“Hey… could you do me a favor?”

Right after realizing that this place was 700 years in the past.

While Alon was still processing the shocking truth with a dazed mind, he heard Ryanga’s voice.

Alon responded for now.

“Tell me.”

“…Could you take me to Dalma?”

“Dalma?”

“Yeah, um… my family is there.”

Ryanga glanced at him cautiously.

However, Alon’s mind was still stuck on the fact that this place is the past.

‘Is there no chance this is a mistake?’

He looked at Rine.

She was still lost in thought, wearing a serious expression.

It didn’t seem likely that her deduction was a mistake.

Aside from the restricted information she couldn’t access, Rine held most of the available knowledge in her mind.

‘So this really is the past, and this girl is truly Hyakki of the past.’

Ryanga, still anxious, fidgeted with the hem of her dress.

Watching her, a sudden thought crossed Alon’s mind.

‘She has white hair and purple eyes here.’

As far as he knew, Hyakki originally had white hair.

However, the Hyakki he saw before coming to the past had black hair.

A change in hair color.

‘Of course, she looked exactly the same otherwise. But how did this happen?’

His thoughts grew more complicated.

“I-I’ll give you my soul!”

But before he could delve deeper, a sudden outburst snapped him out of his thoughts.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“You need compensation, right? If you take me to Dalma, I’ll give you my soul!”

For a brief moment, he wondered what it even meant to give one’s soul.

But Alon quickly thought it through and answered.

“I don’t need compensation.”

“Ah…”

Did she take that as a refusal?

A sigh escaped Ryanga’s lips.

And then—

Tears began to well up in her purple eyes, breaking the forced bravado she had been trying to maintain.

Seeing that, Alon quickly continued.

“I’ll help you, so don’t worry too much.”

“Uh… r-really?”

“Yeah.”

Given the current situation, helping someone was far from the most rational choice.

But if this truly was the past—

Forming a positive connection with Hyakki could be a great advantage in the future.

‘Maybe it was this very bond that made her help me back then.’

It wasn’t certain, but it was a possibility.

Alon gently patted the girl’s shoulder in encouragement.

“So don’t be too anxious.”

At that, Ryanga’s lips parted in disbelief.

“Why…?”

“…?”

“Why are you helping me without asking for anything in return?”

A mix of joy and confusion showed on her face.

Alon wondered how he should answer.

‘Because in the future, you’ll become the ridiculously powerful leader of one of the Four Great Forces, so I’m investing in our relationship early on to gain favor.’

—Yeah, no way he could just say that.

After a brief deliberation, Alon made his decision.

“It’s goodwill.”

“…Goodwill?”

“Yeah.”

It was a bit of a stretch, but for now, it was the best answer.

He had considered making her owe him a debt instead.

But a simple act of goodwill would likely have a more positive impact on a child.

“Ah, got it~!”

Fortunately, she seemed convinced.

With a much brighter expression than before, the girl nodded and disappeared.

“Th-this is the past?!”

As if waiting for confirmation, Penia recoiled in shock.

“Yes, probably.”

“Wh-what?! That can’t be! According to my calculations, there’s no way we could have been flung into the past!”

“It’s definitely the past. The story Rangban just told happened 700 years ago.”

“Hiiieeek…!”

Penia’s expression screamed, ‘We’re so screwed!!!’

“Hm?”

Then, as if something had occurred to her, she let out a thoughtful “Hmm~?” and turned to Rine.

“Hey, Rine. If this really is 700 years in the past, then aren’t there still mages around?”

“No, they should be gone by now. However… there might still be remnants of their assets.”

Hearing that, Penia’s gaze froze on a single spot.

Beep beep beep beep!

As if a machine were processing calculations, Penia’s mind went into overdrive.

“Time travel and a mage’s legacy…? And 700 years ago is exactly the end of the Forgotten God’s Era, when most history was lost… If I can gather even a little information about magic from here…?”

Ding!

The calculations finished, and Penia’s blue eyes turned golden.

“Huh—”

She stared into empty space, her mouth curling into a dazed grin.

Seeing her in a state of bliss, Alon asked,

“Is it really that great?”

“It’s not just great—it’s overflowing with possibilities! It’s an opportunity to experience time travel and research a lost magical heritage to present my findings—hmm-hmm!”

“…Well, having a positive attitude isn’t bad, but… are we sure we can go back?”

In truth, Alon was counting on the possibility of returning, which was why he had decided to build a positive connection with Ryanga.

At that moment—

“Ah.”

Penia let out a small gasp.

Then, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, she replied,

“Yes.”

“…? Seriously?”

“Is that true?”

Both Alon and Rine, genuinely surprised, asked again.

Penia shrugged.

“Yes, it’s possible! Of course, we need to find the Distorted Gate, and the Marquis has to be able to manipulate time-space according to my specifications, but…?”

“And exactly how do we return to the future?”

“Ahem. Let me explain simply. I told you before that the Distorted Gate was created in an unstable point in time-space, remember?”

Indeed, Penia had said that.

