episode_0046

Perhaps, if a predator were to gaze upon its prey, it would have exactly this kind of look in its eyes.

Upon hearing the word “predator,” Kal let out a hollow laugh and soon began to stare at me with fierce eyes.

“You think I’m enduring this with good intentions, calling me a predator? Is that something you interpret as a provocation?”

“W-Well…”

“If you want me to touch you like that.”

Finishing his words, he quickly closed the distance between us, wrapped his arm around my waist, and exhaled hot breath that could be felt at any moment.

“I refrain from touching you only because you dislike it. But… things will change if you keep clinging and calling me a predator. It can only be interpreted as ‘Please, touch me.’”

“I’ll let it slide this time… but if you dare call me a predator one more time…”

He licked his lips oddly with his tongue and whispered.

“I’ll devour you whole.”

“G-Gulp…”

Feeling a shiver down my spine at the chilling warning, I involuntarily shuddered, causing his arm around my waist to slowly loosen.

Despite regaining my freedom, I quickly distanced myself from him, but my body was already flushed from his warm breath.

Trying to calm down quickly through deep breaths, I found it frustratingly difficult to cool off.

…This is awkward.

My plans have completely fallen apart.

What do you do when the person who should be in trouble isn’t, and the one you’re supposed to make uncomfortable ends up being the one in distress?

Feeling increasingly uneasy and even embarrassed about the situation.

Continuing to fidget and groan, the magician who had been watching us approached slowly and cast a spell.

“Um, it’s nice to see lovers being affectionate, but… could you please move elsewhere?”

“Y-Yes?!”

“Everyone is watching you instead of my magic. I make a living day by day, so please understand…”

“W-We’re not a couple! We’re just… colleagues!”

“Whether you’re a couple or colleagues, could you please just move…”

“O-Okay…”

At the earnest request of the magician, Kal and I quickly moved away, and as we reached a spot where the magician couldn’t see us, we sighed while still gazing at the sun hanging in the sky.

“So, what are we going to do now?”

“Well… I was planning on watching some magic, but time seems to have slipped away.”

Seemingly frustrated too, he scratched his head and shook it.

It seems like he hadn’t thought of an alternative plan.

Not content with just idling away our time like this, I pointed to a fortune teller’s house nestled in a corner of the bustling street and suggested to him.

“How about going there? Fate might be quite entertaining, don’t you think?”

“Hmm… I’m not really into fate, but since we have nothing else to do, let’s go for now. It might spark some interest.”

Nodding, Kal and I headed towards the fortune teller’s house, confirming that the door was open before entering the building.

Inside, we saw nothing but darkness akin to pitch black, a table placed in the center, and a witch sitting there.

Realizing that her guest was another witch like herself, she slowly opened her eyes and smiled slyly.

“It seems that sisters pursuing the same goal have come as guests. Is the person next to you a supporter? Or a slave?”

“He’s too good-looking to be a slave, right? He’s just a regular colleague. By the way, does the witch also practice divination? Isn’t a witch more about forging destiny than accepting it?”

“It’s entertainment, after all. Since the fortune teller can’t see my fate, there’s no harm in exploring it myself. So, why have you come? It doesn’t seem like you’re here to get your fortune told.”

“You did come to get your fortune told. Although it’s not me who will be doing the reading.”

“…You were the one who suggested coming here, Beatrice. You said you weren’t interested in fate either, didn’t you?”

Despite his defiant expression, curiosity had already taken hold in the eyes of the sharp lad.

Though he said that, he did seem quite intrigued.

After a few fake coughs, he cautiously asked the witch who was wearing a languid expression.

“Are the fortunes you see quite accurate?”

“I wouldn’t know. Among those who have asked about their fate, none have returned here.”

“…What does that mean?”

“Just as I said. Whether their fate was altered or it wasn’t meant to be, no one has returned here.”

“Hmm.”

