Chapter 91: Exchanging Information
Noah did a final check of the gate, and after confirming it was completely closed, he turned to the other three. "Let's go up. Your Majesty, I will have all of my equipment retrieved within a month."
"Mhm. Then let's head up," King Toma said.
Layla and the blonde woman had no objections, so they all returned to the palace above ground. After greeting Jude and Princess Hisui, who were still in the parlor, the four of them went to the observation deck.
After everyone had finally adjusted their state of mind, the blonde woman was the first to speak. "My name is Anna. Anna Heartfilia."
"I am Layla. Layla Heartfilia. But this is truly incredible. That gate can really travel through time." The surprise in Layla's voice was palpable. To witness someone travel through time, from 400 years in the past to the present, it was only natural to be shocked.
"Thank you for opening the gate," Anna said, her tone sincere.
"'To my descendants born in an age of abundant magic, when the sun and moon converge, please open the gate with the twelve keys.' Although I didn't fully believe these words, this book was passed down from my ancestors. My grandmother and my mother then passed it on to me." Layla took out the ancestral book she had brought from home. It was filled with bookmarks, proof that its reader had studied it seriously and made many notes.
"I wrote that book," Anna said to Layla.
King Toma, standing at the side, quickly interjected, "Wait! What are you all talking about? I don't understand at all!"
So, Anna explained it to him. "To travel from the past to the present, someone in this era must open the gate. My descendants passed down the book I wrote from generation to generation, and finally, Layla, following the instructions in the book, opened the gate."
"Wait, so you're saying you're from 400 years ago?" King Toma's face was full of alarm.
Anna answered him calmly, "That's right."
"Then why did you come to this era? The book doesn't explain that part," Layla asked. Ever since she learned that Anna had indeed traveled from 400 years in the past, she had been wondering about this. After all, something as difficult as time travel wasn't something one would do without a specific reason.
"I can't say right now. When the time is right, I will tell you," Anna said apologetically.
Layla understood she wouldn't get an answer on this topic and simply replied, "Alright."
"Lady Layla was able to open the gate. Does that mean that the magic power in this era is very abundant?" King Toma asked, thinking it over.
"That... I'm not entirely sure," Layla replied. "After all, there's no specific numerical value for magic. But one day, Noah suddenly came to my home and told me that this was the era, so I decided to give it a try." As she spoke, a maternal glow appeared on her face. "And there was another reason I decided to try. It was for my daughter, Lucy. I didn't want to pass this mission on to her. I hope that she can live her life freely. That's why I decided to complete this mission myself."
"It is indeed because this is an era of abundant magic that the gate was able to be opened," Anna said. "You have gone through a lot of trouble. And your mother and grandmother as well. It must have been difficult for all of you descendants these past few hundred years." Anna gratefully took Layla's hand.
"Not at all—" Layla said, a little embarrassed.
"To see that human civilization has continued for another 400 years, to see that this world is still turning... I feel incredibly happy," Anna said with deep gratitude, looking out from the observation deck at the bustling city of Crocus. She couldn't help but lower her head, thinking to herself, But... perhaps all of my actions were meaningless. No, no matter what, I must see this plan through!
Anna turned, about to say something, but then she saw Noah, who had been silent this whole time with his eyes closed in thought. She asked Layla, "This must be the Noah you mentioned? Why is he so—" Noah hadn't had his growth spurt yet and looked to be only twelve or thirteen at most. At this age, he shouldn't have been involved in such an event.
"Don't be fooled by how young he looks. He is very strong," Layla said with a smile, knowing Anna was underestimating him because of his age.
Just then, hearing them talking about him, Noah opened his eyes and released a sliver of the aura he kept so well hidden. A huge pressure immediately descended upon everyone around them. Anna and Layla could clearly sense the young boy's magic power—warm, yet as deep and vast as the ocean.
Noah released the aura as quickly as he had shown it. Sensing his power, Anna immediately apologized. "I'm sorry. I saw how young you were, so I—"
Noah waved his hand, cutting her off. "I was the one hiding it. It's normal that you didn't notice."
"Then how did you know about opening the gate? According to what Layla just said, you didn't know each other back then, so you shouldn't have known about the Heartfilia family's business," Anna asked. She was truly curious. Layla was her descendant, and King Toma was a member of the royal family that had guarded the gate for generations. How did Noah, who had no relation to either of them, know about it?
"It was a complete coincidence that I learned of it. I can't tell you the specific source, but it is related to my guild's First Master, which is why I went directly to Sister Layla to discuss it." As he said this, Noah remembered something. He quickly cast a spell, preventing Layla and King Toma from hearing their conversation and blurring their figures. Only then did he say to Anna, "Miss Anna, it would be best if you don't speak of your partner's identity to anyone. Not a single word. And don't go looking for any related information. Otherwise, you will be in great trouble, and everything you want to do will become infinitely more difficult."
"Why shouldn't I speak of my partner? Do you know something?" Anna asked, confused.
"I do know some things," Noah said gravely. "But you don't need to ask. Once you go out and research the major events of the past few hundred years, you will understand why. If I told you now, you wouldn't necessarily believe me. As for your partner... what happened to him was likely due to the passage of time. I can only say that he is a very kind person, but he possesses a form of immortality that is unsuited for his personality. After centuries of torment, he has gone mad."
~~~
Get early access to 50+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn