◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – Pirate Tavern ◆
“Lua-chan, aren’t you going to eat? This place just opened!”
“I’m eating! But Kurinka, you… sorry, you’ve already stacked up thirty plates, haven’t you?”
Kurinka was all fired up about trying out this newly opened restaurant while we were in the Kingdom of Kashiram. I figured it would just be another food place, but it turned out to be exactly that. The dishes were all inspired by the meals pirates eat aboard their ships, and indeed, it was a bit different from the usual places. Everything was served in massive portions, with plates piled high with bread the size of my fist and mountains of potatoes that were overwhelming just to look at.
I glanced around, wondering if normal people could eat this much, and surprisingly, everyone seemed to be managing just fine. Of course, Kurinka was on her thirtieth plate. She usually fussed over money, but when it came to food, she spared no expense. Having lived in the Abyss Cave for so long, I had a strong attachment to food myself, and Gantetsu and Seigel were always amazed at how much I could eat during our meals. But Kurinka? She could eat three times that amount. Maybe it was because she was a Dragon.
“Here you go! Grilled Jelly Fish with Helmet Butter!”
“Wow! It’s here, it’s here, it’s here! Lua-chan, let’s eat!”
Kurinka eagerly dove into a plate that had a fish head the size of my own. I watched her curiously, wondering how on earth she was going to eat that. Meanwhile, I couldn’t shake off my thoughts about Aleid’s level, which had been bothering me since yesterday. I had no idea where or how he had fought to reach such a level. After ten years of battling in the Abyss Cave, my level was around 2000, yet he was at 9999.
He was probably over ten years older than me, but that was all. Was the Hero really that incredible? Or was he just exceptional? I couldn’t figure it out. The fact that someone had a higher level than me was shocking, to say the least.
I hated losing. After ten years of constant defeats, how could I not? I had faced death countless times, only to finally grasp victory, and then lose again. Was my hard-earned strength easily surpassed by him?
“No way, that can’t be right.”
“Huh? The taste of the Jelly Fish?”
“I didn’t feel anything from him. Even when Disballade was about to go berserk, he was just flustered. If he had any real skill, he should have known what to do in that situation. He should have resolved it somehow, just like I did. But he couldn’t.”
Kurinka was busy poking at the fish’s eye, scooping it out as she explained that it was called Jelly Fish because of its jelly-like texture. She seemed too engrossed in eating to pay attention to my musings. Well, I was just mumbling to myself anyway.
“Hmm, what do you think of that guy, Lua-chan? Like, his physique? Can’t you tell he has some experience if you look closely?”
“Exactly! That’s what I can’t wrap my head around!”
“Is that what you mean?”
“Not the fish eye! When I look at him, he doesn’t seem like someone who has fought that much! In fact… I can’t quite put it into words, but I almost feel like he hadn’t even held a sword until recently.”
“Is that so? I can’t really tell…”
I couldn’t see his physique because of his clothes, but it felt like a mismatch, like if Mike, who I measured with the Detect Ring yesterday, turned out to be incredibly strong. Sure, Tiferia wouldn’t look strong without a weapon, but that’s not it. It was a matter of instinct, not logic.
“For example, that fat uncle over there, shoveling food into his mouth from a big plate. Does he look strong to you?”
“Not really… Even if he was somewhat strong, if someone suddenly attacked him with a weapon, he’d probably be dead in no time. It’s rude to say that about a stranger, but…”
Just because someone was fat didn’t mean they were weak; there were strong people like Glaive. Just one look at him gave off a dangerous vibe. You could tell he had killed before, the scent of blood lingering around him. Compared to him, that uncle was just an ordinary guy, and he even looked quite kind.
“I wonder if Seigel could explain this better.”
“Speaking of which, is he still in the Kingdom of Kashiram?”
“Oh… I think he asked to hitch a ride when we were leaving…”
We began to poke at the grilled Jelly Fish on our big plate, trying to forget about the promise we had made. The eye was surprisingly delicious. As I calmed down, I found myself able to listen to the lively chatter around us. The tavern was bustling with the boisterous voices of the staff and the patrons placing additional orders.
Yesterday, I wore Kurinka’s Detect Ring, and today I was trying it out myself. At first, I hesitated, but once I tried it, I found myself wanting to experiment more and more. Who should I try it on?
