I love time travel the most!

The cat-eared man, who was pouring beans, jumped slightly in surprise when he heard the voice behind him.

He turned around timidly, and there stood an old gentleman with his hands behind his back.

Wilhelm squinted, staring intently at Phyllis, who was starting to feel guilty, and said, "Don't you think it's a perverse pleasure to speak of people's shame?"

"It's not a disgrace, meow! From little Phil's perspective, the old man is amazing, meow!"

The cat-eared man intertwined his two index fingers and pouted in a fawning manner. He might be misled by his cute, cat-eared appearance, but he is actually male.

Of course, the honey trap was ineffective against Wilhelm.

"No matter what, it shouldn't be spread without the person's permission, right?"

"I'm... sorry, meow."

Receiving a cold shoulder, Phyllis slumped her shoulders and retreated dejectedly. However, before leaving, she stuck out her tongue and made a face, remaining true to her nature as a cat-eared man.

Seeing this, Wilhelm shook his head helplessly.

"I apologize for letting you two hear something unpleasant. This is just the old man's boring stubbornness and aimless time passing by; please forget about it."

The old gentleman tried to pretend that what had just happened hadn't occurred, but seeing his wry smile, Natsuki Subaru decided to remain silent and respect his will.

Asking nothing is what the other party expects.

but--

"He deeply loves his wife."

"Xiao Lin?!"

Natsuki Subaru tried to stop him by lowering his voice.

Please be mindful of the elderly person's self-esteem. You weren't always so straightforward as to step into a minefield; that was clearly my job!

He was anxious about his best friend, who used to be very good at navigating social situations, but now had taken over his job.

Ignoring Subaru's anxiety, Wilhelm raised an eyebrow and answered after a beat of delay, "Yes, I love my wife. More than anything, more than anyone, no matter how much time passes, I will always love my wife deeply."

Such a weighty confession easily reveals his longing for his wife.

Although Wilhelm would send her messages of longing for his wife each time, he would feel different emotions once he learned that they were messages for someone who had passed away.

His persistence surpasses even that of Kiel.

"Speaking of which, I must thank you for giving this old man a good opportunity to defeat the monster that stole my beloved wife. I am truly grateful."

After saying that, Wilhelm bent down.

"How could that be? No need..."

"I have received your thanks."

Unlike Subaru Natsuki, who waved his hand in refusal, Kobayashi accepted his thanks as a matter of course.

Indeed, Wilhelm would prefer that they accept the gratitude for being able to fulfill their obsession.

Natsuki Subaru was stunned.

He felt he had learned a lot.

"Thank you." Wilhelm thanked him, straightened up, turned his back, and said, "There are still preparations for tomorrow. This chat is over. You two should get some rest tonight."

"and many more."

Just as he lifted his foot to leave, Kobayashi called out to him.

The old gentleman turned around and, under the questioning gazes of Natsuki Subaru and others, asked Kobayashi, "Is there anything else?"

Kobayashi smiled, a mysterious smile.

"I'm sorry to stop you, but I have a question I want to know anyway—sir, do you want to see your wife again?"

I think about it all the time.

"No matter what form it takes, even if you are reborn and she is old while you are young, or you are not even lovers, yet you still want to see her?"

"That's right. No matter what form it takes, even if we are reborn and she is old while I am young, and we are not even lovers... I still want to see her again."

Yes, this kind of love is indeed worthy of respect.

Wilhelm stared at the man who had asked the question and said in a deep voice, "Is there a special reason for asking this question?"

The swordsman's keen intuition told him that Kobayashi's question was not unfounded and that there must be some special reason behind it.

My heart, which had been dormant for many years, began to beat again.

This must sound strange, since a person dies when their heart stops beating, but he, who could already call himself an old man, felt a sense of tension he hadn't felt in a long time.

"What if I could let you see your wife again, sir?"

"……what?"

