Chapter 95: Locralen (2)

Epherene looked in the direction Adult Epherene was pointing but could see nothing in the dark hallway.

At least, there seemed to be nothing.

In a low voice, she asked, We might die? Why?

Were under serious danger right now, due to which the entire Locralen area was decided to be abolished in year 964. However, the execution of it has been delayed time and time again.

Serious danger?

Yes. Did you know that it was a meteorite that caused Locralen?

I just recently learned about that.

The microbes that meteorite contained absorb mana, using it as a supplement to become powerful monsters that devour timelines. If they manage to escape this place and reach the outside world, theyll destroy the continent.

Adult Epherenes expression grew so serious even her younger version was surprised by the sudden change in her mood.

Scientifically named as Kaidezite, they swallow the past, present, and future and merge them all into a single time frame. I call it interval repetition.'

Epherene grew dizzy upon hearing such information. Adult Epherene immediately supported her, puffing up her cheeks apologetically.

Im sorry. That knowledges from the distant future, so it mustve been a bit too heavy for you. I can shoulder this meetings mana cost, but theres nothing I can do to support your mental power.

Yeah

Epherene fiddled with her temples and looked at Deculein. He seemed to be fine.

How is that professor okay?

That professor?

Deculein narrowed his eyes at her.

Oh, Im sorry. How are you okay?

As I said, its caused by his mental power. Simply put, an individual with a mental power of 50 will consume 50% less mana when listening to knowledge about the future. Likewise, those with a mental power of 10 will reduce their mana consumption by 10%. In that regard, Professor Deculeins mental power is probably 99.

It isnt 99 That aside, lets head outside. As you said, its dangerous here.

Adult Epherene shook her head.

No. I have to stay here and stop them.

Alone?

Yes.

You are so strong.

Epherene shrugged, blatantly admiring her older self.

So thats what Ill become. My future is so awesome

Seemingly reading her thoughts, Adult Epherene smiled then looked at Deculein, whom she found staring at the other side of the hallway.

Can you see it, Professor? She asked. Deculein nodded slightly.

His [Vision] allowed him to see it clearly.

The monster of time called Kaidezite wasnt far from Epherene, but it seemed hesitant about charging towards her.

Although it was threatening enough as it was, it

Epherene.

Yes?

Lets go. Its conference time.

I want to stay a bit more

No, you should go.

Adult Epherene put her hand on her younger versions shoulder.

Its okay. We can meet again tomorrow. The conference will last three nights and four days anyway, wont it?

Can we speak out loud now?

Yeah. It came here to eat two people, but it mustve decided against it since Im here now. Its scared of me.

Woah. Really?

Of course~ Im too awesome Oh, before you leave, I have a request for you two.

They looked at her with curiosity.

[Locralen Society: The Archmages Request]

One Advanced Attribute Catalog

Deculeins eyes widened not because of the rare reward but because of the quests name.

Nevertheless, he swiftly regained his composure and looked at Adult Epherene with an unconcerned expression.

What request? Her younger self asked quickly, sounding so impressed with her that she was almost out of her mind.

There are still meteorites deeper than this archives room and the Kaidezites main body to take care of. However, the door that leads to it is blocked by a gap in time. Perhaps the host it had eaten holds the key to it.

Host?!

Yes. Its looking for a way out of Locralen. Ive kept that fiend locked in here so far, but it looks like it finally found a host. Since I only have one body, I only guard the most dangerous place

Adult Epherene looked at her other-self.

Oh. I guess I have two bodies now~!

Epherene was startled.

W-what do you mean?! Thats creepy!

Haha. Anyway, will you please grant me this request, dearest Professor?

Deculein looked at his wristwatch.

6 PM.

Alright. He nodded.

[Advanced Attribute Catalog].

He had to acquire the quests reward no matter what it would take.

*****

Deculein! So youve been invited as well.

As soon as we came out of the archive room, Rose Rio greeted me.

Were meeting quite often these days, huh? Kreto, an Etheric-rank wizard, served as her companion.

They were both from year 958.

Nice to see you, Prince Kreto.

Politely greeting him, he smiled and nodded.

Haha. Its nice to see you too, Professor Deculein. I must say, the Yukline revision proved really helpful.

Hey. Am I invisible?

Rose Rio narrowed her eyes.

Oh, Professor Deculein! Its me, Delpen!

Professor! Its me, Relin!

There were quite a few other people who knew me. Relin from year 958, Delpen from 960, whom I still havent met, Essecil from 958, one of the Berch conferences participants

The conference will start soon. Please proceed to the conference area on the second floor.

That announcement mobilized everyone still outside the exact venue.

Lets go.

Okay.

I walked with Kreto, followed by Allen, Rose Rio, Epherene, Relin, and so on.

Everyone is here!

As instructed, we headed to the conference hall, where a blond, middle-aged man in a suit greeted us.