“Nom nom nom nom.”
“Hey, Shin! Sit still!”
By the way, Shin was being a bit of a nuisance, nibbling on food like a mouse under the table. If his little hands bumped into my legs, he would smack them away, and I almost felt like kicking him back.
“Hey, once we’re done eating, let’s go see that fortune teller. I heard she’s incredibly accurate.”
“But there’s a huge line, right? I don’t want to wait.”
“Come on, come on! They said she’s a traveling fortune teller, and if we miss her, she might leave.”
“Yeah, I think she’s over on West Street, right?”
I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation of the adventurers sitting at the round table next to us. They left quickly, leaving behind only their clean plates. What exactly is a fortune teller?
“Kurinka, did you hear that?”
“Nope, if they just arrived recently, it’s no wonder we don’t know. A fortune teller, huh?”
“What’s a fortune teller?”
“Someone who tells you about the future. Of course, it doesn’t always come true, but I’ve heard that a skilled fortune teller can be quite accurate.”
“The future?! Can they really know that?”
“There are fortune teller classes among adventurers, but they aren’t all-powerful.”
“Let’s go check it out!”
As I hurried to pull Kurinka, who wasn’t mentally prepared, out of the tavern, I suddenly realized we hadn’t paid. After being yelled at by the staff, I apologized profusely before finally settling the bill. I had heard rumors that the place was run by former pirates, and it certainly felt rough around the edges.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – West Street ◆
“Recently, I was supposed to move to the Kingdom of Normitz, but it turned out to be the right decision to listen to the fortune teller. Apparently, there was an unusual outbreak of Wolfang on the way, and there were casualties.”
“Is that true?”
“It seems they were quickly dealt with, but if we had left as planned… According to the fortune teller, it might have been the work of demons.”
The line was reminiscent of the long wait for the Hero’s Sword. Naturally, everyone was buzzing about the fortune teller. An old man was standing behind a table draped in cloth, holding something that looked like a crystal ball. On either side of him stood two suspiciously robed figures. They seemed like bodyguards or something, but that alone solidified my image of what a fortune teller should be.
“Tarasazuhamakuburubenoriyusoku, Tarasazuhamakuburubenoriyusoku… Kaaahhh!”
See? Suspicious. The old man hunched over, mumbling those incomprehensible words, and the robed figures only added to the oddity. The crystal ball began to glow with a pale light, which only heightened the suspicion.
“Ah…! This is quite a troublesome demon attached to you.”
“R-Really?! Is the reason I got dumped by her because of that…?”
“Not just that; the other day, you were also robbed, and that was likely due to it…”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“Fear not, it is not an opponent we cannot exorcise, but in that case, you will need to offer a little of this…”
The fortune teller formed a ring with his thumb and index finger, looking solemnly at the man. Without hesitation, the man handed over some money to the fortune teller. The fortune teller nodded silently and placed both hands over the crystal ball, while the onlookers held their breath in anticipation.
“Tarasakeritokauhyō, Tarasakeritokauhyō… Kwaaaaaaaah!”
I instinctively shut my eyes in front of the dazzling light of the crystal ball. The blinding light was unexpectedly disorienting. There had been times in the Abyss Cave when I couldn’t open my eyes for a while because of it. This fortune teller clearly hadn’t considered that.
“Ah… the demon has departed.”
“Is that true?! Thank you so much!”
“I’m worried about the lingering aura of malice. Just to be safe, carry this with you for a while.”
“What is this…?”
“It’s something like Holy Water that wards off evil. I won’t charge you for this.”
“Thank you for everything… I’m really sorry.”
What is this lingering scent of malice? What is this thing that resembles Holy Water? What does “evil” even mean? Watching that person, who is even shedding tears of gratitude, makes me question if this is truly the right path.
“Kurinka, what do you think about that?”
“Um, well… I can’t say anything until we get a reading…”
From her evasive response, it’s clear Kurinka is suspicious. Absolutely.
“Wow, that fortune teller’s demon readings are surprisingly accurate.”
“Big Bro Ord, it’s almost our turn!”
“What are you going to ask about?”
Hearing that name after so long sent a chill down my spine. I hoped that just because we shared a name, it wouldn’t be the same person I knew, but alas, my wish was not granted. There were two unfamiliar figures with wild, broom-like hair standing just ahead of us. I hadn’t noticed before, but they had been there slightly longer than us.