The first to react was not the old gentleman, but Natsuki Subaru. He opened his mouth instinctively as if to retort, but then seemed to remember something and silently closed it.

Wilhelm remained silent, but a terrifying aura slowly emanated from him.

When Subaru Natsuki's legs were trembling and he was about to collapse, he slowly spoke up: "This shouldn't be a deliberate attempt to mock this old man, right? Even you, sir, shouldn't say such absurd things."

Even though your mouth is denying it, why is there a hint of expectation in your heart?

Was it because he missed his wife so much that he had some kind of inappropriate fantasy, or was he influenced by the other party's confident tone?

The old gentleman lowered his eyes.

Don't you believe it?

Indeed. Saying such a thing would usually be considered nonsense, because even a witch couldn't do something like that.

but!

What does it have to do with a goddess if a witch can't do it?

Let's make a promise.

"Promise?"

"If you're still alive after we defeat the white whale, I'll tell you how you can see your wife again as a reward."

"Well……"

Wilhelm pondered.

Just as Xiaolin felt that there might be a misunderstanding, the old man said again, "This should be the so-called pre-battle agreement, the purpose of which is to make the people going to war have something to worry about, so as to stimulate more of their own potential and have the ability to turn the tide of a battle that might otherwise fail. I appreciate your good intentions and am very grateful."

He had indeed misunderstood!

Was it because the timing was wrong?

Or should we say that the inability to explain is the fate of those who express themselves?

"I was serious."

Kobayashi said solemnly, "I have a way to let you see your wife again, but I can't guarantee what form it will take."

"This is not something you can joke about."

"I'm not kidding."

Wilhelm wanted to believe it, but his subconscious told him it was impossible.

At this moment, Natsuki Subaru said, "Anyway, it's free, so I might as well believe him a little. You should know that Mr. Wilhelm isn't the type to joke around at times like this, right? Anyway, I believe him."

He brought up the words Kobayashi had used to trick Phyllis.

However, Subaru Natsuki is right.

Anyway, it doesn’t cost any money, just have some faith.

"It seems I am still immature, harboring feelings I shouldn't have. In that case, please allow me to look forward to it a little."

Wilhelm was eventually persuaded.

He wasn't persuaded by Kobayashi or Natsuki Subaru, but by his unwavering desire to see his wife again.

—A foolish man who deeply loves his wife.

This is Phyllis's evaluation of Wilhelm, and it's the highest level of evaluation.

Such unwavering devotion would surely move even a goddess.

Kobayashi's lips curled into a wild smile as he said, "Ah! Have high hopes for me, I definitely won't let you down, old man!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next day.

There are 20 hours left until the time to hunt down the white whale.

A gentle breeze blew through the Duke's mansion in the morning. Natsuki Subaru, led by Phyllis, arrived in the courtyard and stood in front of a row of earth dragons.

"This is Lord Kurshu's instruction; Subaru can choose his favorite child from among them."

Even if we're talking about children we like...

Natsuki Subaru looked troubled.

Whether traveling to the battlefield, to the next battle, or to the Earl's territory, one must ride an earth dragon as a means of transportation.

Since most of the soldiers participating in the battle brought their own mounts, he was given priority in choosing the earth dragon from the reserve.

But he knew absolutely nothing about whether earth dragons were good or bad.

Such a rare right has been wasted!

Given that this trip involves their own death, the choice of the earth dragon must be carefully considered.

"No matter how I look at it, I can't think of it as particularly cool or surprising. Kobayashi, do you have any good suggestions?"

"Hmm... as long as you like them, that's fine. Just like with Emilia, whom you fell in love with at first sight, you can choose whichever earth dragon you feel attracted to."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't compare Emilia to an earth dragon, okay?"

Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but criticize Kobayashi for making subtle conversions with Emilia.

But then I thought about it again, and it didn't seem to make much difference.

Entrusting one's life to the earth dragon makes one a companion similar to Emilia.