Ch.542Episode 20 – Who Threatened You with a Knife?

Fortunately, the time of fear ended as the misunderstanding was quickly resolved.

This was thanks to Alexandra Petrovna, the Grand Duchess and intellect of this era, who kindly explained and cleared everyone’s doubts.

“I forgot to mention. Zeinab has had poor eyesight for a long time.”

“…Are you saying the High Priestess of Al-Yabd has vision problems?”

“That’s right.”

It was hard to believe. That grand sorceress, the enchantress who had dominated an era, couldn’t maintain her own eye health.

I’d heard that the Magic Tower had been troubled by diseases like glaucoma and cataracts. It had been in the news a few times, and I had worked at the Magic Tower myself.

Nevertheless, I found it impossible to believe that a priestess who had reached the same level as the Grand Duchess had poor eyesight due to “mere” illness.

However, the Grand Sorceress’s explanation was rational enough to wash away my doubts.

“The mysteries she’s handled since girlhood have damaged her eyes.”

Mysteries.

The moment I heard that word, everything naturally made sense.

“…What are mysteries?”

Camilla wore a puzzled expression at the unfamiliar term, and the Grand Duchess gently stroked her disciple’s head.

“Child. Mysteries are the sum of inexplicable phenomena that cannot be explained by science, magic, or faith.”

The authority on magical studies, the Grand Sorceress, says that mysteries are unknowable problems.

“Everything throughout history that human knowledge cannot understand or interpret. Haven’t you seen it too? The sandstorms of the Red Desert that lasted seven weeks. The monsters that burned with life even before bullets imbued with the wisdom and virtue of saints.”

The sandstorm ruling the northern Mauritanian continent, “God’s Wrath,” the hellish monsters “Devils” encountered in the Kiyen Empire and Zambia.

The world calls such things mysteries.

“Typically, humans who deal with mysteries gain new powers distinct from magic or divinity. We call them ‘mystery users.’ But sometimes that power, like capricious waves capsizing ships, can harm the mystery user.”

“The power harms its master? Why?”

“We don’t know. All mysteries touch the realm of the incomprehensible. You understand that the universe exists, but you don’t know the exact moment it was born or its clear principles, do you?”

True to her authority in magical studies, it was an explanation even a 7-year-old could understand.

“Aha!”

The 7-year-old (Camilla) was so delighted with her newfound understanding that she even let out an exclamation.

She also casually made embarrassingly flattering remarks like “only the professor could explain it” and “you’re truly the best.”

And the Grand Duchess accepting such praise was really…

“That’s enough. Ahem, what are you doing, being so forward?”

Anyway.

I understood now. Why the priestess had acted like someone who couldn’t see. I knew the reason and felt less afraid.

But questions still remained.

“……”

As far as I knew, the priestess had no connection to mysteries. At least according to the information collected by Abas intelligence.

Yet the Grand Duchess claimed the priestess possessed mysteries. If this was true, it meant no one had known about her possession of mysteries for decades….

Was that even realistically possible?

I looked at the Grand Duchess’s face with a skeptical gaze, as if asking for more explanation since she’d brought it up.

Perhaps she guessed my intention.

The sorceress’s old friend began to add more details without hesitation.

“Ah. Zeinab’s mystery is not the kind that manifests outwardly. To be precise, it’s an ability that only she, the user, can know about.”

“Do such mysteries exist in the world? This is the first I’m hearing of it…”

“It’s normal not to know.”

The Grand Sorceress grinned.

“The mouth of a fortune-teller who foresees the future is always heavy.”

Episode 20 – Who Threatened You With a Knife

“Fortune-teller, really. You have no filter with your friends.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

The High Priestess of Al-Yabd and the Grand Duchess of the Kiyen Empire conversed comfortably.

It wasn’t strange that a bond formed on the battlefield continued to this day.

Red Breath blooms. Alexandra picked up a fig from the bowl and playfully asked:

“Do you still stay indoors all the time?”

Zeinab, who had put away her pipe, inhaled a faint wisp of smoke.

“This is my home.”

“Azadi Palace is indeed a nice place.”

