Episode 1137
Chapter 259: The Truth of the World, Your Truth, My Truth (6)

Why was it that only Valeria Hister from the 677th dimension couldn’t coexist in the same world as me? Why, the very moment I fell through the dimensional portal, was I sent to the place farthest from the 677th dimension?

Could it be that all of this happened because she and I are the same person? The me from the past, and the me of the present. After all, the past and present can never truly exist side by side.

“Haha…”

It was hard to accept.

If the simple truth that past and present cannot coexist applies, then what about all the other paradoxes I’ve experienced? Why were those so inexplicably complex, while a clear, straightforward order applied only to me and Valeria from the 677th dimension?

But there was nothing I could do about that question. Instead, I had other tasks to focus on.

I had to save Jin and stop the entire world from falling into the grasp of the Demon Order. From the very beginning, I had said I wanted to turn back time for that purpose.

I wasn’t the only one who was lonely and hurting. I wasn’t the only one who had suffered injustice. Every Valeria and every person who had fallen fighting against the Demon Order must have felt the same pain.

Just then, a record popped up on my screen: Jin had just liberated Laprarosa.

I sent her a message.

Starting with the words, “Your true Runcandel has succeeded,” I sent countless messages. But as always, the chance that they would fully reach her was slim.

“We need to find a way to intervene directly in the 677th dimension… Even if coexistence is impossible, we have to help Jin somehow.”

The history of the 677th dimension had changed drastically because of Jin. I even found records showing that the Demon Order had begun to seriously take notice of the 677th dimension. We had to hurry.

Everything depended on Jin and me. That was the one unchanging truth.

While searching for a way to intervene in the 677th dimension, I kept trying to enter it directly whenever I could.

Then, I found one place—a space I could enter myself.

It was the very pocket dimension where Solderet and I had once examined the Demon Order’s records before I turned back time.

“This place isn’t even classified as part of the 677th dimension. It’s a dimensional passageway…”

Still, it was the closest dimensional passage to the 677th dimension. My record window was filling with more and more detailed events happening there than ever before.

“So you, like me, were pushed into a dimensional passage instead of having time rewound.”

Since Solderet had turned back time here, it felt like returning to the starting point.

“What is this… a door? Was there something like this before?”

A huge, pure white door.

Before the world reset, neither Solderet nor I had ever created such a door. But I instinctively knew this was a legacy left by Solderet. Just as he remained as a form of power to help Jin, this pocket dimension held the authority he had left behind.

Checking the records about the door confirmed it. Beyond this door was the power Solderet left behind at his final moment, when he realized what he truly was.

There was light.

A light so powerful, I felt I could take on Keliak Ziphl from the 33rd dimension and fight on equal footing.

I realized that was why I had wandered through dimensional passages all this time. But at the same time, a sudden wave of fear rose within me.

“If Temar’s body and Barisada are here… then anyone can enter this space without Solderet’s permission. And even without them, you can get in using the dimensional passages.”

Was there another dimension where Temar’s body remained? Barisada weapons existed in every dimension, one per each. If the Demon Order learned of this legacy, they would never leave this power alone.

And now that I had entered this space, the trackers would eventually find it. The Demon Stones from every dimension were relentlessly tracing my movements.

In that sense, this legacy was a double-edged sword.

“I have to seal the pocket dimension and the door, and guide Jin to reach here before the Demon Order does. We’re really… almost there.”

Keliak Ziphl from the 33rd dimension had invaded the 677th dimension even faster than I expected.

Fortunately, the records of events unfolding in the 677th dimension were becoming clearer and more numerous on my screen.

“…If it weren’t for the variable called Malugia, it would have been over.”

Of course, the Balmel Alliance had shown incredible resilience, and that variable had a significant effect. But if Keliak recovered and returned, I doubted we could hold out.

His wounds must have been deep. He didn’t show himself again until the Balmel Alliance reached the Black Sea and the White Fleet led by Rondo Ziphl invaded the 677th dimension.

From then on, I received battlefield reports almost in real time. And for the first time, my messages began to reach their intended moments.

I don’t know how desperately I cheered for the Balmel Alliance.

Because of the Demon Order’s pursuit, I couldn’t send messages every moment. And the Balmel Alliance’s strength was enough that they didn’t need constant encouragement.

