Shout out for Monthly Tickets! …… When Sakuya walked in, she happened to see Chōrin’s utterly listless expression, and instinctively asked, “Your plan succeeded, so why does your face look so terrible? Come to think of it, I thought you would have left by now.” Because of your actions, I can’t leave for the time being.

Hearing Sakuya’s words, Chōrin wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, whether to thank her or blame her. It must be said that Sakuya was indispensable to the success of this plan. If she hadn't been holding the line beneath the World Tree, with the combat strength of their group, the magic circle would have certainly been destroyed—no, absolutely destroyed.

It would have been impossible to defeat Mahora’s main force with only mechanical soldiers. However, if Sakuya hadn't casually used her time abilities, the World Tree's magical energy would have been completely drained in an instant, preventing her from returning to the future. Though it was only temporary, this "temporary" spanned twenty-two years!

“Huh? Is it my fault?” Sakuya was stunned after hearing Chōrin’s complaints. She never expected that just a few minutes of fighting would cause such severe consequences.

Moreover, she had always controlled her time abilities with perfect precision; such a situation had never occurred before. Why did it affect the World Tree this time? “It’s probably because the World Tree’s magical energy resonated with your abilities,” Hazase analyzed while continuing to investigate the existing data.

“The World Tree itself possesses immense magical energy, capable of realizing certain human wishes. If it were merely raw power, this phenomenon wouldn't occur, but the World Tree actually did it. We can deduce that under the influence of human thoughts, it has developed something akin to self-awareness, and coincidentally, Teacher Izayoi is a time-ability user…” “Are you saying that because of my thoughts, I accelerated the World Tree’s passage of time?

Hmm…” Sakuya asked, then pondered slightly. If that were the case, it wasn't entirely illogical. Although she had mastered complete control over her power, when using it, she still held mental concepts like accelerating or slowing down.

Such thoughts might have triggered the World Tree. But… if the World Tree is a tree that grants the wishes of the heart, then I should be the one affected, not the World Tree itself. Could it be… the other thing inside me?

Sakuya couldn’t help but recall the World Heart, whose mysteries she completely failed to comprehend. Setting everything else aside, when did her own heart become the World Heart? “I cannot pinpoint the exact cause, but it is almost certainly related to you,” Hazase stated definitively, adjusting her glasses.

“This is really troublesome. Are there any other ways to go back, Chōrin?” Sakuya frowned slightly and asked. She shared a certain similarity with Chōrin; both came from distant places and both wished to return.

Suddenly learning that return was impossible, she could somewhat understand the mood. Chōrin shook her head in disappointment. “No.

I’ve investigated many things over the past two years. Aside from the World Tree, nothing else can supply the Time Machine with the necessary magical energy. Not even Mokona’s power, which rivals that of a Thousand Spell Master, could manage it.” Hazase said, “Mokona’s magic is nearly limitless.

In terms of sheer intensity, even if it doesn’t surpass the World Tree, it shouldn’t be far behind. If it’s purely as a power source for the Time Machine…” Before she could finish, Chōrin managed a bitter smile. “Even if the intensity were the same, the quality is worlds apart.

The Time Machine’s power can only be drawn from the World Tree. Besides… even if Mokona’s magic could help me, do you think they would help me after what I’ve done? They probably wish they could beat me up right now, haha.” “Indeed.

In their eyes now, you are the undisputed great villain who has changed the world, Chōrin.” At that moment, a man’s voice suddenly filled the cabin. The three looked up reflexively and saw that an ebony-haired youth had appeared there at some unknown time, seemingly observing the surrounding equipment with curiosity. “Aren’t you the champion of the Martial Arts Tournament?” Chōrin tried to find levity in the situation and smiled.

“Teacher Lin Luo, do you also think I’m a great villain?” “No, I don’t think so. By the way, the equipment here is quite advanced. Future technology really is different,” Lin Luo said casually, then walked over with a smile.

“The definition of a villain hasn’t broadened enough to include someone who changes the world without committing murder.” “Teacher Lin Luo, you flatter me,” Chōrin was momentarily taken aback, then smiled. “I’m just stating facts.” Lin Luo spread his hands. In the current situation, Chōrin had certainly drawn a lot of animosity—from Mahora’s magic teachers, from some of the students, and from the magic world community who would find out later.

