Ghislain was utterly perplexed.
Originally, he had planned to na his costics line "Lovely Bling Bling." However, unanimous opposition forced him to choose a na he already knew—the sa one given by the Duke Delphine in his past life.
But now he found out that na belonged to a Saintess!
"Why... did the Duke House na a costic product after the Saintess?"
The costics beca the most popular product on the continent, just as they had in his previous life. There wasn’t a soul who didn’t know the na.
"Could it be... they were trying to find the Adversary?"
The na, spread across the continent, coincidentally matched that of a Saintess from a thousand years ago. Anyone familiar with that na might find it intriguing.
"Ereneth didn’t show much reaction."
That was likely because she had t Ghislain. Knowing that he was the creator of the product, Ereneth must have dismissed it as coincidence.
But the Adversary might think differently. The Duke House—or even Ghislain himself—could be approached and questioned about why they chose that na.
Could it have been the Salvation Order behind the Duke House aiming for that exact outco?
"If that’s the case... they clearly don’t know the Adversary’s na."
If they had known, they would have nad the product after the Adversary instead. As Ereneth ntioned, most of their records must have been lost.
The Saintess's na, an enemy to their cause, seed to have survived purely by chance. That was likely why they used it.
Hearing Ghislain muttering to himself, Deneb tilted her head.
"Costics? What about costics?"
"Nothing. I got confused for a mont. Anyway, I’ve figured out the na. Let’s get along from now on."
Ghislain’s cheeky response made Deneb let out a short laugh.
Although her friend was usually eccentric, he now seed like an entirely different person.
Following Julien into the building, they found many people imprisoned.
"Help us!"
"Please save us!"
"Get us out of here!"
They were all locked inside iron cages, appearing to have been captured by bandits.
Julien, exuding mana, slashed the bars open. The captives fled in a frenzy, showering him with gratitude.
As he freed the prisoners, Julien repeatedly called out, "Kyle! Where’s Kyle?!"
"Here... over here..."
A weak voice, barely audible, led them to the farthest corner. There, a blond boy lay in a battered and miserable state.
Called Kyle, the boy, whose face was swollen, muttered weakly.
"Damn it... I was just taking a break before I wiped them all out, but it’s already over..."
Kyle’s body was weighed down with mana restraints and chains, likely put there by the bandits to keep him from moving.
Julien and Deneb quickly removed the restraints. Deneb scolded him sharply.
"Why did you go alone?! I told you to quietly locate their position while soldiers were on standby! You could’ve died if it went wrong!"
"A man... follows his heart... because that’s what it ans to be a man."
Ghislain chuckled at that. Even in his beaten state, the boy could still spout such nonsense. He had spirit, at least.
"Hmm, who is this guy?"
He must have been one of the Hero’s companions, though Ghislain couldn’t imdiately place him. Most of their faces were obscured.
Judging by his tone, he seed like that cocky person from before, but Ghislain couldn’t be certain.
"If it’s him, though, he doesn’t seem to be one of our ancestors."
The na didn’t match. The founder of Ferdium wasn’t nad Kyle. Of course, given how much of the records had been lost over ti, it wasn’t impossible.
"Hmm... maybe he taught soone else swordsmanship? That seems more plausible."
Ghislain nodded to himself. That possibility couldn’t be ruled out.
It was all so long ago. More observation would be needed to confirm anything.
At any rate, it seed the Hero's group had co to rescue the people captured by the bandits. During the raid, Kyle had apparently been caught.
If Ghislain himself—at his 5th Circle level—had gone, he could have easily wiped out the entire bandit hideout alone.
In fact, the group of just three had already done it.
"Still, for bandits, their skill level is suspiciously high."
The individuals in their group were exceptionally talented for their age, but even so, the bandits were unusually strong.
The bandit leader, for instance, was at least at knight-level strength. He had even used mana to escape.
It was unclear whether the overall level of skill in this era was higher or if these bandits were an exception.
Ghislain subtly turned his head. Julien was calming the freed captives and guiding them.
"Head down this way. Once you reach the base of the mountain, soldiers will be there. They’ve been preparing to clear out this area."
The reassuring smile Julien gave seed to ease everyone’s fears.
His smile carried an odd power, inspiring trust just by looking at it. And it was brighter than anyone else’s.
Perhaps that was why he was destined to beco the Hero who would save the world.
"Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
"We owe you our lives."
"We will never forget this debt."
The people bowed repeatedly before leaving the hideout.
As Julien watched them leave, he wore a satisfied smile. Ghislain found himself unaccustod to the sight and kept staring at him.
After things settled down, Julien turned to Ghislain and asked, "Hah, today is even worse than usual. So, who’s entered this ti?"
Ghislain blinked, surprised at his perception. He had intended to keep quiet and wait for the right mont.
But it seed Julien had already figured it out.
"Oh... you already know I’m soone else?"
Ghislain asked curiously, intrigued by his awareness. Deneb shrugged and answered on Julien’s behalf.
"Why are you even pretending to be soone else today? Usually, you just zone out or ntion that soone else ca through."
"Hmm..."
Ghislain stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"So, this wizard friend... has experienced this kind of thing often? But it’s the first ti their body has been taken over?"
Listening to their conversation, Ghislain pieced together the situation. From the looks of it, his guess seed correct.
Though surprised, they appeared to have so understanding of the phenonon.
"Wait a mont..."
When Ereneth and the Adversary were being discussed earlier, Jero had ntioned sothing about his tower.
Among the tidbits, there had been a story about the founder of the mage tower.
