Episode 98: The Reason She Exists as She Is Now #4
1.
Francia, riding behind Yohann, closed her eyes and leaned her body against his back.
The sound of galloping hooves echoed incessantly, and her body swayed up and down. As the horse raced, sharp winds brushed past her skin, and her black hair fluttered in the air.
There was no time to rest, except during the horse’s breaks. This was because Yohan sensed something vast and formidable following them.
There was no need to guess who—or what—that vast presence was.
‘…It must be them.’
Two special-class knights, the Tower Master, who was a transcendent Mage, and the archbishop of the Holy Kingdom, whose power rivaled that of the Empire’s top mages.
Facing them head-on was impossible. No matter what, they had to find shelter in the Celestial Mage’s Library.
Clop clop clop!
How long had they been traveling like this?
On a sunny day, with a chilling wind that refused to cease,
The two finally arrived at the ruins located in the center of the continent, where the Celestial Mage’s Library was hidden.
“Is this the place?”
Yohan, reining in his horse, looked around and asked.
“Yes. Follow me.” Francia replied, her expression hardening as she took the lead. Just like before, an unknown mana guided her. Yohan followed her silently, without question.
Rumble!
With a small tremor, the center of the ruins split open. Holding Yohan’s hand, Francia stepped onto the descending staircase.
Rumble…
As the two descended the stairs, the entrance closed behind them.
Darkness enveloped them, with not a single ray of light penetrating through.
Francia extended her hand and murmured,
“Light.”
Fwoosh!
A soft, white glow gathered at her fingertips, illuminating the passageway.
Inside the expansive chamber, towering bookshelves stood like fortress walls, reaching toward the ceiling. The scent of aged paper and a faint aura of mana filled the air.
On the long table stretched before them lay numerous unidentified artifacts, glowing faintly even in the darkness, proof that this place was anything but ordinary.
“So this is… the Celestial Mage’s Library…”
Yohan murmured in awe.
“There are so many treasures here.”
“Indeed.” Francia replied with a bitter smile, lowering her gaze.
“Well, most of it is useless since I can’t read the runic texts. The artifacts are all I could make use of, but even then, I couldn’t figure out most of their effects…”
The records in the Celestial Mage’s Library could only be comprehended by those who had transcended and mastered the intricacies of runic language.
Although Francia had studied runes, she could not grasp the magic or flow contained within them.
“Hmm…”
Yohan furrowed his brows as he glanced through some artifacts and magic tomes, then chuckled softly.
“I can read them.”
“…What?”
Francia’s eyes widened, resembling those of a startled rabbit. The magic tomes left behind here were in an entirely different league compared to the books she had previously taken.
And yet, he could read them?
“I can’t understand everything, but I can grasp the general flow. Most of it involves absurd magic—causing disasters or distort causality…”
As Yohan continued speaking, a shadow fell over his face, and his expression grew tense, exuding a chilling aura. Francia flinched instinctively.
“They’ve arrived.”
“…No way.”
“Yes. It’s them.”
Yohan set the magic book down and looked up at the ceiling.
“They’re tracking your mana at the entrance now. The Celestial Mage’s barrier seems to be causing some delays, but not for long.”
The Tower Master was a transcendent Mage. Reading the traces of mana Francia left behind would be no challenge for him.
“My god…”
Francia covered her mouth with both hands. The Tower Master was the strongest and most powerful mage of the current era. Even with the Celestial Mage’s barrier, which had weakened over thousands of years, he could likely break through it.
“What… what should we do?”
“…”
Yohan furrowed his brow and stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“…We’ll use it.”
“It? You mean…”
“Regression.”
“Regression?”
Francia’s eyes trembled faintly.
“How?”
“Over there.”
Yohan pointed at a massive crystal orb at the center of the Library. A faint blue light shimmered within it.
“I’ve been observing it for a while now. It seems to contain the Celestial Mage’s mana. If we use it, regression should be possible. Of course, the barrier protecting the Library will disappear in the process.”