“Please, please hold on just a little longer…!”

Those fighting to protect the world, those who charged at the enemy without sparing their lives, those who sacrificed themselves to save others, those who refused to fall.

I felt so sorry for them it was maddening. If I could, if it were possible, I wanted to rush to the battlefield and fight alongside them.

But my battle began here, not in the Black Sea.

“Trackers!”

The Balmel Alliance was just moments away from breaking the curse on Temar’s left arm. I had to protect this place at all costs.

I immediately left the seal and led the enemies toward another part of the dimensional passage. The trackers were Silin Ziphl and his three direct Starborn mages.

That wasn’t enough to catch me. I had reached a level where I could create matter with magic.

Normally, I would have been fine.

But the need to conserve my strength held me back. I was preparing a spell to stop time in the world for Jin at a critical moment, so I couldn’t fully focus on the fight.

“Huff, huff…”

Still, I succeeded in driving the enemies away. The three mages were trapped in the maze of the dimensional passage, and Silin was shaken off.

But there was no time to heal my wounds with the light of the passage. This time, my injuries were too deep for the light’s healing power alone.

Returning to the legacy, I checked the record window again. The situation was bleak beyond measure.

The updates kept coming: Keliak, now awakened and transformed into an even more terrifying monster, was slaughtering Jin and his people.

I couldn’t let Jin die.

I gathered every last ounce of strength and froze time on the battlefield—except for Jin, Ameris, and Rokia. For the first time, I used the opportunity to exert direct influence on the 677th dimension.

I didn’t know if it was the right moment, but I hoped for success as I lost consciousness.

It was a success.

When I opened my eyes, I met Jin. Receiving a bit of his magic, I was able to regain my senses.

How could I describe that moment? The one person I had longed to see since before turning back time… the only person I had chosen was looking at me.

What could I say to the person I had crossed countless dimensions and wandered through empty dimensional passages waiting for?

He was disappointed in me.

I didn’t feel hurt. If I were him, if someone had chosen me to change the world… I would feel the same. No matter how right the cause.

Still, the ten or so minutes I spent being carried by him toward the White Door left by Solderet were the warmest moments of my life.

Even if the world were to end during that time, I would want to stay just a little longer like that…

Jin.

Jin… I…

“Ah…”

Jin embraced the fallen Valeria.

“Valeria… Valeria.”

He understood why she felt so familiar the moment he saw her.

This person was his mentor.

The one who had saved his past life. When time was turned back, she had been banished to the dimensional passage with all her memories intact, just like me.

Yet she hadn’t given up and had come all this way. Through endless, dark eons, enduring an uncertain future, she had come searching for me.

To such a person, I asked, almost accusingly, why I hadn’t prepared a better future, if this was the best I could do.

Valeria smiled at Jin.

“I’m glad. I was able to repay the memories for you.”

“I… I had forgotten everything. I’m sorry, Valeria. I completely forgot…”

“Don’t forget us. Don’t forget all of this,” Jin recalled the memories Valeria had engraved in him before Solderet turned back time, and met her gaze.

Valeria smiled, showing her white teeth.

“Jin, now let’s go.”

The White Door left by Solderet’s light.

Because I had read the memories, I knew everything about the power of the light. Valeria had used record magic to study the White Door and uncover all its secrets.

The moment Jin gained that power, this space would collapse. And then she would disappear. Because she couldn’t coexist with Valeria from the 677th dimension.

“If you do that, you’ll…”

“Even if this space doesn’t disappear, this is as far as I go. You know that…”

Valeria’s arm wrapped around Jin’s neck. She kissed his cheek and patted his back.

“Jin, I saved my true Runcandel.”

So you save your Valeria Hister.

Save our world.

Choked up, Jin couldn’t answer.

He closed his eyes tightly and nodded. In the end, he lifted Valeria onto his back again.

“Let’s go, Jin. Carry me.”

Step by step, they moved toward the White Door. With every step into the light beyond the door, the weight on his back grew lighter.

“The present, the past, and the future are connected somewhere. That’s why we can feel each other’s warmth beyond this tangled time. Death and life are the same. Jin, remember. This is what we accomplished. Please… take care of me. Take care of the people I couldn’t protect in any world.”

In the dazzling light, Valeria’s voice slowly faded away.