Elsword – Time Trouble
Chapter 6
0. To the past once more
Boy who could travel through time finally made his decision to join hands with the suspicious ent.i.ty.
“…….How long do you plan to hold onto my hand?”
Eun grabbed Add’s hand tightly and didn’t let go. Her outer appearance was that of a slender girl.
But grasp of her hand was so powerful that he couldn’t pull his hand out.
“I plan to enjoy this for at least three days since this is such a memorable moment where boy has
joined hands with me. So I’d like boy to stay still.”
Eun made a sly smile as she pulled Add towards her. Surprised, Add tried to hold his ground by
putting strength in his legs. But he was no match for her in physical strength.
“Ah. What?! Hey! Hey!!”
Her face was getting closer. She let off such voluptuous aura that you couldn’t believe her base was
that of a naïve Ara. Eun’s lips were gradually getting closer.
“What do you think you are doing?!”
Add instinctively moved the Dynamos to block the gap between their faces. Add scowled at Eun
after barely managing her lips from getting any closer.
But Eun still smiled while grabbing onto Add’s hand so tightly that it hurt. She was not pulling Add
in forcefully anymore but it didn’t look like she had any intention to let go.
“What’s wrong, boy? Didn’t you need my help?”
“This shouldn’t be the time to be making jokes like this.”
Even at this moment, Demons that were after Eve were plotting their next move behind the scenes.
Shouldn’t they come up with a plan quickly and act?
“For boy, isn’t time something that’s even more abundant the endlessly flowing water? It shouldn’t
be a big deal to play along with me for a while.”
“Stop with the jokes….”
Add words stalled as he looked at Eun’s voluptuous smile. He didn’t know what absurd deeds might
be done to him if he agreed with her here.
Eun licked her lips as if to show him…… this made Add feel even more uncomfortable.
“Entertainment, this is just a light entertainment.”
4
“I don’t care so let go of me already……”
“My, it seems all boy cares about is finishing his own business. Well, all men are usually like that…..
But doesn’t boy still have something he wants from me?”
Was that a threat saying it wouldn’t be fun if Add didn’t play along with her? Add stopped for a
moment then clenched his free right hand into a fist.
“You want to have a go to see who’s stronger?”
“Why so serious? All boy has to do is play along with my light joke.”
“It’s too suspicious so I’ll have to decline. If you don’t listen to what I say…..I can make you listen
by force.”
Add made his determination and moved the Dynamos. By Add’s calculations, his chance of victory
in a direct confrontation was around 50 to 60 percent considering Ara was his opponent.
But one who was ridiculing him right now was Eun borrowing Ara’s body. He had never seen her
skills before but it could be a.s.sumed that they were much higher than Ara’s.
He didn’t want to clash with her if possible. But he can’t show any weakness here.
He had determined to cooperate with Eun. But that didn’t mean he fully trusted Eun. A
confrontation to seize the initiative was obviously bound to occur whenever you made an alliance
with someone this suspicious…..
“Just like back in Altera Core.”
“What?”
Add asked in response to Eun’s sudden words. Eun lightly shook her head with a bitter smile. While
Add was still startled by the gloomy expression Eun had shown, Eun moved on to the serious topic.
“Alright, I’ll leave the entertainment for later…. Let’s talk about what we have to do. But before I
start, let me tell you that there will be many cases where I won’t answer your questions. So forgive
me.”
“You’re going to withhold information?”
It meant that while Eun knew various things, she wouldn’t tell Add. She should know a lot of
valuable information with her power to see into the future…
“Does boy explain the circ.u.mstances to the girl beforehand whenever he time travels? Doesn’t he
think now that it’s meaningless?”
“That’s different from what you said before. You clearly said….”
5
“I said I’ll help boy with obtaining the girl. I never said I’d tell boy everything.”
Eun drew the line as she shook her head. Add didn’t like this condition but suppressed himself for
now.
He couldn’t save Eve from Demons no matter how much he struggled alone. Although Eun was
extremely suspicious, her help was necessary.
“Also, you have to exactly follow what I say from now on. You don’t need to listen to what Ara says,
but you must listen to me.”
“….So you won’t explain the situation or give me any information, but expect me to obediently
follow everything you say?”
Add let out an empty laugh at this absurd condition. Eun opened her eyes and made a beaming
smile.
