There was no specific destination for this excursion. I just walked where my feet took me.
Ah, that pincho shop was here twenty years ago too.
I didn't really like walking, but this time I really enjoyed it. It was like a puzzle of guessing the differences. Every time I saw a store that was still operating twenty years later, I was happy to see it even though I hadn't been there many times.
«…¿Eh?»
When I got here? I guess customs are really scary.
I raised my head absentmindedly and looked at the beautiful exterior of the building in front of me.
[Archivo Central de Registros del Sur de Ravigion].
This was the place everyone referred to as the library, and also the place I visited the most in this world.
Nothing has changed here since twenty years in the future.
It wasn't like I had a ton of things to do right away, so I walked into the library without hesitation.
«Hello welcome». As soon as I enter, the staff greets me. To be honest, I was very surprised.
What the hell...? This place was never like this.
The counters that were empty when Ragna was there were full of staff. The first time I came there was only one librarian dozing.
One of the many librarians approached me, a woman who seemed to be in her teens. «Is this your first visit?». He looked very young; So, this couldn't be his full-time job. Was it a part-time job? Why was it so familiar to me? «...Is this your first visit?»
«Ah, si... así es.».
«Then I will briefly guide you through the navigation rules and methods».
Listening to the woman's guidance, it seemed that not only the number of librarians had changed. The administrative assistant was just one of the many people here. A visitor also had to give a keyword to magically take out the records while the other ordinary librarians guided the visitor to the place.
«...Why do you use such a cumbersome method?»
«Excuse me?»
«Isn't it more convenient to delight visitors and have them find the books for themselves instead?».
The librarian looked at me with eyes that seemed to ask: «What the hell is this barbarian bastard talking about?» and he responded with a bright smile: «Haha, I guess you could think like that. But I have heard that granting magic to others increases mana consumption several times».
«Ah, so the problem is that there are very few magicians».
«Yeah. I've never heard of such magic in the first place».
Hey? What is this now? That magic doesn't exist?
As he tilted his head involuntarily, the librarian murmured in a contemptuous voice: «It is impossible for the exalted wizards of the tower to create a spell for us librarians».
«...I see. I'm sorry. I'll come back next time».
«Nothing happens. If you can think of a book or field that you would like to read while browsing, don't hesitate to ask us whenever you want.»
The conversation ended and the librarian returned to her seat. Thanks to this, I managed to see his name tag, which was not visible while we were talking.
[Librarian Apprentice – Shavin Emoor]
Ha, no wonder it looked so familiar. It was her. It seemed like she worked here until she became an adult and got a job in the back office.
How interesting.
It suddenly occurred to me that I could now hear young Missha babbling.
Oh, I guess he's still babbling now.
Anyway, that wasn't important. The fact that I could watch my acquaintances' childhood days if I wanted to? It could be interesting, but what did it matter?
«Dwalkie... would be alive here».
Riol Warb Dwalkie, the wizard who would probably be my weak point for the rest of my life.
If changing the future is possible...
Wouldn't my actions here make it possible to prevent Dwalkie's death? As soon as I had that thought, an electric current ran through my body, not metaphorically, but truly.
Zzzz.
What is this? Who burned me with electricity?
When I looked down at the stinging sensation blooming at my feet, I saw a child looking at me with arrogant eyes. I spoke gracefully like an adult barbarian. «What the hell are you doing?»
The boy answered my question. «I am a magician».
I was speechless.
Yes so that? Did you think I would be scared to death?
«Human child, you don't seem to realize that wizards can also die when their necks are broken». Since arguing sincerely with a six or seven year old boy wizard was ridiculous, I gave him my sincere advice. But wasn't it to your liking?
«Whatever you want, get out of my way. I can't get through it because of you». The girl magician looked at me with attitude. Thanks to that, I was able to know the reason why he electrocuted me.
Ha, did he electrocute me just because I was in his way?
I was a cheeky girl, but I restrained myself, albeit narrowly, remembering Amelia's warning not to make a scene. «Yes, go ahead, Girl».
«What's so good about being great? You can't even use magic».
«What did you say? Do you want to see a spell that breaks necks?».
When I stepped aside to make way for him, the boy snorted loud enough for me to hear and disappeared. «...How barbaric».
Yes, that had no effect on a barbarian.
Tsk, tsk. Were all children like this twenty years ago? Ugh, in my time it wasn't like that... What is this world becoming?
After that, I took a quick look at the library and, without taking out any books, sat in an empty armchair. There was something I needed to organize my thoughts on.
Yes, it is too much to waste this opportunity.
