[Silver Ash] - Become The Strongest In Another World
CHAPTER 169: It seems not (1)

...****************...

"Now ... I will make room for you, and you can rest until we return."

It's nearly an hour since Olivia's realization of the 'treasure' that Noelle found. Now, the two of them had already returned to where everyone had gathered, and had begun to set up camp.

Even if it is called a campground, it is more worthy to be called a luxury resort in the middle of the forest.

A large building entirely made of wood appeared, standing firmly on an empty land.

"This building only has 10 empty rooms, so I hope you can share a room. Well, I don't think that's a big deal."

The number of people present there was 16 people including Noelle. So, in fact they only need 8 rooms if Noelle assumes everyone wants to be with someone else in their room.

For Noelle, it was clear she was going to be with Olivia, and Cryll was also unquestionable. They only need 2 rooms each.

For the division of the rooms of the people in the Norman group, Noelle would leave the matter to those in charge.

In a corner of her field of view, Noelle could see Rico who was discussing with some people about who they should room with.

Noelle sighed and sat back down, but being approached by Anzu from behind made her unable to calm down at all.

"What is this time? " ask Noelle.

Anzu shrugged her shoulders and answered Noelle's question without any change to her expression.

"none. I just wanted to ask you one thing."

"And? Whatisit? "

"To be honest .. This is a rather trivial question. I wonder, just how big is your spatial storage capacity? "

"Ahh .. That, yes .. To be honest, I myself do not know the maximum limit. All I know ... I always put everything I want in there. So ... It's not like I care about that. Why why anyway? "

It was true that Noelle had thought about it for a long time. But, after some time, he finally adapted to the oddity and accepted everything normally. There was no longer any concern for the question of how large the spatial storage capacity was.

Hearing his reply, Anzu nodded before finally putting on a thin smile while tilting her head.

At the sight of that smile, Noelle hesitated for a moment whether the person before her was really the person she knew or not. Because, as he remembered, Anzu or what he knew as Shion was not someone who liked to give such a smile.

The expression that usually emanated on his face was just a dead expression full of boredom. In addition, he often gave a mocking smile when sharing opinions with Noelle.

—Ahh, he has really changed.

At the thought of that, for some reason Noelle felt a slight tightness in her chest. Maybe because the figure of a friend who became a place to complain and share his secrets had once been away from him.

While Noelle was still thinking that, a few words spoken in a questioning tone finally made it out of Anzu's lips.

"Actually, I need something to develop my weapon. But ... I can't get it because it's quite expensive, and my family is just a little noble living in the capital. So ... I wonder if you have that thing … "

" ……… "

Noelle fell silent, and looked at Anzu with empty eyes.

" ……… "

The two of them without saying anything continued to stare at each other, before finally a small laugh came out simultaneously from their mouths.

"Pfft– Ahaha. I guess it's something important."

"Please don't laugh. I really don't have the money to buy that! You're a vampire king who has great wealth, so I thought that you had at least one or two of them! "

Anzu's face flushed slightly, but not because she was embarrassed. It was probably because of the annoyance he had not gotten from Noelle for a long time.

As a result, Noelle also answered while continuing to giggle. It made his words become a little stifled.

"M-even if you say that, you're laughing yourself, aren't you? "

"That's because your laughter is contagious! "

The two continued to chuckle until they finally became calmer after a while.

Noelle tried to regulate her breathing and expression, then asked Anzu, "So, what is that thing you need? "

Anzu also tried to calm herself down, and began to give Noelle an explanation.

He. reached into his pocket for a moment, and took out a few small marbles from there.

"I'm sure you know about this, right? " asked Anzu while showing the marbles to Noelle.

The answer, of course Noelle knows. He had a not-so-happy experience with it.

"Of course I know. I've lost my arm because of one of those things, then, why? "

The two tried not to discuss the matter that Noelle was having with Lilith in this conversation. So, they naturally spoke directly to the core.

"As you know, these marbles look like a bekel ball. But, the material is made of soft metal that I have strengthened with my own alchemy abilities. But ... I need additional ingredients to increase it even further."

(Enhancement? For an object that could pierce my arm so easily? )

Normally, Noelle would not provide any help to improve something that could threaten her. But, there was a reason why he did not reject Anzu's request this time.

One reason is past debt. And the other reason, it was because he was interested in the weapon that Anzu used it.

As Anzu said, his weapon—the marble has a density level that will change depending on the pressure that befalls it. The stronger the pressure, the more flexible and hard the object will be.

It was strange, but it could be done if it modified it a little with alchemy.

Originally, Anzu was already quite satisfied with the strength that all those marbles had. But, his thoughts instantly changed when he went through many battles against powerful enemies.

He was increasingly aware of the weaknesses his weapons had.

And in order to overcome that, Anzu had to raise her strength somehow. There was no way he would have to rely on his physique to fight, and his ability in magic was also average. Therefore, the only thing Anzu could rely on was his weapon.

A little extravagant to get an upgrade was not a problem, but he did not have the slightest bit of funds that he could use for that waste.

