Chapter 68
Inside the academy café, Marshall and Ultear chose a quiet corner and sat across from one another.
With the elegant tea set between them, the scene carried the strange atmosphere of two refined young ladies enjoying afternoon tea.
Ultear began with a generous helping of flattery.
"I’ve heard the professors describe you as a magical genius who appears only once in a century. Even I can’t help feeling envious."
She smiled pleasantly.
"Do you have any special study methods, Hanna? How do you manage to excel in every subject?"
Marshall calmly sipped his tea.
"Special methods? Not really. I just study normally."
He set down his cup.
"No matter how untalented someone is, learning a few spells shouldn’t be that difficult."
"..."
Ultear nearly lost her grip on her teacup.
How could one person sound so smug without even changing their expression?
Was it still possible to have a normal conversation with her?
"Haha... I suppose the world of a genius really is different from that of ordinary people."
"No, no. In my opinion, you’re the true genius, Ultear."
Marshall spoke with complete sincerity.
"You possess more magic power than anyone else our age I’ve ever met. That’s an extraordinarily rare gift."
"Compared with you, my own reserves are rather unremarkable."
"Hehe... Perhaps."
The corner of Ultear’s mouth twitched.
How did this girl manage to step on one of her sore spots with practically every sentence?
Ultear would have gladly discarded this so-called gift if she could.
Never mind.
She needed to get to the point before Marshall irritated her any further.
"I’ve heard that exceptional graduates of the academy may enter the Magic Council directly."
Ultear folded her hands neatly.
"Those with sufficient talent might even become Councilors and join the highest authority governing the magical world of the eastern continent."
"Is that something you’re interested in, Hanna?"
"Oh~~~ So that’s all you wanted to ask?"
Marshall leaned back.
"I was wondering why you invited me here."
Ultear showed no embarrassment at having her motive exposed.
Most students who enrolled in a Council academy hoped to join the Magic Council after graduation.
It was an unspoken understanding, so her question wasn’t particularly suspicious.
Marshall didn’t find it strange either.
Taking a government job really was the ultimate destination in every universe.
If his royalties weren’t already enough to support him for the rest of his life, even he might have considered finding a stable position and comfortably coasting until retirement.
"I’m not interested."
Marshall answered without hesitation.
"Joining the Council, becoming a Councilor—none of that appeals to me."
"I came to the academy to learn magic. I don’t care about anything else."
Ultear quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
For some reason, she believed him immediately.
Perhaps she assumed that someone as talented as Hanna had no reason to lie about such a thing.
If there was no conflict between their interests, cooperation might be possible.
"I see. You truly are a pure-hearted Mage, Hanna."
Ultear’s smile became more genuine.
"Then let’s leave those vulgar political matters aside and discuss magic instead."
"There are many things I’d like to ask the academy’s top-ranked student."
She glanced toward the book they had brought from the library.
"You’ve also been researching temporal magic, haven’t you?"
"What do you think? Is magic that allows someone to return to the past actually possible?"
Ultear had only intended to make idle conversation and pass an otherwise boring afternoon.
Marshall’s next sentence made her entire body snap to attention.
"Possible?"
He tilted his head.
"That kind of magic already exists. I’ve personally met people who traveled here from the future."
"What?!"
Ultear’s composure shattered instantly.
She shot to her feet so quickly that she knocked over her cup without noticing. Her voice rose sharply enough to draw several looks from nearby tables.
"You’ve met someone from the future?! Is that really true?!"
"Whoa~ Why are you getting so excited?"
Marshall tapped the table.
"Of course it’s true. Why would I lie about that?"
The fallen cup moved in reverse, as though someone had rewound a recording.
Tea flowed back into it, the cup righted itself, and everything returned to its original state.
Ultear’s pupils contracted violently.
’Arc of Time?’
This woman could even use that Lost Magic?
Could she truly be telling the truth?
Ultear’s mind descended into chaos.
Why had she joined Grimoire Heart?
Why had she endured hiding beside Brain as a spy, manipulating Jellal despite how tiresome she found the entire affair, and carrying out countless tasks she despised?
Because of the future Hades had promised her.
She believed that reviving Zeref would allow her to obtain magic capable of crossing time.
She could return to the past, before every tragedy began.
Before she was sent to the research facility.
Before her mother took in those two other children.
She could finally stand before her mother and ask why she had abandoned her.
That obsession was the only reason Ultear continued struggling through a world she found unbearably painful.
And now, some mysterious genius who had appeared from nowhere was calmly telling her that she had already witnessed time travel.
How could Ultear remain calm?
How could she possibly contain her excitement?
"Hanna—no, Marshall!"
She leaned across the table.
"Please tell me about the person who returned from the future. I need to know everything!"
"...Wait. Give me a moment."
Marshall had been startled by Ultear’s sudden outburst.
More importantly, he had just overheard an alarming number of secrets!
Grimoire Heart?
Zeref?
Hades?
Brain?
And how was Jellal involved again?
That Jellal fellow seemed to appear wherever something suspicious happened!
What was the connection between all these people?
His roommate appeared to possess slightly more secrets than any reasonable person should.
What exactly was going on here?
Marshall shifted most of his attention into the Thought Projection.
Ultear had genuinely caught his interest now.
He was extremely curious.
"You’re interested in Time Magic?"
"Yes!"
Ultear no longer bothered hiding her excitement.
"To tell you the truth, I also practice the Lost Magic known as Arc of Time. Its effects are similar to the spell you just used."
"My dream is to master magic that can return me to the past!"
She stepped forward and seized Marshall’s hand, her eyes burning with desperate hope.
"Please, Hanna. You have to tell me about those people from the future!"
"This is the one thing I must know, no matter what."
Her fingers tightened.
"Please tell me. I’ll do anything I can in return!"
"You really shouldn’t say things like that so casually."
Marshall tried to pull his hand free, but she held on far too tightly.
He sighed helplessly.
"The people I met traveled through time using a magical artifact."
"That artifact no longer works, so telling you where it is wouldn’t help."
Ultear’s expression faltered.
"But there’s no need to search so far away."
Marshall continued calmly.
"I already know the complete spell structure for traveling into the past."
"It simply isn’t an easy spell to cast."
"What?!"
Ultear stared at him.
"You even know that?!"
Marshall had thoroughly studied Remembrance of Time.
The grimoire truly no longer functioned under ordinary circumstances.
Opening it produced no reaction at all.
Apparently, activating it required some unusual coincidence or opportunity.
He had indeed deciphered—and forcibly memorized—the complete temporal spell structure contained within it.
But understanding the spell and being capable of casting it were completely different matters.
Marshall suspected that anyone below Level Five in Time Magic wouldn’t stand a chance.
He had no idea just how devastating an impact his casual statement had on Ultear.
The way she looked at him changed completely.
Her gaze practically shimmered.
Ultear immediately rose from her chair, moved around the table, and sat closely beside him.
Then, with remarkable naturalness, she wrapped both hands around his arm.
"My dear Hanna, I felt a special connection with you from the moment we met."
She smiled sweetly.
"I’m certain we can become the closest of friends."
’No, no.’
’Before we sat down for coffee, you clearly couldn’t stand me!’
"Ultear, please control yourself."
Marshall tried to move his arm.
"And I’ve explained this many times already. I really am a boy."
"That doesn’t matter!"
Ultear answered immediately.
"Sex is irrelevant."
Then she looked directly into his eyes.
"But if it matters to you, do you need a girlfriend? I believe I would be an excellent choice!"
"...?"
Why had this girl’s attitude changed so dramatically the moment she learned he might be useful?
It was almost impressive enough to make him laugh.