Part 12

Who is it that can save everything?

Se Yue

Ji Hengsheng

I brought Ji Hengsheng before Se Yue.

Wu Shi: ...And that's the long and short of it.

Wu Shi: Please assist me.

Wu Shi: Don't let Hengsheng put herself into the endless loops of hell again.

I wasn't sure if she'd believe me or not, though. After all, in this universe, I was just a stranger to her.

Luckily, an unexpected third party intervened to help me.

Qian Yuan: Mistress.

Qian Yuan: I believe that Wu Shi speaks the truth.

Qian Yuan: I've been through the same thing myself, and the events he describes are identical to my own experience.

Se Yue: As you anticipated, the user in this loop is me.

After I woke up, I went to Se Yue's room immediately.

Se Yue: But before we discuss our battle plans, let me state an unfortunate conclusion I've come to.

Se Yue: We can't swap users anymore.

Se Yue: This is the very final world, and we have to end everything in this world, no matter what.

Wu Shi: I understand.

Wu Shi: If we were to swap users again, time would reverse to before the start of the trip, after all.

Wu Shi: Up to now, the events have been constrained entirely to this miniature universe at the bottom of the sea.

Wu Shi: If we were to reach the seventeenth train car's universe, our subjective time would escape the confines of the Tour of Time itself, and at that point the consequences would be unpredictable, to say nothing of whether it'd even be possible, right?

Se Yue: ...Wow, I didn't have to explain it to you this time.

Qian Yuan: Looks like Wu Shi-senpai's head isn't completely empty after all.

Wu Shi: You wanna fight? I'm ready.

Se Yue & Qian Yuan: Oh, we're ready for a fight too, if that's what you want.

The two of them smiled and raised their fists.

Right. They both have martial arts training.

Wu Shi: I apologize profusely. Please forgive me.

Qian Yuan: So how bout I knock her out and tie her up so she can't become the time machine's user.

Se Yue: Because that's not absolutely certain. Fate's got a lot of tricks up its sleeve, and our actions might just cause the very thing we were trying to prevent.

Se Yue: ...Could something like that really work?

Wu Shi: I think so. If things work the way I think they should, then something like this will guarantee with certainty that Ji Hengsheng cannot intervene to turn back time at the end of this loop.

Wu Shi: And it all starts with you becoming friends with Hengsheng.

Wu Shi: You nervous, young lady?

Se Yue: Of course not. I've been through great trials and tribulations. Something so paltry as making a new friend can't possibly cause me to become nervous.

Se Yue: Making friends is a trivial task.

Se Yue: But, uh, before they get here, I wish to ask, uh,

Se Yue: So how exactly does one define a 'friend' anyways?

Se Yue: Like, are there quantifiable parameters I can aim to hit or...

Wu Shi: Look, it'll be fine. As long as you show clearly that you're on good terms with me, even if you're a literal flesh-eating maggot they'll still treat you as a friend.

Wu Shi: ...And if that doesn't work, just show your Se family checkbook. That'll at least guarantee that Hengsheng'll become your good friend for sure.

Se Yue: I am less and less certain that I understand the definition of friendship now.

Se Yue: The reason is simple, but I'll give Wu Shi the honor of explaining it.

She nudges me under the table.

Wu Shi: Well, you see, uh. It's because...

.......

Shit. I forgot I had to come up with an excuse, didn't I.

Ji Hengsheng: It's because....?

Wu Shi: Iiiiit's to celebrate miss Se Yue's birthday of course.

Se Yue (in a whisper): wait why's it my birthday

Wu Shi (also in a whisper): shut up okay, to make sure this goes smoothly it's your birthday now whether you like it or not!

Yu Guang: Huh, okay. But, wait, uh, why are we the ones here to celebrate?

Ji Hengsheng: Yeah, shouldn't the whole Se family be throwing a party instead?

Wu Shi: Well uh you see uh- it's because she has an unspeakable secret in her birthday itself!

Ji Hengsheng: What secret is that?

Wu Shi: I uh it's- her thirtieth birthday. Today's her thirtieth birthday.

Wu Shi: That's right! She's been forced to retake grades over and over, though you wouldn't be able to tell! She's already thirty years old-

She punched me in the ribs, just under the table.

Her punches were strong. I almost threw up then and there.

Yu Guang: So that's it... No wonder she doesn't want to make a big scene of celebrating.

Ji Hengsheng: As a lady myself, I understand the desire not to celebrate one's own birthday as one grows older and older.

Se Yue: You're done for as soon as this is over.

She whispered it into my ear and I suppressed a shiver.

Ji Hengsheng: You two are so close to each other!

Ji Hengsheng: Since you're Wu Shi's friend, then of course you're my friend too.

Yu Guang: ...You two are so CLOSE to each other.

Yu Guang: Since you're Wu Shi's friend, then of course I'm not Wu Shi's friend anymore.

Wu Shi: .......

Ji Hengsheng: In conclusion, today's a day worthy of celebration!

Se Yue: ...Is it really possible to end the trip on the very first loop, I wonder?

Wu Shi: It's not about whether we wonder or not, it's that we HAVE to end all of this in a way that guarantees the least possible casualties.

Se Yue: The least casualties, then...?

Se Yue: There is a way one can ensure, with certainty, that Ji Hengsheng doesn't become S.

Se Yue looked conflicted.

Wu Shi: What is it?

Se Yue looked at me, and let out a small sigh.

Se Yue: I understand now.

Se Yue: Wu Shi.

Se Yue: Please feel free to hate me, I don't mind.

With Se Yue's words, something shocking happened.

A wave of stunning pain emanated from my neck.

Wu Shi: ...This is a terrible sign. If I'm already hallucinating things, it must mean that my ability to keep timelines straight is deteriorating. Who knows just how long I have left...

Se Yue: There is a way one can ensure, with certainty, that Ji Hengsheng doesn't become S.

Se Yue looked conflicted.

Wu Shi: What is it?

Se Yue: ...You two, please leave the room, now.

Wu Shi: ...eh?

Se Yue: Please, give me time to think by myself.

Se Yue: Both of you, out.

Se Yue's behavior didn't feel right to me. It reminded me of the way she was acting in the 14th train car, when she was on the verge of total breakdown.

But this short period of time would be the last stretch of my life.

I had to spend it on the things that were most important to me.

Yu Guang: So what's this about, asking me to come over this late?

Wu Shi: I'm about to die.

Yu Guang: ?????

Wu Shi: So, I need to make proper final farewells to you and Hengsheng.

Yu Guang: What kind of terrible joke is that?

Wu Shi: Heh heh heh. You'll find out soon that this is no joke.

Yu Guang: Why are you acting like you're eagerly anticipating it? Do people who want to die actually look like that?

Wu Shi: What, do you want me to cry and beg you to save me from my fate while clinging to your leg?

Yu Guang: Mmmm... nah, if you did that I'd rather you just actually went and died, yeah.

Man, with conversations like this, it really makes you ask just what kind of friends we actually are.

Wu Shi: Anyways uhhh. Shit. What do people usually say to their friends before they die? This is the first time I've actually been in this situation.

Yu Guang: That's because normal people don't die multiple times, duh.

What a precisely targeted bit of snark! Unfortunately for him, I really have died multiple times.

Yu Guang: So, when're you going to die?

Wu Shi: At the end of the trip.

Wu Shi: ..You're not treating my statements as a joke?

Yu Guang: Nah. I can tell you're serious.

Wu Shi: And you're not going to ask me why I'm going to die?

Yu Guang: If you could tell me, you'd already have told me, right?

Yu Guang: ...Anything I can do for you?

Yu Guang: So that you don't die, I mean. I'd be willing to do practically anything if it means you won't die, y'know.

Wu Shi: Eh, nah. I'm good, thanks. There's not much you can really do.

Wu Shi: Just treat me as usual for the rest of this trip, y'know?

Yu Guang: ......

