Hate me, Miss Witch!-Chapter 534 - 247: Shame the Witch, You Must Take Responsibility
The last thread of Origin was severed, transforming into scattered starlight.
In that shattered starlight, Shiayar heard a long, drawn-out sigh.
"You know, don't you, how many attempts it will take to wait for this tiny miracle to happen?"
"This isn't just about decades, centuries of trifling efforts."
"The length of time might be ten thousand years, maybe a hundred thousand years..."
"Or perhaps, even longer."
"Moreover, to maintain your existence without being obliterated by the Corrective Force during this process, you must remain conscious at all times and never fall asleep."
"Maintaining conscious awareness, wandering for millennia in a world devoid of anything but Darkness."
"How many years have you actually lived thus far in your life?"
"Even so, do you not regret it?"
Shiayar did not directly answer the question from the soul's imprint.
He merely remained silent, watching the final strands of scattered starlight before him.
After a long pause.
Shiayar spoke softly.
"This is my choice, no regrets."
...
"Is that so——"
"It truly feels like looking into a very, very old mirror."
"So it seems..."
"Such a person truly existed."
That last strand of starlight from the Stars Chalice.
Accompanied by those final words, it vanished completely without a trace.
Shiayar did not look back. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Instead, he faced the increasingly close, incoming tide of the Corrective Force.
Before being swallowed by the wave of Corrective Force, this was his final moment.
Shiayar slightly turned his body.
Through that ethereal, hazy light, he looked into the Astral Realm at the graceful figure of the Golden Elf.
He slightly moved his lips.
Once wholly consumed by the Corrective Force, he would face endless years of loneliness.
In the little time left, Shiayar wanted to offer his final farewell to his somewhat naive mentor.
After all, among those Shiayar cared about, this was the only one with whom he hadn't truly established a connection.
Before beginning what might be an eternal wandering, Shiayar did not wish to leave any regrets.
Yet, in the next moment.
Shiayar suddenly froze.
Because he saw the azure flames illuminating the flowing time around him, devouring the incoming Corrective Force.
The backlash of the Corrective Force was intercepted by the azure flames.
Only the quiet, gentle flow of time remained, carrying Shiayar's body smoothly downstream.
Slowly, yet irrevocably.
Across the flowing time, humans and elves gazed at each other.
Shiayar downstream, Hathaway upstream.
"Why——"
Shiayar opened his mouth somewhat bewildered.
This exceeded his expectations.
Even with the hidden secrets in the Land of Origin, Shiayar had predicted them almost accurately.
But the events occurring at this moment were entirely beyond his anticipation.
"Didn't you always say, 'after three days apart, you must look at me in a different light,' Teacher Shaar."
"Or rather, my little Shiayar."
A heavenly voice echoed from the upstream of time.
The stunning Golden Elf gazed through the scattered light at the face of the human youth downstream.
How could it be?
Shiayar was stunned.
"Little Shiayar."
This nickname was only ever used for him by a certain Golden Elf.
But that should be a future, enigmatic teacher, not the young Golden Elf maiden before him.
"It's not just humans; elves grow too, Shiayar."
Seeing Shiayar's confusion, a faint smile appeared on the exquisite face of the Golden Elf.
"The Secret Flame of the Goddess of Magic represents 'Void Magic.'
"It is the mystery of peering into realms."
"And in Void Magic, it's not just about the Space Law but also——time."
Her crimson golden eyes carried nostalgia, longing, and a touch of determination.
Hathaway's gaze lingered on Shiayar's face for a long time.
"After housing the Secret Flame of the Goddess of Magic, I can now use 'Void Magic' to briefly glimpse the corner of the future."
"Of course, it's merely some insignificant, fragmented future pieces."
"But piecing together those fragments is enough for me to clearly see the future belonging solely to you."
The Golden Elf's melodious voice paused for a moment.
"Your stories with Ennie and Su Lun, and Silvia… I've seen them with my own eyes."
"The love transcending time and space, the unwavering loyalty, the girl redeemed from darkness, the epic of the knight and the king…"
"Those are truly touching past events, making the jealousy I should have felt for the heroines of those stories vanish completely."
"It's just—"
"Teacher Shaar."
Her crimson gold eyes suddenly softened.
"You always do this, saving others time and time again—"
"For that naive young duchess to live through the chaotic times, you made her hate you to the bone."
"For the safe return of the Knight King, you chose to wear the crown of thorns and bear the sins of an entire Imaginary Zone."
"Turning one imperfect story ending after another into what you desired."
"Only, when I look at the fragments of your past through Void Magic... I've been thinking."
"You saved them—"
"Then who shall—"
"Save you?"
"Later on, I saw your childhood memories, inside the Black Tower, fragments about that Golden Elf, or rather, the future me."
The world became silent.
The tide of Corrective Force was temporarily blocked by the azure Secret Flame, even the rumblings were too faint to be heard.
The only thing left was two people gazing across time.
"Teacher Shaar—"
The Golden Elf girl suddenly lifted a few strands of light golden hair beside her temples.
"Do you remember that day when the Lost Island fell into the Abyss, the words you said to me as we bid farewell?"
"You said—"
"'As a teacher, one must protect one's students.'"
"Then you left so gracefully, leaving me with a grand, unforgettable silhouette."
"Therefore, my response today is the same."
She looked at Shiayar and spoke softly.
"As a teacher, I must also protect my student."
"Even if that teacher-student bond comes from the future, it doesn't matter."
...
Boom—
The long river of time, temporarily calmed by the Secret Flame of the Goddess of Magic, began to flow again, tossing up one wave after another.
But the Golden Elf's voice pierced through the tide and remained clear.
"Don't worry about me, Teacher Shaar."
"Unlike you and Ennie, who do not belong to this era, and are outcasts rebuffed by the natural order, no matter what you do, you'll face the backlash of the Corrective Force."
"However, I was born as an advanced Elf in The Age of Gods, the Power of Historical Correction's harm and rejection towards me is much weaker."
"Even though I am still somewhat naive compared to you, Shiayar... with Silverfire's assistance, this level of Corrective Force can't extinguish my existence."
"Simply—"
"Being retaliated by the Corrective Force, being exiled to some place in the Astral Realm or Spirit Realm, wandering alone in the Abyss of Stars for many years, many eras."
Through the surging tides, the Golden Elf gazed at Shiayar with undisguised affection.
"Though I now try to appear deep and in control like you, Teacher Shaar."
"I'm actually quite afraid of the dark and loneliness."
"Therefore—"
"One day you must come save me."
In that moment, time streamed past Shiayar.
Everything inexorably fell downstream.
And in that cascading time, the figure of the Golden Elf grew smaller, her voice faded into distant vagueness.
Hathaway's words suddenly became a bit cheerful.
"Additionally, I haven't forgotten, Teacher Shaar."
"Clearly, from your perspective I am your teacher, yet with a mischievous intent you've reversed roles, making me your disciple."
"In your words, it's what's called a disobedient disciple, right?"
"This is a grave disrespect."
"So—"
Events wear away.
The vision of The Age of Gods vanished, leaving only the shifting light and shadow.
Second Era, Third Era—
Until, the Fourth Epoch.
Even with Shiayar's perception, he could no longer see the Golden Elf girl riding the currents of time.
Only Hathaway's last words echoed in Shiayar's ears.
"You must take responsibility for shaming the witch."