Indeed, the mana emanating from the crystal orb was unmistakably that of the Celestial Mage. The purity was extraordinary, and while the remaining mana was limited, it was still vast in scale.
“But…”
Francia hesitated.
If she returned to the past, she would be safe, but Yohan would remain here. If the barrier collapsed, he would surely…
“There’s no other way. We can’t just sit here and die, can we?”
Before Francia could complete her train of thought, Yohan quickly interjected.
“Right now, just focus on escaping this situation. Don’t worry about anything else.”
He gently smiled and patted her head. His soft touch was strangely reassuring.
“…Even if I return to the past, nothing will change.” Francia said, clenching her fists and lowering her gaze.
“Even if I get another chance, I don’t have the confidence to do better…”
Francia was only 25 years old.
Until she turned 20, she had lived like a sheltered flower in her noble family’s greenhouse. After that, she had been on the run, unable to gain proper experience.
She had once been called the Obsidian Saintess, carrying great expectations because of her diligence and exceptional talent in magic.
But to use regression magic and return to the past?
Even if she were given another chance, there was no way she could do better. She was terrified of the possibility of this nightmare repeating itself.
“Yohan Harsen.”
As she bit her lip, Yohan spoke softly.
“The third son of Viscount Harsen. Before I was tied to the arranged marriage with the Freeche family, that was me.”
Lowering himself to her level, Yohan met her gaze. His deep blue eyes locked onto her crimson ones.
“If you return to the past, come find me.”
Yohan’s voice was low, yet resolute.
“I will be waiting for you on the path you must walk again. So don’t be afraid. Move forward. You are not alone.”
Francia stared at him, bewildered.
Telling her to find him—what was he thinking?
But one thing was clear.
No matter what, the man in front of her was on her side.
“…”
Suddenly, her chest tightened. Her heart ached, and a suffocating, complex mix of emotions she couldn’t even begin to comprehend surged up to her throat.
“The spellbook states that anything about the future cannot be disclosed, but the past version of me wouldn’t let those men go unchecked, even without knowledge of the future. So, come find me.”
Yohan smiled softly.
“For now, focus solely on returning to the past. We must escape before they arrive, mustn’t we?”
The moment he finished speaking, Yohan walked over to the crystal orb and placed his hand on it.
Wooooom!
A blue light emanated from the orb, illuminating the dark library.
“This should be enough to activate regression magic. Most of the mana is depleted, but there’s still plenty left.”
Yohan turned to Francia and extended his hand.
“Let’s go. Let’s start over again.”
2.
Following Yohan’s suggestion, Francia prepared to use the regression magic.
Lying on the magic circle drawn with the runes and symbols from the regression spellbook, she looked up at Yohan with worried eyes and asked,
“Will this really work…?”
“It will.” Yohan replied with a gentle smile.
“If there were no evidence, this magic would sound absurd. But we have proof—this is the Celestial Mage’s library (Archive). If the legendary figure from the myths could create this, then this should certainly be possible.”
Swish. Swish.
The runic symbols were fully inscribed. Yohan brought over the magical conduit connected to the crystal orb and placed it beside her.
“Remember, you must not reveal anything about the future. Just find me. Ensure that the Yohan Harsen of the past chooses to follow you. Leave the rest to me.”
Although still anxious, Francia nodded quietly. Her mind felt clouded by the rush of nervousness and fear.
At that moment—
RUMBLE!
The entire library trembled.
Someone was interfering with the barrier.
“…They’re here.” Yohan said.
“Yohan…!”
Francia, lying at the center of the magic circle, hurriedly sat up.
“No, this won’t work! Even if I go back to the past, Yohan, you’ll—”
“And if you don’t return?”
Before she could finish, Yohan interrupted.
“Even if I survive, nothing will change. This world is headed toward destruction, and if those men capture you, you’ll suffer in endless torment.”
Yohan opened the spellbook.
WOOOOOM!
The mana surrounding the library (archive) dissipated, and the massive magic circle and runic symbols lit up brilliantly. Francia began to float slowly into the air.
