Ironically, human relationships were all like that. Most of the time, the desperate side became the lower side, just like now.
«One more cup.»
«Ah, here you go.»
«Ughhhhh...» I drank another glass filled with lemon-lime soda. The old man seemed like he wanted to stop and end the conversation now, but no way. «Can I also have a cola?».
«Haha, I guess you miss your house a lot».
«Ugh...!» Yes, that was it. My whole body trembled at the refreshing sensation of carbonic acid that I hadn't taken in so long. However, I decided to stop drinking here.
Since you know what these sodas are, I guess you've really been in our world. But then how did it come? I'm sure he hasn't opened the Gate to the Abyss...
If I can figure out that method, will I be able to return home without going up the floors?
Of course, it was just an idea I had. I wasn't that desperate about it. To be honest, my biggest concern these days was whether I really needed to come back or not. I had already adapted very well here. It was an uncomfortable world in a sense, one that couldn't be wrong, but it was a good enough place to live. Yes, even without soda.
«Haha, seeing you so happy also puts me in a good mood. What do you think, do you want another one?».
«No, that's enough».
«Really?» Auril tilted his head and asked me the same question as before.
«Are you sure it was my turn?».
When I reprimanded him, Auril cleared his throat. «Ahem, ah, sorry. I have rushed. Like you said, this time it's your turn. Ask me whatever you want».
Are you kidding? You haven't answered anything correctly.
I said firmly: «The questions end here».
«¿Eh?»
What huh? How shameless.
«Is there any reason to continue? I can't even discern if his words are true or not».
When I criticized his sleaze for running a lie detector behind the scenes, the old man spoke as if I were unfair. «But I haven't told any lies!».
Yes, for sure, because he didn't tell me anything important.
Rather, because he did that, he gave me faith that he wasn't lying.
«It is true that it is unfair.» All this old man had to do was change the subject when it was an awkward subject, but I couldn't even keep quiet. «...What can I do?»
Hmm, no lo se.
I pretended to contemplate and waited to open my mouth at the right moment. «Why don't you ask me one question while I ask you ten?».
«What?» The old man spoke as if this were absurd.
Hmm, was it a little harsh? I hurriedly pulled out the excuse I had prepared. «I'm already taking a big risk by talking to you».
«Risk?»
«Since I don't know how the future will change because of this». That phrase simultaneously hinted at the amount of risk he was taking right now and how valuable information was twenty years in the future.
«That? Hahahaha!» Auril burst into laughter as if he had really heard a funny story. The laughter was so happy that it even left me irritated. I wasn't trying to say anything funny.
«Ah, sorry for laughing out of nowhere». When I glared at the old man, whether he laughed or not, then he coughed and controlled his expression again. «It hadn't even occurred to me. Of course it would be natural for you to think that from your perspective...» Auril continued: «The Stone Fragment of Records can't change anything».
That's why he laughed at my words.
My brain temporarily froze. Thinking about it again after regaining his composure, he still didn't understand it. So I asked him bluntly: «What do you mean he can't change anything?».
«Oh, are you wondering?».
I was speechless and breathless.
Just when I was desperate for another sip of lemon-lime soda, Auril laughed amused and gave an answer to my question. «Haha, it was a joke. How to explain the concept of time and causality to you right now is difficult, you know this. Whether the chicken and the egg came first, the previous relationship does not matter. The universe only has one story».
The history of the universe or not, I still didn't understand it. But even though I didn't know the beginning, I understood what he was trying to say. «Whatever you do here, won't it change the future?»
«That's right. A timeline observed once does not change».
«Easier.»
«Anything you do with any intention, any conversation we have here and now, means it has happened in the past».
Understanding and acceptance were separate stories. I understood the theory I was talking about, but... so what about Dwalkie? The letters I left in the holy land? In the end, nothing would change no matter what I did?
No way.
I decided to listen carefully to the old man's words but not trust him too much. Not even this old man would be well informed about everything. I didn't even know I was the clearest original.
