Ch. 202

Jenna's expression wasn't very good after saying she sometimes saw the future. One of her eyebrows twitched upward.

"...You're not surprised?"

Oh no. It seemed she was dissatisfied with my rather lukewarm reaction. I adjusted the expression I had been showing Jenna. Belatedly pretending to be very surprised, I soon smiled and spoke to her.

"Ah, yes. Well, you're the Archmage after all. I thought you would naturally have such power."

"Hmm, is that so?"

"Yes. Really."

Of course, information about Jenna's prophetic dreams was something I knew from the original. Besides that, I also knew about some of the powers Jenna possessed.

"If that's the case, then fine. That can be."

"Ha, haha."

I smiled awkwardly following Jenna, who laughed coyly. Then soon Jenna's expression became serious. I carefully asked while reading Jenna's mood.

"Um, Archmage... but what kind of future did you see?"

"That's why I came to find you. To talk with you about the future."

Gulp, I unconsciously swallowed nervously. Jenna took a sip of tea with a slurp, then continued speaking.

"The future I saw... was the end of the world."

"What?"

"Soon, a great war will occur. A war that begins as a conflict between humans will instantly spread into a war between humans and monsters. Then, when the war is about to end, Diego Church participates. They hunt brutally and mercilessly, whether human or monster. Like that... it was a future where the world ends."

The future Jenna saw was the same as the future I had seen through the administrator. Hearing that story from none other than Jenna made me unconsciously tense.

'Even though I already knew the content, is it because I'm newly hearing it from the Archmage's mouth...?'

Only now did the Continental War feel real.

"But there was one thing—there were those who couldn't be seen in that dark future."

"Those who couldn't be seen?"

"Right. It was our Magic Tower and Kyros Church. Even in the maelstrom of that great war, our figures couldn't be seen."

"That means..."

Jenna, whose eyes met my gaze, nodded and added.

"In other words, this prophetic dream showed the future when these two forces—the Magic Tower and Kyros Church—didn't participate."

Jenna had also interpreted it properly.

"So in this great war, the Magic Tower and Kyros Church must participate as 'variables.'"

Jenna's eyes became even more serious. I looked at her and pondered deeply.

In the original, the Magic Tower—that is, the Archmage—participating in the Continental War was near the end of the war. Not participating with another purpose, but to stop Diego Church.

Until then, the Archmage and Magic Tower hadn't cared at all how many humans died.

So I became curious.

"...Archmage. This might be an impertinent question, but there's something I want to ask."

"What is it?"

"Archmage, so... mages dislike 'humans.' But why... are you trying to participate in the war and create a variable?"

In the original, the Archmage and Magic Tower participating belatedly in the war was just to stop 'Diego Church,' not for 'humans.' If they had truly tried to protect humans, they would have participated from when the war started.

"Right, you know very well."

At my question, Jenna let out a "pfft" smile. Then after drinking her fruit tea to the end, she slowly continued.

"Actually, I still dislike humans. But you see... I don't want to leave the world where Helena lives desolate."

Jenna grinned. And I was a bit shocked by her words.

'Wait. Come to think of it, in the original...'

In the original, grandmother probably couldn't cure 'Mana Burn' in the end. So she might have left the world around the time before the Continental War occurred.

That's why Jenna, who no longer had anyone to protect, didn't participate in the Continental War. In fact, this was no different from a reasonable conclusion.

'Because right now, Jenna seems to be trying to prevent the war only for grandmother's sake.'

If I hadn't protected grandmother, I wouldn't have received the Archmage's cooperation like this.

"...I see."

I looked at Jenna, who was still smiling gently. Though her face looked young, the eyes of Jenna, who had lived for hundreds of years, felt a bit frightening.

"So, well... what do you think? Revelof, no, Church Leader of Kyros Church."

Jenna asked me unhurriedly. I slowly nodded toward her and said.

"Hmm. I understand the Archmage's will well. Actually, I also... already knew about the great war that will come to the Celeste Continent."

"What, you?"

At my words, Jenna opened her eyes quite widely in surprise. I nodded to her and added.

"Yes. The benevolent and great Lord Kyros showed me the future. So I've been... running around even harder."

"You? Hmm... as expected, you're quite loved by a god."

Jenna's gaze swept over me once.

"I am the leader of a church after all..."

At my words, Jenna slowly nodded.

"Right. So?"

"Ah, yes. So I also sent people to the two countries that will be the starting point of the Continental War—Beron Kingdom and Hanlim Kingdom—to create variables. To monitor their movements."

"Oho. I see."

