Ch.113Prophet (3)

“But.”

In my case, things were different.

My ability didn’t require any special items from the beginning.

Rather than not needing them, they actually had the opposite effect.

Even if I possessed such high-grade items, they would only rot away as antiques difficult to dispose of.

Being dangerous objects, I couldn’t carelessly discard or sell them.

If divine artifacts fell into the hands of cultists, it would truly cause bloodshed.

Because of this, I had many concerns.

“Hehe.”

In that sense, the Chancellor presented a good opportunity for me.

To dispose of dangerous items.

And to hear predictions about the future.

Since I was an impurity that had entered the original flow, I needed to check if there were any changes to the prophecies.

After briefly searching inside my clothes, I place something on the table.

Click-

“So I prepared this.”

A case about the size of my palm.

As I gently lift the lid of the closed box, a particularly shining stone is revealed inside.

An ethereal blue energy was flowing from the gem.

I idly tap the surface with my fingertip.

In response, a strange noise resonates, and the air around us subtly distorts.

Like heat haze rising.

“A divine artifact… the heart of an ancient dragon.”

Last time.

It was an item I obtained while rescuing the fox.

A research facility nestled between massive canyons.

A stage of madness where only the worst black magicians of Baove gathered, slaughtering countless people through chimera experiments.

I collected this item during the process of destroying that insane facility.

The heart of a dragon that once protected the world.

When discovered, it was powerful enough to twist time in the surrounding canyon, so its output was more than sufficient to bear the price of a prophet’s service.

The Chancellor silently gazed at the gem I presented.

“……”

However, his expression remained unchanged.

A disappointingly calm reaction.

At this point, I could guess once more.

‘So it is as I thought.’

Prophet or regressor.

In fiction, when characters who can see the future exist, their reactions to a transmigrator typically fall into two categories.

One knows only the future based on the original story.

The other knows the future based on the transmigrator’s existence.

In my case, it seemed to be the latter.

‘Otherwise, such a reaction wouldn’t be possible.’

As mentioned earlier, divine artifacts aren’t easily obtained.

Even officially confirmed items number fewer than five.

If an ordinary student brought such a rare resource, at least a questioning glance would be normal.

Especially if that student was the traitor who would lead the world to destruction.

‘He should be wary, if anything.’

And it’s not like the original Judas would have given a divine artifact to the Chancellor.

The future the prophet glimpsed clearly related to “me.”

Having assessed the situation, I deliberately throw out a few casual remarks.

“I told you earlier. That this is the first time we’ve met face to face.”

“I remember.”

“But it seems that’s not the case for you, Chancellor.”

“Hehe… you are indeed perceptive.”

“Please spare me the embarrassing praise. You even knew I would make such a prediction.”

“I won’t deny it.”

The Chancellor smiles calmly.

His wrinkled hand sets down the teacup he was holding.

Pushing aside the now-cold tea, the old man accepts the case I offered.

Perhaps he didn’t want to drag things out.

Without saying anything, he covers the gem with his palm.

He seemed to know the role I wanted him to play.

“Yes… if you desire prophecy from within the fog, I shall recite within my original role.”

Whoosh-!

Then.

A subtle aura of color flows from the Chancellor’s fingertips.

The shining gem gradually crumbles.

It was rapidly collapsing, bearing the price of violating constraints.

The old man wastes no time in reciting beyond providence.

“You’re curious about the world’s end, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“That end will certainly be beautiful enough for everyone to be happy. Each and every one will face tomorrow filled with hope. However…”

“However?”

“Only the liar will suffer. You won’t be among the brightly smiling faces. Because the happiness of others will have been cultivated through foolish lies.”

“…I see.”

It was quite an ambiguous prophecy.

While I could guess certain parts of the future fairly well, other aspects made no sense no matter how I pondered them.

I felt relieved by the declaration of a beautiful ending.

But the statement that only the liar would suffer troubled me.

A prophecy that could be interpreted in multiple ways.

Since prophecies reveal more the more you contemplate them, it seemed I would need time to understand.

I quietly rest my chin on my hand.

‘I still have a few questions.’

There was one doubt I’d always harbored.

It related to the original story.

In the original interaction, the Chancellor only hinted at tragedy, never mentioning anything about Judas’s betrayal.

From a prophet’s perspective, he should have known about the backstabbing to come.

This was a question that had bothered me since I was making story summary videos.

‘Even with constraints… shouldn’t there have been hints like now?’

My contemplation continued in a chain of thoughts.

I considered asking the Chancellor additional questions but quickly abandoned the idea.

The constraints a prophet bears are strict.

After already answering one question, it would be too much to answer more…

“I’ll answer that question as well.”

“…?”

A voice that seemed to pierce through my inner monologue.

I couldn’t help but be surprised.

What’s this?

This is a pattern I’ve never seen before.

Even after playing through countless cycles, I’d never seen a case where two prophecies were given at once.

In other words, this was an original event not in the source material.

The old man adds:

“You have never betrayed.”

“Pardon…?”