They were twenty years apart. Just as Amelia called this an opportunity, it occurred to me that it would be a waste to go back to my original time.
Although I can't invest much since I only have three weeks left on earth...
I organized what I could do during that time. Some things occurred to me.
First, the Treasures of Genesis.
The Genesis Treasures would be stolen within twenty years. I couldn't stop it, and it was practically impossible to steal one in advance and bury it underground. He didn't know where he was hiding in the Holy Land.
But a warning can be given.
Thus, the first item on my to-do list was decided: Write an anonymous letter saying that someone would come to steal the Genesis Treasures on March 1, 153 from the New World. Of course, it wasn't clear if this would change the future, but since it didn't require much effort, there wasn't much to lose. In that sense, I decided to include a few words about the War of the Holy Relics. In truth, that was the main cause of the decline of the barbarian tribe.
It would be nice if they had as much power as here.
I hadn't looked around the city much from twenty years ago, but the most notable change was the proportion of barbarians. They looked pretty much wherever I went. This was probably normal in the past. The War of the Holy Relics decreased the population and the magic tower then announced that our hearts were valuable as magical ingredients, leaving us in the state we were in.
The magic tower... Can't I stop them somehow?
Hmm, I decided to think more about this. I couldn't think of anything at this moment. Now to the next thing: Create a situation where Dwalkie doesn't die. In the case of this point, there were a total of two methods that came to mind: Either intervene with the past and induce a scenario in which he did not become an explorer, or kill the dragon hunter, that son of a bitch. The former had many variables, but the latter was safer than any other medium. It was also an act that would benefit the world a little more. In many ways, it only had advantages.
But the problem is that it's not certain that bastard is even in Noark.
According to the known story, the guy first appeared about ten years after stealing the Dragon Slayer sword. I heard that he debuted in Orcules by terrorizing the sacred fairy land alone that was destroyed by the War of the Holy Relics. Unfortunately, nothing was known about his past.
Then I should meet Dwalkie first.
So I chose to proceed by inducing a scenario where Dwalkie would not become an explorer. There were a lot of variables, but it was a worthwhile attempt, not to mention I even knew where Dwalkie was staying at the time.
If I go looking for him and tell him only bad things about how hard and disgusting the job is, he's sure to get a bad impression. Okay, so let's resolve this matter like this. The next thing is...
Just when I was organizing my thoughts like that, I heard the crackling sound of electricity from somewhere.
¡Crackle!
Fortunately, this time it wasn't coming from my body.
«Agh!» When I turned my head in the direction of the sound, I saw a man screaming after being terrified with electrocution.
«Move, don't block the way». The girl recited the same phrase that she had spit on me before. But unfortunately, the results were not the same as before. How many adults were as benevolent and understanding as me?
¡A slap!
The man slapped the boy on the cheek mercilessly. Although he had the fragile physique characteristic of a stick man, it was still difficult for a six or seven year old child to resist the strength of a full-fledged adult.
«Birhe Te-» The girl who was thrown back quickly stood up and cast a spell, but the terrified man did not give her a chance to do so.
¡A slap!
A merciless kick was directed at the small body.
«...Shouldn't we stop it?»
«Librarian! Let's call a librarian».
The people around began to look, but no one took a step forward.
Ha, this is why you can't deal with nerds who only study. I can't concentrate.
«Who made the noise?» I had no choice but to approach the commotion and approach the still angry man who kept stomping. «Don't make noise in the library». I tripped him.
¡Bum!
«Who the hell are you?»
The man who fell on his ass snorted as he stood up. Looking at me, he raised his voice in annoyance. «Unless you want to get hurt...» He interrupted himself as soon as our eyes met.
«Unless she wants to get hurt? Why did you stop?»
The man couldn't answer my question. I wondered if I was going to use the first method to make someone angry, but luckily that wasn't the case. «...Follow your path». The stick man tried to play hard as his eyes slowly pointed downwards.
I was a little dumbfounded. I thought he was an egalitarian, like a barbarian who did not discriminate between men and women, because of the way he mercilessly slapped a child's face.
But he was only strong against the weak.
Well, I mean, this kid was 100% wrong this time.
«Why don't you stop here? Can't you see that people are reading?»
«...Tsk.» When I explained a justification, the stick man clicked his tongue, turned around and disappeared. I figured he realized how embarrassing what he had done had been once his anger went away.
«Can you get up?»
«... Don't worry ».
If you're going to say that, at least say it when you're a few years older and lose baby fat.
Suspired.
I sighed and picked up the boy curled up like a shrimp. «Do you have a mom?»