Though he hadn’t explicitly stated that the founder was a companion of the Hero, Ghislain’s dreams had allowed him to infer as much.
—‘The founder of the mage tower was quite the eccentric. They would suddenly claim to have seen the future or say soone from the future possessed them. They even talked about how outcos could alter their causes.’
"Wait... that’s literally what’s happening right now!"
The stories Ghislain had once dismissed ca rushing back to him. He had always thought they were exaggerated or distorted legends.
But now, all those tales he had brushed aside were connecting, piece by piece. Even if not perfectly accurate, they had so basis in truth.
Every scattered fragnt seed to hold a piece of the greater reality.
Ghislain clapped his hands, thoroughly impressed.
"Amazing! It all fits together perfectly."
"..."
Julien and Deneb stared at Ghislain, dumbfounded.
They had never seen Astion—whose body Ghislain currently occupied—react so strongly to the presence of a "possessor" before.
Kyle, his face still swollen, grumbled.
"What’s going on? Did he finally lose it for good? Why’s he pretending to be soone else today?"
Ghislain nodded to himself. It was clear now—he wasn’t the first to occupy this body. Others had co before him.
Whether that was true or not, everyone here seed to have accepted it as fact.
"Ah, so that explains why the wizard always looked so sleep-deprived."
It was obvious. If Astion had been treated as a lunatic his whole life, the stress and sleepless nights must have taken their toll.
Ghislain mulled over the situation.
"Hmm... The Saintess did say to follow my heart, right?"
That’s what she had told him. There had to be a reason for those words.
"Besides, isn’t this all just like a dream?"
While he had once turned back ti and altered the course of events, this situation was different. He had entered this mont through a dream. Whatever happened here might not drastically change the reality he had already secured.
"Could this be a journey ant to show hidden truths? Truths I need to see for a reason?"
Though he didn’t yet understand why he was being shown these events, Ghislain had a sense that this would sohow lead to a request or a responsibility in his current life.
After all, the Saintess in the future had already known exactly who he was.
With his mind eased, Ghislain decided to introduce himself confidently.
"I am Ghislain Ferdium."
"...Who?" Julien asked, his expression dull and uncomprehending.
Ghislain, undeterred, exaggerated his introduction.
"The Grand Duke of Ruthania, Lord of Fenris, the Ruler of the North, the Unyielding Sovereign, Commander of the Northern Army, King of Grain, Saint of the Capital, Genius of Blitzkrieg, Hunter of Mages, Savior of the Continent, Destroyer of the Salvation Order, Protector of the Faith, Leader of the Fenris Knights, Dragon Slayer, Conqueror of the Seven Territories, Ruthania’s Greatest Swordsman, Heir to the Kingdom, diator of the Mage Tower, Champion of the Kingdom’s Army, and... the King of rcenaries."
"..."
"..."
"..."
All three stared at him, jaws agape. They had never encountered anyone with such an absurdly long list of titles.
But Ghislain wasn’t lying. Each title was an accurate reflection of his identity.
In fact, he had left a few out, unable to rember them all on the spot.
He was, after all, here partly for leisure, so he figured a bit of mischief wouldn’t hurt.
Julien let out a series of disbelieving chuckles before comnting.
"Well... it seems soone truly extraordinary has taken over Astion’s body this ti."
"Hmm, well... I wouldn’t say I’m unremarkable."
Now that he had recited his achievents aloud, Ghislain felt a bit self-conscious. He closed his eyes and nodded as if trying to brush off the embarrassnt.
Julien sighed deeply and continued.
"Alright, so it’s serious today. Then where’s Astion?"
"No idea." Ghislain shrugged. He truly didn’t know where the original consciousness of the body had gone.
Kyle rubbed his swollen eyes and asked, "So, what do we do now?"
"Why are you asking ?"
"You’re the one who always gives advice. Don’t you always say so wise person enters your head and tells you what to do? I need to know how to grow stronger, fast."
At Kyle’s words, both Julien and Deneb nodded in agreent.
"Ah, I see."
Ghislain began piecing things together. It seed this wizard played the role of guide for the group, offering directions based on the various "possessors" who had entered his mind.
"So that’s how this guy beca a 5th Circle wizard at such a young age?"
While it was hard to fully believe, Ghislain couldn’t deny it—after all, he was here now.
"Hmm... what should I do?"
The group still bore the traces of youth. Despite their extraordinary talents, their current strength was rudintary compared to the potential he knew they would achieve in the future.
While Julien was their leader, it seed the wizard acted as their strategist and advisor.
Now that Ghislain had taken over the wizard’s body, that responsibility fell to him.
"Does this an I have to train them myself?"
He couldn’t just sit idly by while occupying soone else’s body.
Then a thought occurred to him.
"Ah."
He had already observed their abilities and techniques. He knew exactly how they should be refined.
These people were destined to fight the Salvation Order and beco the backbone of humanity’s resistance. They had to grow stronger—there was no other choice. If he could help them do so in the wizard’s place, he would.
"So this is why I’m here... My role is to help them grow strong enough to save humanity."
The Saintess had likely foreseen all of this when she told him to follow his heart. Or so he hoped.
With that thought, Ghislain grinned and spoke.
"Do you want to grow stronger?"
Julien, Deneb, and Kyle all nodded in unison.
Ghislain nodded back, a sly smile forming on his lips.
"Good. I’ll make you stronger. Just trust and follow my lead. You want to experience what it takes to beco strong? That’s my specialty. Just listen to , and I’ll make sure you go through it all."
For a mont, the three felt a chill run down their spines.
Though Ghislain was smiling, sothing about his expression was deeply unsettling.
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