Ch.23Chapter 23. Drawn to Tranquility, Feeling Destiny

Yes, this moment before my eyes must be a future that will soon come to pass.

A foreseen future only changes when the variable of a Transcendent’s whim occurs, or when the observer of the future intervenes to change it…

‘W-wait, c-certainly I came to this empire for my clan’s revival, but… could it be because that person is Hyoseong?’

Looking solely at her purpose of finding a companion, the scene before her perfectly aligned with that goal.

Moreover, despite her current unremarkable situation, she was already entangled with one Transcendent and had met with him twice.

Even just considering that, she couldn’t deny the possibility that he was born with an extraordinary fate.

‘N-no. The future can change, so I don’t need to fulfill this as it is. This is something I should decide carefully in the first place… Wait. Since I need to think carefully and decide, does that mean I shouldn’t rashly attempt to change the future either?’

As her confusion grew increasingly intense, dizziness began to set in.

Yet even amid this turmoil, her gaze remained fixed on the crystal ball.

The scene that would unfold in the near future if she took no action—a scene she could hardly accept.

-Hehe~ Do you like it when I do this?

“I-I would do such a shameless act…”

-Ah, aahn~ That feels good~ Please, touch me harder~♡

“Eh? Eh? Y-you’d even do that? Why are you putting that in your mouth… Oh, w-waaah!?”

Irie covered her eyes with her hands, yet spread her fingers apart, her body trembling.

Despite her embarrassment, she couldn’t tear her gaze away, and continued watching long after he had left the empty street.

***

-Murmuring crowds.

The bustling commotion hit me as soon as I entered the Adventurer’s Guild.

True to this dark fantasy world filled with incidents and accidents, the building managing adventurers was teeming with people seeking to accept the overflowing quests today.

Naturally, with so many people doing dangerous work, it wasn’t uncommon to see them bumping into each other and fighting when visiting this place…

“Huh? Wait.”

But even some adventurers who had maintained a fierce atmosphere until now began to calm their heated demeanors as soon as I set foot at the entrance.

The clamor quickly subsided, gradually turning into an eerie silence.

That ripple effect spreading from the entrance throughout the entire guild took only seconds…

“Isn’t that the guy who passes by?”

“Looks like I’m not the only one who thought so.”

“His face seems familiar, but was there such an adventurer in this guild?”

Amid the scattered gazes directed at me, I felt their blatant interest. And suspicion.

I didn’t react to it, simply continuing to close the distance between myself and the reception desk opposite the entrance.

No matter how this atmosphere might affect things later, completing the adventurer registration was the priority.

“Yes, then I’ll confirm one last time.”

As everyone’s attention remained focused on me, the receptionist who had been communicating with me scanned the documents with her eyes and said:

“Hyoseong Woo, of foreign origin, wishes to temporarily transfer from the labor union to the adventurer’s guild as of today. All procedures have been completed at the relevant branch, and if there is no intention to reverse this decision within one month, your imperial identity record will also be changed to the Adventurer’s Guild…”

The receptionist recited the contractual clauses in an official manner.

Normally, such explanations would be drowned out by the surrounding noise and only half-heard, but now most of the adventurers in this hall were focusing their attention on me.

This meant that every word the receptionist mentioned would inevitably reach them clearly.

“If it’s Hyoseong Woo, that name is right?”

“Yeah, the one from the rumors going around lately…”

Damn, so I’m still blacklisted among adventurers regardless of the registration.

Remembering this forgotten fact, I activated my information window to fill in the details required for the contract signature.

And simultaneously, an annoying text appeared in my vision.

======

[Unique Characteristic – Existence Imprint]

[People you meet will not forget your existence. No matter who they are or what happens.]

======

…Even looking at it again, what an absurd ability.

A power that merely prevents people I meet from forgetting me.

But such a trivial ability was now tangibly becoming my downfall as I tried to register as an adventurer.

Not being forgotten means the probability of my name being mentioned even in insignificant gossip increases.

And adventurers tend to work with complete strangers and share drinks with unknown people in taverns, socializing.

In such social gatherings, they talk about people they’ve met, like how they worked with this guy, or how they partied with that guy and a Hero died.

As they continue such topics, eventually another person who knows me appears and shares commonalities, and at some point, they start adding speculation or exaggeration to the story with thoughts like “Maybe?”

‘Maybe this guy was responsible for the Hero in our party dying? I mean, it could be possible, right? Heroes in both our parties died when we were together.’

Such conclusions get passed on to complete strangers without context, circulating endlessly within the group like urban legends.

And truth or evidence doesn’t matter there.

In a fantasy world with magic and curses, isn’t it natural to be wary of jinxes?

“I heard nine out of ten parties that guy joins get wiped out?”

“Someone who partied with him told me he deliberately betrayed Heroes to steal dungeon rewards.”

“His equipment looks good—did he get it all by backstabbing Heroes?”

“Well, how else would a mere porter get such gear? He must have had ulterior motives while serving Heroes.”

“What was he thinking becoming an adventurer? Is he planning to openly exploit his party members now?”

The whispers that began with anxiety and fear gradually snowballed, and by the time I finished the registration, they had escalated to overt criticism and hatred.

Still ignoring them, I tried to sign the consent form handed by the receptionist, but even that was interrupted by a sudden remark.

“What are the guards doing? Why aren’t they arresting that bastard?”

-Crack!

My hand pressed down with excessive force.

The pen broke, causing the receptionist’s eyes to widen in surprise, but my attention was already directed toward the voices around me rather than the document.