The Grand Duchess of Kiyen nodded in acknowledgment.

“But staying in the same place must get boring. Aren’t you bored?”

It was a reasonable question. A good setup for further conversation.

But the answer was disappointingly monotonous.

“Why would I be bored? There are so many fun things in the world.”

“Such as?”

The sorceress seemed to ponder briefly before blurting out in a dull voice:

“…Watching TV?”

The Grand Sorceress’s face clouded with concern, and a deep sigh escaped her lips.

She looked like a parent watching a child who had shut themselves away in their room.

Either unaware of or ignoring such a gaze, the greatest sorceress of the Mauritanian continent responded with a puzzling nod.

“It’s better than before. Sasha, you know too. Until 50 years ago, Shizya didn’t even have a decent broadcasting station.”

“I know. Foreign broadcasts viewed through magical crystal balls were the only entertainment.”

“You remember. Ah… I still think about the documentaries we watched then. Horses galloping across the great plains. Hammers ringing in the underground forges of dwarves.”

Zeinab gazed at the whitish smoke, reminiscing about past memories.

“Everyone said we should go together if we had time. To the great plains, to the dwarf kingdom.”

“We did.”

“If someone fell asleep, you’d get angry about wasting the crystal ball subscription fee until noon…”

“I remember. You woke up and got angry at whoever didn’t turn off the crystal ball, right?”

“Yes. But actually, that was me.”

“What?”

“I watched until the end but dozed off and… You know I tend to sleep a lot.”

Alexandra let out an incredulous laugh.

“…You really are consistent. Then and now.”

Zeinab smiled as if she knew this about herself.

“You don’t seem to have changed either, Sasha. Well, have you cut down on gambling at least?”

“What nonsense…”

“Why? Whenever you came here, we’d stay up all night playing As-Nas.”

“Stop it!”

A hearty laugh filled the space. The priestess clapped her hands as she laughed, and the Grand Duchess tried to cover her mouth.

Watching this, I…

“……”

Was at a loss for words.

This is how 100-year-old elders talk? Seriously?

“I can’t believe this…”

It was a mind-boggling comedy. No wonder all the comedy shows in this neighborhood had failed.

The situation was bizarre in many ways.

First, a religious leader and royal elder were having a random chat session (or old people reminiscing). Second, the High Priestess of Al-Yabd and leader of Ashtistan was a shut-in. And finally, most importantly:

We were crumpled in the corner like stuffed sacks.

“Why are we even here?”

“I don’t know…”

Camilla and I, who had accompanied the Grand Duchess to Ashtistan, couldn’t even join the conversation.

Why?

Because the 100-year-old elders were busy chatting just between themselves!

“I saw cars on the road coming here. Those relics are still running.”

“You mean the Peshekhot? With trade sanctions, they have to use them. But they’re still working well.”

“Parts must be hard to come by. It’s a discontinued model, hardly anyone in the Empire drives them anymore.”

“We have the transferred technology. We copy what we can. For knowledge we don’t have, we bring technicians from Kiyen… Don’t misunderstand, they were retired.”

“The Guardian Office officials might understand that much. But technicians? If they’re from headquarters, they’re also defense industry technicians. Surely you haven’t copied Imperial weapons too?”

“Hmm. Well. It’s been so long, I can’t quite remember…”

“Oh my…”

The Grand Duchess and the Priestess were having a field day, playing off each other.

Just like typical elders, their topics jumped from A to D, then from J to P, covering everything.

“I met the Sky God Worshipper recently.”

“That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Is the High Priest still energetic?”

“Full of vigor. His manner of speaking is the same too.”

“I suppose you need that energy to handle a divine beast like Aquila. I’ve been thinking of raising an animal myself…”

“Please don’t. Any animal raised in this place, darker and gloomier than an opium den, would turn into a monster.”

“Ah. I forgot about seawater purification.”

This is really too much.

I feel like I’m losing my mind. I’ve been to all sorts of places and met all kinds of eccentric people, but the Grand Duchess-Priestess duo is incomparably unique characters.

At this level, they’re almost like Veronica.

I sighed.

“…Why did I come here?”

“I don’t know why, but have some of these. They’re dates.”

