CHAPTER 75 – USELESS TIME TRAVELER
LYSANDER FARADEISS
The Daybreaker Squad found themselves summoned to the new Chevalier Unit Office in the Empire's Sanctuary the day after the grand party. Seated around the expansive rectangular table were Hiraya, Kate, Charlotte, Gaeun, and myself, occupying a significant portion of the available seats in the conference room.
My evident lack of enthusiasm for the meeting was displayed through a series of yawns. The previous night's revelry had extended until the early hours of the morning, leaving me with insufficient sleep. Yawning persistently, I struggled to maintain focus as the meeting began.
"Captain?" Kate's voice cut through the air, her red eyes betraying a hint of fear. Trembling, she spoke, "Am I in trouble?"
Charlotte, exuding sass, interjected, "Considering the scandal you caused last night, trouble is an understatement."
Kate let out a distressed squeak before turning to Hiraya, a pleading expression on her face. "Captain, you'll defend me, right?"
Hiraya, with a forced smile, responded, "Hahaha. Since you're being too polite with me, I'll do my best to talk you out of Madam Corasell's wrath. But for now, brace yourself for the consequences."
The conference room's door swung open with a sudden creak, and in stepped Madam Corasell and Eva. Their military uniforms bore badges of honor and distinction. But Eva's attire was an unexpected contrast: instead of the usual combat gear, she appeared as a fairy, complete with a shimmering wand. For this duo, such an ensemble seemed oddly fitting.
"Apologies for the delay, Daybreaker Squad," Madam Corasell's voice carried authority, her gaze sweeping the room.
Kate sprang to her feet, her posture impeccable. "Good morning, Madam Corasell." With a graceful motion, she offered her hand to guide their leader to a seat, her fingers instinctively finding their way to the Madam's tense shoulders. "May I offer you some refreshments? Coffee, perhaps? Or tea?"
A soft smile graced Madam Corasell's lips. "Your thoughtfulness is appreciated, Kate. A cup of chamomile tea would be perfect."
"Right away, Madam," Kate replied, her steps swift as she vanished into the adjoining pantry, intent on brewing the finest chamomile.
Leaning forward, Madam Corasell intertwined her fingers, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Let's address the pressing matter I overheard last night." She paused, then added, "And do hurry back, Kate. This discussion requires your insight."
A sharp gasp echoed from the pantry, where Kate's frantic movements caused beads of sweat to trickle down her forehead. She fumbled with the contraption, a magical tea machine, hoping it would produce the desired chamomile concoction quickly. With a shaky grip, she carried the brimming cup into the room, a few droplets escaping its rim on her way.
"Your tea, Madam," Kate stammered, extending the cup with an unsteady hand.
"Please, have a seat," Madam Corasell's voice remained composed, her smile unwavering.
Nodding vigorously, Kate scurried to a chair, settling next to Hiraya, whose attempt to soothe her by holding her hand went unnoticed. The tension in the air was palpable, with Kate's anxiety casting a shadow over the room.
Madam Corasell's gaze shifted to the conference table's center, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It appears someone from the Daybreaker Squad has something weighing heavily on their conscience," she remarked, her tone measured.
Kate's face paled, and she immediately prostrated herself. "I deeply regret letting my emotions get the better of me! I never intended to harm a duke! Please spare my bonus and 13th-month pay, Madam!"
Madam Corasell's brows furrowed in confusion, her earlier smile fading. "What are you talking about?" she demanded, the room's tension escalating with each passing moment.
"I'm sorry for the scandal I caused last night! I had a bit too much to drink and got carried away with some violent antics. Please, Madam, let it slide," Kate pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.
Madam Corasell, however, raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Wait," she interrupted. "If you think I'm upset about the commotion with that baldy duke Apollo Campos, you're mistaken. In fact, it was quite spectacular!"
"What!?" Kate stared, baffled by the unexpected response.
Madam Corasell leaned forward, her expression serious. "Apollo Campos was one of those individuals who opposed my Dragonoid Rights Bill in Congress. He was a racist and a rapist. His marriage to that dragonoid victim was just a ploy to avoid arrest and lawsuits from the dragonoids he abused. Frankly, you did me a favor by giving him a beating."
