When I opened my eyes, trees filled my vision.
"—Good morning, Oliver. Any pain?"
Before I could turn toward the voice, I noticed something restraining me.
(Mana chains…? —Ah, right.)
Seeing the jet-black mana chains, I understood the situation.
Moving only my neck, I looked toward the voice—Orun was there.
His eyes had changed from their usual lapis lazuli to black.
Still in the unsealed state, huh.
Well, considering I might rampage again, it made sense.
By the way, when Orun used that black mana sword earlier, only his right eye had turned black.
Probably the result of forcibly releasing only part of the sealing magic.
Forcibly releasing the seal…
Now that memories were flooding back… I finally understood—Orun had always been, past and present, completely out of the norm.
"Yeah, no pain. —So, which Orun are you…?"
Orun's eyes widened at my question.
"…You figured it out fast—that I'm your past self."
Deciding there was no danger from my response, the chains binding me vanished.
"With that much magic spam, it'd be impossible not to notice."
Until just now I had been rampaging against my will, but those memories remained intact.
What the hell was I doing…?
I was so stunned at myself that anger didn't even rise.
The power… yeah, I can suppress it without issue.
"Magic spam? Against that state of you, going without magic would be suicide. Obviously I'd use it… Wait—how do you know about magic? I never showed you. —Ah, future me told you."
"I'll explain that too. I want to organize my memories. —First, confirm: what day is it for you?"
"…In my memory, today is October 20th, 619th year of the Four Saints Calendar."
I see. So it really is that day…
Well, if we're pulling the strongest version of Orun—past or present—it makes sense.
"For you, today is June 5th, 629th year of the Four Saints Calendar. About ten years later."
"Ten years…"
"Do you understand what happened to yourself?"
"…Ninety percent sure it's [Time Regression]."
"Same here. Sion said [Time Regression] can't bring current consciousness back to the past. But somehow it pulled your past personality into the present by regressing consciousness itself."
"But why pull me out? No benefit to summoning a past personality."
"Normally zero benefit. But for your 'future Orun,' there was a massive one."
"What kind…?"
"No time to drag this out, so I'll keep it short. Your last memory before coming here is losing the mock battle with me in the village, right?"
"Yeah, around there. Memory cuts off after seeing Sion off."
"As expected. For you, releasing the seal in front of me was a first. But for me—this is the second time."
"…"
Orun's expression turned serious as my words approached what he wanted to know.
That look never changes—no matter how much time passes or memories are lost.
"That day, after you saw Sion off, the "Cyclamen Cult" raided the village. —Everyone except me and you was slaughtered by them."
"…Slaughtered…?"
Orun's eyes trembled.
"Yeah. Then the survivors—us—had our memories rewritten by Philly Carpenter, the [Recognition Alteration] ability user, to suit their convenience."
I organized my memories and roughly recounted events in chronological order.
Orun occasionally looked like he wanted to speak but stayed silent and listened.
"And today, I couldn't control the overflowing power and went berserk. While destroying the city on my way to the guild, future Orun stopped me. But with no memory of the sealing magic, future Orun had no chance against berserk me. If it continued like that—I would have killed Orun…"
I truly regret destroying the city and causing anxiety among the people.
But more than anything, nearly killing Orun was unforgivable.
Killing Orun—our hope—with my own hands is something that must never happen.
To correct false history and achieve true peace, Orun's power is indispensable.
"…After that, you know the rest. Near-death Orun—probably unconsciously—pulled your consciousness forward to break the crisis. Then he beat the hell out of me. Thanks to that, I regained awareness. —Thank you."
"I didn't do anything… But yeah. A lot happened in these ten years. Way different from what I imagined."
Orun muttered with a complex expression mixing anger and sorrow.
◇
"So what now, Oliver?"
After a long silence, Orun asked.
"For now—nothing. Even if it wasn't my will, I still destroyed the city. It's just self-satisfaction, but I want to atone. I'll bear the people's grievances alone. If execution comes, I'll consider escaping, but probably won't be executed."
"…I see. Hey—what's the southern Great Labyrinth like? The one our ancestors made…"
"Yeah, difficulty is on another level compared to other labyrinths. Current explorers can't clear it. But information is steadily accumulating. Technology advances. It'll take time, but someday it'll be conquered… Living in Tsutorail really drives home how essential the Great Labyrinth is to society now. Even as enemies, their method is impressive."
"…Ironic. It was made for world peace, yet modern humans unknowingly destroy that peace. Well, that's probably far in the future."
"Future you soloed the 92nd-floor boss."
"That's something I didn't want to know…"
"Kukuku. Seriously though, Philly's moving a lot. The western Great Labyrinth is already conquered. Things could accelerate from here."
"Yeah. From what you've said, the cult seems serious. Using us was probably part of anticipating this. And above all—"Amuntzaas"'s current actions are probably because of our defeat… Leading to them being called a criminal organization and forcing Sion's hands to get dirty even more…"
I know Sion was special to past Orun.
…It's frustrating.
I feel the same. As Orun said, our defeat undeniably forced "Amuntzaas" into their current position.
The cult has gained terrifying momentum recently.
Still—this guy really has a nine-year-old inside?
I feel it deeply. The difference between me and you.
This is the gap between original and replica…
But I accepted that ten years ago.
All I can do is become the shield that protects the king.
"—Looks like time's up."
Orun suddenly clutched his head with a pained expression and muttered.
His original consciousness was surfacing.
[Time Regression] rewinds a target's time.
Normally, what's rewound doesn't return to its previous state.
But it has a maintainable duration limit—ten years exceeds it.
After a set time, it reverts. Meaning past Orun's personality returns to modern Orun's.
"Orun, thank you. Because of you, both I and Orun were saved."
"…Thank you too. They said killing was the only way to stop Oliver—so I thought someday I'd have to kill you. But even after going berserk, you're still alive like this. —There are mountains of issues, but Oliver—let's change the world together."
"—Yeah. Of course."
"Then… see you, Oliver."
With a refreshed expression, Orun said that last. His eyes gradually returned to lapis lazuli as he leaned against the tree and fell asleep.
"See you, Orun."
◇
"…Ugh… ugh…"
After a while, the original Orun woke up.
Now I have to use my head.
Since becoming an explorer, I've left all brainwork to Orun.
But from now on—that won't do.
Deciding what information to share, what to withhold—with sharp-minded Orun—is tough, but necessary.
Revealing everything to current Orun would clearly not lead to good results.
For now, observation is best.
"Good morning, Orun—"
Thinking that, I called out to him.
Speaking to Orun this calmly might be the first time since the joint subjugation a few months ago.
Since then, an indescribable anxiety had clung to me.
Now that I think about it—Philly's schemes probably started around then.
Exiling Orun—the dangerous factor—from the party, and manipulating me from close range—
(End of chapter)