Yu Guang: Jeez, uh. This is the first time I've had to deal with a suicidal friend, so, uh. Not really sure how to handle things...

Wu Shi: Yeah, you wouldn't encounter anything like this normally.

Yu Guang: Ha ha, yeah...

Wu Shi: But, Yu Guang... there's something I've always wanted to ask you.

Yu Guang: Yeah?

Wu Shi: You, me, and Hengsheng grew up together, and we've known each other for well over a decade now.

Yu Guang: What, you're picking now of all times to ask this question?

Yu Guang: But, uh, honestly,

Yu Guang: I've always liked Hengsheng, and wanted nothing but happiness for her.

Oh, so he does like her-

Yu Guang: Same goes for you, too.

Yu Guang: I want you to be happy just as much. You two are both my most important friends, after all.

Yu Guang: If you two could be together, you'd surely make each other very happy.

Yu Guang: When I realized this, it guaranteed for me that I'd never even consider nurturing any sort of romantic inclination for Hengsheng in the slightest.

Yu Guang: For me, the greatest satisfaction is to watch the two of you together.

Yu Guang: That's why...

Yu Guang laid a hand on my shoulder.

Yu Guang: That's why you're irreplaceable, okay?

Yu Guang: If there's the slightest chance that you can live, you should fight for it! Don't let yourself just die!

Only at that last word did signs of sorrow break into his voice.

Just how many times have I been here, by now?

Looking at her, My brain flashed through everything I've been through, up to now.

I think, I understand her more than even she understands herself.

In the 《past》of the world of the 13th train car, for my sake she hurt herself endlessly.

In the 《present》of the bonfire party, she'd prepared a ring for the two of us.

In the 《future》after the trip ended, she'd throw it all away to go back to save me.

I knew every version of her from every timeline.

No matter which timeline it is, she saw me as her everything.

But I was already out of time, and had nothing with which to repay her.

Wu Shi: Hengsheng.

Ji Hengsheng: What is it, Shi-chan?

Wu Shi: If we become true family- what will that be like, exactly?

Ji Hengsheng: Mmmm...

Ji Hengsheng: Exactly like things are now, of course!

Of course.

I reached out and held her by the hands.

Wu Shi: Hengsheng...

I originally thought I just didn't know how to say goodbye,

but now I understood.

Wu Shi: No matter what happens in the future-

I really just didn't want to say goodbye at all.

Wu Shi: You'll always be my family.

Ji Hengsheng: Mm...

Ji Hengsheng: Mmm....

Ji Hengsheng: Mmmmmm.....

Qian Yuan: Miss Ji?

Ji Hengsheng: ...I feel like Shi-chan's being strange...

Se Yue: That's childhood friends for you, huh.

Se Yue: Without him even telling you anything, you've already discerned his abnormal behavior?

Oh, so the princess had also noticed that Shi-chan was off?

So that was why Se Yue had invited me to her room without telling either Wu Shi or Yu Guang about it.

Se Yue: No matter which world it is, the person to die in the first loop is always Wu Shi.

Se Yue: After that, every loop adds another dead person.

Se Yue: So, to prevent the endless generation of fuel, Wu Shi wants to end it in the first loop.

Ji Hengsheng: Right, you explained that already-

Se Yue: But it's impossible.

Se Yue: This is absolutely impossible.

Ji Hengsheng: ...??...

Qian Yuan: Because of the limitations of the grandfather paradox, we cannot negate any causes that have already been fixed in place.

Qian Yuan: Initially we thought the start of everything was the death of Wu Shi, but that's not the case.

Qian Yuan: The young lady was the one to detect this inconsistency.

Ji Hengsheng: You mean, the true starting point isn't Shi-chan's death?

Se Yue: That's right.

Se Yue: If we end this whole tour during the first loop, after Wu Shi dies...

Se Yue: Then how would the sixteenth train car appear?

Ji Hengsheng: ?

Se Yue: Causation is like a connected tube. When the beginning is formed, no matter how the course of events is twisted, it must proceed inexorably to the conclusion.

