A Thousand Years Ago (3)
"Dark!"
Belinda was the first to rush in, shouting loudly.
Sure enough, next to the unconscious Ghislain, Dark was floating midair, coalesced into a black mass.
The others quickly gathered around, their voices urgent.
"What happened to the young master?!"
"Is His Grace safe?!"
"Is Ghislain alright?!"
In an instant, the place turned into a marketplace of frantic voices. Dark shouted furiously.
"Shut up! Listen to me first! I don't have time!"
Belinda grabbed onto Dark's body and demanded,
"What is it?! Why don't you have time?! What happened to the young master?!"
"We're fine! We're doing well! Time flows differently here!"
"Time is… different?"
"Yes! Time is passing much faster over there! So listen to me first!"
"A-Alright."
"The master told me to tell you not to worry! He couldn't say anything beforehand because he wasn't sure! Just wait! He can return safely at any time!"
"Where is he right now?"
Dark put on a ridiculously smug expression and declared,
"We're in the past! A thousand years in the past! The era of the Demon Realm and the Salvation Church!"
Everyone was shocked. That meant Jerome's hypothesis was correct!
Jerome quickly asked,
"I'll ask on behalf of everyone! Astion! You possessed Astion, the first Tower Master of the Tower of Radiance, didn't you?!"
Dark was startled.
"What the—?! How did you know?! Anyway, we took over that guy's body!"
His proud tone, as if he had stolen an enemy's body, left everyone flabbergasted.
"Wait… You actually… took over our first Tower Master's body?"
"Yeah! It's ours now!"
"..."
Everyone's minds went blank. Dark had always had a penchant for taking things, but… a person's body? How were they supposed to interpret this?
In truth, it was more of a symbiotic relationship than outright possession, but because of Dark's haphazard explanation, it sounded like outright theft.
Dark continued, flailing excitedly.
"Even while we're talking, time is passing super fast over there! The flow of time is different!"
"H-How fast? Not even enough time to explain things properly?"
"Exactly! The master sent me because he was worried you'd be anxious! He's settling in and focusing on training! If you don't have more questions, I'm heading back now!"
After capturing the dark mage, Ghislain had set up a temporary base in the Nordhill Territory. He planned to focus solely on training for a while, and since Dark could afford to be away for a bit, he was quickly sent back.
Hearing Dark's explanation, everyone let out a sigh of relief. It was shocking that Ghislain had traveled a thousand years into the past and was actively involved in history, but at least he wasn't unconscious or missing.
It was an unbelievable phenomenon, but with Dark relaying it so confidently, they couldn't help but believe him.
As the others remained stunned, only Jerome kept his wits about him and asked the important questions.
"Then… did you really meet the Saintess? The Hero? Or not yet?"
"We met them! We really met them!"
Everyone's eyes widened in astonishment.
The Hero and the Saintess who had saved the world and sealed the Demon Realm—legendary figures. To meet them in person?!
What kind of incredible adventures were they experiencing?
Jerome, excited, pressed on.
"What are they like? How strong are they? Just how—"
Before he could finish, Dark sneered, his beak twitching.
"They're total pushovers! Complete idiots!"
"..."
"Man, I also thought they'd be incredible before I saw them in person, but they're the biggest pushovers I've ever seen. The master got so frustrated that he started training them himself! He's beating them into shape!"
"..."
"The truth is always like this. Things get exaggerated over time and start sounding amazing, but when you actually look at them, it's all overhyped! Just like that Alpoi bastard bragging about defeating a goddess!"
"..."
"A Hero? A Saintess? Pfft, if they're a Hero and a Saintess, then I'm the Demon King."
"..."
At that moment, everyone realized who the "friends" mentioned in Astion's records were.
The ones Ghislain had been training like hell… were none other than the Hero and the Saintess.
Unsurprisingly, Kyle wasn't mentioned. As always, he felt like an afterthought.
"Anyway, I'm going back now! It's already been days over there. We'll be back soon, so don't worry!"
Belinda asked again,
"Are you really sure everything's okay? Take good care of the young master!"
"Ugh, enough with the nagging. I said don't worry! We're crushing everything over there!"
No one knew what exactly he was "crushing," but if he said it was fine, that was somewhat reassuring. At least they got an update.
Dark's body began to dissolve, slipping through the portal inside Ghislain's mind realm to return to the past.
Before disappearing completely, he turned to look at Yulian and said,
"Hey, stop acting cool. A thousand years ago, you were a total pushover. Geez! You tried so hard to impress him, without even knowing."
"...…"
Yulian, utterly confused, was insulted out of nowhere. But as always, he showed no reaction.
"The crazy thing is, he even had the same name and face as you. It could be a coincidence, but reincarnation seems more likely. Anyway, I'm really leaving now! See ya later!"
Whoosh…
With that final remark, Dark vanished completely.
For a moment, silence hung over the room. The sudden flood of information left them struggling to process everything.
But with Dark confirming it all, Jerome's hypothesis had to be accepted as fact.
Claude muttered in disbelief.
"Why does common sense stop working whenever Lord Ghislain is involved?"
He prided himself on being the greatest intellectual in the territory, yet the more time he spent with Ghislain, the dumber he felt.
Belinda and Gillian looked relieved. Though they weren't completely at ease, it was still better than before.
The calmest one was Yulian.
"… As expected, he's handling things well."
No one trusted Ghislain's abilities more than Yulian did. He had never once doubted him or opposed his decisions.
He had always believed in Ghislain's judgment, but hearing about it firsthand made the situation feel surreal. It was beyond comprehension.
A memory stirred within him—the first time he had met Ghislain.
For some reason, despite it being their first encounter, he had felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and warmth.