Whether the elders chatted or not, Camilla had reached a state of transcendence beyond boredom.

After practicing some magic to alleviate boredom, she soon grew tired of that too and turned her attention elsewhere.

Though we were like stuffed sacks, as guests, Azadi Palace had prepared hospitality, and among these, what caught Camilla’s eye was none other than food.

It wasn’t an elaborate meal, mostly snacks. But in Ashtistan’s food culture, snacks and desserts were mainly sweet sugar lumps.

Unfortunately, sweet foods perfectly matched Camilla’s taste.

“Mmm-“

From traditional candies decorated with large nuts and pistachios, to Pashmak that melted in the mouth like cotton candy, dates soaked in honey, high-sugar fruits, and Persian-style cakes.

“Hehe.”

Surrounded by desserts, Camilla smiled with what seemed to be the happiest expression I’d seen from her recently.

It was both ridiculous and… wait, how does she eat all that and not gain weight? Is she actually a mystery user too? A mystery that burns calories. That’s scary to think about.

I watched her with a disinterested expression before casually asking:

“Camilla.”

“Yes?”

“Do you remember what the priestess said earlier? ‘I was wondering when you’d come, and finally you’re here.'”

“When she met us?”

Camilla, immersed in her sweet world, hummed as she carefully recalled.

After a brief reminiscence, she nodded with a rather serious expression.

“Yes. She definitely said that.”

“I’ve been thinking…”

I hunched forward, placing both hands against my lips and chin.

“Isn’t something strange?”

“In what way?”

“The Grand Duchess said the priestess is a mystery user who can foresee the future.”

But you know.

“Doesn’t that contradict what the priestess first said when she met us?”

When we first encountered her, the priestess clearly said, “I was wondering when you’d come.”

If, as the Grand Duchess claims, the High Priestess of Al-Yabd possesses mysteries and can foresee the future with them…

“That means someone who supposedly sees the future didn’t know when we would arrive.”

*

The Grand Duchess’s claim and the priestess’s response conflict with each other.

One side claimed Zeinab Eskander was “a mystery user who foresees the future,” while the other said, “I was wondering when you’d come, and finally you’re here.”

“Language and expression imply many things. They reveal intentions that cannot or are not hidden.”

I compared their claims and statements, finding contradictions.

A hypothesis naturally formed.

“Future foresight…”

“Sounds like a fantasy novel. Similar to Greek and Roman mythology or the Bible?”

“The Bible isn’t a novel. It’s scripture.”

Camilla shrugged and retorted:

“It’s a bestseller that’s sold well for thousands of years.”

“That’s true.”

Anyway, the key point is this:

The High Priestess of Al-Yabd possesses future foresight. More precisely, this information about her handling such mysteries came from the Grand Duchess of the Kiyen Empire.

Meanwhile, the priestess’s behavior seemed suspicious for someone claiming to be a prophet.

“She didn’t know our arrival time. And for a prophet…”

“It seems she couldn’t specifically predict the future. Timing is an important element, and that was missing.”

Camilla was right; timing is crucial.

For instance, if someone claiming to be from the future told a person in 2010, “Bitcoin will rise to 20 million won and then crash, so sell!” they would have information about Bitcoin, 20 million won, and a crash, but wouldn’t know exactly “when” the crash would occur.

Whether the price would drop right at 20 million, at 25 million, or if 29 million was the line of defense.

It means they could potentially lose money. That’s how important precise timing is.

“What if it’s not future foresight?”

Camilla responded:

“There’s a possibility the professor misunderstood for some reason. But if so, why didn’t the priestess correct the misunderstanding?”

“……”

I crossed my arms, deep in thought.

There are analytical techniques used in situations with insufficient information, but there wasn’t enough evidence to analyze the “Grand Duchess’s misunderstanding” hypothesis.

From the relationship between the Grand Duchess and the priestess to reasons why the priestess wouldn’t correct a misunderstanding.

“We can’t confirm that right now. Unless she’s been benefiting from future foresight somehow…”

I first heard today that she was a mystery user.

