When Your Secret Crush Wizard Took a Love Potion - Chapter 72
That’s right. No one knows. Only I know that there are just 30 seconds left before the massive meteorite swarm, traveling at 15 kilometers per second, crashes into our planet, Emula.
“Hmmm, what should I wish for? I suppose money. Please make it so I can earn a lot of money without any effort.”
20 seconds.
“I wish I could meet a handsome man who matches my tastes.”
10 seconds.
The sounds of people laughing heartily as they looked up at the night sky, which might be their last, echoed loudly. What was once a delightful appreciation of the meteors falling with unrestrained vigor turned into concern.
The mercenaries, who had finally detected something unusual, frowned and sought confirmation from others.
“Doesn’t it seem like they’re getting closer?”
With only 5 seconds left, the grim reality of my helplessness struck me. I tightly closed my eyes to brace for the imminent impact.
“Gasp…!”
However, the surroundings were strangely silent.
When I dared to open my trembling eyelids, I quickly understood what was happening. The meteors, which had been rapidly falling, were now frozen in mid-air. The leaves on the branches swaying in the wind, the air itself, and even the breath of every living being were as solidified as clay in a plaster mold.
Time had stopped.
Time is one of the three great taboos that cannot be recklessly manipulated by magic. No magic book contains spells for freely controlling time. In this surreal scene that defied belief, only Edgar and I remained alive and moving.
“Edgar, what is this…?”
I turned to check, but his scowling face suggested it wasn’t his doing. Who could be responsible for this?
“I couldn’t stand by any longer. Unfortunately, I don’t wish to exterminate humanity just yet.”
A pleasingly melodious voice answered my unspoken question. From the direction of the voice, a middle-aged woman with flowing long hair stood there.
Her golden hair, flowing like threads of honey, and her light dress with a delicate shawl made her look as dazzling as any majestic royal.
“That’s unlike you, to meddle in such a way.”
“Really? You’ll end up being grateful to me later.”
The woman, who had casually responded to Edgar’s grumbling, introduced herself.
“I’m Orzen. Welcome, little druid. You must have had quite a journey to find me here.”
Her demeanor, speaking naturally with Edgar and appearing as if she had been watching us, made it clear that she was the owner of the Mistwood Forest I had been trying to find.
Arriving at my destination in such an unexpected moment left me with mixed emotions. As my dry lips moved, Orzen suddenly raised one hand.
“Hold on. I know you have a lot to say, but even someone like me can’t maintain a time-stop spell for long. It’s reaching its limit, so let’s move to another location.”
“Where to?”
She pondered for a moment, touching her chin, before seemingly making up her mind.
“I’ll invite you to my home. Is that alright?”
As soon as I nodded, my vision wavered slightly, and the surroundings changed. It was a teleportation spell. I was astonished by the fact that she had effortlessly transported not just a few people but over twenty with a mere flick of her fingers.
“This is where I live, and it’s the lowest underground of the Mistwood Forest.”
Orzen pointed with her chin towards her residence, which was close by. The roots of trees, sprawling in every direction, formed an arch-shaped entrance to her ‘home.’
The space, so vast it was hard to gauge its size, looked more like a mysterious dungeon waiting for explorers rather than a typical home.
It was certainly not a place where an ordinary human would live.
Edgar had never properly told me who the owner of Mistwood Forest was. I had no clue about their gender or age. I had come this far trusting only Edgar’s assessment that they had ‘good skills.’
But at this point, I couldn’t help but ask.
“Lady Orzen, could you perhaps be…”
Unable to hide my growing suspicion, I urged with my gaze, and Orzen’s red lips parted to provide the answer.
“Indeed. Some call my home a dragon’s lair.”
At that moment, I became even more curious about Edgar’s connections.
