Chapter 31: Future self

Later in the night.

I was wandering nearby the lake, a little away from the camp. Looking up, I saw the darkish sky filled with stars—it was beautiful, yet dreadful. Mesmerized, I sat down and dipped my feet into the water, muttering to myself.

“I’ve spent more than a month here in total, but it’s still kind of scary. Surviving in this world takes so much more effort than surviving on Earth.” I paused, then added, “I hope we reach Ignis Veil safely…”

“Even though you save so many of us, you still think very lowly of yourself, don’t you?” A voice called out from the forest. I turned and saw Alira walking toward me, wearing a smile.

“I wouldn’t go that far. I literally do nothing but rely on others… haha,” I laughed hesitantly, scratching my back.

Slam!

She slapped my back before sitting down beside me, puffing out her cheeks.

“At least let me give you some credit! Anyway, why did you call me out so late at night?” She tilted her head, glancing at me.

“Well, what I’m about to tell you is serious… and I don’t think I can tell anyone else.”

“What is it? And why can’t you tell the others?” Alira asked, confused.

“There are two major things, and I’m quite nervous about what they would do if they found out. It’s not that I don’t trust them, it’s just… how do I say it? It’s something I’d like to tell them only when we are at least in a position to take action.”

“Huh…?” Alira narrowed her eyes but let it go, splashing her feet in the lake. “In that case, wouldn’t it be better if you told Eva? I mean, she is an entirely different kind of being. Seeing how perfectly she does everything, she might be a better help than me.”

“I can’t…” I replied.

“You can’t…?”

“Yup. She already knows everything. And being an automaton, she only suggests paths forward, not her own opinions. For her, my opinion will always remain the absolute priority,” I dejected comically. Turning my face, I saw Alira pouting at me.

“Now what’s wrong with you?” I asked, confused by her expression.

“Nothing…” She turned her face away and closed her eyes. “Just tell me already what you wanted to say. I’m starting to feel sleepy too.”

“Ahh… sorry. Right. The first thing I wanted to tell you is that I found out the reason why the human kingdom was demanding a demon tribute.”

“What?! You really found out? Then why didn’t you bring it up during the meeting today?” she pressed.

“I didn’t know how they would react to hearing this, so I kept quiet,” I replied, adding, “The kingdom is using the demons to produce some kind of mana fuel. I don’t know exactly what it does, but they extract mana from the demons and compress it into a block…”

“Now I see why the kingdom suddenly developed so fast. We elves possess thousands of years of knowledge, yet we still can’t keep up with the advancements the humans have made. So, if they extract their mana, does that mean—”

“No, they don't die. But the demons are turned into empty shells, devoid of their own will. They lose their ability to think, too.”

“That’s horrible!!!!” Alira raised her voice. I quickly shushed her. Lowering her voice, she continued, “Now I understand why you didn’t tell them during the meeting. If they found out about this, they might completely disregard survival and march straight against the humans for another war.”

“Exactly. Valkira and Verixa might have understood that our survival takes priority above all else. But many of the villagers would be furious, and they might leave the group to attack the humans the moment they found out.”

“I see. What about the second thing? Is there something else just as big that you're hiding from them?” she asked curiously.

“Haha… I don’t know whether I should even say it, because I still don’t know if it’s entirely true or not…” I hesitated nervously. Still, I wanted someone to know, just in case things ever came to that. Taking a deep breath, I said, “Can you promise me that you won’t tell anyone, not even your own people, the elves?”

Glancing at my face, she could tell that the matter I was about to share was far more critical than the one I had just told her. Her expression immediately shifted. She placed both of her hands over one of mine.

“In the name of the Heartwood Tree, I promise that not a single word will slip through my mouth until my dying breath.”

“Aren’t you overreacting?! I just said don’t tell anyone… I never said you needed to keep it a secret even if your life is on the line!” I complained sarcastically.

“Wait!!!!… You just told me this was important, so I thought it had to be…” Her face flushed red with embarrassment.

“Anyway… ahem… I hid this during the meeting because I never told them the real reason why Zacken—I mean, the future me—sent Eva back into the past in the first place.”

“Huh? Do you mean you know why she was sent? Wasn't she just sent to support you so your life wouldn't be such a struggle?”

“I thought so at first. But before Coco and I teleported, I asked Eva what future outcome my future self-wanted to achieve, and why he sent her to the past. When she told me, my ears couldn't believe it, but…”

“But?”

“Alira… in the future, the future me will kill the Demon Queen Verixa, and become the sole reason for the utter extinction of the demons from this world.”

“Wait… Huh… What…? I think I didn’t hear you clearly. You will kill Verixa?!” she raised her voice in deep concern.

“Come on! It’s not like I’ve already done it. But it's a real possibility, and I don’t even know why I would take such a step… Eva told me my future self sent her back specifically so she could prevent that timeline from truly becoming a reality.”