"So, yes ... Then, what do you need? "

"Umm .. I don't want you to be too surprised but .. I need estadyte."

" ……… Did I not hear wrong? "

"No, you didn't hear me wrong. I really need that thing. The ones that are sized like pebbles are no problem either! "

"No, no, no! Even if you say so, which madman would give that precious material to someone else?! "

"I know the guy, and his name is Noelle! "

Noelle frowned unhappily as she continued to face the emphasis from Anzu.

Not that he wouldn't give it. Only, he was a little afraid that the material he gave would only end up in vain in Anzu's hands.

That's natural. After all, the estadyte that Anzu incar was a huge step. It was similar to a magic crystal, which was quite known as a manadyte. But, estadyte was already on a different level from that simple material.

Estadyte is a magic crystal with an unusually strong concentration. Its purity is also so high that it is impossible to find easily in mining.

A half-meter tall Estadyte already has a value equivalent to national treasures.

Moreover, due to its extraordinarily pure and concentrated magic content, the estadyte slightly leaked pure magic energy which could harm humans if exposed for a period of time.

Like pure oxygen that can be toxic to humans, radiation from estadytes has a very painful effect if exposed for too long.

The only thing that makes the material superior is its benefit in the reinforcement of an object.

Estadyte has special characteristics that can provide a permanent strengthening effect on the object that the user wants. Indeed, not everyone can apply it. But, if that material could be applied to a weapon, it would be an incredible feat.

Noelle does have that material, but not in bulk. If totaled in its entirety, it only has a few kilograms of estadyte with pebble-like shape and size.

"I do have it, but why should I give it to you? And also, is there any guarantee that you can apply it to your weapon? If not, I won't give it."

It would be a waste if Noelle gave that precious object to someone who could not use it.

But, contrary to the disappointed reaction he expected, Anzu gave him a confident expression. Anzu raised one corner of her lips, and formed a smile that was always in Noelle's memory.

"Who do you think you're talking to? Don't you underestimate me too much? I am Anzu sera Nokula, the one who will become the state alchemist someday."

—Ahh, she even has her own dreams …

That would be a huge surprise for Noelle. It felt really strange when he saw such a drastic change in the person he thought he was very familiar with.

It confused Noelle, but she naturally curled her lips and gave Anzu an aggressive smile.

"I think you're right. Shion won't make a faux pas that results in failure. I'll give you some, so don't let me down with the results."

That way, several colored stones of very small size appeared on Noelle's palm.

However, Noelle did not give it to Anzu directly, and instead used a special cloth to wrap the estadyte.

After wrapping it up, Noelle immediately handed the estadyte to Anzu.

"Don't open it too often. The radiation will kill you. It was even very painful for me, I doubt normal humans can survive" Noelle said to warn Anzu.

"Don't worry, I know how dangerous this thing is. I think it looks like radium."

" ……… Yahh, you can describe it that way."

After that, Anzu turned around and intended to leave. But ….

"Wait a minute. There's something I want to ask you."

Anzu intended to leave immediately after he got what he wanted, but he did not expect that Noelle would stop him.

" … What is it? "

Anzu vigilantly turned back and looked at Noelle with concern, preparing to receive a question that might not make sense.

Noelle was aware of his vigilance, but she just smiled wryly.

"Do you think .. There is another person that we cannot, the humans understand? "

It was a strange question, and very sudden. But, even so, Anzu still tried to answer him.

"certainly exists. In this world, there are many mythical and legendary beings who live without being, and without showing any awareness of their existence to us. Gods like Anastasia who reincarnate us should belong to that figure. But ... He has a form, and clearly shows their existence in the world and our consciousness. So, it can be assumed that all the figures are divided into several different types. In the end, they were all existences that were hard to define."

" …… You know quite a lot, huh? "

"Well, I've heard a lot of chatter about that. But, if you want to find something related to that, you better ask Werli. His family, the Augis family are quite experienced in this sort of thing, so he must know something."

And so, the two finished talking. After saying his greetings and good night, Anzu immediately left Noelle and entered the building that Noelle had prepared to rest on.

...****************...

"Now … "

In her own room, Noelle was finally able to breathe with relief.

All the walls, the floor, the roof, and all the gaps in the room he had covered with magic. So, no one should be able to interfere with his concentration.

Noelle changed into a long-sleeved black v-neck sweatshirt, and began to stretch.

The sound of cracks from all parts of his body felt very comfortable to hear and feel. For a moment, worldly pleasures that only lasted for a while continued to fill her, before Noelle finally dropped herself onto the bed.

"There's a lot I have to think about, huh … "

His eyes were heavy, but he tried not to fall asleep. It was all for the sake of solving all the questions that had been going through his head all along.

He did not have time to think about all this because of the various problems he had to face. But, he would take advantage of this opportunity to think about everything at once.

Noelle got up from the bed, and took a sitting position while hugging both her legs. He put his chin just above his knee, and his gray eyes were shifted out the window.

In such a situation, Olivia would suddenly appear and hug each other from behind. But that's not going to happen anytime soon.

