Part 1, Chapter 11, 14

At that moment, Palomar Observatory, USA.

The dream always began with the world’s destruction.

“This world is truly a fucked-up place.”

Oracle lamented as he walked through the ruined city once again. For the past few months, except when there was an important agenda, he had been taking sleeping pills like water and dreaming, and those dreams had come as a considerable shock to him.

“That young lady named Cheonghwa… Ugh, it gives me the creeps.”

In his dreams, Cheonghwa died after enduring all sorts of suffering. Most of it was sexual assault, too horrific to even speak of. To be precise, men, women, and even monsters and machines alike coveted Cheonghwa, breaking her spirit.

“Honestly, if it were me, I would have killed myself.”

While Oracle maintained a neutral stance in the Round Table meetings, as a human, ‘William H. Drumpf,’ and not a superpowered individual, he could only feel pity.

“One thing I don’t understand is…”

Gawain, the leader of the Round Table, shared with Oracle what he had learned about the world’s true state through the meeting Phoenix had invited him to.

“Setting aside the fact that Cheonghwa is Phoenix, the content of the dreams is quite contradictory.”

The dreams mostly depicted the world’s destruction. More specifically, ‘the rampant Phoenix burning the world down’ was a common occurrence.

For instance, losing a cherished subordinate.

For instance, abandoning the protection of the world for love.

“……Isn’t this a completely corrupted Hero?”

While her being a murderer was undeniable, Phoenix’s actions contained many elements that piqued Oracle’s interest. Especially the ‘dreams,’ excluding the tragic end, were mostly content that would attract many people’s interest.

“Hmm, right. Let’s remove how she dies and only record the process of her failures.”

Oracle recalled the dream he had just had.

“Uh… so, against Jilpungek… hmm…”

The crazy story where Jilpungek, misunderstanding that Phoenix was messing with the minor Hikari, went on a rampage and committed parricide, and then Hayate, turned into Hitomi by the enraged Phoenix, was exploited by the Azure Syndicate’s executives.

“If I even mentioned this, Jilpungek would probably rip my head off.”

Among the futures Oracle observed, in almost 6.25% of them, Jilpungek always became a woman. Strangely, his appearance often remained unchanged, with only his genitals retracting, but Oracle had no desire to meet Hayate as Hitomi.

“Tsk. I should just retire. My prophecies aren’t even coming true… Isn’t it all because that Phoenix bastard messed everything up in the first place?”

Oracle recalled the period when his prophecies began to go wrong. Surprisingly, it coincided precisely with the time Phoenix began her activities.

“That guy who claims to know the future is just ruining all futures. Go screw yourself. Damn it.”

Oracle lamented the uselessness of his ability. At this rate, he might have to transfer to a weather observatory instead of the Round Table, a truly bleak situation.

“Should I just go back to my main job and make movies?”

With the help of superpowered actors, if he were to produce a video of Phoenix’s suffering, which he personally observed, it would be quite entertaining…

“No, that won’t do. I’ll just keep it to myself.”

If he made it into a video, he’d surely be burned, violated by tentacles, or have his head ripped off. Oracle shuddered and began to organize the rest of the dream’s content in his mind.

Beep.

A call came in on his smartwatch.

“Oh, what is it?”

[Why are you so curt?]

On the screen, Anastasia, the haggard Russian Round Table Hero Undine, appeared. Oracle scribbled with his pen without even looking up.

“Well, the only time you ever call me first is when you want me to prophesy your misfortune.”

[Then can you tell me? Am I really going to die in 2021?]

“No, you don’t. Be grateful to that Phoenix, or whatever they are. Ever since you and they encountered each other in China, the future where you die has temporarily vanished from my observations.”

[Then that’s a relief. Truly…]

Anastasia sighed in relief. Oracle noticed there was no longer any vodka in her hand and looked unamused.

“You used to just drink, saying life was meaningless because you were going to die anyway.”

[Now I have a reason not to die.]

“……Oh, really?”

Oracle’s mouth was itching to speak, but he barely held back. Revealing divine secrets from his observations came with a corresponding risk, and even a small mistake would shorten Oracle’s lifespan.

[What? Do you know?]

“……Who knows?”

His ability, however, seemed to have some flexibility; if he adopted an ambiguous stance, his lifespan wouldn’t be shortened.

“A future where you take Phoenix as a new husband and have a threesome with your existing husband might happen or it might not, so I wouldn’t know! Hahaha!”

[You know, you perverted brat.]

Contempt filled Anastasia’s trembling eyes. Oracle, who had been suffering from nightmares but was finally chuckling with rare amusement, composed himself and returned to the main topic.

“So, why did you call me? Did you really call me just to ask for a future prophecy?”

[Yes, that’s essentially it. But the target I need you to observe isn’t me.]

“Then who?”

[Phoenix.]

“……Hey.”

Oracle clutched his throbbing head and sneered.

“Now I understand why you keep defending her, but there are things I can say and things I can’t. You know that, right? Thanks to me telling you about your confirmed future death, five years were shaved off my lifespan.”

[I’m grateful for that. Truly, sincerely. But that’s not what I want to ask.]

“Then what?”

[In the future you saw, was there no one else beside Phoenix? Man or woman. Or perhaps one of the executives or Spirits Phoenix mentioned?]

“…….”

Oracle fell silent. He couldn’t help but be silent.

‘There were so many, I don’t even know who to talk about.’

The future Oracle saw wasn’t a world of only tragedy. There were also worlds where Phoenix found happiness in their own way, and worlds where they loved someone else.

“So…”

[Just tell me if there is or isn’t. If such a future exists or not.]

“……It’s purely a matter of possibility, okay? Everyone’s like that, right? If a delusion like winning the lottery’s first prize after buying a ticket actually comes true, then it’s a future prophecy, right?”

Oracle laid the groundwork.

“……There is.”

[Yes. I see…]

Anastasia nodded as if she had realized something. Oracle let out a hollow laugh at Anastasia’s somewhat relieved expression.

“What? Are you perhaps worried that the guy you call your husband will be stolen away?”

[Is there?]

“……No, that, uh, whatchamacallit, hmm…”

[Hmph.]

Oracle’s mere hesitation in answering was enough for Anastasia to guess his true thoughts.

“……It’s purely a ‘possibility,’ okay? Frankly speaking, it wouldn’t be strange if the world ended the day after tomorrow. It might even be a 0.00001% chance, you know?”

[Even the existence of such a future makes me feel bad. And combined with my current situation, it makes me feel utterly disgusted.]

“Ah.”

Oracle frowned.

“Even if you ask me for help, I’m powerless. It’s your country, after all. You’re a Russian princess.”

[Can’t the President’s son do even that much?]

“What are you talking about? I’d rather enter as a Hollywood film director. I’m telling you now, I don’t like black tea.”

[If only you couldn’t talk. Tsk. Haa…]

Anastasia covered her face with both hands in frustration. Then she glared at Oracle through her fingers and spoke.

[Is there really a future where I marry Rasputin…?]

“Who knows.”

Oracle looked up at the ceiling, avoiding her gaze.

“Such a future hasn’t been observed yet, but can I go to sleep first?”

[Please. I really…]

Anastasia’s voice was choked with emotion.

[I really don’t want to break up with my current husband again…]

“Alright, alright. Just hang up for now. I’ll tell you after I wake up.”

The call ended. Oracle lay back down on his bed and checked the sleeping pills by his bedside.

“……If I weren’t a superpowered individual, I would have died from an overdose of sleeping pills.”

Oracle grabbed a handful of sleeping pills and swallowed them with water. He had built up too much tolerance; one or two pills weren’t enough to bring deep sleep.

“……That guy, Rasputin, clearly in the future…”

He actually overpowered Phoenix. Oracle slowly drew up his mana and fell into a deep sleep, trying to recall the dream he had had before.

…

…

…

“Hitomi, just get lost!”

Oracle woke up and had to swallow more sleeping pills with bloodshot eyes.

* * *

Varanasi, India.

