You can read ahead up to 110 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
Riddle was collapsing.
But wasn't Ian as well doing the same thing?
In the end, he couldn't help but feel a sliver of resonance with the Dark Lord. What kind of wizarding joke was this! The era he had fallen into was exactly the one he had just glimpsed in the Time Corridor, the age of King Arthur!? Hadn't he already "crossed" it? Shouldn't he have gone on to a later age?
How could he have fallen right back into this same era!?
And most importantly… Morgan… when did destiny become this absurd? Ian's hand, which had just been pressing against Kid Morgan's forehead, still trembled faintly even after the glow had faded.
It was an involuntary reflex.
For the first time in his life, he experienced what it felt like when one's fingers went weak.
"Your forehead is dirty, let me wipe it for you." Ian's index finger lightly brushed across Morgan's skin. He was trying to cover up the heat of the moment, but he was clearly no expert at improvisation.
While forcing himself to act helpful and kind, Ian was also doing some mental gymnastics of his own. Morgan is a Legendaryary Witch, but isn't he a Legendary Wizard too?
Do Legendarys need to fear other Legendarys?
Well… perhaps they could fear each other, but maybe fear is a little less. As beings of the same level, and with the authority of Paradox in his grasp, no matter how powerful a Legendary Wizard or Witch is, surely he could still go head-to-head with them.
With this thought, Ian's confidence straightened up again. He tried his best not to think about the fact that the Morgan he faced was a dead Morgan, the one in the Twilight Zone, where it wasn't magic but cognition that was put to the test.
"Teacher, why is your heart so restless right now?" Little Morgan lifted her gaze, her black-gem-like eyes staring into Ian's with a hint of childish curiosity in her voice.
"..."
Ian withdrew his hand, unable to refute her.
"How did you see that?"
He forced himself to act calm, squeezing out a stiff smile as he asked this question. At this point, what else could he do but grit his teeth and endure being addressed with a title that made his heart skip a beat.
"I sensed it." Little Morgan gave an honest reply.
Good Good Good Good Good.
'That wicked woman had said she couldn't read minds! What the hell was this then!?'
"Legilimency?" Ian silently pulled out his recorder.
Without a sound, he pressed the record button, intending to use this later in the Twilight Zone as proof that they were "even" whenever an awkward situation came up.
It was a clever plan. However, Little Morgan shook her head before speaking.
"I can only sense the emotions of those around me. That's not reading minds." Not only did she deny Ian what he had hoped for, but she even gave him a sense of déjà vu.
'Wait a damn minute, wasn't that his line!?'
Once upon a time, Ian had said the very same thing to someone he met in the Twilight Realm. Yet now? He could read anyone's thoughts at will, read the thoughts of crowds of people simultaneously, without it affecting his ability to play with a sixteen-layer Rubik's cube.
Only a mind-reader truly understands another mind-reader.
And what they understand is this- All hearts are filthy.
"This is an incredible gift." Ian gave her two enthusiastic thumbs up, trying to provide some emotional value to the Kid Morgan in front of him, maybe by tomorrow, she'd forget the unpleasantness of today.
"I actually couldn't read your emotions at first. That's also why I thought you were a powerful wizard. But just now, you clearly lost control of your emotions a little. When you heard my self-introduction… and also his, I distinctly felt his overwhelming fear. Can you tell me why that is?" Morgan turned her head toward Riddle, who was lying on the ground.
She might not yet be fully mature in some aspects of wisdom, but her mind was already far beyond that of her peers. This allowed her to sharply notice details that piqued her curiosity.
And seeing Morgan's eyes fall upon him, Riddle hurried to show his most sincere, gentle, well-practiced smile, one he had honed in the House for two and a half years.
"That must be because of my heartfelt respect," He said, struggling to patch things up for himself.
Only…
This explanation was clearly even harder to believe than Ian's attempt, and unlike Ian, Morgan had no intention whatsoever of sparing Riddle's dignity.
"I don't believe you." Her crisp, clean voice was firm and straightforward, and the blunt reply froze Riddle's expression on the spot.
"That's because my teacher's name is also Morgan," Ian quickly stepped in to tell part of the truth. Still, he had no intention of revealing everything here.
"Oh?" Morgan's expression immediately showed surprise.
"What a coincidence."
Her eyes brightened slightly. After weighing her thoughts, she chose to seize the opportunity. "So, could this be considered a kind of fate between us?"
Clearly, such words were meant to deepen her bond with Ian.
If there's one thing noble heirs excel at, it's certainly in this sort of social maneuvering, something ingrained in their very being from childhood.
"Of course."
Ian answered without hesitation. Though he still felt that the whole situation was surreal, he dared not show any delay that could leave him vulnerable.
He might not understand this little Morgan before him, but did he not understand the scheming woman Morgan he knew? Heaven only knew whether what was happening now had already occurred in the past, or was unfolding in the present.
If it was the former, then it's fine.
But if it was the latter… then Ian shuddered to think what he would face on his next trip into the Twilight Zone, perhaps a teacher who had turned "marked red" after destiny had been altered.
"So, can I learn your true knowledge?" Little Morgan had no idea what was running through Ian's mind, since by now he had already locked down his thoughts again.
She merely revealed the real reason for drawing closer, albeit a bit clumsily. At her age, with barely any exposure to magic, she could never dream what the actual truth might be. Perhaps she was still simply fascinated that she shared a name with some powerful wizard's elder.
"Of course." Ian nodded again without the slightest hesitation. "I can pass on to you all of my knowledge, for my teacher once selflessly passed on to me the sum of her life's learning."
On this point, Ian was entirely sincere.
But then,
"What about the price?" Morgan's eyes lit with joy, yet still carried caution and traditional wariness.
"You must sign a contract with me." Ian revealed his hidden blade.
Hearing this, the little girl Morgan immediately frowned.
"What kind of contract? A loyalty contract?" She was clearly resistant to such things.
"No, it's a vow contract to never harm each other. It's a necessary measure. As someone born into a noble family, I imagine you can understand." Ian wanted to secure a real guarantee for himself. He wasn't being cowardly, he just didn't want to end up clashing with his own teacher. 'Yes, that's right, he was simply someone who thought everything through.'
"No problem, but I don't actually know magic. I've been secretly studying related knowledge, but all I've managed to learn are some useless bits and pieces. It's because I can't access my family's restricted library."
The little girl Morgan nodded, accepting Ian's explanation. She then turned her head toward the pigsty, her voice carrying a hint of yearning and longing for magic, along with a little nervousness, worried that Ian might look down on her.
"I'll guide you." Ian could barely contain his eagerness as he spoke.
(To Be Continued…)