Currently, Olivia is inside《Reign》 and is checking the condition of Chloe, Levina, and Lilith who are there.

"They're real, huh … "

The reason why Noelle suddenly asked Anzu that, was because she kept thinking about the mysterious figure faced by Tania, Arnaz, and Ethan in Rondo.

In short, the physiological figure of non-existence.

If Anzu's statement of a mythical creature that does not appear to be true, then the non-existence physiological figure that Asterisk discovered at the time must be one of them.

Actually, Noelle didn't want to accept it, that fact. That there were many other figures who clearly surpassed his knowledge and common sense.

(But if they really exist, why is there never a sign of their existence all along? )

Is there something holding them back from making striking gestures? I don't know, Noelle doesn't know the answer.

It's just that, the appearance of himself and other Asterisk members must be a trigger why the figure of a non-existence physiological creature shows its actions.

(Yahh, I'll keep that topic of thought for later. Now ... About time manipulation, huh .. )

Of the many problems he thought about, only this problem made him really feel dizzy.

How not? He has come to a crazy conclusion that will likely change his entire life.

It was about time manipulation, which Noelle realized when talking to Harold at the bar.

Putting aside all the unimportant details, Noelle was able to see a conclusion of the matter.

Well, Charlotte must have something to do.

Because, he really only experienced all those strange events when he had met Charlotte.

Noelle doesn't know the reason, but it seems Chloe is also involved. The memories of Charlotte and Chloe were replaced with memories of those who jumped over time from 3 months before stampede began in Suiren.

And from then on, strange things started happening to Noelle. Obviously, Noelle would have thought that it had something to do with Charlotte.

Only, the question becomes, why would anyone want to repeat time? Is it because there is something bad in the future? Or because the results he got in the future were not so satisfying, that he wanted to repeat them by controlling time? Clearly, that was not the answer Noelle thought of.

It's all related to Charlotte. And Noelle had also come to a simple conclusion.

Noelle's gaze gradually became even more blank as her mind wandered through the maze of memories to find the puzzle pieces of the answer.

Every detail that happened in the past kept popping up in Noelle's mind. And most notable of all, was his conversation with Harold at that bar.

According to Harold's confession, Harold attacked the Zernroden family's residence at the request of a woman.

There was no specific feature Harold mentioned about the woman. It was a little difficult because Noelle had to imagine everything herself.

And this is where Noelle gets her first answer.

The woman who gave Harold the order to destroy the Zernroden family, was Charlotte herself.

Everything is so confusing. Even the conclusion Noelle made on her head was like a tangled thread that was hard to find the tip.

He was able to get that answer because of the mask he had.

That black mask, which he got from a man named Jasper. That thing should have only one in the world, considering it was a family treasure passed down by generations.

No one else should have that mask. Unless, if Jasper gave it to him straight away.

But, that's just impossible. When Jasper gave the mask to Noelle, it was obvious that the box was worn out, and Jasper said that it was his prediction that made him give the mask to Noelle.

That means, the thought that Jasper gave the mask to the woman could be crossed off the list of suspicions.

There was only one answer Noelle could get.

When the woman gave Harold the order to destroy the Zernroden family, the mask was not in Jasper's hands.

If any of the same objects from different times met each other, then it would cause a mess that was hard to define. Something like a paradox is bound to happen.

In short, the woman must have been time-traveling again after she gave orders to Harold. And the time of the goal was, the moment where ancestor Jasper finally received the mask from the woman.

If so, then everything will make more sense.

(No, wait. Wouldn't that cause a branching? But ... Is it true that woman is Charlotte? Did he really time travel? Then .... What is the purpose of going to that distant time? )

Thinking about all those butterfly effects was mind-blowing. But, here Noelle finally got a new question.

(Since the beginning, is it possible to travel time to a time before you were born? )

In theory, that's impossible.

Going back to the time before you were born is impossible. That was because, at that time, the body of the explorer did not exist at all. So, there should be no basis that forms the body of the explorer.

"ah! "

Noelle then realized it. Finally, he could find a little bit of the end.

(What's possible .. His goal of ordering Harold to destroy the Zernroden family, was for the sake of evolving Charlotte? )

Charlotte did evolve because of the mental pollution she had. So it makes sense.

And because of that one simple answer, Noelle finally found another answer.

"It is possible to go back to the time before birth, if your body is no longer a physical human body, yes … "

After evolving, Charlotte becomes a Fallen belonging to the angel race. That evolution caused changes to his soul and physical body. That means, Charlotte already had no attachment to her physical body when she was still a human.

His appearance was indeed not much different from his when he was still a human, but it was an entirely different body.

"His body and soul .. Already not bound by the laws of time, yes … "

Right now, Noelle could only shrug her shoulders resignedly, and drop her body back onto the bed.

While lying down, he let out a dry laugh that sounded as if he had resigned.

"Ahaha .. This is crazy … "

The final conclusion he got from all those thoughts, made him take a step closer to madness.

However, somehow, Noelle will overcome her problems, and continue her life normally.

Although, it might be an impossible thing.

...****************...