Chapter 223: Wooden Pocket Watch (2) Part 1

Snowflakes fell from the distant sky, and the moonlit breeze whispered through the quiet night of Rekordak. Deep within the Northern Region’s coniferous forest, Yulie sat in a rocking chair, looking down at the bracelet around her wrist.

“... It was my first field mission after joining the Imperial Knights' Order," Yulie said.

Yulie’s voice was low, almost like a murmur, and Epherene listened in silence.

"To protect the Professor in Marik and transport the core."

“Transport?” Epherene asked.

"Yes," Yulie replied, exhaling a quiet breath.

A pale breath slipped into the air like fading mist, while snowflakes fell quietly on Yulie’s shoulders.

"At the time, Count Decalane, former head of the Yukline family, was conducting critical research. I never learned its exact purpose, but one thing was certain—the core was crucial to Yukline."

It was a past unknown to Epherene, one she could never come to understand.

"With my fellow knights and I entered Marik alongside Deculein. However, we were met with an unexpected sudden attack."

Yulie still blamed herself for that day. To her, the very idea of something being unexpected was inexcusable, as a knight should always be prepared for every possibility and ensure that no threat ever caught them off guard.

"The mission failed, and many lost their lives," Yulie concluded.

“... Is that when you lost your bracelet?”

“Yes.”

Epherene nodded, then reached into the basket inside her robe, pulling out a steaming potato and taking a bite, warmth spreading through her fingertips.

"Then...

ha

, hot...

ha

,

ho... ha

,

ho...

" Epherene murmured, blowing on the steaming potato as she rolled a piece around in her mouth. "But how did the Professor ever find this bracelet again?"

"... Marik has been reopened recently."

“

Aha

.”

Yulie suspected that he had retrieved it on purpose when Marik was reopened, yet she couldn’t understand why—surely, to him, it should have been nothing more than just a simple bracelet.

"It must be something important to you, Knight Yulie," Epherene said.

"Yes, it is," Yulie replied without hesitation. "It was the first and last gift I ever received from my father."

Though it had blackened like coal, the bracelet still held the memories of that day. The pounding of her heart before receiving it, the rush of emotion that followed, the warmth rising to the tip of her nose, the sting in her lashes weighed down by unshed tears—every moment remained vivid within it.

"The one and only gift of a lifetime."

A single token of proof that, even if only once, Yulie’s father had spared a thought for her.

"It is that important to me," Yulie said, turning back to Epherene.

Epherene, too, held Yulie’s eyes.

"... Miss Epherene, what does the letter say?" Yulie asked, pointing toward the envelope resting on Epherene’s lap—the one Deculein had left for her.

"

Oh

, this? It’s nothing important. Would you like to read it?"

"... Are you sure I may?"

"Sure," Epherene said, handing the letter to Yulie.

As Yulie read the letter, her brow furrowed—just as Epherene had earlier reading the letter.

Epherene,

I leave this letter to you.

You will undoubtedly understand the meaning of this letter.

“... What is this? Is that all there is?”

"Exactly. Just three lines—that’s it. I was just as confused when I first read it," Epherene replied.

"Magically speaking—"

"There's nothing. No hidden mechanisms. This is all it says."

Yulie gave a small nod, returning the letter before leaning back in her chair and said, “Miss Epherene.”

“Yes?”

"If what you say is true, Miss Epherene, then we will experience regression. This bracelet in my hand, these memories—everything will disappear as if they never existed."

"Yes, that’s right. Without a doubt."

"Then, could you explain why you said that... and why you believe Professor Deculein does not hate me?"

Crunch, crunch...

Between them, snowflakes floated silently, hair tousled by the cold wind, and the immense landscape stretched seemingly forever into the horizon.

“...

Umm

.”

Epherene lowered her head in silence, looking at her feet buried in the snow, adjusting her weight slightly, drawing a small circle in the frost.

“Well, you know.”

Epherene raised her head to the sky once more and the snowflakes, light as falling petals, brushed against her face.

"The Professor doesn’t have much time left."

Yulie remained silent.

"Whether we regress or not, the Professor won’t be in the future. His time is running out, and he knows it," Epherene said, thinking of the Deculein she had met in her timeline. "So... maybe he never hated you, Knight Yulie. Maybe he only wanted you to hate him."

Yulie paused for a moment before closing her eyes.

"So... that when the time came for him to leave on his final journey, you wouldn’t mourn—but feel a sense of happiness instead."

Yulie remained silent.

"Of course, that’s just my imagination."

The wind swept through the forest, sending the trees rippling like waves on the sea.

“... It’s just a thought, just my imagination. You’re okay, right?” Epherene asked, glancing at Yulie’s expression.

"No," Yulie said, shaking her head. "Even if it’s only an imagination, it still hurts."

Yulie placed a hand over her heart, and somewhere in the distance, the sound of ice cracking resonated.

"The more it hurts, the less I want to forget those words."