«Yes I have it».
Hey? You have it?
«But not you?»
«...She's home.»
Ah, I see. You should have said it from the beginning.
«Why have you come alone without your mother? If you are going to come to a place like this, come with her.»
«...I can do it alone.»
«Is that why they hit you like that?»
When I pricked her where it hurt directly like a barbarian, the girl frowned. «...I could have won.»
«I see.» That's why I hated children. They were so stubborn to be beings so far removed from rational thought. «It doesn't matter, find out for yourself. If you're going to pick a fight again, do it somewhere I'm not.»
«...I wasn't looking for a fight. It's your fault for blocking the road in the first place.»
What was he saying now? «It's also your fault for using magic just because someone was in the way. You should have asked him to step aside first».
«I did. To you, and to that man from before. But they both ignored me».
Hey? Really? I really didn't know...
«So I won't do it.»
«What are you talking about?»
«I'm not going to say thank you.»
«Really?» I didn't even expect it. «Okay, go.»
When I motioned for her to leave, the girl snorted angrily for some reason, then turned around and disappeared.
The staff then ran up from afar. Fortunately, without me having to say anything, the other visitors who were nearby told them the situation. «...I heard you went ahead to fix this. Thanks». They thanked me and disappeared. That was the end of the brief incident. I sat down again and continued with my thoughts.
Drag.
When I looked to my side when I heard the noise, I saw that the boy from before had sat diagonally in front of me and had opened a book.
«Hey, what are you doing?»
«I'm reading».
«Why do you read here?»
«Why can't I read here?».
Ha, honestly... Let's be patient.
Exercising the patience of an adult, I moved my seat. But what was this now?
Drag.
Not even a few minutes had passed when another chair was placed diagonally in front of me.
«Why have you followed me?»
«I haven't followed you».
«Yes I follow ».
«No, I haven't followed you».
Based on my extensive experience as a volunteer, it seemed like I had sparked this child's attention.
Indifference is key in times like this.
If he didn't respond, she would lose interest and leave on her own. I stopped paying attention to her and continued with my thoughts, but this damn girl didn't know how to stay in her lane.
«Why are you sitting there without a book?»
«…»
«¿No sabes leather?»
«…»
«Shall I teach you?»
Deose mym.
»Hey, kid.»
When I finally said a word after holding on, the boy frowned. «I'm not a child».
«Of course you're N-«
«Ara Raven.»
«...Eh?» I froze. I doubted my ears for a moment, but it wasn't my ears that were wrong.
«Arua Raven is my number.»
...Wait, really?
She had loose blonde hair, blue eyes, a small figure, and was human. That was all they had in common, but looking closely, I could see Arua Raven. However, he couldn't be sure like with Shavin Emoor. That was because there was a big difference between being six or seven years old and being in middle or late teens.
So I asked again to check. «Is it Arua? Not Aruna, Aruru, Aruberos or something?».
«What are those strange names? My name is Arua. Say it well».
How sensitive. Anyway, twenty years from now no one will exactly call you «Arua».
«So how old are you?»
«Five years.»
Wow, they're even the same age, I guess it's really her.
She was tall for her age when she was young. I was surprised by the sudden encounter, but little by little I began to get curious. «What is that book? It looks like a magic book. I take it you're learning something on your own?».
«Sí.»
«Aren't you going to the magic tower?». As someone who knew that Arua was associated with the magic tower in the future, I couldn't help but wonder.
She just clicked her tongue. «Do you think anyone can enter the magic tower?»
It's true, but...
«Our family is too poor, so I can't».
«Is that why you are studying alone?»
«Yes, if I become an administrative wizard later, I don't have to worry about making a living».
«...Is-that true?» I nodded awkwardly and thought to myself.
What did I do when I was five years old? I would go in and out of the operating room and spend the day reading in the hospital.
I was also quite precocious for my age, but nothing compared to this girl. At least then I didn't worry about the future. Well, then I was at a crossroads between life and death, so it was mainly because I couldn't afford it.
«Then I'm leaving.»
«Hey? Suddenly?»
«It's time for my mother to come home from work. If he finds out I've been to the library, I'll be in trouble».
«True, he's sure to be worried that you'll sneak out like that».
«...It's probably something different than what you think». Raven put her book back on the desk and left coldly without looking back.
Something different from worrying, what does that mean?
It might have been nothing, but Raven's strangely gloomy expression as she said that bothered me.
Do you have any problems with your family?
Come to think of it, he never talked about his family in front of us. It was also the first time I found out I was a commoner.
«Hmm ... »
This piqued my curiosity.