Chapter 37: Encounter (3)
Night sky’s fortune teller.
An owner of a unique ability to read destinies by observing constellations.
I clearly heard she was at the edge of Demesia?
“These are vegetables I’ve grown myself. They’re hard to find elsewhere, so try them and buy if you like.”
“Oh! They look rare!”
‘…Why is she selling vegetables?’
She growing vegetables was known, but selling them wasn’t.
Maybe in the original timeline, there wasn’t much leisure time for such activities?
Surreptitiously glancing around…
People occasionally glanced at her stall as they passed by.
The act itself of the fortune teller wasn’t strange; most were vaguely operating stalls with questionable barriers.
However, the peculiar atmosphere and eerie feeling that couldn’t be hidden despite the pulled-down robe drew attention.
“I’ll go buy some…”
“Evan!”
Lapis interrupted Felix’s sentence, visibly excited, tugging on his sleeve.
“I want to eat those vegetables…!”
“…Alright.”
…Right!
This isn’t me trying to approach her, it’s because Lapis asked me to approach her.
Absolutely not out of personal interest.
“Felix. Isis. Please wait a moment.”
“Take your time.”
“I’ve been curious since before we arrived, why do you keep using honorifics?”
Felix’s useless question was ignored as Evan swallowed dryly and approached her.
In front of the stall, the fortune teller looked up.
A faint smile formed on the corner of her mouth uncovered by the hood.
“Welcome, esteemed guest.”
Her gaze wasn’t directed at Evan but at Lapis behind him.
“The master of a great destiny has arrived.”
“…Me?”
“Yes.”
The fortune teller gently prepared one of the vegetables laid out before her and handed it over.
A natural gesture, fluid like water.
Lapis unknowingly accepted the vegetable.
“Though I can’t read everything, I can sense the magnitude. In my vision… I see a massive whirlwind heading towards you.”
“…Can you really see that?”
“Of course.”
The fortune teller smiled faintly.
“You are destined to change the continent’s landscape.”
“…”
Lapis seemed to have an inkling, remaining silent.
It might sound like pseudoscience at first glance, but there was something captivating about it.
The fortune teller turned her head.
“The person standing behind also shares this fate. A princess who fled to regain freedom and dreams…”
“What? How did you know?!”
Isis gasped.
A runaway princess.
There couldn’t be many people aware of this fact.
If it were a question, pretending ignorance could work.
But the fortune teller stated it confidently, not as a query.
“One of the few talents I possess. The same principle applies to cultivating these vegetables.”
She swept her seemingly unweathered white fingers across the vegetables.
“As delicate as these children to the whims of the sky… guiding them to avoid misfortune and grow without issues through reading their fates is what I can do.”
“…”
For a moment, Lapis stared intently at the fortune teller.
Had she been shocked?
Apparently not.
“…If that’s the case.”
Gripping Evan’s sleeve carefully, Lapis spoke while looking at the fortune teller.
“What about Evan?”
“Evan?”
“Can you see how grand Evan’s destiny is?”
The fortune teller momentarily showed a puzzled expression before shaking her head.
“…Sorry, but I can’t see well because of the hood. Is someone named Evan here?”
“Right in front of you?”
“???”
“???”
A brief awkward silence ensued.
The fortune teller slightly lifted the edge of her hood.
Her eyes revealed themselves.
Purple irises shimmering like constellations met Evan’s.
“…Ah.”
Finally recognizing Evan’s presence, the fortune teller wore an apologetic expression.
“Sorry, I usually keep my eyes covered…”
“We noticed anyway.”
Isis asked curiously.
Seemingly speechless, the fortune teller tightly shut her mouth.
Then she muttered defensively.
“Well… Normally I distinguish people by their destinies, but I couldn’t see this person…”
“???”
Isis turned back with an expression of “What are you talking about?”
Lapis had a similar reaction.
Distinguishing people by destiny?
She’s not even blind!
“Hmm! Can you identify people by their aura! That’s impressive…”
“Shut up.”
“Umm.”
Isis silenced him with an irritated expression, covering his mouth with soft force.
“…It’s alright.”
Evan tried to stay positive.
Yeah, because the hood was pulled down tightly.
Given her eyes weren’t fully visible, it’s understandable she didn’t recognize him.
