episode_0097

I saw.

Ever since I was young.

The sight of myself coming here.

As soon as I heard that, I couldn’t help but question it right away.

“What is that… ?”

Well, it was such an absurd thing to say.

But before I even heard the answer to that question.

Wow─

With a slight vibration, the pitch-black space began to show changes.

Colorful colors suddenly appeared in the black space, and the colors that suddenly appeared began to swim freely in the black space.

And when I came to my senses, the space around me depicted a completely different scene.

It was a city and a country.

It also developed very prosperously.

It’s so huge and luxurious that you wonder if even the amazing Reinberg and Elbrend really have this much power.

“This is… … .”

“It’s a fallen old empire… !”

Before I could even finish speaking, L next to me shouted with sparkling eyes.

“… … .”

With those words, I once again took in the surrounding scene.

And, I intuitively knew that what El said was right.

If I had to mention the clue, I would say it is the terrain.

Although the dense trees are literally invisible, the visible shape of the country and the land on which the country is located are clearly similar to the forest topography shown on the map.

In other words, this scene is truly a fallen old empire.

A glimpse of the brilliant days before the fall of the old empire.

“Alternative… … .”

What is this, and what is this space?

Why did they take the trouble to leave me and Elman here, and why are they showing us this?

Without even guessing the answer, I quietly looked at the brilliantly shining image of the old empire.

And the empire that developed so prosperously—

The next moment, it was completely devastated.

“… … !”

El took a deep breath.

The city, which was overflowing with people just a moment ago, disappeared without a trace, and all the structures that once shined brightly became ruins.

Everything that symbolized the empire’s power and splendor was ruined and destroyed.

That scene was quite familiar to me.

“Forest… Wreckage.”

Yes, the remnants of the old empire still remain in the forest.

That was reflected in my eyes now.

“What the hell is this… … .”

Why are you showing me this video?

Feeling that question again, I checked L’s reaction out of the corner of my eye.

However, L, who had been jumping around with excitement just a moment ago, was staring into space with a blank expression.

“Lady?”

I quietly called Elle.

However, she didn’t react.

“Miss, are you okay?”

Suddenly showing a strange reaction in an unknown space like this is not something to be taken lightly.

With that in mind, I went straight up to her and put my hand on her shoulder.

Then, her head slowly turned towards me.

Those bright green eyes were so calm that I had never seen them before.

The moment I met those eyes, I felt it right away.

“… Who are you?”

This isn’t L.

“Wow, you’re quick-witted.”

El heard what I said… No, someone in El’s body said that and laughed.

At this, I stiffened my expression and spoke.

“I don’t know what your intentions are, but─”

“There’s nothing to worry about. I just borrowed her body for a while.”

I don’t know what your intention is, but hand over El’s body right now.

I was planning to say that, but the being in front of me cut me off, as if reading my thoughts.

“Don’t you know anyway? At least I don’t have any malicious intent.”

“… … .”

I didn’t like it, but it was as he said.

I didn’t sense an ounce of malice from the person in front of me.

but.

“… You talk as if you know me well.”

It really bothered me that he spoke as if he knew me well and knew my intuition.

I have never told anyone that I can intuitively sense someone’s malicious intent.

Any martial artist who has reached a similar level to me would be able to understand it sensuously, but at least I have never said it out loud.

The being in front of me knew that.

“Of course I know.”

Elle affirmed my question.

And then, a soft smile appeared on his face.

“… How do you know about me?”

In the end, I had no choice but to ask.

It’s too unexpected and specific to be thought of as just a throwaway comment.

It doesn’t make sense to say that he just spit it out to deceive me.

That’s why I asked obediently.

however.

“Do you believe that people who can see the future exist?”

L… did not answer my question, but suddenly asked me an unexpected question.

“… I don’t know what’s going on all of a sudden. I wish you could at least answer my question.”

“Don’t be so hasty. These are all related questions.”

… Suddenly the future.

I wanted to ask what kind of nonsense this was, but the conversation couldn’t proceed like this.

Even though I felt uncertain, I decided to answer the question.

“… Well.”

However, even if we tried to do so, it would be very difficult to answer the question.

Before, I would have answered no without hesitation.

However, an experience I had recently made me hesitate to answer that question.

Because of my experience talking with the old fortune teller I met right after leaving Aguillem.

She was definitely different from the fortune tellers on the streets.

At a glance, he recognized the situation I was going through and told me to go to the forest.

I was skeptical at the time, but when I followed her words and came to Darbil, I met this person who reacted as if he had been waiting for me.

It’s not strange to think that she really read the future, so to speak.

Or, I was fooled by a very well-written script.

However, I wasn’t sure either way.

The latter is strange and has many parts that don’t make sense, and the former is too absurd.

“I guess I’ve already met someone like that.”

“… How can we be so sure─”

“No. Probably right. When I see people like you have no confidence.”

L laughed again.

“There are people in this world who can see the future. Well, if you look at it exactly, it’s a little different, but… If you look at it roughly that way, it wouldn’t be a problem.”

She spoke words that denied and shattered common sense so easily, as if they were having a normal conversation.

“And, there was someone like that even in the old empire that is now destroyed.”

Her eyes turned to the remains of the empire.

“… … .”

An old story that started suddenly.

It was about an old empire that I wasn’t particularly interested in, but I didn’t bother to get involved.

Because I knew that it would actually complicate the story.

“Actually, people who can see the future are not that rare. It’s true that there aren’t many, but if you look for it, it’s something you can easily find around here. Why, sometimes there are people who say they had precognitive dreams or something like that, right? If you ask me, those people are also people who can see the future. It’s just that the ability is very faint.”

“… … .”

“However, the man was different. The man could really see the future. A very clear and certain future.”

L’s gaze returned to me again.

“If you could see the future, what would you do?”

I was a little taken aback by that sudden question.

What would you do if you could see the future?

“… Well, wouldn’t it be better to invest where the money will come from?”

“Hehe. It’s a very ordinary and common thought. Well, if you were really that kind of person, you wouldn’t even be standing here.”

“… … .”

I was left speechless by L’s words as if he could see right through my inner thoughts.

“Well, many people will still do what you said. Following your own desires. But that man was different. Rather than pursuing his own desires, he decided to use his power to see the future for the benefit of others.”

“… What a great person.”

“Hehe. okay. He was a great person. He really had a good heart. Not just for words, but for really starting to use his abilities for the benefit of others.”

After letting out a small laugh, L continued speaking.

“He saw in advance that people around him would get hurt and saved them. He foresaw and prepared for and prevented crises in the village. He also warned of poor harvests and droughts, saving the lives of many people. As time passed, the man became famous, and as time went by, he became a close associate of the emperor.”

Her voice continued in a tone as if she were telling an old story to a child.

“Even after he rose to a position where he could control countless people with just a finger, he never wielded his power for self-interest. Rather, he shared his wealth with the people of the empire and helped others at any time. In that life, the man felt happy. That you can help others. Because the lives of those who have suffered can be improved even just a little.”

“… … .”

It’s easy to just say good deeds.

However, it is difficult to actually put it into action.

When anyone gains power or power, they are bound to change, and their own desires come into view first.

However, the man was not swayed by desire and truly acted for others.

For that alone, I thought, the man was worthy of respect.

but.

The world is not so warm that such people can all have happy endings.

“However, the man’s happiness did not last forever.”