Chapter 306: Future People (3)
Future Lucia clutched her head as a headache swept over her.
“If I’d known Shiron was such a good person, I might have tried to seduce him first.”
The headache stemmed from none other than the nonsense spouted by her ‘past’ self emerging from the mist.
“To be honest, I also used to wonder, just like you. Why is this young brat so arrogant? What is he relying on? Maybe he grew up in the hands of demons, and his sense of morals got twisted?”
The reason she dismissed it as nonsense was simple. It was her own voice talking, but saying things she’d never actually say.
At that thought, the ‘Lucia’ before her looked a bit different.
“But soon, I realized my thoughts were wrong. It took a long time, but the turning point was clear: the day we both went on an adventure, the day Shiron received the holy sword. I hated the holy sword, remember? Maybe that’s why, sensing it with a young mind, he picked it up in my place.”
Lucia Prient harbored complicated feelings toward the holy sword. Love and hate, resentment and regret—emotions that couldn’t be defined with a single word.
But the Lucia ‘listening to the nonsense’ had never gone on a light-hearted adventure with Shiron Prient.
The holy sword? What nonsense. The one who gave the holy sword to Shiron was the One-Horned Yuma.That old, shabby piece she’d kept after Kyrie’s death.
“And then, at some point, I started thinking. Maybe I was unfairly venting my anger on an innocent child because of bad memories from a past life. Isn’t it natural for a young child to be a bit mischievous? Those kinds of thoughts.”
More nonsense.
Young Shiron Prient wasn’t just a mischievous child. He was oddly gloomy, twisted, and too proud, lacking any warmth.
A little boy who harbored venom and winter within.
…Yet the Shiron this person spoke of wasn’t like winter at all; he was as blazing as a hot summer.
Playful all the time, rounded with no sharp edges.
If it had been the Shiron known to Future Lucia, he would never have acted that way without hesitation.
‘…I see.’
It was a moment when she’d been listening silently, like a mute.
A current of realization swept away the dark clouds in her mind, leaving Future Lucia’s heart as clear as an open sky.
‘This person and I are different.’
She had experienced the life of a hero named Kyrie and met an end unworthy of that title before being reincarnated. But that’s where the similarities ended.
Future Lucia had no past of romantic entanglements, while Past Lucia… had apparently been quite frank about enjoying lively nights, so much so that her head seemed to be filled with flowers.
Though both had slightly edgy personalities, this Lucia was unlike the other—rounded and softer, like a stone wrapped in dense jelly.
Like identical twins who were still distinct individuals, this ‘Lucia’ before her and ‘herself’ were different. Recognizing this, the animosity she felt toward the ‘Shiron Prient’ who crossed into this place lessened.
“You know, right? Everyone has a youthful, immature period. Before you or I were called heroes, we also had a childhood.”
Yet, amid this clarity, a cloud hovered, casting a shadow on the bright sky.
“Moments you could never show others, like bickering with Seira… or those nights you whined in Yura’s arms after having a nightmare.”
Even as a powerful current of realization swept over her, that cloud remained, casting shadows over the ground.
‘Who is Yura?’
Still, Future Lucia didn’t bother asking Lucia. It wasn’t out of hesitation from having accepted their differences; it felt deeper.
Like touching something that shouldn’t be disturbed.
“Oh! And one more thing. Since you’re living this life, make sure to experience sex before you die. Not doing it would be such a loss, seriously!”
“Alright, let’s drop that subject.”
Future Lucia shook her head to cool down. Seeing this, Lucia smiled brightly.
“So, you won’t kill Shiron anymore?”
“Yeah. But!”
Future Lucia held up a finger.
“I have no intention of repenting over the Shiron Prient I killed. I haven’t forgiven him. Even now, he was someone who deserved to die.”
“…Eh?”
“Why are you standing there with your mouth open like an idiot?”
Future Lucia jumped up, dusting off her clothes. Curfew was approaching, and now that patrol was over, it was time to go home.
“The Shiron Prient you’re defending and the one I killed are different people. I won’t budge on this.”
“…That’s fine with me.”
Lucia also got up to follow her.
Perhaps because it was a ruined future, the thickening darkness of the night felt sticky and stifling.
“Is there a demon nearby? This energy is unsettlingly vile.”
“No.”
“Huh? Not a demon?”
“You’ve been to the demon realms, so you should recognize it. Doesn’t this feeling resemble that realm?”
“…Yeah, it does.”
Like a sticky liquid covering her whole body on a sweltering summer day, it felt heavy just to breathe, with twice the effort needed for each breath.
“Let’s get out of here. This place is dangerous.”
With trembling hands, Future Lucia held out a teleportation scroll. Lucia took it from her.
Zap—
A small shock jolted her fingertip.
“What, what was that? Just now, from my hand…”
“In the demon realms, there are places where lightning strikes constantly, remember? This environment must have developed similarly.”
“…That’s ridiculous. How can anyone live here?”