However, objectively speaking, whether what Chōrin did was right or wrong was truly something no one could judge. This world appeared outwardly peaceful and progressive, but that was not the reality. As the saying goes, wherever there are people, there is conflict, and this world is no exception.

It’s just that most of the darkness couldn't appear in the original narrative, but one could discern from small clues that this world was deeply… Including the magic world and the real world, there were tens of millions of mages. As for how many operated in the real world, one couldn't say for certain, but several hundred thousand was surely not an exaggeration. Most mages in this world were supposedly agents of justice—though this claim sounded rather fairytale-like, and even Lin Luo didn't entirely believe it—it was undeniable that at least over eighty percent of mages were doing good deeds.

But how extensive were these good deeds? They weren't things ordinary people could do, like helping someone cross the street or leading a lost child home. Most of what mages did involved mediating wars and conflicts.

Take Rūdō, for example. He traveled abroad three or four times a month. These trips weren't as a teacher, but as a mage, intervening in exactly those kinds of wars.

Just think about it: the same mage needing to travel out three or four times in a single month. While Rūdō’s high skill level was a factor, the fact that so many wars requiring only mages to intervene could erupt within a month spoke volumes about the state of this world. Chōrin revealing the truth about magic would undoubtedly cause enormous short-term upheaval, that much was certain.

But in the long run, this might not be a bad thing. With the existence of magic exposed to the light, this massive extra-secular force would be enough to deter those who fear nothing, preventing them from acting recklessly and openly. Simultaneously, the evil mages who were already pretending to be villains would have to restrain themselves.

Since ordinary people now knew about magic, if anything strange occurred, mages would be the first suspect. And the righteous mages, in order to maintain peace between the two factions, would certainly work harder than before to deal with the evil mages. As a result, under the scrutiny of the vast majority of righteous mages and neutral mages unwilling to be falsely accused, the evil mages’ room to maneuver would shrink drastically.

Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages. As justice flourishes, evil will certainly spread too, but the world is not a fairy tale; there are no absolute positives. Even if the future can never be worse than the present, at least if the current trend continues, it will soon reach the era where Chōrin existed.

Chōrin traveled through time from the future to the present to change that era of strife and conflict. What kind of world would compel a fourteen or fifteen-year-old middle school girl like Chōrin to possess numerous combat skills, a resolute fighting spirit, endless war equipment, and even risk a dangerous time-travel endeavor to alter history? Although she herself said the tragedy that occurred was possible in any era, not quite reaching the level of world destruction, judging by her actions and determination, it surely surpassed the scale of a World War.

To most people, Chōrin’s actions were those of a great villain. But viewed from another angle, connecting the future to the present, perhaps she is a savior. Whether in the original plot or this time, Rūdō never seriously resisted Chōrin’s actions, which already indicated a great deal.

It’s believed that few people have a more convincing assessment of this world than Rūdō. Precisely because he knew how much this world needed changing, yet didn't know if Chōrin's change was good or bad, he hesitated over whether to stop her actions. The reason Lin Luo does not stop Chōrin, besides Sakuya standing by her side, is also partly due to this very thought.

Conversely, if Chōrin were purely a villain aiming to destroy the world, given his own bottom line and the life he’s led recently, he would have intervened. “Speaking of which, it seems you’ve run into some trouble,” Lin Luo paused, continuing his thought. “Yes, the World Tree’s magic is depleted.

I’m afraid I can’t go back within these twenty-two years,” Chōrin knew it was impossible to hide this from Lin Luo, nor was there any need to, so she spoke the truth. Of course, mentioning this made her tone even more dejected. “That is indeed troublesome.” Lin Luo wasn't sure whether to comfort or encourage her; in short, he felt Chōrin was quite tragic.

“Oh, right, come to think of it, you should have a way to send Chōrin back to the future, shouldn’t you?” At this moment, Sakuya suddenly said to Lin Luo. “Eh?” Hearing her words, not only was Lin Luo stunned, but Chōrin’s face filled with doubt. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she lunged toward Lin Luo like lightning, staring intensely at him, “You are the one who can take Teacher Izayoi back to her homeland?!” Lin Luo was startled by her sudden movement and instinctively stepped back.

Seriously, could you please stop looking at me with such an aggressive and expectant gaze? It puts immense pressure on me!