Good Intentions Don’t Always Bring Good Results (6)

Five tribes take turns occupying the throne.

The period of reign as emperor is fixed, and when that period ends, the throne is passed to the next tribe.

The system of the Katus Empire had this peculiarity.

And this peculiar system worked quite well, and so the country had been operating smoothly for a fairly long history.

However, intelligent beings have greed,

and the position of being above all others was more than enough to be the object of that greed.

• • Yes, I can help you. To make your Azrami tribe not just a tribe, but the Azrami imperial family of Katus.

    That woman’s whisper was so sweet—

It all started with rumors about a skilled fortune-teller who appeared in the capital.

Katus had such diverse gods that each tribe worshipped a different one, and shamanism based on these gods remained strong.

The Azrami tribe, as a tribe worshipping Berbaria, the god of abundance, good harvest, and fertility, was a tribe where shamanism still had a significant influence.

As such, rumors about a fortune-teller who suddenly appeared in the capital Esima and gave readings spread like wildfire throughout Esima.

A fortune-teller who surpassed the level of common fortune-tellers, accurately predicting or closely describing events from the past to as early as tomorrow, and even events a few days or weeks later.

It was natural for the imperial family, composed of the Azrami tribe, to take interest in this fortune-teller, and it didn’t take long for the fortune-teller to be summoned to enter the palace. And it didn’t take long for that fortune-teller to completely captivate the entire imperial family.

“Isn’t it strange that the fate of the nation changes every time the owner of the throne changes?”

“Y-yes, it is.”

The fortune-teller was no longer wearing a hood. Revealing her true appearance, the fortune-teller with her silver hair swaying—her blue eyes shining, was blatantly talking down to the emperor. But strangely, no one was left who could say this was odd or wrong.

“That’s why this Katus Empire can’t grow bigger than it is now. Look, even the Azrami tribe agrees that they need to expand their territory like the previous Meadow Gill tribe. Right?”

“That’s right too.”

Aporza nodded and answered.

Despite the fortune-teller, a mere fortune-teller, talking down to the emperor above all others, even Aporza didn’t feel it was strange. Rather, he only liked the fortune-teller whose snake tail swayed behind her, constantly saying pleasing things.

“But to do that, you need to risk the fate of the nation, so you need to wait and see… Meanwhile, the movements of the Meadow Gill tribe are concerning.”

As the fortune-teller said, the Azrami tribe also sympathized with the point that the Katus Empire’s territory should be expanded more than now. But to do so, war means risking the fate of the nation, and that’s not something that can be easily decided. Unlike the ignorant battle maniacs of the Meadow Gill tribe who didn’t care about such things and just charged in, the Azrami tribe was not like that.

“It’s better to leave the Meadow Gill tribe alone. That’s even better. For your Azrami tribe to establish itself as the Azrami imperial family, it’s actually better if they attack from that side.”

Saying this, the fortune-teller took out a dagger and a vial.

And pushing them towards the emperor, she showed a strangely twisted smile.

A smile that couldn’t be seen as good-intentioned, with the corners of her mouth fully curled up.

“These are a dagger and medicine distributed by the Dark Society. With these, you can get what you want.”

“What we want…?”

“Amira Al Azrami. Among your countless children, she’s the daughter with particularly good social skills, right? She’s in the church territory now.”

“That’s right.”

He didn’t ask the foolish question of how she knew that. Aporza believed and didn’t doubt anything this fortune-teller in front of him said. There was that much charm in the words of this fortune-teller who seemed to penetrate everything in the world.

“And in this palace, there’s a nanny who has been with that daughter since she was young.”

“…That’s correct.”

She must be referring to Arami.

Aporza nodded.

This time too, he didn’t doubt how she knew this.

“Bring her. Bring her and give me time to talk with her. Then everything will be resolved.”

Things seemed to be flowing smoothly according to the fortune-teller’s plan.

As she said, the Meadow Gill tribe started a civil war, and after dealing with them moderately and holding out in the palace for a while.

The daughter, Amira, who had been educated in the church territory of the Kapatia Empire, returned home, and along with her came a woman called the Saintess of Berbaria.

The night before the fortune-teller disappeared, she once again strongly instructed Aporza.