‘Though there was mention of distinguishing people without seeing them directly through destiny.’
Didn’t think it would be true.
Since nothing like this ever happened in the game.
All because of not purchasing the DLC.
Should have played through it before coming!
A small sigh escaped him.
The past Evan, or rather Yi Hanaol, felt regrettable.
Absolutely not hurt from being ignored by a favorite character…
“Hmph.”
The fortune teller awkwardly cleared her throat.
“Sorry, seems my training is still lacking.”
“…It’s fine. Not everything goes as planned.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
The fortune teller clasped her hands together.
Now that he looked, she resembled Ossera somewhat.
Probably because the fortune teller mentioned being Ossera’s sister, and Ossera learned from her.
“Esteemed guest, may I inquire about your name?”
“…Evan Alkart.”
“Hmm.”
Hearing the name, the fortune teller glanced at the sky for a moment then tilted her head.
“Is that your real name?”
“…”
Caught?
Evan wasn’t actually Evan.
A 24-year-old ordinary youth, Yi Hanaol.
An Earth-native spirit-possessor.
If she discovered this…
“Perhaps not a pseudonym? Because I wouldn’t be able to tell if it were…”
“No.”
“Hmm. If not, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to read it…”
The fortune teller kept tilting her head in confusion.
Fortunately, she hadn’t realized he was a spirit-possessor.
“Sorry, must be due to my recent poor condition…”
“It’s alright.”
Phew, saved!
“By the way, could I purchase some vegetables?”
“Ah, yes! Of course! What would you like?”
“From here to here.”
Evan took out his wallet.
“Give me all of them.”
“…!!”
With his allowance, buying a mansion would be easy.
“Lapis. This should last until tomorrow, so please ration it.”
“Yes!!”
Lapis, looking delighted, had flushed cheeks.
Watching them for a moment, the fortune teller muttered dejectedly.
“…I’m unemployed today.”
Isn’t that good though?
The newly unemployed fortune teller decided to chat with us briefly.
A nearby café.
More like a restaurant?
The coffee-like food was delegated to Felix.
Meanwhile, when the fortune teller saw the Golem horse Evan brought, she displayed a shocked expression.
“G-Golem…?”
She hesitantly touched it.
Wasn’t the Golem supposed to be amazing?
It wasn’t particularly difficult though.
“…Nothing registers.”
Raising her hood slightly, the fortune teller gazed at the Golem with both eyes.
The Golem remained docile as if familiar with her.
As if recognizing Evan’s favorite character.
‘Indeed, the real thing is better.’
Just from seeing her eyes, he was sure.
Her appearance was on a different level compared to what he’d seen in the game.
After all, the primary criterion for a favorite character is looks.
Even considering the slight sting from being treated like a transparent person earlier, this was satisfying enough.
“…That the Golem doesn’t register is intriguing. Could I ask one question, if it’s not too impolite?”
“?”
“Are you perhaps a Golem?”
“Ah… No, I’m not.”
He almost rebutted instantly, thinking “Am I a Golem?”
But restrained himself fearing a drop in affection points.
‘Damn. The fortune teller lacks universal dialogue and affection points.’
Once cut, it might end there.
Although inherently kind, meeting her again could become difficult.
It was crucial to maintain a good impression.
“I am human. If you doubt, feel free to touch.”
Given she avoids physical contact with people, touching likely wouldn’t happen.
That calculation proved wrong when she suddenly grabbed his hand.
Hu, huuhk!
“…Yes. You’re human.”
The fortune teller examined his hand a few times before stepping back.
No sign of embarrassment or hesitation.
‘Does she really see nothing from me?’
If this continues, it’s over.
The original goal was to build a rapport and possibly learn about destiny through fortune-telling.
A two-for-one deal, essentially.
But if she can’t see any destiny, this is unexpected.
‘What should I do?’
While Evan pondered,
Lapis muttered.
“Golem Evan… Golem faction… Golem hip…?”
“…”
Isis, hearing the worst naming sense, made a face tinged with disdain.
“You’re really bad at naming things, aren’t you?”
“…I just need the names Evan gives.”
“No, that’s not what I mean…”
“Just terrible taste.”
“Be quiet!”
Lapis shouted loudly.
Felix scratched his head with a dumbfounded expression, muttering “Oh, is that so?”
