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Chapter 284

Even in a world brimming with all sorts of magic and transcendent powers, the concept of time remains intriguingly strict.

The means to interfere with space is surprisingly varied, and dimensions exist through phenomena called Gates. However, the ability to meddle with time is extremely limited and localized, which reveals that fact quite clearly.

Just think about the staggering cost of a miracle that defies time—one merely needs to recall the miracle that allowed Yeon-woo to regress, performed by Shar.

Despite drastically shortening the lifespans of Nea and Shar, it only managed to regress souls the size of a chestnut—both a human yet to be born and a young dragon.

And that was a miracle that was established only through a de facto everlasting contract mediated by a heart, hence the immense risk hardly needs to be elaborated upon.

Once you grasp that fact, the story simplifies greatly.

Why were only the two of them untouched by the interference of time? How could they escape the power of a Demon King, which is deemed insurmountable, unless you’re a hero opposing that Demon King?

‘No matter how I think about it, I wasn’t the hero.’

When I regained my senses, the magical energy of starlight symbolizing the qualification of a hero, Courage, was as still as a statue.

If the hero’s qualification was meant to counter the Demon King’s power, then any form of movement from Courage should have been felt.

Above all, while the hero was Yeon-woo alone, having a shared heart didn’t mean Shar became a hero too.

“What is this… should I call it fate?”

“It’s rather confusing…”

With that conclusion, both Yeon-woo and Shar couldn’t help but let out awkward smiles. With few conditions available, the conclusion came swiftly.

“Is this perhaps a side effect of regression?”

One who has cut through space once can cut through it again. The same goes for dimensions, and time isn’t too different either. Something that happened once can certainly happen again.

So, what about a soul that has already defied the flow of time? Is the concept of time truly so stringent that it cannot be defied, hidden away as a secret by gods and the world?

But that isn’t the case. The Yeon-woo that Shar saw wasn’t shackled by the past even while drenched in the Demon King’s power.

And what Yeon-woo saw in Shar was merely the traces of the Demon King’s power being washed away, causing Yeon-woo to mutter.

“…Shar, am I dirty? Should I wash myself?”

“I’m the one being worried about… Am I not dirty? Is it okay?”

“Even if a bit remains, it’s still clean? It is amusing that the power of a Demon King can be washed off with water.”

Shar pondered as she stroked her chin, and then, with a bright idea, she clapped and exclaimed.

“Then we should wash together!! I don’t like being dirty, so Daddy should wash me!!”

“Though washing too often isn’t good… well, shall we?”

Not that it was a wrong statement, so Yeon-woo and Shar both dashed eagerly into the bathroom.

*

“Today, Shar’s hair is pretty~.”

“Hehe. It feels like it’s been a while since I bathed with Daddy!”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Let’s see, I hadn’t spent much time with the kids recently due to preparations for the Huyeon incident. So, I must have spent most of my time with Nea or Riley, making that statement not entirely wrong.

“That’s right. I haven’t been able to care for you lately. I’m sorry? Tae-oh too… ah.”

As Yeon-woo’s hand absentmindedly brushed the air beside Shar, both of them fell silent for a moment.

The absence of Tae-oh, who was always lively and freely displayed affection, felt overwhelmingly large.

To ease the awkwardness of the bathroom filled only with the sound of water, Yeon-woo turned the shower toward Shar’s hair.

“Eek! What are you doing!!”

“I was going to get Tae-oh out and wash him too! He’d be way dirtier than us!”

“What does that have to do with throwing water at me?!”

“Well, I guess it doesn’t? Maybe?”

Does it? It feels strange. Seeing Yeon-woo tilt her head in confusion made the sulking Shar suddenly burst into laughter.

“Aren’t you jumping the gun a bit? You don’t even know the way yet.”

“Hmm, no. I have a hunch.”

“Really? You do? What is it, what is it?!”

At Yeon-woo’s nonchalant reply, Shar looked shocked and asked back. To that question, Yeon-woo simply nodded. It was something that sounded absurd to anyone who heard it, yet it existed.

“If I become an Aura Master here, it could be possible, right? If I gain enlightenment in the direction to cut through time.”

That was an action Yeon-woo had attempted before. It was like splattering ink on the faces of martial artists; it’s an absurd and reckless act of pre-defining the direction of enlightenment one hopes to achieve.

Doing that in front of a wall that even geniuses are believed to be unable to surpass—the Aura Master wall—could only be described as foolishness.

Why do people often say that trying to cross the road without permission or speeding leads to disaster?

It’s the same for Aura Masters and all enlightenment. Even attempting to learn a bit faster could result in becoming a body that could never use Aura again—it’s an incredibly risky act.

“Are you sure that’s alright…? Didn’t Uncle Yuri tell you not to do that?”

