Elaim had a strange dream. In that dream, some kind of armored monster appeared, hurt her father, and even tried to kill her.
On top of being strange, the dream also felt realistic. She could feel the pain vividly and even remember the voice as well as the face of the man who was trying to save her.
“Ugh…” Elaim, who was about to open her eyes, frowned as her temple throbs.
“You are ugly when you wrinkle your face like that.”
“Ugh!!!!!”
Elaim looked up in surprise when she heard an unfamiliar voice suddenly speaking. When her gaze fell on the man whom she presumed to be the one who just spoke, she realized the face of the man who was speaking belonged to the same man she had seen in her dream. He was sitting there with a bored look on his face.
Elaim, who was lying on the floor close to the crackling bonfire, immediately tried to get up from her seat. However, she could only grimace and grab her head as it throbs.
At that moment, Yoo Seodam held out a pouch of walnuts he had been munching towards her.
“Would you like some walnuts? I heard it’s good for your head. Maybe because it’s shape is similar to a brain.”
“…The reason walnuts are good for our brain is because they are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which stimulates brain activity. Not because it resembles a brain.”
“Is that so? Either way, it’s good for your head, isn’t it?”
“It should have no effect whatsoever on a headache…”
Even though Elaim said it like that, she still accepted Yoo Seodam’s walnut pouch politely with both of her hands. Afterall, besides the throbbing headache, she could also feel that her stomach was rumbling.
As she finished chewing her first bite, Elaim asked cautiously. “My father… Is he okay?”
“Hm?” Yoo Seodam looked at her and tilted his head at her question. “Rather than asking who I am, where is this place, or the identity of the monster who attacked you, you asked the well-being of your father first as soon as you woke up?”
“…” Elaim stared wordlessly at Yoo seodam. And then, with a smirk, Yoo Seodam answered.
“Your father is fine. I already treated him, so his life won’t be threatened because of the wounds.”
“Then…”
“I think you are going to finally ask ‘the’ questions, so I’ll answer it in advance. This place is in a forest about 100km from your house. The monster who attacked you came from the future, and I came back in time to protect you, just like them. How is it, any more questions?”
“Wait…wait…wait! What does all that mean…….”
“This forest is about 100 kilometers from your house. The monster who attacked you came from the future-”
“If you are just going to repeat your earlier answer, just forget it! It’s just… There’s too much happening… I can’t process it…”
As Elaim began to organize her thoughts, Yoo Seodam closed his mouth and pulled a bag of peanuts. In fact, both the bag of peanuts and walnuts were taken from Elaim’s hut, but it seems she didn’t notice it at all.
“You just said that you came from the future, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
As Yoo Seodam answered while chewing a peanut, Elaim met his eyes.
“Honestly, I have a hard time believing it. But… I choose to believe you because you’ve saved me and my father from a monster I’ve never seen in any books before. For that, too… Thank you very much.”
“Your ability to understand and adapt with the situation quickly is commendable.”
When Yoo Seodam nodded at his own words like an old man, Elaim asked carefully.
“Have you dealt with that monster?”
“I split its head open.”
“Then, can I return to my house now? I want to go see my father.”
“That’s not allowed.”
Yoo Seodam threw another peanut to his mouth and laid his back to the chair he always brought wherever dimension he went to.
“There are still a lot of androids targeting you. So, you have to run away if you want to survive.”
“…. For how long?”
“Until the problem in the future is resolved. I don’t even know when that will be. We just have to trust the folks in the future and wait.”
“…”
The word ‘future’ still felt real to her, so Elaim was silent and bowed her head.
“Just lie down and go get some sleep. Tomorrow we will be busy.”
“Yes…”
Without being able to shake her uneasiness, Elaim crawled into the sleeping bag and closed her eyes.
*
[Month 3 Day 28 Year 609]
The next morning, Yoo Seodam, who woke up just before sunrise, woke Elaim up and left their camping site. As a means of transportation, they used a mana-powered carriage which Yoo Seodam had stolen on his way to save Elaim.
