Chapter 215: An Old Story (12)

Chapter 215: An Old Story (12)

The next day arrived.

The custom uniform made for Baek Yu-Seol was weaved quite quickly, but perhaps because he was still much smaller than a full-grown adult, he didn’t feel particularly satisfied when he looked at himself in the mirror.

Even though it was a uniform, the design itself wasn’t much different from Stella’s cadet uniform.

The overall blue color and the numerous ornaments attached were a bit annoying, but as expected from noble houses, the uniform itself was stylish.

“Hmm.”

When he put on the mask as well, it seemed to provide decent camouflage.

Someone as sensitive to mana as Duke Isaac Morph might notice his unusual constitution, but such people weren’t common.

“Let’s go....”

Though Baek Yu-Seol felt quite troubled, he decided to bury all his worries deep inside for now.

Worrying wouldn’t change anything anyway.

***

Morph Dukedom.

Morfran Forest.

Although the area was fairly small, the territory, where the legendary magical beast was sealed by the great Morph, the disciple of the Progenitor Mage, was off-limits to anyone other than Morph’s direct descendants.

To maintain the seal on the magical beast, the ice magic of the Morph bloodline was essential, and they protected this place for a thousand years, blocking outsiders from entering due to the danger.

And now, a thousand years after sealing the magical beast.

For the first time, Morfran Forest had no choice but to allow an external force onto its land.

Along with the Red Sun Knights of Adolevit, many mages from the Magic Society and the Magic Tower participated.

They were presumably called by Hong Si-hwa.

“Nice to meet you. I am Hong Si-hwa from Adolveit.”

“I am Alec Bylen from the Magic Society.”

“I am Kasak, the vice tower lord of the Blue Crystal Magic Tower. It is an honor to meet you.”

“I am Director Verdon of the World Mage Organization.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Duke Isaac Morph.”

The meeting between the Adolveit Magic Knights in red uniforms and the Morph Knights in blue uniforms.

Since this meeting wasn’t conducted properly, the Morph knights glared at the Adolveit soldiers with menacing eyes.

Their impressions were completely different.

Baek Yu-Seol stood at the back and quietly observed Hong Si-hwa.

The atmosphere was different from the playful one ten years later; now she exuded a much stronger air of calmness and composure.

Isaac and Hong Si-hwa shook hands and entered the command tent.

After the mages from the Magic Society and the Magic Tower, as well as Isaac’s aide Wilhelm, went in, Baek Yu-Seol cautiously followed.

Wilhelm didn’t look pleased to see him, but perhaps because of Isaac’s orders, he didn’t say much.

The atmosphere inside the command tent was tense and cold.

Amidst the two countries' knights glaring at each other as if they wanted to kill, he quietly stood behind Isaac.

“First of all... I want to apologize for forcibly bringing our troops into the Morph Dukedom.”

“I also think it’s truly regrettable.”

“According to the calculations of the Constellation Tripod from the Red Sun Tower, the barrier sealing the magical beast will weaken in less than a month.”

The Red Sun Tower of Adolveit.

It was known as a candidate for the 'Great Tower' following the Sanwol Tower, which was one of the world’s most outstanding magical institutions.

It was famous for its unique magical calculation method called the Constellation Tripod.

“Even though the seal was placed by the great Morph, the disciple of the Progenitor Mage, and maintained by the excellent magic of the Morph family, it’s a miracle that it has lasted for a thousand years with just one barrier.”

Their computational power, capable of calculating everything from ancient magic to future magic, was so extraordinary it could be called otherworldly.

According to their information, the magical beast in Morfran Forest would awaken in a month.

It was quite a funny story.

They believed their thoughts and calculations were correct and pushed forward independently, and even caused great harm to the Morph Dukedom in the process.

“... Princess Hong Si-hwa.”

Isaac Morph spoke to her with a stern expression.

"If this goes wrong, you will have to bear significant diplomatic responsibility.”

“Of course.”

Hong Si-hwa replied nonchalantly and gestured behind her.