“COBO service uses the ‘Free to Play and Pay Later’ model after all. Wasn’t it thanks to me that boy
could time travel all this time?”
“….”
“Did you possibly think that was for free?”
Add could return from future where Eve was destroyed all this time because Eun had designated the
Time s.p.a.ce Coordinates for him. It was very important and necessary role so Add couldn’t blatantly
deny Eun’s conditions.
“So you want me to pay up now?”
“I would imagine it would be scarier if such service was for free don’t you? In the first place, didn’t
boy suspect me because he thought I wanted to help for free? You should be able to ease your mind
now that I’m requesting for an appropriate price.”
There was no flaw in her logic but it still felt like he’d fallen into a trap. Add made a bitter sigh and
nodded.
“Fine, I’ll comply for now.”
“I’ll be expecting you to do so all the time from now on. In boy’s perceived time that is.”
Eun seemed satisfied and let go of Add’s hand. Add who had just complied with such reluctant
conditions asked bluntly.
“If you’re done bragging, tell me already what I should do from now on. It couldn’t be that you’re
saying you’d defeat all the demons by yourself.”
6
“There would be no point in doing so even if I could do such things.”
Eun shook her head then leaned her spear against her shoulders.
“Go, boy. To the past.”
“Time travel again? To when?”
The current situation where Demons were after Eve shouldn’t change even if Add time traveled. Or
did she mean Add should time travel to change something that could change this situation?
Eun didn’t even bother to explain.
“You’ll find out when you go. It would be better for you to experience it yourself rather than having
me tell you.”
“…..”
Not even telling him what time he was traveling to? It was way too untrustworthy but Add had no
other choice but to follow Eun’s suggestion.
The scene of Eve getting destroyed time and time again flashed by in Add’s head.
He didn’t ever want to see that again. For this purpose, he could bear with anything.
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Add made a cold smile as he clenched his fists.
Nothing could get worse than right now anyways.
7
1. I thought this was the bottom floor but there was a bas.e.m.e.nt
Splash!!
Add and got up immediately because he suddenly became drenched in water.
“Phwa! Just where is this place…..?”
Eun set the Time s.p.a.ce Coordinates and sent him to this time without explaining anything to Add.
Add realized that he had just fallen into a river and shook his head to dry off the water.
Surface of the water shined beautifully as the sun shined upon it.
“This is….”
This place seemed strangely familiar. As Add muttered, he suddenly realized that back of his head
was p.r.i.c.kling. He could feel people’s presence behind him.
“Just what….?”
With his entire body soaked wet with water, Add muttered as he swung his Dynamos around to look
back. First, he should find out current time and information and then……
He locked eyes with three girls.
That weren’t wearing anything.
Add numbly let out a groan because of all the bright skin in front of his eyes. His brain’s processing
speed couldn’t keep up with all this messy information that just got scattered across his brain.
“…..Huh?”
Three girls were staring at him with a stifled expression. Why were they looking at him like that
when they were the ones who weren’t wearing anything? Add was about to glare back at
them…..then realized that these girls looked very familiar.
Actually, he should have recognized sooner.
Since they were Rena, Ara and Eve.
“…..”
8
Add was so shocked from the naked girls in front of him that his situation a.s.sessment slowed down.
The fact that these three girls were people he knew confused him even more. Add froze up in his
spot.
What should I say? What should I do? He couldn’t figure anything out. The three girls were also
frozen from Add’s sudden appearance. They didn’t even move a finger.
Extremely awkward silence.
“Ugh…..”
Just when Add couldn’t stand the silence anymore and let out a painful groan, the girls who were
mindlessly blinking until now slowly started to move.
“Kiiiiiiiiiyyyyyah!!! M, Mr.Add?!”
“Moby, to battle mode.”
Add also abruptly came to his senses after seeing reactions of Ara who let out a high pitched scream
and Eve who coldly operated her gears.
“What!! Why are you screaming?! You sent me here!!”
The Time s.p.a.ce Coordinates Eun sets up didn’t just determine which time he traveled to. It also
determined the exact place.
Thus, Add appearing right here should have been Eun’s doing.
“Umm, Add…..”
Just when Add who had fallen into this helpless situation was trying to protest to Ara, more
accurately to Eun……. He heard a chilling voice
“I’ll hear your excuse later.”
Pew! Add instantly sensed danger and quickly tried to move his Dynamos. But the pain came first.
