Chapter 314 : Chapter 314

Chapter 314

Dimashq, Dimashq Wilderness.

"No, you said it's a plain now."

Shion said in front of the vast granary.

Even though this place was clearly Dimashq, fields stretched endlessly to the horizon.

It wasn't harvest time yet so it was verdant, but it was a scenery that conveyed a beautiful sense of stability.

I was in the Imperial Court until just now.

But as soon as I wanted to come here, I was here.

Since I was not an existence belonging to this time, it was not difficult.

I looked at the Dimashq Plains and pondered where to head. Because the plains were terribly wide.

I caught my breath for a moment and closed my eyes, and I could feel human presence from various places.

I could even feel all the presences hidden from sight.

In other words, it meant there were people hiding their appearances with something (probably magic).

Where there are secrets, there is my purpose.

Even if I don't know what kind of secret it is.

My steps headed toward a hidden place.

Magic barriers and such blocked me but couldn't block me.

Since I do not block anyone now, no one can block me.

Inside the barrier, there was a building.

It wasn't just a makeshift barracks made roughly, but something square, upright, and sleek made of metal framework, stone walls, and lime.

This architecture looked even more solid than things from the era I lived in.

"I want to go inside…."

The guard was heavy and the door was locked.

Just by tapping lightly, I could tell this security system was the result of very complex and sophisticated magi-engineering.

I fell into contemplation for a moment.

"I don't want to break it, what should I do?"

The contemplation didn't last long.

I discovered a familiar face.

It was a woman, and her hair was silver.

The woman I met in the garden just before, my old master, was walking from afar.

I went to her side in a breath and spoke to her.

"Sen Sorti."

"Hmm?"

The mage made a bewildered face.

Because she felt like I appeared suddenly.

She didn't recognize me but soon recalled.

"…You are …Shion?"

She let out an exclamation.

For some reason, she was wearing round glasses.

"Right! Shion! Shion from the future!"

"Correct. It's me."

"I had completely forgotten about you! It's just as you said! How could I not think of you even once for half a year?"

Sen Sorti laughed.

She added that in fact she had cast various spells not to forget me but none of them seemed to have worked.

I focused on one word in her speech.

"For half a year? Has half a year passed?"

"Yes. Half a year has passed since we talked in the garden. For you?"

"For me, it was just a moment ago."

"Conversing with a person living in a different time is interesting, really. Ah, did I say this before?"

"You did."

I smiled. I had many things I wanted to ask Sen Sorti.

However, the mage did not give me an opening and pulled my wrist.

"You came at a very good time!"

She led me inside the building.

The building opened its door to her very easily.

Because all this complex and sophisticated security system was her work.

"Today is a very, very historic day."

"What kind of day is it?"

"You'll know when you see. First, I'll introduce everyone one by one."

Maybe introductions aren't needed?

Since you'll forget everything anyway.

Sen Sorti looked exceptionally excited.

She led me to the deepest part of the building.

"Actually to me, you are like… a kind of confirmation."

"I would need an explanation. It's hard to understand."

"We have something we've been preparing for a long time. A plan to change the fate of all humanity, which even I cannot be sure of its success."

I was certain the plan she spoke of was the same as Cordisias's promise.

"Today, finally today we will check the results but… how could I not be anxious? Whether we can really change the fate of all humanity, or if it will all become vain… all those efforts will be decided in this one day…."

"But I came to visit."

"Right! Shion from the far future!"

Sen Sorti turned around and abruptly held out her hand to me.

It seemed she wanted a handshake so I took it.

She was very excited and shook my hand vigorously.

"The fact that a strange existence from the far future came to visit means today is a very important day! Enough to be remembered even in the far future!! It means our efforts were not in vain!!"

"……."

It was a logical remark.

However, I did not respond to the excited Sen Sorti.

The Regressor Prince knows.

That sometimes failure is remembered longer and deeper than success.

That being too excited brings more pain.

However, this was a hasty worry.

In this distant past, I was nothing but a spectator.

Even if it was a destined tragedy, it was not something I should speak of in advance.

Therefore, suppressing the pity and pain that suddenly surged up, I smiled brightly.

Sen Sorti misunderstood my smile as she pleased.

"Come in."

"It seems like a very secret place, can you let me in?"

"You can come in anyway. Besides, we will forget everything."

"That is true."

"Then come on in. As I said earlier, I will introduce us."

She seemed anxious to introduce her colleagues.

I was guided to a secret room.

The inside was pure white and bright. It was clean even though all kinds of machines were lined up.

There were several people there.

"Here. See over there? That curly hair. It's Hireium. He has a mind more extraordinary than anyone among us."

"Wasn't he a slave?"

"Once! Originally he belonged to a family, a house slave. But he saved his salary and bought it himself. Now he is a free slave who owns himself, and Cordisias hired him."

Sen Sorti said Hireium was Caseptus's long-time childhood friend.

One was the master's son and one was a slave, but in fact, the two understood each other deeper than anyone.

She added that Caseptus still treats him like a servant but relies on him deep in his heart, and Hireium appears to serve Caseptus but actually considers him like a younger brother.

I let her words flow in one ear and out the other. It was a plausible story but it would be Sen Sorti's opinion to the end and I didn't have much interest in the childhood story of Caseptus, the 'Last Minister'.