Two Adolveit aides appeared and spread a magical scroll on the table, revealing a holographic panorama of Morfran Forest.

“This is quite... unpleasant.”

Morfran Forest was strictly off-limits to outsiders and was practically the heart of the Morph Dukedom.

Yet, they had meticulously mapped out all the terrain and features of Morfran Forest.

This was not only rude but also a serious issue that could cause significant diplomatic friction.

However, Hong Si-hwa merely bowed her head slightly in apology.

“I apologize. The Adolveit Royal Family decided to treat this matter with utmost seriousness.”

“I also need to treat Adolveit’s rudeness with utmost seriousness. After this matter is settled, we will meet again in an official capacity.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Was the extermination of the magical beast important enough to incur such losses?

Or did she not even care about Isaac's words?

Hong Si-hwa’s voice was so devoid of emotion that it was impossible to discern her intentions.

“In fact, we should have discussed this matter earlier.”

In her memories.

In her nostalgia.

The lost home.

Now, it was vividly right in front of her eyes. It was not an illusion or a fake, but the real Morph Mansion.

- It’s really... the past... 10 years ago. We have returned to that time.

- ... Hey, are you okay?

As Edna carefully asked Eisel, who was staring at the mansion in a daze, she smiled gently and answered.

"Of course! I don't plan on wasting this precious time being sentimental. Let's go quickly."

"Where to?"

"Well, first of all..."

She hesitated before speaking.

"I want to find my father."

"Yes. I think that's a good idea too."

They came here to learn the truth about her father, so it was a natural decision.

So they headed straight towards the mansion, but something unusually noticeable caught their attention.

It was Eisel.

Young Eisel.

“Huh...”

She seemed anxious as she walked around nervously before slipping over the wall and hiding in the forest.

"Wait. That’s a place you're not supposed to go...!"

As Eisel belatedly shouted in panic, Edna said with disbelief.

"Isn't that you when you were younger? You should remember it."

"Uh, yes... Probably..."

She tried desperately to recall her childhood, but how clearly can one remember things from when they were seven years old?

Only the important scenes would flash by like blurry afterimages.

"We should follow her!"

"Is that okay?"

"Yes! That’s Morfran Forest. It’s incredibly dangerous and not a place you can just enter... Wait, hold on..."

As she spoke, something seemed to click in Eisel’s mind, and she started to think hard.

"Surely..."

"That little kid is really fast."

Edna was able to fly without the need to walk or run thanks to their ghostly bodies.

She led Eisel swiftly in pursuit of young Eisel.

Eisel, however, appeared preoccupied with her thoughts.

"Ahhh!"

"Huh? What was that?"

... The scream of young Eisel echoed.

Flying quickly to the scene, they found young Eisel being chased by a giant wolf demon.

“This is crazy!”

Edna instinctively pulled out her staff to cast a spell, but realized there was no mana in her body.

Desperate, she tried to physically tackle the wolf, but passed right through it, unable to make contact.

"What is this...!"

They hadn’t known young Eisel faced such a danger. It wasn’t recorded in the original novel.

“This is really dangerous...!”

"Wait. If the past me dies here, then there’s no way the present me can exist, right?"

Something seemed to dawn on Eisel as she spoke calmly.

“Yes, I remember now. There was a time like this. I got lost in the forest and was chased by a terrifying wolf demon. That nightmare-like day..."

As young Eisel was frantically fleeing, she tripped over a rock and the wolf pounced on her.

In the moment of life-or-death.

Suddenly!

... A hero appeared. A hero wearing a tacky mask.

Even after ten years, she had never forgotten that masked hero, whose face and name remained unknown.

That man appeared and easily grabbed the wolf by the scruff of its neck, subduing it with one hand.

But then...

"Is that...?"

"Could it be...?"

They looked from one angle to another, rolled forward, and even did backflips to get different perspectives.

"Isn't that just Baek Yu-Seol...?"

Except for the mask. He was unmistakably Baek Yu-Seol.

"... Seems like it?"

What in the world is going on?

When a figure resembling Baek Yu-Seol appeared ten years in the past, they fell into confusion."