Perhaps worried about that aspect, Shar looked up at Yeon-woo with concern-filled eyes.

Reflecting on that, Yeon-woo recalled how Nea had worried before they set off. She had repeatedly urged to return safely and not to do anything dangerous.

“I’m someone who can live without the law, but I can’t live without Tae-oh. No, I won’t live!!”

But what can I do? I don’t want to engage in dangerous work, yet dangerous work comes looking for me.

It sounded like the typical excuse of a delinquent husband, but for Tae-oh’s sake, Yeon-woo was prepared to risk her life.

“Alright, Shar! Let’s dive into the bathtub!”

“Eep!!”

At Yeon-woo’s shout, Shar leaped into the bathtub without hesitation. Given how things were, merely defeating the Demon King wasn’t going to be enough.

The operation had begun, and the plan came crashing down first, but life doesn’t always go according to plan.

As they immersed themselves in the warm bath, Yeon-woo tried to think about what to do next.

“Ow! What is this!? It’s hot!!”

Had it not been tailored to Shar’s taste, it wouldn’t have been so surprising. Caught off guard, Yeon-woo screamed.

*

[Do you have any idea how hard it was to create a hole!?]

The voice of Lunaria echoed in Yeon-woo’s mind, filled with harsh breaths. With that voice, Yeon-woo scratched her head.

“Ah, Lunaria. What happened to the knights? Is everyone safe?”

[Aside from a few, they’re okay!! Thank you for worrying!!]

Lunaria cheerfully responded to Yeon-woo’s concern. Although she had a blind side when it came to love, becoming quite scary once that line was crossed, outside of that state, she was a pretty kind goddess.

[Although I roughly grasp the situation, what are your intentions? The current state doesn’t seem very promising.]

“I have something in mind. If everything goes as planned, it should be fine, but I can’t be sure.”

[The way you say that, it sounds like quite an obstinate method, huh?]

I couldn’t say otherwise. My determination to somehow become an Aura Master and overcome this crisis was indeed the epitome of obstinacy.

“What’s the situation outside? How long has it been?”

[It’s probably been about ten hours since everything went to hell.]

“It’s been about twelve hours in the north, so it seems a bit slow compared to the north. We managed to fend off the Demon King’s abilities, but I guess the flow of the area couldn’t be helped?”

[While I don’t know for sure, it’s not feasible to completely stop the Demon King after all, especially if it’s the Demon King himself. If it were possible, a vampire bat would have been the Demon King.]

That wasn’t entirely incorrect, but honestly, the current situation wasn’t bad for Yeon-woo. If anything, it was even quite favorable.

“The flow of time in the eastern area is clearly slower. I don’t know why, though. This looks like it could be utilized, doesn’t it?”

[…You’re not seriously suggesting…?]

“It’s far too delicious a situation for a martial artist to call it ‘just a theory’, right? Training time duplicates?”

It was uncertain whether the holder of time, the Demon King, would allow Yeon-woo to leisurely train, but it wouldn’t matter even if he departed as it was.

From this point onward, it was training to save the town and its people.

[It appears beneficial on the surface, but it won’t be so simple. Do you realize that?]

“I have an inkling. It’s the twin paradox, isn’t it?”

[…You’ve brought up something that sounds smart? That’s troublesome; my true self isn’t enlightened in such scientific terms.]

“Eh, it’s a term you’d hear once or twice if you’re part of the Hunter community.”

If an older twin travels through space in a spaceship at a speed close to light and the younger one waits on Earth, when the older twin returns, the age difference is a paradox as per the theory of special relativity.

It’s one of the reasons countless hunters long for training grounds where internal and external time differ yet have never tried to create one.

The potential side effects one might experience if such a place were to be created are too uncertain.

Yeon-woo had also trained in a somewhat similar environment before, but back then, the ratio was much lower than now, so it went by without incident. However, it was easy to predict that with such a significant time difference, side effects would surely arise.

“Still, I have to. Lives are at stake.”

[If it becomes dangerous, I’ll stop you, so remember that. Shar, let’s take turns keeping watch.]

“Okay!! I’ll rely on you, Lunaria sister!”

Why do I have so many worried people around me? I guess that’s a sign of my deep karma. Thinking that, Yeon-woo focused her consciousness on the tip of the sword.

What do I need to cut through time? What should I obsess over? To contain that within the sword, what type of sword must I learn?

From now on, I had to grasp it all one by one.

And to catch that thread, Yeon-woo began to recall the moments of regression. More clearly than anyone, she remembered the moment she had cut through time.

Grasping her sword, she began to meditate, recalling the moment her soul rose against the waterfall of time flowing down.

(To be continued in the next episode)

 

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