After traveling through the vast wilderness for hours, they finally arrived at a city with towering buildings and towers. The name of the city was Arterial City. As it was built on a high cliff, there was a huge flying boat port there. and it was also a place that served as a transit city for many cities.
“Wow…” Elaim, who entered Arterial City for the first time in her life, scanned her surroundings excitedly without even thinking of keeping her mouth shut.
The buildings were all tall, and there’s a wagon flying through the sky! Roads ran through buildings, strange magic statues floated and the voices of merchants who promoted their goods using magic filled the area.
However, even though there were a lot of sounds, Each and every one of them didn’t disturb each other at all, so she could hear a new song with every step she took.
“Have you never been to the city?”
“That’s so… Originally, I was about to go to the city with my father…”
“After all of this is over, you will be able to explore the city without any trouble with your father.”
“Haha… I hope I will really be able to do so.”
“It’s fine to look around, but don’t forget to cover your face. Enemies can scan your biometric information.”
“Okay.”
As Elaim pressed her hood down, Yoo Seodam also wore his hat even more tightly.
Fortunately, there are no artificial satellites in the year 609, so the androids tracking ability could be said as being cut to half. But since it was almost certain they still had excellent technologies, Yoo Seodam wanted to lead Elaim to a safe place as soon as possible.
“By the way, why did we come to this city?”
“We are going to ‘Rinekal Rigatuma’. They said it was the safest place in the world.”
“If it is Rinekal Rigatuma…….”
“Do you know about it?”
In ancient language, Rigatuma means ‘heritage’, so Rinekal Rigatuma could be interpreted as Rinekal’s Heritage. And history said that it was Archmage Aracelli Rinekal herself who named it.
The only reason that made that place famous was because its former name was ‘Vivienda Academy’, the very same magic school where Yoo Seodam once worked as a professor. However, it had become a place which could no longer be used due to the invasion of the demons years ago.
But for some reason, Archmage Aracelli claimed that place later in her life and sent it high into the sky again…
It was said that until now, there had never been a mage who could break through the barrier around the place which was set up by Archmage Aracelli. Hence, till now, no one had been able to enter that place.
“We can’t enter that place…”
“I know. The security system of that place is excellent, isn’t it?”
“Then why…”
“I have the key to get in there.”
At Yoo Seodam’s words, Elaim furrowed her brows. She couldn’t believe it.
Inside that place, there must be a lot of knowledge and information about archmage Aracelli. Therefore, someone who enters that place would be able to become the archmage of the century.
“What’s wrong? You don’t believe me?”
“Honestly… Not at all.”
“Don’t worry about that. Even without me, you were destined to go there.”
“What are you talking about?” She asked. She was just an ordinary country girl, how in the world was she destined to enter that place?
“In the first place, there was no barrier set in that place. However, I was told that only wizards with the same belief as her could enter. She was surprised and upset when she was told that no such person has appeared for over 100 years.”
“Why do you talk like you personally know the great hero?”
“I do know her.”
Elaim bit her lips tightly at his words. No matter how much she is grateful for him as he was her benefactor, she could not stand the fact that he was joking with the hero she had admired her whole life.
“Please don’t say nonsense like that.”
“Hm? Now that I think about it, your hut was all covered with Aracelli Rinekal biography. Do you respect her that much?”
Elaim quietly nodded her head, and Yoo Seodam smirked.
“It’s amazing but feels weird at the same time.”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing. For now, let’s quickly go. We have to take the flying boat.”
“The flying boat?!”
“Why are you screaming? What if you get caught?”
“I-I’m sorry…”
After hearing Yoo Seodam’s words, Elaim suppressed her beating heart which had begun to pound like a drum from the excitement. She had always wanted to ride it, but she had long since abandoned that dream because she was nothing but a poor country girl.
Seeing Elaim with excited expression painted across her face, Yoo Seodam put on a bitter expression. He doesn’t know what she expects, but the flying boat won’t be as exciting and enjoyable as she imagines.