The Abas intelligence agencies, engaged in a three-way battle with the Kiyen Empire and the Order, didn’t know? That essentially means all intelligence agencies were unaware.

After all, wasn’t Director Pedro of the Inquisition, notorious for HUMINT using fanatic groups, from an intelligence agency?

“Let’s set that aside.”

We quickly put aside the “Grand Duchess’s misunderstanding” hypothesis and returned to our original hypothesis.

If the Grand Duchess’s claim is true and the priestess really is a mystery user who can foresee the future.

It’s time to verify this.

“Future foresight… Honestly, it doesn’t seem completely impossible. There have been figures called ‘prophets’ in the Order and Al-Yabd.”

“Religion.”

Yes.

The priestess foresees the future? As a religious figure, it’s possible. With oracles existing, why not prophets?

But even if future foresight is certain, questions remain.

The Grand Duchess’s claim and the priestess’s response don’t align.

Camilla interpreted this as “incomplete foresight.”

“Could it be like the Delphic Oracle, where prophecies are vague? Like how Croesus attacked the Persian Empire based on the oracle that ‘the most powerful empire will fall.'”

“You mean the legend of Lydia attacking Persia?”

Yes. Camilla nodded in affirmation.

It’s a famous story. I know it well. The “ambiguity” characteristic of the Delphic Oracle is a classic example from which the “Delphi analysis technique” originated.

I’ve used it a few times during my active service for policy analysis. I learned the exact origin from a senior colleague (who earned a doctorate in public administration).

I nodded in agreement.

“It’s definitely not the Cassandra style.”

The second hypothesis is “indirect revelation,” based on the local religion.

“While most revelations in this region’s religion clearly show cause, timing, and result, some lack clear timing or cause. Like indirect warnings or hints.”

“Is that credible? It sounds too cult-like.”

“The oracle that predicted your colleagues wasn’t very clear either.”

“Ah…”

Such indirect revelations existed not only in the Order but also in Al-Yabd.

Of course, most of these revelations came thousands of years ago, and among historians, there’s talk of exaggeration by religious authorities or magical hallucinations.

Anyway, the certain information we can extract is this:

“She definitely seemed to know we were coming. Saying ‘finally you’re here’ implies she had some certainty.”

“But she didn’t know the timing.”

“Right.”

Hmm. Camilla rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

“What motivated that certainty? Besides oracles or revelations. Something more rational.”

Rational motivation.

I translated this as scientific evidence.

“The most plausible motivation would be prior information. Information that we would come to Ashtistan, that the Grand Duchess would bring us.”

The diplomatic relationship between the Kiyen Empire and the Ashtistan Republic is strong. The bond formed during the war between the Magic Tower and the Order since the kingdom era became even stronger when the priestess and revolutionaries took power through a coup (officially called a “revolution” here).

Given that Alexandra Petrovna, an elder of the Smirnov royal family, was a comrade and close friend of Zeinab Eskander, Nicholas VI would have needed to accommodate his aunt, besides other political, social, economic, and military motivating factors.

The Grand Duchess of Novo-Nikolayevsk certainly deserved such treatment.

The core of this hypothesis lies here:

“The bilateral relationship is established at the ambassador level, so mutual embassies are set up in the capitals. Kiyen has an embassy in Shizya, and Ashtistan has one in Petrograd.”

“With frequent exchanges, information flowed between diplomats?”

“Probably.”

In fact, the Grand Duchess had said something to the outer palace officials who were required to wear Russari: why didn’t they notify through the Foreign Ministry or embassy beforehand?

This was clear evidence supporting the prior contact between the Kiyen-Ashtistan foreign ministries that the Abas Foreign Ministry had obtained.

“Someone of your master’s stature receives head of state, head of government-level protocol wherever she goes. Especially in friendly or allied nations. To avoid mistakes, coordination at the foreign ministry level is necessary, and reports would have gone up to the priestess through that route.”

But if this hypothesis is correct, the claim about not knowing the timing doesn’t make sense.

From the moment we entered the country, the priestess would have heard that Camilla and I had arrived in Ashtistan.

Camilla added seriously:

“Have you considered the possibility that it was just something she said?”

“I have.”

“And?”

