Chapter 582

Chapter 589: You’re Blushing, You Have Feelings for Him! (Please Subscribe!)

Izay roughly guessed that the key to the side quest likely revolved around the Astraea Familial Group.

In general, it probably wouldn’t stray far from rescuing those young girls.

However, after defeating Zaghnath just now, the mission still showed no signs of progress.

(Is the crisis not over yet? Or is there something else…)

Could it be that only when Alisha and the others safely reach the surface will it count as success?

Izay thought this wasn’t entirely impossible.

While he was pondering this, Victoria was still immersed in the previous topic.

“In fact, I do know a little about time magic～ In my world, tracing back an object’s time is a small trick every witch knows. Though it can’t compare to traveling through time, there have been witches who’ve researched this area before.”

Victoria spoke eloquently.

To put it simply, the need for time travel is to change past choices to influence and alter the future.

This is the most ideal first scenario—people who travel back in time manage to turn the future into what they desire.

However, basically, the chances of such a situation succeeding are extremely slim.

Because there are too many uncertainties.

Even if the future does change, it’s mostly unrecognizable, far from the ideal.

But apart from that, there’s a second scenario—no matter how the past is influenced after time travel, the predetermined future will not change.

According to what Victoria said, most witches in the Witch Association agree with this second scenario.

And because everyone assumes changing the past won’t affect the future, time magic has remained at the stage of tracing objects, without further development.

Although Izay was considering his next move, he was also listening carefully to Victoria’s speech.

For a moment, he felt quite impressed.

Witches are truly terrifying creatures～

They’ve even started researching time travel… and their theoretical knowledge is already well-established.

There’s not much difference between what he understands about time travel and theirs.

The only difference lies in one thing.

—Parallel World Theory.

After altering the timeline of the past, a new timeline branches out at the altered point, evolving into a brand-new parallel world.

It’s akin to a combination of the first two viewpoints (situations).

The person who travels through time successfully changes the past, but it doesn’t reflect on their original timeline; instead, in a new world, the changed past becomes established history.

On a personal level, Izay naturally hopes they encounter the first scenario.

Even in the Orario five years after the dissolution of the Astraea Familial Group, many citizens still long to see the banner of the Goddess of Justice’s Familial Group flying again in the city.

But right now…

“Miss Victoria, I think we should set aside the topic of time for now.”

“Hmm? Is something wrong?”

Victoria blinked twice lightly and tilted her head.

She was enjoying herself while speaking.

It was rare to have an opportunity to flaunt her vast knowledge.

Don’t interrupt me now…

Izay automatically ignored the subtle glance from the witch and said, “Since we have time, it might be more practical to think about how we return. Let me clarify—I don’t intend to stay in this era forever.”

“Do you think I would?”

“Is that so? I thought someone from another world would be indifferent about such matters…”

“Arranging things this way will make me angry? Mr. Izay wouldn’t want to constantly be on a witch’s mind, would he?”

“Hmm… If it’s just being on someone’s mind, it’s not that bad.”

“Surprising, I didn’t expect Mr. Izay to have such a shameless personality? I originally thought Mr. Izay would be more serious.”

“Seriousness doesn’t fill your stomach, how much is face worth!?”

Regarding Victoria’s slightly disdainful muttering, Izay rebutted confidently.

Would keeping face allow him to build a harem?

It wouldn’t!

Even beneath Li Shen’s pure exterior lies a very perverted side; he’s barely scratched the surface!

“Eh…” Victoria was “shocked” by his expression, slightly parted her cherry lips, and looked away.

What he said made perfect sense, and the witch admitted she had no grounds to argue.

After all, throughout her travels, her moral values weren’t exactly high either.

She’s done her fair share of swindling.

In some sense, she and Izay might belong to the same kind of people.

…

Thus, the topic of time came to an end.

Ryu’s explanation to the girls of the Astraea Familial Group went smoothly.

After making the past companions accept her origins, Ryu originally wanted to introduce them to Izay and Victoria.

However, just as she was about to act, her past self pulled her away.

Five years ago, Ryu dragged the Ryu from five years later to the edge of the cavern, clearly indicating there was a private matter to discuss.

“That… Why did you bring me here?”

“I want to ask you some questions!”

Ryu currently felt quite strange.

Talking to her past self and being pulled by her…

Probably, this kind of treatment is unique across the entire world.

After hearing her past self’s response, Ryu thought for a moment and said, “If you’re worried that I’ll take your place, that’s completely unnecessary. I came here by chance, wanting only to make a difference. I never intended to stay here permanently.”

I… actually have my own home now…

Ryu silently added this sentence in her heart.

“What I want to ask isn’t anything like that, and I certainly don’t have such absurd worries! Since you are me, do you really think my thoughts are so dark?”

The spirit from five years ago shook her head and gave “her” a strange look.

Ryu blushed under that gaze.

Five years have passed, with so many changes; how could she possibly guess what she was thinking back then?

She coughed artificially twice: “Then what do you want to ask me? About the future?”

“Something like that… More accurately, it’s about that Ize Alward. What’s your relationship with him… or rather, what will our relationship be in the future!?”

“Eh… Just friends?”

“…Why is it phrased as a question?”

“This… That…” Ryu stammered, rubbing her hands nervously, eyes darting around, and finally whispered faintly, “I don’t know?”

“Hah—!? Are you playing with me!?”

The Ryu from five years ago couldn’t help but get angry.

She knew she was often “straightforward,” which wasn’t wrong.

But that didn’t mean she was stupid and unreasonable.

After the Astraea Familial Group was wiped out, the person who could accompany her lonely self every month to visit the graves and pay respects to everyone…

Could that be considered just a normal friend relationship?

Especially since it’s with someone of the opposite sex.

Opposites are sensitive to spirits.

Because a spirit recognizes only one partner in life.

Now, “her” current stammering appearance makes it even more suspicious!

Haven’t seen pork, but haven’t you seen pigs run?

This is clearly shyness!

The Ryu from five years ago glanced at the “her” in front of her, then looked at Izay in the distance, feeling somewhat toothache.

This human merely looks handsome, strong, and gives off a strangely approachable vibe; why would “she” be like this!?