“Kugh!”
Add let out a short scream as his body started to fly backwards. Add finally realized what time this
was.
It was the day when they defeated Banthus who was commanding Nasod Miners. Second day since
the El Search Party was formed. The day when Add encountered Eun for the first time.
That was far as Add could think as he absentmindedly flew across after being hit by an arrow.
Splash!!
9
“Add numbly let out a groan because of all the bright skin
in front of his eyes.”
10
Add could see the night sky when he opened his eyes. His chest hurt as if it was about to shatter.
“….Owww.”
“Are you awake?”
A soft voice was heard amidst the sound of burning campfire. Add was hesitant to move his body so
he just moved his eyes to look beside him.
Rena sat modestly across the campfire between them. Of course, she was wearing clothes.
“…..”
Add immediately tried to get up as he recalled the shocking scene before he pa.s.sed out but was
forced to grab on to his chest. His chest hurt whenever he moved.
“Ah, sorry. Did I overdo it?”
“……This is nothing.”
Add sat up and looked around while he rubbed his chest. There were only two of them in the
vicinity. There was a campfire in front of him but this wasn’t their campsite.
“I thought we should talk separately.”
Rena noticed Add looking confused and explained. She must have separated Add from rest of the
group while he was unconscious.
Well of course, you couldn’t keep the molester and his victims in one spot.
Add was dumbfounded after logically understanding his current situation. He came here because
Eun had told him to……and suddenly got accused of being a molester.
Never mind saving Eve, he was about to get kicked out of the El Search Party.
“W, Wait, this isn’t what it looks like!”
“Hmm? What is?”
“That’s……”
Add was about to explain his situation but saw Rena’s face lit by the campfire’s light and couldn’t
continue his words. She looked very beautiful with side of her face reddened by the fire…but that
wasn’t important right now…. Add wasn’t able to explain his case.
I unwillingly became a molester because I was time traveling. I’m sorry! ……Who’d believe such an
explanation?
11
Rena waited quietly for Add who was hesitating to speak. Add bit his lower lip seeing Rena wait for
him like this. Rena granting Add a chance to explain himself was already huge gesture of generosity
on her part.
Since the El Search Party was…. group that had just formed yesterday.
Tracking and catching Banthus together, accepting Elder Citizens’ request and attacking Wally’s
Castle together were all events that didn’t exist anymore.
They might as well be complete strangers.
And Add really didn’t like this fact. Add lowered his head and apologized with a vexed voice.
“…..It wasn’t on purpose but I’ll apologize.”
“Mmhmm, why did you do it?”
Rena didn’t threaten or shout about how he should give her a proper explanation. Well, to separate
him and ask calmly like this…..this was the normal response for Rena Add had known.
But Add wasn’t in a great mood at the moment so his tone became rough.
“I said I apologize.”
“Add, I asked you why.”
Rena’s voice was extremely soft. She was also a victim yet her tone sounded like she didn’t mind that
fact at all.
Add had already known he wasn’t in any position to speak so roughly. He couldn’t continue to act
angry when Rena tried to coax him with a smooth tone like this.
“It’s difficult to explain.”
“Then could you explain more easily?”
“I told you it was difficult to explain. Why are you being so persistent?”
Add knew he wasn’t in any position to get angry but still couldn’t stop his rage from building up.
Add’s tone became rough again.
“Shouldn’t you just kick out someone who committed a grave crime like this? Others should be
angry at me as well.”
12
“No one said such things.”
Rena still replied calmly. Add didn’t like her optimistic att.i.tude so he stood up while grinding his
teeth.
“Kukuk, then it should be over if I just leave now.”
All he had to do was beat Ara, no Eun up into pulp and hear her reasons. Then he can time travel
again. He had no reason to waste his time with this useless conversation.
Add collected his Dynamos and was about to turn around when he heard an unexpected reply.
“Hmm, you can’t do that.”
“What?”
“I won’t allow you to quit like this.”
Rena shook her head resolutely.
Wasn’t it normal to kick out someone who did something indecent to his fellow party members?
Could it be that not only Nasods but humans also became immoral as the time pa.s.sed?
At a loss for words, Add stared at Rena but her decision did not change.
“If Add really wanted to do such things he would have done his best not to get caught.”
“……”
Well she was probably right? Nasods bathing? It was rather interesting research subject when you
thought about it.