Pausing to ponder the witch’s cryptic words, Karl pulled out a silver coin from his pocket and placed it on the table before posing his first question.

“First question then. Regarding me and the witch beside me, are we a good match?”

“A good match… Please wait a moment.”

The witch fiddled with her crystal ball and soon began muttering in amazement.

“This is an unprecedented match made in heaven.”

“What?”

“I’ve never seen such a result before. It’s at a level where the world itself blesses it, how could this happen…”

“…”

His mind went blank.

So, what she’s saying is no matter how much I resist, it means I’ll end up entangled with that girl.

Does that even make sense?

Just thinking about getting involved with her makes me nauseous.

Glancing back at the witch for confirmation, her words echoed the same as before.

“After looking again, you two definitely make a great pair. Sisters perhaps? Don’t let love blind you to our grand goal.”

“Love blinds? Where do you even…!”

“Heh, you may say that, but your body speaks honestly. That mumbling sound, it’s quite audible right now, isn’t it?”

“Quiet! Who’s mumbling…!”

Signaling for silence, Karl channeled magic subtly, causing the fortune-telling witch to deftly change the subject with a smile.

“Well, that’s not important anyway… I just checked earlier.”

“Is it good news? Or bad news? Just tell me that.”

“The latter. Despite being destined, a rather… difficult journey awaits you both.”

“Details?”

“I don’t know either. I’m not a real fortune teller, so I can’t see the specifics.”

At the witch’s words, future episodes flashed through his mind.

The Bone of the North.

The lunatic Lizard of the Central.

And finally, the unknown enemy lurking in the East.

He thought the remaining episodes would flow smoothly, but it seems that was just his misconception.

As the one who expressed the difficulty was none other than the same witch, the challenge ahead was not only significant but enough to drive one mad.

All that remained in the bleak future I had glimpsed was…

“Ha ha…”

There was nothing left but a hollow laugh.

—–

“They’re gone.”

As Karl and Beatrice left after their reading, the fortune-telling witch locked the door securely and burst into laughter.

“Haha, I never thought they’d become so close so quickly.”

Seemingly knowing something, she laughed for a while before tinkering with her crystal ball.

Then, she nodded repeatedly as if reconfirming what she had seen.

“It seems this is the right path! Love blossoming amidst danger… How beautiful and splendid it is!”

With a flushed face and a demeanor that seemed to be provoking, reminiscent of a madman.

Unfortunately, there was no one around to witness her at this moment.

“Where should I look… Was it three chances left, or rather four? Hehe, how much longer can our adorable Viche hold on?”

Despite denying it vehemently, her body was already too honest.

Her heart timidly thumped, emitting a faint warmth from her body.

Even as she denied it, her attempts to find excuses to seduce the man were the very essence of a witch in love.

“Ah, I’m really looking forward to it. How much cuter will our Viche become after overcoming the next crisis? And how much more wicked deeds will she commit?”

Threatening the elven nymphomaniacs with ‘pity,’ which was akin to treasure for them.

By corrupting her own sister, Poneria, into an NTR disciple, even making her do a ‘special self-introduction.’

The fortune-telling witch, or rather goddess Agathon, found all her actions incredibly amusing.

“It was a good decision to bring her here. Well, it would have been better if the original had been a woman, but this is fine as it is, isn’t it?”

Perhaps it’s even more entertaining because the original was a man, showing resistance.

Agathon, who had been laughing joyfully, slowly wiped away her smile and gazed out at the snowy mountains, expressing concern.

“By the way, our Poneria… She must be extremely angry, isn’t she okay?”

That disciple was certainly a child her sister cherished quite a bit?

Having lost such a child to mere mortals, she must be furious to the core.

However, Agathon began to worry more about her sister Poneria than the witch herself.

“Poneria… Viche comes from a world where even demons learn evil deeds from humans.”

Don’t underestimate her, or you might end up with a broken nose.

Thinking of her hard-working sister preparing something, Agathon chuckled happily in the darkness.