Wizard of the Abyss - Chapter 164

WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 164 - Past (14)

"My future self tried to kill me?”

After calming Sharmia down, I told her, while concealing as many other facts as I possibly could, that the woman in the mirror had actually been an enemy.

By explaining the assassin’s identity, the shattered hand mirror, and the Knight’s testimony that her master had been conversing with that mirror, I was able to help her understand the situation.

At the idea that her future self had tried to kill her, which sounded like something straight out of a science fiction story, Sharmia blinked in shock.

"Then the Ark must have been a lie too. I thought that old elf was suspiciously kind. The idea that he could extract memories didn’t make sense either…If I had agreed to it, I probably would’ve died, right?”

She then started to piece things together on her own and nodded to herself, seeming convinced. No matter how much this world was a world of magic, Azrael’s abilities were certainly difficult to understand.

Even though he actually had them.

"I think I know why future me tried to kill me.”

Sharmia nodded again in acceptance.

"She must think that I ended up like that because I made these choices. She probably regrets it.”

"If you know that, then shouldn’t you just avoid making choices you’ll regret?”

"I want to. If something is going to fail, it’s only right not to do it.”

She rubbed the tears from the corners of her eyes. However, contrary to her auctions, her voice carried some confidence.

"But I succeeded.”

"Why do you think so?”

"Because future me tried to kill me. I think that means I ended up regretting something in some way.”

"...?"

"If I had failed, nothing would have happened. I would have just died, and that would be the end of it. In that sense, I think I achieved my wish.”

"And what was that wish?”

"To make sure no one dies without ever knowing happiness at the very least.”

Sharmia’s goal had never been to save the world.

Even if rain of fire were to fall and melt everything away, she wanted no one to live in pain, only to die in pain as well.

"...If I could stop it, I absolutely should. But, honestly, it doesn’t seem possible. Maybe I made some mistake in the process, and future me will suffer because of it, so she came to the past to kill me—maybe that was what she thought.”

Sharmia thought deeply before she finally reached her own conclusion.

I swallowed dryly as I looked down at her.

...No.

Sharmia’s purpose had always remained the same, from start to finish.

'So this is how it ends up.'

Present Sharmia and future Sharmia knew the same truth.

That a fixed future couldn’t be changed no matter how desperately they struggled, and that trying to change it often only led to worse outcomes.

So why did they choose to intervene at all?

The answer was simple.

They shared the same goal.

I forced my anxious thoughts down and asked her quietly,

"And if you can’t find a way to stop the disaster?”

"I’ll send everyone off in a more comfortable way.”

Sharmia met my gaze with a face full of righteous conviction.

"Plagues and wars…those are too cruel, right? Maybe magic would be better. I might have to borrow your magic one day. Since I know the future, before such disasters arrive, I want to send everyone off peacefully, one city at a time. So they never even realize the disaster has come, so they can end their lives as humans without suffering.”

"...Do you truly think that’s possible?”

"With my position, I can either help or kill them.”

And this was the wrong outcome.

I don’t really know what that disaster was. She never told me.

But if it was dozens of times more horrifying than an ordinary death, and something so dreadful that she’d rather erase her memories and run away from it, then…

Perhaps the best response was to live happily, unaware of the future, and die naturally just before it arrives.

Sharmia was saying she would do exactly that for every citizen of the Empire.

"You remember the story I told you before about the person trapped inside a steel wall?”

"Yes. I remember."

"I'd sing them a gentle lullaby. That’s much better than doing nothing.”

Despite speaking with confidence, she hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously,

"Am I doing something wrong?”

"No.”

Why did the future Sharmia join Scarlet Abyss?

It was probably the same moment she realized the disaster could no longer be stopped.

She chose Scarlet Abyss as a means to quietly slaughter every citizen of the Empire.

And present Sharmia, even knowing she would join Scarlet Abyss, didn’t think much of it.

...Because that had been her goal from the very beginning.

'So she intended to use even Scarlet Abyss as a tool…’

I firmly grasped her hand and helped her to her feet, feeling awed by this little girl.

"You will succeed.”

"..."

Sharmia would succeed.

She eradicated suffering orphans in the Empire, wiped out gangs, and built a nation where people lived with smiles. The future Empire was peaceful and beautiful. A country where everyone was happy.

And she devoted everything she had to stop the disaster. She didn’t simply give up, saying, ‘It’s impossible, so let’s just kill everyone.’ After discovering her power of regression, she would die hundreds, even thousands, of times trying to prevent it.

That was—truly, unimaginably absurd.

Because by that point, she already knew. She knew a disaster that couldn’t be stopped was coming. She knew that she herself would fail.

Not giving up only brought endless suffering and despair.

If there was even a 0.00001% chance, one could challenge it. One could hold onto hope.

But if the chances were really 0%, if one failed even though one knew the future, then who could continue forward with such burning conviction?

The one superhuman born of the Empire

Sharmia absolutely did.

"...Hmm, I do realize that what I’m saying is a bit strange.”

Seeing my look of admiration, she frowned slightly.