At my words, Jenna smiled faintly. It was an expression that seemed somewhat satisfied.

"Well done. As expected of Helena's grandchild."

"Thank you for the compliment. Anyway, I also intend to participate in the war as the Archmage said. By creating as many variables as possible... so that a terrible future won't come."

"Right. That's what you should do. Hearing that answer from you makes me a bit relieved."

"I'm also glad to hear that the Archmage intends to participate. If the Archmage joins us... we'll be able to save more people."

I spoke to Jenna sincerely. Then I could see Jenna barely controlling her rising lips.

"Hmm, hmm. It's all for Helena's sake. Absolutely not because of those human bastards."

Then Jenna quickly rose from the sofa.

"Anyway, if you need my help or see signs of war, contact me."

"Ah, yes. I understand."

I felt good that I seemed to have become closer with the Archmage... wait.

"Um, Archmage. But how should I contact you?"

Though it might be a bit funny, it was quite an important matter. Even though things looked peaceful right now, the current situation was no different from a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

In an urgent situation, there was no time to write and send a letter to the Magic Tower. Then Jenna lightly snapped her fingers in the air.

Snap—

"Peep!"

As soon as her gesture ended, a small crow shining with golden light popped out from the air. So its appearance was unmistakably a crow, but a golden aura was wafting around it. And its size was about the size of my palm.

"Take it."

When Jenna gestured lightly, the small crow flew to me. Then the crow perched on my shoulder.

"That child's name is Roro."

At that moment.

Poof—!

The crow that had been sitting on my shoulder until just before exploded. No shock came to me. However, the small bird transformed into golden powder and soon disappeared.

"I, I didn't kill it."

I urgently explained to Jenna. Then she burst into laughter.

"I know. That child will normally be dispersed as mana in the air. When I contact you, or when you infuse mana to contact me, it will regain its original form."

"Ah, yes. But... is it okay for this child to stay like this?"

When I asked, worried about the bird's well-being, Jenna nodded.

"Yes. Since it's originally a child made of mana, it's fine."

"That's a relief."

I had been worried whether it was animal abuse or something, but since she said it wasn't, it was a great relief. As I was letting out a sigh of relief, Jenna's body gradually began disappearing starting from her toes.

"Then I'll be going now. I have a lot of work. Tell Helena I'll come to see her soon."

"Ah, yes. Please go safely..."

Before I could finish speaking, Jenna's form had already disappeared.

Only then did the tension that had been surrounding my whole body release completely. I leaned back on the sofa as if lying down with my somewhat limp body.

"Ah, really..."

She was like a storm of a person. Still, I couldn't easily erase my smile. Once raised, my lips had no intention of coming down easily.

'...I'm fortunate.'

I had been planning to seek help from the Magic Tower when the Continental War broke out anyway. If Kyros Church participated in the war and grandmother stepped forward as Holy Knight Commander, Archmage Jenna Lewis wouldn't just sit and watch.

But to think the Archmage would come find me first and say let's participate together, when the war was still far off.

'I'm just grateful.'

Thanks to the Archmage, I could easily deviate from the original's trajectory.

Before Diego Church participated in the war, I could create variables with the Magic Tower's help.

'Then what remains now...'

What I had to do from now on was already decided.

***

The western edge of the Celeste Continent. A certain desolate rocky mountain range far from the Herpheon Empire.

"Groaar—!"

Rock golems made of giant rocks rushed toward someone.

Thwack—!

However, soon the rock golems turned to sand with a single kick.

Thwack—!

Another rock golem was extinguished by being hit with a club, and like that, the rock golems widely spread across the rocky mountains were quickly eliminated.

And the man leading the way in taking them down, Terdius, roughly swept back his sweat-soaked hair after one round of combat ended.

"Are there really people living in a place like this?"

Terdius asked with narrowed brow. Then Revelof, who was following behind, answered while wiping sweat flowing on his forehead due to the intense sunlight.

"Yes. That's right. Lord Kyros definitely told me so."

Even at Revelof's smile and answer, Terdius's expression was still full of disbelief.

Right at that moment.

Flash—

A sphere of pure white light was generated between the two. Then what appeared with a majestic air was Kyros in the form of a puppy.

"Believe me, my child. Very cute ones are living here!"

Kyros shouted with a triumphant expression. At that sight, Terdius was a bit surprised, and Revelof's expression soured.

'That human, no, that god... after just rolling around in the temple for days.'

After appearing for the first time in days, what he did was send Revelof to a desolate rocky mountain range.

'But I have no choice.'

Because unfortunately, there was a holy relic here.

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