“It definitely wasn’t just something she threw out there.”

It’s hard to explain, but when you deal with people professionally, you develop a sense.

Whether someone is lying, saying something they don’t mean, or speaking from the heart. Of course, being human, I’m not always right.

Even accounting for that, there was definitely something suspicious about the priestess’s tone, manner of speaking, choice of words and expressions, and non-verbal behavior.

Fortunately, Camilla believed me. That’s why our conversation progressed quickly.

“Hmm… If not through the foreign ministry line, where could the information have leaked from?”

“Many places. Media, Magic Tower and Ivory Tower, companies dealing with magic stones or magical tools. There are so many people interested in the Grand Duchess.”

“…Companies too?”

She meant intelligence agencies as well.

A very simple question.

“Of course.”

There were many suspicious organizations, but none provided a clear answer. Neither the foreign ministry nor intelligence agencies.

The priestess’s certainty seemed stronger than just believing a report.

To have guessed based on knowing her friend’s character, she held belief rather than speculation or judgment.

Where did such belief come from? While Camilla might not know, there was no guarantee that I, a citizen of an enemy country, would come to Ashtistan.

“……”

As my concerns deepened, Camilla, who had been thinking intently beside me, suddenly muttered:

“How strange.”

As if finding it very curious, like facing a puzzle made by aliens, she kept tilting her head.

“How can such belief form without direct observation? I wonder how revelations appear specifically. I’d like to see one.”

“…Camilla.”

“Yes?”

“I’m asking this with genuine curiosity and no malice. You’re not thinking of devouring revelations too, are you?”

“……”

*

A long discussion followed, but no conclusion was reached.

This was because an enraged Camilla unleashed a “KWAAANG-!” dragon-breath, causing a commotion for the first time in a long while.

Of course, the disturbance was quickly suppressed.

“Child. Are you starting again?”

The authority on magical studies, founder of the Elemental School, and original fire-wielder, Alexandra Petrovna, Camilla’s master, personally intervened.

The process was simple.

She grabbed the back of Camilla’s neck as she ran around spewing fire like an extinct dinosaur (of course, dinosaurs don’t breathe fire; this is a fact even in Goguryeo’s Subakdo), lifted her up, and easily subdued her.

It took only a few seconds. Like a kitten caught by its mother cat, Camilla dangled her legs while hanging from the Grand Duchess’s hand.

“He provoked me first!”

Camilla defended her immoral and illegal actions (unauthorized magic use in a security zone is a significant threat to national security) as justified anger, but…

“Quiet, you!”

“Gyaaaak…”

“How can you be so wild, like an untamed colt.”

The Grand Sorceress, who had placed a blue magical lock on Camilla’s lips with her index and thumb fingers, scolded her in a stern voice. It looked like she was threatening, “Today might be your funeral.”

But that anger soon subsided.

This was due to the intervention of an old friend.

“She’s cute.”

The High Priestess of Al-Yabd, Zeinab Eskander, looked at Camilla with a clear smile.

There was an interesting gleam in her eyes.

“She’s full of energy. Magic released through the oral cavity… Have you studied sorcery too?”

“Auuugh…?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Camilla couldn’t even answer properly. To be precise, her expression seemed to ask, why are you asking that?

To which the Grand Duchess said:

“The Magic Tower’s three major schools: Elemental, Sorcery, and Astrology. Here, magic users who handle sorcery are defined as ‘sorcerers.’ Do you remember the characteristics of sorcery?”

“Um…”

Faced with another sudden question, she squeezed out an answer.

“Unlike elemental magic that can be cast at long range, sorcery only activates within a specific range, around the caster or in prepared locations, so maintain distance when facing them?”

“What else?”

“Since sorcery requires hand signs and activation words, if necessary, cut off their han- GYAAAK…! PROFESSOOOR!”

Hearing her squealing answer, the Grand Sorceress shook her head. Damn. I focused on practical training, and she’s forgotten all the theory.

“Child. Didn’t I clearly teach you? The core components of sorcery are hand signs and activation words, and the oral cavity that recites activation words is a sorcerer’s greatest weapon. Therefore, those who can create sorcery using only the oral cavity without forming hand signs are masters.”

