Chapter 65 - The Amazing Switch

How could Michelle just die like that?

Future Nicola's words should not be wrong if no observers appeared. Could she have remembered wrongly? But that's unlikely...

Of course, there's another possibility - the future has changed. But that raises more questions and doubts about future Nicola's credibility. After all, she implied that everything that happened during that time travel was predetermined and unchangeable without observers.

Suddenly I thought of many things, but Elara looked puzzled by my reaction. 

"Don't you think it's good that the Flame God is dead? It's safer for you and Nicola that way."

"nothing." 

I quickly explained, afraid she might misunderstand.

"I just...just find it hard to believe Michelle could be killed so easily. After all, she's the Flame God in the demons' eyes. Even if injured, she shouldn't be so defenseless right?"

"Oh? Is that so? What if Michelle's injuries were much more severe than we thought?"

Elara picked up the report again and asked the messenger angel. She wanted to see if there were any inconsistencies.

"Did you investigate the scene? Were there any bodies left?"

"Yes, that's why I rushed back to report... According to later investigations, the target was mutilated beyond recognition due to the attacks. But after research, all agree the body doesn't match an angel's identity and absolutely cannot be an angel..."

"Then what was it?"

I didn't understand. Although Michelle's exact identity was a mystery, I did sense light elements from her before. But that completely disappeared after she unfolded her twelve wings, so it was a stretch to call her an angel.

"It...it seems to be human!"

The messenger angel sounded hesitant, but the next bit of information shocked me even more.

"And a membership card from the Adventurers' Guild with the name Blanche was found among the remains."

"What???!!! How is that possible? How could it be her?"

I was completely stunned. I didn't expect this name to appear. Shouldn't it have been Michelle who was beheaded? How did it become Blanche instead?

"You know this Blanche?"

Elara saw my reaction and curiously asked.

"Yes, she's a 5th-tier human martial fighter. She was with us humans when we were trapped in the Dark Continent. To escape smoothly, she betrayed and sold out her companions, but went the wrong way..."

I had no reason to hide this past event, so I recounted it in full.

"After returning to the Astral Realm Kingdom, I'd forgotten about her, thinking she was still stuck in the Dark Continent. I never imagined she would show up now."

"From your words, could this Blanche have cooperated with the demons since she couldn't return?" 

Elara pondered.

"But even cooperating with the demons doesn't explain why she would coincidentally appear where Michelle disappeared right?"

I couldn't figure it out. After waiting so many days without a sign of Michelle, an unrelated outsider showed up instead. What exactly happened?

For the angel legions and us, it seemed like half a month had passed. But for Michelle, the time she experienced should have been instantaneous. There was no chance for her to do anything.

Although I haven't personally experienced time travel, this much should make sense. 

It can't be like Doraemon's portrayal of time travel, where you still travel through a time tunnel to the future right? That's too farfetched...

But there is another possibility - that everyone guessed wrong. Future Nicola didn't send Michelle to the future, but to the past instead?

But that possibility should be low right? Because everyone knows what sending an enemy to the past implies - the risks are too great...

"That's true too... With the joint forces surrounding the scene, even if Blanche was highly skilled, it'd be impossible to come and go unseen, much less show up injured..." 

Elara shook her head, unable to answer my questions. But she suddenly thought of something and asked:

"Could the body's owner be the Michelle you met before? The ID card just happened to fall into her hands. Otherwise, what a coincidence that would be?"

"That's possible too..." 

This was also a reasonable explanation. After all, it was a stretch to confirm the identity based solely on an Adventurers' Guild membership card.

"What's the current situation with the joint forces? Are they still stationed there?"

Seeing I agreed with this view, Elara turned to ask the six-winged messenger angel.

"The Astral Realm Kingdom forces believe they killed the wrong target, so plan to continue monitoring the area for some time. But the Second Legion's leader Josie and Fourth Legion's leader Jeanette insist the right target, Michelle, was killed! So they should withdraw their forces in the next couple of days. Serena of the First Legion expressed no opinion..."

"I see."

After hearing the report, Elara rubbed her forehead in frustration and said to me:

"You should head back first. I'll handle this matter."

"Alright."

I nodded although I still had many concerns. But staying would be useless. I could only leave it to the expert.

Today, Cyra unusually flew off right after class without a word. 

"Hey! Why are you rushing off?"

I called out to her.

"I heard Reed's hydrogen bomb is complete. Of course, I have to go see it. Aren't you coming?"

She turned and asked me midair.

"Sure!"

I quickly agreed, just remembering Nicola mentioned it yesterday when she returned. Cyra was also present then.

"Even if it's done, they can't detonate it immediately, right? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"A nuclear bomb! Aren't you excited? We've never seen one for real on Earth." 

Cyra said matter-of-factly, looking like she could hardly wait. In a flash, she sped off into the distance.

"At least wait for me!"

I didn't know the location of Reed's new lab like she did. I could only hurry after her.

I only knew Reed's new lab had moved north of the city. But most of Edenmere outside the city was forest, so even knowing the general direction wouldn't help. 

But with Cyra leading the way up front, things became much easier. After flying for about ten minutes, we finally landed at the foot of a mountain.

"There's a cave here?" 

I was quite surprised. It wasn't visible from the sky, only noticeable on the ground.

"Reed's new assistant suggested the location. Otherwise, how could just the two of them find such a good spot?"

Cyra explained.

Indeed, the cave was surprisingly spacious inside, more than enough for a simple lab.

"You're here?"

Before we even entered, Nicola came out to greet us.

"You're early!"

"Of course, we rushed over right after class. How could we not be fast?" 

Cyra dashed excitedly into the cave, shouting loudly.

"Reed! We're here to see the hydrogen bomb! Show it to me quickly!"

"What's there to see? Didn't you see it already?"

Reed's familiar, indifferent voice came from within. As I entered, I saw the interior was more "luxurious" than I imagined.

First I noticed piles of books on the ground. Reed must have brought her collection from the library. There was also furniture like chairs and desks inside. But the one sitting wasn't Reed, but an unfamiliar eight-winged angel.

"Who's she?"

I was surprised. I thought only our transmigrated group would come here. I didn't expect an uninvited guest.

"Remember Elara said she would send an assistant to exchange magic array knowledge?" 

Nicola reminded me from behind.

"That's Mia. She's the one who helped find this place too."

"You're Feliciana right?"

Mia noticed our arrival and recognized me immediately.

"I heard you were quite active in the recent tournament."

Looks like news of my tournament results spread quickly, even to a place like this.

"It wasn't much! I only got second place for magic..."

I gave my usual modest response I'd delivered countless times the past few days.

"Mia, help return these books to the library. And borrow the ones on this list for me."

Reed's voice suddenly came from behind the piles. A slender hand reached out holding a note.

"Got it."

Mia was about to say more to me but had to quickly agree at Reed's request. She took the note and books and headed out.