“Who knows? But they somehow manage.”
Future Lucia smirked, drawing the sword from her waist.
Why was she drawing her sword? Lucia’s eyes widened as the thought crossed her mind.
Swoosh—
A beautiful light burst forth from Sirius. While Lucia’s own Sirius also shone occasionally when channeling strength, this was fundamentally different.
Lucia had seen this light before. In a past life, and from the sword Shiron once wielded.
‘Why would such a light come from there…’
“Ah, come to think of it, don’t you also have this sword?”
“Yeah. But my Sirius doesn’t emit that kind of light.”
“Really? That’s strange.”
Future Lucia examined the Sirius that Lucia held out with a keen eye.
“Where did you get this sword?”
“Why are you asking all of a sudden?”
“Just curious.”
“The blacksmith in the demon realms. Do you know the giant named Atmos? The one we knocked his jaw loose? He made it for me.”
“…He made it for you?”
Future Lucia tilted her head in curiosity. Lucia mirrored her and tilted her head as well.
“My sword just appeared in my hand at some point.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I guess this world and that world really are different. I felt it while we were talking earlier too. The appearance may be roughly the same, but the contents are completely different.”
“…I feel the same way.”
Lucia narrowed her eyes at that moment. Future Lucia wasn’t the only one sensing something strange.
“Let’s head back to a safe place. Do you know Siriel Prient’s mansion?”
“Yes.”
“When you tear the scroll while thinking of that place, it’ll activate… Oh, there’s something I didn’t mention.”
“? “
“I don’t know what the Siriel there is like, but the Siriel here, the [Orca], isn’t an easy person to deal with. You should be prepared—she won’t treat you like she treats me.”
“Don’t worry. The Siriel on my end isn’t easy to deal with either.”
Lucia confidently thumped her chest. Was she about to meet the future Siriel?
Just the thought made her heart beat faster.
“Hmm… Seems like you didn’t quite understand.”
Future Lucia stroked her chin thoughtfully before speaking up.
“Well, you’ll see when we get there.”
With that, Future Lucia ripped the black paper without hesitation. Watching her figure vanish in an instant, Lucia murmured softly.
“Orca? What is that supposed to mean? She’s not a kid.”
Had this Siriel not grown out of her teenage years? Lucia pondered this as she tore the scroll.
In the next moment, as a queasy feeling washed over her, the scenery around her transformed in an instant.
“…”
At the same time, there was a woman gazing down at Lucia.
Silvery hair with a faint red tint, eyes as clear as a lake—Lucia recognized her as Siriel immediately. However, her gaze was sharper, and her attire was somewhat unusual.
She wore black riding pants and a jacket, topped with a broad-brimmed leather hat for flair. With leather gloves on her hands, she seemed covered head-to-toe in leather, adorned with metal studs whose purpose was unknown.
“Her fashion sense is… really bizarre.”
This was supposed to be the future Siriel? Lucia stared at her wide-eyed, meeting Siriel’s narrowed gaze.
“So, this is Lucia?”
Future Siriel spoke in a cold tone. Unlike the familiar Siriel, whose voice carried a slight nasal quality and a hint of charm, this voice was rather… husky.
“I’ve heard the story from Lucia. Apparently, you came through the mist.”
“…Yes.”
Polite speech slipped out involuntarily. Even without Future Lucia’s warning, the aura she exuded was intense enough to command respect.
“You’re strong. I can tell even without crossing swords.”
Future Siriel twisted her pale lips into a smile. She seemed to be wearing lipstick with a hint of blue dye.
“I like it. Quite the impressive accomplishment for someone your age.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“No need to thank me. I like strong people, and you’re strong enough to deserve the respect that comes with it.”
Sss—
Future Siriel took out a cigarette and lit it. A cold sweat trickled down Lucia’s back.
The warning from Future Lucia about her not being easy…
Lucia now understood the true meaning of those words.
“Hmm, seems like she’s been through quite a bit, this Siriel.”
“Lucia, I’ll take care of this one tonight.”
“Please do.”
Future Lucia replied with a sigh, then disappeared. A moment later, Future Siriel exhaled a puff of white smoke into the air.
Lucia’s eyes widened.
Siriel wasn’t the type to smoke, especially not now, when she was expecting.
“Interested?”
Siriel pulled out a cigarette and offered it to Lucia, noticing her surprise.
“Uh, no. I was just… surprised.”
“Is that so? Well, I suppose one could think that.”
Future Siriel looked disappointed.
“But this is inevitable. In a ruined world, there’s little to enjoy. If I didn’t have things like this, I’d go insane.”
“I understand…”
Lucia nodded, calming her queasy stomach.
‘Seems like she’s already lost it.’
It was a relief that her Siriel hadn’t come here and that Shiron hadn’t seen this version of Siriel.
…Thank goodness the future her was sane.
Feeling a sense of relief, Lucia followed Siriel.