Chapter 178 The Last Knot (7)
‘Mother.’
She was no longer Vanessa and Ian’s mother. She had a completely different name and lived a completely different life. Therefore, Ian could not approach her and only could see her from a distance.
‘However…’
Ian thought it a relief that the mother of his past life was still alive and that he could still see her again. Even if her life was simple and demure, she seemed happy. She had that face that Ian had wanted her to have…
“Darling.”
It was then when the man who would be Vanessa’s husband appeared in front of the cabin. He had a deer on his back like he had been hunting.
‘That man…’
Ian’s gaze naturally faced him, as he was also curious what kind of man his mother had depended on. Curious who had gratefully protected her for a long time.
“Why are you so late? It’s dark, and I was worried.”
“I was a bit late to catch this deer so its fur would not be damaged. We won’t have to worry for a while since this deer would fetch a price. Don’t you think so?”
“What would it matter if you had an accident? We don’t need to be well-off, just remain healthy.”
“I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You keep saying that every time…”
“I’m serious this time since I’m not as I used to be. I think that I’ll focus on only catching rabbits and concentrate on being a carpenter. What does my wife think?”
It was an ordinary conversation between an old couple. Everything was normal, peaceful, and happy.
‘……?’
However, Ian’s expression did not brighten, and it became suspicious.
‘Fran Page…?’
His mother’s husband looked exactly like Fran Page, despite being older.
‘What…’
Was it another one of Fran’s forms?
‘No, it can’t be.’
Ian had thought about that but withdrew that notion.
‘Everyone of them disappeared.’
The moment Fran Page disappeared in that white flame, all of his forms were eradicated. Ian had not been affected because he awakened his own ego.
‘However, that man…’
If considering this situation only, and going by that man’s essence, his mother’s husband was Fran Page. Ian was certain of that.
“……”
Ian narrowed his eyes as he had to be tense. His will was still left behind, and what did that mean? It was a dangerous situation.
“Wait.”
Ian estimated the man’s identity and repeated to himself like he had discovered something.
‘They are the same, but different.’
They were different inside, as the man was clean while Fran had been mad. It was not a level that could be intentionally disguised, as Ian could not be duped.
‘He’s an ordinary man.’
Ian could not feel any talent as a mage, which meant that he was an ordinary person.
‘Why is that…’
Ian stood deep in thought and observed him. What situation was this?
“I’ll take care of this deer, so you go in and rest. The weather’s cold.’
As Ian’s agony went deeper, the man with Fran’s face sent Vanessa inside.
“Let’s see!”
He placed the deer on the operation table installed at the front of the house. He had on an apron and even had tanning tools.
“He…”
The man murmured as he started tanning.
“Left me.”
Who was he saying that to? Ian could not see anyone around. While they had a dog, the man was not talking to it. There was no one who the man could talk to.
“In all other dimensions, you, Ian Page, will be protecting my wife as our only son.”
The man was actually talking to Ian, and he seemed certain that Ian was watching him and that Ian could hear him.
“However, in this dimension, where Ian Page died after the poisoning, no one can protect her.”
The situation and the story were sudden, but Ian agreed since the man was right.
“I’m made from the last goodwill that had separated from him.”
“Goodwill…?”
“As you can see, I cannot threaten anything now.”
The story was proven as the man did not have any powers, and even his original self could not defeat Ian.
“However, as I have a few useful skills, I can protect my wife until we both use up our time as human beings.”
The man with Fran Page’s face spoke in a quiet voice and was different from the Fran Ian knew, who would joke around.
“I will die the moment she dies, as I will have finished the fundamental task I had been born to do.”
Of course, it was difficult to believe him since Ian had not heard this story from Fran Page’s memories and knowledge.
‘If he had been separated, their memories might have split.’
There was a possibility, while nothing was certain.
‘If everything is true…’
That meant that Fran saying that Vanessa would die if he died had not been a complete lie. He would have modified the memories that had been left behind by this man.