Afterall, he had a hunch that their movement had already been detected by the androids. It’s only a matter of time before they catch up to them.
“Let’s hurry.”
“Yes!”
Famous or slightly larger flying boats usually have names attached to them, but Yoo Seodam only bought a ticket for an unnamed flying boat.
The ‘12th flying boat’ they were going to board was huge. To compare, it was as big as a cruise ship on Earth. And as it was the cheapest boat around, there would be a lot of passengers on it.
Wooong-!!!
WIth a rumbling noise, the flying boat flew high into the sky.
“Wow…” Elaim exclaimed as she stood on the deck with her hooded still up. Her eyes were twinkling as she looked down to the ground.
“People look like ants!”
“Yeah.”
“The magic tower became smaller than the model toy I had at home. Wow, that’s really cool. How could this be? Seodam. How do flying boats fly?”
“The floating crystal is supporting the entire ship. Wizards control the entire ship by determining the output and direction of the floating crystal.”
“Wooowww….”
“Are you listening?”
The flying boat gradually increased its altitude. Eventually, it soared above the clouds. Since the outer surface of the flying boat was protected by a pressure shield, there was no need to worry about the pressure difference.
Watching the curious and excited Elaim wander around the flying boat, Yoo Seodam also tried to enjoy a brief moment of leisure.
But at that moment, out of the blue, the deck went into chaos.
“What? Who is that?”
“Is it a magic show?”
“Armors…?”
Underneath the flying boat, an unidentified monstrous creature, wearing black steel armor, appeared.
– The energy of the target has been detected.
– Finding the target to eliminate it.
“Goddamit!” Yoo Seodam cursed. He promptly ran towards Elaim as 12 B-type Androids surrounded the flying boat and stuck their arms out.
Wiiingg-!!!!
Boom-!!
“Ahhhh!!”
“Help!!!!!”
When a red beam was fired from the android’s hand, chaos ensued onto the deck.
“Seo-Seodam!!!!”
“Stay calm.”
When all the androids’ eyes were focused on her, Elaim hiccuped and plopped down to her bottom.
‘They are weaker than the last ones…’
Nevertheless, he still refused to lower his vigilance.
Tung! Tung!
As soon as several androids landed on the deck, Yoo Seodam ran to one of them and reached towards it.
Woosh-!!
In an instant, an android ceased to function as he shoved his right hand into its chest area before pulling its energy core away. Shortly after he tossed it to the chest area of an android running right next to him, Seodam turned and swung his forearm to meet another android’s fist head-on.
Kwaaang-!!
A brief struggle ensued. Just like before, the more he endured, the more disadvantageous he would become as he had to protect the people by himself.
As he slipped his opposite hand into the air and pulled out an etheric blade, he tried to quickly dispose of the android in front of him. Unfortunately, he was blocked by another android’s lightsaber protruding from the side.
– The enemy uses swordsmanship.
– Swordsmanship scan completed.
– Reinforcing self to cope with the fighting style of humans.
“Tsk”
The other day, Yoo Seodam used swordsmanship when fighting an android. At that time, he destroyed them in just two hits. Back then, they judged swordsmanship to be an ‘unknown technique’, but now, they had already come up with a countermeasure to counter it by fighting with enhanced athletic ability rather than magic.
Which means, his swordsmanship and magic had already been grasped by them.
‘Should I use the Winchester?’
However, he threw the idea away. Guns were not suitable for dealing with large numbers of enemy at close range. Moreover, Winchester was a sniper-like firearm, which means, it takes time for it to shoot another bullet.
The choice Yoo Seodam had right now was to use the ether sword. The item was a type that weakens the opponent by applying a debuff, so it was not suitable for dealing with non-living things.
Reluctantly raising the ether blade, he moved quickly using the Dharma Heavenly Wind God Technique.
Footwork, it was a mysterious technique that even those with advanced science could not grasp.
Woosh-!!