Her voice rose In desperation.
“Why… why would you go this far for me?”
“I told you already, didn’t I?”
Yohan chuckled softly.
“This is my atonement for the consequences of a choice I made in the past.”
“What do you mean by that…”
Before she could voice her confusion, Yohan activated the magic.
“If I’m given another chance, I’ll hold on to the mistakes of the past.”
The air turned icy cold. A chill enveloped her entire body, her breath forming pale white clouds, and the mana lingering in the atmosphere began to tremble.
“The celestial bodies will move—Regression.”
BOOOOM!
A surge of blue light erupted from the crystal orb, engulfing the entire library. The light whirled like a storm, tearing through the air. Threads of light, flowing like a river of stars from the ceiling, converged upon her.
The magic circle on the ground glowed as though it held the heavens within it, while the mana that filled the archive seemed to cower in silence, as if in awe of its power.
“No, please! Yohan…!”
Tears welled in Francia’s eyes as she called out his name. Yohan responded with a soft smile.
“I won’t remember this. You’ll be the only one who knows the future.”
His voice continued.
“But even if I forget you, it’s enough that you remember me.”
His calm words wrapped around her like a gentle embrace.
“Those memories will become a light to guide your path. And the past version of me will follow that light to protect you.”
Her eyelids grew heavy and began to close.
“I will live on in your memories.”
With his warm smile and those final words echoing in her ears, Francia let her eyes close completely.
3.
RUMBLE!
The entrance to the library collapsed.
Yohan stood silently, staring at the regression magic circle. Francia, her eyes closed, was on her way back to the past.
‘Now I just need to buy some time.’ he thought.
Regression magic didn’t activate instantly. To ensure the user’s mind remained intact, it required ample preparation time.
A magic that defied the heavens itself—a true reversal of fate.
Twisting the law of causality was no trivial matter.
‘I need to hold out for about 15 minutes.’
In addition, the Tower Master, a transcendent mage, had to be stopped. He had to be killed.
If left alive, he would undoubtedly use the Celestial Mage’s Archive to scheme once more.
And yet, for some reason, Yohan found himself chuckling.
Death was right before him, yet it felt as though the chains that had bound his heart were finally breaking free.
It was the guilt of having turned a blind eye to Francia’s misfortunes.
But at the same time—
‘…Rudbeckia.’
He felt immense regret toward his wife.
‘I’m sorry, Rudbeckia.’
Yohan murmured silently.
He wouldn’t be able to keep his promise.
When this was all over, he was certain he wouldn’t survive.
‘I should’ve told you I loved you.’
Five years had passed since their marriage.
They had barely shared a true relationship as a couple, and not once had he told her he loved her.
Even if it was an arranged marriage without affection, he had neglected his duties as a husband.
He had wronged her deeply.
He despised himself for never once uttering the words she deserved to hear.
He had always thought she would be by his side.
But now, he would no longer be able to stay with her.
‘I’m so sorry… Rudbeckia.’
Once more, Yohan repeated the apology in his heart.
Someday, he vowed, he would atone to her as well.
At that moment—
“There’s some massive magic being cast…”
“Well, it is the Celestial Mage’s Archive.”
“This power… it’s truly incredible…”
“Hmm.”
The four men had made their way deep into the archive.
“…And who are you?”
The Emperor of Rozino, Fedelian, leading the group, frowned and tilted his head in curiosity.
Yohan placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and glanced back slightly. In that instant, his sharp gaze lit up with a cold glow, and blue flames ignited.
“You won’t pass beyond this point.”
His icy voice echoed through the air. The blade of his sword shimmered with blue light, and a whirlwind of mana wrapped violently around him.
BOOM!
A fierce gale swept through the area, causing bookshelves to tremble and magical tomes to scatter into the air.
The tip of Yohan’s sword pointed directly at them.
“I have to set things right.”
He prayed.
That the world would not meet its end.
That his past self would protect her.
And above all, that Francia could find happiness.
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