. It is by a great tolerance that you are now invading the tower without my permission.

—…

—I won't say it twice. Leave before my generosity and patience run out.

The purge officers turned and fled.

—…Um, chairman.

At that moment, one of the staff at the tower cautiously approached him.

—There are crystal balls all over the tower to monitor inside. If you look at it, you'll see Epherene-

— Discard them.

—…Yeah?

The staff member's eyes widened at those words. Deculein looked down menacingly and said.

—I said get rid of them right now. We can't let the tower succumb to the Floating Island!

—Oh, y-yes, sir! All right!

…So far, it could be said this was due to Deculein's personality. Even though it was the Floating Island, it would be unacceptable for Deculein's very high self-esteem and ego to let them invade his tower.

-But.

—…

Deculein's next behavior was a bit strange. He let out a small sigh and pulled the wood steel from his pocket.

Weeing— Whooong—

It resonated as if looking for its brother. Deculein glanced at the restaurant.

—So you're there, Epherene.

"…"

Epherene couldn't say anything as she watched him.

—…Stupid girl.

Deculein grinned and closed the restaurant door. As he left the tower, the past disappeared.

Tick—

The pocket watch ticked on, but there was no further replay.

Tock—

Epherene looked around the magic tower. She had traveled from Hadekain to here in less than a second.

"…Distortion."

Epherene felt she knew how. Time distortion.

"If time is my talent."

Time and space were relative to speed. However, in this world where speed has stopped, she had the time to reach any distance at will. For example, she could change the time required to travel from the desert to the Empire to her liking. Why?

'Because time is my talent.'

"Did it take three months?"

Epherene smiled and unleashed her mana.

"It just takes one step."

The moment she took that step, Epherene was again in the desert.

"…Huhu."

She laughed triumphantly. It was a pity she had to suffer for two years before she figured this out… no, because of that suffering, she could learn.

"Yes. I can do this."

The realization of the magic to make time flow again now filled Epherene's mind.

"But… before that."

Epherene closed her eyes and opened them, and she was in the chairman's office.

"…Professor."

Deculein was frozen at his desk and reading a book.

Epherene said.

"I'll be back soon."

* * *

Epherene was walking with the pocket watch in hand. She no longer counted the date, and she didn't have to because she was now time.

"I drew the magic circle…."

Anyway, she completed the magic circle to make the frozen time pass. Its size was the entire continent. Her mana extended to the edges of the Empire. In this frozen world, mana stones were just bricks, so there was nothing she could do about it.

To implement the magic of this level, the size of the circle must be huge.

"Back to the desert."

The center of the circle was in the desert.

Epherene arrived back in Time without having to move her feet.

"Whew."

She stood at the circle's center and prepared her spell.

"I don't know if it will work or not…."

But her understanding of time was clearer than ever after Epherene read all three of Casey's manuscripts.

"Whew."

When she took a deep breath-

Stomp-

The ground vibrated.

Stomp- Stomp-

Epherene was startled. She hadn't heard another's footsteps in years.

"No way."

Her heart was pounding as she glanced back.

No way, Professor Deculein?!

"Long time no see."

…However, he wasn't the person she wanted it to be.

"…"

Epherene's face hardened for a moment. She raised herself and watched him warily.

"Hi?"

The Last Believer, Quay. He looked at her with a soft smile.

"Epherene Luna. The fall of the moon. A child born on a comet. After all, you fit that name."

"You're moving, huh?"

"Yes. Because I'm going to be God, but I woke up a little while ago."

Quay approached her with applause.

"Indeed, it's impressive. You made even me freeze for this long."

"…What do you mean?"

Epherene warmed up her mana. However, with no intention to fight, Quay asked comfortably.

"Epherene. Do you think this happened because of your mistake?"

"…"

A mistake. Could time stop with just one wizard's mistake? It was true that Epherene naturally asked that question but put it behind her, preoccupied with solving the situation.

Quay shook his head and said.

"No. It's not a mistake. It's your talent that blossomed."

"…What?"

"More than that, you drew the magic circle here."

Quay squatted and pointed to a part of the magic circle.

"Here too. Here and there."

Pointing his finger here and there, jumping like a frog. Epherene found the sight of him ridiculous.

"What are you doing?"

"Hmm. With this kind of magic, time will flow again. But you will become a fragmentary existence."

"…?"

Fragmentary existence. What is that?

Quay continued.

"Epherene, now you can't be subordinated to any time. That's what happens when you're superior to time."

"…"

"From the moment you took Sophien's regression to the day you die, you will be drifting in time."

Drifting. That word was somehow easy to understand.

"If you activate that magic, you won't be able to stay long in the same time zone."

Quay stood and wiped the dust off his pants.

"Will you be okay, though? It wouldn't be a human life."

"…"

"If you won't be okay, take my hand."

Quay held out his hand. As Epherene's eyes sharpened, he smiled and added.

"It doesn't have to be now. Someday, when it becomes so painful that you cannot live. Then, you can take my hand. I am God. I can give you anything you want."

"…I don't believe in God."

"Yes. I know. Most atheists don't."

Quay retracted his hand and shrugged.

"They don't believe in God but believe in themselves. I think that's stupid… but you can trust me. You, your life, will be more painful than any others."

"You're wrong. I don't believe in myself either."

"…That's a little bit unique."

Quay's eyes narrowed.

"You don't believe in yourself either?"

"Yes. I don't. I've always been too stupid to do so."

Epherene nodded. Then, she prepared her magic again.

Fragmentary existence drifting in time. She wouldn't have understood in the past, but now it was easy.

"Who do you trust?"

Quay asked. Epherene's gray energy rose like dust as she replied.

"I believe in Deculein."

Short but firm. The professor who came to mind stood like a giant tree and secretly supported her.

Her one and only teacher.

"So, to say something like that, you have to convince Deculein first."

Epherene smiled.

"Then I will consider it."

"…"

Quay nodded with a frown. He probably knew he couldn't either.

Epherene chuckled and unleashed her magic.

Craaaack-!

At that moment, mana gushed from Epherene's heart and enveloped the world.

* * *

Tssss-!

Julie's cylinder opened.

"Whoa!"

"Wow!"

Idnik and Allen peered inside.

Swoooosh…

Magical smoke overflowed from the lid.

"…H-Hey! Can you hear me?!"

Idnik asked first. Allen chimed in.

"Excuse me? Can you hear us?"

Swish—!

A white hand popped out and gripped the edge of the cylinder.

"Woah!"

"Wow!"

The two were astonished.

Whoooosh-

Smoke wrapped around her as Julie pulled herself free.

"Ugh…"

She rubbed her temples with tired eyes. Her complexion was much more lively, and she looked younger.

"Oh, oh…"

Julie was alive.

"…It's a success, Epherene!"

"Epherene!"

Idnik and Allen were the first to call to Epherene. Julie didn't know who Epherene was, nor the two in front of her yelling, so she took up her guard.

"Haha. Look at her. So cute! Hey, Epherene! Come and see her! Julie is younger than you!"

"…What are you guys talking about?"

Allen smiled brightly and examined Julie, who was confused. Idnik glanced back.

But Epherene was nowhere to be seen.