“I don’t know how it appeared to the other children, but at least the you I’ve watched never did. The same applies even in the world you yourself don’t know.”

White eyes looking at me.

Behind those winter-calm pupils, only a golden snake resided.

The aged lips advise:

“Dolls do not shed tears. But shedding tears doesn’t necessarily make one human. I hope you’ll contemplate this difference.”

“……”

I couldn’t give any answer.

It was because of the confusion washing over me.

Dolls don’t shed tears… how did he know that phrase?

And what did he mean by saying I had never betrayed?

“Wait.”

I try to ask more, belatedly reaching out, but the allotted time had already been consumed.

The Chancellor gently sets down the gem he was holding.

The surface that had been swirling with blue had already turned into a lifeless gray.

Soon after, the barely maintained form crumbles.

Scattering into a handful of dust.

“…Ah.”

Sssrr-

Perhaps due to forcibly violating constraints?

The Chancellor’s hand that had touched the gem was also disintegrating. This dissolution didn’t stop until his left hand had completely disappeared.

The old man looks down at the falling dust and briefly adds:

“Our conversation must end here.”

“……”

“I dragged the previous discussion too long. We didn’t even discuss the reward for the competition, which was our original topic. If you think of something you want later, feel free to tell me.”

“…I’ll think about it and let you know.”

“You may go now.”

“Yes.”

I obediently rose from my seat.

Thoughts tangled complexly.

Even knowing there was no more information to receive, I had to force my reluctant feet to move.

I left the Chancellor’s office, leaving behind the empty waves crashing.

A snake walking into the unknown once more.

The prophet seated behind continued to stare at that retreating figure for a long time.

Until the fluttering shadow faded away.

***

A beautiful ending where everyone is happy.

Only the liar who suffers.

The existence of a traitor who never betrayed.

A doll that doesn’t shed tears.

Trudge, trudge-

Even as I left the main building, my mind was filled with prophecies.

Characters that entangled without revealing their meaning.

The thought of interpreting these in the future gave me a headache.

As I walked through the academy streets with a sigh.

“M-Master…!”

I spotted Lezia lingering nearby.

Pink hair disheveled in the wind.

I had clearly told her to go ahead to the library building, but it seemed our protagonist had waited until the counseling session ended.

We exchanged a few words as we walked toward the carriage station.

Beyond the horizon, the sky was setting into twilight.

The evening was dyed with autumn wind.

When I gently turn my head, green eyes meet mine.

I casually ask:

“How is Miss Lezia doing these days?”

“Pardon?”

“I was wondering if you’re enjoying academy life.”

“Ah… yes, yes! Recently I’ve been spending time with more people, my practical grades have risen to the upper ranks of Class A, and m-more people have acknowledged me!”

“That’s impressive.”

“Heh, hehe… it’s because you’ve been by my side, Master!”

The girl answers as if it’s obvious.

The naturally curved corners of her eyes.

When conversing with that bright smile, even the complicated thoughts from earlier gradually wash away.

I began to shed the worries I had been mulling over.

‘Yes.’

Isn’t this enough?

The protagonist’s smile.

I was making children laugh who would have otherwise only cried and suffered.

My efforts so far had been meaningful.

The dying words from a life with nothing to lose had already changed many stories.

And it would continue to be so.

‘Getting too fixated on prophecies isn’t good either.’

I’m already doing well enough now.

Of course, I’ll need to work harder.

But for today, I decided to set aside my concerns.

I lightly walk ahead.

“Hehe… shall we head to the library? The others must be waiting.”

“Yes!”

The shadows of a boy and girl crossing the sunset.

Putting aside the thoughts we had today, we stepped forward toward tomorrow.

***

Meanwhile.

In the Empire’s underworld.

“Hmm.”

A shadow that had been sitting on the throne breaks the silence.

He held a newspaper in his hand.

It was a newspaper covering news from the Academy.

The headline on the front page read [Student Emerges Who Overwhelms Professor!]

It was an article about the recent competition.

“Interesting.”

He skims through the content with apparent interest.

Red eyes were fixed on the snake’s photo printed in the center.

His lips murmur:

“Is it starting to move at last?”

Thud-

The shadow drops the newspaper to the floor.

Before the throne stood an elite guard consisting of four people.

The Five Negations.

“If so… we should also join in the entertainment.”

The voice commands his subordinates.

To officially enter the game.

“I’m thinking of at least seeing his face after so long.”

“Do you mean that snake?”

“Tsk tsk… who else but him could stand as an equal to us?”

“We will arrange it as soon as possible.”

“Good.”

A satisfactory response.

The shadow nods with apparent satisfaction.

He knew that mere elite guards would be no match for the snake, but they could at least provoke him to come on his own.

He absently strokes his empty right arm.

There was only emptiness where an arm should have been.

An ominous smile spreads across his face.

“Let’s see how this plays out.”

The world is like dawn before a storm.

After several wars had ended, in the pitch darkness where only tense atmosphere lingered.

“Into the center of chaos.”

The monarch had begun to move.