“Hmm, uh-hum…”
The fortune teller cleared her throat and changed the subject.
“Please forget the rudeness I showed today. I’ve made many mistakes today.”
“Not at all.”
“Since I’ve made so many errors today… If you have any requests, I’ll fulfill them.”
The fortune teller raised the cup with grace. It was coffee Evan bought.
“Did you come here to see me about something?”
“…What? How did you know?”
“Your destinies don’t belong in such remote places. You must have a specific purpose to visit me after traveling such a long distance.”
The fortune teller smiled softly.
“Don’t feel pressured. Though normally I wouldn’t, since I’ve become unemployed thanks to you, I have plenty of time.”
Originally, the plan was to casually inquire about fortunes to build a connection.
Scrapped plan.
Requesting a reading now would only make things more awkward.
“It’s not important.”
First, let’s focus on building rapport.
Honestly, it was challenging.
Still, since we’ve come this far…
You can do it, macho Evan!
“First, I came to deliver this.”
Evan handed over Ossera’s letter from his pocket.
The fortune teller’s face stiffened.
The fortune teller stared rigidly at the letter.
Thankfully, her hood was pulled down tightly.
Otherwise, her inner turmoil would have been exposed.
‘Ossera…?’
The only group she belonged to, the Tower of Space-Time, and the younger sister she cherished like her own, Ossera.
Why did this man have a letter from her?
‘I never imagined he approached for this purpose…’
Evan Alkart.
A truly mysterious man.
Someone she could only see with her ‘two eyes’.
‘Destiny unreadable… completely undetectable by other means.’
Almost like someone from another world.
Impossible, right?
Alkart is a well-known family, even to her.
No way he could deceive the monstrous Duke’s discerning eye.
‘Too natural demeanor…’
Expressionless face, emotionless eyes.
Perfect poker face.
Every movement exudes grace, respect embedded in every tone.
Judging by skill alone, highly competent.
High-quality Golems like those couldn’t be crafted otherwise.
‘Skilled, high status individual delivering merely a letter…?’
Unlikely.
There must be some purpose.
Perhaps Ossera’s lover?
No, unlikely.
Clearly underage, pre-adulthood.
Ossera wouldn’t fancy someone with such a significant age gap.
If she did, given her talkative nature, she’d have surely mentioned it.
Then…
‘Could he have discovered my secret…?’
A secret unknown to anyone except the stars above.
If he approached knowing this secret…
The fortune teller’s rigid expression didn’t waver.
Quiet for now, but who knows when it might awaken, thanks to spotting blood two weeks ago.
If he’s targeting this…
‘I should read the letter content first…’
Just as the fortune teller cautiously unfolded the letter,
Clink, clink, clink!
The sound of armor joints colliding.
The fortune teller looked up.
Three knights clad in silver plate armor over dark skin surrounded her.
Exuding obvious hostility and caution.
“Are you the famous ‘witch’?”
“…If you seek a fortune teller, then yes.”
“We need you to come with us.”
“…What’s the matter?”
“Regarding recent kidnappings. We received reports implicating you.”
Clink! Clink!
They drew their swords against the fortune teller.
Plain intimidation.
“If you don’t come willingly, we’ll have to drag you.”
The fortune teller subtly checked Evan’s reaction.
How will he respond?
Unperturbed, maintaining a calm composure.
Placing down his teacup, Evan spoke.
“…Let’s go together.”
“Pardon?”
“This person is my companion. Since my companion is being detained, I must accompany.”
Really… Will he follow along?
Even if it leads to execution?
His relaxed attitude seems insincere.
What does he believe in?
‘…Damn, maybe I should’ve stayed out of it?’
Actually, Evan was regretful.
A good opportunity to gain favor.
Overdid it though.
This crazy guy!
What’s he thinking, risking death like this!
‘…Ah, but as long as I don’t die, it’s fine, right?’
Unlike the old Hanam Yi,
Now, seasoned survivalist Evan with a year’s experience.
More than capable of surviving, with five tools and Living Golems and Isis.
‘If we get close, maybe I can alter Lapis’s destiny…’
Can’t help it.
Evan squeezed his troubled face and stood up.
‘What’s his intention?’
‘Did this increase favorability?’
Two minds conflicted.
Together, they exited the café.