“Hey!” Delic called out from a distance. “It's time for the meeting!”

Epherene hurriedly got to her feet.

Perfect timing. It was just starting to get awkward,

Epherene thought.

"Let’s go now, Knight Yulie."

“Yes, Miss Epherene,” Yulie replied, rising from her seat.

As they were about to leave together...

— ... Well, you know.

A hushed Voice whispered through the air, freezing Epherene in place, her breath caught as she flinched and slowly turned to look behind her.

— The Professor doesn’t have much time left...

The conversation she had just shared with Yulie had been caught in the assimilation of the Voice.

"You just don’t give up, do you?" Epherene muttered with a faint chuckle, disbelief washing over her.

“Epherene! Hurry up!” Delic called out again from a distance.

Yulie was already waiting in the distance.

“Coming!” Epherene yelled, leaving the voice—and the past—behind her.

***

Whoooosh—

As a blizzard raged over Rekordak, the group gathered around a large table in Yulie’s office.

"I have narrowed it down to the most likely suspects among the thirty knights," Delic said.

Delic's list contained seven names in total—Jaelon Vadaspe, Yuplait von Sven, and...

"Sirio Ragnus," Sylvia said.

"Yes, he is one of the suspects. Sirio was indeed among the thirty knights the Empress had summoned," Yulie replied with a deep sigh.

Sylvia fell into thought, knowing that Sirio—the deputy knight of the Iliade Knights' Order—was someone far too familiar to her.

"The remaining knights all have solid alibis. Of course, that doesn’t mean we can rule them out just yet," Delic said with a nod.

"How can you be so sure," Sylvia asked.

"They are fools who dared to launch a sudden attack on Her Majesty. We’re not the only ones after them—many others are hunting them as well. If we wait long enough, the perpetrator may reveal themselves,” Delic replied, running a hand over his mustache. "But, Epherene..."

“Yes?”

"Our goal isn’t just to find the perpetrator, is it?" Delic continued, his eyes steady as he met Epherene’s eyes, firm with determination.

“Of course not,” Epherene replied.

"Have you discovered the conditions for regression?"

"No, not yet. I still don’t know."

For now, Epherene waited for April 9, holding onto her strongest theory—that regression would take place on that day.

"Until then, you must survive. Even if we fail to capture the perpetrator, regressing to March will allow you to set everything right," Delic said.

“Okay.”

“Then...”

At that moment...

Ruuuuuuuuuumble—!

A deep tremor rippled through the grounds of Rekordak. The blizzard beyond the windows disappeared, and darkness consumed the world. Barrier magic. A sudden attack—unavoidable, yet anticipated.

"Miss Epherene," Yulie called, her eyes steady upon her.

"Yes, Knight Yulie. Let’s escape together!"

"No," Yulie said, shaking her head before turning to Allen.

"Yes?" Allen replied, tilting his head slightly as he sat quietly, merely listening to the conversation until now.

"Mister Allen, how many people can you handle teleporting at once?"

"

Hmm

~ I can bring only one person with me when using

Stride

to break through the barrier."

“...

Oh

,” Epherene murmured, exhaling a faint sigh, frustration flickering across her face.

"Yes, I expected as much. I will remain here," Yulie replied with a gentle smile.

“There is no need for you to—”

"There is," Yulie said as she rose to her feet. "Someone must stay behind, face the one who is behind this, and make sure the truth reaches you all."

Delic clenched his teeth, while Sylvia turned to Yulie.

"So, I will stay behind to discover as much as possible and make sure you receive the clearest clues I can," Yulie continued, offering Epherene a crystal orb.

Epherene held the small crystal orb close to her chest.

"This is a recording, not a transmission—one of a pair of twin crystal orbs. Everything I say will be recorded," Yulie said, turning to Delic and Sylvia. "Knight Delic, Miss Sylvia, you both should also retreat. Miss Epherene takes priority for now, but Miss Sylvia, as your magical talent is exceptional—"

"I can break through the barrier, but destroying it is another matter—I need to find the core,” Sylvia replied.

"Yes, that will do. Knight Delic, please cover Miss Sylvia."

Delic's face tensed with frustration, but after a brief silence, he gave a nod and replied, "Alright. We will meet again."

"Yes, Knight Delic. I have no intention of dying either. Then—"

Craaaaash—!

The entire window burst apart all at once, shards scattering as robed strangers poured through the open gaps. Among them were creatures that crawled on all fours, inhuman in every way. In the heart of the growing chaos, Allen stepped forward and gently took Epherene’s hand.

“Let’s go,” Allen said as he took a step forward with a bright smile, and behind him, Yulie swung her blade of ice, holding the line. In the distance, Delic and Sylvia made their escape.

And...

“...

Ugh

!”

As Epherene crossed the barrier with Allen, she scanned her surroundings. Darkness pressed in from all sides, and the air was thick with a nauseating stench.

“This place is...”

"The sewers," Allen replied, brushing his hands off.