Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 105
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life
Chapter 105
Though she looked disheveled as if she had rolled around in a dust pit, the Mage Lord’s new disciple had all her limbs intact, contrary to Volkner’s expectations.
“How on earth…?”
He had definitely prepared a combat golem on the abandoned floor!
His legs seeming to give out, the Mage Lord staggered toward Tiya.
“This, this little disciple… Making this old master think she was leaving me behind again, how much I…”
Argon, who had been muttering to himself as if in a daze, spun Tiya around like when examining a golem, inspecting her from every angle.
“Bruising on the right shoulder, marks on the elbow, and this on the back of your head… it’s a bump. Running, rolling, and bumping into things – what a complete mess it must have been. What exactly happened underground?”
At the Mage Lord’s question, everyone’s gaze turned to Tiya. Tiya carefully examined the faces of all the mages gathered in one place.
And she spoke clearly.
“I was attacked by a golem. A combat golem that looked completely new!”
“What?”
According to Shetbyeol Tower’s regulations, combat golems were not allowed to be discarded on abandoned floors.
Due to the purpose and destructive power that combat golems possessed, when disposed of, they were immediately disassembled beyond recognition and incinerated on the spot.
“It would have been dark underground – didn’t you see wrong?”
“That’s right. Of all things, a combat golem.”
“She was alone in an unfamiliar place, so she must have been frightened and mistaken.”
It was when the mages were murmuring.
Volkner also chimed in, agreeing with them.
“Still, just in case, I’ll go down and check myself. The safety of the mages is at stake.”
Volkner’s mind raced quickly.
The fact that the Mage Lord’s disciple had returned safely meant she had either evaded or destroyed the golem.
If she had destroyed it completely, that would be fortunate, but if it was still rampaging, he needed to hurry down and clean up the mess.
“It was definitely a combat golem. Look, I brought the golem’s core, so let’s check it together later, Master!”
Tiya said, lifting up the chunk of scrap metal she had been holding in her arms.
“…!”
Volkner’s expression instantly contorted.
The magic circle engraved on the golem’s core contained the creator’s commands given to the golem and personal characteristics.
If the Mage Lord examined that core, it would reveal that he had created the combat golem to eliminate the Mage Lord’s disciple.
He had no idea how she had managed to bring out an intact golem core, but—
‘I need to steal that core.’
Volkner’s eyes darkened as he stared at the golem’s core in Tiya’s arms.
* * *
Afterward, Tiya was sent to the rest area inside Shetbyeol Tower.
After receiving treatment for her injuries from Argon there.
Tiya, who had been pretending to doze off before lying down completely on the couch, opened her eyes wide as soon as Argon and the other adults left.
Then she said stubbornly.
“I’m still waiting.”
Winter, wearing a veil, remained by Tiya’s side.
Underground, she had been too busy chasing the suddenly activated mana elevator to thoroughly question Winter.
【Such an intact combat golem being discarded is suspicious no matter how I think about it. So when we reach the surface, say exactly what I tell you.】
While the mana elevator was ascending to the surface, she had been busy listening to Winter’s operation details, and after reaching the surface, she had been preoccupied with receiving treatment.
Now that Tiya was alone with Winter again, she crossed her arms like Winter usually did and waited for an answer.
Perhaps realizing she couldn’t avoid this situation.
Winter, who had consistently ignored her, let out a sigh.
Sometimes an avalanche can occur just from the weight of a single snowflake.
It was only a matter of time – she had expected this would happen.
The day when the lies she had built up would become an unstoppable avalanche and bury her.
Finally, Winter’s hand removed her veil.
Tiya slowly uncrossed her arms and stared intently at Winter’s face.
Though this was the first time seeing Winter’s bare face, that face was all too familiar to Tiya.
“It’s like looking in a mirror…”
Because that’s how Tiya’s face looked when she drank the growth potion and stood in front of the mirror.
The fact that Winter could tell Tiya about future events, even though she couldn’t speak to others about the restrictions imposed by the Spirit of Time.
The branch family of Vladijef that couldn’t possibly exist due to the Duke’s purge long ago.
Even the fact that she claimed to have lived in the North but knew well about The Dominion’s affairs and Tiya’s personal matters.
The answer to all those mysteries was finally revealed.
“Winter was the future me.”
Speaking it aloud made everything feel certain.
“Why, why didn’t you tell me? That Winter was the future me.”
The face that looked exactly like Tiya but was expressionless and dry stared at Tiya for a moment.
Winter recalled the day she first met her younger self.
The day she crash-landed in a past far too distant, unlike her plan to return four years ago.
She had despaired, been disappointed, and ultimately trembled with joy.
Though it deviated from the plan, her regression to the past hadn’t failed.
At first, she had planned to tell Tiya everything truthfully.
That together, the two of them could change the predetermined future.
Why wouldn’t she have dreamed of such a hopeful future?
“I’m Tiya. Tiya from Astiya.”
“I become a Spirit Mage in the future, right?”
However, when she faced Tiya’s eyes that held budding hope like a sprout.
【Call me Winter.】
She couldn’t bring herself to speak the truth.
Because—
【I’m a failure.】
Because she was a pathetic person who had lost everything and failed to protect anything.
Winter traced through the past with a dry expression.
Missing her family, she had headed to The Dominion with high spirits, determined to reconcile Grandmother and Father.
But what she encountered there was bitter reality.
Father, who was indifferent to family, and Rodion, whose thoughts were unreadable. And even Lev, who only spoke harsh words whenever they met.
Then when Lev eventually died, Winter lost her family and home.
Afterward, to return to Grandmother in the sealed North, she worked hard enough to slap herself, becoming the Mage Lord of the Guardians’ Tower, but it was already too late.
Grandmother, whose body had deteriorated beyond repair while treating the epidemic, didn’t survive that year.
When she came to her senses, Winter was alone.
Everything left her as futilely as grains of sand slipping through her fingers.
Winter’s gaze, which had been navigating the past with dry eyes, anchored on Tiya before her.
Strong eyes that held an ember that would never be extinguished even by fierce winds.
Facing those eyes that possessed what she had lost forever, Winter smiled bitterly.
【I couldn’t protect my family, the house, or even the people of Vladijef’s domain.】
That’s why she couldn’t dare to speak.
【I am the worst possible version of you among all the futures you could become.】
That when you grow up, you’ll only become something like me.
He couldn’t bring himself to say those words to Tiya, whose eyes sparkled as she pictured her future self.
【Still, don’t be too disappointed. Unlike me, you’re magnificently changing your future.】
Winter continued speaking calmly and matter-of-factly, as if conveying the plain truth.
【You can become someone better than me—】
“No!”
That’s when it happened.
Tiya, who had been quietly listening to Winter’s voice, suddenly shouted.
As if indignant, Tiya’s face had turned bright red.
“Don’t say such awful things! Even if it’s Winter, I won’t forgive anyone who speaks badly of Winter!”
Her shoulders heaving as she breathed roughly, Tiya finally shouted with tears welling up in her eyes from sheer frustration.
“I don’t want to become someone better than Winter.”
【I know. You always want to be like the Duke—】
“No! Of course Grandmother Bear is the strongest and coolest person in the world, but I don’t want to become an adult like Grandmother Bear.”
Tiya shouted as if spitting out words she had been swallowing down.
“I want to become like Winter now!”
Those words left Winter speechless.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————