My shirt is smeared with tears and snot. Gross. Well, I will let it slide this time because of how interesting this is.

She totally time-traveled, didn't she?

Once when she was an adult, probably my age or slightly older—that's why I saw an image of her as an adult. She is literally an adult stuck in a child's body.

And again, probably a time loop that started not long ago. How many times it repeated is unknown.

“When did the loop start?” I ask.

Iris isn't even surprised. “The loop always starts here, when the door closes and you appear. Always there to offer help.”

“How many loops?”

“About a hundred and fifty? I am not sure. You never asked before.”

Because this is the last time, there was no need to bother with useless questions before, but there is now.

“Any instruction I left? Warnings?”

“You said to use Jeff. That's it.”

Oh, this past me was very thorough. I could have passed a more detailed message using Iris as a medium for my intent, but any intent I would've put on her was destroyed by the same thing fracturing her sanity.

But still, Jeff. Man, I hate this plan, but if I said so, then nothing else worked.

The final plan. I have nothing else.

I hear the door unlocking and footsteps closing in. Iris still hugs me, but she loosens the grip a little. I can free myself from her grasp, but I don't.

So the queen, Kierra, and the guard all get a front seat to spectate on how Iris hugs me with swollen eyes.

Awkward.

“By the way, was it that bad from the first time?” I ask, getting up before they start flooding me with accusations.

“No,” Iris says, then shrinking from pain. Her focus is fractured, and she starts mumbling nonsense.

That girl barely has a day or two left.

I wonder what caused her to be like this. It's something incredible and terrifying, something that goes beyond my knowledge. Although I could probably understand in a few years, this situation is a rare learning experience for me. My to-do list is only getting longer.

...

A small peek won't hurt anyone, right?

My phantom covers the little princess, and I delve deep into her intent. The sheer insanity is dangerous, but I disregard that and continue deeper.

I see some flashing memories. Darkness exploding, destroying the world. A knight in full-body armor that I don't recognize cutting demons. The Immortal Dark Star, floating in the sky as if making a declaration to the world. Unfamiliar scenes and people, mountains of books and papers.

Joyous cheers of thousands of people. A grand celebration. I can feel Iris's happiness and relief. The memory is blurry from tears.

Then a world of darkness manifests, attempting to devour everything in its path. And in that black world, I spot a... a person?

They are coated in black from head to toe, wearing a weird black mask. Iris meets them in their gaze, terror struck.

Then, to my sheer surprise, I sense their intent focusing on me, and the vision darkens.

I leave as a ruckus is raised over the princess. I exit the palace quietly, as I was never there, going onto the streets of the capital.

(Ark,) Maxi, bless him, calls out to me, and I sense his concern, as well as fear.

(It's fine.)

(Just so you know, the deal is off if you put the crown on that head. And I won't be scanning her.)

(That's obvious.)

I did think he might be of help, but he won't be of help if he gets erased by that abomination.

(What in the world was that?) Maximillian asks.

(An eldritch humanoid monster?) I offer. (A vessel for the God of Destruction?)

Both are as plausible as they are not. Eldritch beings can't come to this realm, maybe the demon realm, but not here. It's a world protected by gods like the Goddess of Light, and phantom powers like my skill are rare because of how weak the connection to the phantom plane is.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

As for the God of Destruction, it could be, but I've been unable to confirm their existence. A being like that is far too detached from this world to interfere. Why have a vessel when taboo myths regard that being as the one that'll destroy the universe?

Using Phantom to navigate without my sight is bringing me old memories. I lost function in my left eye and got the right damaged, so I know how to deal with blindness. Still, eyes are special organs that are receptors of light. Once I recovered my vision, I used it a lot to get as much understanding of light magic as possible.

Just thinking about it fouls my mood.

I reach my destination, a dark alley in the slums of the city. After reaching a field that diverts intent, I know I am in the right place.

The field is only useful for hiding stuff, but it's a cool trick since I don't need to focus on it or be near it.

I pick up a case from a crack in the wall. It is made of a special material that blocks senses and even intent, so to sense it I have to amplify my senses to make the void more noticeable.

It's an item I looted from a shadow demon I killed in the past. A product fresh out of the demon realm.

Well, the item inside is the real treasure.

◇◇◇

“You are back already?” I ask Elizabeth, who appears next to me near the palace.

“I have a few questions. There is no trace of any attribute in the mana there; not like yours but like in nature. Also, they said little Iris collapsed after you visited her?”

“Not my fault. I took damage trying to learn what she has.”

“What damage?” She tries to spot any injury, a fluctuation in my mana, only to fail.

“Blindness. Is Scarlet capable of regrowing eyes?”

That makes her focus on my eyes.

My black color makes it harder to see where I am looking at, and Elizabeth can't seem to notice any difference.