“Oh, look! It’s Rua and Roel! It’s been a while; I haven’t seen you around lately. What have you been up to?”
“I just returned from the Kingdom of Kashiram.”
“The Kingdom of Kashiram? Huh, that’s quite the choice… It’s not exactly known for its sanitary conditions, and the king is infamous for being a tyrant, so it’s not a place I’d want to visit.”
I couldn’t understand why, despite Kurinka’s kind response, they had to say something so unpleasant. I don’t particularly like that king either, but my impression of him has improved since our first meeting. So while I can understand their feelings, it still irked me to hear him belittled. I almost wanted to correct them, telling them that it was Roel, not Kurinka, but I decided against it.
“But when I met him, he turned out to be surprisingly nice.”
“Is that so? I’ve heard nothing but bad rumors, like how he grabbed the necks of complaining citizens and dragged them around all day…”
“Th-That’s just a rumor!”
“Big Bro Ord, you’re actually acquainted with the Flash Strike Girl?”
“Yeah, sort of.”
Two boys, looking like adventurers, called Ord “Big Bro.” They must be adventurers too, given that they were armed.
“Wow! It’s true that you’ve been looking out for them since they were fledgling adventurers!”
“Y-Yeah, you could say that…”
“We’re so proud!”
“Hey, what’s going on?”
I must have unconsciously exuded some intimidation because Ord’s face turned pale, and he began to distance himself from me with a wry smile. Hah, seeing him try to cover up his embarrassment like that only confirmed that he had been boasting about things that weren’t true. If he’s trying to pretend he didn’t protect me from being crushed by a Poison Salamander, I won’t forgive him.
“Wait, the Flash Strike Girl is here?”
“Whoa! The real deal!”
“She’s cuter than I expected!”
“Let me touch her!”
Thanks to Ord, all eyes were suddenly on us. I grabbed the arm of someone trying to touch my arm and chest, and they winced in pain, making a face like the end of the world, so I let go. With the crowd pressing in on us, I honestly didn’t know how to react.
“Hey, Rua, why don’t you go first and get a demon reading?”
“Is that okay? I mean, what even is a demon reading…?”
“Yes, demon!”
The fortune teller shouted loudly, pointing her sharp, claw-like fingers at us. Upon closer inspection, she looked rather creepy—a wrinkled face with a beak-like nose and red eyes that resembled a cat’s. I know I shouldn’t judge by appearances, but with a name like “demon reading,” she started to look like a demon herself.
Despite my reluctance, everyone parted to let me through, so I had no choice but to proceed. Once I got close enough, the two flanking her stepped forward to act as a barrier, making me stop. They really do seem to be acting as her guards. There was no need for them to dress so suspiciously.
“Demons, in truth, lurk everywhere in our daily lives. They prey on the weak hearts of humans and infiltrate their lives. From trivial matters to life-threatening calamities, humans dismiss them all as mere coincidences. What do you think of that?”
“Uh… I suppose that’s true.”
“However… sometimes, a person themselves can be a demon.”
With her claw-like fingers still pointed at me, the fortune teller continued her speech. I tried to peek at the faces of the two beside her, but I couldn’t see them well. The fortune teller shot me a sharp glare for my actions. I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
“A human with a demon’s heart is, in fact, a demon.”
“Uh… I see.”
Kurinka had been responding the same way for a while now. I didn’t really care about the content of the conversation, but the word “demon” kept nagging at me. If she knows a lot about demons, maybe she could help me.
“Hey, fortune teller, is there a demon with only one wing?”
“Hmm…? Well, it’s not impossible for such a thing to exist…”
“Really?! Where can I find it?! Where?!”
“That might be… somewhere out there, but perhaps it resides within the human heart.”
“…What do you mean?”
“As I mentioned earlier, demons are everywhere. They might be demons wearing human skins or humans with demonic traits. However, sometimes it is the human heart that reflects the demon. An ugly heart is what reveals the demon.”
“So what does that mean?”
“It means that demons do not remain in a single form.”
So what does that ultimately mean? If you don’t know, just say you don’t know! It’s only making things more confusing for me.
“That is to say, they are both illusions and idols. But enough of this long-winded talk. Now, what would you like me to read?”