“But only with that belief….”
“If you really don’t want to tell me why, then try talking to Eve and Ara as well. And tell me if you
still want to quit the El Search Party after that.”
Rena drew the line clearly with a tone that said she didn’t want to hear any excuses. She plainly
stared at Add….. Add felt uncomfortable even though she wasn’t glaring at him.
Her words contained a resolve that she won’t allow him to decline.
“Let’s have this talk again if you still want to quit after talking to the two of them.”
“….Kukuk, and if I refuse?”
Will she try to suppress him by force? Add had half expected her to do so but asked out of curiosity
anyways. Rena made a beaming smile.
13
“If you’re curious about what happens to guys that doesn’t reflect on their actions after peeping at a
girl’s body……you can take a seat right here.”
Add felt a chill when Rena patted the spot in front of her with a smile. He got a feeling that
something really terrifying was going happen to him if he refused.
“Kukukuk, I’ll at least say some parting words to them.”
He had to beat Eun up anyways. There was no particular reason for him to refuse when she was
giving him the chance to talk to her.
……………It honestly wasn’t because he was scared of Rena.
Rena told Add to sit here and wait while she went to get the others. Being left alone, Add scratched
his head as he listened to the sound of the burning campfire.
“Why did it end up like this…?”
Let’s put aside Eun sending him back without any information. Why did she have to drop him in
middle of girls bathing? He’ll have to ask if this was an accident or on purpose.
“She ended up making things more annoying for me.”
The party had only met yesterday so it should be normal for him to never see the other party
members again considering he had caused an incident this large. Add admitted this even though he
was the perpetrator that had caused the incident.
He could somehow have gotten away by saying some lines if this situation had happened in 1 on 1
scenario……
But not even Rena, the party’s leader should be able to easily defend Add when he caused the
incident so publically like this.
In the end, Rena had to prioritize the well being of the El Search Party members as a whole. If Add
was in Rena’s position, never mind giving the perpetrator a chance to explain himself, he would have
chased the perpetrator off immediately.
“Kukuk, she’s seriously too soft-hearted…..”
Add sighed as he put two of his hands behind his head. He ended up having to do these
disconcerting conversations when all he had to do was to time travel once more again.
Night sky came into Add’s view as he muttered and lied down. Despite how the age had changed,
fact that the stars looked so beautiful when viewed while lying down like this had not changed.
14
“Beautiful…..”
“I didn’t come here to listen to you say such words.”
Add hadn’t sensed any presence approach in prior so he winced after suddenly hearing those words.
He had forgotten to put the Dynamos into scouting mode and hadn’t realized that someone had
come.
Eve stood expressionlessly across the campfire. She was alone.
“Did you come alone?”
Eve didn’t answer as she slowly approached the campfire. Add stared at Eve hesitantly and just
raised his upper body from his spot.
Add didn’t know what kind of words he had to start off with. He was told to apologize but his
mouth moved differently.
“So what business do you have with me?”
“I don’t particularly have any business with you.”
Eve spoke stiffly as if it was obvious. Her tone was like she was only here because Rena had
requested her to.
But listening to her say this slightly agitated Add. Just who did she think he was suffering through all
of this for?
“You…..”
Eve stared at him quietly when he opened his mouth by impulse. Add couldn’t continue his words
when he saw her pretty golden eyes shining from the campfire’s light.
Speaking like this to Eve that didn’t know anything would be nothing more than just Add whining.
After realizing this, Add finally got some grasp on what to say.
“I’m sorry. The end.”
“……You call that an apology?”
Eve became dumbfounded at Add’s flat words and asked back. But Add had already given up trying
to speak to her seriously.
“It wasn’t on purpose but you wouldn’t believe me anyways right? So think whatever you want. I am
really sorry. You got your apology right? Now just go play with Elsword or something.”
“Why do you mention Elsword here?”
15
Eve frowned slightly after listening to Add’s openly cynical remarks. It was a significant reaction
from Eve who rarely changed her expression.
Seeing such reaction from Eve, Add from before would have been burning with his l.u.s.t for research
by now. But Add just wanted to get this conversation over with right now.
“Well, isn’t Elsword the one that’s most important to you?”
“…..”
He had said it unintentionally……but it felt disgusting now that he had said it.
Consumed by strange feelings that he could not explain, Add lay down turning his back on Eve as
he closed his eyes.
