The Speedrun Manual of Miss Witch - Chapter 270

The pocket watch’s built-in 【Echo of Time】 and the newly added accessory 【Overlimit Gear】 have both improved to varying degrees.

The newly appearing 【Kiss of Time Corrosion】 ability, however, made Ciel feel a slight surprise.

Doesn’t this look like the negative effect that appeared when Forte used the Serpent Chain?

If actively used, can it actually be used to attack others?

So Forte was really “bitten” by the Serpent Chain every time he forcibly used his ability?

Also, attacking in three different times and spaces… what does this mean?

If understood literally, then directly attacking an object three times in reality would also count as three attacks in different times and spaces.

To Ciel’s question, the system quickly provided an answer.

【What the Host understands as “every second” is merely the Host’s subjective “sense of present” as an observer, not the system’s division of time and space.】

【When the Host launches the first attack with 【Time-Binder’s Barb】, that attack will be considered an anchor, attaching the “Barb” effect.】

【If the Host performs an attack in “Past Days,” then only by performing the same attack in “Reality” and “Future Days” will the overlapping location count as 3 attacks in different times and spaces.】

“So, even if I use the Serpent Chain, spend 200 Fate Points, and create two anchors in reality to travel back and forth and attack, it would only count as 1 ‘Barb’?”

【Yes.】

Understood…

To the system, only “Past Days,” “Present,” and “Future Days” are considered different times and spaces. Every second spent in reality, in the system’s view, exists simultaneously and is not considered a different time and space.

It’s a bit like the “block universe” theory Ciel had learned about before.

If the “block universe” theory is correct, then time travel does not exist, because the past, present, and future occur simultaneously, making it impossible to travel to the past and change anything.

If one delves deeper with this understanding, the fact that “Past Days” simulations and “Future Days” simulations cannot affect reality also seems to have similarities with this understanding.

And “Uniqueness” is something that connects different static times and spaces…?

Or is it the “Other Side” that is unaffected by these times and spaces?

Ciel pondered. For the first time, she thought more deeply about the nature of the system. She vaguely touched upon the essence of the “Other Side” and the “system,” but this feeling was very vague, and Ciel had no way of touching the truth within it.

Still, the information collected is a bit too little…

However, the system is back, which means simulations are open again. She can try to gather the remaining paths and activate “Old Days” simulation.

Perhaps there, she can get more answers.

Gathering the remaining paths is not difficult for Ciel. As long as she plans properly, she can drink two potions and create two save files in one simulation.

She just needs to drink the potion after recording her non-potion state with the pocket watch, then drink another potion when her body returns to a normal human level, and store the save files for these two time periods during the simulation settlement.

Five more needed…?

Ciel climbed out of bed and scanned her surroundings.

To prevent the servants in the villa from accidentally coming into contact with them, Ciel did not open another room as her art studio. Instead, she used her own room directly.

These past few days, she had been almost constantly reading and painting. Ciel’s room, besides piles of books, also contained frame after frame of paintings.

Most of these paintings were discarded drafts. It was still somewhat difficult to create paintings that could directly affect a person’s mind without relying on transcendent abilities or special materials.

In the early stages, Ciel wasted a considerable amount of paint and paper because she couldn’t quite get the feel for it.

But later, Ciel gave up on using paints and chose to use only charcoal pencils as her drawing tool, beginning to depict her experiences in the Other Side.

These images finally gained some influence. At least Tara was startled the first time she saw them.

These past few days, Ciel also learned that Tara had called Cardinal Percy to take charge of security while she was unconscious. Ciel did not blame Tara for taking matters into her own hands; she had made a very normal choice given the circumstances.

Tara also knew that she couldn’t protect Ciel’s body alone. She didn’t have such powerful transcendent abilities, so she could only call for help.

And Percy, in several simulations, had also proven her reliability. At least she had absolute respect and trust in Tara.

Ciel opened the simulation interface again and looked at the simulation days.

【Future Days: 15 Days (Holy Year 741, August 9th, 9:58 AM) (Cost: 10 Fate Points)】

【Past Days: 24 Days (Holy Year 741, July 1st, 11:55 AM) (Cost: 10 Fate Points)】

【Old Days: ***, *** Days (???) (Cost: 10000 Fate Points)】

Not bad. Each costs 10 Fate Points, and the time for the Future Days simulation is just enough for her simulated self to gather what she needs.

If there were nothing else to do today, Ciel would try to use the Future Days simulation, continue to collect the uncollected potion save files, and also see what would happen in the future.

Just as Ciel finished changing and washing up and opened the door to go downstairs for breakfast, she saw Tara walking towards her.

“Good morning, Lord Ciel.”

Tara stood before Ciel, bowing slightly and saying respectfully, “Miss Lucy is visiting. May I ask if you are available to see her?”

Lucy?

The 25th… that’s when the board of directors elected Lucy as executive director in the previous simulation, right?

“Bring her to the dining room.”

Ciel nodded.

She wondered if Lucy’s matter had been resolved.

Ciel walked to the dining room and sat down, preparing to enjoy the breakfast the chef had prepared. Just as she took a sip of red tea, Tara entered with Lucy.