“My hypothesis was correct. However, I miscalculated one thing: I assumed that the space created when time-space fractured would remain unchanged.”

“Remain unchanged?”

“Yes. I mentioned before that because we were inside the generated space, we weren’t affected.”

As Alon nodded, Penia continued.

“That assumption was the problem. I thought that since the leftover space wasn’t broken, it wouldn’t be affected.”

“…I get that much, but how does that help us go back?”

At Alon’s question, Penia held up a finger.

“It’s simple. If we artificially shatter time-space, we can manually adjust the settings of the Distorted Gate.”

“Is… that possible?”

“Normally, no. But?”

Penia let out a mischievous laugh and confidently puffed out her chest.

“I told you, didn’t I? I investigated how much the Marquis’s magic would react to the Distorted Gate.”

“…No way.”

“Correct! That means I have the exact spatiotemporal values from that moment stored in my head!”

Penia tapped her head proudly.

“Ooooh—”

As Alon let out a sound of admiration, Penia let out a smug “Ehem” and curled her lips into a cat-like grin.

“Anyway, as long as we find the Distorted Gate, going back is totally OK!”

However.

“That’s great news, but… what if the Distorted Gate isn’t there?”

“…Eh?”

At Rine’s sudden question, Penia, who had been full of confidence, instantly froze.

“Th-that… I hadn’t considered that…”

She glanced around nervously as she spoke.

“Then finding the Distorted Gate is our first priority.”

Just as Alon finished speaking—

“I have returned.”

Rangban was back.

####

“Unfortunately, I do not know much about the Distorted Gate itself, but I am aware of a similar phenomenon.”

“You are?”

“Yes.”

Alon listened as Rangban shared an intriguing story.

“It’s similar to the ability Baarma uses?”

“Yes. I am not sure if it is the Distorted Gate, but when you enter the portal, a completely violet world appears. Also, from what I know, there is someone in the Union who can use a similar power.”

“…Who?”

“One of the Five Gods of Kalgunius, a being named Yongrin. I believe they can use a power similar to Baarma’s.”

Kalgunius.

Hearing that familiar name once again reminded Alon that he was truly in the past.

“Then, if we head to the Union, we can meet this god named Yongrin?”

“That is correct, but at this moment, returning to the Union… is practically impossible.”

“Why?”

“This land originally belonged to our race, but now it is close to Baarma’s heartland. In other words, to escape and reach the Union, we would have to break through the front lines…”

“We lack the military strength?”

Rangban nodded at Alon’s words.

“If there were a hidden path, that would be ideal, but to my knowledge, none exist. Even if there were, they are likely all blocked.”

Additionally, they had no idea what was happening at the front lines, making it too dangerous to move.

As Rangban let out a sigh, Alon asked,

“So at this point, is there no way to reach the Union?”

After some contemplation, Rangban carefully opened his mouth.

“…There is one possibility.”

“What is it?”

“We rescue the other non-humans held in the temples.”

“There are more temples?”

Rangban nodded.

“Yes, I know of at least ten. If we can gather enough manpower from them, breaking through the front lines and escaping to the Union wouldn’t be impossible.”

‘And with the power you displayed, Lord Alon, breaking through shouldn’t be too difficult.’

Rangban shared his opinion.

At that moment, Penia, who had been silent until now, chimed in.

“What factors should we consider when carrying out this plan?”

“Time, above all else. Right now, there are no strong believers stationed at the temples, but if multiple temples start falling in succession, the fanatical knights and apostles deployed at the front lines will be sent here.”

“Then we should assume the countdown has already begun?”

“Realistically, I doubt they would act just because a single temple was destroyed, but if we take everything into account…”

Rangban pondered for a moment before answering.

“We likely have about a month.”

After considering his words, Alon nodded.

“…That’s our only option, then.”

####

As Rangban suggested, they decided to rescue the captives in the temples and escape to the Union.

Thus, Alon established two main goals.

First, he needed to reach the Union and meet the god Yongrin to request their help in utilizing the Distorted Gate and escaping the past.

Second, he would be as kind as possible to Hyakki—Ryanga—and build a good relationship with her.

Since she would become one of the Four Great Powers in the future, having her as an ally could only be beneficial.

He also considered forming connections with the longevity race, some of whom appeared in Psychedelia.

However, he didn’t prioritize that goal.

He didn’t recall any notable figures from his knowledge who should currently be imprisoned in the temples.

…At least, that’s what he thought.

“Thank you so much. Thank you for saving me, and my sister—truly…”

Two days after they set the plan in motion.

Alon had moved immediately to another temple, taken care of the believers there, and rescued a boy.

The boy clung tightly to a girl, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world, tears streaming down his face.

Alon had saved the girl just in time before she could be violated.

The boy’s tear-streaked face was covered in strange, intricate tattoos.

And the boy Alon had rescued—

“…May I ask your name?”

“Nangwon. My name is Nangwon.”

“Thank you… truly, thank you…”

—was the man who would one day become the leader of the Jujeosa, one of the Four Great Powers in the future.

‘…Why is he here?’

Alon found himself staring blankly, lost in thought.