Chapter 118

The magical skills of Professor Deros and Felix were almost equal. In fact, due to his experience, Professor Deros could be considered stronger.

Thus, it was nearly impossible for Felix to nullify Professor Deros’s magic.

However, Little One was different. Little One was a genius capable of time-travel magic.

Upon hearing the signal, Little One dodged the men rushing towards him and jumped behind the ice wall. Then, he manipulated his mana. At that moment, the mana enveloping Professor Deros’s body dispersed into the air.

Simultaneously.

The men, who had been searching for prey, all charged at Professor Deros at once. For the first time, the consistently composed Professor Deros looked visibly flustered and chanted a spell, but it was useless. Little One was using all of his reserved strength to block his magic.

Moreover, Deros could not nimbly evade the men. In the end, the men overwhelmed Professor Deros.

“Aaah!”

The moment she tightly shut her eyes, Felix covered her ears. Nonetheless, faint groans of pain could still be heard.

Finally, when the groans completely ceased, a dull thud of something collapsing echoed.

When she opened her eyes, the men lay on the ground, as they should have been from the start.

She murmured in disbelief.

“Is it over?”

Felix responded.

“Yes.”

She burst into tears and embraced Felix and Little One.

Thus, the cruel and painful night came to an end.

And all of them were alive.

Herself, Felix, and Little One.

***

When Felix and Little One helped her outside, dawn was breaking. So much had happened, yet only half a day had passed.

In the distance, the Royal Knights, who had been contacted by Felix in advance, were approaching. They had tracked Felix’s location.

She also spotted the faces of her brother William and Cedric.

As the realization that everything was over sank in, her legs gave out. When she staggered, the two men caused a brief commotion, arguing over who would carry her.

“I’ll do it.”

“No, I will. Why you?”

“But…”

Even their argument felt peaceful, and she simply sat on the ground, laughing. Felix frowned slightly, as if he didn’t understand her, while Little One plopped down beside her, chuckling as well.

When she grabbed Little One’s cheeks, Felix forcibly removed her hands.

His expression seemed to ask why she was touching another man’s face.

“He’s our Little One.”

Just in case, she added, to which Felix curtly replied.

“I know.”

“Then why…”

“Still, no.”

He lifted her to her feet. Before she could protest, he picked her up and started walking.

“Wait, I have something to say to Little One! You need to hear it too!”

When she patted his shoulder and spoke, Felix stopped walking with a face full of displeasure.

As she reached out to Little One, he trotted over like a well-trained puppy.

Now that Felix was holding her, her eye level was roughly aligned with Little One’s. She patted his head, overwhelmed with emotion.

Thank you for growing up so well without me or Felix, Little One. 

She conveyed her feelings through her touch.

Little One closed his eyes and enjoyed her hand’s warmth.

“He’s not a child anymore. Why do you treat him like one?”

Felix, unaware that Little One was his future son, still seemed unhappy with the situation.

“Put me down for a moment. I need to talk.”

Felix set her down, though he kept a firm grip on her arm, as if to ensure her safety. With her other hand, she held Little One’s.

“Thank you, Little One. Thanks to you, we were able to stop everything. Without you, we would have repeated another tragic future.”

She imagined what might have happened if Little One hadn’t come. She wouldn’t have escaped, and Felix would’ve cooperated with Professor Deros because of her.

Then Felix would’ve later been charged with treason…

The thought brought her to the verge of tears again. Sensing her emotions, Little One shook his head, his voice trembling.

“It was something we all did.”

“All of us?”

“Yes. If it weren’t for you and Dad, Mom, I wouldn’t have been able to come here.”

The Little One now freely called her “Mom.”

“What did I do in the future? Can you tell me now? What exactly happened in the future you came from?”

Little One glanced at Felix before looking back at her and opening his mouth.

“To save Dad, Mom, you studied time-travel magic using his journal. Thanks to those records, I was also able to use time-travel magic to come here. To change the past.”

“And me? What happened to me?”

“You traveled back and forth in the Kingdom. But eventually, you were captured…”

“Wait.”

Felix interrupted.

“Then he is…”

“Yes.”

She hugged Felix with one arm and Little One with the other, laughing through her tears.

“He’s our Little One.”

It was the same phrase she had said earlier—“He’s our Little One”—but this time, it carried a different meaning.

Our Little One. Our child.

Realizing this, Felix remained silent. Despite having prepared himself emotionally, he seemed taken aback by this sudden revelation.