Se Yue: 《Wu Shi's Death》, as a cause, by itself, isn't sufficient to create 《The Sixteenth Train Car》as an effect, is it?

Se Yue: Let's say that after he dies the tour ends. Then who was it that activated the time travel in the first place?

Se Yue: If the 《S》that represents the START doesn't exist, then the me who inherited the memories of the past couldn't be born, could it?

Without a father there can be no son.

The grandfather paradox.

Ji Hengsheng: Then, what was the Cause that initiated everything?

Ji Hengsheng: What was the true Cause?!

If we couldn't get this clear, then Shi-chan's painful loops would go on forever.

Se Yue: The true starting point, should be this:

After Wu Shi died, someone used the Tour of Time.

Someone intentionally arranged for the derailing accident to happen.

The decision to use the Tour of Time as the location of the end-of-year trip at all.

Se Yue: Wrong.

Se Yue: That occurred far before the true Cause.

Se Yue: We should say, even if we didn't make such a decision originally, the world would still use some incredibly implausible way, to force a situation similar to the Cause to occur.

Se Yue: If the Occurrence of the Accident was the primary Cause, then Wu Shi's death as a consequence should just be a secondary variable that could in theory be changed.

Se Yue: That's right. That's the true Cause.

Se Yue: No matter how the events change and wind and weave, if nobody used the Tour of Time, none of this could have happeend.

Se Yue: That means that it's impossible to end things at the first loop.

Se Yue: Someone must always rewind time, after the first loop concludes.

Se Yue: Even if neither of us used it, the universe would likely forcibly coerce someone into becoming the user of the Tour of Time, to prevent a paradox from forming.

Ji Hengsheng: I've got a bit of a question.

Ji Hengsheng: Isn't the cause for the 16th train car appearing, well, uh, your usage of it, in the universe of the 15th train car, Yue-chan?

Se Yue: That's not how it works.

Se Yue: 《The universe we occupy must be the final result of all previously made changes.》

Se Yue: After changing users, the universe resets. In other words, the current 16th train car is equivalent to the first loop- it's a completely new world.

Ji Hengsheng: Which is to say, the fact that you used the Tour of Time in the 15th train car... can't be 'brought' to the 16th train car's world?

Se Yue: That's right.

Ji Hengsheng: But... that means that, someone other than Shi-chan will have to die, then.

Se Yue: ...Yes.

Se Yue: That is the smallest possible sacrifice to make.

Ji Hengsheng: I can't remember anything... but I feel like I must have done something very, very bad, before, didn't I.

Se Yue: ....I see that nobody has detected it at all, then.

Ji Hengsheng: ?

Se Yue: I'm the only one who remembers all of it, now.

Se Yue spoke cryptically, and lowered her head to me.

Next to her, Qian Yuan handed her some sort of object.

Se Yue: Ji Hengsheng.

Se Yue: You can hate me; I won't mind.

Se Yue: There's a method that can achieve Wu Shi's hope, and end all of this in the second loop.

Ji Hengsheng: What should I do?

Se Yue: Let me tell you.

Se Yue: At this time, it's already--

Hearing the words Se Yue spoke to me, I opened my eyes wide in astonishment.

So that was the way it was, huh.

Everything is already determined, then.

So, there's only one choice I can make here.

Wu Shi: At least I'm the only one who'll die here.

After all, the first loop's fuel was always me.

I'd already told Se Yue to lock the doors to the men's dormitory, so there was no way anybody but me could get into here to die with me-

The door slid open suddenly.

...Eh?

What was someone else doing here?

Wait.

Why...

S entered the dormitory train car and locked the door shut.

Wu Shi: ...What are you up to?

Seeing her in that costume again, I sank into momentary confusion- which hindered me from doing the thing that seemed obvious in hindsight- namely, moving her OUT of there immediately.

Wu Shi: No, wait, who are you this time?

S: .....

Wu Shi: ANSWER ME!

I was really hoping that S wasn't the person that it usually was, this time.