«You don't seem to believe me. Well, you'll find out once you get back after finishing everything you have to do here. What it means to be called by the times». Then Auril changed the subject and returned to the original conversation. «So about fairness... Ten is too crazy. How about three?»
Wow, aiming just when I was overwhelmed. History of the universe or not, I decided to think about it later and focused on negotiation. «Three is too little. Maybe five».
«...Don't you have a conscience? Although the information from twenty years from now is important, what I know will not be inferior». Auril frowned as if it hurt his pride.
It's not that I didn't understand where it came from. If you asked a hundred Earth players, they would all be interested in the information Auril had and think it was more valuable.
«If you really think that, then you don't have to». However, the value of water depended on the environment. A handful of water was more valuable to a thirsty person than a hundred pounds of gold. «The questions are five for one. Don't accept them if you don't want to». I presented the final proposal as if nothing had happened.
That was the moment.
«These damn bastards...» The old man's expression hardened coldly. I was afraid I had crossed the line. «I'm sorry. I wasn't talking to you. It's just that those people from before broke the rules again». Luckily, I wasn't the cause of his anger. The old man continued with a worried look that I might have misunderstood. «Looks like I should go for today. Why don't we continue this conversation next month? In the meantime, I will think about the issue of equality».
Although it was sudden, I did not let my disappointment shine through. By the time I showed it here, the terms of the negotiation that were about to conclude would go to waste. «Okay». I nodded as if I didn't have anything urgent, to which he waved.
«...I'm back.»
When I came to, I was lying on the bed at the inn. It was midnight on the 15th. I went back to sleep after checking the time. Of course, the dream was not easy. Countless thoughts, worries and anxieties ran through my head in disarray. However, morning came.
As soon as dawn broke, I got dressed and headed to the library. The fact that the future wouldn't change after this anyway? That no matter what he did, it wouldn't make sense because everything was in the past? And? That couldn't become a reason to sit still, because there was a chance that Auril would be wrong about something. If he did nothing, the chances were zero.
Today it is not here.
I passed by the library with that thought in mind, but Raven was nowhere to be found. Where had he gone? Did he get beaten up for electrocuting people while I was away?
At the final no wine.
I even waited until the time Raven used to go home, but she didn't show up. It was the same the next day.
...Gosh, it's worrying me.
Although I regretted not having found out where his house was before, I continued visiting the library. It wasn't until another fruitless day that Raven showed up.
«Why weren't you here?»
«I had something to take care of. And you?»
«Just because». Raven spoke in a tone that was obviously a lie, sat down and started reading a book.
But what was this now? «Why do you keep turning your head?»
«I haven't turned my head».
Now you're turning it too. And your hair is messy.
«Come here.»
«No.»
«Then I'll go.» I walked over and brushed Raven's bangs to the side. I barely managed to stay patient.
So you were trying to hide this.
There was a big bruise around Raven's eyes.
«...It has nothing to do with you».
Ha, how would I make her open her mouth?
As I sighed and contemplated this, Raven carefully observed my reaction and murmured in a comforting voice: «...Don't worry. My mother just caught me arriving late from the library».
As soon as I heard that, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. Even leaving aside the fact that this girl was beaten by her mother, this was a girl who never stopped coming home on time.
I was late home, huh? Because?
«Were you late waiting for me?»
Raven was silent at my words and that silence provided a clearer answer than anything else. Well, she said belatedly: «No».
It's too late, girl.
«Enough talking about me. Tell me about the maze. You didn't finish last time».
«...How far did I go?»
«Doppelganger Forest. You also said that a doppelganger's specialty is pretending to be dead. But that's not very interesting so tell me something else».
I told Raven about the maze as she asked while pretending to be fine until it was time to go home.
"Ya see me".
«Clear.»
«Are you... coming tomorrow?»
«If there is nothing special».
After hearing my answer, Raven hurried out of the library. I left too.
Should I follow her?
I started following Raven. As far as possible, I didn't want to interfere in someone else's family affairs, but...
It's not like she did anything worth getting hit for.
This crossed the line a bit.