The small blonde girl clasped her hands in prayer towards the Buddha statue and rose. If not for her shabby appearance and the small backpack on her back, one might have mistaken her for a backpacker traveling somewhere.

“Little one?”

A kind-looking man approached the girl. Her skin was slightly tanned as if from the sun, but she was remarkably beautiful, promising even more as she grew.

“It’s dangerous for you to wander around alone in places like this. Go inside quickly.”

The man glanced around, warning the girl. The surroundings were filled with people pretending to read newspapers or look at their smartphones, but secretly watching the girl closely.

“…….”

The girl simply clasped her hands in prayer, expressing her gratitude to the man. The man also thanked her somewhat awkwardly, but the girl merely bowed and turned back to pray towards the Buddha statue.

“No, I mean, you’re in danger right now…”

“Who do you think is the most dangerous person in this vicinity?”

The girl asked the man, maintaining her prayer posture.

“W-what manners…”

“There’s no reason to be polite to ruffians who harbor lecherous intentions towards a young girl.”

“……Hmph.”

The man immediately twisted his lips, revealing his true colors. A box cutter, invisible to others, glinted inside his vest.

“Why don’t we go inside and talk for a bit?”

The direction the man pointed to was a secluded alley with few passersby. The girl surveyed her surroundings, then she herself stepped forward and walked towards the alley.

Thump. Thump.

The girl’s steps were unhesitating. The man gestured to his colleagues who were standing guard nearby, pointing towards the inside of the alley.

“Heh heh, it’s been a while since I’ve had such a good treat. I should thank God.”

“Hmm.”

The girl surveyed the men surrounding her from front and back.

“Seventeen people?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll only play with you for a day.”

“Tsk.”

The girl clicked her tongue and placed her backpack on the ground. The clinking sound from the shabby backpack startled the men, and the golden glint seen through a loose seam in the backpack made them scream internally.

“Wow, just as I thought! Wasn’t I right?! This bitch is a smuggler!”

“Didn’t we pick the wrong one? What if she’s a runner for another organization?!”

The men couldn’t help but be flustered. The items peeking out of the girl’s backpack were luxury items that looked lavish at first glance.

“Who said we should touch her?!”

“W-wait a minute! She could just be a fence! Why are you all scared?!”

“Right. Why are you all scared?”

The girl clenched her fist tightly and glanced at her old analog wristwatch.

“Five seconds per person. I’ll finish this in two minutes.”

“Hmph.”

“Is that girl a superpowered individual?”

The men began to tense up at the girl’s provocation. With a bored expression, the girl spread her arms out and wiggled her fingers.

“What does it matter if I’m a superpowered individual or not? Come on. Let’s have some fun while I wait.”

“……This insolent brat!”

The men fell for the girl’s provocation. With an annoyed expression, she clenched her fist.

“Not even worth using a weapon. Tsk.”

The blonde girl sighed and moved literally ‘like light.’

A moment later.

The blonde girl, who emerged from the alley alone, looked up at the sky and was merely fiddling with her blood-stained wristwatch.

“I wish they’d come quickly…”

The girl smiled faintly with anticipation.

“My body is just itching…!”

“Kyaa, kyaaaah!!”

A woman’s scream, as she tried to pass through the alley, echoed through the city. The girl’s body turned into light and vanished.

Afterward.

The police and superpowered individuals could not hide their shock at the horrific scene of 17 bodies strewn across the alley.

* * *

After spending a night with Seok Harang.

I slipped out of Seok Harang’s embrace, made him breakfast, and left at dawn.

Securing two Cubes.

And locating Gaetcheongwangma Karna.

The Round Table temporarily postponed their judgment on me and stated their intention to prioritize dealing with the executives who posed a threat to the world.

Therefore, the first thing I had to do was simple.

“How long has it been since we last met, and you’re calling me again?”

Since I had three Cubes in my hand, it was time to use the Cube I received from Hikari.

I summoned Changyeom in Jeongdongjin, Gangwon Province-a place where others’ gazes couldn’t reach.