Why are you here?!

This was a universe where you didn't have to become S!

What did the princess DO with you?!

...What did the princess mean, back then, by 'a certain way to resolve everything'?

No, calm down.

This is the first loop, so I'm the only one destined to die.

I'll just do the same thing as before, carry Hengsheng to a safe place after it starts flooding.

It's not too late! I can still save her!

That's right. Then... what I experienced wasn't a hallucination, at all.

It actually happened. This isn't the first loop- it's the second.

Wu Shi: THIS ISN'T THE ENDING I WANT!

Ji Hengsheng: But, Shi-chan...

She hugged me warmly from behind.

Ji Hengsheng: It is the one I want.

Ji Hengsheng: After all, I made this decision for myself.

Ji Hengsheng: Se Yue told me about it, but didn't force me to come here. I chose that myself.

glass cracks. here comes the water.

Ji Hengsheng: It's fine, Shi-chan.

Wu Shi: But...

Ji Hengsheng: You know, I've thought about what the definition of happiness is, exactly.

Ji Hengsheng: So many people live decades and decades but might not even experience happiness even once over all that time, you know?

Hengsheng shivered next to me, from the cold and the fear.

Ji Hengsheng: But, in the last few seconds of our lives, we can spend them together.

Hengsheng laid her head on my chest.

Ji Hengsheng: I think I've won a happiness that many people couldn't in their whole lives.

Looking at her satisfied expression, I closed my eyes.

Yeah, she was right.

If our situations were swapped, I'd probably have made the same choices as her, in the end.

After that, the seawater engulfed us.

An ending I'd experienced so many times- but never once the same way as this.

In the bone-chilling cold, I embraced the warmth in my lap, and for some reason I felt neither fear nor pain.

I reached into my pocket and got out the ring that Hengsheng had given me that night at the bonfire...

The Tour of Time had come to an unexpected end.

Despite the many criticisms levied at the Cesium Megacorporation,

in the end, the fact that, despite such a major accident, only two people died, was hailed as a miracle.

The Se family suppressed all criticism eventually with its influence.

But, those who paid attention to the accident all noticed one particular thing-

That the two casualties of the incident were found with content expression and embraced hands,

and that, on the hand of the female victim, a wedding ring was conspicuously affixed to her ring finger.

Se Yue: I'm not... actually thirty...

Ji Hengsheng: I understand! No woman with youth in her heart would ever admit that they're older than 30!

Se Yue: No, that's not what I mean...

...Why were my friends acting drunk, anyways? They were drinking nothing but cola.

Yu Guang: See, me, I personally like'em younger than me. Specifically I like the ones who are younger than me by exactly one grade level and who happen to be named Qian and also on the basketball team.

Wu Shi: NOBODY ASKED.

Ji Hengsheng: A toast, to the Se princess's eternally-eighteenth birthday!

Yu Guang: Yeah! A toast! To incredibly cute girls named Qian!

Wu Shi: WOULD YOU STOP TRYING TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

I was pretty sure I could feel killing intent coming out of Se Yue's eyes now, even though the light smile plastered on her face hadn't changed a bit.

Yu Guang: So what're we doing about birthday cake? Should I go get some from the self-serve?

Ji Hengsheng: No, no, those are far too small. This is Yue-chan's special day! We need something far better.

Se Yue: N-it's not a problem. Small cakes are fine.

Ji Hengsheng: Nononono.

She wagged her fingers.

Ji Hengsheng: When it's your most special day, you can't settle for anything but the best.

Ji Hengsheng: You've got to fill days like this up with heart! That's how you become good friends and eventually family.

Se Yue: Mmmm...

Yu Guang: CAPTAIN JI! I'VE FIGURED OUT A SOLUTION!

Ji Hengsheng: Speak, private.

Yu Guang: I'll go and amass a pile of high-grade ingredients to make a birthday cake with!

Ji Hengsheng: Specific battle plans, soldier.

Yu Guang: Wwwwwwelllll, first we start with high-quality meats and expensive fresh seafood-

Yu Guang: Battle plan approved! All forces, roll out!