“I’m done now.”
This event will become nonexistent too when he time travels again anyways. There was no point in
him apologizing properly.
But despite Add’s empty apology, no movement of Eve standing up could be sensed. Add had his
back turned towards Eve now and was filled with both emotions of wanting to turn around to look
and wanting Eve to leave already.
An uncomfortable silence even though they were together like he wanted.
“I….for you.”
Add opened his mouth again while still having his backed turned towards Eve. Even though this talk
will become nonexistent too but…..
“Mr.Add! You’re so harsh!”
Angry voice rang out from above just when Add was about to speak. Surprised, Add looked up to
see that Ara was sitting high up on a tree branch staring at him imposingly.
She looked very angry.
“You should apologize to Ms.Eve properly! That is not the att.i.tude of someone who’s apologizing!”
“Rena told us to talk separately. Why did you follow me Ara Haan?”
Eve seemed surprised too by Ara’s sudden appearance. Ara revealed her intentions ever so proudly.
“If Mr.Add was really a molester then it would be dangerous to send Ms.Eve by herself! So I was
listening in secret!”
16
This was the first time Add had seen someone confessing that they had been listening in secret so
proudly. As Eve and Add became numb and was continuing to stare up in unison, Ara immediately
jumped off from the tree and landed lightly on the ground.
“Now, Mr.Add, apologize properly to Ms.Eve!”
“Hey, wait.”
Add was at a loss for words and frowned as he glared at Ara. Eun was the one that had caused this
mess. Didn’t she explain anything to Ara?
But it seemed Ara had misunderstood Add’s reaction and nodded.
“Ah, if it is too difficult to apologize by yourself I’ll also apologize with you. Mr.Add should be able
to apologize more easily that way right?”
It seemed Ara was serious. She put down her spear on the ground and sat modestly beside Add. Still
at a loss for words, Add was about to tell Ara off but winced.
Ara was giving him a very serious look.
“Mr.Add, no matter what your circ.u.mstances are, you have to apologize properly right now. My
elder brother told me that guy’s excuses have absolutely no weight to them.”
Add gave up resisting after seeing Ara who was emitting a strange pressure towards him. Nothing
good will happen here if he continued to resist.
Let’s just go along with what she says for now. That way he can talk with Eun sooner and time
travel again.
“I’m sorry, Eve.”
“You have to say in detail what you did wrong and what you’re sorry about. Mr.Add.”
“About, what I did earlier today…..”
“Your voice is small. Ms.Eve won’t be able to hear you like that.”
Add became flabbergasted and glared at Ara who kept lecturing him from the side. But Ara looked
at Add resolutely without any sign of shame.
“Anyone can make errors and mistakes. What’s more important is to apologize and reflect. If
Mr.Add is a true martial artist then you must honestly accept your mistake!”
“I’m not a martial artist…..”
“Ms.Eve, could you wait for a moment? It looks like discussing this matter with Mr.Add might take
a while.”
17
Ara carefully asked for Eve’s consent while ignoring Add’s mutter. It looked like Ara wasn’t too
comfortable with talking to Eve.
Eve was silently staring at the two’s ridiculous show and nodded slightly. Ara seemed to ease her
mind after seeing Eve’s reaction and started to lecture Add again.
“Now, Mr.Add. Follow after me. I’m sorry for rudely peeping on you in my moment of carelessness!
I will never do something like this again so please forgive me. Even though you can’t believe me
right now, I’ll redeem myself with my actions in the future.”
“…….”
She wants him to say that? It was so absurd but Ara made a face telling Add that he must say those
lines.
“Ah, could it be that you couldn’t memorize it because it was too long? Then let me tell you again.”
It looked like she wouldn’t back off unless Add complied.
Add couldn’t say those words as they were no matter what. So Add squabbled with Ara for quite a
while before he managed to somewhat properly apologize to Eve.
Eve who had watched the two of them silently accepted Add’s apology with a short answer.
“Understood, I hope this problem doesn’t occur in the future.”
“……”
Add was now tired because of Ara’s persistence and could only reply with a head gesture. Eve stood
up from her spot and stared at Add directly.
“Do you have anything more to say?”
“What else do you want?”
Could it be that his apology right now wasn’t enough? But that didn’t seem to be the case as Eve
sent him a bizarre gaze then turned around.
