255 – Destination
The story of ‘possibility’ told by the head of the institution changed everything for me.
Even though it was only a very faint spark, the possibility of change itself became the driving force to keep going and not give up.
At least there is no fate set for me. Even if it exists, it can be changed.
So from now on, all you have to do is move forward without hesitating to make a choice.
“I’m going to save Hayang.”
It is clear that that child is involved in the miserable end I will face.
In that case, saving Hayang is the right choice.
There was no need to hesitate and doubt that this was the wrong choice.
Because something like the ‘Oedipus prophecy’, in which the struggle to escape fate actually leads to that fate, will not happen to me. Because I have the possibility to change my destiny.
“It won’t be an easy road. “Defying fate always demands a price.”
“Even so, if you can, you should do it.”
Even if I was a complete stranger, I would have saved him if I could.
What’s more, haven’t you already formed a relationship with Hayang? He even saved me when I was in danger.
To receive such grace and then turn away because it is difficult? The only way to save the world is to kill that good and innocent child. That’s too much.
“···I think the first thing to do is to bring him out of the mirror world.”
“Do you know why she was trapped in the mirror world?”
It’s not exact, but I have a rough guess.
“It also has to do with the price of power, right?”
The head of the institution nodded his head in the affirmative to my guess.
“Okay. In return for power, the mirror world shares in the increasing distortion of causality. “It is an expedient that is possible thanks to the owner of the power staying in that world.”
Now the questions are starting to be resolved one by one.
Why is Hayang trapped in the mirror world, disconnected from the goddess of time?
Only in this way can the threshold accumulated in reality be transferred to the mirror world.
“But that is only a temporary measure. As long as magic engineering works in reality, this place cannot completely avoid its influence. Moreover, the mirror world is a much more crude fake space compared to reality, so it will break at any moment.”
Tracking Hayang in the mirror world was just a last-minute measure to buy time.
No matter how many other means were tried, in the end, after deciding that there was no other way than Hayang’s death, the operator made that request to me, who was the right person.
“Even the operator knows that I am a stranger with potential. However, the reason you asked me to kill Hayang…”
“Because it is a much easier, safer and faster option. The possibility of defying the power of time and the possibility of twisting the fate of the world’s destruction. “Although both use the expression ‘possibility’, there is no need to compare which is easier.”
“······.”
“Of course, he would have wanted to save the Time Transcendent if possible. But please understand that betting on the destruction of the world with chips is too reckless.”
That’s right. Who could belittle the Operator’s cause to protect the world?
When viewed objectively, it was difficult to say that it was wrong to say that if we could protect the world by sacrificing just one person, we should definitely do so.
Maybe my actions right now are in the wrong direction.
As the director said, what I was trying to do was like betting on the destruction of the world with chips. If this gamble fails, the world will perish.
Thinking like that, I finally realized how difficult and thorny the path I was about to walk was.
Can I do it well?
Won’t I collapse in the middle under the weight of the enormous burden?
At that time, the director looked straight at me and said.
“I won’t stop you from making your decision, so promise me one thing.”
“A promise…?”
“If you try your best and do everything you can but fail… At that time, move as the operator says. “If that time comes, I will help you.”
The request was too heavy.
But that is why it held my shaky heart firmly.
“Yes. All right.”
Even if I fail, the world must not be destroyed.
···Still, we cannot allow White to die. So, I will change the future somehow.
“But how should I find a way… “I’m already at a loss.”
“Hmm. It’s definitely not easy. “To be honest, I can’t think of any numbers.”
Even the head of the institution, who can be said to be the best helper at the moment, seems to have difficulty providing adequate help in this matter.
“But there is one piece of information I can give you.”
“Really? What kind of information is this!?”
He spread his finger and pointed downward in response to my question.
“This train will help.”
“···Going by train? How?”
I naturally ended up asking questions about the answer that I couldn’t easily understand.
How can a train help save Hayang?
“This train is not simply a means of transportation across Europe.”
“Well, I guess that’s because I also go to the Magic Engineering Society.”
“That’s not all. “This train was created to guide the true owner to his desired destination when he gets on board.”
A true owner, no way…
“Do you mean Dr. Franken?”
“It’s his legacy. The doctor told me that he developed magical engineering to build this train.”
I frowned and spoke in an argumentative manner.
“That’s a bit strange. “Hayang is in that situation because we developed magic engineering technology, and this train, the purpose of that technology, is the way to save Hayang?”
“The original world is a series of ironies. And it seems that in your mind, you have already branded the doctor as an evil person who cannot be dealt with.”
“Isn’t it?”
The director shrugged his shoulders and asked a question instead of giving a definitive answer.
“If he is really a villain, why do you think the Time Transcendant obediently cooperated with him?”
“That’s it…”
“By cleverly deceiving someone? “Now I am trapped in the mirror world and alone, but at the time, the Goddess of Time was looking after me. Is that possible?”
I didn’t have anything to refute, but if the story is true, I don’t understand it any more.
“Are you saying that the Goddess of Time condoned the transaction?”
“Well. “It may be acquiescence, or it may be active cooperation.”
That can’t be possible. The Goddess of Time, whom she had met before in Ireland, showed great affection for her own retinue, her white children. Unless she was lying, she would have no reason to accept the deal with Franken…
“You don’t know everything yet. “We need to look more broadly and not be bound by prejudice.”
“···I still don’t know. Who on earth is Franken, and where is such a great man now?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t answer that far. If you want to know the facts about him, it would be quicker to ask someone else. “The person who dealt directly with him.”
Are you telling me to ask Hayang directly?
It appears that the limit to which he can answer that he mentioned earlier meant something related to Franken.
I can’t help it. In fact, the head of the institution has already received absolutely sufficient information.
This alone was a harvest greater than originally expected. If you try to be more greedy here, it will only have a negative impact on the relationship.
I bowed my head and thanked him.
“Thank you for telling me so many things. “It was really helpful.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you everything. I’m sure you can do it. “If you need help, please come to me anytime.”
As we were exchanging friendly greetings, a train was pulling into London Station just in time.
“Ah, it looks like we’ve arrived at the final destination.”
‘We’ve already gone full circle…?’
Did the conversation last longer than expected? You’ve already traveled all over Europe once?
Or did you intentionally drive at a faster speed than usual?
I had a moment of doubt, but I already knew that magic engineering trains were faster than expected, so I nodded and got up.
When I looked out the window, the sun was setting and it was getting dark. Considering that it was early in the morning when I boarded the train, it meant that I had been on the train for a long time, enough to make one lap.
For some reason, I felt like it only lasted about 1-2 hours at most, but I was probably mistaken because I was so absorbed in the conversation.
“Are you planning on going to that girl now?”
“Yes. “We can’t afford to delay.”
“Okay. Good luck.”
After confirming that the door was open, I bowed my head to him and got off the train.
The engineer took off his hat and gave a nice salute, and eventually the train moved further and further away along the track.
Good. Now let’s go back home.
And then it was time to move to the mirror world and face White.