When another android was cut into half, a series of laser beams rushed into its place.
Yoo Seodam casted a barrier magic in one direction, avoided the lasers which were not covered by the shield and blocked some which aimed at his vitals with his swords. Then, he jumped high into the air. As the androids soared into the air to chase him, he used the skill once more and rushed towards them.
– Responding to enemy attacks.
As the android’s built-in computer judged that it could not block that attack with only a single entity, five Androids gathered and deployed an energy shield.
Wiiing-!!!
Yoo Seodam’s sword hit the energy shield, but it did not penetrate; only creating a small crack. At that moment, light flashed from the tip of the sword, it also rotated like a drill. Moments later, a sharp needle of ice broke the energy shield and charged towards the android.
When the head of one android was torn off, the energy shield naturally collapsed, and the formations of the other androids also collapsed.
Ba-bang!!
As a mechanical arm grasped his hands, Yoo Seodam hugged it and slammed it to the ground. Then, when another machine slammed it into his head and fired a laser, Yoo Seodam either blocked or deflected it with the ether blade.
Meanwhile, Elaim was hiding in a corner and watched the fight without even blinking. She was terrified and frightened, but she didn’t want to close her eyes, turning away from him as he was fighting for her.
Dung-!! Dung-!!
-Mission, failed….
Yoo Seodam let out a long breath as he killed the last android. He then ran to where Elaim was hiding. Fortunately, she was unharmed.
“Elaim, are you okay?”
“Behind you!!!”
“!!!!”
As Elaim shouted, Yoo Seodam hurriedly turned around and crossed his arms in X shaped in front of his chest. In the very next moment, a red-skinned android collided head-on against his body.
Kwaaang-!!
When they collided, a huge shock wave spread in all directions. It was not the kind of shockwave one would imagine would occur when two humans collided.
“Kyaahhh…!”
Elaim body rolled over the deck for a long time, then smashed into another wall.
“Ugh…!”
Her breath was caught in her throat, and she struggled to get up.
‘Unbelievable…!’
Yoo Seodam cursed once again. He had just finished dealing with 12 androids, but now, another 30 androids were appearing?
On top of that, every android which just came had better ability than the previous one.
Yoo Seodam looked at the red android, sweating profusely. At the very least, the android was at the same level as him. If they fought in a one-on-one fight, he was certain he could kill it. But, as of now, that chance was slim. 30 D-type and C-type androids had appeared cutting through the air and blocked him from all directions.
‘How can they send this much?’
Before, they could only send a single D-type android to the past, but after the last time, their amount was increasing more and more.
‘This is going to be difficult.’
Yoo Seodam bit his lips tightly. Even though he always said that he only fought when he was sure about his winning chance… maybe, he had always just been fighting a losing fight and had been fortunate enough to have won.
Then, a sudden thought came across his mind.
‘Wait a minute, isn’t it time to pass by there?’
With that in mind, Yoo Seodam looked down to the ground.
‘I didn’t even have to think of any other way.’
As what he thought was true, he decided.
“Heuppp!” Yoo Seodam raises the ether blade to the air, and starts to radiate mana.
At the sight, the androids took on a defensive stance in their own way. Their enemy’s combat power was stronger than they had initially expected, so they had to deal with him properly.
However, rather than attacking, Yoo Seodam concentrated all the mana he had gathered on his legs and ran towards Elaim.
He took her into his arms and asked, “Elaim, do you believe me?”
“Yes… Yes?”
“Okay.”
“Come on… wait a minute… Kyaaaaaaah!!!”
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Without being able to finish her words, Elaim screamed as Yoo Seodam blitzed to the edge of the deck and jumped off the railing!
The wind slapped her on the cheek, but it was nothing compared to the fear she felt.
‘Oh, this is how I’ll die, huh?’ Elaim thought. If she had known that she was going to die at such a young age, she would have tried dating someone.
She thought so and closed her eyes tightly.
‘Elaim a flowery 18-year-old, dies today. Goodbye world.