‘Is he lying?’
Ian did not think so, and the man continued on with his words.
“You would find it hard to believe, and you can eradicate me now. However, to add a word, your mother, my wife is living quite a long and stable life as ‘Elisa,’ and not as ‘Vanessa Page.’”
Vanessa’s new name had been Elisa, and she had lived a satisfied and comfortable life even without luxuries for decades.
“While you can return her memories with your powers, I cannot say whether it would benefit her. She has lived longer as Elisa than Vanessa Page.’
Ian became silent for a while. He had to acknowledge that the man was speaking the truth.
“I do not care about your decision since I will only perform the task given to me. Please act on your thoughts and beliefs.”
The man became silent, and he suddenly picked up his bow and arrow before going back to tanning. The arrow formed an arc in the air, and it was not headed for Ian. The direction was different from the start.
A loud scream rang, and it was not a human’s tone. The arrow had been for a wild beast, and it was quite accurate even for an archer.
“Husband? What is wrong?”
Elisa came out of the cabin out of worry for her husband.
“I’m sorry to surprise you. It seems that I was not the only one after this deer.”
The man calmed his wife down. It seemed that his archery skills and the senses that enabled him to notice the beast’s approach were some of his skills.
“……”
Ian fell into deep thought. Whatever else, Fran Page had sincerely loved Vanessa enough to protect her with his last goodwill even if he had gone down thousands of years and had become mad.
[…For the last time.]
Ian opened his mouth, and it was a magical whisper that only the man could hear him.
[I want to see my mother’s face from up close. May I borrow your eyes and senses for a minute?]
Fran nodded once at Ian’s request.
[Then…]
Ian borrowed the man’s senses, and while he could not control Fran’s body, he could see his mother up close and hear her voice.
“What do you want for dinner? I had prepared a light meal, but it seems a bit too simple…”
Vanessa, now living a new life as Elisa, whispered. Her voice and expressions were filled with positive emotions like happiness, satisfaction, stability, and love.
“That’s not bad. Light meals are good for our age and actually good for our health.”
The man replied gently whether Ian shared his senses or not.
‘His emotions are not created.’
Ian could feel the man’s emotions, and they were sincere. The man had not deceived Ian, and it was impossible from the beginning.
“……”
Ian had become silent and finally organized his thoughts. First, his mother was happy and would be until she died. He felt no need to violate her happiness.
‘That man…the last piece of Fran’s goodwill.’
He was not twisted, and his introduction had been true.
[Then…]
Ian had decided.
[I will return.]
He would go without making any changes or interfering and would say goodbye to his mother, who was living a contented life.
[I will not change anything, as I understand my mother will not benefit from any changes. So, please look after her.]
The man nodded at Ian’s words.
‘That’s enough.’
Ian activated the transportation spell after seeing the nod and repeated to himself that this had been enough. His mother was happy, and nothing could be better…
‘Mother, please.’
Ian returned to his original dimension as he wished for his aged mother’s happiness.
‘Be happy.’
A warm aura came down in the cabin, and they could not feel the cold that had blistered the skin anymore. It was warm like flowers would bloom at any moment, and that single tear that had brought on this warmth was Ian’s final goodbye.
***
Ian had returned to his second life.
‘I…have returned.’
Ian had set right all dimensions, and now opened his eyes to see the calendar.
“……”
Ian’s face became rigid, as it seemed that he had not kept the promise to return soon.
“Nine…nine years?’
If that calendar was not wrong or a trick, it had been nine years since Ian had fallen asleep.
‘Why?’
Ian could not understand this situation. It had taken slightly over an hour to return during the fight with Fran Page. Why had nine years passed?
‘…Wow.’
Ian had not expected this result. Had it been a mistake to try to understand the connection, flow, and interaction of time between dimensions in the first place?
‘Nine years…’
A lot of things would have changed, and Ian woke up suddenly. It had been nine years since Ian Page, the great mage, had moved from the bed.