Prophet

Estelle, when wearing her mask, had the characteristics of a *messugaki* who unhesitatingly hurled abuse, but when she didn’t have her mask on, she was such a shy character that she couldn’t even hold a conversation with a man.

And as if that setting remained the same, Estelle lowered her gaze with a bashful expression and mumbled.

,Gi, give it back….

Where did the cocky attitude from a moment ago go? Seeing Estelle instinctively drawing out my sadistic urges, I chuckled and greeted her, pretending not to know.

Hello. I’m Ross.

At my sudden greeting, Estelle fidgeted with her fingers under the table, glanced at me sideways, and mumbled softly.

,I, I’m Estelle….

The thought of teasing her welled up in a corner of my mind, but I had to resolve the reason I came here first.

Since we’ve decided to cooperate, please help me with one thing first.

,Wha, what is it…?

I need you to watch over the Imperial Princess, Bella.

At my words, Estelle tilted her head. As if gauging my reaction, Estelle, who briefly met my gaze, asked in a cautious voice.

,Ki, kill her?

I shook my head. What I wanted was the opposite.

I need you to help Bella so she doesn’t get killed by the Order or Demon King followers.

Estelle tilted her head cutely like a baby kitten, as if she didn’t understand what I was saying.

Bella has Roel by her side, right? The reason I’m watching Roel is also… be, because of that….

The relationship between Roel and Bella has soured recently. So, we need to prepare for any eventuality.

,O, okay…!

Giving a satisfied smile at Estelle’s energetic nod, I got up to return to the academy, but Estelle stammered in a flustered manner.

,Eh? A, a, th, that’s, just a sec…! I, I also have something I want to ask… and, and something I want to request….

Ah, that’s for later, if I have time.

Wondering just how obedient Estelle would be without her mask, I said that as a test, and Estelle bit her lip with a tearful expression.

Seeing that, I was having wicked thoughts about pushing for the condition that we only meet without the mask from now on.

Suddenly, the door opened and a woman wearing a cat mask entered the room.

Wait! Miss Lily, isn’t this going too far?

What I was doing didn’t look good to others, so I shrugged with an unconcerned expression and sat back down.

I’m just kidding. Did you really think I was going to leave?

Yes. I can say that with certainty.

The woman cut me off.

I scratched my head, feeling awkward at the sight of Estelle nodding tearfully and the masked woman glaring at me with her arms crossed.

Whether it’s because the information guild is quick-witted, or because my image is bad, I don’t particularly want to know the answer.

Since the Guild Master has revealed his identity, I’ll reveal mine too. My name is Ember. I’m the Vice Guild Master of Modest.

The woman who took off her mask had an ordinary impression. A vague impression, like someone I might have passed on the street once.

You trash! You tried to use me! Idiot, pervert!

I sighed at the sight of Estelle, who had somehow snatched Ember’s mask and was spewing harsh words again. Nothing ever comes easy.

Ask me anything you want. I’ll answer diligently in exchange for granting your request.

As if offering kindness. Ember narrowed her eyes at me as if I were being disgusting, but I maintained an unconcerned expression.

There’s something I’ve been curious about.

Estelle’s voice, which started with those words, was full of seriousness without any playfulness.

I’m curious about the source of the information you’ve been selling to Modest. It’s strange for a first-year academy student, especially a loner with only one friend, to know such information.

At Estelle’s question, I frowned without realizing it. She was getting straight to the point.

I had already finished contemplating before coming to Modest. I was planning to reveal some of the truth about myself, mixed with lies.

Following the advice from a book I once read called [How to Take the Lead When Talking to People], I deliberately maintained silence.

After a moment of silence, I opened my mouth in a low voice.

Would you believe me if I said I know what will happen in the future?

At my words, Estelle and Ember visibly flinched. Seeing Ember’s expression of disbelief, I leisurely raised one corner of my mouth.

…That future, how much do you know?

At Estelle’s utterly serious voice, I answered ambiguously.

It’s fragmented, but I know some of the important parts to some extent….

At my words, Ember clasped her hands together on her chest with a hopeful look and asked.

Do, do you perhaps know what will happen to us?