Fuck, what did those bastards just say?

They’re talking about having me arrested in this damn world where I’ve never broken a single law?

“They need evidence to arrest him.”

“Evidence? With rumors this widespread, it’s obviously true…”

-THUD!!

Having my sore spot touched, I slammed the butt of the spear I was carrying on my back against the ground and turned to face them.

The once noisy scene fell silent with that impact. With the spear planted on the ground, I turned to them and released my patience.

“Hey, you all.”

Keeping my voice as low as possible.

But clearly revealing the displeasure I felt in this moment.

“Why don’t you shut up and mind your own business instead of getting on my nerves with your muttering?”

“Uh, uhh…?”

“Ah, yes! Y-yes! S-sorry!”

The adventurers jumped in surprise and backed away trembling.

Considering the rough personalities of these types, one might expect them to bark back, yet most of them either retreated or kept their mouths firmly shut.

Of course—the malice directed at me stemmed from the viciousness of rumors, so how could those who genuinely believed and spread such talk not be intimidated?

“Is the registration complete?”

“Ah, yes. Here’s your adventurer badge. Um, for future class changes or adventurer rank promotions, there are separate departments for that…”

“…Yes, then I’ll be going.”

After greeting the flustered receptionist, I quietly turned away from her with stiff steps.

I would have liked to thank her kindly for her help, but I felt I needed to maintain this sharp atmosphere, or the cowering fellows around might start tearing into me again.

“What are you looking at?”

“N-nothing.”

The idiots trembled and backed away as soon as I glared at them.

I turned my gaze away from them and moved forward, deliberately creating noise by striking the ground with my spear a couple of times.

Thud, thud.

The adventurers stirred in the silence at that thunderous sound.

When I shouldered the spear shaft on my back, the adventurers clustered in my path began to make way.

“…Good to see you understand quickly.”

The corners of my mouth turned upward as I advanced through the gap, probably because I found this moment somewhat satisfying.

To think that I, a mere Foreign Laborer, would become an object of fear even to seasoned adventurers.

Wouldn’t it be stranger not to enjoy it?

“…Still, don’t forget, Hyoseong Woo. The moment you act without knowing your place, you’re just going to die.”

Right, that earlier reaction was only because they crossed a line with their sneers toward me, a law-abiding citizen. If someone actually picks a fight rather than just sneering, I’ll have to shut up and plant their forehead into the ground.

My goal should be a mythril crutch, not a legendary holy sword.

Reminding myself to minimize confrontations with others, I pulled out the note I had kept in my pocket to carry out what I had planned.

“Let’s see, she said to check the note after completing the registration, right?”

Irie Haven.

With her ability to see the future, she had read that I would meet my death in the first mission I would take on after becoming an adventurer.

What was written on this note in my hand was the key to survival…

[After completing your registration at the guild, head to the tavern connected to the guild, and establish a connection with the minstrel performing there. Whether that person joins you on your upcoming mission will be a crucial factor determining your survival in that mission.]

“…A minstrel?”

The first thing I felt upon reading the note was doubt.

Recruiting companions is always a consideration in quests.

I acknowledge that it has a significant impact on survival, but it’s hard to believe that the person in question is none other than a minstrel.

Typically, while minstrels do travel as much as adventurers, they’re non-combat professionals who don’t step into life-threatening situations…

Wait a minute. There’s one more note.

Could there be something I don’t know written here? As I was about to unfold it, my hand stopped when I saw the words written on its surface.

[Please open the second note when an unmanageable danger approaches during the mission.]

“…So I shouldn’t open it right away.”

Certainly, she said it’s better to minimize variables unless she’s seeing prophecies at critical moments, but…

Damn, I feel uneasy with so little information besides this note.

“A minstrel still doesn’t seem right…”

Despite feeling that uneasiness, I had just set foot in the tavern connected to the guild when I suddenly noticed that the interior of what should be a noisy tavern was quiet.

Quickly shifting my attention from the note, I looked ahead.

Normally, an adventurer’s tavern would have a chaotic atmosphere due to drunkenness and gambling.

But the interior of the tavern I entered was beyond quiet—it felt almost serene.

-Ting-a-ling~

Along with the clear sound of strings being plucked.

And with it, a woman’s voice resonating softly through the space.

“La~ Bira~ Lurira~♬”

Yes, there was a woman there.

From her skin and hair color to the cloak and robe she wore.

Everything visible was dyed pure white, giving her an impression of purity.

“La~ Ta~ Ta~♬ Labiri~ La~♪”

As her clear voice, matching her pure appearance, filled the quiet tavern, I felt my gaze, like everyone else’s, becoming focused on her.

Though she was merely sitting in a corner of the tavern singing.

Even the lantern lights attached to the walls and ceiling illuminating the interior seemed like spotlights prepared just for her.

-Ting-a-ling~

It was natural to have such thoughts, as everyone present was immersed in her.

As if the world revolved around her.

Her fingers focused on plucking the strings with her eyes closed, and her voice harmonizing with the sounds produced.

“Laaaaa~♬”

As I became absorbed in that gentle, ear-tickling serenity, I felt my heart begin to race and my grip on the note tighten.

Yes, it’s that person.

Realizing that she was the one who would share my fate in the future, I felt my heart swell…

“Who’s making all this noise singing here!?”

That atmosphere was shattered in an instant.

-Crash!

Soon, someone who had barged into the tavern roughly pushed aside a chair.

And began directing fierce malice toward her.