Chapter 20: Part 2 – The Next Prophecy

8 minutes

“What will happen to Carst?” I asked the Duchess.

The Duchess, seated on a luxurious makeshift chair prepared by her butler, under a parasol held by a maid, replied, “He won’t get off lightly for using private soldiers, but unlike Drefano, he hasn’t caused a national crisis. While the current head may suffer, the company itself will likely survive. The Eastern duke and Prime Minister will probably move to protect them.”

“However, it’s a major blunder right after mending relations with the Prime Minister’s family. Their faction will likely face internal turmoil,” the butler added. Apparently, he also manages intelligence.

As I pondered this, the attackers were being carted off. Then, another carriage approached. Strange, I wasn’t expecting any more visitors.

A slim, handsome man emerged from a high-quality but maneuverable carriage. He knelt before the Duchess. His face resembled a certain pair of twins I’d seen recently.

“Well, well, Duchess Berthold. What an unexpected place to meet you,” he greeted the Duchess, then walked towards me. Riruka gasped in surprise.

“Corness-sama!”

“Hello, Riruka. Good work as a messenger,” he said.

I see, so this is President Kenwell, who just became the next Guild Master.

“I wondered how you’d use that information, but I didn’t expect this,” he said in a seemingly gentle tone. His attitude, not flaunting his authority, was more likable than Drefano or Carst. Though I won’t let my guard down.

“It’s a bit early, but congratulations on becoming Food Guild Master,” I said.

“Ah, and congratulations to you on your promotion to silver member. A bit early as well,” he replied smoothly, his words containing an element I couldn’t ignore.

“…Wasn’t that just a rumor?” I asked cautiously.

“Using the real thing is more effective for luring out Carst, don’t you think? Now then, Paul Vinder-dono, let’s discuss the details,” Kenwell said, smiling at my father.

“And here I thought we were finally done with the Duchess. I didn’t hear about this, Ricardo,” my father sighed.

“I didn’t hear about it either. Please deal with this merchant’s high-handedness, President,” I replied.

Don’t talk as if the Duchess’s matter has just been settled. I’d like him to be more careful about self-preservation, considering he could be implicated. My father shrugged and invited Kenwell into the store.

As we passed each other, Kenwell asked, “May I ask one thing? What were you planning to do if Carst hadn’t made a move?”

“Nothing at all. Children’s quarrels remain children’s quarrels unless parents get involved. Besides, as long as it doesn’t affect us, I don’t mind Carst and Kenwell fighting,” I answered.

“You’re just as Jan and Maria described. When I become Guild Master, I’ll make sure not to make an enemy of you. Next time, it might be my head on the chopping block,” Kenwell chuckled.

“It’s over now, isn’t it? Let’s continue our work. We need to clean up the entrance,” Alfina said as she came out of the store with Mia, looking at the broken jars.

I felt the maid and butler’s gazes piercing me.

“About that, Alfie. We’ve received word from the Cathedral. The crystal is acting up again,” the Duchess said, looking as if she’d bitten into something sour.

“The crystal… I understand. Ricardo, I’m sorry,” Alfina replied, her expression instantly shifting to that of a public figure.

She exchanged a few words with Mia before hurrying towards the Duchess’s carriage.

“…A prophecy?” I asked.

“Signs are starting to appear. You might not be able to attend the academy for a while even after the break ends,” the Duchess explained.

“I thought the timing of prophecies was fixed,” I said, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

“It was. For prophecies as scheduled events,” the Duchess replied, her face clouding over.

I pressed my fist to my forehead. Right, this isn’t a performance, it’s the real thing. Given her previous accomplishment, her prophecy might be heeded more readily this time. But…

“Isn’t a second time problematic?” I asked.

“Indeed. It would be better if no prophecy came at all,” the Duchess sighed.

I hope it’s nothing ominous. The power to know great calamities in advance is too much for an individual. Repeated, it attracts fear or dependence, or both. None of these scenarios paint a bright future. As someone who considers herself Alfina’s guardian, I don’t want her to bear such a burden.