“…Do you know where the demon that destroyed my village, Ikana Village, is?”
“I can’t guarantee anything, but let’s give it a try… Hooowaaaaaa…”
As the fortune teller’s hands moved, the Crystal Ball began to emit a soft glow. Perhaps this could help me achieve my goal. The townspeople trust her, so there’s no doubt about it. I had somehow come to believe in the fortune teller, despite my initial skepticism.
I know it’s strange, but there’s something powerful about something that many people acknowledge.
“Guaaaaaaaah!”
Just before the light intensified, the Crystal Ball shattered into countless pieces, and the light vanished. The shards flew apart without cracking, and of course, they came flying at me too. Instinctively, I shut my eyes and, in a dazzling display of agility, scooped up Kurinka and moved away.
After I distanced myself, the people around us finally screamed, realizing the situation. The fortune teller began to tremble as she witnessed the round Crystal Ball shatter into pieces.
“Th-This is… no way…”
The two flanking her supported her as she staggered backward. Wiping her forehead with a cloth she pulled from somewhere, the fortune teller tried to calm herself.
“What just happened…?”
“Demons… demons…”
My heart raced. I often have a bad feeling about things like this. The fortune teller’s trembling fingers pointed at us.
“Demons… I didn’t notice, but these two girls are demons!”
As soon as the fortune teller screamed this, the crowd turned their piercing gazes toward us.
“An unfathomable demon beyond human control! They’ve borrowed the guise of adorable girls and blended in with the people without a care! Drive these two out of this town immediately! Otherwise, calamity will befall us!”
“Hey, hey! Don’t go spouting nonsense like that, old man! That’s just ridiculous!”
Ord was the first to react to the fortune teller’s outburst. Ignoring the frightened expressions of the two boys, he boldly approached the fortune teller, his broom-like hair swaying. Kurinka instinctively hid behind me, and I knew I had to be strong.
“It’s not nonsense! Just think about it! When was this town attacked by the Demon Lord Army? It was after those girls arrived! Before that, everything was peaceful! And that’s not all! The attack from the Garden of Beasts wasn’t a coincidence either! Everyone, place your hands on your hearts and think about the calamities that have befallen you!”
Despite their awkward expressions, it seemed everyone was recalling something, looking at us as if we were monsters. Being looked at like that was painful. We hadn’t done anything wrong, but even if not everyone felt this way, it seemed many were inclined to believe the fortune teller’s words.
“That Flash Strike Girl drove away the Demon Lord Army, right?”
“But… now that you mention it, why was this country attacked by the Demon Lord Army?”
“The Demon Lord Army is attacking indiscriminately everywhere, right? This country was just the first to be hit.”
“Is that really the case…?”
There were still some people who believed in us. But the fact that some were starting to harbor doubts was shocking. And I never imagined that Ord would step up to protect me like this. Maybe I had disliked him too much.
“What are you doing! I can see it… I can see the next disaster! Hurry and get that girl out of here! A storm… a storm is coming!”
No one would believe such words on a clear day without a cloud in sight. Yet, it seemed that misfortune was indeed piling up, as clouds that had shown no sign of presence suddenly began to gather.
“Hey… doesn’t the sky look a bit ominous?”
After someone voiced their concern, raindrops began to soak my cheeks. One, then two, they multiplied and quickened in pace, turning into a torrential downpour in no time at all.
“Whoa! What is this! It was sunny just a moment ago!”
“Now there’s thunder too!”
“C-Could it really be…?”
As the heavy rain poured down, the sky lit up and the wind picked up, all eyes turned toward us. The only one trying to calmly evacuate everyone in this chaos was Ord.
◆ Shin Report ◆
The Shin Report is drenched, and it’s a real mess, oh dear.
Rain, rain, for now, let’s shove it all into their item bags.
That fortune teller… I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before.
There’s no way I could forget such a genius mind.
Hmm, but still, I don’t know which fool it is,
Knowing they’re a sudden attack girl, what a blunder.
This is definitely going to have scary consequences.
No, no, no, it’s hard to tell through the rain, but I feel like crying a little.
Now then, let’s see how this Shin will fare after the chaos.
No, no, no, why would Shin say something like that?
Something’s definitely off with Shin lately, extremely off.