• • Remember this. You must do as I told you. And in the end, you must stab that Saintess with that dagger. If not, a disaster will befall you, and no one will be able to stop it. Instead, if you stab the Saintess… you will gain an eternal and immortal guardian deity for generations to come. Understand?

With those final words, the fortune-teller disappeared the next day.

Leaving behind the dagger and the vial.

“Alevian.”

Yona, who had been looking into Aporza’s illusion, called Alevian.

That low voice was mixed with numerous emotions.

Too cold to be called anger,

Too hot to be called calmness,

Too boiling to be called composure,

Too quiet to be called rage.

Alevian felt goosebumps all over her body.

The moment she heard Yona’s voice, she felt as if something irresistible was calling her, and it felt dark and sticky, like mud coming from deep in the abyss.

“Uh, y-yes.”

Alevian barely moved her staggering legs to approach Yona.

Yona, covering her face with one hand, glared at Alevian through the eyes revealed between her fingers.

That gaze was like that of a snake.

Feeling as if her heart was being gripped, Alevian swallowed and looked at Yona, and Yona said to Alevian,

“Tell me everything you know about Ceres’ plan, that bitch.”

“B-but. Pretty one, that’s… my position…”

“I’m allowing it, so speak. What Ceres is trying to do, what she dares to try to do with me. Now I understand it’s not just about gathering demon grand dukes or whatever, so speak.”

Alevian thought everything was ruined.

Yes, it was clear from the beginning that this would happen—as an Observer, there was almost nothing she could do alone, and although she had boasted about empowering Yona, there wasn’t really anything that had properly helped. This was rather better.

“…Ceres, she’s trying to… make you, pretty one, into the Sky God.”

“The Sky God, huh.”

Yona muttered to herself.

Sky God, Sky God…

Yona repeated it to herself several times.

“So.”

“I… believed that the Sky God should be resurrected, and Ceres… didn’t. She was trying to make you, pretty one, into a vessel for the resurrection of the Sky God.”

“A vessel, a vessel. Ha… this is something.”

Yona reached out and stroked Catsy’s nose bridge.

As she stroked Catsy’s nose bridge with her hand emitting demonic energy, inappropriately for the situation, Catsy made a purring sound and then, startled, closed her mouth.

“Really, they’re both making a fuss. The two of them, making a fuss over my body. One talking about vessels or whatever, the other… no, Alevian, you’re somewhat forgivable.”

Yona started to chuckle.

With those empty, hollow eyes, Yona started to laugh.

For a long time, laughter echoed through the reception room.

The sight of Yona standing and laughing in the reception room where about fifty snake beastkin were sprawled was incredibly grotesque.

After laughing like that for a long time, Yona suddenly stopped.

Turning abruptly, Yona faced Alec.

Approaching Alec, Yona reached out her hand.

Her fingers aimed at Alec’s chest.

Invisible to Alec, the black string extending from Yona’s chest was connected to Alec’s heart, and Yona was gazing down at that string with eyes as if looking at a beloved one.

Meanwhile, Yona’s fingers were caressing Alec’s chest.

Then touching his shoulders, tracing his jawline, and caressing his cheek with her long white fingers.

“Alec.”

“Yes.”

Alec quietly looked at Yona.

Yona, who was looking down at him due to their height difference of almost a hand span.

“I don’t like looking up.”

“Alright.”

At her words, Alec slowly knelt on one knee.

Like a knight imploring to a Saintess, Alec knelt and looked up at Yona.

“Alec. …Yes, good intentions don’t always bring good results. I know that too. But my good intentions have already been trampled on many times. There are too many people trying to use me. I think you won’t do that.”

“…Of course not.”

“Yes, yes… Alec, my Alec.”

Yona’s gaze drew a round arc.

That gaze full of affection was directed at Alec, and Alec also looked up at Yona with the most positive expression he could muster.

“I won’t be taken advantage of anymore. This should be enough, right? I don’t need to wait anymore, nor do I have the patience for it. So, now, now I’m going to stop. I’m going to—”

Yona’s smile disappeared.

The smile vanished from Yona’s face as she looked down at Alec, as if it had been a lie.

“Kill them all and end this.”