“You can speak to me later if you have something else to tell me. Since it looks like you have your
circ.u.mstances as well.”
Eve left after leaving behind one more word.
“Then please apologize properly to Ara Haan as well.”
“……”
18
Add sighed as Eve’s footsteps got further. Apologize again? Add made a tired expression and stared
at Ara who was sitting beside him.
“I’m glad Ms.Eve was able to accept your apology.”
“So I just have to apologize to you now…..?”
Ara’s face suddenly turned deep red.
“Y, You don’t have to speak about that.”
“You’re the one that kept bugging me to apologize…..”
Wasn’t she the one that nagged him so much about how he should say everything he did wrong in
every last detail? But it seemed Ara’s face flushing right now wasn’t because of the campfire.
“T, That’s different from this.”
“…..”
Add didn’t know how it was different…. But then there shouldn’t be any reason to talk about this
anymore right? It was good if he didn’t have to apologize anymore.
Finally able to get a breather, Add angrily glared at Ara. Seeing Add’s furious gaze, Ara cowered and
nervously stared at Add.
She was completely different from how she was scolding him earlier.
“W, Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just call Eun out.”
Add had business with Eun, not Ara. He was going to grab Eun by the collar and shake her until she
spat out why she made him suffer through all this.
What if it was a simple mistake? Then he’ll educate her so that she never makes this kind of mistake
again.
“How does Mr.Add know about Lord Eun?”
“….”
Ara blinked her eyes in surprise. Oh, was this before Ara revealed about Eun in this timeline?
It was annoying to explain so Add waved his hand.
“You can listen to why later, just bring Eun out. Tell her I have something to say to her.”
“She’s saying she’s tired.”
19
“…..”
That sly thing is seriously making him angry. Ara got scared and cowered after seeing Add’s gaze
turn even more intimidating.
“Uuuu, don’t stare at me so scary like that, Mr.Add.”
“Tell her to get out here right this instant. If she doesn’t…..”
Add brought his Dynamos close to him so he could use them if he needed to. But he couldn’t
decide on his next course of action. Ara got scared and nervously looked at Add who was steaming
with anger.
What should he do if Eun stubbornly refuses to come out? Did he have to torture Ara?
“…..”
No, he couldn’t stay in the El Search Party anymore if he did something like that. And help of Eun
who could determine the Time s.p.a.ce Coordinates was a must to time travel properly.
Torturing Ara wouldn’t gain him anything. He would lose more instead.
“Tch, just why do I….”
“If you have something you want to tell Lord Eun I’ll relay it for you instead.”
Ara carefully spoke out. But she immediately shrunk and looked towards the ground after seeing
Add shoot back an enraged gaze.
There was no sign of Ara who was sternly scolding Add earlier about apologizing to Eve anymore.
Well, this was more like the Ara Add had known.
“There’s no use talking to you. Can’t you pull out that wily beast by force somehow?”
“Lord Eun isn’t a wily beast! She’s a Celestial Spirit!!”
No, that wasn’t the issue right now. But it seemed it was an important issue for Ara as she was now
staring at him seriously.
“Celestial Spirit or wily beast or whatever….if you don’t pull her out right now…..”
“Treating me like some object you pull out from a pocket. That’s so harsh, boy.”
Ara’s tone seemed to change and her hair suddenly got dyed white. Her hairpin was pulled out even
before Add could realize it and her eyes were now dyed in red.
And those pointy fox ears on top of her head. They were the final evidence that told Add exactly
who he was speaking to.
20
“I know you’re impatient but wasn’t that discourteous? Treat me more preciously, boy.”
“I don’t think you’re in any position to run your mouth like that.”
Add grinded his teeth as he surrounded Ara, no, Eun with his Dynamos. He could rip her apart if he
increased the output. But Eun didn’t seem to care and touched the Dynamos with a curious
expression.
White fingers played around rhythmically on top of the Dynamos.
“Just what are you thinking doing something like this? I time traveled because you told me to and I
end up like this?”
“I showed you something good. Shouldn’t you be thanking me, boy?”
So dropping him in middle of girls bathing wasn’t an accident. It was on purpose. Add was so
dumbfounded that he couldn’t even get angry.
“What? Did boy like bare male bodies better? Alright, I’ll make such arrangements next time.”
“I’m not trying to say worthless things like that.”