Have you forgotten? Shall I remind you?

Though the latter part was omitted, that seemed to be the implication.

Camilla seemed to vaguely understand this.

“…Ah!”

As if suddenly remembering, she hastily began to backtrack. The master sorcery technique her master had taught her.

That is!

“Right! I learned that if you get the signs wrong, your tongue should be ripp-“

“What are you saying?!”

The Grand Sorceress began to shake her unworthy disciple. This girl says anything in front of a sorcerer. Does she have any common sense?

Of course, Camilla wasn’t equipped with such common sense. The Grand Duchess hadn’t told her.

Things like ‘don’t casually talk about ripping out tongue roots or blowing off hands in front of a sorcerer’ or more directly, ‘it’s as disrespectful as saying to a goblin’s face, ‘You guys get checked for stolen vehicles when stopped by traffic police, right?”

However,

The disciple preferred practical training over theory, and the master had neither the time nor leisure to teach theory or manners to a disciple who roamed dangerous neighborhoods.

This was the karma of throwing away textbooks.

Or perhaps the professor’s memory was affected by aging.

The sorcerer herself didn’t seem to mind.

“A magician casting magic through the oral cavity is unique. So you’re not a sorcerer.”

The greatest sorcerer born in the Mauritanian continent, Zeinab Eskander, looked interested, as if she had seen a curious spectacle.

“Your disciple?”

“Yes.”

“Your top disciple?”

Alexandra Petrovna nodded with a deflated expression. She seemed reluctantly acknowledging a disciple she was embarrassed to present.

Finding the Grand Duchess’s reaction quite amusing, the priestess simply smiled brightly.

“Unexpected. You said you quit teaching because it didn’t suit you.”

“Time changes mountains and rivers, and people change too.”

“You’ve changed, Sasha.”

“Yes. A little.”

The priestess nodded with a smile. As if to say it was fortunate.

Pleased with the interesting spectacle, she sat Camilla down and engaged in various conversations. Mainly topics related to magic or the Grand Duchess.

“Does Sasha treat you harshly?”

“Yes!”

“Oh my.”

“…These two?”

Teasing her friend, chatting with the young magician. The priestess spoke to Camilla for a long time. Her behavior showed not only interest in Camilla but also curiosity and even a hint of apology.

She probably felt sorry for being preoccupied with talking to the Grand Duchess.

“You’re an interesting magician. Your name is Camilla?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry about earlier. She’s a friend I haven’t seen for a very long time. Also my only remaining friend.”

To this, Camilla smiled understandingly.

“Yes. I’m glad to meet you. Come again tomorrow. Feel free to visit anytime you have time.”

The priestess concluded the conversation in a gentle tone. Though brief in some ways and long in others, it clearly left a strong impression on Camilla.

And now.

It was my turn.

“So it’s you. I’ve heard a lot about you. The Nostrum family of the Abas Kingdom, the third son… was it?”

I corrected that while I was the third child, I was the second son. It wasn’t an important detail.

With the Grand Duchess and Camilla retreating to a distance, the priestess called me to sit before her.

I didn’t think it was a particularly important meeting. To be honest, I was a person far removed from the Ashtistan Republic or the magical world.

Moreover, the High Priestess of Al-Yabd wasn’t involved in military, diplomatic, or intelligence fields.

That’s why.

“I wanted to meet you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You.”

When something unusual came from the priestess’s mouth, I was a bit surprised.

“After leaving the military attaché’s office at the Zamria Federation Embassy… what’s your current position?”

Position.

Since being dismissed from the defense attaché position, I hadn’t held any official post. At least officially.

Unofficially, I was dispatched to the Royal Intelligence Agency, but I couldn’t reveal that. This was Ashtistan, simultaneously an enemy state of Abas.

So I put it as nicely as possible. The fact that I was essentially unemployed.

“I see. So you’re not an attaché anymore.”

Zeinab Eskander bit her pipe and blinked at the smoke.

Then, with her eyes half-closed,

Looking at the empty air with slightly opened eyes,

She murmured:

“And here I thought Abas had sent an operative.”