DSFL | Chapter 66

~Chapter 66~

The tunnel was much longer than I expected.

 I touched my neck with discomfort and sighed.

‘So this is supposed to be an entry pass?’

The choker around my neck with a red gem in the center felt suffocating.

 As I fiddled with it, Simon spoke to me carefully.

“Um, Ann. Just so you know… the villagers here don’t really like outsiders.”

He let out a small sigh.

 “They might be a little… cold toward you.”

I shrugged.

 “Well, could it be worse than how the people at the Magic Tower treated you?”

“…”

Simon gave me a silent side glance.

 Still, if he’s saying this much, it must be serious.

 Even Ricardo warned me earlier—it made me uneasy.

“But please try to understand.”

 “Huh?”

Simon looked straight ahead as we neared the tunnel’s exit.

 He began to explain.

Orphen admired Carpea’s magic, despite fearing it.

 It wanted to become great like Carpea and often tried to conquer Dremokan.

But not everyone supported magic.

Some believed magic was unholy—and couldn’t understand why a kingdom would go to war over it.

 Those who opposed the war left to find a place untouched by magic.

“That place became the magic-restricted zone: Bilpart.”

We finally reached the tunnel’s end.

 My eyes blinked slowly, adjusting to the sudden light—and there it was.

Bilpart.

“…It looks normal?”

It was just a regular village.

 It smelled like a place where people lived—simple and unremarkable.

Of course, the villagers stared at us with cold eyes, just as Simon said.

 But that much was expected.

‘Simon once said his family didn’t want him to become a mage.’

 Back then, I thought it was just because he was too young.

 But now I understood—it was a lot deeper than that.

Honestly, I admired him.

 He ran off to Carpea, fully knowing how his hometown felt.

“I’m heading home now. What about you, Ann?”

 Simon asked.

I hesitated.

 I came to look for the so-called “weirdo” that Peril mentioned—but I couldn’t find them on my own.

I should’ve asked Peril for more details…

“I’m actually looking for someone who studied… timelines.”

“What?”

Simon tilted his head in confusion.

 Should I have said that?

 Well, too late to take it back.

“I heard he’s passed away, but I was hoping maybe some of his research remained.”

Simon’s face took on a strange expression.

“…Have you heard of anyone like that?”

 Do I need to start drawing spirals in the dirt?

 I panicked and quickly added,

 “Sorry, I was just joking.”

Simon still looked like he had heard something unbelievable.

 Then Ricardo chimed in from the side,

 “They won’t give us information easily, so we’ll need to search around ourselves.”

 Yeah… it would come down to legwork, after all.

“Then I guess I’ll see you again later,” I told Simon and turned to leave.

But suddenly, Simon called after me, confused.

 “Wait, Ann. How do you know about that?”

 “…Huh?”

 His face was tight with confusion.

“You’re talking about Mr. Atkins, right?”

The name was unfamiliar, but seeing Simon’s serious reaction, I nodded quickly.

 “Y-Yes! Him!”

***

Atkins.

 No one knew much about him.

 Most didn’t even know his first name. They just called him by his last name.

“People said he was a mysterious adventurer. All the kids here grew up listening to his stories.”

“Stories?”

Simon nodded.

 “Legends, really. About him slaying monsters and uncovering the world’s secrets. Doesn’t Carpea have stories like that too?”

I wasn’t sure, but stories like that were common enough.

As we climbed the mountain path, I slipped—

 Ricardo caught my arm.

“T-Thanks.”

“It must’ve rained yesterday. Be careful—it’s slippery.”

 He spoke calmly, as if nothing had happened.

“So, you’re saying this ‘legend’ was a real person?” Ricardo asked.

 “Yes! Everyone thought I was just obsessed with fiction, but I found proof he really existed.”

“Wait… Is that what you were so curious about before?”

 Simon smiled, proud.

 “Yes. His research notes.”

Could Atkins be the ‘weirdo’ Peril mentioned?

 Simon was so excited, he couldn’t stop talking.

“He defeated monsters you can’t even imagine! Beasts that no human could dream of fighting…”

“Haha, really?”

 I looked away awkwardly—

 But my eyes met Ricardo’s.

“What?” I asked.

 “Do I need permission to look at you now?”

…He’s always like this.

Simon happily talked on as we climbed, clearly thrilled to find someone who would listen.

But something didn’t feel right.

 Is Atkins really the person Peril was talking about?

 His stories didn’t sound like someone studying timelines.

Even when I tried to steer the topic toward timelines, Simon got lost in his own thoughts and ignored my question.

In the end, I gave up and just followed along.

“Here we are!”

We finally stopped in front of a dark cave.

 It was larger than I expected.

 Simon stepped in comfortably and turned on a light.

“…It’s not magic-powered.”

 “Right! It’s a treasure Mr. Atkins found.”

Something about the light felt strangely familiar.

 It doesn’t belong in this world…

“Mr. Atkins once said, ‘There are powers greater than magic. We don’t need Carpea’s teachings.’”

While Simon talked, I walked to a box in the corner.

 Inside were piles of old books.

“You said you wanted to learn about timelines, right?”

 Simon followed behind and pulled out a thick book from the bottom of the pile.

“This might help.”

 “Thank you.”

I opened the book—an old smell wafted out.

 The first page read:

***

***

Simon scratched his head.

 “I never really understood what he meant by this ‘book of fate.’ I thought maybe, if I became a mage, I’d figure it out.”

He paused.

 “…Ann?”

“Ah—haha. Sorry.”

 I forced a smile.

 But my mind was racing.

This wasn’t just a theory.

 It was my story.

So the story I read back then…

 Was that the fate of this world?

Now that I thought about it, the original plot and this world weren’t the same.

 Like Ailins, for example…

 Is she the one who defied fate?

 And now the world is trying to pull itself back onto its original path?

Ricardo, still reading over my shoulder, spoke.

 “So… this guy’s adventures took place in another world?”

“I-I’m not sure…”

Suddenly—

“Intruders!”

“They’ve come to kill us again, just like last time!”

 “Everyone, prepare to attack them!”

And heavy footsteps came stomping into the cave.