It didn’t matter. He would get used to it eventually.

Though Felix looked like he wanted an explanation, he didn’t interrupt. Instead, he even held back the approaching Royal Knights, allowing her to speak freely with the Little One.

“How did you manage to come to us all this time?”

“Mom, you sometimes went on trips for research. Whenever you weren’t home, I missed you and thought about you. Using your diary as a medium, I was able to come here. Mom, you noticed my artifact and realized I had been traveling to the past. That’s when you doubled down on your research.”

Little One showed her the artifact Madam Jane had once placed on his wrist.

“And how did you know about Professor Deros?”

“I read your diary. You recorded everything in detail.”

“What exactly happened?”

“It was the same. The only difference was that Professor Deros waited until you and Dad were married before kidnapping you. It must’ve been easier to threaten you that way.”

“Then why… Oh.”

She quickly realized why the future had changed.

“It’s because of you.”

“Yes. I think he moved up the timing of his kidnapping because he knew I was with you. That’s why I was a bit surprised—it wasn’t what I expected.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I tried to, but…”

From his reaction, she could guess what had happened. Little One had already tried to change the future by telling her everything in the past.

Everything must have been the same as today, except Little One wouldn’t have been there.

“Professor Deros must’ve kidnapped me again. But I wouldn’t have escaped, and Felix would’ve joined the rebel forces because of me. I was so useless…”

Little One quickly shook his head and shouted.

“You’re not useless, Mom! Because of you, because of…”

He choked on his words but managed to finish.

“Because of you, we were all saved. You made it happen…”

But even so, it must’ve ended in tragedy.

That’s why he had come back to the past again to change the future.

The reason he had cast a spell on Ginger during the festival and disappeared—it was all for this.

“I want to hear more. What exactly happened in the future?”

“It’s a long story.”

“That’s fine. We have plenty of time. Of course, only if you can endure it.”

But Little One shook his head.

“I’d like to, but I don’t have much time.”

Looking down at his hand, she noticed it was not only hot but also half-transparent. It was time for him to return.

The farewell came too soon. Before, they had spent at least a few days together, but now they had to part after just a few hours.

No, this couldn’t be. She couldn’t let him go like this. Desperately, she held onto his hand. Instinctively, she felt that letting go of this hand was something she mustn’t do.

She didn’t know why, but she felt that if she let the Little One go this time, she would never see him again. She hoped she was wrong, but the feeling was undeniable.

Little One must’ve felt the same, as he smiled tearfully.

“I tried to hold on as long as I could, but I guess I used too much magic.”

“Little One, don’t go…”

Before she knew it, she was already crying. Her tears fell onto their joined hands. She murmured like a plea.

“There’s still… still so much I want to say.”

“I have a lot to say too, but I’m not sure I can say it all.”

While she struggled to organize her thoughts, Little One smiled brightly despite his own tears.

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine now.”

By now, Little One’s arms were also transparent. At this moment, she asked the question weighing most heavily on her mind.

“Will we meet again?”

The future had changed. The future Little One had experienced no longer existed. In other words, the Little One before her would also cease to exist.

What would happen to our Little One? Would he disappear, unable to return to his original place?

She hoped her assumption was wrong. But Little One gave no answer.

A brief silence passed between them.

“Philly.”

When she urged him, Little One finally shook his head with a bittersweet smile.

“I can’t promise that. I probably won’t see you again. Since the future has changed, it’s unlikely another Little One will come.”

Though she had suspected as much, hearing it confirmed by the Little One was even more devastating. She gripped his hand tightly.

“No, Little One. Don’t go.”

“But…”

Little One gently stroked the back of her hand, as if comforting her.

“Maybe we’ll meet again.”

Little One snapped his fingers. Suddenly, a diary appeared in his hand, one that hadn’t been there before.

She recognized it instantly. It was her diary—or at least, one identical to hers.

“There’s so much I want to explain, but I don’t think I have enough time. Instead, if you read this diary, you’ll understand everything.”

“Don’t go, Little One.”

She pleaded with him. Just last night, she had begged the five-year-old Little One to return to his original place. Now, the situation was completely reversed.

But betraying her plea, Little One hugged her and bid her a tearful farewell.

“Take care of yourself.”

Her tears flowed endlessly. Little One gently pushed her away and looked at Felix, smiling faintly.

“Please take care of my mom.”

Then, he whispered softly.

“Father.”