“Which would you like better? Male around your age or older?”
Add just shut his mouth when Eun started to act insidiously. He knew that she was making fun of
him…..but.
“Why did you do this? Why did you send me to this time specifically? What kind of clue am I
supposed to find here?”
Eun probably didn’t plot this just to tease Add. Eun, from the beginning, was expressing her desire
to cooperate with him.
Although she didn’t give any proper information and was very suspicious, she had never failed in
regards to time travel. At least this much was trustworthy.
When Add asked seriously, Eun stopped fooling around and made a captivating smile.
“Because what boy does from now on is important for accomplishing what he desires. That’s why I
especially chose this time.”
“Then what should I do now?”
Add had originally intended to time travel and erase the fact that he had seen on the girls bathing…..
But it looked like there was no reason to do so now since the situation has somewhat been resolved.
There shouldn’t be any problem with continuing like this.
21
“You always can ask me if you want to peep on them bathing again.”
“I don’t need such thing. We’re talking about Eve right now.”
“It seems boy hasn’t felt anything from this incident.”
Feel? What? Add stared at her questioningly but Eun didn’t answer right away and just made a
strange expression.
Feeling that flashed by her face for an instant was….disappointment.
This startled Add but he still responded sarcastically.
“What? Was I supposed to write a written report about that?”
“Of course if boy did such things I’d play along as well……..”
Just what was Eun aiming for? Add was about to ask but Eun abruptly changed the subject.
“The key to resolving this situation is approaching right now.”
“What?”
Surprised, Add looked around and heard footsteps approaching. It didn’t sound like footstep’s
owner wanted to hide their approach.
Add instinctively brought his Dynamos near him. A key that can help him protect Eve? Add didn’t
know who it was but he might have to suppress the person by force.
Should he just ambush the person right now?
While Add pondered while in battle position, the owner of the footsteps revealed himself.
“You still haven’t finished talking?”
“……”
Add blinked his eyes vacantly after seeing the person. This guy that Add felt like he had seen
somewhere before spoke to him with a voice that he felt like he had heard somewhere before.
“You, who are you?”
“Didn’t I introduce myself yesterday? I’m Elsword.”
Red haired boy revealed his name without any hesitation. Add unconsciously let out a sigh. He
couldn’t believe this no matter how much he stared at the boy. But since he didn’t disappear, Add
had to admit he was real.
“….Why did he get bigger?”
22
A boy 2 years older than the Elsword Add knew was staring at Add questioningly.
Chill went down Add’s spine and dry sweat started to drop down from him. Frightened, Add
blankly stared at Elsword.
“They told me to clean this place up since we have to prepare to sleep now. Want me to help?”
“…..”
“Big brother Add?”
When Elsword called his name bluntly, Add finally came to his senses and shook his head widely.
Elsword’s appearance didn’t change no matter how much Add closed and opened his eyes.
There was still some of the earlier childishness on the boy’s face. But he had become taller and more
mature. Well, he aged by two years from Elsword he knew. So that should be obvious… probably.
Confirmation comes first. Add approached Elsword abruptly and thoughtlessly reached out his hand.
“Big brother Add?”
“Stand still.”
After shutting Elsword up in a low voice, Add tried flipping Elsword’s eyelid. He then confirmed
the feelings of his ears and face….. The target wasn’t a ghost or an illusion.
“Next is….”
Just what made this possible? Add spoke seriously after feeling various places on Elsword’s body.
“I’ll have to examine more. Take off your clothes.”
“…..Umm, did you eat something wrong?”
“I’m not joking right now. Take them off.”
Add had to do some confirmation a.n.a.lysis in order to check if this person in front of him was really
Elsword. This would be a much easier process if he had kept Elsword’s blood sample. But since
Add didn’t, he had to resort to more primitive method.
Add grabbed Elsword’s clothes. Elsword blinked confusingly with a startled expression. Explaining
things to Elsword would be a waste of time. He wouldn’t understand anyways.
“If you won’t take them off, then I’ll take them off for you. Cooperate quietly.”
Just when Add was about to take Elsword’s top off…. A sudden shock fell down on Add’s head.
23
Bam! Bam!
Not just one but two strikes in a row. These strikes were so powerful that tear almost came out from
Add’s eyes. Add grabbed his head with both of his hands and dropped down. It hurt so much that
he couldn’t even scream.