"Do you know Ahmena?"

"It's a name I'm hearing for the first time."

"Ahmena Eln Yade Asmir. She was in the acrobat troupe back then. Dressed as a dancer."

"…Ah, it's her."

"She's the Empire's spymaster."

I came to know the name of the 'Last Dancer' for the first time.

Unlike others, she had dark brown skin, but rather boasted a beauty that shone more than others.

She was in the middle of proceeding with some complex calculation with Hireium.

"Beila Beile. The clown."

"…He is working?"

"Why do you say it as if it's so surprising? He is also a scribe. It is his job to record every process of our plan."

"…I thought he would be doing acrobatics or something here."

"What? No way! Even Beila Beile wouldn't do that!"

Surprisingly, Beila Beile, the 'Last Clown', was diligently performing his duties.

He roamed around asking about the progress of work, and was recording it in a form easy for others to recognize.

There was a girl by his side helping with the work.

Her white hair stood out.

I felt a sense of déjà vu from the girl's face.

I felt like I had seen it somewhere.

"Who is beside Beila Beile?"

"They say childhood friends. They claim they are just friends, but we are waiting for when the two will bring news of marriage."

"…The name?"

"Lacrosha."

Horned White Serpent, Lacrosha…!

I recalled a memory from very long ago.

The master of the canyon, I have met the white serpent who lived for a thousand years.

I also remember Beila Beile cherishing her and reviving her.

Lacrosha also had lived from the past 1335 years ago.

Sen Sorti continued to introduce people.

"The guy holding a sword is Debius."

Deballo Debius, the 'Last General'.

I conversed with him but as expected he forgot.

"The guy wearing glasses is Caseptus."

Kerenneus Cansella Caseptus, the 'Last Minister'.

He also does not remember me.

"Cordisias."

Sen Sorti pointed a finger.

At the center of everyone was a man with golden hair.

I knew him.

He was Cordisias, Aurelia, and Continua.

In other words, he is my father.

It felt complicated.

Sen Sorti continued speaking while giggling.

"And me, Sen Sorti."

The mage said. Lacrosha followed Beila so we should exclude her.

Since the start was seven to the end.

"We seven will change the world."

***

Hireium.

Ahmena Eln Yade Asmir.

Beila Beile.

Debius.

Caseptus.

Cordisias.

Sen Sorti.

Slave, Dancer, Clown.

General, Minister, Emperor.

And, Mage.

"…I see."

I, having chewed on the seven names, opened my mouth.

Seven of the Hotus Eight Gods are here.

It was clear that everything started here.

However, a question still remained.

Who is the 'Last Prisoner'?

Where is he?

If it started with seven, why did the Hotus Eight Gods become eight?

"I have something to ask."

"Yeah. Ask away."

I decided to ask what I had been curious about all along.

I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I pointed to Sen Sorti's stomach with a very careful attitude.

"…Child…."

She was full term.

Ever since we met in front of the building.

"…Are you with child, Sen Sorti?"

"That's right. It didn't show half a year ago, right?"

"……."

Because she pulled me excitedly, I couldn't ask.

But now I want to dig into it.

Even though she is my long-time master, I had never heard a story that she had a child.

"……."

I wanted to ask more.

Who is the father, how did this happen, etc., to questions like why did you hide this fact from me a thousand years later, etc.

Questions that would be unfair for the Sen Sorti of 1335 years ago rose to the tip of my chin.

However, I couldn't bring myself to ask.

The reason was simple.

Because I know the sorrow of parents who lost a child.

Because I experienced what kind of sorrow that sorrow is. Poesia, Poesia.

I never thought Sen Sorti would have had the same sorrow.

Not knowing where to start speaking, I shut my lips tight.

Sen Sorti stroked her stomach in front of me.

Utmost anticipation and happiness.

Despite wearing the 'Crown of Paradox', I almost got seized by sadness.

"I had no intention of having a child all my life. Even after knowing I conceived, I agonized a lot, really a lot…."

Sen Sorti said.

"But, when I said I had a child, that guy Cordisias… fufu, that blunt guy rejoiced so much. Right, if so… if so…."

"…What did you say?"

My lips trembled.

"…Cordisias?"

***

"Don't tell me, the child's father is…."

"Of course it's Cordisias. Since we are a married couple."

"…Ah. Sorry. Must have been unpleasant. I didn't know the two were a married couple."

"You didn't know? Hmm. Guess you wouldn't know. I thought naturally you would know. Since it's a fact all citizens know. I wasn't displeased or anything."

There is no hesitation in Sen Sorti's voice.

"Actually half a year ago, do you know how surprised I was when I heard your name? That the name of a person who came from the far future is the same as my child's fetal name."

"…The name was the same?"

"Yes. This child's fetal name is Shion."

Name of a distant castle.

High, beautiful, and flawless.

Without wounds, sadness, or pain.

"Still, what are you so surprised about? The fetal name is Shion. We named the real name separately."

"……."

I know the woman in front of my eyes is my master.

The master from 1335 years ago.

She gave me the name Shion.

Also, I know Cordisias is my father.

The father from 1335 years ago.

I realized one of the reasons I had to come to the past.

"…Then, the real name?"

"Zionis."

Sen Sorti smiled bashfully.

"We decided to name him Zionis."