"Or are you planning to stop this catastrophe too?"
Bernadette asked.
"Not really. I'm mainly worried that the catastrophe you mentioned might harm my friends. If I stay in Backlund, I can step in to help at any time." He paused, then said, "Of course, if you need anything when the time comes, I'll help as much as I can."
He hesitated for a few seconds. "...I received word that the Demoness Sect seems to have a Sequence 4 Demoness planning to advance to Sequence 3 in Backlund, and her advancement ritual seems to involve creating a major catastrophe. Could that be the catastrophe you foresaw?"
Her eyes flickered. "So that's how it is..."
She nodded, then looked impassively at Edward's hand gripping hers. Edward hastily let go and took a step back.
Bernadette said then, "I'll come with you."
Edward froze. "What?"
"Aren't you going to act as a Traveler? I'll go with you."
"Why?"
She looked steadily at Edward. "You still owe me two stories. You can tell them to me on the way."
After a pause, the corners of Bernadette's mouth lifted in a lovely smile. "And teach me Roselle's language while you're at it."
"Dad left behind so many notebooks and diaries. I can't ask you to translate all of them for me. Besides, you've been keeping some information from me all along, haven't you?"
Oh, come on, Emperor. I've really been doing my best to preserve your glorious image!
But if your daughter actually learns Chinese, there really won't be anything I can do. Maybe... I should find an excuse to put it off again? Say I'll teach her after I've digested the potion and stabilized my condition. Otherwise, teaching Chinese while wandering would be so...
Huh, wait!
Edward suddenly froze.
Bernadette was Sequence 3,