“Big brother Add, are you okay?”
“Don’t worry. Boy was just confused and was doing something nonsensical. I would like you to
forget about this Elsword.”
Eun who had just hit Add’s head with handle of her spear explained to Elsword leisurely.
“Big sister Ara? Why did your hair color change?”
He’s so quick to ask. Add thought internally while still with busy rubbing his aching head.
It seemed Eun hadn’t revealed her ident.i.ty yet to the rest of the El Search Party members…. Just
how was she going to resolve this?
“My hair turns like this if I become very angry.”
“Ah, so Big brother Add made you angry.”
You actually believe that? Add still couldn’t speak but was taken aback. But Eun neatly finished up
the conversation.
“Then I’ll return with the boy after he comes back to his senses. Go back first and tell the others
that.”
“Alright, I will. Don’t cause any more trouble Big brother Add.”
Elsword spoke calmly then turned around. Add groaned in pain as he brought himself up after
seeing Elsword’s back move further away.
“Just what was that…..?”
“You tried to take another man’s clothes off but now your prey is escaping.”
“Stop with the nonsense. Just what the heck happened?”
“Well I guess he isn’t a complete stranger. To be like that with Elsword who you’ve only met
yesterday. You’re rather quick.”
Eun didn’t seem like she was going to answer him properly. Add rubbed his aching head as he
organized the situation. Elsword’s sudden growth and how Elsword was acting as if nothing was
wrong.
24
“Could it be…..?”
There was only one thing that came into Add’s mind. Add hoped his guess was wrong and asked
Eun for confirmation.
“Did Elsword change like that because I time traveled?”
“He did not change, he grew.”
That’s the same thing no matter how you put it.
A chill went down Add’s spine and he couldn’t speak. There were couple of times where
insignificant events from the past had changed whenever Add time traveled to prevent Eve from
being destroyed.
But for Elsword to age so suddenly like this… This wasn’t something that could be just glossed over.
“Me time traveling and Elsword’s growth doesn’t have any logical correlation. How is this possible?”
“Time isn’t something that logical in the first place. Does the world ever always move as one wants?”
Eun wagged her fingers as she smiled.
“Because Elsword had grown up so much in both body and skill, the business from earlier today
was taken care of quickly. Banthus couldn’t even exchange one blow with Elsword and ran away.
We were also able to destroy the Nasod army that appeared after much easily. So naturally, time to
clean up came much faster and time for bathing also became faster.”
“…..”
“Didn’t everything turn out well?”
Contrary to Eun’s words, her smile was very cold and cynical. Finally realizing what was going on,
Add tried to put the pieces together.
Everyone including Elsword was treating Elsword’s growth as if it was something obvious. As if
Elsword was like this from the start.
A large change happened to the past because Add time traveled.
“…..Did you make me time travel for this purpose?”
“I won’t say that I had no such reasons”
After confirming his guess was right, Add recalled the image of Elsword he had just seen now. His
body had gotten larger and he seemed more mature than before. He was definitely different from
the time when he was a brat. He now looked like he could handle one person’s weight.
25
“I’ll admit that Elsword became stronger than before. But what meaning does that have? Even if he
grew, he’s still weaker than me.”
You could tell with a single glance that Elsword had become stronger than before. But he was
probably still weaker than Add. Maybe stronger or equal to Add who had just joined the El Search
Party….
But Elsword was no match for Add who had now become stronger from his time travels.
And even the now stronger Add was not confident he could fend off the demons that were after
Eve.
“I’m not saying I’ll leave everything to Elsword. No matter how he has grown, it would be too much
for him to handle all the demons by himself.”
Then why did you make me come back to this time? Eun made a beaming smile at Add’s
questioning gaze.
The girl made a seductive smile. She looked extremely beautiful with the darkness behind her back.
But she was letting off a very ominous atmosphere which surpa.s.sed her beauty.
“I’ll explain the method starting now so listen well. It sounds simple but it’s actually very difficult to
accomplish.”
Finally, the main topic. Add tensed up as he focused on Eun’s next words.
He had to suffer through this timeline even getting accused of being a molester. But he’ll break
through any hardships to come with his teeth clenched tightly and finally save Eve this tim…..
“Become a woman, boy.”
That’s physically impossible.
“You might as well become an elegant woman.”
Eun made an excited smile towards Add who stood frozen on the spot.