I shook my head at Ember’s question. Estelle’s story is a discarded setting. In other words, she doesn’t appear in the novel.

What happens to Estelle, who was Rosalyn’s friend, after the academy is destroyed by the demon’s attack… doesn’t appear in the novel.

After Estelle’s setting was discarded, she was practically an extra who was occasionally mentioned as Rosalyn’s friend.

Really… you don’t know? Are you sure?

Estelle’s voice sounded threatening. The reason she’s pushing me so hard is probably because of her clan.

Estelle, Ember. I don’t know the future of either of you. All I know is the future related to Roel. But I can promise you one thing.

I didn’t deliberately stall. It’s just that the gazes of the two people looking at me were so intense that I swallowed dryly for a moment.

If you’re with me, you can destroy the Order.

The atmosphere in the room sank at my words. Frankly, I didn’t have the optimistic thought that they would immediately trust me.

Believing someone who suddenly claims to be a prophet who knows the future isn’t easy for anyone.

We… need confirmation. Whether we can trust your words.

At Estelle’s words, I turned my gaze to Ember. If Estelle’s discarded setting is still in place, Ember’s younger sibling will definitely be there as well.

I’ll take this opportunity to erase one name from the kill list and save Ember’s younger sibling.

I believe that the Order shouldn’t exist for the sake of everyone. So, I used the future information I learned to create a kill list. I plan to kill the people related to the Order and the Demon King before they can become active.

I raised my hand and took out a small notepad from my spatial storage. As I opened the page and placed it on the table, the two women’s gazes turned to the notepad.

The west of the continent. The ruler of the pleasure city, Ludwig. The immortal, Roman.

Pointing to the name written on the kill list, I looked at Ember and said.

Your younger sibling. Amy is living as his slave.

To eliminate the solidarity of Estelle’s clan, the Cardinal forcibly scattered them. Some, like Estelle, were recognized for their abilities and became executives of the Order, but those who weren’t were sold into slavery or killed.

The reason why the best assassin group in this world, created the information guild Modest, was to avoid the eyes of the Order. It was also to find the clan scattered across the continent.

As soon as I finished speaking, a heavy silence fell in the room.

Ember was just staring at me without any reaction, with her mouth shut, and I didn’t know what kind of expression Estelle was making because she was wearing a mask.

If this is a lie, you’re dead. And I’ll kill you myself in a very painful way.

Before I knew it, Estelle was holding a small knife to my neck. Even though I was looking at Estelle, I couldn’t keep up with her speed. So, she really is the successor of an assassin group.

But my words were true, and I was a necessary existence for them. They couldn’t possibly not know how much power knowing the ‘future’ held, while running an information guild.

Also, I had to join hands with them. From the moment I thought of Modest, I had planned to use them.

Right now, I needed a force outside the academy to help me.

Trust me.

I deliberately moved closer to the knife touching my neck. The skin touching the sharp blade stung, but I didn’t show it and looked at Estelle.

The blood flowing down the blade stained Estelle’s hand. Drop, drop, drop. The drops of blood falling on the table broke the silence.

I will definitely destroy the Order.

***

After Ross left, the two people left in the room were immersed in silence.

Seeing that he knows my younger sibling, Amy’s name, which I’ve never mentioned… it might be true that he can see the future. Or, he might really be a follower of that person….

Ember was smiling, but that smile felt somewhat bitter.

Estelle took off the bothersome mask and placed it on the table, saying.

First, let’s confirm if Ross’s words are true. Send someone to the city of pleasure…. No, Ember. Go there yourself.

…Can I leave my post?

At Ember’s cautious voice, Estelle twisted her head and met her gaze.

They’re family you’ve been looking for for a long time. I understand that you want to do that.

Although her voice was blunt, Ember, who noticed the heart contained within, teared up.

I hope Ross is really a prophet. I want to believe that.

At Ember’s words, Estelle lowered her gaze and looked at Ross’s blood on her palm.

The blood that had seeped between her fingerprints was starting to harden.

Scraping it off with her finger, Estelle muttered to herself.

That’s right, I hope so.

If he’s not a prophet, but a follower of that person prophesied by the Cardinal….

She will kill Ross no matter what.