Rogue Villain-Chapter 300: Tolerance
"That’s..."
The One Outside Time hesitated with a conflicted expression and eyes full of doubt. Ackster didn’t press. In situations like these, it was best to wait for the hesitating person to get uncomfortable. He also made sure to muddle his mind with thoughts about how disappointing the meal at the restaurant where Wilma found them was.
Of course, he wasn’t sure if it would work. But after a while, The One Outside Time spoke again.
"I am pretty sure the world was destroyed, but I don’t know why or how. The Hero defeated The Calamity, at least in the main stream of the River of Time. But then, I couldn’t see anything. It’s different from now. It was more like my eyes were blocked. Now, there’s nothing to see."
’That’s disappointing.’
"I know. What if there’s a clue to this entire situation and the future in that part of the River."
"Do you think someone or something capable of manipulating the River of Time would bother blocking your sight like that? Is there something you can do with any kind of information that would change the outcome or bring the River of Time back?"
The One Outside Time slowly shook her head.
"No...I don’t think so. You’re right. It doesn’t make sense. Blocking my sight means an awareness and wariness of me. Someone or something manipulating the River would have no reason to be wary of me. They would know I can’t do anything. Do you think there’s another reason for why I couldn’t see the end?"
Ackster nodded. He kept his thoughts and mind muddled so that The One Outside Time didn’t read it. He did let her read that he wasn’t going to reveal it in the case that it exposed what he knew to whoever or whatever blocked The One Outside Time’s sight.
The One Outside Time nodded in understanding.
"I’m sorry I can’t be of more help despite asking you to come here all of a sudden."
"Don’t be. I gained a lot. I now know I need to get a lot stronger before I can take a vacation."
Ackster stood up. There was a dismissive hint of her goodbye-sounding voice. So, Ackster got ready to leave. He walked to the door as The One Outside Time returned to looking at Wilma.
"There is no end."
Ackster wasn’t sure what The One Outside Time meant by that, and since it didn’t sound like she was talking to him based on the rushing sound of her voice that Ackster could now identify as the roar of a coursing river, he didn’t ask for clarification.
This whole trip and meeting was a little strange. It only seemed fitting to end it on a strange note.
"All done?"
Wilma heard the door to The One Outside Time’s cabin open and close, so she put down the axe and turned around.
"Yup."
Wilma nodded and returned to the hot air balloon with Ackster. She didn’t seem very interested in talking, but Ackster had something he was curious about.
"Hey, I’ve been wondering about something."
"...Sure. Shoot."
"You are stronger than these two, right? But are you so much stronger that you can handle the weird air here without trouble? That’s why they were put to sleep, no? The time flows strangely here or something."
Wilma stayed silent for a moment, deliberating over whether she should give Ackster a proper answer. In the end, since The One Outside Time had encouraged her to give Ackster some consideration, she responded.
"Like Grandma, this place is separated from the world. It doesn’t exactly follow a different time, but it’s kind of like time flows strangely here. An ordinary mind can’t handle that. Those two can probably endure it for a little while. But since there’s no telling how long you were going to talk with Grandma, the barrier put them to sleep."
"I see. And you?"
"I’ve built up a tolerance, and I have a pretty resilient mind."
"So, it has nothing to do with you calling her Grandma?"
"Is that any of your business?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
Unlike the unconscious Mara and Kargas, Ackster didn’t have anything to do with her relationship with The One Outside Time. Still unable to decide about what she felt about Ackster, Wilma’s mixed feelings caused her to lash out.
"No. I was just curious. Don’t tell me if you don’t want to. But your Grandma asked me to take care of you. But I didn’t get the impression she has, you know, had biological kids or grandkids."
"She asked you to take care of me?"
Wilma looked at Ackster with narrow eyes. She was suspicious.
Ackster nodded.
"Yeah. I know I crossed a line with the Land of Dragons and Kargas stuff. But I have a good reason. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you about it just yet. I value this relationship that we’ve had and would hate to see it crumble because of what I did. So, I ask you to please wait for a few years before you decide to hate me completely. At that point, I will explain everything."
Wilma just looked at Ackster. Ackster returned her gaze with clear eyes. The fact that Wilma was strong and related to The One Outside Time made Ackster want her on his side. He wasn’t sure about her combat abilities. But she was incredibly useful in other ways.
Ackster wasn’t sure he needed her help. But her unbiased and complete support would make his mission easier. If a few cheesy words were all it took to get that support, Ackster would happily say them.
"...Fine."
Wilma couldn’t read Ackster’s scales anymore. He was too strong and too well-protected by his armor of skills. But she had known him for several years by now. She was sure she knew him well enough to agree.
She had thought she knew Ackster before he almost doomed an entire continent to war with a person capable of eradicating all the intelligent species of that continent and the madness to do it. But Kargas was sane, and all he did was kill a dragon. The dragonling race had also become capable of giving birth again. So, in the long run, Ackster’s actions had saved the very same race he doomed.
Wilma knew it wasn’t what Ackster had in mind. But Ackster did it because he thought it would be worth it. He needed the absolute powerhouse that Kargas would become. Wilma decided to hold onto the hope that Ackster had a good reason.
She realized something.
"Hey! What about Mio? The barrier isn’t configured to protect monsters!"