"O-Okay," Kate stammered, slowly settling back into her seat, processing the unexpected turn of events.
A smile played on Madam Corasell's lips. "Consider it a job well done, Kate. I'll be rewarding you with a one-time bonus for this month."
"Good work, Kate," Hiraya chimed in, smiling as she gently petted Kate's long crimson hair. "I'm so proud of you. How about treating us to dinner later?"
Kate's mouth hung open in disbelief as she stammered out an uncertain, "O-Okay."
Madam Corasell cleared her throat, the tension in the air palpable. "Where were we? Alright. I heard that somebody wants to confess. Isn't that right, Lysander?"
All eyes swiveled towards me, their scrutiny heavy. I felt their judgmental gaze, rendering me speechless. The urge to question what was happening was suppressed by the memory of my drunken whisper to Madam Corasell during the party the previous night.
Gaeun's voice cut through the awkward silence, "U-Um, confess? Are you going to confess to Hiraya right here and right now?"
Hiraya's exclamation filled the room, "I do, Lysander! I do!"
I sighed, suppressing frustration. "You know that it's not a love confession. Stop with the jokes. It is something I have been keeping for a long time."
"Coming out of the closet, are you? Are you gay?" Kate inquired. "Don't be shy to a fellow homosexual like me!"
"No, I'm not," I replied with a frown, dismissing the assumption.
"Are you secretly a hobo? Because you really look like one," Charlotte chimed in.
"Fuck off, Charlotte!" I exclaimed, irritated.
"Well then, what is it?" Eva joined the conversation, her curiosity evident.
For a moment, I held my silence, scanning the inquisitive gazes around me. My eyes moved from Gaeun to Charlotte, then to Kate, Eva, Madam Corasell, and finally, resting on Hiraya. The golden-haired elf nodded, a silent signal of her approval.
"I am a Regressor, a time traveler. I've journeyed from a decade in the future, and my mission is to save the world," I declared.
A heavy silence enveloped the room. Instead of shock, I noticed their expressions shift into contemplation, as if connecting dots they had previously overlooked.
Kate broke the silence, "Well, I've had a theory about this for some time, so it's not entirely surprising."
Charlotte and Gaeun exchanged knowing glances, nodding in acknowledgment. After all, they'd known me for a year, and it was inevitable that my secret would eventually surface. I hadn't exactly gone to great lengths to conceal it.
Madam Corasell's fingers rested thoughtfully on her chin. "So that explains your uncanny knowledge of the Republic of Dragons. You're the mysterious informant Gregory Lecheron mentioned during the Neo Arcadia days. And the Dragon Lord Commandments in the bell tower? That wasn't Hiraya's idea. It was all yours."
"That's correct," Hiraya affirmed. "I aimed to safeguard Lysander's identity while aiding the empire, hence why I claimed to be an Oracle, even though I'm not. The truth is, Lysander is the true oracle."
Eva, with a puzzled expression, said "You always hide under Hiraya's skirt."
Hiraya responded casually, "Well, Lysander loves to look and sniff at my panties."
I protested, exasperated, "That's a figure of speech! Stop making dirty jokes out of everything you hear!"
"Okay, okay, sorry. I forgot this is supposed to be a serious meeting," Hiraya laughed apologetically.
Charlotte, flipping her brown hair, shifted the focus, "So, if a commoner like you came from the future, what happened to me? Or to Gaeun? Or Kate?"
I forced a smile, admitting, "I... I don't know. Honestly, I never got to meet you three until Hiraya introduced me to you girls in this timeline."
Charlotte clicked her tongue. "Tsk. What a useless time traveler."
Eva eagerly pressed, "How about me? What happened to me?"
I nonchalantly shrugged, "No idea. I also just met you in this timeline."
"You're a freaking useless time traveler, you know that?" Eva exclaimed in frustration.
"Yeah! You're useless!" Kate and Gaeun chimed in unison. "All you cared about is Hiraya!"
Hiraya blushed, attempting to lighten the mood with a forced laugh, "Hahaha."
Meanwhile, I found myself in a proverbial frying pan, bombarded with questions I could never answer. It seemed like my retribution for being a selfish, anti-social individual in the previous timeline. I couldn't help but acknowledge the truth – I really was a useless time traveler.