Wu Shi: THAT'S NOT A BATTLE PLAN AT ALL! YOU JUST NAMED A BUNCH OF EXPENSIVE MEATS!

Ji Hengsheng: Look, if it's expensive that means it's a good gift. If you don't know what to gift someone for their birthday, going for the expensive stuff's never going to be wrong.

Wu Shi: I- you realize she owns all of this stuff already, right?

Disregarding my sarcasm, Yu Guang brought over a giant heaping platter of the most expensive meats anyways.

Five minutes later...

Se Yue: ...

Wu Shi: ...

Yu Guang: ...

After seeing the horrific abomination that was meant to pass as a birthday cake, all of our enthusiasm died out quickly.

It was unspeakable. The high-quality meat had been drawn into a circle, in the midst of which an unholy conglomerate of seafood had been pinned into place with some candles.

Wu Shi: I feel like... this is more of an eldritch summoning circle, than a birthday cake.

Ji Hengsheng: ...Ah...

Ji Hengsheng wiped away a tear.

Oh, no. Had we hurt her feelings?

Ji Hengsheng: ...It's such a perfect birthday cake...

Se Yue: ...

Wu Shi: ...

Yu Guang: ...

Ji Hengsheng: I hope Shi-chan buys me a birthday cake like this someday.

Se Yue (whispering): ...Is your friend serious?

Wu Shi: Sadly, I know her very well and I can assure you that she is actually completely serious right now. God help us all.

Ji Hengsheng: Well, come on, Yue-chan, don't be shy, you're the star of the show!

Ji Hengsheng handed her a knife.

Ji Hengsheng: Blow out the candles, cut a slice, and make a wish!

Se Yue: Make... a wish?

She looked around. All of us were smiling at her.

Me, Yu Guang, Hengsheng- even Qian Yuan had showed up at some points and was now covertly taking photos of the whole situation.

Se Yue: Well, I'll proceed, then.

Se Yue: When the end-of-year trip is over, I hope we won't forget about each other.

Se Yue: If at all possible...

Se Yue: After all of this, I hope that we can all meet like this again, and enjoy a real cake together.

She blew the candles out.

I was astonished. Not at her blowing the candles out, but at her suggesting that we meet again in the future after this.

She looked at me as though she was admonishing me for being surprised at her suggestion.

Se Yue: A toast.

What a wonderful scene.

If only we could have seen something like this before.

But, of course, that was impossible.

This loop was about to end.

With my end as the terminus, to seal away the loop forever.

Wu Shi: A toast!

Yu Guang and Ji Hengsheng: A toast!

In order for the 《Terminal Plan》 to work, I had to make sure everything went just as it had originally.

Wu Shi: I could see myself liking her, sure.

I had to say this, in order for the 《Terminal Plan》to work.

Ji Hengsheng: ..........oh.

Ji Hengsheng: .....Well, promise this, then!

Ji Hengsheng: If you do fall in love with her someday,

Ji Hengsheng: Make sure you let me know about it!

My two good friends were the best people in the world, and Se Yue wasn't nearly as haughty as she imagined herself to be.

I was sure that, if things continued on like this, they'd surely become best friends who'd talk with each other about anything and everything.

Sadly, I wouldn't live to see it.

Joyful times always passed so quickly.

Finally, it was time for the bonfire.

Wu Shi: Hengsheng.

Wu Shi: Please wait for me at the station, once the trip is over.

Wu Shi: I'll give you my reply then.

Ji Hengsheng opened her eyes wide, and then, with a fierce blush, nodded lightly.

She must have been shocked that I'd set a date for a reply to her proposal so soon.

Se Yue: Wu Shi. It's about time to go.

Wu Shi: Mmm, got it.

I dropped Hengsheng's hand and walked to Se Yue's ide.

Seeing the two of us, Hengsheng instinctively reached her hand out, like she was trying to keep me with her.

But ultimately she pulled her hand back, composed herself, and smiled.

