Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 598 - 414: Silent Days (1)

Chapter 598: Chapter 414: Silent Days (1)

"Do you see that, Miriam? A true winner in life, seven times better than me," Logan eyed Malin, then turned to his lover with a sigh. The lover smiled brilliantly, looking utterly satisfied, a stark contrast that made Malin marvel—if it were the old Logan, with his glib tongue, this girl would have twisted his waist into mush long ago, unlike now, where they could share both refined and popular tastes and still win her smile.

"Speaking of which, Logan, just how many cousins do you have?" After shaking hands with Logan’s two cousins, Malin turned to his business partner, who wore a look of embarrassment: "Well, I’m not too clear on that myself."

Malin thought Logan’s family must have once borne the name Habsburg.

After greeting all the young people who had come to the ceremony, Malin also introduced Rewo to the curious, emphasizing her identity—a Mage, an Alchemist.

In front of such a status, being a Domestic Fairy was just a minor issue.

Malin brought Rewo over not only to give this young girl a status but to provide her with protection. Though everyone said it was a marriage of convenience, Malin always felt this girl, shorter even than his youthful self, needed extra care.

What Malin needed was not a marriage of convenience but a love where neither party let the other down,

At first, Rewo was timid around Malin, but gradually, Malin witnessed her transformation. Today, as he introduced her, the girl mustered her courage and bravely stood by his side.

That was the spirit a fifth-ring Mage should have. Regardless of circumstances, the pride of a strong person is always the most superficial, in the old histories Malin read, Domestic Fairies were a ’specialty’ of the United Kingdom—these fully biological artificial lives served humans. After the apocalypse, most perished on the peninsula, but some Domestic Fairies survived and now had a place in The Great Forest Land, still serving everyone.

Fate seemed never to favor Domestic Fairies; they could only work in exchange for their place in life, but they never gave up, perhaps due to their clumsy nature—they were the least likely to become deformed beings.

Some might think that Malin married her for her family’s business and her status as an Alchemist.

But Malin believes that more people would not think so.

Because it will only be a matter of time before the news of Malin’s ascension to the fifth echelon spreads through the entire human world, just like his triumph over the Black Orc tide with Sydney’s legion.

"Mr. Malin, you have an urgent letter," an estate manager from the Gallo family brought a letter, which Malin accepted and stamped in the recipient box, allowing the manager to go reply to the messenger.

Upon opening the letter, it was from Old Ferrero. It seemed he couldn’t find Malin and had to ask the Church to reach out to him.

A good idea indeed.

After reading the contents, Malin learned that the children’s problem had surfaced. Old Ferrero had called to inquire if Malin had any relevant information.

After some thought, Malin decided to write down everything he knew that evening before resting and then send it back to Old Ferrero.

He also planned to send a message to Dorothy, asking her to send over the names of the first two batches of children. Later, upon his return, he would work with the local Church to identify each child.

After putting away the letter and giving Rewo an assured smile, Malin noticed the expectant gaze of Mrs. Gallo.

"I’m about to go on stage; go back and find your sisters," he said as he sent Rewo back to the girls and straightened his robe collar.

As he stepped on stage, Malin noticed the intense gaze from behind him.

Turning around, he saw Nova’s smile.

Malin smiled happily in return.

He also noticed something Dorothy directly projected into his retina

.........

Colin stood in front of the infirmary door—inside, a young girl lay on the bed, sleeping peacefully while the boy holding her hand looked at the Benevolent Church’s medical officer: "Your Excellency, is there truly no way to save her?"

"I’m sorry, young man, her body is failing, and there’s nothing we can do," replied the medical officer from the Benevolent Church, helpless before the situation. Colin looked on painfully at the scene—these two youngsters were high-level Apprentices of the Goddess of Harvest Church, both orphans. The girl came from the North, while the boy was local.

Colin had watched them grow up; twelve years had passed, and both were of marriageable age. The Church was fully supportive as both were devout believers.

"Lord Ferrero, could surgery remove that object?" Colin asked softly as Ferrero approached, imagining that the bizarre item connected to the brain was to blame.

"It’s no use; Malin just replied. These children are Scouts sent out by a remnant of an old civilization, cultivated using genes recaptured from Tech Hunters in the Dark Zone. Their bodies were inherently flawed, so whatever that object is, it has no relation to their lives..." Ferrero sighed as he looked at the girl on the bed.