“She can. I will call her later.”

“Bring Jeff as well.”

Once again, we enter the palace, this time from the front door. Elizabeth floats with magic, and I try to subtly boost my movements with my spirit's kinetic force rather than the body-strengthening effect.

In that sense, we are very similar. We both use every moment in daily life to practice, training whatever we can even while eating and resting. That's the reason Elizabeth abuses her teleportation and floating magic so much, besides the fact that she never keeps her reserves full.

“Can you please not move as if you are having a seizure?”

“Commander, I have got to briefly see how you fight, and in my personal opinion, it is utterly lacking. It's too focused on multiple weak opponents and fails to deal with an enemy of equal footing.” I change the subject, raising a topic I find more important. “Don't get me wrong; you are strong. It's just... not enough.”

“I know, but I've been working on it with mana infusion to create techniques like Mana Domain, and I believe I made some progress.”

“That guy didn't even use any strengthening against you. He was also ready to counter light magic.” I shake my head. “Your scope is too wide. Narrow it to five meters and fight from up close.”

The notion of a mage fighting in close quarters is normally considered nonsensical, but as expected, the Sage could see my point.

Elizabeth nods. She is clearly devising a new fighting style as she speaks, “I see.”

Well, if normal me were to fight, I doubt I could win, even without her using Mana Domain. No, there will be some difficulties, but I can pull a few tricks. Definitely. Maybe?

Again in the princess's chamber, I see the commander of the third order, High Priestess Gisela, crouching near the bedridden Iris and pouring her holy power onto her.

Gisela has S-rank healing abilities. She is inferior to Scarlet's blood magic and manipulation, but her curse-dispel ability is top-notch. But of course, the abominable thing the princess is experiencing is worse than any curse.

I can sense the destructive intent that transcends my understanding, completely sniffing out any trace of holy power. Her frantic panic is amusing.

“Your Highness, just what in the world is that?” She tries to hide her trembling voice. “I—I can't heal it. I have never seen such a monstrosity in my life.”

Obviously.

Iris lets out a scream.

“Fix her! You are the best healer in the kingdom; you have to fix her!” The king is also desperate.

Elizabeth floats near my ear and whispers, “What is that?”

“Something dangerous.”

If it's the same as destructive intent, I should be able to replicate that level someday, but it feels decades away, and only if I neglect everything else.

“And you can fix it?”

I shrug.

This is not something a human being should face. Ever. And if I am saying this, it means running away with your life on the line.

“It's fifty-fifty.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“This.”

I cough loudly, also forcing everyone's attention on me. “Move aside.”

Explanations are bothersome, so I simply use a commanding tone and hold the black box in my arm. Using a great deal of focus, I redirect the black smoke to the box.

Relief appears on Iris almost immediately, and her pallor diminishes slightly.

Confirming her stabilized breathing, I speak, “Seems like it's effective.”

There is a stinging feeling all over my body, as if my phantom took damage. Even redirecting it was a dangerous step.

Surprisingly, or maybe not, Gisela is the first to shower me with questions.

To summarize, “how” is her biggest interest.

“None of your business, unless you pay an appropriate price,” I answer.

“1 million gold!” She flaunts her wealth without hesitation, and the amount is tempting.

Filthy money grabber, gimme some too.

“Later,” I say, turning my attention to the princess. “If I may, I wish to start the treatment.”

“Can you heal my daughter?” Asked the king.

“Probably? I'm her best shot, so better let me try. Currently, she has hours to live, and trust me, that would not be nice.” Brutal and agonizing, but I refrain from saying it.

Well, even if she dies, Iris would just regress. Her body and mind would be fine, and her soul should hold up too. Of course, she wants to try conquering the thing killing her by waiting it out, but she will fall into a loop of death and insanity until her soul crumbles. It's far better for me to kill her before that happens.

My whole body itches. The phantom I am using to control that abomination is getting damaged by the second, so I have to produce more to compensate. Why the fuck did I get tangled with such trouble? It's something that can kill me if I make a mistake. I don't want to do this, but I know the benefits of succeeding would be worth it.

Actually, the benefits in the case of failing aren't small as well. Letting her die would also be advantageous to me.

...

Fine, I will try first because I don't like failing.

Okay, let's start using Phantom properly.

The moment Phantom activates, I sense the thing in my eyes that's blocking my vision. It's a terrifying thing, but if I raise my skill output tenfold or so, I should be able to somewhat touch it. A hundredfold, and I know I can successfully restore my vision.

But I wait, since I might get them damaged again, so I can't waste my efforts just yet.

I take Iris's hand and make her touch the black case, my Phantom making sure all the weird shit is dispersed.

The case cracks.

Black smoke and shadow emanate from the princess's body, threatening to destroy everything.

Yeah, I may have fucked up.