Ji Hengsheng: Shi-chan, don't forget our agreement! I'll be waiting for you at the end of the trip, in the station.

Wu Shi: Yeah.

Wu Shi: See you later, Hengsheng.

I waved to her, lightly.

Wu Shi: Take good care of yourself from now on, okay?

We sat in the front cabin of the car. Se Yue and Qian Yuan were listening attentively to me.

Wu Shi: There's one anomaly in the previous loops that I must bring to your attention. It is of vital importance.

Wu Shi: During one of the loops, I heard you, young mistress, reveal the secrets of your heart to me while my head was in your lap. Presumably you'd thought I was asleep, but I heard everything.

Se Yue: ...I see. Did I reveal anything of tactical importance that time?

Wu Shi: Nah.

Wu Shi: I just wanted to let you know that you're so cute when you think you're alone.

Wu Shi: That's it.

Se Yue: .........

Wu Shi: You're the most adorable ojou-sama I've ever met.

Wu Shi: So adorable that I wish you'd stay like this forever, even to the point of making me want to imagine that the other Se princess was a fake-

Se Yue: Are you DONE YET?! GET TO THE POINT!!

Qian Yuan: No, no, keep going, Wu Shi!

Qian Yuan: I'd love to hear more about what the young mistress says when she thinks she's alone-

Se Yue: YOU'RE FIRED ALL OF YOU ARE FIRED.

Se Yue: WU SHI YOU'RE FIRED TOO.

Wu Shi: I don't even work for you, lady.

Se Yue: J-just get to the point already.

Wu Shi: Okay, fine.

Wu Shi: So, the thing about that dreamlike confession you made- no matter how many times you looped, I never actually saw it happen again in a context where I was sure that it was physically real.

Wu Shi: Which made me think.

Wu Shi: Maybe it wasn't happening in the now, but rather...

Wu Shi: In the future?

Wu Shi: Maybe we've all been misinformed about the machine. If it's a time machine, maybe it doesn't just send our consciousnesses to the past- but also, potentially, to the future?

Se Yue and Qian Yuan sat up attentively, at this, and Se Yue grabbed a biscuit straw while she was at it.

Wu Shi: Normally, the process for operating the machine is a three-step process, right?

1: Add the train cars

2: Place the fuel

3: Recite the command word to send the user's consciousness to the past

Se Yue: I see.

Se Yue: So you're theorizing that, if we reverse the three-step process, we'll get the opposite effect and send our consciousness to the future?

Qian Yuan: Is such a thing... even possible?

Se Yue: Theoretically, it seems possible.

Se Yue: By adding new numbers in the form of train cars and compressing the clock, it's possible to travel to the past.

Se Yue: So, if we remove numbers from the clock, it is indeed possible the user's consciousness could travel to the future.

Qian Yuan: Okay, but how does this help us?

Qian Yuan: This kind of travel into the future is likely constrained by the end of the loop.

Qian Yuan: And the end of the loop is just where you die, Wu Shi.

Qian Yuan: All this does is let you skip directly to dying at the hands of fate, doesn't it?

Wu Shi: That's fine. In fact, we have no need to prevent the disaster from happening.

Wu Shi: From the 14th train car we learned that, once cause and effect are locked in, they can't be changed.

The Grandfather Paradox couldn't be violated.

Cause and Effect were like two ends; once a Cause was formed, no matter how twisted the path, it must eventually reach the Effect.

And because of that, no compromise on my death could be made.

Wu Shi: But, we can turn things around, and use the Grandfather Paradox to our advantage, this way.

Wu Shi: By using this principle, we can prevent Hengsheng from using the Tour of Time with complete certainty.

Qian Yuan: How?

Wu Shi: Simple. Let's say that we send someone to the future.

Wu Shi: As long as this time-traveler can meet Hengsheng in the future, then the problem is solved.

Se Yue: We'll reverse the process for going back in time.

1: Reduce the number of train cars.

2: Add fuel.

3: Speak the activation phrase and send the user's consciousness to the future.