Nice to meet you all! I am the president of the Locralen Society, Locralen! Thats not my real name, but I fell in love with this place so bad I decided to change my name to it! As you mightve already guessed by that, Im also an addict. However, I am full of social skills!

As Locralen spoke lively, I looked around, finding several conference rooms in the hallway of the lobby.

This place is filled with courses, each discussing a different subject. Now then, get your ticket!

He distributed tickets to the 300 people who attended this gathering, which was far below its maximum number of participants. It was understandable, though, since wizards rarely brought companions with them due to their nature.

What I just gave you is your key to the conference rooms. Anyone can give a lecture, but only three can be attended per individual! Keep in mind that some of them are from the future, and some are from the past. Hahaha.

A list of all available classes was then provided.

There was a wide variety of them. [Elements of Rufigel] from 958, [Galeis Continental Mine Exploration] from 960, [Mystic Herbology of Deran] from 963

I have a question. Epherene boldly raised her hand.

About to respond enthusiastically, Locralens expression darkened when he saw her.

Some people pass out even just listening to a single word of those from the future, so how are we supposed to listen to these lectures?

Whose companion are you? He asked sternly in reply, his eyes narrowing down on her.

When Epherene looked up at my face, the hosts expression brightened up almost immediately.

Oh~ hahahahaha! Youre with Professor Deculein! I knew it. Your curiosity is brilliant, after all~!

Is that so?

Of course! Anyway, this building eases up the burden on the attendees to a certain extent, and the lecturers wont be speaking directly to their audience. Simply put, youd only be eavesdropping on their conversation with themselves. Naturally, it would still consume your mana and mental power, but through those precautionary measures, each attendee should be able to listen to at least one class.

Aha.

Moreover, fainting from just one word from them should be impossible! The only exception to it would be if the recipient were exhausted.

Epherene seemed convinced, but she asked another question.

What if we steal knowledge about the future?

Hahahaha~! Locralen ruffled his hair and smirked in an unauthentic manner. You most likely wont be able to remember all the memories youve gained here once you leave this magical spaces premises. Instead, theyd settle on the other side of your unconscious like an afterimage.

Then why would we attend them

Think of it as a ripple. Even if you store your memories in your subconscious mind, at some point, theyll flood into the surface like a water stream, filling you up with ideas and inspiration. Those ripples are never exactly the same as their actual source, but they would lead you to another development. Is my explanation clear enough?

As Epherene nodded, he came up to her and stroked her hair, which terrified her.

Now, then. Lets begin the conference! Feel free to choose whichever lecture you want to listen to, everyone! Professor Deculein?

I looked at him in silence.

May I ask you for a lecture tomorrow by any chance?

[Locralen Lecture: A Suspicious Future]

Mana +15

Okay. I agreed.

Thank you! Now, everyone, please move! There isnt much time!

Clap, clap, clap

People moved the moment he applauded.

The conference proceedings were simple. All they had to do was pick the course they wanted and listen to the speaker.

Epherene, Allen. Feel free to pick whichever class you want.

Yep!

Epherene quickly ran to Named wizard Vizetans lecture about the four series.

Im going to take the same lecture as you, Professor~

Among the many topics, I focused only on those related to the field of medicine: [Brahans Lectures on Medicine], [Mollans Newly Discovered Herbs in 963], and [Intersection of Medicine and Magic]. Allen just followed me around and dozed off in each of them for about five hours.

[Pharmaceutical knowledge Level: Advanced ( 77% )]

Perhaps it was because I was gaining information from the future, but my Pharmaceutical Knowledge soared by 40%.

I didnt know if I would be able to keep it once I had left Locralen, though.

There werent many ways to test this prepared elixir. Monologued Kzekon, the speaker of [Intersection of Medicine and Magic], the third and final lecture I attended.

Delivering it in such a way definitely consumed their audiences mana less.

Every experimental method was deemed impossible, including clinical trials. It couldnt be fed to humans, and it raised the question of whether making animals eat it would be no different from doing it to humans

Aaaaaaaaaah!

A scream filled the conference room and the entire lobby, causing the lecturer to stop talking and Allen, dozing off, to wake up in surprise.

P-Professor? Whats going on?

Lets go.

Okay!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I exited the room, finding its source being the woman with a hand on her cheek in the second-floor lobby.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Whats going on?!

As the wizards, having gathered together, blocked their ears, Locralen appeared hurriedly, frowning upon the screams of the female wizard standing in the hallway.

Hey, you!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

So noisy. Okay, stop it! Youre bothering everyone!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Unable to stop her from a distance, he sighed, knowing full well he had no choice left but to approach her.

Tell me what you saw. Why

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

The woman didnt even bother looking at or listening to him.

Look! Just tell me

I grabbed his arm the moment he stretched his hand to shake her back into reality. Looking at me, he tilted his head.

Professor?

Dont touch her.

What? But why

Standing still, I looked at the female.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

She didnt stop or even move a single step even after so much time had passed.

With the lectures disrupted and stopped, the onlooking wizards began to feel a certain fear rise within them.