The prophetic crystal, huh? I need to ask Fuglsig about its mechanisms as soon as possible.

“Don’t look so gloomy. You’ll see her again soon. In three days, I’m inviting you, your father, and Mia to my home. I’ll prepare some good tea. Don’t worry about bringing gifts. Just make that French whatever,” the Duchess said.

“If you mean French toast, what’s sold in stores is far more delicious than what I could make,” I replied.

It’s a place I’d hoped not to visit again. I don’t remember the taste of the tea, but I still recall the killing intent I felt from the old butler.

“Just joking. The investment is decided, but there are still things we need to discuss. Paul called it a shareholders’ meeting, didn’t he? That’s what we’re going to have,” the Duchess explained, twirling her feather fan.

If that’s the case, it can’t be helped. It’s a system designed for shareholders to discuss on equal terms, regardless of whether they’re great nobles or not.

“I’ll make sure never to make an enemy of Vinder too,” Riruka said as the Duchess’s carriage departed and peace finally returned to the front of the store. She had been helping clean up the entrance.

Her gaze was directed towards the back reception room, where the head of her parent company was in a meeting with my father.

“That’s helpful. The senpai keeps making enemies every time he steps out of the house,” Mia remarked.

“They say a man creates seven enemies when he crosses a threshold. It can’t be helped,” I said weakly.

Mia and Riruka exchanged glances and laughed.

Well, I managed to protect myself this time too. It’s regrettable that I couldn’t stop the situation from becoming increasingly troublesome, though.

◇◇

Night. The center of the continent.

In the middle of a basin the color of dried blood, a creature looked up at the blue moon. As it spread its arms wide, its hexagonal bronze scales reflected the moonlight.

The dark crystal embedded in its brow absorbed the miasma rising from the ground, turning red. The ominously glowing crystal pulsed in the night’s silence. Patterns emerged on both arms. Fluorescence flowed between the scales, extending as a membrane of the same color from the arms to the back.

Wings formed, lighter and stronger than the organs with the same function it had as a juvenile. As it raised both arms, the translucent veil caught the wind. Bulging muscles contracted, powerfully beating the air. The stocky body easily lifted into the air.

All movements were natural. Manipulating two completely different types of energy, the creature escaped the yoke of gravity.

It pierced through the clouds in an instant. A ground-dwelling creature would have its consciousness reaped by the thin atmosphere. But the muscles in its arms were brimming with power. An efficient air circulation system pumped oxygen continuously into the muscles supporting the wings.

Controlling its posture in the air, it looked down. Between broken clouds, it gazed upon land divided in two by a great river flowing from east to west. The creature had taken flight from the central mountainous region of the northern half. To the creature’s eyes, the fluctuations of red miasma were stronger there than anywhere else.

It needed a large amount of food for the next growth stage. Unlike miasma, this couldn’t be obtained by sitting still. To consume efficiently, it needed a feeding ground where it could hunt large numbers of decently sized animals.

Its bloodshot eyes turned west. There was a land where green plains were scattered among mountains. Though thinner than in the center, there was enough miasma for it to operate.

The creatures that formed herds in the narrow green lands were its favorite prey. Though each individual was a bit small, the size of their herds far exceeded that of other animals of the same size.

Its back throbbed. It remembered receiving an unexpected counterattack from another herd after devouring two herds during its last hunt. It was conscious of its only wound, the scales that had just regrown.

Its distorted eyes turned south, across the great river.

A vast plain poor in miasma spread out. With such an expanse, there must surely be many prey. But it was an inconvenient place to operate. The mountain ranges to the east and west of the plain were too far to use as footholds. The miasma stored in its forehead wouldn’t be enough.

However, the creature’s eyes caught a red light in part of it. A faint miasma swirled around an isolated mountain near the great river. The creature narrowed its eyes.


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