"Remnants... do they still exist? I thought they were just a legend," Colin, distressed by the sight of the sobbing boy, asked.

Such pitiful children, just beginning their lives and already reduced to this state.

"Malin had already eliminated them because of their actions and obtained the list of children," said Old Ferrero as he patted Colin on the shoulder. "He said he would arrange for a messenger to bring it back, and he will return in person at that time. Now, Colin, you go and rest."

"Alright, I’ll head back to the Church then." Colin scratched the back of his head, then stepped into the sickbed and comforted the youngster before deciding to leave.

Stepping out of the hospital, the summer afternoon in Carterburg was warm. Colin walked under the shade of trees along the sidewalk, and as he walked, he suddenly felt a twitch in the back of his head, a small problem that seemed to have developed in the last year or two.

After administering a Healing Spell to himself, Colin sighed when he felt no improvement—however, Colin wasn’t concerned about whether he might be one of those children, since the onset of the illness in those children had occurred between the ages of five and ten, whereas he almost remembered being around for twenty years now.

When his mentor had picked him up, he was still a very young child.

While comforting himself, Colin turned a corner and saw a person standing in the distance. Before he could make out their appearance, a severe headache made the young man kneel down unsteadily.

The pain in the back of his head made him lose control, and he reached out desperately to grab something, but ultimately Colin could only grasp the air as he fell toward the ground.

Then, a hand supported Colin.

"Indeed, we are both victims." It was a voice Colin knew all too well. Colin was helped to sit by a wall. He lifted his head to see a more mature version of himself.

"You... Are you another me from a different timeline?"

"Yes, another you from twelve years in the future."

The other Colin smiled and then turned to him: "You should know what disease you have by now."

"Impossible... I, I have been alive for... twenty years," Colin said, clutching the back of his head, struggling to complete his sentence through the pain. But no matter what, he couldn’t accept it.

"We are different from those children; we are made in the image of ancient people’s flesh and blood. But ancient people no longer fit in this world. The burden of spells, the surge of Spiritual Energy—everything is destroying our bodies. Even though I became a follower of Chaos, I could not reverse any of it..." The other Colin sat next to Colin, lighting a cigarette.

"...What about your Margaret and the kids."

"My world doesn’t have a Malin, so what do you think?" The other Colin answered with a smile to his own question.

He took a strong drag, and Colin watched as black blood flowed out of his nostrils: "What’s wrong with you?"

"My time has run out, Colin, in another timeline. After I die, take my head to the Lord of Justice, and he will arrange everything for you."

Having said that, the other Colin coughed twice. Hearing his own call, he turned his head to look at his counterpart holding his head.

"You are Chaos, why help me?"

"What’s wrong with me helping myself? The Thanan say, ’He who does not advance his own cause, will be obliterated by heaven and earth.’" The other Colin said with a smile, as a large amount of black blood gushed from his nose: "After becoming a Great Demon of Jianqi, I understood why we exist, and then I discovered that in this Multiverse of multiple timelines, there are always some unique versions of myself. They found happiness, just like you... I am envious... Half a year ago, I found my body crumbling, and in the end, I begged the Lord of Justice to let me meet with a happier version of myself... "

"So, did you see me?"

"Yes... You are truly enviable, you have Margaret and children. All of this is because of that kid named Malin... Why doesn’t my world have him..." As he said this, the other Colin began to vomit blood.

"Contact with the Nameless sped up my collapse, I knew what I faced, I would resurrect in Subspace... I don’t want to lose my last shred of humanity, another me, take my head to the Lord of Justice, help me, Purify me..."

"You say you’re a Jianqi’s follower, how can I believe..." Colin didn’t finish his sentence when he saw the other him slump his head completely.

"Colin, he is dead."

Hearing the voice in front of him, Colin lifted his head to see a warm human figure, a sacred light. The only one in this Multiverse that could still hold such a light was the Lord of Justice.

"Your Excellency... Is what he said true?"

"It’s true, you are just like him, replicas of those ancient people you speak of."

Hearing this answer, Colin remained silent, trembling as he took the cigarette case from the other him. The sacred light purified the Chaotic Energy that Colin had touched, and it also healed the mutations that had come from their contact.

"Why... am I this person."

Lighting the cigarette, Colin finally choked up.