'… Was that why?'
If Dark's words were true, then the Hero from a thousand years ago had looked exactly like him.
Could he really be the Hero's reincarnation? Was that why he had felt that way?
It seemed plausible, but he still couldn't be sure.
An awkward silence settled in the room. The fact that Ghislain was training the legendary Hero and Saintess was beyond belief.
Jerome broke the tension with a laugh.
"Haha, what an incredible turn of events, right?"
Vanessa nodded, intrigued. As a mage, she found the situation deeply fascinating.
"It's a relief that His Grace is safe. I hope he returns soon. I'd love to hear more of his unbelievable stories."
It was now certain that the past and present were influencing each other, but how exactly that influence worked was still a mystery.
Regardless, this event would have massive implications for academia. Any magician would be eager to study it.
Claude glanced at Yulian and remarked slyly,
"By the way… Lord Yulian, were you really that different a thousand years ago? To be called a pushover…"
"...…."
Everyone turned to look at Yulian.
He remained as expressionless as ever.
The idea that this man—the one who rivaled Ghislain for the title of strongest in the continent—had once been a pushover?
Unbelievable.
It didn't suit him at all. It was enough to make one suspect that the only thing they had in common was their face and name.
Claude, as if waiting for this exact moment, teased with a smirk.
"Lord Yulian, you mustn't act cool anymore!"
"......"
Everyone clicked their tongues at Claude, exasperated. Telling that man not to act cool? He wasn't acting—his mere existence was effortlessly cool.
Ghislain was also impressive and popular, but Yulian had an aura that surpassed even him, a mysterious presence that set him apart.
If there were a popularity poll, Yulian would undoubtedly take first place. No one could deny it.
Of course, Belinda and Gillian would grit their teeth and vote for Ghislain anyway.
"Well then, while we wait for Ghislain, let's focus on our tasks. If things aren't properly handled by the time he returns, he'll throw another fit."
Jerome smiled as he spoke. There was still plenty of work to do, from dealing with the aftermath of recent events to researching ways to suppress the rifts' expansion and hunting down the remnants of the Salvation Church.
With their worries eased slightly, everyone checked on their respective responsibilities. Some even exchanged a few lighthearted jokes.
In the midst of it all, Yulian suddenly spoke.
"I will be leaving."
"Huh? Why? Where are you going?"
Belinda was startled.
Ghislain had brought Yulian to the estate when he had nowhere else to go, even sitting Belinda down and repeatedly asking her to look after him.
So hearing that he was leaving all of a sudden was shocking. She couldn't help but wonder if something had gone wrong.
Yulian cast a brief glance at the unconscious Ghislain before continuing.
"Now that I know he's safe, that's enough. I intend to search for Gartros."
Yulian had been looking for Gartros for some time now. His instincts had been persistently urging him to find him.
When Ghislain collapsed, he had doubted those instincts and stayed behind, waiting for him to wake up.
But now, there was no reason to hesitate. With nothing else pressing, he would finish off whatever loose ends remained.
"Once I capture Gartros, I can uncover more about the Adversary. And if I find the fugitive Duke Delphine, that would be even better."
"The search parties are already scouring the continent."
"I'll move separately. I'll find them as soon as possible and return."
When Yulian decided to act, no one could stop him. But the fact that he intended to return suggested that he had grown quite fond of Fenris Territory.
Reluctant to let him leave empty-handed, Belinda tried to assign someone to handle logistics for him, but Yulian declined.
With only the bare necessities, he mounted his horse and departed.
Watching him leave, Jerome shook his head.
"Ah… he's too cool. That level of coolness is just unfair."
His decisiveness, his ability to act without looking back—it was eerily similar to Ghislain.
Even after Yulian left, the others continued discussing Dark's revelations.
It was an absurd and mysterious event—there was no way it wouldn't dominate their conversations.
Especially the claim that Yulian was the reincarnation of the Hero. This time, the idea carried a different weight. It was just… too plausible.
The fact that the Hero had met Ghislain in his past life was intriguing. That their fates had intertwined even now was even more astonishing.
But ultimately, their theories remained just that—hypotheses and speculation. Until Ghislain returned, nothing was certain.
So, they spent their days waiting, hoping for his safe and swift return.
***
After two years in Nordhill Territory, Ghislain and his group's base of operations had changed significantly.
No longer staying in the guest manor provided by the lord, they had moved into a much larger facility.
Designed and built by Ghislain himself, the structure was made to accommodate training alongside their regular activities. The interior featured a spacious training hall and numerous amenities.
Money wasn't an issue—Rio continued to send an absurd amount of funds.
At the center of the building, in the main hall, was a large table used for meetings, surrounded by chairs and a detailed map.
Ghislain sat in the highest seat, his chin resting on his hand, eyes closed.
His appearance had changed significantly. Gone was the frail, slightly paunchy mage physique. He was now lean, yet well-toned.
His robes, once resembling tattered rags, had been replaced with high-quality, practical attire. Around his neck and shoulders, he wore a luxurious black bear pelt.
He looked nothing like a mage anymore. If anything, he seemed more like a bandit king—or perhaps a high-ranking noble.
Just then, a man entered the hall. His overall appearance was rough, his expression tense.
Looking nervous, the man addressed Ghislain cautiously.
"Uh… S-second-in-command…"
Shhhk.
Ghislain clicked his tongue.
"Use the proper title."
"A-Ah, my apologies. Vice captain. The boss… no, I mean, the captain says everything is ready."
At last, Ghislain opened his eyes.
He reached for the long, black staff propped up beside his chair.
Just looking at it, one could tell it was made of exceptionally sturdy steel.
Rising from his seat, Ghislain smirked.
"Well then… time to get moving again."
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