"Is this really okay? I mean, I’d basically be ignoring everyone’s will and becoming a dictator. Shouldn’t an adult be stopping me…?”

"If a dictator were an Emperor who knew the future, everyone would welcome it.”

I knew of such a future.

"And even if I told you, it wouldn’t be something you’d be able to believe, nor a truth you could trust. If it were me, Sharmia, I would have made a far cruder decision than you.”

"What would that be?”

"…I’d probably wipe out all of humanity.”

If Great Void had been listening just now, he would have been delighted.

Shuddering in disgust at my own words, Sharmia burst out laughing as if she couldn’t believe what I had just said.

"How can you reach a conclusion like that? I still don’t even know what kind of person you are.”

"I’m sorry. That’s not something I can tell you yet.”

It was something I absolutely couldn't tell her. If I revealed even just my face, the future would twist again into something even more horrific.

I bowed my head in apology. Sharmia stared at me silently for a moment, then cautiously spoke up again after a long moment of silence.

"C-could it be…”

"Yes?”

"Could you help me with this plan?”

"What?"

"I know exactly what kind of road I’m choosing.”

The princess clenched her fist tightly, her body trembling.

She seemed fully aware of the weight of the decision she had just made.

"I don't think I can walk this path alone. I tried to run away the moment I learned the future. I’m still far too immature.”

"Yes. I’ll help you.”

"Even though all I can give you in return is the position of a duke at best…what?”

It was a statement half mixed with sincerity, half with falsehood.

I understood her judgement and the cause that led her to it.

If she intended to challenge an impossible conclusion, then I would stand beside her.

There was only one difference.

Even if the result was dying in misery, I had no intention of choosing a peaceful end.

"I will help you no matter what.”

"...You really mean it?”

Hiding those thoughts, I answered calmly. Seeing Sharmia’s face brighten, I felt a faint pang of guilt.

From here on, the princess would die several times on her own, slowly growing into the Sharmia I knew.

When that time came...

"I mean it."

Not now, but someday I certainly would.

With that resolve in my voice, Sharmia smiled brightly and made a request.

"Th-then…could we say that I was kidnapped instead of running away?”

"What?"

"If it’s said that I ran away, the head maid won’t be safe. And everyone already thinks it was a kidnapping anyway, so if it’s framed as me running away, it becomes my fault. And even if you’d be sentenced to death, you could escape, right…?”

I stared at her completely dumbfounded for a moment, then nodded.

"Understood.”

Since I would be leaving soon anyway, it didn’t matter how many empty promises I made.

"Thank you…Umm, then, what should I call you from now on?”

"Hmm."

After thinking for a moment, I gave her a name that came to my mind.

"Call me Carose.”

* * *

The Imperial Palace.

The office was filled with officials gathered for an emergency meeting, and the cruel atmosphere pressing down on the room prevented anyone from speaking first.

While even the most prestigious nobles bowed their heads like ostriches burying themselves in the ground, nervously watching one another…

-Bang!

The door burst open. Aletus entered, approaching the Emperor, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and bowed deeply as he reported.

"This is an emergency, so I will forgo formalities. We have searched the entire capital and discovered a carriage matching the one that vanished. We are currently in pursuit.”

"...I see."

The Emperor’s voice was low, almost gloomy.

"If you’ve found a trail, then they can’t have gone far.”

"Yes—we will immediately dispatch a pursuit force…"

"It seems you all have plenty of time.”

"...Pardon?"

The Emperor turned around, his eyes sharp as he glared at the nobles who were bowing their heads.

The rage of a father who had lost his daughter poured out without restraint.

"Dismissed. I don’t care what it is, bring me the next piece of news.”

"Y-yes!”

"We obey the imperial command!”

The nobles banged their heads on the floor repeatedly, then rushed out of the room in a panic.

Aletus also bowed lightly and withdrew, leaving only the Emperor and the Knights behind in the office.

"Leave. I wish to be alone.”

"...But—"

"I will not repeat myself.”

Under that overwhelming tone, even the Imperial Guard, who normally could not step more than three steps away from the Emperor, swallowed hard and exited the office.

The Emperor let out a heavy sigh, then raised his gaze toward a portrait hanging at the center of the room.

[She will return.]

And then—

The portrait spoke.

His own face embedded within it opened its mouth and spoke in his exact voice.

The Emperor clenched his fist silently and listened.

[You missed your chance. You should have taken her life before your bloodline turned 10 years old.]

"..."

[Your weak heart cast her into hell. The shrine maiden is bound by the prophecy to a cycle of death, rolling within it until she gives up. You brought this upon her.]

"...Enough."

The Emperor lowered his head, exhaling quietly.

"I believed that fate could be changed."

[A pitiful excuse.]

The picture looked down at him with contempt.

Then, as if pronouncing a death sentence, it spat out words filled with disgust.

[Your time is up.]

"...So, in the end—hak, cough!”

In the middle of speaking, the Emperor suddenly spat out clots of blood.

Again and again, until the floor was soaked red.

"Y-Your Majesty!”

"What’s happening?! Ugh…Your Majesty! Call the imperial physician! Now!”